Week one in review!

I have not had time this past week to blog. I apologize...I've been really busy! So let me just tell you about my amazing week.

Monday: I got up around 6 had my devotional got ready for class. Class starts at 8:10. Each morning our classes start out with matins( which is the class devotion). So on Monday my first class was Christian Worldview Studies with Dr. Leland. It was amazing!! He opened with this question " Why did you get up this morning?". This class is going to be great; but very challenging at the same time. Monday we got our practicum sites. I'm in the counseling department. I'm so excited because this is just where I wanted to be.
* The way FOF counseling department works is there is not one on one counseling. They counsel by phone. So people call FOF counseling department and they get counseling via phone. At first I wasn't for sure about how that would work (tell you more below). So I'll sit in on the phone counseling 3 hours a week and then we have a group counseling learning session and then we have self care groups once a week. Also through the semester we are going to go sit in on marriage counseling, going to a psychiatric hospital, treatment facility, trauma debriefing training, partake in experimental therapy( we will be caving). I am very excited about my practicum.* So after our meeting for practicum I headed home rested for a few minutes then we cook supper and started reading. Didn't get in bed till after twelve.

Tuesday: Woke up at 6 had devo and headed to class. Class on Tuesday was Marriage and Family Studies. It is taught by Dr. Ted and Linda Pampeyan ( they have become our buddies we have made a very fun relationship with them..love love them). After their class I had practicum. It was so neat to sit in there and listen to the counselor counsel the patients over the phone. There were calls from all across the spectrum. I loved it because the counselor had the freedom to speak truth into the hurting peoples lives. She had the freedom to pray and encourage them. I just loved that part of it. After my practicum I came home for an hour and then went back up to the Institute for family dinner ( this is where once a week all the students eat dinner with all the faculty and staff and their families). I sat at the kids table, it was fun getting to talk to them. After that came home and was up till after twelve reading.

Wednesday: Woke up at 6 had devo and headed to class. This morning our class was taught by Dr. Del Tackett which is Family, Church and Society Studies. It was amazing. He is the one that started The Truth Project. http://www.thetruthproject.org/
When we leave we will be trained to lead a small group teaching The Truth Project. Exciting! I'm more excited to sit under Dr. Tackett and be taught by him. So after class which was great, we had our first group session for counseling. After that headed home took a short nap b/c I was soooo tired! Got ready and went over to the Pampeyans for supper. After that came home and read till after twelve.

Thursday: Same thing got up went to class. Thursday class was Gender and Leadership Studies taught by Mr. & Mrs. Thomason. It was fabulous, their stories were amazing! They taught about Identify and self-image. After class I did some work study. I called probably close to 100 prospective students for the summer. After that came home got ready and head to LB's for Koniena( where every Thursday we go over to one of the faculty or staffs home for supper). After that we all went and got ice cream. Then finally I got to come home for a night of somewhat rest. No reading!

Friday: Got up for a tour of Focus. While on the tour we got to record some voices for commericals. It was really neat! After the tour we came back and napped. It was much needed. Last night we went out to dinner. So I've discovered Skype. Thanks to Amy, my roommate, she suggested that it would be a good way to chat with Steven. So I took her up on it and it was really neat to do that.

Today has been a good relaxing day. Slept late, tanned, worked out, went to a couple of shops, enjoyed the Colorado sun (I've been in shorts and t-shirt all day). So now that I'm caught up on blogging I should probably try to get ahead on the reading for next week.

I am so sorry I have not had time to update the blog. I have been so BUSY!! I put some pictures of the base camp retreat this past weekend at Horn Creek. I will give all the details on the retreat and this past weekend on Friday. This place is simply an Amazing place where the Spirit of God is alive and working in peoples lives. I can't wait to fill everyone in.

BCR

Yesterday was another packed day of orientation. Today we head to Horn Creek for Base Camp Retreat. I think there is suppose to be snow there. I'm excited to see it and play in it. Back to yaw on Sunday!
*Oh and I'll probably post every morning instead of night b/c I have more time in the morning to do so.

First day at Focus

I know I'm a little behind on this post but I want to tell everyone about my first day at Focus. It was INCREDIBLE. Everything about FFI has impressed me beyond measure so far. I just can't even start to tell you about the passion that is here. My professors and the staff are just Godly Godly people. Yesterday we had a day of orientation. Class overviews, name badge pictures made, lunch, ITT training, other snap shots, and etc. It was a packed day! When we got done with Focus everyone went to the Garden of Gods. It was pretty neat. I'm telling you the terrain here is STUNNING. The mountains are really indescribable. God's natural beauty is so evident here. You can't help but stand in Awe of his beautiful creations.

I have two amazing roommates. I've known them two days and I have already become attached and loving them. They are beautiful women inside and out. You will definitely hear a lot about them! I finally got all most all of my stuff unpacked and put away. There are still a couple of stray things that need to find there places though. Today we have another day of orientation.

A very long day!

My day ended yesterday at 1:00 am and my day started today at 4:00 am. Not mentioning yesterday didn't really end because I couldn't sleep last night. Today was the big day. I said my goodbyes to my family and Steven and I was off to ATL. I then met up with some other Focus people and caught my connecting flight to Colorado Springs. I got here about 12:10 or so. My flights were good I got to rest a little bit on the second one. When I got to the apartment to check-in the UPS truck was there also and he was delivering my things. So it was perfect timing. The rest of the afternoon my roommates and I unpacked our things and got to know each other. My roommates are Amy from Memphis and JoHannah from Honduras. We clicked right off and I know it's going to be an amazing semester getting to know them and grow with them on this journey. At 5:00 we met with all the Omegas( which is what the ppl in my apartment complex are called) and we headed over to Focus. We mingled for a little while and then ate. After dinner we had worship, Dr. Tackett spoke and then we had worship again. It was just a great time of fellowship. I am so excited about this semester. I'm ready to encounter Christ in a way I haven't ever before. I'm expecting great things. Well it's been a very long day....I'm going to crash now. Long day tomorrow as well.

Tomorrow is the big day

"You can kiss your family & friends good-bye & put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, and your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you." -Frederick Buechner

I can't believe tomorrow I will board a plane and embark on a new adventure. I'm really excited. One thing that has remained constant through the process of me going is the peace that I have had. I know that for the next three months I'm suppose to be at FFI. I ask for your prayers over the next three months. I can't say it enough but I serve an incredible God. He continues to impress and reveal himself to me more and more every day. I can't wait to share my adventure with everyone. God Bless!

* Tomorrow is a big day for our country. We need to keep our government, country and leadership in our prayers. Pray for President Obama and his next four years.

6 days....

Moving to Colorado for the semester is starting to seem very real. Tonight I finished up packing all the stuff I'm going to ship. As I packed and now look in my closet...it's almost here. I'm really doing this. I'm fixing to move several states away for 3 months with out any of my family or friends. YIKES!! Don't get me wrong I'm really really EXCITED, I know it's going to be great but I'm sad at the same time because I'm leaving everyone for such a long time. I received my calender and roommate assignment the other day. I got my address to my apartment so if anyone wants it, just email me. I'm ready to experience what the Lord has in store for these next three months of my life.




For Christmas my Mom got me the book " The Shack". I had been wanting to read it but I'm not a huge fiction reader so it wasn't a book I was going to buy for myself and read. I have heard good reviews excellent reviews and some not so good reviews. When I begin to read a book I don't like to take what other people say about books and start reading the book with that mentally. I think when you do that it ruins the book. So I'm not going to post on here it's the best book I've ever read or the worst book I've ever read. I would really encourage you to read it and form your own opinion. Below is a small insert from the book.

" Are you saying you have no expectations of me?" Papa now spoke up. " Honey, I've never placed an expectation on you or anyone else. The idea behind expectations requires that someone does not know the future or outcome and is trying to control behavior largely through expectations. I know you and everything about you. Why would I have an expectation other that what I already know? That would be foolish. And beyond that, because I have no expectations, you never disappoint me."

The countdown begins....ONE WEEK TILL COLORADO.

I want to send my deepest sympathy to the Hovater & Wigley families. Monica my roommate lost her sweet grandfather ( RD) yesterday. I had the opportunity of meeting him two weekends ago. It was a joy to meet him, he was very funny and entertaining. He gave me a hard time about being and Auburn fan and a Republican ha! My great uncle Robbie passed away today. It was very sad news to hear of his passing. He was a great person and a very hard worker.

Just STOP and THINK

Below I have posted a video that one of my friends had posted on facebook. I watched it and I thought I would post it on here. It's a great video that is well worth your time. He definitely gets it right. It's not about religion or anything else...it's about the RELATIONSHIP!

Hi Des,

Thank God for forgiveness!!!!!!!

I am listening to John Hagee and he told the story about the baby eagle that was living with prairie chickens. He snatched and ate the corn and worms like the prairie chickens. He only flew a few feet because the prairie chickens only flew a few feet. One day he saw a beautiful eagle soaring in the sky. The prairie chickens told him that he could never be like the eagle. He died without ever soaring through the sky. He didn't see himself as God saw him. Do not live below God's purpose for your life!

God bless you real good today.

I love you,

AP

I received this email today from my Aunt( I hope she doesn't care for me putting this on here). As I read it and thought about living below God's purpose it made me think. I know I always ask a lot of rhetorical questions but this is how we learn and change if we are constantly questioning ourselves. So of course I thought about am I putting limitations on Christ and what His purpose is for my life. As many of you know a week from Tuesday I will be out in Colorado for three months. The more I have prayed about going out there and as it has gotten closer I am getting really excited. I am ready to be in the Christian environment where I am surrounded by Godly people who are going to help and equip me to BELIEVE and LIVE out God's FULL purpose for my life. I am excited about this time of equipping and growing that I believe I'm fixing to experience.

Sin

Last night as I laded in my bed trying to go to sleep I was really bothered. I was thinking about something that is going on with someone I know and it has just really been bothering me. So as I laded there and thought about it and what could have possibly made them do this I just kept thinking back to SIN. Now let me say this. I'm not saying I don't sin and I'm not saying that I'm perfect and I'm not saying this person is living a sinful life. I'm just saying that because of SIN in this world that is why certain things happen and people do the things that they do. Man is a sinful creature. We as Christians are the ones living a counter cultural life. Man's very nature is to be sinful. So why should it surprise us when someone does sin? The only one to live a perfect SINLESS life was Jesus Christ himself.

Since the fall of man in Genesis 3 SIN is everywhere. Sin affects the best and the worst. Due to the fall sin has been evident and alive. SIN is not a new thing. King David fail to SIN...Religious leaders have fallen to SIN...We "normal" people fall to SIN. Then and now sin has been at work. People want answers to the economy to the divorce rate to cancer. The answer is simple SIN...we live in a world of SIN. The economy has been taken over by people with eyes of GREED...SIN. The divorce rate is almost at 50%.. because lust is in marriages...SIN.

I say all of this because as Christians we can't ever be comfortable or content with where we are at in our relationship with the Lord. Because when we do that is when we will be attacked and confronted with the uttermost temptations of SIN. Thank God that there is pure forgiveness in His precious blood.

Birthday Cake

Now that the Holidays are over and there is some type of normality around the house. My parents got Blake and I a cake for our birthdays. Blake's birthday was December 25th and mine was January 1st. We got a Tina cake and we were so EXCITED...YUMMY!! One day I'm going to be able to make cakes like her :)

I haven't posted in a while.YIKES! The break has been good but I'm ready to get to Colorado. Last Thursday I celebrated my 21st birthday. I spent Wednesday and Thursday in Gardendale with Steven. He took me to a really nice restaurant called Flemings. This past weekend I went to Tuscumbia to visit Monica. It was a nice trip I got to meet a lot of her sweet sweet family.

I can't believe two weeks from yesterday I'll be in Colorado. I am super excited about being out there but sad at the same time for having to leave everyone. I talked to Focus today and I got a scholarship to help towards my tuition I was very happy to hear that. Although I got the scholarship it still leaves a lot to owe. I'm just living by Psalm 37:5 and trusting the Lord to provide the rest of the money for tuition.

* Today during my quite time I read through Philippians. When I first read through it in chapter 4 when Paul was finishing up his letter, this caught me, he said " I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." It is said that this letter is the letter of Joy. To alot this is strange. How could Paul have joy when he was in jail? Simple Paul had found his contentness and sufficiency in the Lord. As humans we characterize joy as something that comes with prosperity and success. Not something we experience during hardships. This scripture is Paul being joyful during a time of hardship (him being in prision). I really had to take time and examine my life and ask myself would I be and am I like Paul by havine JOY during the times of hardship in my life? *

More photos from Christmas at Grandmas