Dearest Friends and Family. . .

Dearest Friends and Family,

Since I've been feeling quite nostalgic lately, I figured that a letter-style post would be most appropriate. I realize that I haven't posted anything new in a few weeks, and it may feel like I've fallen off the face of the earth, but please know that I am alive and well and thriving! This past month has gone by so fast and I feel like there's no way to possibly put into words all that I have experienced thus far, but here it goes :).

I go to the best university in the world. I know that may seem like a very proud and haughty statement, but I believe it to be true with all my heart. There is just something about Berkeley - the people, the atmosphere, the culture, the feeling of endless possibilities and opportunities. Not to mention the spirit...... GO BEARS. I've definitely gotten to a point where I know my way around pretty well. My dorm is a couple blocks off campus, but we're right in the middle of the main commercial district with all the shops and restaurants which is really fun. Yes, there are lots of homeless people around, and yes, I have to walk past People's Park quite frequently, but it's really not as bad as it seems. I like being in an urban atmosphere where I can hear street musicians playing on the sidewalk and spontaneously go to get pizza or ice cream with my roommates. I'm not going to lie, Berkeley is a really scary place to be a night, especially as a young woman, but there are always people willing to go out and have fun on my floor :).

So, I joined a sorority! Alpha Omicron Pi..... or just AOPi for short. The house is absolutely gorgeous and it's the highest one up on the hill, so we have a breathtaking view of the entire San Francisco Bay from our balcony. I've been eating dinner there at least a couple times a week, and have just been getting to know the girls. All of the people in my pledge class (new members) are so incredibly sweet and amazing and I have met so many upperclassmen that I have already come to love and respect. I've joined their intermural softball team, and I'm also considering getting involved with a few committees this semester! There is just so much opportunity to be taken advantage of! I also met a couple other Christians in the house and I went to Campus Crusades with them last Thursday. I absolutely loved it - definitely reminded me of home. I want to start going to their freshman bible study, and they also have a Greek bible study for students in sororities and fraternities that I would love to go to as well. So don't worry about me on that front. There is so much community here and I feel so loved and supported by everyone already. God is so good!

As far as school goes, I have definitely been reading a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean it completely blows my mind how much reading I have assigned per week. But I feel like I'm finally getting back into the swing of things after a month of being here. I expected it to be really hard and I also tried to prepare myself for the disappointment at my performance that is certain to come eventually, but at the same time, I know that all I can do is my best :).

It's so weird to think that some of my best friends are only just moving into college this week. I feel like such a seasoned college veteran or something :). There are definitely moments when I get really homesick, especially when I think about all of my friends from back home. I mean, I went to school with two of my best friends from kindergarten all the way up until we graduated together a few months ago, and it's weird to think that we will never be at the same school again. But I guess that that's just part of life - as one stage ends, another begins. And both are special for different reasons. Anyways, I can't wait to hear from them soon and how their first few days of college have been. I've also been receiving letters from some people and those are so very dear to my heart! I promise if you write me a letter, I will write you back! I can't guarantee that my reply will come right away, but I will do my best to be as prompt as possible!

So there you have it. Even though I have moments of loneliness and sadness, nothing can permanently damper my spirits. I am just so incredibly happy to be here among such amazing and brilliant people, and I thank God everyday for choosing to bless me so completely. There are actually people who have asked me why I am so joyful and smiley all the time and the only answer I have for them is Jesus. He has just been filling me up to the brim with happiness and contentment and my future is fully in His hands. I'm just so excited!

Well, homework calls, but I will try to be better about posting updates more regularly. I'm sure I will have some good stories to tell as the semester marches on :). Farewell for now, dear friends, and know that I am doing very well. I love you all and I can't wait until our next meeting :).

Sincerely,
Olivia

First Week of College : Complete

Oh my goodness. So much has happened in this last week. In some ways, I still feel like I'm at a camp and I'm going to be going home in a few days, but then I look around at all of my belongings and pictures on the walls, and I remember that this is my home now. In fact, I was getting lunch with one of my roommates the other day, and I said "let's go home." It came out so nonchalantly that we just stopped for a second, smiled, and thought about all that that meant.

So gear up for a long post folks. If you would like to take it in stages - so be it. There is just so much that I want to share!

DORM LIFE

I absolutely love all of the people on my floor. I have met and had conversations with nearly each and every one of them already which is crazy considering that there are 35ish people living here! It is a co-ed floor and the bathroom (yes, bathroom - singular) is co-ed as well. So far, this hasn't been a big issue, and the lingering feelings of uneasiness will probably begin to disappear as we all get to know each other even better.

We keep our door open and people come in occasionally to chat :). It's been so amazing to live with other teenagers for the first time in my "only-child existence." In fact, most people at Berkeley are very friendly and approachable. I don't think I've talked to a single person yet that seemed genuinely disinterested in having a conversation.

The other night people were hanging out in the lounge playing poker, and there have been ideas going around of having floor game nights and movie nights! So exciting!

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

This semester I'm taking English 31AC, Psychology 1, Earth Science, and Classics 10A (Intro to Greek Civilization). Thursday was the first day of class and I had Classics in the morning and Psych in the afternoon. I LOVED THEM BOTH! I was just so happy to be back in school. Completely nerdy I know. It was so cool to think that all of the kids sitting in that classroom with me had been at the top of their class in high school - very humbling.

I'm especially excited to go to my English class on Wednesday though, because I've hardly met any other English majors since I've been here! In fact, humanities majors have been quite scarce in general. I'm one of the only ones on my entire floor. We had a floor meeting the other day and when we went around and said our names and majors, it was mostly computer science, pre-med, and engineering. Crazy smart people!

Anyways, I'm just so excited to learn and Berkeley is the perfect place for that! If I learn something especially interesting, I will definitely share it in the future :).

RUSH WEEK

Ok. So I decided to rush for a sorority here at Berkeley. I had never thought of myself as being a sorority-type girl, and some of you who are reading this might be surprised as well, but since I've been going through this process I see so many positives of being in one. All of the girls that I've talked to in the last few days have been so sweet and intelligent, which quelled all of the reservations that I had in the beginning. Not to mention that most of the 13 sorority houses at Berkeley are gorgeous mansions and are higher up than the dorms which mean they have stellar views of the bay, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.

Rush week began last Tuesday and it will end this coming Tuesday. Throughout the week, the list of sororities that I'm still in the running for has been slowing shrinking until it gets down to 3 on Monday night. Then we all get to dress super fancy and make our last impressions on our favorites before they make their final decisions. We shall see. If I get an offer from one of the houses that I have really grown to like, I will definitely consider joining! I will keep you guys posted!

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

I have been so incredibly blessed by all of the community I've found here in Berkeley. God is certainly moving on this campus! One of my first nights here, I got invited to go to a student welcome night that was being held in one of the biggest lecture halls on campus. There was a skit, worship, and a message, and the place was absolutely packed! It was amazing to look around and see so many Berkeley students praising God and praying for Him to come and bless our campus. So please be praying for this campus too. I see so many lost souls walking around and it breaks my heart, but there are also so many people here who are passionate and on fire for God!



So this has been my first major update. I hope you all have enjoyed it! If you have any more specific questions about anything I would love to answer them :). I also have received a couple letters from friends already, so if you would like to be my pen pal, I would love to keep in contact with you via old fashioned handwritten correspondence! Just let me know and I will give you my address here at school. I love you all and I hope that you are having a blessed day.

Sincerely,
Olivia

 

 

MOVE IN DAY!!!!

Hello dear friends! I'm now officially a student at UC Berkeley! Definitely exciting and terrifying at the same time.

My room is on the 5th floor and the line for the elevator was super long, so my parents and I just carried all of my luggage up the stairs. It took three separate trips. Needless to say I am SO sore this morning!! But other than that, it's been fun. I've been enjoying getting to know my two roommates, and just continuing to get settled into my dorm room. I'm going to be here for an entire year you know :).

I continue to be surprised by how beautiful the Berkeley campus is. Yesterday when we were walking around, we saw many redwood groves and peaceful-looking places. There is a little creek running through the middle of the campus and there are tons of old stone bridges that cross over it. I'm excited to explore more as the weeks go on!

Classes don't start until Thursday, so I have a couple more days to get settled in and there are many welcome activities planned. I hope to meet some more people on my floor!

I'm sorry that I don't have any pictures up yet - I'm not tech-savvy at all!!! But I met a computer science major that's going to be living on my floor, so maybe he'll be able to help me out! Hopefully I'll have pictures from my dorm and some pictures of the campus up soon.

On a more personal note, please be sending prayers my way!!! I'm already missing my fantastic Christian community from home and I really hope to find one here ASAP. I have a feeling that this year is going to challenge my faith like I've never been challenged before, but I also know that I will come out of it stronger than ever :). So feel free to message me some of your favorite verses or quotes and I will put them on my wall for inspiration! And I also just got my mailing address so message me if you would like that as well :). I love you all, and I will be in touch!

Sincerely,
Olivia

Preparing to Embark

This is it....... The moment I've been waiting for........... Less than 12 hours until departure.

I just finished packing and I'm about to sleep in my bed for the last time in a while. It still feels so surreal.

Ever since I found out that I had been accepted to Berkeley, I have been anticipating this moment. I have been so excited for months, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't sad to be leaving home. It has definitely been difficult saying goodbye to so many friends these past few days, but I know that I will see them all again.

Tomorrow, my parents and I are going to drive down to the Bay Area in the morning and then head off to see Alcatraz Prison in the afternoon. As my dad said, "your dorm room will look so luxurious and spacious after going there!" No kidding! Then the day after that, we're just going to bum around San Francisco and get a better feel for the city :).

And then Saturday is move in day! I will try to post lots of pictures in the days to come :).

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I will certainly need it as I prepare to embark on this next big adventure! I will miss all of you so much and you will always be in my heart. And I take great comfort in the idea that this isn't truly goodbye. I will be back, I promise :).

Sincerely,
Olivia

Memory Post #3 / / Fellowship and Friends

I have always had a soft spot for stories that center around good friends. There is something about true friendship that is so inspiring and heart-warming. Growing up, I looked up to characters such as Frodo and Sam from the Lord of the Rings, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione from Harry Potter because you can just tell that there is so much love in those friendships and that they would do absolutely anything for each other.

God put so much of his heart into us, and I think that our need for fellowship and friendship is a big part of that. I love watching some of the groups of friends at my church and how they interact with each other. There is a sense of unspoken support and something surreal and otherworldly about friendships that are rooted in God.

I've been thinking about all of this lately, because I know that I am really going to miss having my amazing Christian community of friends when I leave in a few days. Last night, I was at a going-away party for one of my good friends who is also leaving for college soon and at one point, a few of the guys grabbed guitars and started playing for everyone and singing. I love the feeling that always comes when a group of friends is worshiping God together. You can just feel His presence and His desire to be close.

I've known a lot of my best friends since I was five years old. Those kind of friendships are so deep. That being said, I want to share something with all of you. I have said before that I have thought about becoming a novelist and I have actually been working a little bit on a book. This was a piece that I wrote for it a couple weeks ago and after I read it back, I realized that it completely reflected how I was feeling about my own friendships. Here it is:

"Annie looked at Tom and noticed that there was something ethereal in the way that he appeared to her at that moment. He wasn't dressed any differently than normal and his warm smile brightened up his face as usual, but something about her perception of him had changed. She realized that there was something inherently special about their friendship. When she looked at him, she saw the little boy that she had grown up with as well as the young man that now stood before her. She realized how long she had taken him for granted. Just as the sun can be depended on to rise and set daily, Tom had remained one of the few sources of normalcy and consistency in her ever-changing life. As Annie observed him, she thought of all this and smiled faintly. "No matter what happens," she thought, "we will always be bonded as friends who have shared so much life together."

And it's true. I will always be bonded with the people that I grew up with. We may not be incredibly close anymore in the years to come, but we will always have those memories of so many formative and important years together.

Just as that Randy Newman song goes - "And as the years go by, Our friendship will never die, You're going to see it's our destiny, You've got a friend in me."

So hold your special friends close. Thank God for them and pray for them, because at the end of our lives, those are the people that we will reflect upon, and we will realize that at the end of the day, those friendships were what truly mattered.

Sincerely,
Olivia

Memory Post #2 / / Coast Trip

I had friendship issues my entire junior year of high school for some reason or another. I don't say that to be self-pitying, but to give perspective to what I'm going to talk about later. I had been struggling with awful bouts of loneliness off and on for months and I could feel the toll that that took on me. Then that next summer, I went to Houseboat Camp with my church youth group and God really spoke to me there. He told me that being alone isn't a bad thing. In fact, it gives Him the opportunity to speak to us in ways that He never could while we are busy running about and sticking to our own agendas! I remember feeling so relieved and blessed to be surrounded by people who loved me so much. That's when everything changed for me.

That week I got close to a few friends who completely changed my life. They reached out to me in ways that I had never been reached out to before. I am usually the one that pursues in my various friendships, but these people pursued me. I cannot tell you how much that made me feel loved and appreciated.

After hanging out for a few weeks after camp, the group of us decided to go on a little adventure over labor day weekend. It was one of the first weekends of my senior year, and I couldn't imagine spending it any better way.

We got up super early in the morning - like 5:30 am - picked up donuts and coffee and started the long drive over the mountains to the coast. It was super misty that day and I just remember basking in the beauty of it all and wondering why God had chosen to bless me with such great friends.

When we got to the beach, we stopped to pick some blackberries by the side of the road and then carried all of the stuff that we had brought for our picnic - blankets, baguettes, assorted cheeses, crackers, cookies, vegetables, fruit, salami, etc. We spread out the blankets on the sand and piled all of the food in the middle - it looked glorious. I couldn't help but smile when we passed around the baguette to break off pieces for ourselves. I think I might have even made a comment about us "breaking bread together" and how special that was :).

Anyways, we had such a fun day of fellowship on the beach - making sandcastles and driftwood sculptures, and playing Frisbee and such. We packed up and drove to the Samoa Cookhouse and ate way more food than I could ever imagine a group our size eating. I mean we're talking unlimited amounts of salad, soup, bread and butter, ham, turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, iced tea, lemonade, apple pie, and lots more. If you've never heard of the Samoa Cookhouse, you should check it out the next time you're in Eureka - I linked the website just above.

My friend Carson took lots of photos from this day so I thought I would share some of them!












This was just the best day ever - one that I will always remember. Thank you to all of you who made it so special.

And if you really like these pictures and live in the area, this is Carson's photography facebook page!

Sincerely,
Olivia

Memory Post #1 / / Photo Journal

 

I have really only been using an Instagram for the past year, but I have found that it is such a useful tool! I would probably use it a lot more, but, alas, I only have an iPod Touch instead of an iPhone. My senior year was certainly a crazy one and laced through with extreme sleep-deprivation and stress, but on the other hand, it was definitely my best year of high school as far as friends and memories were concerned. So I would like to show you some pictures from this past year, because everyone likes looking at pictures right? :)

First day of Senior Year

East Coast trip with my Dad - We drove from Washington DC to Boston and back in three days! We stopped in Philadelphia, saw Independence Hall and I had my first Philly Cheese Steak :). The other pictures are from the gorgeous Princeton University. We also stopped and saw Yale and Harvard - equally stunning.

I attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in DC - aka the reason for the East Coast trip. I meant many friends there that I still keep in touch with and I learned so much about international relations! All in all, it was something that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life :)

Yet another beautiful, sunny Christmas Eve on the beach near San Diego with my family :).

 

I just like this picture because I'm wearing one of my Dad's old sweaters! Since then, I have "borrowed" two more - with permission of course :). Big sweaters are definitely going to become a staple for me at Berkeley.

Oh boy. These two. The three of us have certainly been through a lot together! The picture on top is from senior year, and the picture on bottom is from kindergarten. All in all, we went to school together for 13 straight years. I'm going to miss them both dearly as we all head off to separate universities.

Science Bowl 2013. And you thought that a science trivia competition couldn't be intense! We actually ended up getting 3rd place out of 22 teams! Of course the whole time I was there, the only thought I kept coming back to was "What am I doing here? I want to be an English major for goodness sakes!" but I got to spend time with two of my best friends so it was totally worth it :)

For those of you who don't know, I have been playing softball since I was very little! I've never been very good and academics have always been my primary focus, but I like to play just for fun :). I played all four years in high school and my only goal for my senior season was to get in the newspaper for something good! And I did it in our first pre-season tournament! 7 for 12 :)

Senior Prom with one of my very good friends :). Fun fact - He went to a different school so I actually had to ask him to "escort me". He was the perfect date and I'm so glad that I asked him :).

By far, my favorite picture of the three of us ever. Oh I just love them so much! Another fun fact - my mom found my dress at a thrift store for $10. Yep, $10. And it was perfect!

And finally, graduation. I know that I've already shared this picture, but I just love it so much :).

 Of course, there were so many other milestones last year and such, but I'm not very tech-savvy yet, and I need to figure out how to get more pictures from my computer onto this blog. Haha I just copied and pasted all of these from my Facebook!

 

Oh and one last thing - I cut my hair! Like a lot! I know that that might not seem like a big deal, but I haven't had my hair this short since elementary school. My aunt says that it's a "transition cut", as in a physical representation of my transferring from high school to college. I think she's right :)

 

 

Top: BEFORE          Bottom: AFTER

 

 

Anyways, I know that this has been a picture overload sort of post, but I plan on delving a little deeper into some of my favorite childhood memories / stories as I continue to prepare to leave for Berkeley next week! I hope that you all have a great afternoon and God bless :)

 

 

Sincerely,

Olivia

10 Days and Counting

It's getting down to the wire folks. I leave home in 10 days! It's still hard to believe that this is all happening - but I suspect that that's normal.

I went for a walk with my mom on the river trail this evening. Often times I take for granted how beautiful Northern California is and how fortunate I was to grow up here. We were driving there during the best part of the day, when the sun's fading light perfectly accentuates all of the foothills leading up to the mountains. It's just breath-taking.

Then we walked along the river for a while and appreciated all of its gorgeous, natural scenery. I'm definitely going to miss living by a river. I'm looking forward to living close to the ocean in a few weeks, but there is something about a river that is so calming and peaceful. It's hard not to bask in its tranquility and stillness when everything else in life feels so scattered.

Anyways, this is a short post, but in the days leading up to my departure, I want to share some of my favorite memories about growing up here. Believe me, there are many :). I feel like there are many people who greatly dislike living in this area, but I am not one of them. I will be sad to leave, but I am greatly anticipating all of the adventures that are "just around the river bend." :)

Sincerely,
Olivia

Road Trip!

When I pulled onto the freeway on the way to Berkeley Tuesday morning, all I could think of was that scene in the Hobbit where Bilbo is running out of town, arms flailing, and yelling "I'M GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!!!!" Needless to say, I couldn't stop smiling. Since it was a solo journey, this trip really did seem like the beginning of my college "adventure."

I was almost surprised by how much I enjoyed driving alone. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love driving with people too, but there was this sense of freedom about going solo. I could sing as loud as I wanted and I also had complete dominion over the stereo :). It also made me realize that college is not the only big part of this next stage in my life. As I was driving, I imagined myself doing a really long cross-country road trip after college..... alone. Then the realization hit that until I get married, a lot of my life will be spent by myself. Of course, I know that I will have friends at Berkeley and I will be able to visit everyone at home, but as far as always having someone there to depend on (my parents / husband), I will have to be making a lot of my important life decisions on my own. Again, I guess that this is just one of those things that comes along with growing up. I'm definitely excited, but there is always a little bit of a fear of the unknown that hovers.

Anyways........ Berkeley! My only regret is that it was really foggy that day and I couldn't see San Francisco, but I have been there before on a clear day and the view is breathtaking. I walked around where I am going to be living and where I am going to be taking classes, and realized that it's only about a two-minute walk from one to the other! One thing that I love about the Berkeley campus is that it's so lush and green and alive. In the courtyard of my dorm complex they have planted lots of trees and ferns, and I can't wait to see what the fall foliage will look like :). The main campus also has a little creek running through the middle of it, and towering redwoods, grassy fields, and lots of flowers on top of that.

I didn't take any pictures while I was there, because I was beginning to notice all of the creepy people that walk around there, and I didn't want to look like a total tourist. For whatever reason, my computer wouldn't let me add pictures this time, but I definitely want to show all of you where I am going to be living :). Hopefully, I will be able to get a few up soon!

Sincerely,
Olivia

Reflections



Cambrey and I at our high school graduation

I am often shocked when I think about all of the things that I take for granted each and every day. I said goodbye to my best friend a couple of days ago because she's going on a three-week-long vacation and I realized just how much I'm going to miss her. We've been good friends since kindergarten and went to school together all through elementary, jr. high, and high school until we graduated two months ago - seated side by side, both of us in complete and utter disbelief that the anticipated moment had finally arrived.

For thirteen years, she was the person that I always looked forward to seeing everyday at school because the odds were that I had something really important to tell her or that I needed to ask her advice about a pressing issue. We kept each other going throughout our crazy, hectic, and stressful senior year, and we could always find things to laugh about even when we felt like crying and giving up. We have been apart for most of the summer and I have missed her company greatly, but at the same time, I realize that those days of seeing her daily are gone. Those thirteen years have passed and now it has all come to an end. It's amazing to think that I dragged myself through most of those long days at school, and now, on the other side of things, I wish that I just had one more year with her and all of the other friends that I cherish so greatly. Growing up is hard.

Another thing that I've been thinking about lately is how easily I've been breathing now that I'm out of school. That's probably the aspect of life that I take for granted the most - that simple process of taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide. We're always breathing, but only every once in a while do we even notice it because we are always running around with so much on our minds. I was watching a movie the other day and I suddenly focused on my steady heartbeat and breathing - completely relaxed and unburdened by the weight of stress. I didn't have to worry about writing an essay, or doubling up on AP Bio chapters, or struggling through Calculus homework - I could just sit and breathe and relax.  In...... out. In....... out. In....... out.

The coursework at Berkeley is guaranteed to be more difficult than anything I've experienced before, but I don't want to repeat the mistakes that I made my senior year of high school. I have already come to face the fact that I will not be able to get all A's like I've done in the past and you know what? THAT IS OK. I will survive and I will learn, no matter what happens. I want to remember what this state of contentment feels like when I am in the midst of my studies next year because at the end of the day, I will still be alive, I will still be breathing, and that in itself is enough.

I will be driving down to Berkeley by myself tomorrow in order to get a better feel for the campus, get my ID card, and have lunch with a friend. It will be good for me to assert my independence seeing as I'm about to start a whole new life on my own. So I might as well start now :).

Sincerely,
Olivia

Cinematic Favorites

I just looked over my last few posts and realized that I have been touching on some pretty deep topics - the future, fear, nostalgia, etc. I mentioned before that I am a very sentimental person, but there is also a significant part of me that absolutely loves simplicity and simple pleasures. In the spirit of this, I decided to share some fun things today....

 

As part of my extensive college preparations, I have recently begun to deliberate on which movies I am going to allow myself to take. There are SO many great movies out there! I tend to lean more towards "people movies" that have amazing character development and intricate plots, but I also have a soft spot for silly movies like Austin Powers and Dumb and Dumber.  Anyways, these are a few that I would love to take with me (I don't have all of them on DVD, but if I don't they're definitely on my wish list!). My reason for choosing these particular ones is that I could watch them over and over and never get tired of them! That is important, considering that my selection will be much more restricted than it is at home.....
 

 

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - A must. These could easily be some of my favorite movies of all time, and, I must confess, I did watch all three movies in a row once on the way down to San Diego. If you didn't already guess that I'm a nerd, you definitely know now.

 

2. Harry Potter (yes, all of them if possible) - These are also some of my favorites. All of the stories are timeless and the characters are so loveable. Besides, Hermione Granger never ceases to inspire me with her work ethic, desire to learn and succeed, love for others, and incredible bravery. A couple people have told me over the years that I remind them of her, and I consider that to be a beautiful compliment.

 

3. Notting Hill - Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Romantic Comedy. London. British accents. Hilarious scenarios. Need I say more? This movie is not very well known, but I love it :).

 

4. The Amazing Spider Man - Oh Andrew Garfield. I saw this movie three times in the theatres if that tells you anything. I love pretty much all superhero movies, but this one had just the right amount of everything - action, character development, romance, etc., and it completely blew me away.

 

5. Warm Bodies - This is quickly becoming one of my favorite movies of all time. By far, it's the best version of Romeo and Juliet that I've ever seen. Besides being a Zombie Romantic Comedy - which could be the best genre ever created - I loved all of the snappy one-liners and genuine nature of the story.

 

6. Pride and Prejudice - The Kiera Knightley version. Timeless romance and so beautifully written.

 

7. Elf - An absolute classic Christmas movie :). "He's an angry elf......"

 

8. Meet Joe Black - This is another one of those "lesser known" movies that I love. It's incredibly intellectual and has one of my favorite film scores of all time. If you can get past the idea that Brad Pitt is playing the Angel of Death in human form, it's fantastic.

 

9. Secondhand Lions - Honestly, I love pretty much every movie that features Michael Caine, and this one has not only him but Robert Duval as well! It's such a wonderful story and I hope to write one like it someday.

 

So there you go. You can tell a lot about a person by their taste in movies, so perhaps you have learned a few things about me from this list! I want to continue sharing some of my favorite things with all of you, but I will save that for a later date :).

Sincerely,
Olivia

 

 

 

 



Crossroads and What Could Have Been

On the plane home from San Diego yesterday, I found myself wondering how different my life would have been if I had grown up there instead of in Northern California. For those of you who don't know, I was actually born in San Diego but moved here when I was really young. Don't get me wrong, I have loved growing up in Northern California, but whenever I visit my family in So-Cal, nostalgic thoughts of what could have been always linger.


A beach on Coronado Island - one of my favorites in So-Cal

I love my family so much. I mean, most people do, but I have always had such a deep connection with my grandparents, and also with my cousins - who are really close to me in age - because I happen to be an only-child.

When I was little and both of my parents worked, I would stay with my cousins during the day, and people just assumed that my aunt and uncle had five children! I only lived a couple minutes away from them and also from my grandparents. I still get to see all of them about twice a year - a few weeks in the summer and a week or so during Christmas break - but it would have been so different if we would have stayed.


This was taken a few years ago at my cousin Chloe's graduation

But God had different plans, and He urges me to look forward, not backwards. Yes, I might not have had to go through those seasons of loneliness that have plagued me over the years, and I could have been like one of those cool surfer girl stereotypes that you can see on television, but then again, I wouldn't have been the "me" that I am today. The "me" that God has been shaping for the last seventeen (almost eighteen) years. In the same way, I could have chosen to go to UCLA or UC San Diego or Cal Poly, and I would have been closer to my family down there, but I chose to go to UC Berkeley because it just felt right and I know that that is where God has me.

It has gotten harder and harder to say goodbye to my family as the years have gone by, because it is becoming less and less certain of when I will be able to see them again. Soon I will be a full-time student at Cal, I will be looking for a job, and I will have more responsibilities on my plate than I will know what to do with. Adult life is upon me and I need to accept that things will not be as cut and dry as they have been in the past. It will not be a given that I get to travel to San Diego during the summer or even over Christmas, but I have to trust that God knows the desires of my heart and that no matter what happens, it will be in my best interest. So anyways, last week was incredible,  many memories were made, and I already miss all of them terribly, but I am definitely looking forward to our next meeting :).

On a side note - I was thinking about how I am going to structure this blog and I think that as soon as I start school, I am going to try and post at least once a week on Saturdays. That will give me a good goal to follow and then you all will know when to check for a new entry if you are interested in reading about my endeavors. For the rest of the summer, I will have time to post at my leisure for the most part, but as soon as school starts, I may be quite pressed for time. But I will do my best to keep up with this because I really do enjoy it :)

Sincerely,
Olivia

Spontaneity, Coincidence, and God's Amazing Love

A number of crazy events have happened over this past week. As I sit down to write this, there is a small part of me that can't believe that I am actually here....... "here" being at my cousin's house in southern California. So I'm going to tell this story, because few things have occurred in the past seventeen years of my life that better demonstrate God's love for me.

In my last post I talked about my memory box, but I neglected to mention the reason why I had needed its comforting contents that day. The truth is, I have always struggled with loneliness and my tendency to become deeply attached to my friends. I know that this stems from my reality of being an only child, but I still have never been able to shake these feelings completely. Working it out with God has certainly made it all better, but there are times when it rises up and begins to overflow. This is what happened on the morning of July 3rd. 

Everything seemed to hit me at once. Most of my family lives in San Diego and I usually go down to visit them for a few weeks over the summer, but as of July 3rd, it wasn't looking as if I would be able to make that trip this year. A couple of my closest friends were getting ready to leave for a big part of the rest of the summer on various adventures, and I was also beginning to realize just how much I am going to miss all of my friends and family next year when I'm at Berkeley. That morning I simply sobbed until I couldn't anymore. All of my tears were spent, but looking back, I don't remember praying in that moment. I think that I was too miserable to think about anything else - kind of pathetic I know, but I'm being completely honest here.

The next morning - July 4th - I sat down with my mother at our kitchen table to take a look at the calendar. I had previous engagements for the rest of the summer and we determined that my only window of opportunity to go to San Diego would be over the next two weeks. Then I remembered something. A very dear friend of mine had told me a couple days before that he and his family were getting ready to drive to San Diego for a vacation. I knew that it was a very slim chance that I would be able to go with them, but I decided to pursue it anyway and after a series of hectic phone calls I had a ride down to southern California. I left the next morning on July 5th. Remember, this was all taking place the day after my "emotional breakdown." 

Throughout this whole experience, I have been reflecting on just how much God loves me. A couple weeks ago, I listened to a sermon about the first couple chapters of Exodus and how God had "seen the misery" and "heard the cries" of His people in Egypt, and how He was "concerned about their suffering." The God of the entire universe was acutely listening to the cries of His children and He was determined to rescue them. I remembered that when I was crying that morning, I had forgotten to pray, but God must have heard me after all. He knew the desires of my heart, and because He loves me, He took care of me. Of course, He didn't have to go to such dramatic measures to do so, but the amazing coincidences of this past week only serve to glorify Him and His amazing, perfect love. 

So this is the story. There were many other things that happened along the way, but if I attempt to write out all of the "God things" that have occurred this week, I would be writing for a very, very long time. I hope that this story has given you a couple of smiles and some encouragement and that you are reminded that God loves us no matter what and that He is always listening.

Sincerely,

Olivia

Encouraging Words

I don't really know what the "blog norms" are, and I'm not sure if posting two days in a row is an unspoken violation of some sort, but I just can't help it. I love to write! Good thing too, because English majors sure do a lot of that :)

By the way, I was shocked by the positive feedback I got from my first post! Thank you to everyone who read it and gave their appreciation! Words of encouragement of that nature are very dear to my heart. And with that, I would like to smoothly transition into my desired topic..... handwritten letters and other keepsakes.

Old-fashioned correspondence simply gives me so much happiness. I currently have at least three different types of stationary in my possession and envelopes in a variety of colors. My address book leans right up against my thesaurus on my desk and I always love to add new acquaintances to its pages.

I have kept nearly every note and letter and birthday card that I have ever received. No joke. I find them everywhere. In fact, my room itself is a ram-shamble of assorted memorabilia as I have pictures plastered all over the walls, my favorite books stacked in my bookshelf (with notes written in the margins, of course), a mini Christmas tree that I have neglected to take off my desk, and collections of papers lying around everywhere in neat but unorganized piles. Anyone that knows me well would say that I am a deeply sentimental person, and that is completely true.

This brings me to my memory box - something I cherish greatly. It contains some of the best letters of encouragement I have ever received and whenever I am dwelling in doubt, indecision, or am simply trying to fight off loneliness, I take it down from its place on my bookshelf and begin to rifle through its contents. The box itself is some cheap thing I got at Walmart, but with a little love and care, a lot of Mod Podge (something akin to glue for you crafting newbies), and tons of pictures from old magazines, I turned it into a delightful thing to look at. I don't remember exactly when I made it, but I think it was a few years ago at least. At the time I put a little inscription on the cover and today I actually read it for the first time in a very long time:

"Someday I will travel. I'm not quite sure where yet, but I know that I will. Hopefully I will make it to England and perhaps even live there for a while and maybe even write a book - a story that tells of adventure and mystery and true love. Nothing like the love stories of today, but of gentlemen and ladies; not necessarily in fortune but in manners and chivalry and dignity. Maybe someday I will find my own Prince Charming. I wonder where I will find him? Will it be here in the United States? In California? Or it could happen in England or Ireland or Scotland or Wales if I go to Oxford or Cambridge for a semester. I could meet him in a coffee shop or bookstore and it will be enchanting. We could discuss our favorite books and films and then we might exchange information just because we admire each other so fondly already. But whatever happens and wherever I go, I know that God will be with me - I may not always realize it, but it's true. He knows what's best for me and my life is fully in His hands. I will also have this box - for this box is special. It contains precious memories and words of timeless encouragement. Whenever I can't trust my own wandering heart at least I will have this to turn to."

I had to smile when I read this. Certainly a lot has happened in my life since I wrote those words at fifteen or sixteen years of age, but no matter what hardships get thrown at me in the next few years, I know that there will always be a little part of me that still wants to meet my "Prince Charming" in a coffee shop somewhere in England. However silly that may sound.

That inscription and the letters that I have kept have given me so much encouragement over the last few years; often at times when I thought that none could be found anywhere else. When this idea occurred to me this afternoon, I told myself "Wait a second, you have a blog now! There could be a slight chance that this little story could brighten someone's day, so you should share it." So if that person is you, I hope that you find encouragement today. I hope that you allow yourself to take some "you time" and find a sense of peace by looking through some old photo albums or calling up a friend just to chat or even simply watching an episode of your favorite childhood cartoon (mine is a toss-up between Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby Doo :D). In a world where there's so much bad, I hope that you find a glimmer of pure innocence today :). Even if just one person gets a smile out of this post, I will consider it to be a success. Have a great rest of your day everyone. God Bless.

Sincerely,
Olivia

New Beginnings

I love the first sentence of a book. It holds so much potential and promise for all that is to come.

As I was thinking about this the other day, I wandered over to the literature section of my family's little private library and started to browse some of the titles on the shelves. My parents are life-long readers and I also developed a love of reading throughout my childhood, but only recently have I grown to appreciate all of the beautiful leather copies of classic literature that are at my disposal. Anyways, I grabbed a few of my favorites, opened them up all up to Chapter 1, and read the first sentence in each......


"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

"When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only." Walden by Henry David
Thoreau

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

"When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable looking child ever seen." The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett


Ok. I lied. These are not all "classic literature", but they are all great stories that are beloved by so many people across the world. It amazes me that every great novel has to begin somewhere - with a single sentence.

I suppose that the reason why this has fascinated me so much, is that, figuratively speaking, I am about to write the first sentence in the next chapter of my life's story - college. In the fall, I will be headed off to the University of California, Berkeley, to study English and I couldn't be more excited and terrified at the same time. I have found myself worrying about the silliest things lately.... things like whether or not I'll have enough money to buy shampoo and conditioner if I run out, or if I'll have enough warm clothes for the winter, or what books to bring with me. But then again, I have also been worrying about important things as well....... Will I be able to compete academically at Berkeley? Will I find a healthy church community down there? How badly will I miss my friends and family? Will I be able to defend my relationship with God confidently if put in the situation?

Even though I don't leave for another two months, all of these things have been weighing on my mind.

But at the same time, I know that God is writing my story. The pen is in His loving hand. I look again at those first sentences from some of my favorite books and its apparent that not all of them are spectacular - the Hobbit's especially - but that turned out to be one of the best stories ever written. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that even if my first sentence isn't a masterpiece, my first few days or weeks at Berkeley are discouraging, that doesn't have the power to shape my whole college experience. God is going to fill the next four years of my life with joy and adventure as well as trials and hardship, but it will all fit together to create a beautiful and well-balanced tale that will ultimately reflect Him and His Glory.

I plan to use this blog as a way to keep all of you connected to my life and to what God is doing in Berkeley over the next few years. Again, I don't leave for a while but there will probably be more thoughts as I prepare for my departure :). I know that these next four years are going to be the hardest I have yet faced, but with God's guidance I am sure that I will walk out of Berkeley with so much more knowledge and experience and hopefully, a better idea of what God has for me in this crazy adventure called life.