May

So, I forgot to update this. I feel like I don't have much to write about as of lately. I would like to share a few photos of my little trip to San Diego. I traveled with my favorite things...my car and my bike! I gifted myself a bike rack and paid off the remainder of my car for my birthday. I got the title for my car in the mail and I was super excited!


I drove down on Saturday for Memorial Day weekend. My sister met me in Carlsbad at the outlets where we bought some cute shoes at the Vans store. We then went to her friend, Brian's birthday party at a Sushi restaurant in PB and went to a bar to meet some more of Brit's friends. One of her friends bought me a Mojito which was very sweet!


On Sunday my parents and brother met up with us along with their bicycles and we had a nice ride to the beach.

This picture is from Sunset Cliffs

I started my MBA at Concordia in January and I really like it. It took awhile to make new friends, but it is more fun now that I talk to people in class. I completed the first class, which was Management and I got an A! I am now taking Accounting and sort of remember some things from my Accounting classes that I took Freshman and Sophomore year. There is a student in my class who graduated from Chapman in '05 and is now getting his MBA at Concordia. It's cool to meet someone I have something in common with, at least education wise. New friends are nice.

I am getting more involved at Saddleback Church. I had to do a little searching for a small group, but I found a great group of girls through my neighbor down the street. I initially tried another small group, but I didn't have anything in common with the girls. I knew my neighbor, Cara, was in a small group, but I was really shy to call and ask if I could join her. I didn't know her that well so I wasn't sure if she would be welcoming. Ultimately, I did call her and she was very welcoming! She is 28 and has a Psychology doctorate from Biola. She is really sweet and fun to hang out with. After small group on Wednesday we planned to hang out on Friday with some of the other girls. Friday, we went to dinner at Ruby's and then to the movies to see Bride Wars. It was a cute chick flick and a great movie to see with other girls!

In small group we are reading a book by Doug Fields called Refuel. In addition to reading and discussing the book during small group, Doug has been speaking on it for his sermons. It is definitely a message that I needed to hear. He talks about making more time for God whether it be a few minutes or a few hours everyday. It doesn't matter what you do, just "stop, be quiet, and make a connection". Doug has also been sending 3 text messages a day to remind us of God's love and to encourage our devotion to Him. It's a fun series!

On March 28th, Pastor Rick taught the class for people who want to become members of the church and he would be baptizing people afterward. In order to be a member you have to be baptized as an Adult. I wanted to join the church so I took the 3 hour class and was baptized along with my parents as well as 800 other people. The line to be baptized by Pastor Rick was very long so we went to anther pastor, but it was still a good experience. Here is an article about the event.

Yesterday was April 1st so I must explain in more detail the prank I played on my friend, Andrew. Well, he pulled a prank on me about a month ago, so I had to get him back. I left a note on his desk for him to call Mr. Lyon and left him the phone number. He called and when the automated message said he had reached the OC Zoo, he quickly thought to himself, "Wait, she didn't leave an extension for Mr. Lyo... oh!". Anyway, I was laughing just thinking about it so I couldn't tell him to call this guy so I had to leave a note. At least, I didn't spoil the joke. My co-workers thought this was a great prank so we tried it on other people in the office who also got a laugh from it.

I also had my co-workers help me move Andrew's plethora of things on his desk to the second desk in the IT office. We moved everything except his computer. He walked in and was sort of taken aback and then said "Well, I wanted to move to that desk anyway. It's a better spot." Right, maybe he just didn't want to move everything back...

Anyway, I thought I would update everyone on my life. I am trying to stay busy and be productive.

Sorry I don't call people very often! I am going to improve on that now! I miss all of you, especially you who is ready my blog right now. :)

Your Love is STRONG

I was very excited when I sang this song at Church!

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let Your Kingdom come
in my world and in my life

Give me the food I need
to live through today
Forgive me as I forgive
the people that wrong me

Lead me far
from temptation
Deliver me
from the evil one

I look out the window
the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
or out of place

I walk to the meadow
and stare at the flowers
better dressed than any girl
on her wedding day

So why should I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need!

Your love is Strong

The Kingdom of the Heavens
is now advancing
invade my heart
invade this broken town

The Kingdom of the Heavens
is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself
to buy the one you've found?

Two things You told me
That You are strong
And You love me
Yes, You love me

Your love is Strong

Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Above all names
Your Kingdom come
Your Will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us, today, our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far from our vices and
Deliver us from these prisons

Your Love is Strong ~ Jon Foreman

So I realized today that there are not any exams in the management class I am taking. That sounds good to me. :) I haven't made any new friends yet, but I will be working on it. I also need to be more involved in Church. I definitely miss hanging out in a 'refuge' environment like the old days. I have a lot of things I want to do...now I just need to do it!

Nicole ... is waiting

to hear back from Concordia
to get her wisdom teeth taken out (they hurt)
to see what God has planned in her life
to be happy again

Concordia

I started my Concordia application. The good thing is that I don't have to take the GMAT!!! Yay! That is honestly one of the many things I like about Concordia. I have been dreading that test and haven't been motivated to study at all. Looks like I don't have to. Besides from being very expensive Concordia's MBA program sounds like fun. It focuses on Business Practice so it matters what you learn not how well you take a test. And I sure don't like taking tests. One class is taken at a time which lasts for 7 weeks. It would allow me to concentrate on one class, which is very manageable while working. The program wants people to work, because that encourages you to use what you just learned.

I'm excited to apply. I only have to get two recommendations and write my statement of intent and I'm done!

1. I have blue eyes and curly/wavy hair unlike my twin sister who has brown eyes and straight hair.

2. I enjoy listening to Amy Grant whose music was most popular in the late 80's and early 90's when I was about 5 years old.

3. I have stood up in 6 weddings, but long for a wedding of my own although the thought of getting married frightens me.

4. My favorite monument is the Eiffel Tower. It's simple with no particular purpose although I have been ice skating on it.

5. I have a cute car, which I named Coby because it's a Cobalt..duh.

6. I really enjoy reading, but when I was first starting to read I had a difficult time and had to take a special class. I also had a hard time with math in middle school, but took Calculus in college for fun.

7. I bought a book at the Friends of the library for a high school project. It turns out that the book is about Charles C. Chapman the founder of Chapman University. I definitely believe this book was a "Godwink" to my attending Chapman. Definition of Godwink: An occurrence so odd and out of the ordinary, it had to be put in place by God. A wink from God letting you know you're in the right direction.

Thanks Joy for tagging me! I don't have anyone else to tag :(