19 - FRIENDS

Write about a Friend You are Thankful For...

Hmm, how much time do you have? lol

Since I'm starting this post after midnight on this happy Sunday night after Friendsgiving #12, I'll do my best to keep this one short(ish) -- *spoiler alert after writing it:  I did not, in fact, keep it short.*  But y'all know relationships are central to my identity and (I believe) to the heart of God, so this one and the next two posts (teachers/mentors and family members) are especially fun topics for me, and my love and gratitude for every relationship listed here is deep and sincere! ❤

1.  The warmhearted, welcoming, wonderful Wilson family... Chet Lee and Karli Marie (and Tate, Parker, Teresa, Melissa and Bill).  I'm nearing 15 years of friendship with Chettles and 12 years with Karli!  Outside of Jesus, my friendship with Chet has probably played the biggest role in my personal healing and personal/professional growth.  He's a fun-loving extrovert friend who genuinely cares for people, who makes me laugh a lot, challenges me, and sticks around through hard conversations.  He offers Godly wisdom and professional insight... and hilarious quotes and memes -- I'd say it's a friendship where we sharpen and strengthen each other, and I'm grateful that both Chet and Karli are people who sincerely love Jesus and their family and friends, and they pull me up higher (or lighten the mood when I need that).  In addition to those qualities and a plethora of great memories with them, the way the Wilsons prioritize relationships and help keep our whole Tulsa friend group connected (saying yes to spontaneous invites and regularly hosting fun get-togethers and parties)... and the way they have included me in the lives of their freaking adorable children and families... well, it matters.  And I am entirely grateful for it!!

Happy summer pic at Melissa's neighborhood pool

2.  The fascinating, fun-loving Fulton fam... Sarah Elizabeth (14+ years of friendship) and Steven Todd (7+ years).  I've enjoyed getting to know Steve, and I'm thankful for the way he loves Kate and Sarah.  My friendship with Sarah has been instrumental in my healing and growth, as well.  There's a natural vulnerability level that I don't have with many people, and I'm thankful for that.  I cried with her several times through the Malori years, and she sincerely tried to understand and validate all I was going through there.  We've had some hard seasons and both made the choice to stick by each other.  Currently, we're in a solid place, and I love that the friendship-trio with Chet and Sarah is one where we are all seeking to grow and level up -- it's really encouraging to have supportive people in that growth mindset with you, and I so enjoy our "Charlie's Angels" group text thread and family-themed discussions!  I'm also very grateful to be an honorary aunt in Kate's life, and was honored to be the first person they told when they learned they were pregnant!

Downtown Tulsa before the Pentatonix concert

3.  The flourishing, faithful Foster Fam... Kristin Renee (16+ years of friendship) and Jonathan Matthew (12+ years).  Super thankful for Kristin's Biblical wisdom, authenticity, and unique connection with God.  Thankful also for Jon and his sense of humor, kindness, intentionality, and leadership.  Encouraged by their adoption story with Miles and Hope, and by their faithfulness to God and His faithfulness to them!  Praying for Jon's continued healing and recovery before he returns to work in January!

Olive Garden lunch before hanging out at their place!

4.  The magnanimous, magnetic Moss fam...  Jeffrey Edward (13+ years of friendship) and Kelly Marie (11+ years).  JEM and Kelly share the gift of hospitality and a generous spirit, both genuine and kindhearted, sincere in their desire to help others!  I'm grateful for loads of fun memories, quotable sayings, thoughtful gifts and cards, and great parties!  Also thankful to be a part of Ellie Faye and Henry Edward's lives!  This is an older pic, but I love it! =)

Taziki's lunch with JEM and Kelly, October 2020

5.  The shining, shimmering, splendid Shoemaker fam... trying to think of "sh" adjectives, then cut to me humming A Whole New World. lol  Anyway, very grateful for Mark Anthony and Rachel Elizabeth, both of whom I've known for five years now.  They are both fellow therapists/counselors, so they ask thoughtful questions and have some great tips for grad school and beyond.  Rachel is a fellow Swiftie who appreciates good photos like I do, and Mark has joined Chet and I in our WW goals and enjoyment of Los Cabos and Marble Slab. lol  I'm super grateful they hired Chet as their realtor back in 2019 and joined our friend group! =)

My going-away party last year!

6.  The lovely, luminous Laura Allison (15+ years of friendship) and the trusted, tenderhearted Tiffany Joanne (10 years #tinfinity)... I'm grateful for my Creek County girls -- for our meaningful conversations (together and individually), fun memories, crazy courthouse stories, the level of compassion in hard seasons, and for having friends who understand the unique ups and downs of singleness!

One of many "waiting on a verdict" pics during a CCC jury trial!

7.  The kindhearted, kaleidoscopic Kristin Michelle (37+ years)... the multifaceted, complex pattern of colors felt like a solid metaphor, so I went with kaleidoscopic. lol  As my first cousin on Dad's side, Kristin technically belongs on the family list tomorrow, but I'm allowing myself four crossovers, so she makes this list too!  I'm grateful for our talks that range from venting and laughter to profound grief and loss.  It makes me happy to see how our friendship has grown more and more solid, and I love that we live less than five minutes from each other now!  I'm thankful for her thoughtfulness and generosity, for her wholehearted support and encouragement, and for our brunches, dinners, long walks, and family get-togethers! =)

The best and most thoughtful & personalized bday gift/weekend I've ever received!

8.  The loyal and lively Lemieux fam... our best long-term family friends!  Bill and Dad were friends well before I was born, and I've known Jill for at least 13 years now.  So thankful for their friendship, the way they show up and support us in hard times, Jill's photography, Bill's sense of humor, their inspiring love of travel, and for loads of laughter and fun memories with them here and in Vegas, NYC, and Niagara Falls! 

Walking through Central Park, New York City 2017

9.  Noteworthy, nurturing NEW Friends and fabulous, fulfilling FUTURE Friends -- I'm grateful for Michelle and Amy (pictured), fellow Okies in the CCU program with me.  Thankful for Jonathan, Matthew, Joy, Lauren, Joyce, Stevie, Jonathan, and Nadine (more grad school friends from CCU).  I'm grateful for my fellow interns at Restore (Hannah, Cecelia, Jen, Jeremy, Brien, Logan, Kelly, Angel, Jacey, and Eram).  And I'm grateful for all the future friendships and relationships God has designed and planned for me with people that I haven't met yet - what a hopeful and fun thought!! =)

CCU Worship Night, Residency One, July 2022

10. Forgiven, formidable Former Friends -- For real.  I am grateful for the good memories, for the painfully-won lessons, for the level of humility it instills, and for the personal growth and maturity God brought out of every former friendship... those that faded and dissolved naturally, the ones I let go of, and those who turned away.

Freckles ice cream after a tennis lesson, 2010

*Side Note:  I hope it goes without saying, but just in case it doesn't, JESUS is the best and most faithful friend any of us will ever have, our refuge and our security - always with us and for us - always sees us and hears us - understands our weaknesses and fortifies our strengths - knows our value and created purpose - desires time with us - and calls us to grow and glorify Him.  All of my life, in every season, He is still God, so I have a reason to sing! #Hillsong

❤