Crazy weekend!

So Friday we basically ran a bunch of errands, read, and got school stuff taken care of then hit up the New Life Church's College worship service and it was amazing! Out of 53, around 35 FLI peeps went so that was really neat to get to worship together. There were easily over 1000 college students gathered to worship. Saturday morning rolled around and I had FCA staff meetings to plan for their big fundraiser in April. Kinda fun I came up with the theme I think were going to use, a masquerade. They wanted to have a really nice upscale event for people to get to dress up for but wanted to tie in the kids of FCA and their stories so I suggested that the masks represent the kids and their stories and when they stand to give their testimonies, "all masks come off." Anyways, thats kindof fun. After our meeting, I hit up the local starbucks where I have now made good friends with all the bartistas, to journal and spend some "me time" which is really needed since you are ALWAYS around people here. A large group of us then hit up Garden of the gods. which was breathtaking and hiked about four miles. (picts are on facebook plus a few videos). We then came home and got ready for our "GASTA GETDOWN" dance party we ended up having at Focus haha! We got special permission from security to have it in "Ogden Lounge" which is our hang out chill room for FLI Staff and students. Halarious walking into Focus on the Family and the place is bumping! hahaha!!!! Anyways, we danced and had a great time until Christine my roommate pulled her back out while busting a move. Funny but not really... sorry Christine :( Bless her heart she was in a lot of pain. So I drove her back and Nurse Caitlin (my other roommate) took care of her. Way to go girl!!! The night ended after watching a movie at one of the guys apartments, I finally came home and crashed. This morning we went to New Life big church and I had a very different experience than I did Friday night at their college service. (If you want to know more about that you may have to ask me via phone). So for the rest of the day we are reading, Christine is baking, and enjoying just the sabbath! I love you all and miss my family and friends so much!

Chill day plus SNOW!!!

Today was our last day of classes for our first week at FLI and its snowing and REALLY COLD here! What an amazing but incredibly exhausting week! I have loved the classes and have already been so encouraged and stretched in my thinking and thought life! I have had some of the most amazing conversations with friends I have met here at FLI. Two nights ago I went with a small group of people to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the kentucky vs. South Carolina game and instead of watching the game, the small group I was with began to share their "stories" and how the Lord brought them to FLI. All I can say is the Lord is working in huge ways in the lives of the people that I am surrounded by and it is spectacular. Last night three of us went to IHOP to read and drink cheap coffee (which p.s. Im starting to like straight up black coffee! Who knew?)and again, the conversations that took place were just incredibly refreashing! I love the community I am surrounded in. My affections for Jesus have been stirred in such a different way than I have ever experienced since I have been in Colorado. I am so grateful and honored the Lord would choose me to part take in this adventure and am really grateful for each of you who are praying back home for me! Please continue to do so because the Lord is definitely at work in my heart and in the hearts of those here as well!

WHOOPS!!!!

So we decided to add additions to the apartment, not much, but makes a HUGE difference! We figured we'd add on as the semester continues, but we put up some posters and some really neat colored frame mats to put picts in as we go! Super fun and really cute! The story behind these pictures are I simply addded apparently way too much soap... CLEARLY... Caitlin came out of her room screaming WAIT WHAT?!?! Haha! The first thing I did as I ran in to see what happened was laugh out loud then grab my camera so that all of you could take part! Moral of the story: Lizzie is not allowed to start the dishwasher from now on! WHOOPS!

Found out my Interneship!

Today we found out our internships for the semester and I will be interning for Fellowship of Christian Athletes! Kinda crazy to go from YL to FCA but Young Life and FCA partner in ministry up here in Colorado Springs so I will get to interact with YL folks as well, which will be fun. However, I am really excited to see how the Lord is going to use me there. I will have a male counterpart, Justin, who is going through the Institute as well. He is amazing! Justin is 21 yrs old and is getting married two weeks after we graduate in April so thats really exciting! He has been actively involved with FCA and actually accepted Christ at a FCA event so its neat to get to work with someone who is so passionate about this particular ministry!
My supervisor is Ryan he is a graduate for the Airforce Academy and is really amazing! He is married and has a son and one on the way due in April, so theres a good chance well be around for that! From what I can tell, Justin and I will be the point people for planning a lot of events and from what it sound like we will be "on staff" for the semester. Tomorrow, January 25th is our first FCA event. Ryan, Justin, and I are going to a local Middle school before FLI classes, (so it will be an early morning) to share our testimonies, play games, and get to know the kids. Please pray for that time, I am really looking forward to it!

*** side note*** there are 9 starbucks in Colorado Springs not including the ones in the grocery stores so can I get a PRAISE HIM!!! And a special shout out to Mom, thank you for loving me enough to fill up my starbucks gift card! What a blessing it has been!

Roommates

Christine, me, and Caitlin

Christine is my actual roommie. She graduated from Chico State University, in December of 2009. She is a music major and is an incredibly gifted song writer and musician. I love that the Lord placed her as my roommate because she has the ability to speak honest truth, she is such a daily encouragement, and she is halarious. We spend a lot of time laughing and cutting up so I have a blast with her! Just a snapshot, our first night in the apartment she pulled out her guitar and sang to me and Caitlin all of her songs she has written, including a lullaby. It was pretty awesome! Plus she is going to teach me how to play the guitar so Im pretty pumped about that!

Caitlin went to University of Arkansas and has her RN. What an amazing girl she is! She is so sweet spirited and is full of compassion and encouragement. I know the Lord is going to use her greatly in my life because she is full of great wisdom. Caitlin also is musically gifted she sings and plays the piano, so clearly I need to jump on the musical bandwagon :) She has three brothers who are triplets and all three of them have gone through FLI so its neat that the Lord has allowed her to complete the family tradition!

Bottom Line... I HAVE THE BEST ROOMMATES!!! The Lord knew exactly what I needed and I believe He has continued to be faithful to me even in the small things like allowing me to have incredible roommates that I get to do life with while I am at Focus!

All Guys pict and the girls! Such an amazing group! Love them all so much already!

Random hang outs

On the bus on the way home from Horn Creek

My beautiful roommates Caitlin and Christine! Love, love, love them!!

Apartment= Amazing!!!

Our apartment

Whats crazy about me and Christines room is we totally didnt plan on a color scheme but we both ended up with the colors red, black, and white so it worked out perfectly and our room is WAY cute!!!

more retreat

Here are more picts from the retreat. My roommate at the retreat and now dear friend Hailey Power and I had a "friendly" snow ball fight.

So I have never in my life seen this much snow nor Horn Creek itself be completely covered as well! It was gorgeous! We arrived and it was really cloudy and overcast so you couldnt see Horn Peak, but it was incredible just the same. I cant believe our huge passenger bus made it up the mountain and into camp but our drive Woody was amazing, so Im grateful for him!

So here is my attempt to keep all my friends and family, up to date with my time at Focus Leadership Institute. I am really excited about my time already spent here and look forward to sharing with each of you! I am so blessed and grateful to know I have family and friends who are praying for me and are supporting me from all over! Love you guys and am so honored to share my "Focus Journey" with each of you!