Feeling Grateful

*This will be my last public post for 2020 - making the blog private on September 1st.  No promises, but I may start fresh or edit and bring this back online sometime next year.  If not, know that it's been a pleasure connecting with you here, and thank you for reading! ❤

  Today, I feel grateful for all that God has done, and all He is doing, and all that He will do!

 

More happy news today:  Cody's XOXO rides are coming back, and Peloton is selling these fun shirts - yes, I've already ordered mine! lol

I'm also thankful for Judge Woolery's kindness in writing everyone who works here a note of gratitude before he retires at the end of this month.  That's a classy and thoughtful move, and much appreciated!

This morning was a boot camp workout with Robin then Restorative Yoga with Dennis.  Yay, Peloton!  On Sunday, after a short Peloton jog where I saw all the neighbors out swimming, I went to my neighborhood pool for the first time this summer.  The water and just laying out is always so refreshing, and I MUST do that more often next year and get more out of my neighborhood dues! lol  *Also thankful that I found two cute new swimsuits at Avenue -- yay!!

Last week was also my first movie in over five months!!  I got an Icee to celebrate - yes, please!  The seats are limited and AMC is taking all kinds of precautions after being closed so long, so I appreciated that and felt safe, especially since I was on a row by myself.  The reclining seat in the theater is my happy place, even if the only movie I could get tickets for was Grease. lol  It's fun, but gracious, it's so inappropriate for what's supposed to be a high school musical. #summernights

Here's a meme that made me laugh out loud this week.  Everyone's over 2020.  I'm embracing the things that bring joy and give me a sense of normalcy and routine right now!  

* * * * * * *

In deeply tragic news, Glen Hickerson, the attorney I mentioned in the last post, passed away on Monday... thus far, this is the only COVID death of someone I know personally, and I'm struggling to process that news.  I sincerely hate that he was alone in ICU for almost the last month of his life.  It's not okay, and that suffering-and-loneliness combo is dramatically increasing this year.  Glen was always kind and one of very few attorneys who made a point to speak to me every time he was in our courtroom.  I'm thankful to have known him.  Laura wrote a lovely tribute for him HERE.  Praying for his family!!

In other prayer request news, please pray for my aunt, LaJo (who we call "JoBug")... I mentioned earlier that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and sadly, it turned out to be an aggressive and rapidly growing form of cancer.  Babah had the same thing years ago.  JB is having surgery tomorrow and will likely have to undergo chemo and/or radiation after that.  And again, she may face many of those daunting appointments alone, thanks to the pandemic.  Anyway, prayers are appreciated!!

So despite an unusually boring work schedule, there's a lot going on lately -- in my life and the lives of people I love deeply -- including some things I'm not free to write about here.  I feel thankful for God's grace, and I feel very aware that I need to press in and stay close to Him!  I'm focusing my heart on worship this morning, and that's been really good.

I hope you are well, and I hope those you love are well.

"May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance." ~Jude 1:2

May you grow every day in the knowledge of God's love for you.

May that knowledge bring you great healing.

And through that healing, may you become all you were intended to be!

Moving Forward...

Hey, friends.  I hope your Friday is off to a good start!

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Grandad's death, so I'm remembering him and feeling thankful for our relationship and for the hope of heaven. ❤  Also thinking of Babah - we talked a bit this morning, and I'm grateful for that and for her resilient spirit.  Here are a few of my favorite pics with Grandad:

Sarah and I met for lunch on Wednesday and had a great 3+ hour chat covering family events, future vacations, attachment styles, redefining boundaries, and so much more.  I'm thankful for this connection, and always appreciate deeper conversations where I really feel seen and heard.

I got my Century Club free tshirt from Peloton on Monday -- huzzah!  =)

And starting this week, I've been pressing into a new routine with early morning workouts!  It's motivating having someone to workout with, even virtually... and by that I mean it gives me a more valid reason not to hit snooze, and it's an empowering way to start the day -- I've noticed I definitely feel better and look more put together (because I have more time to shower and get ready) when I get up and make myself do this!  I'm trying to switch it up more now that I've hit my 100 rides goal... I have done yoga, bootcamps, spin classes, and strength training, along with some outdoor walks and jogs around my neighborhood after work, trying to move up one milestone in each category on the app by the end of 2020 - yay, Peloton!  (*Also thankful for cute new workout clothes from Old Navy's recent sale. lol)

Another lovely side effect is that I've closed all 3 activity rings on the Apple Watch the past three days... it's much easier when your day starts at 7am and you workout for 40 minutes first thing! lol  Must adjust my night schedule so I can keep this going (and by that I literally mean turning Netlix off sooner).

In family news, my awesome niece and nephews started school yesterday.  It's been another difficult summer for them, and I'm praying they have a great first couple days back!!  ...And that CHA is able to stay open where they can have a more consistent schedule and social routine.  No one is sure what to expect this year.

This collage is from their "Meet the Teacher" day on Monday:

And Mom took these bright and cheery pics early yesterday morning.  (It's T-man's first year of Junior High, and he had football practice before school, which is why he's not in the pics taken at CHA.)

I'm four chapters into my second time reading Boundaries.  Both authors are Christian counselors and they write with clear, helpful logic and authority on this topic.  (Hi, Elizabeth!  Whenever it works for you to read this, we can chat more about it.  We're only a year behind on our original book study schedule. LOL)

I especially love the way this book defines what is and what is not your responsibility - I'm not always clear on that, and I want to grow there.  After struggling with building internal resentment over investing way too much time and energy in things that were never my responsibility, I am realizing I need to redefine and clarify certain lines, and to put more focus on growing and changing the one life I am fully accountable and responsible for right now, which is my own!

On a slightly related note, my tentative plan is to shut down this blog within the next month.  I know.  I've been pondering that for a while and praying about what's the healthiest thing for me moving forward here.  Writing will always be a good creative outlet, and I will continue to keep a record of the things that matter most.  My boundaries on what I'm willing to share here have been inconsistent and have understandably changed a lot throughout the past twelve years, as have my opinions and beliefs on any number of issues I once wrote passionately about.  Life changes us, and I'm at peace with myself right now.  I am a *much* healthier person than I was when I started this blog, and I want to feel free to keep changing and growing, not pressured to present a certain image, and not limited or held back or misunderstood based on old expressions that no longer fit who I am and what I want and what I stand for.  I have written several posts that offer solid encouragement and hope, but I know I have also unintentionally hurt people here sometimes, and I've made certain things public that should've been more sacred and private.  It's a tricky balance for me, but that problem will obviously be eliminated if it is all private.  The idea that anyone anywhere can log on and read all of this and see the pictures I post has always bothered me a bit.  I know my regular readers are few and in my closer circle, but there are enough views from other countries that it makes me cringe sometimes.  And those in my close circle can obviously connect with me in other places where we can have more balanced, two-sided conversations.  I have one friend and one family member that I connect with daily, and many wonderful others who know the big stuff and don't feel the need to know the daily details, which is perfectly normal.  Google Photos is its own time capsule at this point, plus I have my daily calendar journal, so I'm not worried about forgetting things.  Anyway, just wanted to alert those of you who are faithful readers.  Thank you for caring enough to check in here.  I believe this will be a healthy change all around and hopefully lead to more two-sided connections and more thoughtful future book writing as opposed to random ramblings!

I think that's all I've got for today.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead!!

Tuesday News

Happy Tuesday, friends.

Since I'm holding on to valid hope that things will not always be like this and we will gradually establish a better normal, I thought I'd document my current work routine for future reference:  After a brief period of being "open" (far from our usual routine), our courthouse is now locked down again, kind of.  The public has to come in through the Dewey Street side entrance, and the sheriffs ask questions and let people in on a case by case basis.  Masks are a requirement.  I still come through the front parking lot door, but I have to use my employee badge since it's locked.  So I put on my lovely mask, grab the badge, observe and avoid the wasps, come in, then exchange the badge for office keys since our office door is also still locked.  Once I'm in my office, I don't have to wear a mask and things feel semi-normal.  Aside from the major changes to our dockets and cases... we're doing lots of hearings via Bluejeans video (switching soon to Microsoft Teams).  The building WiFi is weak lately, so I'm now having to move my machine into Laura's office and watch/listen on her computer when we do video hearings.  There have been a few technical glitches and volume issues, but overall, I prefer those virtual hearings to courtroom hearings lately - trying to take down every word spoken by attorneys and witnesses who are wearing masks and standing much further away from us than normal... yikes, the muffled voices are not my favorite!  

One of our kinder attorneys is in the hospital with COVID and has been in ICU since the end of July with various complications... prayers appreciated for Glen.  We also have more and more people missing court hearings because they're calling in with COVID or quarantine issues (saying they were exposed or are awaiting test results or have the virus, etc.) -- a legitimate worldwide problem, but obviously also a convenient excuse for some who don't want to be here.  The new Supreme Court ruling regarding Native American cases has significantly lowered our criminal docket.  The October jury term is very limited, so my office will not have to navigate any 2020 jury trials, and I'm grateful for that.  That would be a hot mess.  In much lighter news, the government has no money to spare on janitors, so we all take out our own trash and dust/clean our own offices now.  And I'm on course to make about 1/5th of what I usually do in transcripts this year, which is not at all surprising and not a big complaint for me.  All that being said, I am thankful to have a secure job and very grateful for my health and the extra downtime I've enjoyed during this crazy year!!

After binge-watching Schitt's Creek this summer, I so wanna be friends with David Rose!  He's simply the best. ;-)  Here's a 2020 timeline according to his moods/expressions.  I love that September = him giving up and moving to the Amish farm. lolol

Moira is also hilarious and always EXTRA.

 Their scenes together are usually my favorites, although the entire cast is pretty great!

In case that wasn't enough about my TV habits, I'm currently watching The Last Dance, the documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 1997-1998 season.  I can feel you being surprised, but back in 7th grade, I actually cared about sports and cheered for the Bulls and I remember most of that championship team, so this has been fantastic to watch and learn more about them and all that was happening behind the scenes there!  (My main takeaway so far is that Jerry Krause was a small-minded, arrogant moron who allowed his pride to ruin something that could've been great for so many more years.)  

...Also, don't pull an Adidas!  When he was a rising young star, Michael strongly preferred their shoes and wanted to sign a deal with them, but Adidas said they really didn't have the time to design a shoe tailored for him.  So Nike stepped up and volunteered themselves, and the Air Jordan brand TOOK OFF... even I used to own a pair, back in the days when I wore Nike shirts and Bulls jerseys and baseball caps. lol  (And MJ has been crazy loyal to Nike too, to the point of purposely covering up the Reebok logo on his Olympic team tracksuit.)  Anyway, over 3 billion dollars in revenue later, I'm thinking Adidas might've been able to find a spare bit of time.  Wow!

Okay, back to real life events... I got my hair done this weekend and went red for the first time in a while.  Also got my new glasses - yay!!

This is my "your story isn't over yet" ring, reminding me that sometimes God has put a semicolon where we mistakenly thought He'd put a period. ❤

An encouraging verse that can apply to so many things in our lives... 

Perfect clarity will come later.  Trust is enough for now.

Some truth from an old quotables post that caught my attention:

Mmm, that's all I've got for today.  

"Warmest regards.  Have a bless-ed day!" ~David Rose ;-)

Aunt Lindsey and Kyndal Faith

This weekend we celebrated Kyndal Faith's 7th birthday! ❤  She's my only niece, and the last of my niece and nephews to reach this "perfect number" age.  I've loved and adored her since well before she was born, and I pray often for her and her brothers!!

^^(This = us at The Brook last week)

And now, some Aunt Lindsey and Kyndal Faith pics (click the age for link to a full post)...

Her BIRTH-day -- August 14, 2013

All cozy and swaddled on the night she was born.  Lots of babies avoid the bright lights and mostly keep their eyes closed at first, but she was looking at all of us right from the beginning.  What a little preshface!

ONE (2014)

I had no idea how drastically my life would change just 12 days after she was born, nor what a gift from God and bright light in a dark season she would be for me.  So many memories of holding the Miss K and singing to her as God spoke to my heart about the value and beauty of life that first year. ❤

Hi, baby Missy K!

TWO (2015) 

So cuddly and sweet.  I know we had a summer swim party for her at JoBug's pool that year, and Laura and Sarah joined me for an OKC road trip and swim day with the fam!

THREE (2016)

Another fun pool party at JB's... (No blog post from that year because I took a 3-month break after Mom's back surgery and feeling a bit of soul exhaustion that summer.)

FOUR (2017)

K-Faith chose a three-part birthday celebration that year with a pool party, Peter Piper Pizza, and then a family dinner at Mamaw's house!

FIVE (2018)

We took a family trip to Grand Lake to celebrate her turning 5!

SIX

Last year's party was lunch followed by games and fun times at Urban Air, then a family dinner at Pelicans.  This was the last year of her all-baby-teeth smile... adorable!

SEVEN!

(Yesterday's party at Oklahoma Gold!)

 ...Mom and Dad and all four kids came to Tulsa on Thursday to have lunch at The Brook and to see my home renovations!  I got K this 250-piece photo collage puzzle for her birthday, and I caved when she begged me to give her her present two days early. lol  She and Carter and I worked on it together for a little while.  The pics make it fun, but the pieces are small and it's pretty challenging (which apparently she likes, so that's good)!

The beginning of our birthday Facetime call Friday morning:  "I was on the phone with my friend, Ella, but I told her: My aunt is calling me, so I have to call you back." ❤  Toward the end of it:  "Oh no, my other friend is calling me now." lol  She's a popular one.  No clue what this pose is about, but I love how happy and confident she is!  She's so beautiful, gap-toothed smile and all! =)

And finally, a happy Aunt Lindsey and Kyndal Faith through the years slideshow!! ❤❤

(I found a new slideshow app called PicPlayPost that seems pretty good, so huzzah for that!)

SEVEN

Kyndal Faith turned 7 years old on Friday!! ❤

She celebrated yesterday with a party at Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics (where she takes private lessons twice a week).  Thanks to the pandemic, only a few of her classmates made it, but a couple of Jace and Carter's friends were there too, and they all had a blast!

Here she is with her friends Emalynn, Arianna, and Dylan!

A small but fun crowd showed up for her party!

Dylan got her a matching heart necklace - love it!

Glad I got to be there to celebrate and get a few videos and pics.  Love her!

K-Faith can do a round-off double back handspring in her private lessons, but she still gets a little nervous with a crowd, so I haven't seen it live yet.  Jace and Carter, on the other hand, are all about the performing for an audience. lol

Both can do all kind of flips on the trampoline, and they're learning wall flips, which are also impressive!

Miles is the teenage son of one of the coaches there, and he helps out with the parties.  He was really great with the kids and they had a blast on this swing and on the zipline!

A fun slideshow of party pics!!

Randomness + Google Photos Tip

Here's me feeling cute yesterday morning in my leopard cardigan... I got up early to workout, then had time to shower and put in some effort on fixing my hair (such a rarity these days, but I'm trying to care more even though no one sees me most days, purely because it makes a difference for me)... and I still had time to run a couple errands before work -- clearly, I should get up early more often!  ...Just not this week bc today is my last official workday till next Monday! ;-)

Super random side note:  See the gold earrings in the above pic?  I've had them for at least 14 years because there's a pic I remember well but can't find of me at a CHA volleyball game with JMM and co. from 2006, wearing a long-sleeved green t-shirt and those gold earrings... anyway, they lived a good life. lol  They tend to be heavy up front so I pinched the back to make sure they would stay on my ear, then the back side of the right one somehow got caught and tangled in a microscopic hole in the chain on the front, and it was impossible to get out.  After several futile attempts, I finally tried cutting them off with scissors, which didn't work, but made the earring flip weirdly and hurt my ear and damaged the wire to a point that I couldn't pull it out from the front even after getting wire cutters and cutting off part of the back.  So I had to cut it again from the front side (being extra careful and standing right up close to the mirror), then I was able to pull it out in reverse.  And that was the crazy dramatic end of the lovely gold earrings. Rest in peace.

Second random side note:  PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE GOOGLE PHOTOS APP if you don't already use it.  It backs up all your iPhone pictures and videos (or any uploaded pics from your computer) and stores them forever, sorted in date order.  It's free and offers unlimited storage, so you can clear stuff off your phone and you can easily find what you're looking for there since you can search the photos by date, by place, by person, by searching a specific color, etc.  You can create gif images, collages, and movies with it.  It's incredibly helpful, and unlikely to disappear any time soon bc it's Google.  I'm just sad that I didn't have it before 2015.  I searched Shutterfly for over an hour this morning (lots of reminiscing fun) but could never find that pic.  Hopefully it's in an old scrapbook somewhere, but Google Photos would've made it so simple.  I still like the idea of scanning in all the physical scrapbooks we made so that they're preserved somewhere online.  A daunting thought, but it would probably be worth the effort to me to preserve those memories.

EDIT - found it - yay! lol

Anyway, that's all the random side notes. Time for an encouraging verse...

This year has felt shaky for most of us, but God's love is firm and unshakable!

Last Sunday was my Aunt Charlene's birthday - YAY - she would've been my Alaska cruise buddy next month... maybe next year now!?  Also, this Friday is the birthday of the mini Miss Kyndal Faith!!  July and August are very busy birthday months, and I love it!

An encouraging quote Brene Brown shared this week.  She said we should look at the bigger picture rather than getting anxious and hyper-focused on minor details, past or present.  None of us can change the past, but we have a God who can work hard things together for good and bring beauty out of painful situations.

Random meme that made me laugh... I loved the Flintstone vitamins!

Kyndal Facetime calling me to say goodnight when she was staying with Mamaw and Grandpa!  I love it, and love her confident gap-toothed smile here!! ❤

And now, two random flashback pics... the Jaceman on this day 8 years ago! ❤

And a Christmas 2008 pic from Shutterfly... my immediate thought was positive today, but this is one of many old pics where I remember feeling harsh and critical of myself because of my weight, focusing on unfair comparisons and thinking I shouldn't have worn the horizontal stripes.  I wasn't a size 4, but I was pretty and worthy of love and respect, and the same applies today.  I'm mostly out of that hypercritical mindset now, and I know Peloton and years of life experience and maturity have helped a lot with my confidence there.  So just a reminder that whatever you look like and whatever health goals you're pursuing, this day matters and your life matters right now.  We will never make lasting progress without inner strength and joy.  You've got this!  Live fully and joyfully and don't let the enemy weaken your joy, steal your confidence, or make you feel inferior!

That's all I've got for this overcast Tuesday.  
Hope you are well, and hope it is well with your soul!! ❤