I'll be HOME for Christmas.....

This is to tell you all that I am coming home soon!!! As much as i really really love it here and I know that this is the place that God has for me, I am really ready to come home. I need the time away, i need to be able to sleep, and rest, and relax...I need to see my family, i need a hug from my mom, my dad, my sisters, my best friends, and any other person, i love in my life, I need to recharge my life, i need to go to my own church, i need to see a small child or two and get to give them a hug, need to be with the people i love!!!!! i need to not have to grocery shop, have a dryer and dishwasher work right, eat my moms food, be able to do the things the way i always have..... and i need to not think...at all....about papers, and projects, and tests, and reading, and clients......
But i only have 1 more week of class, and 1 week of finals....and then....

DAYTON, OHIO, on FRIDAY DECEMBER 18, 2009 at 11:25 pm.....can not come fast enough....

and I hope I can see you all sometime while i am home...Love and miss you all...pray for me these last 14 days......
see you on the other side of the continental divide...... xoxo

FYI!!!

Ah i guess it's time.....to write to all the lovely people that i miss back home....
i have been here well over a month.... in fact I have been here at APU for 6 weeks now....or 44 days if you want to look at it that way.... and honestly I absolutely love it here. God has been so incredibly good to me here. It doesn't hurt much that when i look at the temp at home it says its all of about 40* and here we had to run the AC yesterday....and today looks to be a gorgeous 80* Which reminds me often of one of the small reasons that i moved here in the first place!!!
My classes are great really....i love the faith integration that is in each class. I love the fact the our professors can easily talk about their faith and their church and all things faith related as a part of who they are. The actual social work major here only has about 5 or so professors that you will get regularly although the department just added a couple adjuncts. Right now the major is under 150 students in all 4 years so you get to know the people in your class level really well....i guess going from class to class will do that to you!!
My apartment and my roommates are also pretty great..... We love where we are living and we have a lot of fun together. We are all transfer students so we have that in common and we are all juniors so there is that too... one of them is also an social work major and she also just had a birthday a few weeks after mine and also turned 22. One is 21, and one is 20. So for the most part we get along well and we hang out together and do stuff together and generally have fun together. I would say for the most part most of us have bonded well. its fun!!! :)
I am also working about 20 hours a week. It is an on-campus job and i actually like it alot. It was completely a God thing that i even got the job. 2 of my roommates were actively pursing jobs and not having a ton of luck and i was half-halfheartedly doing it. The on campus jobs were really hard to come by this semester for some reason. So i saw this job opening at the IMT support desk and i applied on a Friday... probably a few hours later i got a phone call which i didn't see till later that night about a job in the distance learning office (which i did not apply for) and they wanted to do an interview sometime monday. I did not get the chance to call back until monday after chapel, i agreed to do the interview even though i had absolutely no idea what the job was. i had my interview with several of the people there at 2:00 on monday and later while i was sitting in my bible class...about 3:30...they called me and offered me the job. It was such a God thing for me to get this job that i had not pursued at all. God was good to me. I am really liking this job.Basically i do all things online class related for APU. Both graduate and undergraduate level. I get to incorporate things from the 2 extra classes i took last semester. Internet development, and into to Mac. although the work could be done without the Mac. Most days i work anywhere from 2.5-5 hours and its only Monday through Friday which is the best part after spending the last 2 years at walmart every weekend.....
Weekends are usually fun around here.... there is almost always something going on that you can do. Sometimes i feel as if i am busier now than i was when i was home in high school. maybe it makes a difference living on campus and having everything and everyone around you. but i love it!!! :) Most saturday mornings you will find me and at least one other roommate on a field playing co-ed intramural softball with people who are becoming our friends!! we are having fun with it...our team shirts that we made are tie-dye which is fun!! so far we have lost the 2 games we played and won the 2 games the other team forfeited. yep we are AMAZING!!!! but we have team spirit and we have fun!!!
Sundays are the one day that i begin to miss home and feel slightly depressed if you want to call it that. More than missing my own family i miss my church family. I miss the building, i miss the seating, i miss the worship, i miss the going-ons, i miss the sermons, i miss the people,i miss the nursery, i miss seeing my family in worship, i miss the kids i interacted with, i miss my wednesday night kids, and most of all i miss the sense of belonging that i felt always at Grace. I know that God has led me here, i know i have to stretch and grow but it is just hard. Sundays are the one day that i look and i say what in the world am i doing here? and then i have to remind myself that we all have to leap sometime. its just hard to leave the one thing that was always right in your life. I went to a church this morning where the pastor stepped down, and honestly i don't know if i want to get caught up in that. it was my second visit and i just don't know if that is where i want to go..... i actually didn't go to church the previous 2 sundays and it was last sunday as i was home studying all day that i realized how much church is a vital part of my week and no matter if i like the church or not it is not something that i can't just not do. even chapel here though you here greats like francis chan is not enough.... it doesn't help that even though my roomies are christians they either go home for the weekend or they choose not to go, which is ok, its their choice, but i hate going alone. I have found a friend though in a girl who lives below me. its just hard to know whats good and right....especially when nothing is like home. and these are the days when i miss everything OHIO the most.....
So i know this is very long and if i don't read....well i understand!!! but i tried to encompass all parts of my life!! I would love to hear from you all back home....

you can use chat and IM me at: nicole@goinx.com (love this)
you can keep up on Facebook
you can call or text or email
you can use snail mail
and finally i have uploaded pics to Picasa....

I hope that you are all doing well at home.... i would love to hear how life is treating you.... and please keep me in your prayers.... God is good truly!!!

GLORY TO GOD!!!

I am going to have to make this quick but i wanted you all to know that after 2200 miles we arrived in California yesterday afternoon!!!! It was 104*, but i like that!!! The drive was beautiful particularly in the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, and California!!!
There is so much that has happened in the last couple of weeks that i want to write about but have not had time....maybe next week before classes start.....

Move-in day is today!!!!! I cannot wait! and orientation begins today and goes through the week.....
Classes start on Wed. and that will be my life.....

i will try to find the time to post pictures and words soon....
God has done so much lately in my life that all i can do is look to Him and say it was YOU God.....

No matter where I go.....No matter what I do......I want the end result be for the GLORY OF GOD....otherwise it would all be in vain.....pray for that.......

talk soon----
nicole

YIPEE!!!!! ;)

WOW!!!! so i have less than a week left.....
I leave Tuesday Spetember 1st.... thats like 6 days away......*major freaking out going on* so much to do it seems.....so little time left..... and most of all i cannot believe that this is actually going to happen.....
On the left side of my page here is all of my contact information for while i am at school....i would love for you to stay in touch....to be reminded of whats going on back at home...with or without me....;) There have been sooo many people who have been influential in my life in the last several years...from my family, to friends both old and new, to my newish church family....and everyone else in-between..... sooooo......

I am having a get-together for all of those people so i can see you all one last time before i take off ....

SUNDAY AUGUST 30th *this sunday*
2 PMish *after church and lunch*
@TROY PARK
ANYONE &EVERYONE
come hang out and we'll see what happens!!!

thanks everyone for caring....you will never fully know how much that means to me......
God bless you all.....

Counting always counting...

So at 50 days I decided to post an update and here I am at 50 DAYS LEFT until I leave for APU!! 50 still seems like a lot to me but i guess its half of 100 so thats better and in only 25 days i will be to the halfway point from right now so yeah i guess 50 is ok!! :)
I have had this really weird strange mix of emotions lately... on one hand I am absolutely loving my summer.... spending time outside, sleeping in, being relaxed, and no papers hanging over my head.... but on the other hand I am soooo ready to be a school, to get moved in, to get to know my roommates, to settle in to classes, to tool around LA...... you get the point... basically i want summer to continue at the same time that I am in LA.... hmmm I guess the weather will be continuing so that is a VERY BIG bonus!!!! YEAH!!!!
My summer has been pretty quite. I still am working at Walmart although my hours vary greatly from week to week.... I am sooooo ready to be done.... 4 weeks left. My last day will be Aug. 21. YEAH!!!!!!
My best friend went to Haiti for the summer, so anytime I get a free night all I want to do is call her and do something together.... We have had some pretty crazy fun times together.... Pray for her if you think about it....Her job of caring for young children there is not an easy one at all. I am holding out hope that she maybe just maybe might be able to be home before I leave for school.....
I would love to get a vacation between now and Sept. 1 to spice up the summer.....hmmmm maybe me and some friends will have to cook up something.... ;)
Here is a slight glimpse of bits and pieces of my summer......

I have been spending my Wednesday nights babysitting for Audrey, Jack and Titus....Yes it is crazy but I love every minute of it..... I am always looking forward to Wednesday nights!!!




















IT WAS SOOOO HOT!!!! This is really just for our feet and such but it hot, and our pool wasn't up yet....and someone dared me to do this!!!! HEHE!!!! =)















Another of my forever best friends!! We have a lot of fun together!!! Went putt-putting last Sunday....It was interesting to say the least!!!!














A few weeks ago i received my housing notice. It looks like I will be getting a nicer apartment than I thought. I also will have 3 other roommates, Hannah, Lindsey, and Brooke. Pray for all of us that we will mesh well together and that our relationships will be God-honoring to each other as we live together for the next year. It already appears to me that we have a few things in common so thats really good!! I am praising God for what looks to be a good year!!!
This week my grandma completely blessed me by taking me shopping for school things.... I got most of my list complete and surprise surprise I got a lot of orange things!!! My other main color is lime green. Walmart has all those bright colors this year in their college stuff.....
I am slowly getting ready to leave on September 1st. My things are beginning to occupy one side of our living room....





























So that would be the general scheme of my life right now...Getting ready for my brothers wedding Aug. 1 and moving Sept. 1.....
Life is grand....and Jesus is making it even better!!!!!

I am incredibly bored...while I am supposed to be cleaning!!!!!

So while I am supposed to be cleaning my room I was thinking of questions to ask my new roommates and then i saw this quiz and wahlah!!! Here's the long and short of it!! ***100 Nosey Questions***
The Basics
Name:	Nicole Marie Yost
Age:	21
Month of birth:	September
Any Siblings?:	yep... I'm the oldest of 4 and my 19yr. brother is getting married Aug, 1 so 5 siblings then!!
Parents still married?:	yep for 28 years or so
Occupation:	Student...but i have been a nanny for 9 yrs. and worked at walmart for 2
Do you like your job?:	student--yes...walmart --no...nanny--love it
Any pets?:	a family dog
Hair color:	brunette
Eye color:	blue/green
Shoe size:	8-10
Any Tattoos?:	nope
Any Piercings?:	ears
Current mood:	contemplative
Current wardobe choice:	shorts and t-shirt
What are you listening to?:	prayer of the children on utube
Who did you last speak with on the phone?:	prob. my mom
What do you currently smell like?:	?? pancakes =)
Last....
Movie you watched:	Confessions of a shopoholic
Magazine you looked at:	does online count....then Boundless...
Thing you ate:	pancakes....mmmm
Book you read:	Bible, Third Watch
T.v. show you watched:	Royal Pains
Time you cried:	absolutely no idea...
Took a shower:	yesterday...
Got a real letter (a.k.a Snail Mail):	Monday
Ate at a restaurant (not fast food):	Chipotles 3 weeks ago
CD you bought:	I haven't bought one in forever.....download baby!!
What is/was....
The best thing to happen to you today?:	finished school loan paperwork...packed up some clothes....HAD THE DAY OFF WORK!!!!
Your most prized possession:	my computer
Your first vehicle:	Red Ford Focus
Your current vehicle:	Orange Chevy Colbalt
Your favorite quote:	If the Bible really is God's Word then we are called to delight in and obey it....
You bedtime (on average):	10-12 pm
Your best trait/characteristic:	listening
Your worst trait/characteristic:	stubborn, argumentitive
Do You....
Store things under your bed:	yep I need the space
Daydream:	sure why not!!
Have a computer at home:	yep, my laptop
Live in the city, suburbs or country:	country but moving to the suburbs of the second largest city in the US
Live in a home, apartment, duples or mobile home:	home with the parents and siblings but moving to an apartment
Own a cell phone:	yep and love it!!
Have a good luck charm:	nah... I have my God what more do i need!!
Collect anything:	not really
Attend high school or college:	homeschool and then community college and now Azusa!!
Make good grades:	yep...
Have You Ever....
Had a surgery?:	yep...wisdom teeth and tonsils
Had teeth pulled?:	yep...ugh
Broke the law intentionally:	well no, but i like to speed!!
Ran away from home?:	no i like my home
Broke a bone?:	no
Cheated on a test/exam:	no
Had a friend pass away:	no...
Been issued a citation/traffic ticket:	yes of course!!
Been in an auto accident:	a few... lets see its been the deers fault and other dumb peoples fault and the snows fault all but once
Lied to someone:	probably....
Been lied to:	i am sure i have...probably by my own mother....=)
Your Favorite....
Place to be:	with friends and family...actual location does not matter
Place to visit:	the beach
Place to chill:	coffee shops with friends
Non-Alcoholic drink:	dt. pepsi or mt dew or vitamin water or coffee or iced cappachino
Alcoholic drink:	bud light with lime
Type of food:	mexican or even itialian
Meal/Food dish:	pasta with vegies and chicken with herb sauce OR chipotle burrito
Dessert:	rasberry chesecake (my moms!!)or fresh strawberries!!
Shampoo & Conditioner:	whatever is a good price =) Garnier or Herbal Essence
Toothpaste:	Crest
Salad dressing:	ranch, or zesy itilian
Ice cream:	any with fruit or moose tracks
Fast food establishment:	i like them all ;) Taco Bell is probably top though!!
Color:	ORANGE:ORANGE:ORANGE:ORANGE
Season:	Summer and spring
Holiday:	Christmas (summer is only 6 months away!!!)
Perfume/Cologne:	Raulph Lauren
Video Game:	Guitar Hero
T.V. show:	Oh it changes depending on the night!! NCIS, Flashpoint AI, CSI NY, Grey's Anatomy,
Smells:	fresh mowed grass, thinks baking,....
Article of clothing:	a pair of jeans, flip flops and a hoody!!
Book:	the Bible
Children's Book:	no idea.....
Candy:	m&ms... plain or peanut
Car:	MINE!!!
Do You Believe....
In Karma:	nope
In God:	Yes, It is He who saves us and not we ourselves
In Heaven & Hell:	YES
That aliens exist (extraterrestrial variety, not illegal aliens):	NO thats just silly
That ghosts exist:	oh thats silly too....(still scarry though ;))
In horoscopes:	nah who needs that
In others you know (family, friends, co-workers etc):	yep
In yourself:	yes
Your Opinion....
On the death penalty:	who are we to judge...God can chnage hearts
On reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in schools:	Not sure i have an opinion
On homosexuals in the military:	i do believe that homosexuality is a sin, nevertheless discrimination is wrong too....
The war in the Middle East:	If it free's people from tyranny....
Schwarzeneggar...Governor or Terminator:	HAHA
Current gas/fuel prices:	Oh how I wish they would find their low happy place and then STAY THERE=)
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Version 2.0

I think it is probably time for me to blog about this.....












Back in April me and mom and dad boarded a plane and headed to Los Angelos California to visit Azusa Pacific University. We got in to LA Wed. morning and left on Sat.
Wed. we spent to day tooling around LA. We went to the beach for awhile and then drove around Malibu and such before heading to Azusa to look at the school before visiting on Thursday. on Thursday we spent the entire day at APU and I spent the night there. On Friday we headed back to LA area and spent quite a bit of time in Hollywood area. Then we headed to the beach for the evening.

After seeing APU on Wednesday, I was left feeling really out of sorts and I couldn't figure out why. On Thursday we went for our official visit day. I was very impressed....they had the entire day laid out for me. I did not feel like I was just a number to them. I felt like I was actually wanted there. The campus was beautiful with lots of green and trees all around with lots of study places outside!! The people there were very friendly and nice.
But perhaps the greatest thing that I saw was when we visited a class and the professor was able to talk about GOD and following His leading and will in our lives. I loved the openness to GOD at this school!!! The professors are actually required to have a statement of faith to be hired there.
I was also (along with my dad) very impressed with the social work program there. In fact some students are doing masters level internships when they are only at the bachelor level. The program is a lot of work and intense but its also a very good program. It would definitely get me where I need to go.
I had the opportunity to meet with several different people:
the admissions counselor that I have had since before i even applied, he was very helpful and continues to be so with any questions that I had while I was there and any questions or concerns that I have now. I love the fact that someone actually cares and that it is their job to do so.
I met with a department head for the social work program and she was very helpful in figuring out exactly the course of action that I need to take.
and finally I met a student ambassador and I actually got to spend the night on campus. It was actually a lot of fun. I got a pretty good idea of campus life in the evening and I got to see the interactions between the students who live in close proximity.
Needless to say I was impressed, but it was like something was missing... I was still left feeling out of sorts Thurs. night. Looking back I know that I was looking for this huge sign from God that would tell me that this is it. This is the place that you are supposed to be. And all day I never saw that large sign nor had that huge feeling that so many people talk about having.....
On Friday when dad came to get me, as we were driving back to the hotel and as i was packing up and getting ready it hit me..... all i really wanted to do was go back and see the place all over again... i wanted to just be there.... and i realized that God had given me a sign... in fact He had given me many signs... I had just been to blind or stupid to see them. See I was looking for a bigger than life sign, but all day God showed me all of these LITTLE things that pointed me to the fact that this was the place for me. He wanted me to have a little more faith in Him, and to completely trust Him when I didn't see MY sign. He wanted me to see that it was Him not me who made this all happen and that He is giving me this opportunity.
Pretty much I had made my decision, yes there were still things to look into but everything I had wanted in a college was right there at APU and I felt God's blessings on it.
The rest of the day Friday we spent in Hollywood and at the beautiful coast.
Sad to say I took absolutely NO pictures at the school but many of other things....

but here is one pic of the west campus that I found elsewhere.... beautiful!!!!

So YES YES YES...... I am going to Azusa Pacific University....as long as God wills it so...
And I am uber duper super ecstatically EXCITED about it!!! Money is still a concern but i KNOW that God will provide as He sees fit.
Orientation and move-in begins September 4th.
I will be living in an on-campus apartment with 3-4 other girls... so my summer will be spent trying to prepare for living away from home(something I have never done before) with all of the things that I will need from sheets to kitchen things. Honestly its a bit overwhelming trying to figure out needs vs. wants. Particularily when money is tight..... But I know that God is good and He will provide.... And if any of you have really sweet cool good ideas about stuff you cannot live without or maybe you can but its still a good idea...... I am open to anything!!!!!
And according to the countdown on my page I have about 77 days until my family and I drive 2000 miles to take me to school in Azusa, CA!!!!!!
Im diving in... im going deep!!!