Exciting News!!

Happy July (the birth month of many of my favorite people) and Happy Friday, friends!!  Here's a traditional "photo Friday" pic of me and Tman touring my future home after our workout!  We'll get a pic in the same spot once I've moved in a few months down the road. ❤

It's coming right along, and it's fun to witness this step-by-step transformation!

Speaking of transformation, I have exciting news:  In about 20 days, I am headed to Colorado to begin my graduate school program!  (*It's an online masters degree, but it requires a long-weekend residency once a year in Colorado.)  I officially enrolled, booked my trip, and paid for Semester 1 this morning!  I also told my Judge and bailiff about it, which was a nerve wracking and difficult conversation for me to begin, but they were kind and supportive, and now I don't have to worry or feel a strange sense of pressure to hide/minimize my own heart throughout this process!  (The program is designed for working adults, so I will be able to keep my full-time job + income and benefits as I work toward the next chapter of my life.)

...I know I've commented before about certain books being life-changing, but I can say with confidence that this book changed my life trajectory in real and tangible ways, and it will continue to do so.  It feels exciting to be moving forward in areas where I once felt stuck or hopeless!  I know there is more to come.  My mind and heart are buzzing with new ideas and hope... some dreams that have lived quietly within me for a long time have been reignited lately, and it feels possible in a fresh way now.  The forward momentum that came with moving to OKC was a necessary step for this inner wakeup call, so I am grateful for God's direction in this season (and all the others).  I am so glad He is a God of abundant goodness, and that we can entrust our hearts to Him without fear!

Donald Miller says our heart's highest goal is not pleasure but purpose -- that we tend to seek out pleasure/escape methods when we feel bored or stagnant, but what we really desire is a deeper sense of meaning in our lives.  I 100% agree -- and I have a growing determination to build a meaningful life that I am proud of, a life that impacts others and honors God.  (And yes, I'm still certain that a huge part of my purpose is becoming a mother, but I want to build a well-rounded life that includes my walk with God + motherhood + a counseling career + better health + financial wisdom + strong relationships, all of which will contribute to my sense of fulfillment and joy.)  I've been drawn to the idea of counseling for years - truly, I have come back to it over and over through the past decade, but repeatedly talked myself out of it because of the expenses, time commitment, unknown factors, perceived lack of support, and the dreaded possibility of rejection and/or failure.  But it feels different now.  I am different in many ways now.  And I'm ready for this.  Around two weeks ago, I decided to apply to Colorado Christian University, which is (not coincidentally) the alma mater of my favorite author, John Eldredge, who worked as a personal counselor for years before becoming an author and founding the Wild At Heart ministry.  I had a Zoom interview with one of their professors on Tuesday (it went very well), and I learned yesterday that I have been accepted!!!  Huzzah!

I love knowing this is very the same program John Eldredge completed.  I deeply appreciate CCU's "unapologetically Christian" stance and this letter from the university president about their Christ-centered worldview and educational approach! ❤

I love what this (validating and pursuing my dreams) is opening up inside me.  It will require sacrifices, but it will be worth it.  My plan is to avoid student loans by putting a bit less down on my new home and saving enough back to cover the cost of this program -- the courses are mostly online, it's CACREP-accredited, and I could complete it all by December 2024!! ❤  After that, my income should gradually increase as I build my own practice and hopefully find a job as an adjunct college professor for undergrad psychology students!  *I'm fully aware that this won't all be smooth or easy or perfect (even the best things this side of heaven are partial and incomplete), but I feel called to this, and I'm delighted to be actively moving toward my calling in more ways than one right now!

I discovered this page thanks to a comment on Donald Miller's Instagram post.  After watching her video, I am entirely certain that this is something I want to incorporate into my future career as a therapist!  It's called "Walk and Talk Therapy," which is just as it sounds... rather than sitting across from each other in a quiet office the entire time (which I know from experience can make the counselee feel uncomfortable and self-conscious, which makes it hard to think clearly), instead you go for a lovely outdoor walk together, and you use that time to talk about what's on their heart, maybe stretching and sitting down for a bit at the end to write a few notes if needed.  It shifts the power dynamic in a positive way, and the movement and looking forward makes people feel more comfortable with getting vulnerable.  The long, gentle walk and the sunshine tend to improve the mood, being near others in nature increases the feeling of community and helps both parties to think and communicate more clearly/openly, and you get to improve your physical and mental health simultaneously.  Our body, soul, and spirit are designed to work together, so I LOVE this idea for loads of reasons!  It's a newer concept, but it has been proven to work really well.  Obviously it's not for everyone, but many clients strongly prefer it, and I can see why!  So those will be the clients I'm seeking... (in 2.5 to 3 years). lol  In the meantime, I will work on incorporating more daily walks for myself and preparing myself to start that business... and earning my master's degree - YAY!!

That's all for today.  It was a lot, but it made me happy just writing it down. lol

Song of the week = Moving Forward by Israel Houghton

May you be confident that God will continue
the good work He has begun within you
until it is completed on the day when Jesus returns!