MAY 2023!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

Victories, Big and Small:

• Getting more comfortable talking on video
• Being more open and praying for God's will and timing
• Getting back on the WW track after a week of emotional eating 
• Officially down 40 pounds as of yesterday!

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Standing up for myself when I feel triggered by weight-related comments
• Being fully obedient to God
• I have somehow injured my back this week, and I'm trying stretches and ice and heating pads, and may be going to a chiropractor soon... but prayers appreciated for that to improve!  My "summer of strength" might be a bit delayed. lol

Memories:

• T-man's tennis banquet + helping him apply for different jobs
• Chet's client event + my all-day seminar + catching up with Sarah!
• Wednesday walks with Kristin (and the presh baby turtle that joined us)
• Swims with the Parrishes and the Whitakers
• Helping a close friend through some family drama
• Judge taking us for a belated bday lunch
• Good talks and texts with Chet and Sarah

Listened To:

• The four audiobooks mentioned HERE
• The usual podcasts!

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - Words matter.  Small criticisms and small kindnesses both have a bigger ripple effect than most people realize.
• From personal experience - It is far easier to choose to stay on the right track or make a small realignment than to jump back on when you've totally derailed.
• From writing a paper on group leadership - I love writing - this was our biggest paper so far, and I had fun writing it.  And I'm not certain how God will use it, but I want to grow in my leadership skills!
• From Christine Caine - Trust that God has new and better things ahead for me, and choose to fully be here (be present) now!!

This = my last post until my next recap on June 30th.  I'm posting it a bit early since I'm closing the blog for a month.  Hope you've had a good Memorial Day, and I wish you a wonderful month ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Remove the Obstacles

A helpful concept I want to remember from The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom:

God created people with an innate ability and desire to grow and mature, "just as an acorn develops into an oak tree."  So in my future counseling career, my main task and focus = removing the obstacles to growth.  When each person's unique obstacles are removed, growth will follow automatically.  Counselors don't have to feel pressured to teach people how to pursue personal growth, love, loyalty, passion for life, healthy relationships, etc.  We can narrow our focus to identifying and uprooting the present obstacles -- the distractions, sin struggles, enemy attacks, past pain, addictions, defense mechanisms, and unhealthy coping skills — the things behind the bad relationships and poor life decisions, the obstacles blocking their ability to grow and become the fully-realized, vibrant person God intended them to be.  And we can trust that God will continue the good work He has begun in them.  The same goes for our personal lives as we walk with God... notice and remove the obstacles getting in your way, and growth will always follow!

"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.  Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever, and You will not desert the work of Your hands."  ~Psalm 138:8

Anyway, that was helpful to me.  Removing the obstacles is not a small task, but it's a really good way to understand what I need to focus on and look for with each client (while also providing encouragement and pointing out their personal strengths).

Moving on to photos now...

Progress, not perfection!

This made me happy. =)  I naturally read that as her first and middle name, so it took me a minute to realize Kyndal received a character award for "Faith" here! lol

Yesterday was Tacos4Life + shopping and hanging out and catching up with T-man!

Six years ago today was the zipline over Niagara Falls... such a fun trip all around!!  And that hotel room view was pretty epic! ❤

Today was church - a good sermon on the prodigal son parable - and then swimming at Mom and Dad's with the Whitaker fam... always fun times!!

Lol!

Okay, Happy Sunday!  I hope you get to enjoy a day off tomorrow! ❤

Thankful Thursday #159

"I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness;
I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."
~Psalm 7:17

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  The way our small good decisions day by day will compound into better habits and a brighter future!  (Like ignoring the donuts at work... or working out at night when I'm tired and already in my pajamas... or ordering a healthy burrito-bowl on a day when I was craving all the worst things on DoorDash).  Also VERY thankful this gets easier as you go once you're back in a good routine!

2.  Kyndal Faith and her vivacious, joyful, and confident approach to life! ❤  Here's to celebrating our accomplishments! =)

3.  Melanie and Sophie from The Big Boo Podcast.  They're so fun, and the entirety of their 16-year podcast success is based on the joys of friendship, much like Annie & Eddie.  They just laugh and vent and talk about life... family stuff, sports, music, TV, books, clothes, hair, and makeup!  Occasionally, they'll discuss a major milestone or event, but 95% of it is just the daily stuff of life, and you start to feel like you know them and their families.  I've purchased several books and Amazon products as a result of hearing their "Five Favorite" recommendations each week. lol  They're both Enneagram 9s, so I relate to a lot of their views on life and conflict and their ability to find humor in everything.  At least once in each podcast, they hit a point where they're both laughing too hard to keep talking - and I'm always laughing with them!  They are both Christian authors who have written a handful of memoir-style books with short essays about their lives, and they are both moms of only children who made a point to cultivate a good community.  They've been podcasting since 2007, but it was very sporadic through the first decade, and they're finally in a regular routine now! lol  Their kids who are now in college were 3 or 4 when they started the podcast, so that's been fun for me to go back and listen to old episodes lately -- lots of American Idol recaps and other discussions that bring back cultural memories, along with cute stories and funny rants.  I have over 100 episodes to go to hear them all, but I'll get there!  Anyway, I'm thankful today for Sophie Hudson (and David and Alex)... and for Melanie Shankle (and Caroline and Perry).

This collage = Melanie and Caroline attending T-Swift concerts through the years... makes me happy!

4. Judge taking Cheryl and I out to a very-belated birthdays lunch on Monday! lol  We went to Winston's again and sat outside, which was fun, and my grilled cheese and roasted vegetable quinoa stew was great!

5. Also thankful for the judges of Cleveland County, a few of whom are pictured here (Judge Childers, Judge Brockman, Judge Puckett, Judge Balkman, and Judge Tupper).

6.  Being able to help my oldest nephew prepare and submit his resume, cover letter, essay answers, and video application for summer jobs at Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Walgreens... praying for God's will for him in that!

This was us practicing the timing/wording for his "video cover letter" for CFA.

7.  Positive feedback!  This is a big part of why I'd love to become a college teacher... your words of encouragement have such an impact.  I'm a confident writer, but I have felt insecure and self-conscious about the video role plays... I made a real effort last semester to focus intensely on the other person and making them feel really comfortable and seen and heard (rather than dwelling on my own discomfort or insecurity), and it's amazing how much these two short sentences from my professor served to boost my confidence for future role plays and counseling sessions!

8.  The Wednesday walks-and-talks with Kristin at the Station, a weekly tradition that makes me happy!

9.  The tiniest baby turtle I've ever seen that joined us on our walk last night... aaaaahh, the cuteness!! *Kristin suggested that we stand in the grass in case I got nervous and dropped it, and that made me laugh and make sure I didn't. lol

10.  Tangible progress.  It can be overwhelming knowing I still have a very long way to go in my health journey, so it's encouraging to remind myself that I've already come a long way (1/3 down, 2/3 to go).  ...Last December and January included Mom's cancer news and surgery, processing my failed IUIs, Rachael's divorce stuff, missing Tulsa friends more at Christmas, and grad school ramping back up far more intensely than expected after the break.  Looking back, I feel pretty proud of my January self for seeking God and pulling it together in that season, getting focused and serious about committing to the CCU program and WW tracking in February.  I certainly haven't been perfect, but I am 38 pounds down and gradually improving.  And I'm learning to take full responsibility for my choices even when emotions are high, so I'm thankful for God's daily grace through all of that! ❤

*Bonus:  Thankful for this happy pic of Babah at their Kentucky Derby party.  Happy 87th Birthday to her tomorrow!!

Sorry this one was extra long -- I feel the need to cram everything in since I'm taking a month off starting next week.  I actually wrote this post yesterday with the usual 7 points, but then we saw the turtle, and I just knew I had to amend it! lol

Happy Thursday, dearest family and friends!! ❤

And thanks to YOU for being here!

May Book Reviews!

May was a beautiful month for audiobooks! =)  Round 3 of great female authors, and once again, more nonfiction than fiction content...

1.  The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

Another recommendation from the Big Boo podcast!  A fictional story about Greta, a single woman in her late 30s trying to carve her own path in a career move her dad did not approve of while grieving the death of her mom.  She was very close to her mom but had a lot of unspoken resentment toward her dad... and this book is the story of her joining him on a week-long cruise to Alaska that was originally supposed to be a 40th Anniversary trip for her parents.  There were relatable elements for me, and I so appreciate that this book focused more on the parent-child relationship and navigating loss and grief than it did on the potential romantic interest.  I also love that it celebrates her courage, independence, and resilience while emphasizing the value of repairing family connections and building healthy relationships!

Favorite Quote:  "Maybe the point isn't always to make things last. Maybe it's just to make them count.”

2.  Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World by Gretchen Rubin

This was honestly my least favorite of the four.  I was excited about it after starting my Glimpses blog... but what I really wanted was this same book title with vibrant stories and descriptions written by Shauna Niequist... something a little less intellectual and analytical, and a little more fun and engaging!  Gretchen is good at research-based personal projects that turn into books, and I think there's great value in getting out of our heads and being more present to the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes surrounding us -- I just expected more heart connection with this one, and it wasn't there for me.

Favorite Quote:  "When we experience something familiar—a song, a favorite snack, an episode of The Office—our brains process it more easily, which may make us like it more. Nevertheless, to enjoy ourselves, we usually try something new. Novelty is more work but also more interesting... research shows that people who do new things and visit new places—even something as modest as a trip to a new restaurant—tend to be happier.”

3.  Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World by Amy Porterfield

Found this one through Craig's Leadership podcast.  Amy is likable, ambitious, and smart, and she explains things in a down-to-earth way that makes you feel more capable and competent to lead others and chart your own course!  I'm early reading this one, but glad to have the book and accompanying PDF on Audible to come back to if or when I'm trying to "build a brand" or open my private practice later!

Favorite Quotes:  "Courage is something you choose; confidence is something you earn.  Courage has to come before confidence!" 

"A security mindset dims our light.  Deep down, I think we all want freedom more than we want security...  If you're willing to mess up as you go, your dreams are already within reach!"

4.  Don't Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward With Passion and Purpose by Christine Caine

Anointed.  Highly recommend!  I love Christine's fiery personality, and this new book came right in God's best timing for my life (not quite finished with it yet, but loving it so far).  She talks about a big move where she felt torn between the old place and her new home, so she  went back and forth a lot and did not feel fully present with a confident sense of belonging in either one.  In a season where I find myself looking back and missing how certain things used to be and feeling an irrational, deep-seated worry about Tulsa friends moving on and caring less and less about me, this book was an important and needed reminder to focus up and be fully present here in this new season and new-ish city where God has brought me, to look around me and look forward with hopeful expectation in God's goodness, trusting Him with my well-established relationships and with all the new things He is going to do, rather than longing for the past and resisting change.  Every season of life has unique value and beauty, and I want to embrace that and lean into it with my whole heart.  God is active and present here and now, so I can't let myself be timid and fearful and stuck in the past.  (She pulls a lot of great content out of Jesus saying, "Remember Lot's wife.")  Christine also shares her perspective on her own adoption journey, which provided helpful confirmation for some things God is stirring in my heart lately.

Favorite Quote so far:  "You are not a candidate for God’s love; you are the object of God’s love… There is nothing more intimate God could have done than to adopt us.  And when we are confident that He sees us, knows us, and loves us, we can live our lives unafraid.  We can step out in faith and step into the unknown future fully confident that our God is with us, for us, protecting us, and guiding us!  …None of our stories have to end the way the enemy intends.  God is not distant or absent… He is sensitive to what matters most to us in any given moment, and He will help us!”  

Yessss to this!

Annie and Christine = two of my favorites!

*To be very clear, this does not mean I won't still come visit my Tulsa friends, only that I'm realizing I need to get more invested and wholehearted about the life I am building here.  And I need to let go of and/or fight against the cringey relational fear that has crept in lately (not from God) and step forward with GOD-GIVEN POWER and LOVE and a SOUND MIND! ❤ 

So to sum up all of this month's reading:  There is hope and beauty after loss when we choose God-given courage and fully engage with the world around us rather than locking our hearts in the past.  Keep pressing forward, friends and fam.  God is trustworthy in every season, and He has brilliant new things in store for each of us!

Summer Slow-Down

1.  I'm giving my few regular readers a heads up that I'll be shutting this blog down through the month of June... with very strong hopes that when I return, the aggressive 20k pageviews a month from Germany will STOP.  Based on the timestamps, it cannot possibly be a real person reading it, but I don't want that much traffic here even if it is a robot.  (And there's no way to directly block anything on Blogger).  So I'm hoping whatever computer program is causing that will move on to something else by July. 

2.  My plan is to make this an actual break for myself, not a shutdown where I keep posting regularly behind the scenes.  (I am also taking a break from Facebook, as the scrolling time was getting out of control... so text me any party invites. lol)

3.  I'm pondering ideas for a remix, reformatting this blog and creating something more meaningful that I'd feel comfortable deliberately sharing with a larger audience going forward -- a lot more about Jesus and a lot less personal/identifying info about me and friends and family.  So maybe starting something entirely new would be easier?  We'll see.

4.  I also have my Residency 2 trip to Colorado in a couple weeks, so prayers appreciated for safe travels and fun times there!

5.  I want the accountability that comes with writing it down, so my June focus will be committing to the Hardcore Strength Training daily calendar with Peloton, reading Ezekiel 18 every day, and developing a game plan for when I start my internship in the fall.  In the meantime, I'll keep up my regular blog posts for  the remainder of this month, starting with the random memes I've collected below! ;-)

Anyway, happy Tuesday, and Happy Birthday to Karli! ❤

Make it a great week!!

Summer Block Party!

...aka Chet's 4th Annual Client Appreciation Event!!

Such a fun day, and I love all these bright and cheery photos...

Dad was impressed when he heard about Chet hosting this event, commenting on what a nice idea it is... and it's true!  This year, they had Shane's kettle corn truck, Karen's face-painting table, handmade soaps, balloon animals, H-Tea-O, and the flower truck! 

Miles was so happy about the Spider-Man face paint. =)  Other pics = Melissa and Karli, Shane getting the kettle corn ready, Chet and Parker, and the Foster fam!

I was so glad to see the Fosters and get to chat with them for a while!

Hope Renee was loving her "doggy princess" face paint and pink balloon dog! ❤

Gretyl, the Gas Petal Flower Truck where you create your own bouquet... fun!  *A few of these are photos taken by Chet's photographer neighbor, Steve Doak, whose logo is in the bottom right corner.  Chet shared the link with me because he knew I'd appreciate it. lol

The soaps all smelled great... I plan to write a "glimpse" post on this event focusing on the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures - fun!  Colorful balloons just add so much joy and whimsy to photos, don't you think!?

Parker E. and Sophia sharing some kettle corn on their tiny lawn chairs... adorable!

GET OUT already - this is so much cuteness!!

I had a required all-day school seminar for CCU on Saturday.  I got confused about the time difference and accidentally got up 2 hours earlier than I had to, which is pretty tragic!! lol  I grabbed an early breakfast at Panera, then the Wilsons were kind enough to let me set up in Chet's office for my seminar.  It went from 9:30 to 5:00pm with a lunch break from 12:45-2:00, which worked out well for me to be there for the first hour of Chet's event and see the Fosters, Melissa, classic and extended-fam Wilsons, Myers, Shoemakers, and more! 

The seminar included a psychopathology lecture, a live counseling demonstration, and a Zoom group discussion about mental health diagnoses, but it was a small group where I felt comfortable speaking up and topics where I had something real to say, so that was nice.  I laughed when I noticed Chet's Trump mug behind me on the Zoom screen... (and promptly adjusted myself a little to the left to cover it). lol 
P.S. How much do I love this sparkly headband!?

Chet's "Popcorn King" pic makes me happy, as does him having his very own "Chet's Cinna-mix" flavor.  Allison created this cool painting of the Tulsa skyline for a giveaway drawing.  Hooray for catching up with Kristin and Miles (who hugged me right when he saw me)... and talking  about counseling programs with Mark (and Harvey)!

When I came downstairs after 5:00, the event was over and the Wilsons were getting ready to meet Shane at Whataburger.  I joined them just to hang out and chat, which was fun times.  Tate was confused about why I was sitting a table over (they're stationary so we couldn't pull them together) and asked if I was scared of this spider (he chose a spider on his arm instead of face paint)! lol  ...I wouldn't put it past me to keep my distance based on a fake spider.

After that, I met Sarah Elizabeth at Charleston's at 7:30 for my real dinner!  Chet had asked about what we usually get - mine is always potato soup and salad + croissant... and I correctly predicted that Sarah would have their "perfect margarita" and a steak! lol

We talked for around 3 hours and got caught up on all of life... it was good to see her and encouraging to hear her thoughts on embryo adoption and motherhood.  I took a tiny minute to post a few photos from the day then started my drive back to Moore! 

*Since I can't find it on the blog, and we all know I document all the things, I must have missed last year's Client Appreciation event (possibly the weekend Holly was in town).  But I was there for 2020 and 2021, which feels vivid in my memory as it was the day Dad went into the hospital with septic pneumonia.  I remember standing across the street and taking that phone call from Rachael, then quietly telling Chet and Karli and Teresa why I had to leave... they said they'd be praying, and Chet gave me some kettle corn for the road trip to OKC.  Thankfully, this year's event didn't involve any unexpected drama.  And in spite of me getting up at 5am and getting home after midnight, the seminar was better than expected and I saw several of my favorite people, so it was a pretty great day from start to finish!!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤