Vices, Virtues, and Values

Reflections of the Hague by Herman van den Berge

(Photo unrelated to this post - I stumbled onto it today and loved it!) ❤

Hey, everyone!  This is a break week from school for Memorial Day, and last week was a break from the courthouse.  I turned in my biggest project of the semester ahead of time last weekend, and I'm fully caught up at work and with my counseling progress notes and CEU credits - YAAAY - that feels amazing!  (A month with no TV is paying off in lots of ways).  So I figured why not write one more blog for this month!? lol

So I remember listening to a Bob Goff podcast a few years back where he encouraged people to speak up for their desires, saying the resources you need will show up for you.  At the time, it felt simplistic and a bit like 'name it and claim it' theology.  However, I understand it on a different level now...

When I seriously considered graduate school, I remember feeling nervous about the potential of rejection, the intense time commitment, the high cost, the required trips to Colorado, finding a good internship, navigating a move to freelance, and answering questions about my future plans.  When I applied to CCU and got accepted just weeks before their program started, I believed God was opening that door.  And it has been such a faith-building, confidence-building journey to watch God open door after door as I step toward them.  The encouragement and emotional support of friends, the backing and financial support from family, important new connections, finding new role models in my professors, favor at work, several great internship opportunities, the personal/professional growth, and absolutely loving the annual trip to Colorado... I can clearly see God's hand in ALL of that, and it infuses my desire to glorify Him!!

As an Enneagram 9, my type's "Vice" is Sloth, which means disengaging by ignoring my core values and desires to focus on keeping others happy.  The countering "Virtue" is Right Action, engaging with my core values and taking bold steps when I'm confident that something is right.  My recent decision to pursue surgery has come together quickly, reinforcing my sense that God is opening multiple doors for me.  I can feel His timing, peace, and grace at work in my life, and I'm incredibly grateful.

It's important to be clear about what you value and want in life.  It took me such a long time to figure that out, but right now, I have so many goals and dreams that feel exciting and meaningful to me!!  So I partially agree with Bob Goff that we should boldly speak up for our desires and expect good things to happen... God often works through people, and He is good at providing resources and opening doors we never thought possible, and He honors faith and rewards those who sincerely seek Him! ❤  However, I think we all learn the hard way that His timing often doesn't match ours, so wisdom and prayer are essential.  My action-steps toward adoption have felt blocked and delayed, but I trust that God has a future family for me (one way or another).  And my goal is to seek His direction and improve at walking in step with Him rather than running ahead or trying to force things.  Now that I've experienced it so tangibly in other areas, I want the unmistakable confidence and peace that come with walking in His will and anointing!

And now, let's talk about my core values, which I have recently redefined:

1. Courage: Speaking truth and taking bold steps of faith.
2. Hope: Positive expectation and God-centered purpose.
3. Abundance: Trusting God's anointing, living into the John 10:10 abundant life Jesus brings, and resisting scarcity thoughts.
4. Support: Prioritizing connection; Giving and receiving love and help.
5. Endurance: Resilience of spirit and knowing when to persevere.

I like the CHASE acronym to help me remember them. =)

I want to live with great courage, contagious hope, and an attitude of abundance (not prosperity-gospel thinking, but learned faith in the awe-inspiring, beautiful, abundant goodness of God).  I want healthy, mutually-supportive relationships and the fierce inner strength to endure in hard times as God continues to reveal His will to me step by step!

Song of the Week = The Goodness of God by CeCe Winans!

And now I'm really done for today.

Thank you for reading!! ❤

Photo Friday + Memes!

One of my favorite metaphors - I love that counseling gives me a place to use all the metaphors/quotes/lessons that have helped me see things more clearly over the years!

Speaking of flowers, seeing these on my lunch walk outside Restore made me happy.

True in several areas of life!

Disney dreams! ❤  Her tiara off to the side really completes the cuteness of this un-staged photo.  I just love her, and I'm happy I get to experience Disney World with her and Tate (and potentially Miles and Hope)... as I'm not the one having to parent them, I feel confident that adding kids to the trip will mean more fun/magic and more adorable photos for me. =)

Truth, but my outdoors time is increasing lately. =)

Took this pic on my way in last week... I haven't changed my mind about young adults and/or grieving clients being a better fit for me, but I wanted the reminder that I'm genuinely thankful for this internship experience and my growth in learning to work with kids and their families (thanks to Hannah and Debra and Jill and others)!  I have four clients ages 4-15 next week, and I've made a connection and seen real progress with each of them, and I'm excited about the role I get to play in their lives! ❤  The Restore Interns are currently working together to create a handbook for all the parents, and our conversations around that have been really great - yay for learning new things and being around inspiring people!

A couple weeks back, the northern lights were visible here in Oklahoma... sadly, I missed it.

Took this pic on my way home bc my mind immediately went to Jeffrey saying "Penny Wenny" in a higher pitch imitating my voice talking to the berry-best girlfranz! lol

Well, Chettles is not a believer in this optical illusion, but I am! lol  (click on the pic and zoom in)

Jaceman and Liam (Emily's son) fishing at the lake on Memorial Day!

Lol I rarely attempt an answer when I don't know, but it would go about like this. 

Lol this made me think of the disturbing lizard/man in Spider-Man!

Jace and Stonewall, another of his graduating friends!

❤

Honestly not positive if this is from a kid in their divorce groups or grief groups, but seeing this card at Calm Waters made me grateful for what they do.  Grief is often isolating, especially for kids whose friends have no concept or learned empathy for that, and it's always helpful to feel less alone in your pain. ❤

Old me being "off sweets." lol

Another meme from Chet Lee that I immediately read in his voice! lol

My screensaver for this season!  One week from today is my surgery - feeling hopeful and praying for God's protection and peace, and for lasting transformation and better health!

Yesterday's class was a "keep the waves outside the ship" conversation - not letting the chaos swirling around you drag you down.

Okay, the fact that this club tournament and photo happened earlier this month feels crazy to me... it's been a rich and full and memorable month of May!!

Happy Friday, and happy June 1st tomorrow!
❤

Thankful Thursday #190

"Over everything the glory [of the Lord] will be a canopy.  It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain."  ❤ Isaiah 4:5-6

Today, I am grateful for:

1.  This mama duck and her 18 babies!!  So much cuteness!

2.  My final pre-surgery brunch at Neighborhood Jam with Mom -- YUM!!  (Cinnamon roll pancake with caramel and cream cheese topping, double-stuffed Oreo pancake with whipped cream and oreo topping, and my original favorite, the classic chocolate chip with butter and chocolate topping).

3.  And my final pre-surgery non-diet meal at Hideaway with Kristin last Thursday (a half chicken florentine, half cup-n-curl pepperoni pizza -- also yum!!)

4.  Jace's "book buddy," Josh, who has been a kind older friend to him from Pre-K to today (he was Jace's age now in the left pic).  His name did cause me some confusion when Mom told me she was writing him a card. lol  But I'm grateful for his influence and his good example of how to treat younger kids who look up to you!

5.  Speaking of graduation, look at this cuteness!! Kristin and I were talking about how cute kindergarten graduations are, then she sent me this! ❤

6.  Our family friends... love this pic of them celebrating Rick's birthday at Charlestons! (Mom took it).

7.  Finding hearts along the way (inspired by Mel Robbins) - I had forgotten about that challenge until I saw the red painted heart on Main Street, then started paying attention and looking for them.  I'm taking it as a fun little nod from God, much like the banner reminder!  These daily walks have been fantastic, and I hope to keep that going long after the project sprint!

Bonus:  I'm thankful for these pics from May 2014 when the Wilsons first met the kids and Dad! =)

P.S. How great is that top verse!?  God's glory covering and protecting us physically and spiritually - I receive it!

Happy Thursday, friends and fam.
Make it a great day and weekend ahead!!

❤

Memorial Day 2024

Miss Parker Elizabeth using an old iPod to dig for buried treasures and seashells in the corn pool! lol  That was an odd sentence to type, but here we are.  What a preshface! =)

The adorable kids tables... Harvey Lane, Ellie Faye, Zealand Bradley, Heidi Claire, Tate Haywood, Parker Elizabeth, Sophia Elizabeth, Katherine Claire, and Norah (don't know her middle name bc their fam is new to our group).

There was a brief moment where I considered not coming for this event.  Not because the food would be hard to resist (I'm in pre-op diet mode which makes me intensely committed bc I want nothing to go wrong in surgery)... but because I was imagining an awkward scene at the big dinner table where everyone else is eating and I have to explain things in a big group setting, and that all stressed me out.  In reality, parties with tons of kids are typically mass chaos and everyone taking is turns to eat, so genuinely no one noticed or cared, and I don't mean that in an "I feel so unseen" way, but a freeing way.  At this point, most of my friends are aware of the surgery plan, so I had several great one-on-one or small-group convos and felt supported there, and I so enjoyed the company and the cute kids, and realizing how off-base my mind was on that imaginary scenario was a really good reminder for me.  The enemy will likely try to bring shame and anxiety into this situation repeatedly for me, so I have to guard my mind and keep reminding myself that God is with me and for me, I have great support from those who matter most, and...

There was tons of food that looked and smelled great... including the sliders and this impressive cake Karli made, and lots of fruit and veggies and potato salad, etc.  I snacked on carrot sticks and broccoli and had fun catching up with friends!

Harvey pushing the girls on the swing + Tate and Harvey being astronauts. =)  Tate was chattier with me than usual, showing me the ISS (their tornado-shelter closet under the stairs) and telling me all about it, and I loved that!

Jeffrey Edward and Henry Edward in a very pensive father-son photo! =)

A Happy Birthday song for Karli, then back inside to cut the cake (which everyone said was awesome)! =)

I kinda regretted not bringing a swimsuit when I realized so many kids were pool-party ready, but I'll remedy it soon enough, I'm sure!

JEM with Lachlan Brandon and Henry!

My thrilling pre-op diet is two protein shakes + 4-6 ounces of lean meat and unlimited non-starchy vegetables... it's not excellent, but not terrible either - I can tell I have grace for it right now, and it's been very effective.  And I now have Sarah and Chet to thank for introducing me to Fairlife protein shakes, which are decidedly a notch above the Premier Protein that's been my go-to.  And although I haven't tried it yet, the Ninja Creami ice cream version feels like it may become a staple for me moving forward. =)

Rachel and Heidi Claire looking very patriotic!  I'm thankful Rachel took more pictures than I did this time!

And before I left for Tulsa, I was at Rachael's for day 2 of working on Jace and Kyndal's rooms!  I had to leave early, but Mom and Rach were able to finish before the kids got back home from the lake with Josh and co.  J&K were both super excited and grateful and individually called me to say thanks! ❤

Jace's Transformer-themed room:

Love the graffiti sign, but it was an ordeal to get it on the wall!

His collection is out of control!!

The baby shoes ❤

And Kyndal's upstairs loft room...

I got to organize the bookshelves, which is among my favorite decorating jobs.  And T-man helped Mom hang the curtains, which is my least favorite, so yay!!

The Miss K is very decisive and assertive about what she likes and dislikes, so odds are good she's changed some things up already, and I love that quality in her!

And that concludes my Memorial Day recap. Huzzah!

Happy Half-Birthday (6-months) today to Asher Kenneth!

Such a presh little happy smile!! ❤

❤ ❤ ❤

"Iceberg, Right Ahead!"

Undoubtedly the most riveting line from the Titanic trailer back in 1997 - I vividly remember being excited about that preview! =)  And it's a good post title since I'm thinking a lot lately about the iceberg illustration... I even printed several blank ones and used this in a counseling session and it was really helpful, so thanks again, Mel Robbins!

What other people see on the outside is ALWAYS a reflection of tons of things happening beneath the surface: our core beliefs and the stories we quietly tell ourselves... that generate the systems and support we put in place... and influence the habits and patterns we live by.  This iceberg model really helps me to visualize that... and if you're struggling in some area, mapping out a negative and positive "iceberg" might be a really awesome tool to help you see things more clearly!  (Name the problem, then start at the bottom and work up).

Here's mine:

versus...

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Yes, please!  Helpful, right?  Personally and professionally, God is using this Launch course in awesome ways, and I'm grateful for it!!  Yay, God.  Yay, crazy-supportive friends and family!  Yay, me!  Yay, Mel Robbins!  =)

❤

I promise an update with fun real-life pics soon. lol

For now, to quote my new friend, Mel, in her daily emails throughout this six-month course:  "Lindsey [insert your name here], in case no one else tells you today, let me be the one to tell you that I love you and I believe in you, and I believe in your ability to create a better life!"

Let's freaking do this.

❤