First Blog Entry

Nathan and I are keeping very busy.

Nathan is still pursuing his Master in Leadership at Denver Seminary and hopes to be done by December. He has a break right now because there aren't any classes offered this summer that would work for his degree. The break has been a wonderful a time of rest for him, yet, Nathan never rests. He is always out and about doing one thing or another. Rock climbing, camping, hiking, or his favorite, bike riding.

I'll late Nathan tell some more tales about what's going on in his life, that will be the next post.

I started my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction a month ago. It's kept me extremely busy. It's a full-time program, 34 credits, but I should be done in March and I should graduate in May. I'm in class every other Friday night from 6-10 and Saturday from 8-5. It's been brutal getting home at 11 and waking up at 6, sometimes I even have to do some homework that Friday night. The weekends I have off I mainly work on homework. I try to get some friend time in on the week nights.

Work is going well. It's summer time so it's really quite around here but I'm getting a TON of work done which is exciting. when the students are here I'm really at their beckon call and I get very little done. When they're not here I work on projects. Some of you may not even know what my job entails so here it goes....

I advise 110 juniors on academics, career options, balance, study habits, faith matters, etc. I spend about 2 hours a week with 12 students mentoring them in their walk with the Lord. I may refer to my "cohort" a lot, and that's my group of 110. I started with them 2 years ago, when they first arrived at CCU. Some have left CCU and some have stayed and I've actually taken on a few more since some students transfer in to CCU. But the goal is to be their adviser until they leave. I LOVE IT! But, that's not all I do. I work along faculty and staff to collaborate on University initiatives such as our academic catalog, new data base system, teach appreciation days, chapel, retreats, student leadership, etc. I also oversee our Undeclared program. About 40% of freshman come into CCU without a major and I help those students figure out how God has gifted and talented them to give back to society. Lastly, I am the disability coordinator. I work with the other 7 advisers in my office to help disability students have equal access to education and success. So that's my job! A place of higher education is often split up into a few different parts all led by a president. Academics, Business Affairs, Adult & Graduate School, Enrollment Management, Grounds/Maintenance, and Student Life. The department I am in is called the Life Directions Center and this department falls under Student Life at CCU. My department, the LDC has 10 staff members, 8 advisers and office manager and a director and right now we are transitioning to a new director. My department is only 2 years old and I was one for the first LDC advisers. We've lost a few in the last two years. So that's work!

As for my social life! I love my church and many of the people I hang out with come from either Church or from CCU. There are several alum still around who I hang out with. I try to branch out to my neighbors but it's been hard... Bentley doesn't like other dogs (I'm hoping it's a phase) so we are the rude people because we never let our dog interact with other dogs for their dog's safety. Oh, and a friend from High School moved out here two three years ago and we've become great friends, she married an old friend of Nate's.

Not let me explain the Nate/Nathan thing. When I first got to CCU I was introduced to Nate. Later on a found out that his whole family called him Nathan so I tried to call him Nathan too but everyone in Colorado knows him as Nate... so I always jump back and forth. Sorry! It's the same person though, I don't have two husbands!

Ok. I have to get back to work but I will write more later. Not much later, there is still more to be said.