A Mockey Little Christmas, Part 3

For the past 3 years, this lovely tradition has gotten smaller and smaller. lol  But we'll remedy that when we're out of the pandemic!  We didn't really call this one a Christmas party, but I decided to count it since it was the Wilson fam and we have this pic by a Christmas tree. lol

They hadn't seen the house renovations yet, so I cleaned house and gave them a tour!  Then we went and got Los Cabos to go for dinner... yum!!  After dinner, I chatted with Chet and Karli while Tate watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! 

 Tate was impressively well-behaved and cute, as always!

...and watching him try to open my trash can was adorable!  He was not too sure about it and kept trying to wave his hand without getting very close to it. lol

I don't have much else right now, but just thought I'd document this while I was thinking about it!

Quick fam update:  Babah is doing surprisingly well for having sepsis and COVID, and she was released from Mercy Hospital to go back to Virginia's yesterday.  Mom and JoBug and everyone at Virginia's house all tested negative for it, so that's confusing to me how Babah could've gotten it, but maybe the timeline with her nursing home visit lines up where she could've gotten it there?  Or maybe it was a false positive?  Either way, thankful it hasn't been worse for her and that no one else got it!

 Okay, now I'm off to watch something Christmasy.

Friendiversary & Peloton & More

Twelve years ago today, I met Chet Lee and Sarah Elizabeth for the very first time!!  What a gift they have been in my life...

 

Here's a Friendiversary slideshow with a cutesy Bruno Mars song I just discovered!

 

  

This was a well-timed FB post for me.  I didn't repost it because I don't believe that any person is "toxic" at the most basic level - we're all created by God and loved by Him.  But I believe in toxic combinations -- there are people who are unhealthy for me... and it's an unhealthy part of me that resonates with them.  So this was a good reminder that it's not my job to fix anyone else, but to become the healthiest possible version of myself.  And that's a completely different mindset from trying to fix or save a dysfunctional relationship!

Another good post that I saved to my phone.  I'm tired of people telling me they thought about calling me or reaching out, and I don't want to be that way with others.  When you think something kind, say it!  When you want to reach out, do it!!

This pic was to document the craziness of Laura's office right now. lol  This was at the end of a 2-week period where we didn't have any hearings, but she's having to write minutes and continue the hearings and find new dates and field calls from the attorneys... and her desk and the post-its on her computer screen are out of control!  I took this on my way out to go home as she had just warmed up her dinner and was going to be there for several more hours.  Rough times... I hope things smooth out more and more in the coming months where she will not be feeling so much stress!

Peloton continues to be a wonderful way for me to destress and find joy and strength!  Christmas yoga is my favorite - they have actual holiday-themed classes where they rename all the poses, like reindeer instead of cat-cow, Christmas tree pose, snow angel, treetop angel, melting snowman chair pose, etc.  Makes me happy!

Another lovely way to destress through the pandemic has been food... hence, me not losing much weight despite working out 70 minutes a day 6 days a week for the past couple months now! lol  I made chili and fudge this week... yum!  This = a tasty cheesy chicken spaghetti dish by Sarah (a Magnolia recipe from Joanna Gains).  I tried eggnog for the first time that night - meh, but glad I tried it - the Braums version where I was fairly confident it wouldn't contain raw eggs.  Sarah and Steve and I caught up on life over cheesy pasta and garlic bread, then drank our Braums shakes while watching the first Harry Potter movie! ❤

My main project during work for the past couple weeks has been writing my 36 letters to 36 people who have shaped and impacted my life.  That was a 2020 goal, and the plan was to write 3 per month.  Instead, I wrote them all in mid-December as Christmas letters... but I DID IT before this crazy year ended, and I'm pretty proud of that!!  ❤

My right-side view from the bike every morning - this wall will always make me happy!  It's the TV and mirror and Christmas decor in front of me, and windows into my snow-covered backyard to the left. =)

This = my "Big-Ass Grilled Cheese" and tater-tots from The Mule at lunch with Elizabeth last weekend!!

It snowed on Sunday.  It's been lovely to look at from the cozy comfort of the indoors. lol  Also, still loving my Write the Word journals - I'm using the MinimaList app that lets you create a daily to-do list and cross things off and set a timer on certain items, and these journals have been my go-to for the daily 15 minute quiet time.

Lovely untouched snowy backyard!

Mom and Dad's snowy golf-course and pool view!  I still think it'd be super fun sometime to turn up the pool heater and get in there on a snow day... I know I would instantly regret that when I was getting out, but still... look how lovely, and think of the cute pictures we could get! lol

So it's been quite the crazy week for the women in my family... not sure if I've already written about this, but Babah broke her sacrum a few months back.  She went to the hospital then was transferred to The Timbers nursing home in Edmond for rehab.  They took verrrry poor care of her and didn't get her up or move her around, so she digressed physically and mentally. Which we were unaware of for a while because no one is allowed to visit, and of course, they also didn't help her charge her cellphone or make calls to family and friends.  Virginia and JoBug went to pick her up on a week when Mom was quarantining because of possible COVID exposure from her dentist.  Babah stayed with Virginia for a few weeks, but she was becoming increasingly confused and exhausted, and we thought it might be dementia and wondered if she was just ready to go home now that Grandad is no longer with her.  Mom and JoBug went to see her at Virginia's on Saturday.  Then Sunday morning, she was in a really bad state and they couldn't get her up, so Virginia thought it might be a stroke, and they called an ambulance to come and take her to Mercy Hospital.  They quickly discovered that she had sepsis, a scary blood infection that causes delirium, mental confusion, and extreme fatigue.  They also ran a COVID test, and she tested positive!!  (And Mom and JB had seen her the day before).  So Blake told them to quarantine and then get tested on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.  Mom was tested yesterday and we don't have the results back yet.  Babah is still struggling with some confusion but seems to be improving a bit now that she's on medication for the sepsis - and she' not having any major COVID symptoms so far.  Anyway, what a freaking hot mess!  Not sure what this means for Christmas Eve plans, but we'll take it one day at a time.

An encouraging verse... this is talking about Jerusalem, but technically, that's the people of God, so I think it's okay to personalize it.  I love the imagery of God being a protective wall of fire around me and the glory inside me.

Christine did a 45-minute Pentatonix ride... super fun!!

I do think my workplace and the big tree and fountain are pretty lovely, especially after a snowy weekend!

Kendall's movie buff ride was a lot of silliness, but I loved this part... she did the Love Actually poster board thing during a cool down section as Silent Night played, and I was a fan!

I did my 200th ride on Tuesday this week... Cody's Festive Fantasy XOXO ride!  He is hilarious and such a gem! lol 

Hands down, the best decision I made in 2020 was buying the bike just before the pandemic hit and getting serious about Peloton.  The workouts with Cody, Robin, and a host of other coaches have been life-changing and fun and empowering!!

Part of my Write the Word journal for yesterday... this made me check my heart and think about my motives.  When it's been a while and I find myself wanting to see a friend, it's usually more about my own joy than wanting to strengthen them spiritually and encourage them in their faith!  But I love that idea, and I want to do a better job of prioritizing the spiritual health of my friends and family members, especially the smaller core group that I pray for every day!!

 Here's the Miss K after her volleyball game on Friday the 11th... she got 3 great serves over in a row!!  ❤

That's all for now! =)

Thanksgiving, Etc.

 Happy December 1st and Happy Birthday to Lauralai Allison today!

Okay, so God caught my attention with this verse in my reading this morning:

I'm thankful that we can entrust the people we care about to Him... that He also loves and cares for them and is able to build them up and provide eternal hope!!  I needed that gentle reminder to give everyone and everything to Jesus... I've been concerned about my precious niece and nephews lately.  Their hearts have been through a lot in the past two years - mostly really difficult and messy family stuff that I wish on no one... but also school stuff and pandemic stuff and eye therapy and losing trips and other things they were excited about.  I love and adore them, and Jesus does too!!!  They matter to God, and He will take care of them and give them a hope and a future. ❤

In lighter news, here are some pictures from the past week.  I did a 60-minute bootcamp with Jess Sims to start off Thanksgiving Thursday!  I even hit 1,111 miles somewhere along the way, which made me happy!  I'm doing the thumbs up, but Google Photos cut that off in this collage, so it looks like a fist-bump selfie. lol.

I drove to Mom and Dad's where we had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with the fam... Mom went all out even though it was just 8 of us.  We had mashed potatoes, mac n' cheese, rolls, dressing and gravy, ham from Ty's restaurant, jello pie, chocolate cake, and whipped cream (both homemade and canned). lol  Jaceman set up the table for all of us, which was pretty cute!

Jace seems to agree with Chet Lee in his distaste for my prayer pictures. lolol  I got very cracked up when I saw this!

Rachael's attempt at a group selfie didn't go as hoped... but still makes me happy!

I took this one from my seat, and it makes me happy too!  I'm thankful T&C got to join us for Thanksgiving dinner!!  (There's a chance that Josh has COVID right now, and Brooke decided to get them Saturday and Sunday instead of Thursday and Friday).

I made the chocolate cake myself (at my house on Wednesday night whilst watching Marvel movies)!  Layer cakes continue to be problematic for me, but much like the strawberry cake of yesteryear, this one was well-received!  I took a risk and used espresso powder this time (the recipe calls for it but none of us like coffee so we've left it out before), and it paid off and made it richer!  Jace was a big fan and asked me for the recipe (sent it to him on Messenger for Kids - not holding my breath for him to make that himself! lol), then he started calling it "Lindsey's famous chocolate cake" which made me happy!

Took a pic of the mini Miss K doing the splits, then found a baby Miss K pic in the same pose from 2014! ❤

Around 4:30 on Black Friday, Mom and I met Rach and the kids at Regional Park to take some Parrish fam pics... I was definitely dressed to take photos rather than be in them, but I *was* in the black-and-white theme, and I did get one with J&K at the end of the day (T&C had already hopped in the car to leave - LOL).

This one makes me smile - they decided to fake laugh and it turned into real laughter, as it tends to do!  Clearly, we need to use that method more often.

I mean... Get. Out. lol

She is so much cuteness and sass and gumption and sweetness in a preshface little body with tall boots that make her so happy.  "Lindsey... Hey, Lindsey!... Lindsey, over here!"  Kyndal Faith was about posing it up by every tree (and slide, etc.)  And I'm here for that all day long! lol

The Jaceman is doing well with eye therapy.  Mom works with him for 45 minutes to an hour a day on that... and the doctor said 55 weeks is the starting point - crazy!  But his eye muscles need time to totally retrain themselves and connect.

Rach got Kyndal this glittery water bottle - cuteness!

Before taking the family pics, Dad and I went for a neighborhood and park walk with the kids!

The box on our side wasn't working so the boys had to crawl under the neighborhood fence to open the gate. lol  Once we reached the park, there were so many tree branches down from the ice storm a few weeks back!  Also, I love that the Miss K wants to hold my hand on our walks!

It was nice getting to chat with the kids as we walked along.  Since we did the 55-minute park walk and I threw in a Peloton arms class later, I got to take a rest day on Saturday instead of Friday - I drove home and ate dinner and watched movies and relaxed!

Sarah invited me and the Wilsons for Sunday dinner... we got calzones from Mazzio's and we chatted about her and Karli's pregnancies, our Thanksgivings and any family dramas or stories, and the royal family!  My favorite part of that convo was Chet asking if they had guns in the 1800s, then Karli and Sarah both immediately mocking him for that and talking about the revolutionary war being fought with guns... then he said, "Hey, I'm not a history buff on anything except the royal family!" lolol  It does seem true - he's watched The Crown along with several documentaries on them.  We all agree they're kinda terrible and should allow their kids and/or grandkids to marry for love instead of being so freaking focused on building their own image.  My gosh, it's a painfully repeating cycle as I've watched The Crown this year.  I feel a lot of empathy for Charles and the way they worked so hard to kill his spirit and push away the woman he loved and force a miserable marriage on him.  It's sad.

Aaaaanyway, Steve and Loki were in the living room napping during a lot of the above convo, so we grabbed a group selfie with him on the couch! lol

Then had him get up to take this awkward fireplace pic of the four of us! =)

Sarah made peach cobbler for dessert, and despite her intense annoyance at Steve's getting "FRENCH vanilla" instead of Homestyle, it was all really good! lol

We're back at work as of yesterday, but we've continued all the cases from this week and next over to the week before Christmas... which we can probably rename the nightmare before Christmas, since we're cramming 3 weeks worth of hearings in there.  But this week is lovely and light... I brought clothes and went for a delightful walk at CP during lunch yesterday! ❤

And we've finally made it to today, which is Laura's 41st birthday!  I'm thankful we didn't end up having a felony Tuesday docket for her to deal with today.  This = my FB post + card + Barbee cookies!  My other more official gift is forthcoming... I ordered a calendar that I thought was same-day pickup at Walgreens, but I got a size that apparently they only do as ship-to-store (which I realized after putting in over 100 photos one by one).  But whatever - it'll be a belated birthday/early Christmas gift in a couples weeks!

This pic is out of order, but here's me and the Miss K on our Black Friday park walk!  So much love for her and her brothers!! ❤

*Photo taken by T-man

That's all I've got for now.  It was not completely traditional, but it was a really lovely Thanksgiving break weekend!  And now I've got two easy weeks at work to focus on projects and to-do lists and all things not work-related. lol