College Rivals

No... not CAL vs Stanford or UCLA vs USC.. Those were the big rivals of my time.

Our friends, Greg & Carolyn and their family checking out 85C Bakery with us down in SoCal.

Now it's Biola vs Azuza Pacific University. Two big name Christian universities that many of my peers' kids choose to attend as their college of choice. Both are located in sunny hot (and trafficy) SoCAL. These Christian universities have been the college of choice over many UCs and CA State colleges.

BIOLA:Visiting Greg & Carolyn's son, Cory in his dorm suite (complete with bathroom & shower- door to the far right). This is his first year in college!

The draw is probably that you can actually get in! What a concept. To know that you would be accepted to a university if you meet the GPA and other college requirements. It isn't a shot in the dark...  even though you have a 4.5 GPA and 2300 SAT you may OR may not get into CAL or UCLA. You just don't know! How stressful is that!

Visiting Michael & Angela's 2nd daughter Jessie in her dorm room of 3 gals. This is her 2nd year at Biola.

Nowadays it is so difficult to get into any UC it is just ridiculous. When I was applying I knew that I was probably a shoe-in for UC Davis (even though I didn't want to live in cow country), or UC Santa Cruz (a podunk town at that time) but now those are not easy to get into either.

With Jessie and Cory at the Biola bookstore

But for Biola and APU, it's less stressful trying to get in and they even offer scholarships! Free money (what a concept)  if you have the grades and test scores! They offer smaller class sizes, direct communication with your professors and an abundance of opportunity to feel welcome and accepted with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Plus there is a good chance you'll graduate in 4 years!

APU: Visiting Michelle in her apartment (a rarity since she's been out of the country for a semester every year). This is Michelle's 4th and last year at APU!

Yes times have changed and I can't believe that the kids I taught in Sunday School or have seen grow up from the womb to an adult are in college now!

Visiting my goddaughter, Mandy in her apartment of 2 bedrooms and 5 girls at APU, her 2nd year.

And in a blink of an eye, my first born, my first baby, will also head off to college. But we have to tackle four years of high school first! I do have 4 more years! Whew!

NEXT UP: Clash of Cousins

College Bound

When I was at CAL many moons ago, I never stayed in a dorm. I had the privilege of staying in an apartment on Northside.  But Matthew lived in a dorm for his freshman year.

Creative Decor!

It was Unit 2 Dorms and he shared a room with another freshman. He took down his closet door and made it into his 'desk'. Posters hanging everywhere along with stuff on the ceiling..

 ... and fancy door decorating.. although I'm not sure about what the soda cans were for. Collecting for recycling?

Maybe it was a 'guy'-thing..

Now during this summer vaca down South, we went to visit our new high school graduate,
Jessie, who was moving into Biola University. Her whole family came along to help her move.

Jessie and her family, her roommate and track mascot, llama?

It's pretty cool that they provide a loft bed.. saves space but looks like Jessie doesn't need much space. :)

Funny thing, Matthew's sister, Matthea went to Biola also..

Here's Matthea's dorm room when she moved into Biola. Notice the land line phone in the picture. They don't offer those anymore! But I'm sure they have to offer internet now.

After visiting Jessie, we went to see our goddaughter, our other newly minted high school graduate, Mandy, who moved into her dorm at Azuza Pacific University.

Campus Security is located in the same building! Very safe!! So glad!

She wasn't done decorating yet but check out that closet space on the right... It's a whole wall closet organizer!

We also spent some time visiting Matthew's Auntie Stella (A-Ee) and Uncle Danny's (A-EJeung)
family. We got to meet one of his cousin Lemuel's sons. He has four boys! We still can't believe little Lemuel is a father of four kids!

Lemuel, A-Ee, A-E-Jeung carrying Isaac (their #4 grandson)

Matthew with his two cousins, Lemuel and Simeon (right)

We all went out to lunch.. they do know where to eat and let me tell you JJ Noodle House was DELICIOUS! Best meal on our trip!

The brothers when they were wee little ones!

Lastly before we went home I had to drop by this bakery.. the creme of the creme of Asian Bakeries down here. I bought a box of buns and pastries home. Delish! Oh the food down South is so good.

But I STILL wouldn't live down there. WAY TOO HOT!! I'm a Bay Area girl at heart!