Family Dinner Fun!

 Giving myself 10 minutes to write tonight.

It's good to be back home and hanging out with T-man and these cool kids... their sibling rivalry will always make me laugh! =)

Triston's newly renovated bedroom... love the tree pics and love this shade of green!

Kyndal Faith put on a mini fasion show for us at our fam dinner (lasagna) with some new school clothes and a Caitlyn Clark t-shirt!  She's so much fun!!

Jaceman had karate tonight and was VERY PROUD to tell us that his stripes were signed off (not 100% sure how all that works, but yay, proud of him!)

He happily demonstrated his skills on Rach. lol

Mom had recorded yesterday's Olympic gymnastics, so I watched that with her and Kyndal, which was fantastic!

I have vivid memories from each of these teams... love gymnastics - go USA!!

Happy last day of July, and Happy Birthday to Harry Potter!!  

"We're gonna make them proud, Neville" gets me every time!

My phone timer just went off, so that worked out well.

Yay for the final month of summer starting tomorrow, and hooray for FALL coming soon!!

One Step at a Time

Hey, friends!  Res 3 has come to an end, and once again, I cannot say enough good things about CCU.  I made it back home just before midnight last night.  (Michelle's family came to Colorado to have an extended vacation, so I was on my own for the trip home and missing her good sense of direction).

Without further ado, here are a select few of my remaining photos from Residency 3.

BeauJo's Pizza, Round 2!  Me, Lauren, Amy, and Michelle up front + Jonathan and Matthew behind us!! ❤

Dr. Burkhart, Dean of the School of Counseling - I talked with him thrice at this third Residency, and I'm proud of my courage there! =)  I actually stood in a line just to get this photo and to thank him for meeting with me last year and solidifying my commitment to the program... Then the next day, he taught my Research class and I had a good talk with him after that about their doctoral program and the possibility of teaching at CCU in the future! #getexcited

This = an early morning meeting added into our schedule.  He talked about how we've all likely made sacrifices in one of these areas while pursuing graduate education, and he designed coins (we each chose one) to remind us to be very intentional about keeping these things at the forefront as we move forward.

Michelle and adorable baby Victoria, Jonathan's daughter!

Lunch with Robin (a fellow INFJ friend from my Internship 2 course).

One of many campus walks... this mini-fountain always makes me happy.

Our BeauJo's dinner crew! ❤

*Side note: I was worried about digestive issues and food choices on this first trip post-surgery, but everything went very smoothly there.  I brought protein bars and had them twice a day, grabbed fruit and salad in the cafeteria, did my best to stay hydrated, and ate a decidedly smaller portion of foods I enjoy when we went to restaurants.  One day I talked to Sarah through lunch then tried to rush and ate (a small amount) too fast which caused minor heartburn, but had no other digestive issues, and it was never awkward or difficult, so I'm very grateful!

Our friendly waiter taking a selfie so he could join us! lol

Late-night roommate chat!  I never really had the college dorm experience, so these trips have been a nice glimpse of that.  Once again, we were in a studio dorm with 3 bedrooms and a shared kitchen and living room.  This was our last night -- when everyone gathered in me and Staci's room and we made a list for Staci and other Res 1 students of the best CCU professors, elective classes, and other advice for them as they start this program.  They were very appreciative, and it was fun to make the list together!

Sunday morning was the poster presentation... a Research class group project I did with Joy and Tessa!  Along with several Res 1 students (who were less intimidating), Dr. Mayfield and Dr. Burkhart came over to ask us a few questions, and I ended up talking with Dr. Burkhart for a while about Romans 12:2 and how to integrate Biblical principles into secular counseling work.  For having no official speech prepared, I feel like I did pretty well in those conversations!

Amy and I, so happy to be done!

 

Our poster =)

Jonathan and Matthew and Amy, a sticker from Robin that I put in my Res 3 notebook, and me and Nadine on the last day!

One of the things I love most about CCU is the Christ-centered atmosphere...  The photo on the left is my friend, Ali, praying with her group before their poster presentation.  Top right is a random group of students praying over a friend who was crying - no idea of the situation, but seeing that on my walk filled me with gratitude and hope.  They hold optional prayers meetings every morning of Residency.  And bottom right is Dr. Kreimeyer and Dr. Brashear praying together before they spoke to us about Trauma & EMDR, which was one of the better sessions I attended this year!

This = the CCU Event Center on our final day... full to the brim with 472 new Residency 1 students and 250+ Residency 3 students at the edges of the gym + several members of the CCU faculty on stage and at the back tables.  They have the soon-to-be-graduating Residency 3 students surround the room and reach out our hands and pray over the Res 1 students -- praying for endurance and strength and God's blessings as they begin this program...

And then they have the Res 1 students pray a commissioning prayer for us - for God's anointing on our lives to empower us as we work with clients and go out to fulfill His calling, and for us to finish strong in our Masters program.  It's a really sacred and meaningful moment, something I vividly remembered from Res 1 and was excited for as we closed things out this year!

One final photo of the five of us just after the prayer!

And after all that, I had a few calls with Mom, a lovely 2-hour convo with Sarah, a 35-minute chat with Amy, + loads of podcasts and the absolutely riveting views of Kansas to keep me company through the 10+ hour drive home. lol

There were times when I could see at least 100 windmills (or wind turbines, whatever), but zero other cars.  And I kept picturing the dramatic scene from Twisters with those, which was decidedly unhelpful, as they already feel kinda creepy to me (particularly with their flashing red lights all in unison at night - yiiikes).

Anyway, I made it back and got to sleep in today.  Then I had a surprisingly emotional counseling session with Emily (where I was the client)... followed by working with two clients at Restore this afternoon, and now I'm writing and in the process of finishing up my laundry - huzzah!!

After one of my solo campus walks where I was really wrestling with some fear and big emotions about my next steps, I was physically and emotionally tired getting into the elevator in our dorm building.  I took a deep breath and looked out just in time to see this verse, which had an immediate strengthening effect.  I don't have all the answers, and I'm still praying and seeking counsel, but I know that it's an honor to feel called by God and that I want to live a life worthy of His calling... and humility and love are core components of that.  That's probably all I need to know for right now - one step at a time, His plan will come together. ❤

"You feel like what’s in front of you is too big and what’s behind you is coming too fast, but you don’t have to go fast.  You just have to go forward."  –Steven Furtick, It's the Motion that Matters (podcast on my drive yesterday)

This slideshow = pics from all three CCU trips!!! ❤

 

 Colorado is beautiful, and I honestly feel God's presence more acutely there, but I do have to remind myself that my view of that state is atypical and uniquely skewed, as my personal experience includes three trips to CCU and the 2014 Captivating retreat with the Eldredges, plus the hope of next May's graduation!

Okay, that's really all for today.  So much homework and transcript work to press into ahead, but I needed to write this as it was fresh on my mind and heart.  

Thanks to anyone who cared enough to read it.  I love you and believe in you, and I urge you to live a life worthy of God's calling! ❤

Handfuls on Purpose (Photo Friday!)

"You're not an imposter; you are called, and there's a difference.  God puts people in places and situations where they don't fit in to serve a special purpose, so come open and ready to learn... There is only one Savior.  Our job is to plant seeds, and God will do the work later.  But He gives us a special capacity to go into dark places and shine the light."  ~Dr. Cannedy

CCU's beautiful new Chapel (currently under construction, but nearly done)!

Breakfast yesterday... Michelle and Jonathan Neely, Jonathan Trotter, Matthew Stock, and Ali Layton!

Zarria, me, Amy, Joy, Lauren, and Michelle ready for our first session yesterday... then Dr. Burkhart starting things off with the confetti popper! lol

Target trip #2, cheers-ing at dinner last night, pondering the sketchy sushi place, and one of the many verses posted on campus!

Amy and I at the Eeny Meeny Sushi Roll restaurant - about to leave after learning it was $50 a person! lol

Back to an old favorite - Ted's Montana Grill!  Lauren's friend, Austin Britton, joined us... seriously, the men of CCU continue to impress me.  He's a former pastor now counselor-in-training, and he had a lot of valuable things to say about church trauma, bi-vocational ministry, and the transformative Universal Leadership conference by Cloud & Townsend!

Love the verses everywhere.

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Today is National Aunts & Uncles Day. lol  So naturally, I made this collage during one of our most boring sessions to celebrate that!  Yay, niece and nephews and mini-BFFs. ❤

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Dr. Langhofer and Dr. Robinson led a session about testifying in court... I'm probably more familiar with the court system than most counselors, but that doesn't mean I want to be a regular witness!

Me with Ashley and Robyn, my fantastic Residency 1 role play group!

As Res 3 students, we are treated as leaders here - it's our job to facilitate, observe, and offer feedback on their counseling skills... I'm loving being on this side of it!  We've also had several chances to speak up in a larger group of Res 1 students with reflections and advice about this program... I've spoken up several times (hopefully it's been encouraging).  I still remember several things the Res 3 students told me two years ago, so it's exciting to lean into that and encourage others now!

Pics from my campus walk tonight. ❤

By the elevators at Rockmont Hall (my dorm building).

Tonight, we had a long chat in our living room, ordered takeout Mexican food, and watched a bit of the Olympics opening ceremonies!  Pics = a wall with one of my favorite verses, our living room hangout with the Olympics playing on Michelle's computer... me and Staci (my roommate), our dorm, and Amy with her presentation group (including Jonathan and Nadine). =)

I called Sarah Elizabeth during our lunch hour today.  Somewhere in our convo, she mentioned the idea of God leaving us "handfuls on purpose" to remind us that we are seen and cared for, a phrase I immediately remembered from a recent sermon on the book of Ruth (where Boaz has his workers intentionally leave handfuls of grain behind for her).  Anyway, we were talking about God opening doors for us as we step forward with courage... something I also mentioned to the Res 1 students yesterday.  Keep taking the next right step, and God will open doors for you.  As Dr. Sierra reminded us earlier today, "If you've obeyed God's call to be here, He has a good plan to prosper you as you move forward!"

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Thankful Thursday #198!

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  ~Philippians 4:4-7

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Passing the 2-year mark in graduate school on Sunday, and having less than five months to go!!! #finishstrong #senioritis

2.  My friend, Laura's post explaining that they postponed their wedding date to individually work through some personal things and be in a healthier place before getting married -- without knowing many details, I feel certain that both the delay and publicly sharing about that took courage, and I soooo applaud it!!  The arbitrary timelines others set for us are often not rooted in God's timing, and I'm inspired when people do what is best for them long-term rather than trying to please everyone else in the short-term.

3.  Having only 4 weeks left in my Internship 2 class... Michelle, Amy, and I are all finishing up our hours this semester, which was up in the air for a while and feels like VERY exciting news!!  *This was a presentation in Tuesday's class, and everything he listed about this client felt very much like me. lol

4.  My new Bethlehem Lights Christmas tree, a very generous gift from Mom, who loves QVC's Christmas in July event!!

5.   My group text with Chettles and Sarah Elizabeth, full of random memes and deep thoughts and personality discussions this week!

6.  That I'm nearly done thinking about the DSM-5. 

7.  That day one in Colorado has mostly been great (writing this at the end of Wednesday)... a fun trip down with Michelle (who drove the terrible traffic parts) + FaceTiming for my supervision hours at Restore + no nausea or sickness (it's been an issue of concern lately) + we're all rooming together again, and I have a new roommate who's a missionary from Malaysia (and we had a really good talk tonight) + seven of us girls went to In N Out Burger for dinner, then Target for a grocery run!!  I'm tired and overstimulated enough to be irritable, but thankful I get some extra sleep as we have a late start tomorrow morning.  And grateful ahead of time for all God will do in this third and final MAC Residency trip!! ❤

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