Finally!

Hey...not sure if this just published. If so, it wasn't supposed to. Oops.

What's up lady-o's? I'm in class right now. My students are taking an essay test. It's nice to have a day off from talking loudly to them and making them behave. Overall, it's been a great experience here. The students are a lot like the students at Buena Park. They do not see the intrinsic value in education, though they do desire to get good grades and succeed in life. Most of them are very sweet--there is one girl that drives me absolutely nuts (she talkst to her neighbor CONSTANTLY and acts annoyed at ME for interrupting when I ask her to be quiet--yeah, definite seat change coming right up) but I'm even warming up to her. Yesterday I was thinking that I'm not sure I want to teach anymore though. Gulp. It's just been a tiring first week and a half--we don't even have text books yet! So I've had to invent activities to keep us busy, even more than coming up with things to hep them learn. It is a very exhausting job; the teaching part is fun (think: college prof?) but the crowd control is frustrating. I think it would be a blast to get to teach upper division college courses. I'm kinda still thinking about going into optometry. But then, I really want to get married and have babies, and it would be nice to have summers off (of course, with optometry, I could set me own schedule if I went into private practice...!) Oooh, and then Hannah, you wouldn't be alone in the sciences anymore!

I am going to wait and see how things go once we are able to start, you know, reading. It will also help once my body has adjusted to mornings at 5:45. I keep screwing that up, though. Last weekend, I slept in Sat/Sunday and stayed up "late" (12:30) on Saturday hanging out with my big sis. Her hubby was at an entrepenuer (I have NO idea how to spell that, and I gave up completely on trying) conference, and I just finished reading this book on investing. I'm going to talk to him to get some ideas, but I'm really excited about getting my money to work for me. I'm planning on putting a couple hundred into stock each month. It makes a lot of sense, especially since i'm not used to spending that much each month. I'll be putting a lot more into some form of short-term savings other than a savings account (ie somethng that makes more interest, maybe a CD) but I don't really know what that means yet. The thought of making money is exciting, not because I want to hoarde it and have a big bank account, but because then I'll be open to letting the money flow through me, I won't be tied to one place/house/apartment, but can go when and where God directs, giving money and help to those to whom he directs me. That's a place my parents have never really been and I look forward to it!

In other news...I'm going on a college retreat this weekend (the speaker is Brennan Manning. Hannah do you remember Jonathan Taylor talking about him? I think he's the guy that wrote _The Ragamuffin Gospel_ and I think JT talked about him on occasion...). My new friend Courtney is going, and so is John the youth pastor and some other folks I've known for ages, though not well. I look forward to getting to know people better. I am still quite desperate for friends! Also, my ol' pal Austin is in town. I'm supposed to organize a little get-together of peeps who were around when Austin was around--so people that I at one time knew well. I was supposed to get on that Sunday, but I'm always so sleepy that I forget. I'm hoping tonight's not too late to let people know, because it would be fabulous to see people.

Yeah, absolutely crazy about the UC stuff. It makes me so angry; it's bad enough that they refuse to even admit that Darwinism is a highly doubtable theory, but refusing to let others admit that or teaching something that is as much of a legitimate theory in their science classes is ridiculous. Sigh.

And Michelle, I'll do my best to remember to pray for your cousin. It's pretty crazy stuff going on down there. Thank God for technology, though. Could you imagine 100 years ago when the day before a hurricane would seem like any other day? It's great that people can now be warned and have time to evacuate and stock up on supplies, etc.

Well, earlier this week I thought I had cancer. I totally cried about it and freaked out (wonder if I was pmsing?). You know how I already had that big lump in my neck? Well, I also have another one behind my ear, and it's been there for a while, though I thought it had disappeared for a while. And then two weeks ago I noticed a third one. So I mentioned this to my mom, who panicked. Apparently I was supposed to go back to the doctor about the first one in my neck if it didn't go away in a few weeks--and this was when I was ten! So...I went to Kaiser yesterday after work and had my doctor look at that while we also talked about some annoying sinus problems I have had this month. I (like Jen) have fatty tumors. Three of them. In my neck. Crazy, huh? So they aren't harmful, I guess--harmful tumors grow outrageously quickly. I could remove them, but that would leave scarring and you can't even see them now, so I'm not gonna.

Okay. I feel like I have absolutely been rambling on and on.

Valerie, when do you start school? Do you have lots of lesson plans done?

Michelle, have you started the credentialing program yet? How's life at home without the sisters?

Hannah, how's Biola? I miss it!! I've been looking at the lectures on THI and sighing over not being able to go. 'Course if I were there, I'd probably sigh about having to go! And how's work?

I really want to do that Thanksgiving thing! I think I'd drive, not fly, in order to save $$, so that would cut into my time. But I'll check airfare anyway...just guessing it will be expensive for the holidays. Also, Michelle, anyway your sis could hook us up with a place to stay? If we only had to rent a hotel for one or two nights, it would be great.

Anyway. It's now my prep period and I have work to do!
Much love,
Danielle

Something to pray about...

I read this article in the LA times on Friday I think...kinda scary and I was definitly thinking of Valerie when reading it. What do you think? Heard about it before this?

Christian Schools Bring Suit Against UC
· Civil rights action says the system's admissions policy discriminates against students who are taught creationism and religious viewpoints.
By David Rosenzweig, Times Staff Writer
Amid the growing national debate over the mixing of religion and science in America's classrooms, University of California admissions officials have been accused in a federal civil rights lawsuit of discriminating against high schools that teach creationism and other conservative Christian viewpoints.The suit was filed in Los Angeles federal court Thursday by the Assn. of Christian Schools International, which represents more than 800 religious schools in the state, and by the Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta, which has an enrollment of more than 1,000.


Under a policy implemented with little fanfare a year ago, UC admissions authorities have refused to certify high school science courses that use textbooks challenging Darwin's theory of evolution, the suit says.Other courses rejected by UC officials include "Christianity's Influence in American History," "Christianity and Morality in American Literature" and "Special Providence: American Government."The 10-campus UC system requires applicants to complete a variety of courses, including science, mathematics, history, literature and the arts. But in letters to Calvary Chapel, university officials said some of the school's Christian-oriented courses were too narrow to be acceptable.According to the lawsuit, UC's board of admissions also advised the school that it would not approve biology and science courses that relied primarily on textbooks published by Bob Jones University Press and A Beka Books, two Christian publishers.Instead, the board instructed the schools to "submit for UC approval a secular science curriculum with a text and course outline that addresses course content/knowledge generally accepted in the scientific community.""It appears that the UC system is attempting to secularize Christian schools and prevent them from teaching from a world Christian view," said Patrick H. Tyler, a lawyer with Advocates for Faith and Freedom, which is assisting the plaintiffs.Wendell E. Bird, an Atlanta attorney who represents the Assn. of Christian Schools, said California was the only state in the nation that had taken such actions against Christian schools.Bird said the schools have no objection to teaching evolution alongside creationism but consider the UC regulations a violation of their rights. "And a threat to one religion is a threat to all," he added.UC had not yet been served with the suit, so spokeswoman Ravi Poorsina said she could not comment on its details. But she said the university had a sound legal right to set course requirements for incoming students."What we're doing is really for the benefit of the students," she said. "These requirements were established after careful study by faculty and staff to ensure that students who come here are fully prepared with broad knowledge and the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed."Although private schools have the right to teach what they want, she said, students from those institutions can gain admittance to UC schools by completing the necessary course requirements at community colleges if they choose.Those students can also request admission solely on the basis of their SAT scores, she said.But according to the lawsuit, the odds are heavily stacked against students seeking admission through that route.The suit also accuses the university system of employing a double standard by routinely approving courses that teach the viewpoints of other religions, such as Islam, Judaism and Buddhism.The lawsuit mentions five Calvary Chapel students, identified only by their initials, all with outstanding academic and extracurricular records, who it contends will not qualify for admission because of the university's course requirements. The suit accuses the UC Board of Regents and five university officials of violating the plaintiffs' rights to freedom of speech and religion, and of displaying hostility toward Christianity.It seeks an injunction against the university system's practices.

Its good to be us

I'm just glad I get to hear from you all as much as I do. Even if all of us seem to wax and wane in our frequency, I have kept up with each of you far more than any other season of absence. Do I sound poetic today? Maybe cuz i've been up since 4:30 for work...

Thanksgiving sounds like a terrific idea. Hopefully Val, you could get here by Saturday early, or maybe Friday night? Any and all of you are totally welcome to stay at our apartment a night, if you'd like. In fact, it would be kinda fun, though you guys might find it strange to see a guy so early. = ) but, its there if you need it. I won't have classes or anything over the weekend, and i only have monday classes (although there MIGHT be clinicals on tuesday, i don't know) and maybe family, but no one has said they are coming down yet. if no one is, i'll just go home with Danielle for the big feast. = )

I am so proud of all my teachy-friends. I kinda feel like the black sheep now. I used to have at least Valerie over on my side, but she's slowly slipping away from me. How are you guys feeling about the pay n stuff? Is it pretty good?

Val, i am thrilled that you are "crazy enough not to be worried" cuz thats what God would find glory in. He is going to be teaching, anyways. Keep plugging away at all that work you have and don't feel guilty if you can't write as much as you want to

Diz-- dying for more of an update, but relieved that the first impression was so overwhelmingly positive. hope to hear back soon!

Michelle-- how goes your fingerprinting? have you started the classes yet? how hard are they? how goes work stuff?

School looks like it will go okay. I can't say i'm excited to be back on campus...I seriously don't remember feeling this nerdy and outta place when i was a freshman! but, it'll be okay, b/c i'm not there all that much. Our classes focus on research, which i learned a LOT about this summer, thank the Lord; and leadership/management, which I am actually very excited about. I've always been what they call a "natural Leader" but this is an amazing opportunity to step back and see what qualities i really possess and what ones are in line with Scripture. I love how dependent the class is on biblical study. I also am taking a class on the book of John, which i am nervously excited about. 4 years of Biola, and this is my 1st bible class. = ) I'd love prayer that i really incorporate the new ideas i will be learning into daily life. This is my last chance to soak up Biola's wealth of scriptural guidance!

love you all!

I know, I know...

Town Square
I promised a blog on my classes. Here's the short end of it: they're GREAT but I'm very SLEEPY! At the end of last semester, I had adjusted to the hours pretty well, and could swing 7.5 hrs of sleep on average and was fine. I'm not there yet!!

I owe you a better update and will do my best to get that to ya'll asap.

For now, much love you my sisters.
-Danielle
PS I get ALL Thanksgiving week off--could we reunion the first few days when Val's down for the ACSI thing or is that too crazy?

I have resurfaced...

...from the underground.

Actually, not really. I just have cable internet back. I can now update you on my life, although most of the group knows it. Yes, I can proudly say I've hung out with 3 of the 4 precious members of our blog (1 being myself, naturally). It gave me such joy and pleasure to see Danielle and Michelle, though my heart still mourns for my lost love bunny. I must needs call you soon.

Danielle! You didn't write about your clases yet! And what outfit did you pick out for the first day? Do you think it worked? Are they terrors?

Michelle! Glad to hear you've made it home safe. I need to keep working on you to move outta the desert and into the beautiful green lands beyond. = ) Back to work yet?

Val! I haven't passed on my congratualtions yet! I actually heard from Danielle about your job b/c I had been away for so long...I wasn't ignoring you. I am immensly proud of you, and glad you moved back (if I MUST). When did you say you start? You will most certainly be in my prayers. Especially for sleep! = )

So, life is about to get outta control. School starts tomorrow. I have to admit, i'm scared. I always am, on the first day. I have no steller (Matt's fav word now) track record when it comes to first days of school. I am also complicating things by going back to my old job on Saturday, at the hospital. I get butterflies for that too, but i'm not sure why. Prayer would be great. speaking of, my grandpa is in surgery this afternoon b/c they found a stone in his bile duct this AM. It should be fine, but I still want him to be covered in prayer, since his age makes him vulnerable to a lot of problems.

My trip was great, for those who are interested. All sorts of adventures- sailing on the sound (the little divet part of Wa), searching for property to buy, shopping, shooting...Val, you would be so proud of me...I shot my first gun!! I am pretty sure they don't rent them, by the way. But my brother-in-law took Matt and I up into the hills and taught me to shoot a 9 mm and a .22 rifle. I lvoed it! and i did really good too...Matt was mad that I did better than him! = ) In addition, we bought a BB gun to keep for safetys sake. I got to shoot that too. Val, we can go shooting if you come...

Speaking of, I talked with Diz and Brewster about maybe a Vegas trip, depending on how my break and Danielle's breaks coincide...interested? Matt would be coming too, if thats okay. Who knows...at least we'll have something to think about.

Well, thats about it. I'm working at Smartstop today and yesterday cuz they desperately needed help. they are buying lunch and dinner, and gave me a dollar raise. its nice to hang out and help.

hope to see some more posting soon, and I'll post pics as soon as they are developed. Diz, your cd is coming! i haven't forgotten, but email me your address.

hannah

In Twelve Hours...

Town Square

I will be half way through my first period class. YIKES! I'm a bit nervous; but by tomorrow, I'm sure I will be COMPLETELY nervous. I have my first day outfit picked out, and I know what I'm teaching, etc, but I'm nervous about showing the students that I mean business.

In other news...I made a new friend. :) Her name is Jenny and she and I "swapped secrets." She told me about her crush and I told her I kinda (but am trying not to/only kinda) like John. Sharing secrets, you know, is one of the first things that happens in friendships with girls. :) It was refreshing! She's 26 but still has about two years left of school. She just spent the last year serving as a missionary in Turkey and is now working with the high school youth with me. So exciting!

Anyway, I'll blog tomorrow with info on my classes. If you read this before then please PLEASE pray!! I need strength to appear firm and decisive!

Love ya!

Guess what?

Town Square
Hannah's at my house! :)

She and Matt are sleeping over tonight on their way down from Washington. It's nice to see one of you--I miss you ALL! I'm so disappointed that our hang thing didn't happen. Some weekend sometime soon?

Love you!

Where have all the posters gone?

Town Square

England

Town Square

http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues03/sep03/england.html

Check out the other links at the bottom of the page.
You all still game? 2006 or 2007?

If the walk lacks appeal, how 'bout a Europe tour (Focus: England? Paris? Rome?) in 2006?

I wanna see Oxford!!

Another update from Danielle! :)

Town Square

Hey kiddos.
Glad to hear that you're excited, Val. :) I'm excited for you!! When do you start teaching?

Some GREAT news from my end...talked to the dept. chair again today--I'll be teaching 10 and 12 grade English--normal English (ie, lit, grammar, the whole bit) and not English as a second language. I'm very relieved about that. I'm going in to my class room tomorrow AM to check it out and I'll spend Tues. setting it up. And tomorrow I'll meet with a friend who is a fifth year teacher--she's the mom at the house that I got to housesit several times this summer and is a really neat lady. I'm trying to be like a sponge, soaking up all the stuff that I can!

So, did I tell you guys my parents have DVR? Lately I've been on a _Boy Meets World_ kick. I LOVE Cory Matthews. I'm recording all the episodes that come on ABC family, and had it tape them all even while I was at camp. I've had some serious catching up to do! And I had this great revelation--I'll actually be able to watch Alias this year! I've never been able to when I'm home because of other commitments, but now I can tape it and watch it the next day. Sweet. I am so excited! Hee hee. I know. Lame to get excited about a tv show. But, remember the finale? "First, my name's not Michael Vaughn." Ahhh!!

Okay. My mommy's trying to talk to me so I'm gonna go.

Love you all bunches. Would love to chat with yas sometime soon!

Hugs!
Danielle

Quick hello

Hey there-

Glad to see everyone is back posting again. This will be short- my parents email is SO dial-up and my in-laws don't even have any, so I won't be posting for another week. Life is great up here-- and I loved catching up on everyone's life. I don't feel like detailing it right now. i'm kinda grouchy, for no particular reason. but we're going sailing tonite with Nate and Heather, like I used to with Nate and Sarah. It should be a blast. Call me if you miss me! (Diz, i'll let you know about coming down...)

I have returned! *mua-ha-ha!*

Hey ladies. I am back from camp and quickly trying to get organized before my first year as a teacher starts!

Hume Lake was aMAZing! I adore high school girls. I was assigned a group of responsible girls, and girls who were ready to grow. There were lots of hard times--one girl dealing with anger at a father in prison, a new Christian figuring out what it means to follow God, several freshmen attempting to fit in with the upperclassmen while maintaining their own identity (and obsessing over all the cute boys!). I really feel lucky that I am able to have a relationship with these girls, and camp is always such an amazing time.

This one other leader Courtney, who's about my age, is the only adult I felt like I connected with much at all on the trip. She and I are very different, with completely different backgrounds, but I think we stand a chance of developing a friendship. I think I've pretty much discarded the idea of John. (I still can't believe I post this online. I should google myself and see if I can find it, just to make sure it's safe!) He's very good looking, funny, and in love with God. But he's a bit mean. Not mean in a mean way, but...oh, I can't explain it. But considering the fact that I have hardly talked to him still, and I've known him for a couple months...I'm just thinking that that's it. And that's cool. When it's time for me to date again, someone will make his appearance, and till then I'm trying not to worry about it.

Except there's this one guy who's a few years younger than me, and I'm worried that he may like me. He's a laugh and a half, but I'm not interested in dating him or anything. So my suspicions make me leary and nervous around him. Ugh. Males. :P

Speaking of, the high school theology girls group I've been overseeing has been a blast. We've been talking about what the Bible has to say about women, starting with the role of the wife in a marriage. We spent two weeks on that, and are meeting again on Thurs. to talk about women in the church. I definitely have my hands full, but today I felt like we made incredibly progress in interpreting the Scripture. It's so much fun to see the instant when something new and difficult is finally understood. It's really like there's a light somewhere inside that goes off. I love it!

Other than camp, yesterday I took my mom to Yosemite. She's lived in CA for nearly 50 years and had never gone, so we just did a quick trip through, seeing all the big sights. It was much fun! If you girls have never been, I highly recommend finding the time to take a trip. It's breathtaking and leaves me in absolute awe of our Creator God!

Wwweeelll....my contacts are driving me nuts, so I'm signing off. But first, some reply-age:
Hannah--have so much fun with your fam!! Call me and let me know what day you'll be driving through Sac-town so I can be prepared to meet ya somewhere. And stinky about the truck. Are you going to be shopping around for another one?

Val--have you started the job yet? How's it going? Is Joni still in town?

Michelle...where are you? How's life? Etc. Etc. Are all the weddings finally done?

Love you all mucho!

Hm, it seems quiet in here all ready, without Dizzy around. = ) Oops, I hope she's not secretly reading this. Sorry for my prolonged absence. Its been nutty around here with the move, working 56 hrs in 6 days (the one day off being my moving day) and my dad visiting. But, now I am calming down a bit, catching my breath. I work M-T-W this week, and then I'm done! All finished! Wow!! I can't wait. . .its been a learning experience, thats for sure. One of my nurse brought me a scrub jacket and a framed poem by Maya Angelou as my going away gift! I was so suprised!

We leave for Washington at 3 am on Friday morning, so we'd appreciate your prayers while we are gone. We'll be at my 'rents house for a week, then at Matt's 'rents house for the next week. I"m guessing my posting will be spotty at best, but I'll try valiently to keep in contact. And maybe I'll even use the phone!

I had a great time with my dad down here. I went swimming at his hotel, took a nap, etc, while he was stil in meetings...it was so nice to have some r & r. then matt and I went to a "business" dinner with his bosses. It was SO fun-- drinks, appetizers, fresh (table side) guacamole, dinner, lots of laughter and we didn't have to pay a dime! His bosses are really cool and there were tons of people to talk to. I loved it. My dad and I went to Westlake village the next day, looked at my hospital, went to this crazy little cemetary where famous people are buried, went to Long Beach to see Matt, visited the downtown (SOOO cute...we MUST visit it together sometime...you guys would love it) and then went back and I made dinner. We all watched "Hitch" later that night. All in all, a fun visit. My dad was asking all these "safety" questions...he is STILL so worreid about me down there! I think it was hard for him to see how set up my life is down there, but hopefully reassuring too.

Matt's back is fine, btw...He never did see a dr though. what can you do?? guys will be macho! we didn't get the truck either, i don't remember if i wrote that. Matt called the guy on the day we should have gotten the check, and he had sold it! after we told him to keep it b/c we were buying it! then the guy hung up on him, and wouldn't answer the phone when matt called back 3 times. what a jerk. poor matt was pretty mad. I guess we figure its for the best, right?

well, thats about it for me now. like danielle, i'm revving up to get back to school...just, in a different sense.
Val, are you better yet? Congrats big time on the library job! that will be great to have and you can tell us about all the good books we need to read.

Michelle, how was Chucky Cheese? are you going to keep wokring there after summer is over? are you still coming out here with nat??

love y'all!