My First Week of Classes

I will have to keep this short because my readings and assignments beckon...but let me just say that i am loving school! I am definitely super busy and have a lot to juggle, but I am blown away that I get to spend my days digging deeper into God's Word...every day I am in awe! I have a paper due this Friday on the Power of God's Word. It is exciting and challenging at the same time; putting things in words the way they are in my heart and mind is not a simple task for me. I am so amazed with our God!! Thank you all for your continued prayers...I can feel them!!
I was chosen to be on the Grad Cabinet (the "student government" for the Grad Class), in charge of Spiritual Formation (which basically means I, along with the other person in charge of Spiritual Formation , which happens to be my friend Greg, am in charge of organizing the Thursday chapels). Please pray for us regarding that!
It turns out that one of my roommates will not be continuing on this semester do to some personal issues, so it will just be three of us now. We will miss her, but thankfully she will be coming back next semester. Work is going well, the lady I work for is very nice and usually I do not have to work a full day, even though I get paid for it. Perfect for a busy student!
Well, that is me in a very small nutshell. Back to my paper I go. Love and miss you all very much!

Wow!!

So much has happened I do not know where to start! Well, as far as the job opportunity I mentioned in my last post...well, I got the job! The amazing thing about that is that when I went to interview with her we were talking about my job history, when she found out that I worked at the Rock, she asked "Do you know Courtney?" And I said, "totally, I love Courtney!" She proceeded to tell me that her son used to be engaged to Courtney. What?! We both know the same person in San Diego...how crazy is that. Well, that really worked in my favor, she really liked the fact that she could talk to someone she knew to find out about me and make sure I would be trustworthy, since I would be her personal assistant. The job is only 16 hours a week but that turns out to be good because I am taking 5 classes...ahhhhh! Please pray for me! I moved into my apartment on Wednesday and immediately connected with my roommates, they are wonderful! We have known each other only two days and already feel like sisters. God has orchestrated things in a way i could not have even imagined. I registered for my classes today, i will be taking the following classes: Genesis through Song of Solomon, Acts/Pauline Epistles, Principles of Inductive Bible Study, Principles of Spiritual Formation and Christian Theology. Did I say pray for me? Really, even though it is a lot, i am excited! It has been great getting to know the students; everyone is very friendly! I was in a student housing meeting last night, the new students shared one miravle God did to get us here and the returning students shared words of advise/encouragement. As i was sitting there, I just started crying, good crying, because i know i am right where He wants me! Know that I love and miss you all!

Portland...so far

So far, so GREAT!! I am blown away by how God has orchestrated everything! My wonderful friend Cathleen drove up here with me and stayed till Saturday afternoon. I have been staying with a wonderful woman named tasha and her 13 year old daughter Jaqueline who I met very recently through the amazing family I lived with in San Diego. They have a cute condo in Lake Oswego...I love it, we are totally surrounded by trees!! They showed Cathleen and I around downtown where we ate dinner at Portland City Grill, a very nice restaurant located on the 30th floor of one of the tallest buildings (I think) in downtown Portland. The view was awesome! The next day we checked out the farmers market, ate at Zeppo's for breakfast, and then cathleen and I headed to Multnomah so I could show her the campus. From there we went to Multnomah falls...beautiful!! From there I took Cathleen to the airport :(. I had a mini-adventure driving back to Lake Oswego, i got just a little lost. Getting lost was great fun, I got to see more of the area and have fun trying to find my way back...which I did (partly on my own, partly with some help from some nice people I met at a coffee shop). Sunday I went to church with Tasha at Riverwest, it was awesome! The worship was amazing as well as the message (he taught on Isaih 58 & 61). Later that day Tasha and I went downtown to walk on 23rd st (a cute street with lots of cute stores, coffee shops and restaurants) and from there we went to Forest Park to go on a hike. It was so beautiful, I just loved it. Have I mentioned it is beautiful here. The only beauty missing is the beauty of all of the people I love back home (though that is safely tucked in my heart). Yesterday, though i did not originally intend on going that day, i went by the school to handle some loan stuff. From there I visited the career center where I met two awesome women who were very helpful & friendly...and I left there with a possible job opportunity (more on that in an upcoming blog). I also ran into one of the only other people I know up here (someone I met when I came up to visit), it was cool to see a familiar face. As much as I miss everyone back home, I know I am right where the Lord wants me. I have felt such a peace and joy...so far. Love you all!

The drive to Portland

The journey began at 10:30pm on Wednesday August 13. I had a wonderful day with my amazing friends and family (thank you so much for all your help Kayla and Christywinkle!!). I picked up Cathleen at 10pm and from there we headed to...you guessed it, Starbucks (where the girl working there happened to be from Portland). Starbucks did its job because we managed to stay awake through the night! I love driving at night; my favorite part is watching the slow progression of night becoming day, culminating in a gorgeous sunrise! We made it to Sacramento at 6:30 am and decided to park the car and check out the Capitol building. Considering that we were ridiculously tired we did not stay long but hopped back in the car to find a place for breakfast, We located an IHOP off the freeway. We parked there and slept in the parking lot for about an hour (just imagine how comfortable that was, and the peolple walking by seeing two girls sweltering from the heat, sleeping sitting up, drooling I am sure). After that we headed in for some breakfast. Our waitress was super nice and was from...you guessed it, Portland. Any who, this is getting too long. Long story short, we left Sacramento around 9:45am and drove through the heat in my non airconditioned car for 5 1/2 hours till we got to our destination for the day, Grants Pass Oregon, where my sisters sister in-law lives. We got there (which was insanely beautiful, they have a river running through their backyard) and 15 minutes later crashed out for a 3 hour nap...YES!! Woke up for a yummy homemade dinner, then back to bed for a full nights sleep! We left there at 10am, had a wonderful yet hot 3 hour drive to Salem where we had lunch and headed 1 hour further north to arrive in a 105 degree Lake Oswego (directly south of downtown Portland). Thank you God for a safe & smooth trip. My little Honda Civic, which we ended up naming Stella (don't ask me why...I never thought I would name my car) made it like a champ :) Thank you all for your prayers for our travels, they were beautifully answered!!

My first blog ever

I can't believe it, I am actually blogging...never thought I would see the day :) I figured I would start a blog since I am moving away and want to keep everybody updated on what is going on in the life of Cari. I am excited about this new season in my life; I don' quite know what to expect. I will miss everyone here in San Diego so much, know that you will daily be in my thoughts and prayers. I am beyond grateful for the exquisite bouquet of family and friends that God has blessed me with...thank you for being a part of my life! 

I am leaving wednesday, August 13 at 8pm, let the journey begin! My friend Cathleen will be driving up with me, please keep us in your prayers! I will be staying with a friend of a friend until I cam move into my apartment on August 20. orientation starts on August 21 and then class starts on August 25...I can't believe this is actually happening!

I love you all! Stay tuned for more...

:)

Cari