time to get Focused!

Since receiving the announcement that I was moving to Colorado Springs, I had one thing on my mind. It wasn't the packing, the homebuying, or even how the kids would take it. Maybe it should have been, but when Beau said, They offered Colorado Springs...Courtney said, Yeah they have Focus on the Family!!

If you aren't familiar with Focus on the Family check it out online, but dont stop there. I first heard of Focus when i was living in Alaska. I was struggling to build my faith, struggling with how to parent, struggling with how to educate and a thousand other things. Many people, books, sermons etc helped me and gave me guidance, and one of those awesome many was James Dobson. He is the founder of Focus and one day I was so blessed to hear him speak. Of all the things he gave me, one was a little clarity, a little focus if u will :)
He helped solidify my decision to accept the role of stay at home mom, gave me confidence in my ability to homeschool, even a little support on leading my family as a Christian wife.

Since then Ive read his books on parenting , boys  , even the one about being a good husband. Like any book or school of thought, i pick and choose what to take with me and what works for my family. I found lots of good advice in his words and the book on boys is spot on! but the idea of Focus is what I fell in love with. A big giant place/way of thinking/group of people who believe families are important. More important than money, possessions, achievements..........soo different than what the world often tells us. focus on the Family gave me permission to ignore the world and follow my instincts and place my family and my job as a wife and mother at the top of my priority list.

now onto the fun part............lets be honest, books and parenting advice can be boring........the real fun at Focus starts in the basement.

When you drive by, you see a complex of manicured lawns and brick office buildings. A meticulously organized bookstore and free of litter and all imperfections parking lot. But hidden just underneath the surface, away from view, yet free of charge, is a dark wild unruly underworld. Where parents relax and children break free. Its a fantasyland with few rulez and fewer frowns. There is a massive airplane children are invited to climb upon, a full indoor playground, a puppet theatre, dress up and performance stage. Kids can even record their own records. they can snack at the soda shop, crawl through a cave of tunnels and its even homeschool friendly, open all hours during the week to all ages. If that wasn't great enough, there is the grand finale....the biggest freakin indoor slide ever. i forget how many stories it boasts, 150 stairs i heard to the top. It is amazing. My kids had an awesome time and for once my pocket book got a break. Once we saturated the place with giggles we spent another hour outside on the lawn chatting momstyle while the kids ran amok.

So far Ive been twice and cant wait to go again. Once with an old friend and once again with a brand new one. here is a really bad mom shot, hopefully my new friend can give me some photog tips :)