Year-End Recap!

2023 MEMORIES

JANUARY:  Ringing in the new year with friends at Jeff and Kelly’s home + Praying with Mom before her surgery + Tiffany coming to visit and meeting the fam + Mom's birthday dinner at The Ranch + Dropping a class due to overwhelm + Kyndal scoring her first basketball goal + Starting a daily bed-making habit + Discovering Central Park (my favorite walking trail in Moore) + Celebrating with the Fosters as they officially adopt Miles & Hope! ❤

FEBRUARY:  Lots of fun birthday celebrations +  Jace’s first surgery and cast + Meeting with Dr. Burkhart and prayerfully deciding to commit to the CCU program + Having pink eye on my birthday (hence the sunglasses) + Seeing Triston in CHA’s Robin Hood play! ❤

MARCH:  Upper Crust with the fam and Holly Dei + Jace grilling burgers for us + Seeing Hamilton with the Wilsons and JEM + Emotional and scary ER hospital stay w/Mom (sepsis and major cysts) + Extra support from Kristie and Chet in that season + A memorable virtual court hearing + Grateful for the finalization of Rachael's 2.5-year divorce court process + Successfully being off sweets for Lent! ❤

APRIL:  Tulip farm with the Parrish fam + Interviewing for an internship with Debra @ Restore and Shawn @ New Vision + Chet offering wise advice and strengthening my confidence + Fun Wednesday walk-and-talks with Kristin + Parker Elizabeth’s birthday brunch + Kyndal's Presidential Tea (as Dolley Madison) + Intense Marvel movie talk with Jace at the Gaillardia Easter brunch + Meeting with Jenni to discuss a possible freelance career move (thinking it would be necessary, but God worked things out) + the DeBusk fam visiting us to surprise Babah + Helping Sarah with the lengthy CRNA program application! ❤

MAY:  Finding the cutest baby turtle on a walk with Kristin + Fun summer swims + Hitting the 40-lb mark + Wearing shorts for the first time in years + Allowing a thoughtless comment to throw me off course + An all-day virtual school seminar that coincided with Chet Lee’s client appreciation event (so I went back and forth) + Our last Mother’s Day with Babah! ❤

JUNE:  Reconnecting with Michelle over a 20-hour road trip for grad school Residency 2 + Falling in love with the CCU campus atmosphere and feeling so grateful for all God is doing + Planning ahead at our CR seminar + attending Al-Anon groups (class requirement, but I got more out of it than I expected) + Grabbing last-minute Hamilton tickets with T-man + My fav rainy day pics with Tate and Parker + Rach coaching Kyndal’s volleyball team + Mom starting daily radiation treatments + Practicing for interviews with T-man + Charleston's for Mom and Dad's 42nd Anniversary + Fun times with the Wilsons and Fultons! ❤

JULY:  Attending the TAFB Air Show with the Wilson/Weatherford crew + Completing my home study, profile book, and educational summaries for Nightlight Christian Adoptions + Seeing the Fultons in OKC twice (after major storm damage totaled their cars) + Triston joined me for a fun 4th of July at the Wilsons' home + Mom completing radiation treatments! + Praying for and visiting Jon and Kristin at Hillcrest Heart Hospital + Being thankful to have such supportive friends! ❤

AUGUST:  Celebrating Dad’s 70th birthday and 40 years at State Farm + A Taylor-Swift themed 10th birthday for my favorite niece + Learning I needed a minor surgery (hysteroscopy) + Road trip with Mom and T-man to watch Carter compete in the Junior Rodeo in Perry, OK + New car + Seeing the Fosters in OKC (Jon making great progress in recovery) + Chet and I breaking a short-lived no sweets pact + Officially starting my counseling practicum with Restore! ❤

SEPTEMBER:  Babah’s decline, hospice, and death + Writing the obituary and speaking at her graveside and Memorial Service + Helping Mom and JB with Emily’s Baby Shower at Gaillardia + Observing several counseling sessions + Holly staying with me; good talk with her and Megan + Hiring a new transcript proofreader + Hanging out with the fam at Jace’s football games + Triston getting his driver’s license! ❤

OCTOBER:  Completing a live role play with Ku’uipolani in our Practicum class + Big family dinners when Gus and Marilyn were in town + Started counseling my first four clients at Restore (first session 10-3-23) + OSU game with Dad and Charlene (a fun annual tradition) + Recovering quickly after my first surgery in 22 years + Early Christmas decorating + Halloween fun with Mom and the Whitakers + Seeing the Taylor Swift Eras Concert 3x in theaters! ❤

NOVEMBER:  Attending the final bedlam game with Kristin and Frankie & OSU’s final home game with Chet and Karli (both fun games and Cowboy victories!) + The Christmas Chute + Friendsgiving #12 at the Wilsons’ home + Big family Thanksgiving at Justin and Anna's + Good talk with Mandy as she stayed with me + Cheesecake Factory brunch for JoBug’s 70th birthday + Celebrating the birth of Asher Kenneth! ❤

DECEMBER:  Meeting with Amy H. and adding a second site for next semester + Hosting the fam and Tulsa friends for “A Mockey Little Christmas Party” #6 + Seeing Kyndal in the 4th grade Christmas play + Lunch with Amy and Michelle + Celebrating 15 years of friendship with Chet and Sarah + Several fun Christmas parties and traditions with friends and family + Watching the final season of The Crown + Listening to 37 audiobooks through this year, including the ESV Bible podcast + Feeling deeply grateful as I look back and very hopeful as I look forward!! ❤