Believe Big and Travel Together...

This week found me once again packing up my stuff in Denver and setting out for Chicago, how many times have I done that? If you know me well you know that I absolutely hate transitions, which is funny considering how many times I have moved since high school. So just like every other time I was feeling pretty bummed about leaving Colorado and leaving so many of my refreshing and safe friends. But at the same time there were things that I was excited to get back to in Chicago. AHH, I just love the tension! But Thursday morning came and my mom and I started driving. We had a fun drive, avoided some hellish weather, and spent the weekend playing in Chicago.

Friday I also squeezed in an interview for a campus Pastor internship that I had applied for last may. I never heard from them and assumed that it was already filled and I kind of forgot about it. But the week before I left I got an email asking me to interview and I got my hopes up that this might really happen. Long story short, they offered the job to me on Saturday and I started last night. The job entails working with the Campus Pastor to help lead the chapel planning team and to have a pastoral presence in the undergrad student body. It's really everything I want to do and you get paid for it! North Park just hired Judy Howard Peterson as the new campus pastor after having her here last year as the interim campus pastor. Judy is such a gifted woman and I still can't believe that she is my boss this year. It's funny how last week I had no idea that this was on the horizon for me, what a great surprise. We had our convocation for this school year yesterday and again I was surprised by how great is was to see some people and to be back in this place. Classes started today and it just felt really good to be here and to have some new experiences and responsibilities in the mix for the fall. One of the things I was praying for this year was to have more opportunities to be with undergrads and to have more of a place to belong and to be held accountable. Being on the UMIN staff and having a team to work with this year is a direct answer! ( Check out what university ministries is all about here)

I feel so blessed to have such a great community in Colorado and to have had the chance to jump in there and be apart of things this summer and then to come back to North Park and have another way to jump in and develop some relationships. Judy told us (myself and Nathan, the other intern) that UMIN's focus for this year is "Believe Big and Travel Together". And so on this first day of classes I'm dreaming big about what this year will hold for me and for this campus full of students that I get to work with. I'm also so thankful for you... the wonderful people that I get to "travel" with. I'm praying that you to are believing big...

Everything Fray

When Ben and I were growing up one thing that we loved (along with most of Denver) was going to concerts at Red Rocks. And this past weekend Ben, and the rest of the guys, reached a milestone in selling out three nights at Red Rocks. The place was packed Sat, Sun, and Mon night with thousands of Fray fans and we were right there with them. How could we miss that! The only down side is that it rained Saturday and poured Sunday night (gotta love summer monsoon season). Even with the rain all three nights were awesome shows and guys never fail to amaze me. It was surreal to watch them and I couldn't help but be proud. I also love seeing all of our friends who come to the shows, a lot of them are people that have poured into our family and it's fun to watch them be proud of Ben and support him. I was thinking about all of this the last night as I watched Jason Stocker watch Ben and Dave. There is so much history there and he was beaming as he watched his boys play! These shows were also a huge milestone in the fact that they were the guys last shows in the United States for a year or so. They have been on the road for about 2 1/2 years and they are worn out. When they hit the road again they will most likely have a new album. So all in all it was a big weekend, kind of hard to explain and put into words so here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Ben...doing his thing

Rain, rain go away...Lindsey, Robin, Mom, and I toughing it out Sat night

And even more rain Sun night...ps I discovered that the coat I was wearing was really not all that water proof, would have been better to know before the downpour!

Crazy fans Monday night

Bill and Robin cheering Dave on

The Wysocki cheering section

This picture made the cut because of Bill's face...I don't think he was all about taking this picture, at least mom and Robin are cute

We love Red Rocks

"Everyone knows I'm in over my head..." all the fans who get to help play tambourine during Cable Car

One of the backgrounds that for their new song "Dixie"...it's going to be big