debut

here it is: my podcast debut. lol.

Confidence...What's A Girl To Do?

JFA

i mentioned that a week and a half ago that we spent a day at Colorado State University with Justice For All. and jess asked me to follow up, so i am!

first off, here's what JFA is if you want to check it out:

Justice For All

it went well.
i will be honest and admit that i didn't love it. it was exhausting and overwhelming and i believe that we were in the minority of people on the side of life.
however, one life changed or one mind opened is well worth it, no?
and we had a few of these stories come out of the whole experience. these were exciting to hear as we debriefed in the evening. here's one from patrick, one of my classmates:

Focus Your Story: Focus Leadership Institute

and personally, i spent a good deal of time listening to individuals and listening to other people's conversations.
kathryn and i picked up a clipboard and some surveys in the afternoon and started asking some questions, and this was the most beneficial part for me.
i was able to ask specific questions and start conversations that felt a bit more structured and attainable.
like i said, it was good. we put a lot of effort into just asking questions and encouraging people to think about these issues since most people who support the abortion agenda seem to do so out of ignorance.
the JFA crew and some of my classmates engaged in some great dialogues and students were left thinking about these issues in a way that they hadn't before.
the vision of the ministry is: dialogue not debate.
and it was beautiful to see this unfold.

podcast

we recorded my podcast in the studio today!
the topic was "women and confidence."
i got to pick the subject matter, plan the conversation, set up people to talk with us-
drs. steve and twyla lee, our marriage & family professors from the institute.
lisa anderson was hosting, as always, and she did a phenomenal job, especially since i was a wee bit nervous :)

link to come...

roomies

here we are. the girls of 421.
mallory christine moore aka mally slats
kathryn elizabeth joy crutcher aka kathy- but she hates that, so we just call her kathryn
bethany ross brown aka bb or butterfinger bb, or...just bethany
tammy joy dykstra aka tam, tams, tam tam, and more to come, i'm sure

i'll update soon...er...soonish. hopefully...

abortion

early. let me emphasize early -tomorrow morning, we set out to the campus at Colorado State University, campaigning for the sanctity of precious human life.
we'll be volunteering with an organization called Justice For All (JFA), with the goal of engaging in positive dialogue with students to encourage people to really think about the issue of abortion and the value of life.
we're really just going and trusting God to orchestrate divine appointments to connect with people who need to see the hands and eyes and love of Jesus.
so, please, if you will, pray the same. thanks :)

sunday

today marks 4 weeks since i arrived in colorado springs.
does it feel like it has been 4 weeks? eh...not really. but the past 2 weeks have been c r a z y .
so a sunday morning, just to breathe, is a very welcome gift.
i will reiterate what i've said before: i love it here.
and i wouldn't want life any other way during this season.
granted, the thought of having my favorite people here with me will always make me smile.

and i really didn't expect to miss kids so much. that's not to say that there aren't a slew of sweet little ones here as well, but when you know kids so well, and then you're not near them, its odd.
max, lily, bea, ezra, and vivi. every single one of those smiles and laughs that i am anxious to be with again, in their new home, and the new yard, new garden...
abby and brady. the adventures of everyday life. the library, the pool, gymnastics, the grocery store, baking cookies, slip 'n slide, bike rides...
russel and lauren. the wildest and craziest and most predictible. lauren, always asking to have her hair straightened, and both always asking to go to the farm...and of course, to the candy store. world's best babysitter? just maybe.
and then my most precious addi and colin. the little tears the day i left, as if she really even understood, and the little man- his excitement over people, family, familiarity, and freedom.

when i think about how blessed i have been to have the people in my life that i do, i just don't understand Him and His love and why i have received so much of it. but i want to know Him.

i want to know Him the way Paul did and the way that Paul desired to. I want to know Him the way David knew Him, the way David knew His heart- to be called a man after God's own heart- i want to desire His Word, His presence, His Spirit, the way David did, and whoever the heck wrote psalm 119...maybe David, maybe Ezra...to be able to say the things that he did-

i have hidden Your Word in my heart that i might not sin against You

i delight in Your decrees; i will not neglect Your Word

turn my heart toward Your statues and not toward selfish gain. turn my eyes away from worthless things

You are my portion, O Lord; i have promised to obey Your words. i have sought your face with all my heart;

at midnight i rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws

it was good for me to be afflicted so that i might learn Your decrees

in faithfulness You have afflicted me

if Your law had not been my delight i would have perished in my affliction

how sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path

Your statutes...are the joy of my heart

You are near, O Lord, and all Your commands are true.

colorado

[picture #1: at horn creek conference center, in the mountains, on a retreat, #2: Bethany, me, Mallory, and Kathryn: roommates, in front of Focus, #3: at the retreat. magic circle (i'm in the pink), #4: in Denver at the Colorado Rockies' baseball game]

i'm taking time this afternoon, time that i shouldn't be taking, but it is important to me to update this blog!
i'm currently between lunch and my internship. we had class this morning 8-1130. actually this is the usual schedule m-f.
things have been wonderful here. the weather, for example...it has been in the 80's and 90's since i arrived 3 1/2 weeks ago...and no humidity- which isn't great for the curls/waves, but as for personal comfort- couldn't be happier.
and have i mentioned our apartments? and our neighborhood. beyond my wildest dreams, if i can say that. if you care to see what i'm talking about, here's a quick tour:

http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1015562.php

there was so much more that i was bursting to write about, but i have been distracted by all the bustling people that are constantly around. however, i am not complaining about that. i do get my own space on occasion and the people here are just so much fun, wonderful people to learn alongside, to be encouraged by, to learn from, as well as to laugh with, play with, eat with, and the all-important studying and reading. our professors at the institute keep us p l e n t y busy with hours of work. but again, i am not really complaining. the reading has been fantastic stuff...a couple of my favorites thus far include:

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The American Leadership Tradition by Marvin Olasky
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
The Power of Commitment by Scott M. Stanley

So- here is just a brief synopsis of what's going on here with me. i'm sure i have barely scratched the surface but its a start.

oh, and here's my address since i love getting mail...almost a month and still waiting on that experience...

tammy dykstra
870 robbie view dr. apt. 421
colorado springs, co 80920

[peace]

settle

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001699.cfm

boundless

today
i received my assignment for my internship/practicum for the semester.
the ministry is a branch of focus on the family.
check
it
out.

http://www.boundless.org/2005/aboutus.cfm

fresh air

well well well
i am finally here.
and things are good.
i really couldn't be more pleased regarding all the details of life here.
this apartment is wonderful, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 roommates + me.

mallory is 22, from oklahoma. she just finished her student-teaching and graduated from...i can't remember. she is our extrovert. she's great, a lot of fun, and makes me laugh a lot, which you know i need...she has a brother in town and says that she will have plenty of family and friends visiting over the course of the semester.
bethany shares my room. she 22. she's sweet and an introvert. makes for some good quiet moments in our room for which i am so thankful :) she is from a missionary family that lived and worked in tanzania for quite a few years, though she considers herself to be from east tennessee.
kathryn 23 and is from pennsylvania. she is also quiet and kind. and i think we have deemed her a genius. ha! maybe not quite, but she is a very humble sort of woman who loves to learn, is very responsible, and a hard worker. and she brought this sweet poster of chili peppers, which i love, that is hanging in our dining room.

and our apartment is only minutes from the closest grocery stores, coffee shops, goodwill, etc., most of it between 1/2 mile and a mile away.
oh and by the way, my address is:

870 robbie view apt. 421
colorado springs, co 80920

you should write to me :)