Marit and Benj's wedding...

On Saturday Marit and Benj got married! Marit was one of my roommates last year and Benj went to seminary last year with me but graduates last may. They are fun and the wedding was really great. Here are some pics from the event.


The Happy couple
Trying to cross Foster as they led all the guests to their reception
Don't worry, they made it in one piece!
The wonderful candy buffet
The Angie's
Sheri, me, and Kristi

Marit and I
Jamie, Sheri, and Lindsey trying to eat the massive cupcakes

5 weeks already?

So I had a latte at 7pm, then went to an awesome North Park Homecoming soccer game, then watch "Blades of Glory" and now I'm not even remotely tired. So what better than to catch you up on life around here these past 5 weeks. Yes, it has been 5 weeks already. My weeks go by so fast but so far they have been challenging and really rich. I feel such a freshness this semester and I feel like God has just given me a new perspective on myself and on my life right now. I'm loving working with the undergrads and so far I have remembered most of the names of people I've met...really there are a lot to remember. So it's been good. Here are some of my highlights from these past weeks...

HEATHER'S WEDDING...My first weekend back I went to my college roommate's wedding. It was one of those weddings that everyone went to so it was great to see some old friends. I have to say that it was one of the most laid back weddings I have ever been to. The ceremony was maybe 5 minutes long and it was in this cool garden center. But it's totally what Heather and Jack wanted and we all had a blast. If this picture looks blurry that's because it was so fast! Caleb and Sharon stuck around for a few days and so we threw in a day at the zoo too.

UMIN RETREAT...The next weekend we went on a retreat to Lake Geneva with all of the student leaders that are involved with University Ministries this year. I really love the way that the UMIN staff casts a vision for the year and they way that they raise the bar for their student leaders. It's really just a great group and they aren't afraid to lay it all out for them. I feel like there is a new energy around this group this year and I'm excited to see what God is going to do through them. (sorry there is no picture...I was to busy killing mosquitoes to take any pictures)

MUSKEGON...This year there is a high concentration of my friends living in Muskegon, MI. The Ciccone's are still there, Dave Nagel is still there, Alicia Vela (friend from Colorado) moved there to be an intern, and Laurey Kiehne (former student of mine from MN...and one of my favorites!) moved there are well to live with Tim and Maria and be there nanny. So I went up there for a weekend and it was good as always. Visiting the Ciccone's is so great because I feel so at home with them. They are those friends that you can visit and just hang out all Saturday and it's great. And of course it's always good to play with Caleb and Josiah. Caleb and I tried to play Wii on night but I'm not good and I think that frustrated him so we just pretended that the sticks were microphones...see picture below...
APPLE ORCHARD...Yep, went to an apple orchard because that's what you do around here in the fall. Funny how the day we went though it was like 85...didn't matter, we went to an apple orchard. I went with Jen Zerby, her sister -in-law Amber, and Amber's boys Caden and Tage. We had a blast, not so sure that Amber did (because she doesn't like being outside or walking in grass so she was set up for failure). There were cider donuts and really cool little tractors that I tried to ride. What more could you want really?
BOAT TOUR...This past week we took some of the students from our chapel planning team on the architecture boat tour of Chicago. This was my 3rd tour and as always it was great. I just like that I can go do something fun on a Wednesday night and not feel guilty...yea for less homework and fun students!

And now you are pretty caught up, if you made it through this whole thing. It's ok if you just looked at pictures because sometimes that's all that I do on people's blogs (Cav...use some pics!). This weekend is homecoming around here and it's all pretty fun. So again, not much homework will get done for me. Tomorrow is the bloc party and they are expecting 4, 000 people...hm, if that works well it will be a homecoming miracle. All that said I should try to sleep as I have to run the snow cone machine tomorrow for those 4,000 people...if you're lucky you might get to see a picture of that...!

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

Summer reads

Let me say that I really love reading a good book. When I am in school I am forced to read a lot of great stuff (and some not so great stuff) that challenges my mind and influences/ refines my faith. Since I am not taking any classes this summer I get to read whatever the heck I want! So here's what had been on my nightstand / in my purse / in my suitcase so far this summer...



A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Good story, not to terribly deep, lots of character development.






Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill
Written well but the story is very dark, I'm just glad that I've never lived on the streets or had parents who were addicted to crack!







Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
A good story, I liked the shreds of hope that were appearing for the characters in the story. This book also made me wish it was winter and I was in a log home in New Hampshire (that's where the story takes place)





Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This is Oprahs' book club book for the summer so Duh I had to read it. Great book that is written so well. The story is interesting for sure but not my favorite story I've ever read.




The Pigeon Finds a hot dog! by Mo Willems
The Pigeon books are some of my favorite kids books and I completed my collection with the purchase of this book. It is some brilliant literary work to say the least




The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This has probably been my favorite book this summer. It's another story that describes a world that I know nothing about. It's slightly sad, but offers redemption and healing for the characters in the end. The movie is due out this fall so read the book before that comes out!


Currently I'm working through...

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
I don't know what is with me but again this is kind of a sad story but yet again I love it. Only a few chapters to go so I will let you know...





Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
It's taking me awhile to get through this one but it's not for lack of content or depth...I just don't think my brain is there right now. So far I've loved what he has to say and I'm sure that in a few hours I would finish it and soak it in...just not yet.

The True and the Questions, a Journal by Sabrina Ward Harrison
Lindsey and I stumbled upon this book in Kansas City and we both love it. It is excerpts from her journal mixed with her art and then places for you to answer the same questions that she addresses. It's hard to explain but I think it asks some great life questions that you don't often find in print. I think that I'm going to use it in the fall for my small group. Why is it that some of the best questions about life and faith come from non-Christian writers?

Ok that's it for now, any reading suggestions for me to squeeze in before the homework comes?

Kansas to Florida and everything in between...

This month has been pretty jammed packed so far and last week was no exception. Last Sunday I jumped in the car with Tate, Kelsey, Cory, and Lauren and we drove to Kansas. Then while they went to camp for the week I grabbed some time with Lindsey, Drew, and Elijah in Kansas City and even a few days in Florida with Matt, Melissa, Bryce, Lily, and their cousin Garrett. It was a little random but such a great week. I appreciate the consistency of my friendships with Lindsey and Melissa and it was so great to hang out with their families for a few days. Here are a few snapshots from all of our adventures...

In the car (notice the DVD player in the middle, kids these days are so spoiled! I bet my parents wished that we had something like that on all of our drives.)
Melissa and Lily picked me up at the airport and we headed straight to the beach...rough huh!
Melissa, Bryce, Lily and I watching fireworks on the 4th
Looking at the gators at the UF campus, Lily was not so sure about being that close (there is one in the water right by us)
Misa and I
Thanks for the hairdo Lily!
Lindsey and I at the Kansas City art Museum
Eli sporting his Cubs gear at the art museum
Thanks to Tate I have been rediscovering the cd that Passion worship put out of Hymns ("Hymns - Ancient and Modern") and listening to it this week on the plane offered me some unexpected rest and perspective. My flight from Florida to Kansas was right at sunset and was absolutely beautiful. I sat there listening to Kristy Nockels sing "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" and just smiled as those words summed up how content and thankful I was flying through the air watching the sun light up the earth below. This week God blessed me in Kansas, Florida and through everything in between.

Family

This past week held a few major milestones for us around here and was a bit of a whirlwind but still really fun. Monday was my mom and dad's 30th anniversary and Thursday was my Grandma and Grandpa's 60th anniversary. I do think that it is amazing that both of these couples have been married for so long and I'm really proud to have that example in my life. For Grandma and Grandpa's anniversary my Aunt Carol and my cousins Landon and Laura came for a visit. We had a simple dinner with Gma and Gpa's neighbors on Thursday night to celebrate with them, pretty low key and just what they wanted. I love my grandparents and I'm glad that we got to honor them this week.

Landon, Laura, Sophie, and I...the cousins (minus ben and michele)
Sophie...

A yummy cake plus pictures of gma and gpa on their first date, their engagement pic, their wedding pic, and their 50th anniversary pic
Grandma looking at her new necklace from Grandpa, "60 years, no regrets"
Grandpa's toast
Mom and Aunt Carol's toast
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Also we (Sophie, Laura, Tate, Kristen, and I) went to the mountains on Friday, which was awesome. It was my first time up this summer and we went to my 2 favorite places in Rocky Mountain National Park and I just really love those girls and it was fun to hang out with them.