December 2023!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"You do care," said Dumbledore. He had not flinched or made a single move to stop Harry demolishing his office.  His expression was calm, almost detached.  "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it."

~J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Victories, Big and Small:

• Finished my school semester and my Practicum at Restore
• Met with Amy, joined the Oak Haven team, and got set up to be a Life Coach at a paid Internship next semester (which will be my 3rd job)
• Completed the ESV Bible in a Year podcast and 12 rounds of the gospels with Annie!
• As of a couple hours ago, I completed my 5-year one sentence a day journal (a record of major and minor life events - including the things I can't write about publicly - from 1-1-19 to 12-31-23)!!

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Being halfhearted in certain things that merit more attention and energy (letting fear hold me back from being all in and wholehearted) 
• That includes certain schoolwork and the above-mentioned audio Bible stuff - so I want less content with more present focus in 2024. Memorizing and really internalizing one verse does more good than halfway hearing 5-8 chapters a day.

Memories:

• The 6th Mockey Little Christmas, Chet's 3rd Charcuterie Board Party, and the 7th Convivial Cozy Christmas at Moss Manor!
• Seeing Kristie's house with Mom
• The Ranch with the fam and Bill and Jill
• Working on CFA essays with Chet
• Celebrating my 15-year friendiversary with Chet and Sarah
• A fun dinner with the Whitaker fam
• Watching The Bear and feeling so inspired
• NYE Cheesecake Factory brunch with Mom and Rach

December Memories:

Listened To:

• Building a Resilient Life by Rebekah Lyons
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
• The usual podcasts

Lessons Learned:

• From experience - "People are only as needy as their unmet needs." A gem from the Attached book that proves true in life.
• From experience - Community matters, inner peace is a real balancing act when you have lots of time to think, and it's hard to adjust to shifts in routine. 
• From The Bear - One person's dream can be contagious, dysfunctional families and cultures can change, and shared purpose is the best catalyst for change!

God is with you and for you.

Wishing you all His best in 2024!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

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!! ❤

NOVEMBER 2023!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"Perhaps the length didn't matter...
The beginning and the end may have been chosen for us,
the string already spun, but the middle
had always been left undetermined,
to be woven and shaped by us."
~Nikki Erlick, The Measure

Victories, Big and Small:

• Progress in defining and speaking up for what I want/being who I want to be
• Progress in facing things that intimidate me head-on and being determined to learn and improve (like counseling young kids)
• Progress in not personalizing things (like clients cancelling or not showing up)
• Completed my pre-matching Zoom call and started the matching process

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Daily movement - these darker days and winter vibes, combined with a lingering sinus infection and being quite busy, have me feeling lethargic and zoned out, using any downtime I get for rest... but I know I gain strength and energy and mental clarity when I work out regularly, so I need to press through the lazy slump!

Memories:

• Finding a freaking live worm in my CFA cobb salad... yikes... ew, David! 
• The final bedlam game with the Whitakers - fantastic!!
• The final OSU home game with the Wilsons - fun!!
• The Christmas Chute and shopping with Mom at Amber Marie
• Friendsgiving #12
• Thanksgiving gathering and Mandy staying with me
• Celebrating JB's 70th birthday and the birth of her first grandson, Asher Kenneth

November Memories:

Listened To:

• The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Murray
• Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards
• The Measure by Nikki Erlick
• The usual podcasts

Lessons Learned:

• From experience - Having one person who really *sees you* and loves you goes a long way toward helping you feel centered and anchored in the midst of an anxiety-inducing crowd or situation... and I'm reminding myself that Jesus can also fill that role and bring peace any time I feel anxious and unsettled.
• From Ashley Campbell and Ashley Ingersol - Live out your values:  If you value connecting with people more than you value impressing them, then live that out by creating a warm and inviting space that fosters connection, and be willing to go the extra mile to make others more comfortable!
• From the Holderness Family - "Mature people ask for what they want."  It requires some courage and self-awareness, but more often than not, communication goes a very long way and resolves most relational problems - SPEAK the truth in love.

Happy December tomorrow.
I hope and pray that we finish 2023 strong!!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

OCTOBER 2023!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose.
All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."
~Helen Keller

Victories, Big and Small:

• Made it through my first surgery in 22 years
• To the best of my knowledge, it was a success - praising God for that!
• Took the long weekend to REST and recover
• Completed my first live role play with live and immediate feedback
• Started counseling my first four clients!!!! ❤

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Speaking up for my own needs/desires + not expecting people to read my mind

Memories:

• Kristin W and Tiffany being extra supportive pre- and post-surgery
• Kristin Foster (without knowing about it) texting me that Thursday morning that God had put me on her heart - yay, God
• Seeing the Eras tour movie thrice so far - fun times!
• Visiting Triston at his new job at Chick-fil-A + him coming to hang out after work
• Watching CHA's Patriotic Program for the first time in years
• Fun OSU game with Dad and Charlene
• Christmas decorating with Mom (and enjoying that every day since then)
• After helping with the applications last month, learning that Sarah gets to interview with two CRNA programs - yay!
• Feeling more caught up on sleep than any other month since I moved

October Memories:

Listened To:

• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson
• I Hate You - Don't Leave Me: Understanding the Borderline Personality by Jerold Kreisman and Hal Straus
• 1989 (Taylor's Version)  
• Nate Bargatze (via FB Watch and his comedy special on Prime)
• The usual podcasts

Lessons Learned:

• From experience - God cares about us and knows our limits - just last month, I felt like I was in a whirlwind where things would never slow down, then I caught up on transcripts, had a two-week jury term without a trial, and had the most restful recovery weekend
• From experience - We can do hard things!  The idea of a live role play might've led me to withdraw from the CCU program a year ago (and it was still a bit nerve wracking), but I did my best to prepare, and it went pretty well, and the live feedback was genuinely helpful and interesting/encouraging, and I just feel grateful for all of that!!  Yay, personal growth!
• From my final reflection paper about my growth and development - I definitely had some new insights/epiphanies while writing this one and considering my own journey through Erikson's stages of psychosocial development and Fowler's phases of spiritual development.  It helped me to identify where certain role confusion and feelings of inferiority began, as well as where my internal work has paid off in feeling intimacy and connection over isolation as a single adult.  And it was a good reminder that every positive and negative life experience has value in my counseling career, and that God truly works all things together for good! ❤

Happy Halloween, friends and fam -- I'll be enjoying some candy tonight whilst bidding a glad farewell to all the horror movie previews and death-themed decor!!  Then wholeheartedly welcoming the gratitude-filled month of November tomorrow - huzzah!  ;-)

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

SEPTEMBER 2023!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"The devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious.  If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he can prevent his heart from engaging God."  -Donald Miller

Victories, Big and Small:

• I survived it all (and kept my grades up)
• Hired a new proofreader (maybe my best decision this month - took so much stress off of me)
• Wrote the obituary and spoke at Babah's Graveside and Memorial Service

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Planning to get back to regular morning workouts in October
• Praying for restored clarity and coming out of the brain-fog

Memories:

• Emily's Baby Shower at Gaillardia
• Jaceman "sacking the quarterback" in two football games
• Fun at the OSU game with Dad and Kyndal Faith
• Kyndal's volleyball games + Club tryouts 
• T-man getting his license and a new job with Chick-Fil-A
• Holly Dei coming to visit us & catching up with her and Megan
• Babah's decline, hospice, death, and memorial service
• Mama Roja's dinner with Triston
• Holding Jace's beloved gecko
• The Wilsons' Labor Day pool party!

September Memories:

Listened To:

• Zero audiobooks (first time in a while)
• The usual podcasts + catching up on older Big Boo Podcasts

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - I'm better at taking care of others in hard times than I am at taking care of myself
• From John Eldredge - Cultivating a close union with God is necessary to thrive in this hour - we are in "the great falling away" where millions of Christians in the US are choosing to leave the faith, and we have to be intentional about drawing near

I'm thankful for God's grace through it all, but not at all sad to see this particular month ending.  Happy October tomorrow, friends!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

AUGUST 2023!!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"Doing the right thing is more important than doing the thing right... There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently what should not be done at all."  -Peter Drucker

Victories, Big and Small:

• Started my year-long season as a Counseling Intern with Restore Behavioral Health!
• Completed the summer classes and started my fall classes... yay FALL!
• First time driving through parts of Texas that intimidate me
• First appointment with Dallas IVF
• Started training to walk a Half in November
• Set app limits and significantly cut down screen time on my phone

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Stress... lots of fun events packed into the past 30 days, but between the surgery news, grad school projects, tough court cases, strong empathy for my niece and nephews, a busier work schedule, and adjusting to a new routine with Restore, this was probably the most stressful month of 2023 for me so far (which makes the next bullet-point make more sense).  I have better control now than I once did, but I want to keep improving at being quick to turn to prayer and not letting myself get flustered or feel inadequate.
• Being off sweets and eating healthy... that was reeeal back and forth this month with some stellar under-WW-points days and some crazy-indulgent, no-tracking days... so a September goal is keeping a healthier balance there!

Memories:

• Celebrating Dad's 40 years at SF and 70 years on earth!
• Celebrating the Mini Miss K's 10th birthday (repeatedly)!
• Celebrating Harvey, Heidi, Charlene, and Lindsay's birthdays! 
• Road trip to Perry, OK with Mom and T-man to see Carter in the Junior Rodeo
• Getting a lovely new car!
• CF Brunch with Kristin Michelle!
• Dinner with the Fosters at Whiskey Cake in OKC + Bixby Starbucks with just Kristin
• Helping friends understand the legal process and the flawed foster care system
• Supporting my niece and nephew as they process some hurtful and toxic behavior
• Neighborhood JAM lunch with Mom
• Being the first intern in my group to schedule times to observe multiple counseling sessions
• Jaceman's mouthguard being lost so he was unable to play in tonight's game... then Kyndal finding it on the ground near the car afterward (Rach and I had searched all through her car for it)

August Family Collage:

August Friend Collage:

Listened To:

• The three audiobooks pictured above (I'll throw in a link here if I go back and recap them later - all three were good - the Tim Keller book was definitely my favorite!)
• The usual podcasts + Write Your Story + Fellowship Around the Table + Just Jack and Will (and took off Doing the Best We Can and Heart of Dating)

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - To pray about things and trust my intuition.  As I listen to Debra talk about the power of our words and influence, and how we want to be very intentional about what we say and not be too quick to diagnose our clients... I feel very grateful that I am starting under her leadership rather than someone more aggressive and abrasive.  Rather than bravado or desire for power/respect, she leads from a place of inner security and self-respect and genuine kindness, and that warmth and competence is something I want to emulate (personally and professionally).
• From K. Faith - That we can do hard things and make the best of a tough situation, and that we should know our worth and be careful/selective about who gets the privilege of being in a close relationship with us
• From a new textbook - a chapter focused on documentation really helped me see how my court reporting experience (strong organization, documenting everything appropriately, understanding the nuances of liability and confidentiality issues, attuned listening skills, calm presence in the face of traumatic stories, etc.) will be useful and tie in well with my future profession

Fall is coming - happy September tomorrow, friends!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

JULY 2023!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: 

"We fully believe that everyone can recover from their eating disorder, no matter the severity or length of time one has suffered. We help people in their endeavors for recovery every day. It is the best experience in the world to help someone through this process, to help them get their life back. It is a privilege we do not take lightly.  Many things have changed since our founding, but here at Living Hope our mantra remains the same: 'Where there is Life, there is Hope.'" 

~Dr. Meghan Scears 

Victories, Big and Small:

• Completed the Multicultural Counseling transfer class with University of Phoenix.
• Mom finished radiation treatments on the 20th!  Praising God for that!!
• Successfully updated my home study, completed my profile book, renewed my CPR certification, and summarized the educational articles and videos for Nightlight Christian Adoption agency!
• Created 7 new Identity Power Thought videos for each day of the week over the next 5 months (to align my thoughts with Biblical truth and embrace my identity as a Christian, Mom, Author, Athlete, Friend, Resilient, Counselor)

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Excessive screen time... I'm gonna focus on cutting that down in August!

Memories:

• Celebrating the birthdays of:  Katherine Claire, Kristin Michelle, Sarah Elizabeth, Chet Lee, Diesel Eugene, and Grandad (in heaven)! 
• Sweating through the memorably-loud TAFB Air Show with the Wilsons and Weatherfords! lol
• Interviewing Dr. Meghan Scears (Nurse Kristie's daughter and a fellow CHA alum) for my Eating Disorders class, and feeling like I hit the jackpot having a close connection to the doctor who founded the only ED treatment center in Oklahoma and Arkansas, right here in Norman (I'm really thankful for the big and small things like this that God orchestrates)
• Triston joining me for a fun 4th of July pool party at the Wilson home!
• Visiting Jon and Kristin at Hillcrest Heart Hospital + texting with her regularly since his heart attack on July 5th, and advocating for them on the meal train...
• Being so thankful to know that Kristin W and the Wilson fam were thoughtful enough to send them a meal... they made me feel validated in my growing frustration with the apathetic response of others, and super grateful to be in the midst of a fantastic and supportive group of friends!
• Lots of fun photo collaging with Mom for the SF event and the Miss K's birthday - it  always makes me happy to work on picture stuff with and for people I love!
• Regular Wednesday walks with Kristin and Thursday volleyball games with the fam!
• Catching up with LB at Taziki's in Tulsa + 2 Charleston's lunches with the Fultons in OKC!
• Enjoying LifeChurch At the Movies and Sunday lunches with the fam through the month  of July (Top Gun Maverick and True Spirit were my favorites)!

Listened To:

• Reset and Beyond Behaviors (recap HERE)
• The usual podcasts + The Heart of Dating (heard them on Annie's podcast and appreciated their relatable, grace-filled, and God-centered perspective on singleness, dating, sex, marriage, etc.)

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - Burnout is real, and rest matters.
• From personal experience - the post-pandemic apathy epidemic is real, and being an engaged and caring friend matters!
• From my latest research paper - Women in the perinatal pregnancy and postpartum period are at much higher risk for eating disorders and depression rooted in body dissatisfaction and the internalized societal pressure to bounce back and be thin (combined with sleep deprivation and hormonal changes).  Self-respect, body awareness (and gratitude for God's design), positive body image, self-compassion, and embracing a holistic view of health and wellness really matters in that season!
• From personal experience - Good friends are a treasure, and God's Words revives us and brings life and comfort!!

Thanks for being here, and have a lovely month ahead! =)

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Blogiversary: 15 Years!

On July 3, 2008, I created a Blogger account and started my very own blog!

Granted, I had a Myspace blog before that and a Xanga blog before that and years of handwritten journals before that.  On earth as it is in heaven, my life is very well documented. lol  But today marks 15 years here - I've kept it going well past the time when blogging was trendy, and I still enjoy it and have a few loyal readers, so that deserves to be celebrated!! ❤

In honor of the blog anniversary, here's a link to one meaningful post from each of the past 15 years...

This is just so this post will have a photo.  The "Believe" mosaic in the final episode of Ted Lasso was fantastic - it's already been added to my "Board of Empowerment!" =)

1.  December 2008: Letting Go  (God speaking to me through the final LOTR movie + letting go of shame and bitterness 1.5 years after Josh's letter)

2.  November 2009: Victory... Finishing the Race  (written the day after my first Half-Marathon and the death of Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty)

3.  September 2010: Something to Think About  (my first post considering adoption and single motherhood... I've matured emotionally and spiritually since then, but it's helpful to look back and see that this has been a consistent desire of my heart)

4.  July 2011: The Tentmaker  (an important revelation from God when I was struggling to find purpose)

5.  April 2012: Cycle of Renewal  (writing about the four stages of renewal + the four seasons + the four main personality types and how it all weaves together)

6.  August 2013: Miss Kyndal Faith  (the birth-day of my preshface niece, whose existence was a saving grace to me in that season... and my last meal with Malori the night Kyndal was born)

7.  August 2014: To Weep With Those Who Weep  (reflecting after a rough year)

8.  April 2015: Titanic Day  (paying tribute to my favorite movie)

9.  June 2016:  If I Could Turn Back Time  (a thoughtful letter to my June-2007 self)

10. February 2017: The Jesus Year  (a detailed recap of my 33rd birthday, a favorite thus far)

11.  December 2018: Tinfinity, Part Two  (celebrating 10 years of friendship with my ENFP soulmate-friends, Sarah Elizabeth and Chet Lee)

12.  August 2019: Thoughts on This Week  (a rambling recap of the week of Grandad's death and funeral)

13.  December 2020:  A 2020 Christmas Story  (our Christmas celebration at the end of the crazy pandemic year)

14.  August 2021: Grief Anniversary  (processing a pivotal loss that shaped my life in profound ways)

15.  December 2022: Motherhood Update  (sharing a painful portion of a story that is not over yet)

JUNE 2023!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

Victories, Big and Small:

• Wrestling with God -->Repentance --> being more watchful and obedient in resisting the "pull of the world" (highly recommend this Eldredge podcast, although I'll admit I put it off at first because I knew it would be convicting) :/
• After stressing and praying and researching other potential job options, I prayed some more and spoke with multiple judges about my upcoming Practicum.  Long story short - they were kind and supportive and willing to work with my new schedule, so I'll be able to keep my job and benefits, which is major!  Praising God for that, for sure. ❤
• Completed two summer classes (Groups and Psychopathology) & started two more (Eating Disorders and Multicultural Counseling)!
• Mom started radiation on 6-12-23.  Praising God for no side effects thus far - (two weeks to go - keep the prayers coming)!!
• God also protected Michelle and I (and Ginny the Genesis) through the crazy hailstorm on our drive back from CO!
• Home visit with Haley to update my home study + applied with Nightlight Christian Adoptions (who recently began working with single women - hooray)!
• Reading Ezekiel 18 + James 1 (not daily, but often this month).  Relevant themes = freedom from generational sin, personal responsibility before God, seeking God's wisdom with an undivided heart (resisting the pull of the world), and caring for orphans!

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• Limiting my social media, TV shows, and podcasts (focusing on purifying my heart and keeping an attuned and clear conscience -- still a daily effort)
• Stupid stress eating + worrying over things I cannot control

Memories:

• Buying last minute Hamilton tickets + taking Triston on June 1st
• Pizza night at the Wilsons as Karli recovered from eye surgery! That day ended with some of my fav rainy-day pics with Tate and Parker (center pic below)
• 20+ hours of getting to know Michelle on our Colorado road trip!
• Summer Residency 2 at CCU (recap here)
• Getting to see Carter Lee and Emberlee + meet and pet Carter's show horse
• Participating in a video interview about Jon and Kristin's journey to adoption, a keepsake they're creating for Miles and Hope
• Celebrating Father's Day + Mom & Dad's 42nd Anniversary
• Planning ahead with Marla at our CR seminar in OKC
• Attending 2 Al-Anon groups (class requirement, got more out of it than I expected)
• Coach Rachael made her debut with Kyndal's summer volleyball team - fun!
• Major storm damage for Tulsa friends - Sarah and Steve's cars were totaled when a massive tree fell in their driveway =(
• Starting to plan for Dad's 40th SF anniversary and 70th birthday this August!
• Transformers movie night with Jace and Kyndal + hearing J give a lengthy and impressively-detailed recap of movies 1-5
• Helping T-man practice with a mock-interview
• Summer swim and long overdue catch-up with the Wilson and Fulton families happening later today!
• Fun fact: One year ago today, I learned that I had been accepted to the program at CCU - YAY!

Listened To:

• Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards
• Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson, MD (I'll recap these in my July book post)
• The usual podcasts!

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - It's worth asking... I liked the idea of some company for the 10-hour drive to Colorado, and two days before the trip, I checked to see if Michelle might want to ride with me, and she said yes - yay!
• From John Eldredge and Ezekiel 18 and James 1 - God wants individual heart-level obedience, so no more overriding my conscience and measuring myself against others to justify things that feel like small infractions in our culture.  Some of my favorite shows have to go, but it's been a pretty ridiculous flesh vs. Spirit battle on that.
• From Dr. Philip - "We are called to identify with Jesus" as we read the gospels... this short part of her devotional was an unexpected paradigm shift for me... more on that in a future post.
• From Dr. Bienert - As Christian professionals, we honor the individual made in God's image by referring to them as "a person struggling with substance use disorder" or "a person in recovery" --  putting their humanity first and not attaching the negative label of "addict" or "alcoholic" to anyone's identity.  That CCU session + the Al-Anon groups were important in softening my heart, and I'm working on changing the way I think and speak there!

Welcome back to the blog, friends!!  Who knows if this June break will help deter unwanted blog traffic?  Either way, it came at a good time for me.  God is doing some construction work in my heart and life, so it's been a very challenging month and a month with a lot to celebrate.  Looking at it from the outside in, not a lot has changed.  But metaphorically speaking, I am mid-way through the Red Sea.  I am acutely aware of some internal shifts.  It's an intense, slightly-overwhelming, transformative season of trusting God to move some things I cannot move + watching Him work miracles on my behalf + gradually letting go of my comfort zone and disentangling myself from familiar sin strongholds + sensing that my spiritual enemy is coming after me + slowly pushing forward through fear and doubt, not looking back + knowing God has my back and seeing fresh light and hope ahead of me + understanding there will be more battles ahead to occupy new ground and take possession of all that God intends for me! ❤

God is with us and for us, so one step at a time, we keep moving forward.  For "we do not belong to those shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved!" (Heb. 10:39)

Gracious, what a month it's been.  I hope you're doing well and basking in God's grace, and I hope your summer is off to a fun start!  I am super thankful to have the day off to catch up with good friends on this happy Friday.

Congrats to us all on getting through the first half of 2023!!  Welcome to month number 7 tomorrow, the birth-month of our nation and several of my favorite people.  Onward and upward - here's to finishing strong!

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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!!

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APRIL 2023!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"Without effort, your talent is nothing more than unmet potential.
Enthusiasm is common; endurance is rare.
There are no shortcuts to excellence!"
~Angela Duckworth, Grit

Victories, Big and Small:

• I completed my most challenging school semester ever - hooray!!
• Nearly done with my required counseling sessions... (didn't have much to talk about at first, but it's gotten better).
• I asked for help when I needed it and asked for second opinions when I needed them.  (God, friends, and family came through repeatedly.  And Missy, the kids' counselor, who helped me out with a last minute LPC interview project!)
• Improved at pressing into the hard things instead of procrastinating!
• Interviewed and was accepted with two Practicum/Internship sites - yay!  Chose the best fit for my goals.

Partial Successes/Areas for Improvement:

• WW was on point 3 out of the 4 weeks in April, but you can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time with sugar.  My May plan is daily tracking and limiting sweets to one day a week.
• I want to improve at thinking on my feet and not having panicked brain fog when I get an unexpected question.

Memories:

• Not pictured:  Lots of rain and a few tornado alarms this month.  Wednesday walks and Hideaway dinner with Kristin!  Miss K's volleyball games starting back up. J&C moving back here from Texas.  Several CCU role plays and group projects.  Helping Sarah Elizabeth with her CV and essays for the CRNA program.  Lots of good talks with friends.
• April Pics, Part 1 = CAVA and catching up with my Tulsa besties.  Tulip Farm with Rach and the niece and nephews.  Easter dinner in the Wilsons' backyard (*the Youngs were also there but won't fit in a square pic). Miss K's Presidential Tea.  Gaillardia Easter brunch and lots of Avengers talk with Jaceman.  Attending the CHA Easter program for the first time in years.

• April Pics, Part 2 = Red Rock with the Tulsa crew. Parker Elizabeth's 2nd birthday party!  Lunch and pondering a freelance career change with Jenni. Quail Creek dinner with Mom's cousins and my cousins.  Tman's 16th birthday.  Interviews with Debra (Restore) and Shawn (New Vision).

Listened To:

• The three audiobooks mentioned HERE
• The usual podcasts + Craig's Leadership Podcast & the Big Boo Patreon podcast =)

Lessons Learned:

• From personal experience - Traumatic grief sometimes manifests as aggression and impatience... there may be A LOT more to the story than we realize at first impression.  An important thing to remember for counseling.
• From Chet - I already bring more counseling strengths to the table than I was giving myself credit for... Sometimes you have to have the courage to change course... And the answer is always no if you don't ask!
• From Jill (my counselor) - Trust your gut instinct and intuition.
• From Angela Duckworth (Grit author) - The value of "deliberate practice," something I plan to implement with writing over the next year
• From Craig and Donald Miller - It is good for committed Christians to be intentional leaders with solid financial goals. I am capable/competent to navigate and learn all that comes with being self-employed, and I plan to step up and grow in my leadership and business skills!

Happy Sunday, family and friends, and I hope you have an excellent month ahead!

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