31 ~ "Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do!"

Ten Things That Make You Really Happy:

1. Epic movie previews that draw you in! =)  I often love the trailers more than the actual movie itself... there's something in the anticipation that's just fun and good times!
2. Kristin's FB video (HERE). =)  She's always full of wisdom and encouragement... she has talked about wanting to do videos a few times, and I'm really glad she went for it!
3. When I hear that a court case I was dreading has settled!  Yusss, please! =)
4. Having fresh flowers in my house, and to actually stop and smell and enjoy them. =)
5. Deep conversations with people I love and trust! That always leaves me feeling happy and grateful!
6. The beauty of fall... on sunny, cool days, I could just sit and look at the trees for hours! I adore the colors and find a weird amount of joy in the symbolism of the seasonal changes. =)
7. Marco Polo videos from my sister, niece, and nephews when they use the helium feature! Hilarious and awesome to see them so excited talking to me, sounding like little chipmunks!! =)
8. Yellow cake with chocolate icing! lol ...Yummers!!
9. Getting a great email from a friend... by great, I mean heartfelt and full of detail! ❤
10. The final episode of Downton Abbey... just an incredibly well done, wonderful ending for every character that made it all feel worth it! =)

And that concludes the 31-day blog challenge! =) Thanks for reading!  'Twas fun, but I'm glad to be done.  
Back to normal posts for the month of December! ❤

30 ~ Letting Go

React to this term: Letting Go

Heartbreaking.
Hard.
Unavoidable.
Healthy.
Healing.

(This post = my thoughts on this in 2015.)

My favorite of the four songs on my phone with this title:


I used to recognize myself; it's funny how reflections change.
When we're becoming something else, I think it's time to walk away...
Trying to push this problem up a hill when it's just too heavy to hold;
I think now's the time to let it slide.
So come on, let it go. Just let it be. 
Why don't you be you, and I'll be me. 
Everything that's wrong, leave it to the breeze. 
Let the ashes fall; forget about me!

I freaking love this song!! ❤
As usual, I can't find an image that perfectly fits the mental picture in my head here, but it's basically this, but with two people pushing, one on each side of the rock... and it gets heavier and harder as they try to climb uphill together, and they're both exhausted but working together to keep it all going. And the rock (obviously) is their relationship, and the hill is a difficult season... and eventually, one of them may give up and step to the side and walk away. Then the other has no choice but to let the weight of it all crush her OR to let it go and watch everything they had built together slide away... then take a deep breath and continue moving forward on her own, trusting that the steep hill (the painful season) won't last forever.

Not every time, but usually, I have been the second person in the relationship to choose to let it go.  And you have a much higher chance of being crushed in that position. Acknowledging that the other person is not coming back and realizing that you cannot hold it all together on your own is critical. In situations where it has become one-sided and unhealthy and exhausting, choosing to let a key relationship go is one of the hardest and healthiest things a person can do. I have lived it and walked with others through it, and I would never make light of that pain or treat it casually...

Still, I appreciate the lines "leave it to the breeze" and "let the ashes fall."  There, I picture Jean Valjean in Les Mis singing "I'll escape now from that world... Another story must begin!" with all the passion as he tears the yellow ticket connecting him to his own past, literally letting the pieces of it fall and be carried away by the breeze. 

So letting go does not mean giving up, particularly when you've already been let go of.  It's choosing forgiveness and choosing life with an extreme, deliberate fresh start... letting go of a major part of your past and pressing forward with ALL the resilience! ❤❤❤❤

29 ~ Music Memories

Five songs that bring back specific memories:

Time to Say Goodbye, Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
Viva Las Vegas and Whitney's Star Spangled Banner also remind me of the fountains, but this song brings all the drama and power and is my favorite Bellagio fountain song!!  I can picture exactly how the water moves in certain parts of the song. lol  Sometimes I think about watching them from the Mon Ami Gabi patio whilst eating brunch. But mostly, I think of watching them all lit up at night, and it makes me excited to go again sometime! =)

Someday at Christmas, Stevie Wonder & Andra Day
This takes me right back to last year's Christmas parties at Mom and Dad's. I wanted to be there badly enough to drive home on the snowy/icy roads after returning from the Big Cedar trip with Tiffany and Jenna, and I'm so glad I did! Mom went all out decorating and she had her phone Christmas music playing all through dinner (the same 10 or 11 songs on repeat, and this was my absolute favorite).  The lyrics speak to my soul about the value of life and the eternal hope we have as Christians... and it pulls up memories of family, fun friends, good food, Christmas cheer, and feeling all the warmth and gratitude! ❤

Me Too, Meghan Trainor
Lol this one will make me think of dancing to the Fitness Marshall videos with Chet Lee on New Years Eve 2016.  It's a fantastic workout song choice for me - so sassy and fun and upbeat! =)

Great I Am, Jared Anderson
This takes me back to the Captivating Retreat in Colorado, 2014. There was a worship night where this song was just really powerful for me, and when I hear it, I always remember that. (I didn't really know this song before that trip.) That was the night where they let us come down a few at a time and place our candles on the stage in the shape of a cross... and they ended with some a cappella songs while the room was dark aside from our candles. So good. ❤

Colder Weather, Zac Brown Band
I love ZBB and especially love this song!  It was my most-played song on iTunes for several years. Now, it will always bring back memories of this 2016 Big Cedar trip for me... we listened to it on our drive there, then had a long conversation about the meaning of the lyrics, then listened a few more times! lol

28 ~ Only Pictures

(Parrish Fam 2017 Christmas Card Pics)

(And a Thanksgiving Weekend Flipagram!)
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27 ~ Dear Readers

All 10 of you. lol  ...No, I really don't always know who all reads it. But if you're friends or family or non-creepy good people, then thanks for being here!! lol

I ❤ blogging, and I'm glad you ❤ reading!  =)  Perhaps someday far far away, you can read my book. ;-)

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and I will see you again tomorrow!

~Lindsey

Me and the Jaceman - this prayer hands thing he does is hilarious to me!

26 ~ Indifference

Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss if you'd like.

I read this post by Matt Walsh recently, and this section stuck out to me:

"What terrifies me about our culture is the moral emptiness and indifference, shared by killer and bored spectator alike, that has come to define us as a people. This is the seed Satan has been planting, and now I fear it has matured. Laws won't heal the human spirit. Neither will prescription pills. We can't treat moral corruption like we treat headaches... there is only one antidote that really works. His name is Christ."

I've written quite a bit lately about the moral emptiness and how I'm wanting to fight harder for more wholesome and pure entertainment. This post is more about the indifference to life...
My favorite line in my favorite Christmas song is: "When we have found what life's really worth, there'll be peace on earth."  It's profoundly true.

Alcoholism, drug addiction, DUIs, gluttony, bullying, neglecting the helpless, euthanasia, suicide, abortion, mass shootings, and much of the crudeness and violence we see are the product of our culture becoming more and more indifferent to the value of life. There is a broad spectrum of sin listed there, but the root of all of it is people not caring much about whether they live or die, and not fighting to protect other people.  As Christ followers, we need to CARE. We have to push back against this tide of indifference that is doing so much damage in our culture. Humanize everyone.  Every life matters; every heart matters. No one is expendable.

This is not just "the world."  I have also heard Christians make tasteless jokes that reveal an extreme indifference to the value of human life.  Most of this disdain is pointed at helpless babies or elderly people, which makes it all the more cruel and unacceptable... yet I said little or nothing in response.  So I am determined to do a better job of choosing life for myself and fighting for life in every situation, even if it's just a conversation between Christian friends.  It matters, and our hearts in this area matter deeply. #chooselife

25 ~ The Scenic Route

Ten Favorite Movie Scenes:

Well, this post needed a photo, so here's one of my favorite Tony Stark moments... his nametag reading "You know who I am" is just so something RDJ himself would do, so I freaking love it! lol  #playfularrogance

Okay, I still love all my scene choices HERE. =)
But it wasn't hard to choose ten new ones...

1. Inner battle, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
   So powerful. I've written about how much I love this before, but this is my favorite HP movie if only for this particular scene! "It isn't how you are alike; it's how you are not." ❤ His enemy attacks him when he's at his most vulnerable and has been through so much loss, and this scene portrays that attack, the accusations, the inner battle, fighting back, and the importance of love and friendship so well!
2. "I'm one with the force, and the force is with me," Rogue One
   
   A good scene on its own, but this is another one I love for what it symbolizes to me. Spiritual warfare is intangible and it's easy to feel confused and blind in the middle of real battle, but we can move forward with courage and wisdom and make a real difference when we remember that we are the branch and He is the Vine and we fully trust the Holy Spirit's protection and guidance... "I'm one with the Lord, and the Lord is with me."
3. True Colors song, Trolls
   
   No clip of the actual movie scene available, but I love that the guy who has been bitter and downcast through the whole movie notices and cares when the girl who's always been uplifting and full of joy suddenly loses heart. It's the first time she stops singing and dancing as her world goes dark, and the first time he opens up and sings and brings some light back for everyone. (The song is really great, but I mostly loved the way they depicted their relationship and the light and color and hope coming back.)
4. No Man's Land battle, Wonder Woman
   
   No man can cross it? Not a problem. ;-)  Fantastic scene, fantastic movie!  I love her courage, compassion, and leadership!!  And this was the big reveal scene where she really steps up and shines. We're living in a time where so many men are apathetic and failing to step up to the plate, where strong women are needed - women who are both feminine and fierce, kind and courageous, who are willing to lead when necessary and eager to encourage the men around them to step up and be who God created them to be. I feel like this movie was well done and very well timed for that!!
5. Gladiator, My name is...
   
   Bring. It. Onnnnnn. Great movie, great moment.  Craig quoted this scene in a sermon recently, commenting that the men were probably all nodding and cheering whilst the women were all confused... mmm, not so much.
6. Ending scene after they give up the fight, Bride Wars
   
   Lots of cheesiness in this movie, but the ending has made me cry many times. I get the pain of losing a best friend, and I feel so relieved when they make up and set things right!
7. Neville vs. Nagini, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
   
   Obviously, the symbolism of cutting the killer snake's head off with a sword is not lost on me!  I also LOVE that Neville gets this moment of victory and heroism, after his bold speech to Voldemort. All the redemption for his character makes me so happy!
8. Slow clap awesomeness, Cool Runnings
   
   My favorite moment in any sports movie - it's cheesy, but I adore it!
9. Secret to Happiness, About Time
   
   This movie was underrated. Sweet, funny, deep, and a major tearjerker for me. This scene reminds you to pay attention and really see people and be present as you go through your day. So good!!
10. Beginning scene, Hitch
    Light and fun... the guy fake rescuing the dog always cracks me up!Also, this dance lesson scene! Couldn't decide between the two. lol
    "Just expressing myself!" lolol

That's all for today!  Happy Black Friday. =)

24 ~ Top Traits & Thankfulness

Your two best and worst traits:

Best: Resilient, Thoughtful
Worst:  Indecisive, Clinging to Comfort

* * * * * * * 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, gang!!!  

I kept that first part short on purpose. Now here are a few pics from the surprise carb-loading pre-marathon dinner party Kelly threw for Jeff!  With a little help from Chet Lee, she pulled off the surprise, and it was fun times with fun friends!!

Friends from their Anthem Church small group!

Pasta time... get excited!!  Kelly fixed salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and French bread for 20+ people... then it was on to the cookies, brownies, and ice cream! =)

I'm thankful I got this pic with JEM that night, as I didn't end up getting to see him cross the finish line the next day.  Major props and congrats to him for completing his first FULL marathon and for the awesome finish time!!

Here's Chet Lee playing Jenga (aka kick down the tower) with Titus and Sterling! =)

Kelly used Jeff's race numbers from several past races as the centerpiece - creative and fun - I loved that!!

Earlier that morning, I went with Jeff and Kelly (and Penny!) to Woodward Park to take some pics for their Christmas card... lots of cuteness! ❤  (It's SO pretty there in the fall... we may be heading there again this weekend with the Parrish fam!)  Then they treated me to lunch at El Tequila, and treated me to a sneak preview of their "Penny" song for the Thanksgiving Day Moss Family Talent Show!! (Minus Kelly playing the flute.)  I said the talent show sounded really cute and asked if there were gonna be lots of kids there, then Jeff said the youngest person was in their 20s.  Haha, I just love everything about that and wish someone would video it for me! =D

Behold this lovely Japanese Maple tree in all its autumn glory!!  ...It's in Jeff's front yard, and he suggested I take a pic of it... then Kelly said, "He wants you to post it on the blog." lol  Ask and you shall receive, just like this post.  ;-)

Wrapping up, I am super thankful for my friends and family... especially the immediate fam pictured below!  We're heading to the Peavlers tonight for a fun Thanksgiving dinner with Dad's fam, then everyone is coming to the Parrish home Friday night. Should be good times! =)

Just for fun, a super-random old school pic of J&K I found on Mom's computer... LOVE. They are the very cutest ever.

And this one of Jaceman finding life hilarious in the recessed wall nook at their old house! lol #mess I don't recall seeing these two before, so naturally, I felt the need to document them.

Okay then, I'm very thankful for my readers, and I hope you have a delightful Thanksgiving weekend!! ❤

23 ~ Lessons

Things you've learned that school won't teach you:

• How to start over in life
• The true value of close friends and family
• That I am stronger and more resilient than I once thought
• The value of counseling and personality tests
• The critical importance of loyalty and kindness
• The value of Scripture memorization
• How to be a lifelong student and keep reading and learning new things
• That being single does not make me unhappy or inferior
• That being an aunt is better than I could've imagined. ❤
• How to make a Flipagram. ;-)  ...and everything else about the iPhone!

Here is one I made yesterday for my brother-in-law's birthday!
(DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE BY VIGO VIDEO.) =(

And now, a few pics from our 6th annual Friendsgiving at the Wilson home last night! =)  A fun celebration with chicken enchiladas and cheesecake and sharing what we're thankful for!

22 ~ Rant

Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel.

About 24-25 minutes into THIS SERMON, Matt Chandler says the following:

"My whole life in Christ, I have felt like a theological orphan. If you know theological terms, to be reformed and charismatic, that’s a theological mutt. I have felt like the child of divorced parents who badmouth one another every time I’m at their house for the weekend...   

Then I feel like I’m telling Mom, “Listen, he just loves the Word of God. And some of these things… you need to frame them in the Word of God, Mom. It’s just so evident you love Jesus, but the Word of God does have some boundaries on how these things operate."  

"Dad, please, brother, the Word shouldn’t be making you angry; it should be making you free. If the Word of God is making you crusty, then I think you’re missing something out of the Word of God.” 

So I have just felt stuck between these two worlds, and I’m longing at The Village Church to be a church that sees Mom and Dad remarried, the convergence of Spirit and truth, Word and wonder. I’m hungry for it and asking God to do it!"

And I'm sitting in my car listening to that podcast saying, "PUH-REACH!!"  (I'm a big fan of Matt Chandler, and this helps explain why.  He has referred to himself as a Bapti-costal, and I totally get that.)  Having spent a good deal of time in Baptist, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, and Evangelical Covenant churches, I have experienced a wide range of the theological spectrum and the endless debates Christians have over the little things, and I still don't quite know where I "fit."  Feeling like the child of divorced parents who constantly badmouth each other is such a perfectly accurate description.

{If only I lived in Texas, I believe I would love being a member of The Village Church. They treat the Word of God with the full reverence and respect that it deserves, but also have the fiery passion and intensity and freedom in Christ that should characterize all Christians and compel the world's attention. Not stiff and boring or rigid and legalistic. But very direct in confronting sin and very serious about holiness, especially in church leadership, which is one of the things I most admire and appreciate in any church! They are also very intentional about including and honoring singles, who many churches ignore and marginalize.}

Anyway... when pastors seek out leaders with strong charisma and bold leadership qualities even though they are UNTRAINED IN THE WORD OF GOD, it does far more damage than they probably realize.  And when churches refuse to confront leaders who are way off base in their theology (you know, like telling born again believers that they are indwelled by both Christ and a demon) - when churches refuse to deal with them for fear of losing money or status, well, that's something they will have to answer to God for.  I believe in the gifts and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I also believe in and have very personal experience with Christians getting weird and going off the deep end in this area, failing to test their personal thoughts and 'ministry work' to see whether they align with the truth of the Word of God.  It is to be our living and active and powerful standard, not a casual afterthought.

Not sure which particular topic I'm ranting about here, but it's a rant, so it can be a little incoherent. lol

I'm just gonna do stream of consciousness writing here..... I love Jesus, and I love the Word of God! I love being part of a powerful, transcendent worship service where your soul and spirit feel connected with the angel choirs in heaven. I love my friends from churches on both ends of the spectrum. I love it when people from different churches pull together and act like the body of Christ, helping those in need and taking care of each other and encouraging each other in our individual walks with God. I love it when the truth of God's Word is taught with passion and power, when the anointing of the Holy Spirit is present and palpable. I love it when the church is thriving and people's lives are being changed and restored by the power of the gospel...

What I hate is the enemy's attempts to destroy it all from within.  I am sick of these schmarmy, over-familiar, condescending men spouting false theology and doing far more harm than good in their church leadership roles.  Some may be deceived and have good intentions, but their promotion to leadership is inexcusable.  I'm also discouraged and hesitant to really trust men in church leadership who are quick to dismiss massive character flaws in the politicians they endorse - it matters more than they realize.  I am tired of the frat boy pastors and the 'cool clique' church member vibes that "make much of" a certain church brand rather than purposefully glorifying JESUS and the gospel.  I'm a bit on edge and ready to make a quick exit if I find myself among another group of truly crazy Christians.  I am disheartened by the feeling that I don't fully belong in any specific church group at the moment, but maybe I should be encouraged that I can cross what others see as boundary lines and see the good on both sides.  I really love the strong Biblical foundation and in-depth Scripture studies found in most Baptist churches, and I also love the zeal and amazing worship and strong faith for the miraculous often found in more charismatic circles.  So I'm saddened by the bitterness and boredom I tend to see on one end of the spectrum vs. the carefree attitude about God's Word I sometimes see on the other.  I so want what Matt Chandler talked about - for both sides to converge and for us to be strengthened by the mix of grace and truth, love and holiness!  Sometimes I feel caught in between with each side badmouthing the other, which can leave me feeling hurt and confused.  I understand that the enemy seeks to divide and destroy us, so the lack of unity should not be so surprising. But Jesus longs and prays for us to be united (John 17), and I want to work harder toward meeting the goal He set for us.  I don't want to be a come-late, leave-early, watch-online apathetic Christian; I want to be involved and genuinely excited about all that God is doing in and around and through me!  I understand there is no perfect church and that some of this will be incomplete and messy until we get to heaven... but being an active part of the body of Christ is important, so I need to slow down and armor up and seriously seek God about the role I am supposed to be playing here and now!!

Mmmkay, end "rant." =)

"Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church." ~Ephesians 4:12-15

21 ~ Archives

A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives:

Blogging away with my new Felix Gray glasses (they cut down on screen glare).

(Click title for link.)

1. The Jesus Year
2. Wrestling With God, Part 2
3. The Divergent Trilogy
4. Emotions and Endings
5. Redemption for the Big Apple
6. The Mercantile Reveal
7. The Awesomeness of Aunthood

These are a few of my favorite posts, but I'm happy to have the full archives to look back on. Anyway, that's it for today! ❤

20 ~ Struggles

Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.

I had something else planned for this post, but I'll write about that later.  At the moment, my main struggle is simply being physically tired and a bit emotionally drained. I don't want to spend much time focusing on that, though. I am mostly feeling very grateful for my friends and family and God's grace this weekend!

God altered my plans for today when I got the call from Mom that Babah had a stroke this morning. I told Chet and Karli, then I left the Route 66 race finish line and drove straight to Mercy Hospital in OKC. Thankfully, Babah was helping out at the cafe when it happened, so they caught it early and avoided major damage. It was thrombosis of the right middle cerebral artery, and I'm thankful I didn't get there quickly enough to see her struggling to form words and speak properly. JoBug broke down crying as she told me about it, and I know that would be really hard and scary. They moved Babah from Emergency to ICU by the time I got there, and when Grandad and I went back, I was glad to see that she was able to talk and was already cracking jokes like normal!  ...It used to bother me and feel irreverent or inappropriate that our extended family wasn't more serious and downcast when someone we love was in the hospital, but now I understand that dynamic better, and I feel thankful and reassured when the conversation becomes a bit more lighthearted. ❤

I went back in again a bit later with Mom and JoBug. JB took this picture of Babah where she's looking really pretty and good... then she showed her one she had taken earlier when they first brought her into the hospital, saying how much better she looked, and Babah got really cracked up looking at it!  She's a funny one. =)  Then we all reminisced about her hospital stay the time Grandad ran her over. Lol  I can't even --- I'm still laughing about that conversation!

I'm very thankful that she's okay!!  And thankful I got to see Grandad and JB and Mom and Dad there.  And thankful for the kind nurses and sweet therapy dogs.  And thankful to see this calming verse on the ICU wall, along with a box for Prayer Requests in the waiting room!! ❤

We left the hospital around 4:00 as Babah was getting tired, then Mom and I went to the Parrish house to finish a couple Christmas projects and hang out with the boys and Miss K and Rach!  When Josh got home, he made us a lovely dinner of steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, croissants, mac n' cheese, and dinosaur chicken nuggets!! lol =)  Lots of options and variety with all the kids - and I tried a little of all of it.

I LOVE this family dinner pic - makes me happy! ❤

 Rach made this sign for the LC event in Midwest City, so I made sure we got a pic with it! =)

She's just the cutest thing ever to me in her Elf pajamas and sassy lil' stance.  LOVE!

So yeah, a long and kind of strange day.  And I do feel in desperate need of some sleep.  But there's so much to be thankful for!  

I'm glad for the lighthearted little moments like this (Rach was trying to fix the top of this tree and accidentally pulled it apart and it all came out of the pot. lolol)  I'm thankful for light in the darkness and joy in the middle of hard things.  And that's all I've got for today - off to get some SLEEP! 😴💤