Love Story, Chapter Two

"This is Becky, and she used to have a job where she dressed up as Disney princesses for children's birthday parties..." My roomie and friend Callie was introducing me to all my fellow Alphas in a group get-to-know-you-session. There were two apartment complexes at Focus - the Alphas and the Omegas.

All of us FFI students were enjoying our opening weekend up at Horn Creek Lodge in the Rockies. The weekend was full of fun group activities, snow ball fights, games, testimonies, sharing times, and just relaxation. This was a crucial time - we were all thrown together in this cozy lodge with no one to talk to except each other. I hardley had cell phone service, if I can remember right. I think if you talked to any student, they would say that that first weekend at Horn Creek was very impactful. It set the tone for the rest of the semester.

Later on that morning, after having worshipped as a group, I got up to go to the next session, and ran into Jake - "Hey - I can really see that. I can see how you would have made an awesome Disney princess." He said. "Thanks." Was all I could eek out. "I'm such a doofus!" I thought. "This isn't middle school! Just be chill, Becky!" But I couldn't deny the smile that kept trying to creep onto my face during my next small-group session. "Jake thinks I look like a princess..." I satisfyingly reminicsed...then I tried to snap out of it..."He was just being nice. No big deal. That's just the kind of person he is..." I sighed and resumed listening to the professor who was talking.

Horn Creek was awesome. I was able to engage in some amazing conversations about things that I thought no one else cared about but me. I loved being with people that were so like-minded. I literally felt like God had gathered all the people from around America that were passionate about similar things and put them in one place. It was refreshing, inspiring, and life-giving. I was able to be the most honest with God I had ever been with him in my life as I sat outside of the lodge one morning. I saw the clouds moving over head so fast and said to the Lord, "God, these clouds are moving so fast, and I feel like that is how this semester is going to be. Very fast, with a lot of change at the end. I don't think I'm going to be in the same place after I leave here." That was an accurate statement - I just didn't know at the time how accurate :)

On Sunday, our wonderful time at the Lodge came to a close, and we headed back down to Colorado Springs in a big bus with all of our new-found friends. As Callie and I sat next to each other, we attempted to close the window by the seats we were in. But alas - it would not budge. All of a sudden, two strong arms came over us and slammed that window down like nothing. Of course, you guessed it, it was Jake :) He plopped down in the seat next to Callie and I and the three of us chatted all the way down to Colorado Springs. It was wonderful - but in a different way than I thought. As we talked about dreams for the future, our families, favorite movies, funny moments, etc, I realized that Jake Hatfield, while being handsome, charming, and chivalrous, was also just a really cool guy. In a good way, that conversation made him seem more real to me. He wasn't just this tall, handsome stranger anymore, he was like me - a normal person with intrests, a background, and hopes for the future. My girly nervousness subsided as I relaxed into my chair. "I think we are going to be friends..." I thought to myself...

Baha :D