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!
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! ❤
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