My Berry Expereince: The CDC

No, I'm not talking about the center for disease control.  I'm talking about Berry's Child Development Center.

It's hard for me to put into words what this place means to me.  This post is going to be short, and not do justice to what is in my heart.  But I can't reflect on my time at Berry without my mind going back to this space.

The number of times I would be so stressed I couldn't see straight during my time at Berry is unfathomable.  I'll be honest, I had some hard days and dealt with some ugly stuff.  But by the grace of God I would go into one of those cottage classrooms and be met by three and four year old faces looking up at me.  So somehow all that stress from a moment ago would melt away.  He used those little guys to keep me going.  To energize me and give me a good laugh.

I can't even begin to describe everything God taught me there.  There is so much it might take me a whole week to write it all out.  He taught me more about Himself.  He taught me more about myself.  To top it off, He gave me little sneak peeks into His heart through those precious kiddos.

It was in this place He confirmed what His direction on my life would be. 


I am thankful God lead me to Berry for many reasons, but a big one is because of this preschool.

I was only able to find one other post about my job.  But it pretty much captures the kind of things God revealed to me regularly while I was there.

Really, the only words I have left are to God be the glory.

My Berry Experience: The Road to an Unwanted Destination

This is the first of probably multiple posts about the best college in the world.

Tonight it sank in a little more that it's real.

It's really coming to a close.

I'm sure tomorrow and Saturday will be similar experiences, but man.

I can't believe I'm almost done with college.

In less than 48 hours I'll be alumni.

 Whew, what a crazy wild ride it has been. 

 People made lists about things they love/memories of their experiences at Berry.

Cecily shared them with all of us.

It flooded my mind with memories.

It really seems like ages ago that I got a flyer in the mail showing this beautiful campus.

I was a sophomore in high school.

It was BEAUTIFUL.

I couldn't believe the gorgeous architecture of the school.

I want to go there.

This was the thought on my mind.

I held onto the flyer.

Tucked it away in a box and kept it safe.

Then senior year of high school happened.

It was time to pick a next step.  

I was still interested in that beautiful school on the flyer from the mail.

A Berry rep came to my high school to try and convince us Berry was the place for us.

BUT, they didn't have my major.

And they were expensive,

REALLY expensive.

A college road trip with my Padre ensued.

Filled with pizza, old radio theater, and lots of driving.

We went to several schools,

but I only remember two:

West Florida

and Berry.

West Florida was amazing.  They had an incredible marine biology program.  Their description of the labs I would get to do made my mouth water.  And it was close to the beach!  You have to understand, I had wanted to be a marine scientist from the time I was 3 years old.  I never changed my mind about what I wanted to do.  I was not on of those kids who went back and forth.  I knew what I wanted, and I was going to go after it with everything inside me.

 

 Then we went to Berry.

I only remember two things about my first visit.

1) One of the professors I talked to was a jerk.  He strongly discouraged me from pursuing marine biology, and I did not appreciate it.  Which of course, made me want to that much more.  This really put a sour taste in my mouth for Berry.  I mean, if they were going to try and dictate what I did, why would I want that!?

2) My tour guide.  He was from England.  Enough said.

I was at a complete loss about what to do.  I loved the opportunities I would have at UWF, but I couldn't quit thinking about Berry.

Berry had this "Night with the Stars" at the Space in Rocket Center in my hometown.  I went and met what felt like everyone on staff in the admissions office.  

This involved lots of listening.

I decided to give Berry another shot and I visited again for "Decision Berry."  I met some people who later became my classmates.   I did some more listening, went on another tour, and talked to some more admissions people.

Still undecided...

Then, I chose.

I started packing to move to the biggest campus in the world.

I began my summer reading of An Ordinary Man by Paul Ruseabagina

and stepped foot on campus for the most craziest/awesome-est SOAR ever.

It blows my mind to think about how much I have changed since then.  I believe God lets us make our own choices, but I also believe He knows what we are going to choose to do.  I credit Him for paving the way to this remarkable place.

I would not change my decision for anything.

Little did I know, God had huge things in store for me over the next four years.

#truth

1) God is who He says He is

2) God can do what He says He can do

3) I am who God says I am

4) I can do all things through Christ

5) God's word is alive and active in me

For those of us in Christ, we are...

blessed.chosen.adopted. 

accepted.redeemed.forgiven.

1 Peter 5:6-11

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Lead Me Back To You

Sometimes there are songs that you really love.

Other times there are songs you couldn't love less.

There are goods songs for running,

sleeping,

or driving down the highway.  

For me, these songs are all a little different.

But every once in a while,

you come across a song that hits close to home.

Maybe this is your favorite song ever.

Or maybe its a great worship song.

In a way, my life feels like it was turned upside down yesterday.

Not because it was my last day of college (though that is amazing),

but because a piece of my heart broke.

This was a song I found yesterday after that has completely swamped me.

The lyrics have become my prayer.

Hallelujah, He is mighty to save.

I got this feeling in my bones
That I need You more than I know
Yeah, I’ve been trying to do this alone
Trying to make it here on my own

It’s funny how I believe the lies every time
That I gotta run from You tonight

Tell me that Your hands are strong enough to hold me
Tell me that Your hands are merciful and true
Tell me that Your hands are wide enough for the wandering of my heart
And strong enough to bring me back to You

Why is it so hard to see
Lord I’m here now, and down on my knees
I’m down on my knees
God, I’m feeling so weak and so desperate for You to speak
Will You speak?

Come and chase away the lies
Won’t you silence them tonight

Tell me that Your hands are strong enough to hold me
Tell me that Your hands are merciful and true
Tell me that Your hands are wide enough for the wandering of my heart
And strong enough to bring me back to You

Hallelujah, You are
Hallelujah, You are
Hallelujah, You are strong

Hallelujah, You are
Hallelujah, You are
Hallelujah, You are love

Tell me that Your hands are strong enough to hold me
Tell me that Your hands are merciful and true
Tell me that Your hands are wide enough for the wandering of my heart
And strong enough to bring me back to You