Lovely Days at the Hilton

There's something about leaving your normal surroundings and stuffing your family of seven in a standard-sized hotel room for a week.

There's just something about that.  And despite what you might think, for our family, that something is good.  Maybe it's the lack of "stuff" to distract us.  Maybe it's the change of scenery, including the beautiful skyline adorned so beautifully at night with fancy everywhere-Christmas lights.

Or maybe it's the near 24/7 access to the Disney channel.

I'm not sure what it was, but I know that the result was lovely.  It's been restful and tiring all at the same time.  Productive and lazy, chill and crazy. All those fun opposite words...it's been all that.

But at the end of the day, we have made memories.  And had the privilege of watching God work. Both of those are great ways to spend your Christmas vacation.

Today, Rex and I walked through the skyline to get some lunch and some medicine from Target, and as we went, we met Tim, a homeless guy trying to collect enough money for a shelter for the night. We were able to talk to him for a while and pray with him before we left.

One night this week, I stayed up late downstairs, taking surveys and talking to a group of students about North Myrtle Beach summer project.  We bonded over 2nd Avenue South, and more, over how much God changed each of us during our summers there.

Speaking of North Myrtle, another highlight was getting to spend an hour or so with my Bible study leader/staff woman from that summer. Linda has been out of the country for 12 years, so catching up with her was quite special.

The life of a Cru staff family....what a privileged life we lead!  Thank you, Lord, for being over all...may I seek your face more each day this year than I did the last and learn to trust you more, move more quickly out of my comfort zone, and follow your Holy Spirit's leading more sensitively.  I don't want to be the same a year from now...take me deeper!

Remembering...as I think ahead...

Twenty years ago this night, I was in North Myrtle Beach having the most life-changing summer of my life.  I loved everything--well, nearly everything--about that summer.  Amy, Anne, and Tanya were the best roommates I could have hoped for, and God clearly chose them for me.

When the staff left, the project got even better, something that was rather surprising to me.  I didn't think it could possibly get better....it was already so wonderful.  But our staff did leave, and they left to join the masses out here...in Ft. Collins...long before I knew that I would be among the masses just two years later.  I would be on staff...and 20 years after that summer, would still be coming to CSU for our staff conference...but with my family in tow.  My children would remember Ft. Collins as a huge part of their growing-up years.  My heart would be challenged, refreshed, and renewed over the years here.

And here I sit again...the night before the masses, the quiet before the storm...full of gratitude for Your very good gifts--friends, talent, opportunities, love, You....the list goes on, and this summer again, I have been blessed beyond measure.

Thank you, Jesus.  You are worthy of my life.  Now. Still. Always.

Happy New Year!

Bringing in the New Year @ TCX....happy 2015 from Hoffbeast, Rex, Neil, and me! As is typical, I've been quite reflective this evening...so thankful for our faithful God who goes before us no matter what circumstances come this year. For Neil, this was his first time getting to stay up with the students to ring in the new year...what an experience!

Twin Cities Experience, 2014

Favorite quotes from TCX:  

"If we rationalize our sin, we are disagreeing with God." -Rick James

"Don't ask, 'What is God's plan for my life?' Ask, 'What is God's plan, and how does my life fit into that plan?'" -Ben Newton

"Sin echoes...and I don't want that echo." -Troy Shirley 

Great challenge on dealing with personal sin areas...praying that many students will not forget what was said!

While hanging out at our Cru Inner City booth, Tom decided to venture down and visit with some of the other staff.  I was upstairs in the room, and suddenly my phone buzzes with a text from a number I don't know....it was a staff girl I've never met, sending me a pic of Tom!

 ‪#‎tcx2014‬‪#‎lotsoffunphotoopps‬

 ‪#‎mysonthesocialbutterfly‬‪#‎imightonlybefiveyearsoldbuticanstillhangwiththecollegestudents‬

One morning, Rex and Neil got to participate in a packing party at Feed My Starving Children...such a blessing that our kids get to learn about children all over the world who are in need through this wonderful ministry!

I love my job!  How is it that Hoffbeast and I have had the great privilege of serving with Cru for this long now?  Twenty-five years for him, and almost 18 for me...amazing!  TCX was encouraging, challenging, and refreshing, and believe it or not, our family of 7 did just fine in a hotel room for a week!

Fall in Valley Forge

2013 Cru Stint/Intern Conference Attendees

  As one of my teammates said, it was, "awesome ministry collaboration with awesome colleagues!"

I have been incredibly privileged to be a part of the Cru Campus Ministry's Stint/Intern Coordinator team for the last several years.  Each fall, we meet in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to discuss strategy, recruiting, policies, and all sorts of leadership development pieces related to our Cru intern program.

Jim Rhodes, the leader of our team, calls me at "at-large" member of the Campus Ministry, and my role on our team is partly to speak as a representative of the non-Campus ministries within Cru.  I love this team, and I continue to be grateful to get to be a part of moving our intern program forward, specifically in Cru Inner City.

This year, Jim hired a babysitter so that Bart could join me at the conference!  As you can see from the photo above, two babies joined in the fun this year...what a great example of valuing moms in our ministry!