God's Glorious Creation

I just want to start by saying God is good. He is amazing. It's never been so plain to me before, He is in creation! Open your eyes and look. He's there.

Tonight I drove up a mountain, a windy, wet, mountain road, through clouds, fog, and rain to stare at stairs that weren't even visible. The intent was to watch the Orionid Meteor Shower on top of the mountain  but the weather did not want to cooperate. Regardless, that was a blast. The cold foggy night reminded me of home, right after one of those really pretty snowy day. It was amazing. My camera had a blast too. :)

Coming to Providence has opened my eyes to what is out there. The world isn't just one vast corn field to me anymore. There is so much more out there. God's creation is so amazingly beautiful I can't even describe it. My camera can't do it justice. Words can't tell of it. You need to see if for yourself to truly experience it.

I've been in California for over two months now. I'm looking back at everything I've done and am amazed at the beauty of everything. Overwhelmed by it. I have done so much more then I ever would have thought I could do. For example:

1. The Ocean
2. Hiking Eaton Canyon
3. The Getty
4. Exploring Hollywood
5. Exploring Pasadena
6. Exploring Los Angeles
7. Santa Monica Beach
8. Camping on the Beach in Malibu
9. Hiking in Malibu
10. Star gazing on the Beach
11. Sailing in Long Beach
12. Watching for Meteors on top of Mt. Wilson.

Monday I go to Hollywood again for the Avadah: Homeless in Hollywood.

Life is amazing people. Open your eyes to God's beautiful creation. It's astounding and superb. Step out of the corn field (which, I guess, is also pretty amazing) and look at the world. Every inch of this world was created by God. Upheld by God. Creation shouts God's name. There is a world out there to explore, open your eyes and explore it!

 I have some pretty sweet pics from tonight as well, but since it is almost 2 the morning and I have to get up to go to church . . .I shall load them on later!

• 
  

Beach Camping

And I'm back! I took a break for awhile because I decided that doing the writing and reading for these hard college classes was more important than blogging.

Okay. So, that's only partially the truth. But it makes me seem less lazy. 

Anyways. I went camping over reading break. It wasn't like camping in Paulina or Okoboji or Yankton. This was CAMPING. Spot-a-pots and all. This was camping on the beach. Ocean in front and mountains in back. 

After a 2 1/2 hour student senate meeting I was ready to get outside and enjoy God's creation. We drove along the beautiful coast on the PCH to Mugu point beach (or something like that) just outside of Malibu California. After setting up the 16 person tent and exploring the rocky beach, a couple of us decided to hike. As we trudged up a narrow, sandy path that basically went straight up the mountain, I was struck by just how beautiful the view was. You could see out over the ocean for miles. The sky and ocean blended together, there was no distinction between the two. 

After forging our own path and trying not to fall down the mountain side we made it safely back to camp. Hot, dusty, and a little scratched up. 

Later that night we sang songs around the campfire. It was an amazing experience. There is something awe-inspiring about singing about God's wonder and his amazing creation while staring at the Milky way and listening to the ocean waves crash against the rocks. Afterwards, we laid on the beach watching stars shoot across the milky way, listening to funny, some times embarrassing stories. 

View from the mountain 

Another view from atop the mountain

The Majestic Ocean

I spent the whole morning watching the waves and dolphins. It was amazing. Breathtaking. I can't wait to do it again! But for now, I need to finish the 5 loads of laundry and a Humanities paper. After the beach . . .that's just blah.

From Elizabeth, the Providence Rock!

Beach Day!

I am once again a beautiful shade of lobster red. Gotta love the beach. No, really, I love it.

Santa Monica Beach

(The beach, not the sunburn, just so we're clear.)

All college beach day is my new favorite day of the year. I spent the whole time in the water. It was so amazing. As soon as I swam out (okay, waded out) we saw two dolphins off to the side of us. How cool right? But it doesn't  stop there! We then saw sting rays, a school of fish, a lobster, and a sea lion. Now there's something you don't see in the midwest. The water was so clear, and once you got used to it, not all that cold.

I also learned to body surf today. Riding on top of the wave is an amazing feeling. One moment you are swimming so hard to get that wave and the next you are being propelled along trying not to get a mouthful of salt.  I also managed to hang on to my sunglasses the whole time! Although, now that I look back at that .  . .I have raccoon eyes.

I don't get why everyone complains about Mondays. Monday's really aren't so bad. Granted, not everyone spends Mondays at the beach, but they should. I could get used to the whole three day weekend. Sadly, the realization that tomorrow there is an 8:45 am meeting is starting to sink it. (Who schedules a meeting for that early in the morning? Oh yeah, Justin Bleeker. What was he thinking?) Ah well. Such is life.

Alright. That's all from this ocean lover. Watch for sting rays and don't forget sunscreen.



No really. Sunburns suck.

Living the College Life

 I want to blog to let you all know that I'm alive over here in CA, but of all the amazing things I've done this weekend, I can't come up with a good blog post to save my life. I've written and re-written close to four times now. Fifth time's a charm??

Providence doesn't have class on Mondays, which basically means, three day weekend/do what you put off until now. Here's the gist of what I stayed occupied with this weekend:

• Sand Volleyball. SeaBeggars natural habitat seems to be the sand volleyball courts. It's awesome.
• Flying Dutchmen. Basically a wet, wild, fast game of duck, duck, goose. 
• Played volleyball in the dark. That was, interesting, to say the least.
• Signs. This could be a Ms. VanDyke game. It's hard to explain, but it's similar to silent football. Basically, lets say for example, you wave your hands. You then have the sign and try to pass it by doing someone else's sign. (standing up) They then receive it by standing up, and then continue to pass it until caught by the person in the middle. You'd think it was easy, but then you'd be wrong.
• Went to church, and then had lunch at Ruby's. Back at my dorm I started reading/napping. Read a page, to tired to turn the page so I'd close my eyes for ten minutes, finally turn the page, and continue. 
• Played more volleyball.
• I did laundry today. But that's boring and now my black shirts are covering in lint. At least I have socks now :P
• Cleaned my room . . .even though I should have been doing other things. 
• I started Choir and Piano, the two Monday "classes" that I have. It's been to long since I last got to play a piano. I still haven't actually gotten to play . . .I tried but it was a rather scarring incident. that piano was so out of tune it hurt. 
• I payed for college. Biggest check I've ever written. Won't be the last one. Bummer, huh?
• Played more sand volleyball. It was rather warm out there . . .builds character right?

(we really like sand volleyball here)

Okay. That'll work for now. My creative juices were pretty much all used up this weekend. I'm either going to go to bed like a good little college student . . .or read the next Harry Potter. 

Let's Go Running!

I went for a run.


Let that sink in for a moment.

Yep. Went for a run. And I have the sore legs to prove it!

Could have finished my Doctor Who episode, but Nooooooo, I went on a run.

I ran for an entire half mile before stopping. Oh, you don't believe me? I understand, I still don't believe it and I actually was the one doing the running. Granted, that first half mile was all down hill . . .baby steps people. (Running baby steps, but baby steps non-the-less)

I did almost fall flat on my face, but had I not almost done that I would be worried about some strange Doctor Who character who abducted me and turned me into some weird running machine. Stupid bumps. But to be honest, it was dark. Plus, its hard enough to breath and run at the same time, and now you expect me to watch where I'm going at the same time? Crazy.

I'm going to give you a chance to let that sink in for awhile. In the meantime, I'm going to sleep, because tomorrow we are going to hike Eaton Canyon. Good thing I have tennis shoes that are meant for marathon runners.

(Don't get ideas. I am NOT running a marathon.)

Day 2

Welcome to the end of Day Two! Pretty crazy if you ask me. Today was Saturday. I know that sounds really obvious and it's like, "Oooh, look, Billie learned the days of the week in college!" Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever. My point is that today did NOT feel like Saturday.

I was up way to early for it to be considered a Saturday. But, we had a load of stuff to do today!

There were sessions to attend, one which sadly included an essay. Good news: I survived.

This afternoon was a blur, so we'll skip all that. Besides, who wants to hear what my dear brother-in-law talked about or what I wrote about for an hour. (It was on "community" just in case you where wondering) So, moving on to tonight's activities. We walked downtown Pasadena, on Colorado avenue. Turns out, if given ample funds and more hangers, I would be a shopaholic in CA.  We enjoyed Pizza in the park, while listening to some interesting Jazz music. At least I think it was Jazz. Either way, it was pretty good.

Other then all that adventure going on, I think I'm all settled in. Or, as settled in as I'm going to get. Okay, I need to end this before I fall asleep mid-sentence. Sunday is church, Monday we are going to hike Eaton Canyon, and I'm sure a bunch of other amazing fun stuff. For now, good night!

In the Park: This is the Class of  2017

For Lack of Better Title: Day 1

Alright, Day 1 of the my college adventure. I've been in the great state of Cali since Wednesday morning where I promptly broke my new sunglasses, went to the beach, fell asleep and fried to a crisp. I assure my new classmates that I am not normally this shade of red. Hopefully . . .

Anyways. I'm getting ready to move in soon. I still can't believe that I managed to fit everything I wanted/needed (mostly wanted) for college in two suitcases. Southwest airlines lets you take two suitcases for free. Granted they are under 50 pounds of course. Which, mine where not. Both suitcases were a pound over weight. Thankfully they let it go, which is good because I had no room to take anything out and put it in my carryon.  But honestly, I have a lot of stuff. I'm surprised it wasn't more overweight.

Landed in LAX with no problems, other then being a little sore and cramped for sitting for roughly 4 hours. Nothing was stolen from my bags, which is always a good thing. Although, TSA did search my one bag. You would think that they know how to work a zipper, but according to all my inside pockets, they don't.

Switching into my swimsuit we headed to the beach for a picnic lunch, a swim in the ocean (which tastes terrible, just to let you know) and a nap. According to my sister I was out cold, and even the seagull by my head couldn't wake me up. Other then the beautiful sunburn I have, that was an amazing nap. :)

Thursday was shopping day, where I pretty much doubled my belongings in one afternoon. Now, I just have to relocate it from the trunk of the car to my dorm room. Let's get this adventure started!