The Pavillion Project

This was another one of my design projects this semester... It was constructed out of basswood and it had no program (design goals) really. It only had to be beautiful and functional. My concept was hierarchy, and it's function was that of a "lookout" spot. This was built in 1/2" = 1' scale. So really, if this was to be built in real size it would be 8' wide, 16' long, and 16' tall.

The Cube

So, a whole semester went by, and I am happy to report that it went well... straight A's once more. I finished the semester with a group design project that was supposed to be a box 6' wide, 6' long, 6' tall... a cube! It had to be made all out of cardboard and represent movement, view, and rest. We started out by making sketch models and then being put into groups according to our designs.

Ariana's Sketch Model

Ruby's Sketch Model

My Sketch Model

After taking some votes we decided on a final design and had to build it full size.... ALL MADE OF CARDBOARD! Plus, we had to build it so it was 100% mobile, it had to be taken apart more than once and moved from the class to the the University Union across campus for the Design Spring Show.

I am pretty proud to say that the "wave wall" and the connections of the walls with rope were my ideas, and that the detail on the bench was my creation. :) This project was pretty fun but really time consuming, we were all glad when it was over!

Time for Books Again

I have been on a really long break from school; almost 2 years! When Eddie and I got married and moved to Merced we though that we would only be there for 4-6 months and so I never enrolled in school. We were so wrong... and that really frustrates me! We ended up living there for 15 months and all of that was wasted time.

So I finally started applying for school again in September last year, and at the end chose to attend Sac State, home of the hornets; or in its formal name: California State University-Sacramento. The school particularly takes pride in its 300-acre campus, filled with 3,000 trees, hahah. They actually have them numbered. I guess if I'm ever bored I can go find all the trees. The real reason I chose Sac State was because I had heard of its really good Interior Design program that is CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) accredited. It was a bummer to find out that almost none of my design classes transferred though, and that's because at BYU-Idaho they focus more on residential design, and at Sac State more on commercial building design. It only means I have a lot more school ahead of me than expected and that I will be more rounded at the end of it all :)

I start school on Monday, Jan 24th! This semester I'm only taking GE courses: US Government, The Modern Middle East (history requirement), The History of Childhood (to fulfill a sociology requirement), Graphic Design, and Intro to Design (which are both pre-requisites to apply for the Interior Design Program). I have classes Monday through Thursday, Fridays are off!

In case you forgot, we live in Walnut Creek right now. From our house to the school is 75 miles. Quick math: 75 miles each way, 150 miles a day, 4 days a week = 600 miles a week just for school, plus $5 toll fee a day!!!! Lots of gas and lots of toll $$.

Anyway, I am super excited to go back to school. I've been kind of a bum for the last year and a half, and I'm excited to have a "life" again.

We did have a Christmas miracle about this whole "going back to school" deal, and maybe I'll share that next time. I am so blessed to have the opportunity of going back to school.

What a Blessing...

As many of you know Eddie and I didn't know whether or not he was going to have a job after the hospital here in Merced was finished. A ton of people got laid off at the beginning of the year, and things just weren't looking very promising.

We have been praying and fasting for months that we would soon hear something, know what was going to happen, and be freed from worry. The answer FINALLY came!

A couple of weeks ago Eddie was told that he would be staying for an extension to the hospital and that he would roll right in to the next project. This new extension is small and is called a "Linear Accelerator" or as they call it.... the LINAC. They will build a structure next to the cancer center for a new, state of the art cancer killing machine. The project should only take about 9 months and then they'll move on to the UC-Merced project.

Yesterday was a hard day for Eddie. When he started the project there were about 20 people in his office. At the beginning of the year they laid off a few, then a few were transferred, then they laid off more people....and so on. As of yesterday there were 6 people left in the office and 4, and I mean FOUR people were laid off.....the last 4. All who were left were Eddie and his boss who sees great potential in him.

Mike, Eddie's new boss, chose him from all the engineers to stay. He said that Eddie is a great student, and a very dedicated worker. We couldn't feel more blessed and happy.

I am so grateful for the power of prayer. I have to express that I know without a doubt in my mind that God listens to our prayers, and if we are faithful and patient He will answer them. Thank you to all of those who joined us in prayer and fasting, you are great friends of whom we will never, ever, forget.

The Construction Business

As many of you know Eddie works in construction. He graduated from BYU-Idaho with a Construction Management degree and after graduation on April 2008 he was hired by a company in California named McCarthy Building Co as a project engineer. It has been great so far, but lately we have had to spend many occasions on our knees asking our Heavenly Father to continue to bless us with a job.

Economic times are hard for almost every one right now, including McCarthy. In the last year Eddie has been working here in Merced building a hospital, and as with every other construction job, once you're done with one project you are on to the next. The problem is...there is no next. Not a whole lot of building is going on right now, and that makes things hard. There are way too many workers and not enough jobs, and the jobs that are coming in the future don't start for another six months or so.

Many people were laid off a couple of months ago, and some have been transferred already--which is great. I just hope that our turn is coming soon--to be transferred and not laid off! (knock on wood). We've been waiting and waiting, praying constantly, and crossing our fingers that we will be getting a new job soon.

The new hospital is supposed to be opening to the public on the first week in May, so we have just over a month for a miracle to happen. We feel good so far, and we're staying positive. We trust that whatever happens, or wherever we go, it will be according to the Lord's will for us. I hope to bring good news soon!