I'm finally here! Im sorry this is the first that I have updated because I'm sure you are all hanging on my every word...

After spending two weeks at Taylor working, I made a very quick trip back home to Minnesota.  Due to bad weather, my mom and I decided to leave early, which was a great decision. However, my time at home was very quick and very chaotic.  So crazy in fact that I forgot both my purse and computer at home.  And if you know me at all, you know that is not like me at all. But despite some early setbacks, it was a great trip.  My mom and I beat the weather and had a smooth trip out.

I must say that I wasn't looking forward to driving to Colorado, not that anyone would.  But it ended up being great. Because of busy schedules and 620 miles between us, my mom and I don't get to sit down and just talk very often.  During the 15 hour drive we never listend to music and almost never stopped talking. It was great to just catch up and enjoy time together. And my mom's excitement about visiting the Springs definitely helped me to become more excited as well.  So, thank you mom :) I know it probably isn't the ideal way to spend your vacation days, but I had a great time and truly enjoyed spending those longs days with you.

So, as for my time at Focus, it has been pretty exhausting.  This is the first time I have really sat down and just processed through everything (so I'm sorry you have to be victims of my mind's jumbled mess).  So far we have moved in and day 1 of orientation was this morning.  Being an introvert, I have really tried to push myself out of my comfort zone to get to know people.  I have met some great people and am excited for the opportunity to get to know them more.

Today, during lunch, some of the staff came to eat with us.  I sat next to the Director of Christian Values. So basically, he is the guy beneath the president that makes sure Focus stays consistent on different issues. Given the fact that he is really the brains that directs what Focus believes in, I loved the opportunity to talk to him.  We talked about how Focus is changing a lot under the new leadership and trying to approach the culture in a different way.  We also talked about homosexuality and specifically the hot button issue of what makes a person gay/lesbian.  This conversation was great for me.  I realized that Focus really doesn't fit in this narrow/ultra-conversative mindset that I had placed it in.  His views were very similar to mine and not only incorporated what the Bible had to say, but what science and research has shown as well.  I could rattle on about this forever, but this blog is already boring you I'm sure.

In the future I will try to keep my posts much shorter, I'm just trying to make up for lost time so I apologize. But here are some things you can be praying about for me if you so please

1. That God would keep breaking down the assumptions and expectations that I had set about the people and ministry here.

2. Continued growth in relationships with the people here. I'm not a huge fan of small talk and I am excited to finally develop friendships that go beyond "What school do you go to and where are you from?"

Thanks! I look forward to hearing about what is going on in your lives as well!