Hamilton Trip

And now, a lengthy, photo-filled recap of my weekend roadtrip to see Hamilton with Sarah and Steve!!

We left around noon... we took my car, and Steve drove us the whole way, which I was so grateful for - I don't love driving and navigating in places I'm unfamiliar with, and he taught me a couple new things about my car that are helpful to know! lol

We stopped for lunch at Ed Walker's, a cute little Elvis-themed diner in Fort Smith, Arkansas!  (About halfway through our drive.)

It was my first Airbnb experience, and it was a pretty good one... the house with a shared living room and kitchen was definitely preferable and felt more safe to me than staying in a hotel room by myself.  My bed was super comfortable, but it was a modern home design with all wood floors and no bedroom doors, so that was interesting!

Documenting my first glass of tap water in years... not bad at all, but my mind goes straight to dramatic Erin Brockovich quotes. lol  I was crazy thirsty after our drive, and we stopped at the house for a few hours before going to dinner and stopping to grab some bottled waters.

On Saturday, we had dinner at Samantha's, a Red Rock-level restaurant that we all really enjoyed!  Our waitress was chatty and full of good suggestions for what to order there, along with where to go for brunch the next day!

We had a late dinner and were done around 10:30pm, then they wanted to go out and check out some of the local bars.  Outside of line dancing at The Caravan, the bar scene has never been and will never be a place I find fun or feel very comfortable... some bad memories and bad vibes all around. We were close to our house, so I went back there and had a lovely, cozy night in whilst they explored the town and got some cocktails and came back a little after 2am.  Once upon a time, I would've totally just gone along to people-please but felt miserable the whole time, so it makes me happy that I've reached the point where I can be honest about what I want and genuinely not care if others find it lame.  I'm sure they appreciated having some couple time, and I so preferred to skip the bars and enjoy the house and have a nice long chat with Mom, so it worked out well on both sides!

The plan was to sleep in, but parents of tiny babies have a different definition of sleeping in than Aunt Lindseys. lol  Steve said the sun woke him up, so we were up and ready and headed to brunch by 9:30... I had set my alarm for 10:20. lol  We went to Loca Luna for brunch... the croissant French toast was good!  This was Steve's Mimosa, but I borrowed it for a cute cheers-ing pic! lol

And one of them with their morning coffees!

Steve brought along the Baby Yoda, and it made me laugh seeing it on my dashboard!

We went to an outlet mall to shop around a bit... they got some cute stuff for baby Kate, and Nancy called to FaceTime with them!  This was their first time being away from her overnight, but it seems like everyone got through it pretty well!

These oversized sunglasses seemed crazy-big, so we got a picture in them to be funny... then we both looked at it and said, "Hmm, cuter than we thought!" lol

We went back to the house and took a short nap and then got ready to leave... 

They were running a bit behind and then needed to go back for some medication... and the lovely Italian restaurant we planned on was closed on Sundays... so we grabbed Wendy's and ate in the parking lot as our pre-show super late lunch or early dinner.

GET EXCITED!!  I'm glad Steve spotted this trailer - a perfect photo-op spot!

We were there for the last day of this play at the Robinson Performance Hall, which in my mind means the cast probably really gave it their very best - either that or they're always fantastic!?

Thanks to our fancy fast food dinner, we were there when the doors opened at 6:00, and we had time to shop a little and take some pictures and get to our seats early!

"The room where it happens..."  We had an excellent view, and being able to see their expressions made me realize the importance of being closer to the stage for live theater performances!

Truly fantastic cast - I especially loved our Hamilton, Washington, Eliza, and Angelica!!  The music and lyrics are exceptional and brilliantly written by Lin Manuel.  I teared up several times, and I wanted to stand and applaud long before they reached the final scene.

If I could be any of them in real life, it would obviously be Eliza.  But if I could play any role in this play, it would 100% be Peggy/Maria Reynolds!

The only places open to eat after the show were pubs or fast food.  As soon as we walked in here, the aggressively loud atmosphere and the smell of smoke and alcohol were all coming in strong.  I was alone at our table for several minutes whilst a random guy at the bar bought Sarah a drink... then got one for Steve too when he came over... then asked what I was drinking when I finally joined them...  turning alcohol down in a room full of tipsy/uninhibited people where many of them seem to think it's a necessary ingredient to having fun has never been my favorite thing.  So I was feeling pretty exhausted and over it all, and then a lady walked in with an adorable Corgi puppy, and my stress melted and turned to joy! lol  She sat down near our table and said, "You can pet him if you want!"  Umm, yes, please!!

His name was Tucker, and I'm unclear on why she brought a presh baby puppy to a bar late at night, but I think he was enjoying that atmosphere about as much as I was, so I tried to shield him and be a comforting presence. lol

Cuteness!

And in the end, our food there (bought by the same guy, who was apparently very generous when he drinks) was not the best, so we stopped by Taco Bell after all that... where there was a ca-razy long line for midnight tacos.  I voted that we not try to eat them in my car, so we had a 1:00am feast and chat at our Airbnb house when we got back (after shoo-ing away a random neighborhood cat that wanted to come in and join us)!

The next morning, we basically packed up and left.  We took a couple pics in the cute backyard... this = the shirt I bought at Hamilton.  The "Rise Up" part of My Shot is something I've always loved, and it felt like an appropriate shirt for President's Day!

We spent almost no time out there, but the backyard area was cute!

This is taken from the edge of my bedroom and bathroom area.  There were pocket doors for the bathrooms, then the living room and kitchen in the middle, and a hallway on both sides that led right into the bedrooms with no bedroom or closet doors!

We had breakfast at Mugs Cafe, then got gas and started our trip back home!

We got caught up on life during our 4-hour drive there, and we talked at length about Hamilton and all our thoughts about the play on our way back.  Sarah will be switching over to weekend nursing shifts soon, so they mentioned that this was their last weekend to do anything together for a while, and I felt a little bad for crashing it.  But I think we all had fun for the most part!  This was the first time I've gone anywhere outside of Oklahoma since the pandemic hit... all in all, a fun long-weekend road trip and an excellent theater experience!! ❤

Bell's Palsy

I was planning to write a trip recap post, but I'll save that for later this week on a day when I feel like I have more margin/downtime for that!

Once again, happy 2-22-2022!! ❤

Important Happy News:  I received a fantastic response email from Eddie Kaufholz this morning, and it definitely made my day!! =)  I miss the weekly updates from him and Annie, but yay for reruns. lol

* * * * * * *

And in other news, a friend I knew from BattleCreek currently has Bell's Palsy.  She posted some photos and videos talking about her experience and the emotional struggle of it.  We messaged back and forth a bit a bit about all of that, and it's been helpful for me to really stop and think about it from an adult perspective.  I'm so grateful that she had the courage to post photos and share her story... seeing other people respond to her with empathy and validation rather than avoidance or confusion and awkward laughter has been helpful for me too (not quite the experience I had surrounded by freshmen in high school, as you might imagine).  I had Bell's Palsy at age 8 and then again at age 15.  The onset is sudden - you go to bed smiling normally, and when you wake up and brush your teeth, you can immediately tell something is off. 

Thus far, no one can pinpoint the cause or promise a cure.  Somehow, the 7th cranial nerve gets inflamed, and it paralyzes half of the facial muscles, meaning my eyes would dry out because I couldn't blink correctly, and my mouth was literally incapable of smiling.  It would make anyone feel a bit self-conscious and awkward, but I believe that's amplified in high school for obvious reasons.  Why I chose that as my one summer to try Falls Creek Camp, I'll never know - no, it was probably me hoping to feel closer to God there - I tend to press in during hard seasons, and I'm glad for that pattern.  

I have very few pictures from that summer because I mostly tried to avoid the camera.  The middle photo is me with a couple friends at Falls Creek... I just look caught off guard, but I was more aware of the camera than anyone else in that room.  The anxiety was real.

This is at a football game that fall when my smile was gradually starting to come back.  I was pushing those muscles for all they were worth, but I couldn't smile as brightly or fully as all my friends.

In the video Amanda posted today, she started crying a little as she talked about missing her smile and said, "When I feel happy, I don't look happy."

That's one of the strangest parts of it.  Your ability to physically express joy is stifled.  Then sometimes you worry about looking awkward and choose to suppress the good side of your smile to keep it more even, and all of that is pulling your mental health down.

So first off, I want to validate for myself that Bell's Palsy was a really hard experience.  I sometimes minimized and downplayed it as a survival strategy back then, but I don't have to anymore.  There will always be people who have it worse off in life, but you're allowed to feel your own pain, and you don't have to make comparisons or minimize what you're going through.  The fear that it would be permanent was very real.  People laughing and making jokes about the TENS unit or about looking like a stroke victim or whatever else was never funny and always hurtful.  (Moreso than any of them intended, I'm certain.)  None of it was my fault or something I could have stopped or controlled.  I'm incredibly grateful for the people who were kind... for Lynda Woolard's advice that helped start the healing process... and for God healing me and bringing my smile back.  That doesn't change the fact that there were some painful internal and external effects that continue to this day, and it all matters.  I didn't have the language or the self-confidence to handle it as well back then, but I did my best, and I didn't crawl into a hole and avoid everyone.  As an introvert who preferred to blend in, I tried to gracefully deal with the unwanted extra attention, answering a myriad of insensitive questions from well-meaning friends.  And I went to a freaking church summer camp, and that was brave.  Way to go, 10th grade Lindsey!!  

If I could go back and talk to her, I would hug her and speak words of courage and confidence!!  I would tell her it's okay to be sad or to feel embarrassed, but that life has too much meaning to let herself get stuck there.  I would smile as brightly as I can today and assure her that it's only temporary... and that this whole experience will forever increase her empathy and ability to comfort people with similar struggles.  I would remind her that she is loved and valuable, that her worth doesn't depend on her appearance, and that other people aren't thinking about her as much or as often as she was worried about.  And I would tell her to be proud of that half-smile and to never suppress her joy or her pain in an effort to please others or present a certain image!!!

Dear 10th-grade Lindsey, 

You are precious to God.  Your joy is valid, your pain is valid, and your heart matters!  You are loved, your life has great purpose, and Jesus is walking with you every step of the way!  You're stronger than you realize at this point, and you are going to be just fine.  I see you.  I believe in you.  And someday, you're going to change the world!

With love,

❤ 38-year-old Lindsey

Croissants and Cricut Cut-outs!

Happy Twos-day, friends!  *Tuesday, 2-22-2022!!*  In honor of this momentous occasion, I'm posting two blogs today.  But really, I'd have done that either way. lol

On Friday night, I had a lovely birthday dinner with several of my favorite people at Charleston's!!  Thanks to Jeffrey Edward for taking this group picture for us! =)  Very thankful for this group!

In all my stress over trying not to annoy people via group text, I apparently forgot that I decided to schedule this dinner at 6:00 for the sake of all the parents of young children.  I wrote that in the group text then changed the date, then I made our reservation for Friday at 6:30 at Charleston's.  I had no idea until I was a little ways into my drive and got a text from Jeff that they were all in the lobby... eeeek!  My apologies to everyone for making them wait... Sarah had texted that she was running about 15 minutes late, but it turned out they were 15 minutes early instead.  Here's Chet Lee grabbing a delicious croissant to help keep the kids happy while they waited on me...lol  Their croissants are the best!

The Moss fam and the Wilsons both got me some beautiful flowers... and Karli made this fun Cricut cut-out of my face on a stick... I've always loved those when she makes them for Tate's birthday parties, so this made me very happy! lol

Me and Kelly Marie!  (And my potato soup where I forgot to say "no bacon or chives."  I was distracted by feeling guilty about accidentally being late to my own party. lol)

Uncle Chet and baby Kate!

Lindsey Claire and Katherine Claire... she really wanted to grab my necklace and earrings (and the knives and forks and everything within reach, so I held her lil' hands for a bit, and she did not appreciate it!

The Moss fam bought my dinner, and the Shoemakers bought my dessert!  The Wilsons brought happy pink candles and a Cricut cake topper...

Ahhh, I love it!! ❤

So now I have it in multiple sizes - huzzah! lol

This was the first time I had seen most of this group in 2022, so it was nice to catch up on life, take some fun photos, and laugh with each other.  And that's my recap of part 3 of my birthday celebration!  Good times!! ❤

Photo Friday

Happy Friday, friends!!  I'm thankful we have a long weekend ahead of us... I'll be joining the Fultons (minus Kate) for a road trip to Arkansas to see Hamilton, so yay for that!

And tonight's group dinner at Charleston's will be part 3 of my birthday celebration! lol  Yay for birthday extravaganzas that last a while! =)

On Wednesday this week, I covered the afternoon docket in Bristow, then drove to meet the fam at Bravo in OKC!  It had been closed for around a year and a half with the pandemic, so I was very surprised and happy to see the "NOW OPEN" sign, and I figured it would be a good choice for my birthday this year!

We did a 5:00 dinner, and the Miss K wrote my name on this envelope in cursive (something she's learning now and very proud of)!! ❤

And now we play the add-one-more game! lol  Jace photobomed us and Kyndal kept smiling while firmly pushing him back with her arm. lolol

Then I suggested they all come over and get in the picture, and this one makes me happy!

Dinner was great, then we ran by Quail for some Great American Cookie Co. dessert!!  Mom took this pic of us outside the car with Rach joining us this time too!  (I didn't get any photos with Mom and Dad that night, but Mom's hand is in the mirror in this one, so I'll count that! lol

Bravo for Bravo being open again! =)  This restaurant was also the site of a fun surprise bday party for me 12 years ago (HERE)!

When I left for lunch yesterday, I was on the phone with Mom as I walked to my car in our CCC parking lot.  I said obliviously (out loud on the phone), "Oh wow, there's a van here from Nothing Bundt Cakes -  I didn't know they did deliveries!"  Mom:  "Ummm, that's there for you!  I told them 1:30, but they could only promise it'd be between noon and 3, so you might wanna go get it since your office is locked for lunch!" lolol  So I did, and yay for that!!

Confetti, lemon, red velvet, and snickerdoodle bundtinis + a bit bigger chocolate bundt cake... all very solid choices! =)

The weather app went back and forth hard at least four times yesterday.  I despise being the sole person in charge of making a decision for an entire group, and I hate to feel like I'm annoying others via group text, so that part of my birthday was less than ideal.  The only feedback I received was that moving the group dinner to today would be preferable, so I finally decided to do that and called Charleston's and changed our reservation after my snowy walk to the car at lunch time... then by 2pm, it was all past us and the roads were perfectly dry and clear.  UGH, whatever.  24 hours have passed with zero responses in the group, so I guess a lot of people that could go yesterday can't make it today, and I feel personally responsible and feel bad about that.  The Moss fam was free both days, and the Wilsons and Fultons can join us today, so that's happy news!  Anyway, I won't ever initiate a large group text again - it caused a disproportional amount of stress that probably stems from rejection-related issues for me, so I need to remember that and choose one-on-one texting!

I was feeling on edge from all that and a little sad and thinking it would be a birthday night by myself, then Laura suggested that we could do a low-key dinner and movie night, and I was very much on board with that idea!  So she and Tiffany came over, and we got Dominos pizza and cheesy bread + the bundtinis from Mom!!  It's been a hard week at the courthouse, and especially for the Clerk's Office after the sudden death of one of Tiffany's co-workers this past weekend, but it was good for us to debrief and catch up on life and work events at the CCC!

Tiffany had never seen Liar, Liar so that was our movie choice for the night... which made me think of JEM!  So many great quotes that are fitting for our work in the legal system, and it was really nice to watch a lighthearted, fun movie that made us laugh!  I love how much Jim Carrey commits and just goes for it with some of these lines and facial expressions! lol

Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to dinner tonight and hopefully a fun weekend ahead!  I feel very aware that this might be my last birthday without a child.  The other day, I was feeling stressed about all the life changes that will come with adoption or fostering-to-adopt... then I read this quote on a blog from March 2020.  Thanks again, Donald Miller!  (And God for timing that when I needed it.)  We have to jump in sometimes, and to paraphrase A League of Their Own, nothing worth doing comes easily - the hard is part of what makes it great!!

Happy Friday!  Enjoy your weekend!!

Level Up (38)

Today is my 38th Birthday!  A friend posted recently saying birthdays mean you're leveling up, and I'm on board with that concept. =)  It is 100% in God's hands to determine when I will graduate into heaven... but in this messy, imperfect, and beautiful game of life, I'm grateful to reach Level 38 today!  And I hope to keep moving forward and building a meaningful life with whatever time God gives me here!! ❤

Every level has its own challenges, rewards, and lessons you hold onto as you keep moving forward.  So in true "Thankful Thursday" style, today I'm stopping to celebrate and thank God for the life He has given me thus far...

1.  Intro Level:

• (1984, The Birth Year.)  I've always thought it was fun and special that God gave Babah and Grandad their first grandchild on their anniversary, February 17th!
• I'm thankful to be named "Lindsey Claire," which means "Peaceful Light" when you put them both together.... I love that and hope to live up to it! ❤
• I am deeply grateful for having parents who valued life and were excited to welcome me into their lives.
• I'm thankful that I was treasured and cared for from the beginning when so many sweet babies don't have that experience!

2.  Levels 1-6: 

• (1985-1990, The Early Years.)  From a baby to a toddler to Miss Anne's Pre-K to Kindergarten at Ridgecrest... my hair gradually got darker and darker, and I was rocking the bangs all the way through it!  
• Between eating, crawling, walking, mastering the English language, learning some basic hygiene + writing + reading + songs, etc. I probably learned more in those first 6 years than any other time period listed here!
• Due to a kidney reflux that finally resolved itself in my teenage years, I was verrry sick for several months as a toddler where all my hair fell out and I struggled to keep food down... I'm grateful God guided my parents to find good doctors and medicine that helped get that under control.  
• I'm grateful for Rachael joining our family, for Grandad babysitting, and for all the adults who loved me and filled my childhood with happy memories and made learning new things fun!

3.  Levels 7-12:  

• (1991-1996, The Grade School Years.)  First through sixth grade, moving from the cute baby teeth smile to permanent teeth and braces!
• I'm grateful for a solid foundation in a Christ-centered home + church and Sunday school + good teachers and good friends at CHA!
• I'm thankful that Mom led me to Jesus as my Savior when I was in first grade!
• I'm thankful God healed me from Bells Palsy in second grade.
• Thankful that our family moved to 9121, a house I really loved, when I was in 3rd grade!
• And I'm thankful for not just one but two rounds of Glamour Shots in this historic time period! lol ;-)

4.  Levels 13-18:  

• (1997-2002, The Teenage Years.)  Seventh grade through Senior year... navigating cliques and friendship changes, learning to drive, and spending far more time thinking about my future wedding colors than I did my future career path (an absurd problem I shared with lots of young ladies at CHA).
• The six years of braces gradually fixed my underbite, and I'm thankful Mom told me to smile as if I'm laughing (without biting down) so that my teeth would actually show in pictures - not sure why that never occurred to me on my own, but it made my smile look much better and more natural/unforced from 8th grade forward!  
• Thankful for my fun homeschool year with Mom in 8th grade (that was my first shorter haircut at 14, and I remember feeling really pretty and grown up on that picture day).  
• Grateful for fun trips to Hawaii, Florida, and Vegas in this season thanks to Babah's RNA company!
• Very thankful God healed me again from a much longer round of Bells Palsy in 10th grade!
• And I'm thankful that we had a fun house where people liked to come hang out, so I have lots of great memories with friends and family throughout my junior high and high school years!

5.  Levels 19-24:  

• (2003-2008, The "Pretty, But Dumb" Years.)  So. much. life change happened in this period... Business Major at OBU, Court Reporting Major at Rose State, moved to a dorm in Shawnee then moved back home, started my career at age 20 in Chickasha, fell in love/obsessive infatuation with Josh, took a job near Tulsa to be closer to him, bought my first home, abruptly cut off by Josh and his entire friend group, low point and faith crisis in 2007, gradually formed an entirely new friend circle through my Tulsa lifegroup!
• Without realizing it on either side at the time, I was at my most physically beautiful but also at my dumbest through this season... (I enjoy learning and I'm intelligent in an intellectual/academic sense, but fully assuming that marriage would play out according to my 7-7-07 life plan and choosing to rush through school rather than carefully considering my future career path was dumb.  And putting people above God and trying to morph into someone else rather than standing in my own unique identity in Christ was dumb, too... that will set you up for a haaard fall every time!)
• I have grace for myself looking back, and I'm grateful for the way God protected me in spite of my own stupidity and cluelessness, and sometimes just being cringey and manipulative at this age.
• I'm thankful for the way God gently walked me through that intense rejection and faith crisis, bringing me closer to Him in a more authentic way than untested 'name it and claim it' faith could ever do.
• I'm thankful that He led me to a job that's been a really good fit for me thus far, and for all the ways He was faithful in bringing people in and out of my life for my own good and His glory! 

6.  Levels 25-30:

• (2009-2014, The Malori Years.)  That was the overarching theme of this period of life for me - we were roommates and best friends in 2009; she was there for me through family drama/isolation, learning about my personality, and rebuilding my sense of identity in 2010 and 2011; she encouraged me to go back to school and earn my degree in 2012; she inexplicably cut me off in 2013; and 2014 was a lot of unnecessary self-blame and trying to recover a sense of belonging and worthiness.
• This six-year period included some extreme weight loss and extreme weight gain (lots of contributing outside factors at play there, and I'm choosing grace and self-compassion on all that), a terrible church-backed prayer ministry experience, several fun vacations with friends and family, being a bridesmaid in two weddings, facing depression and seeking help with antidepressants and counseling, and completing my first 3 Half Marathons.
• I'm grateful for how God has used the hard and unfair things to shape me.  Thankful for my time at SNU, for God's grace in surrounding me with supportive friends who helped hold me together when life seemed to fall apart, and for great memories from three amazing Vegas trips in this season!!
• Hmm, these pics are making me consider cutting bangs again - red with bangs feels like a signature look for me. lol

7.  Levels 31-36:

• (2015-2020, The Peaceful Rebuilding Years.)  In spite of the global pandemic and the death of sweet Grandad, these years were mostly filled with good memories and quiet, simple progress.
• I'm grateful for growing in my personal security and in my walk with God, feeling more deeply aware of His kindness and faithfulness the more I seek Him and the more I write and reflect on life!
• Thankful for two more Vegas trips and an amazing family trip to Niagara Falls and NYC!
• Thankful for being more authentic and feeling more connected and valued as a friend, daughter, sister, and "Aunt Lindsey!" ❤
• Grateful for life-changing books (The Joy of Movement, Atomic Habits) that inspired me to get serious in my exercise routine... and so thankful for Peloton making it fun and offering the perfect mix of variety and familiarity for me in my daily workouts!
• Thankful for the Friday Night Dinners helping me build some confidence in my ability to host, cook, and facilitate meaningful connections/good conversations with friends!
• Happy to feel more secure in my singleness, more empowered in my friendships, and more content with my work life!
• Thankful for good counselors, personal growth, and working toward healthier relationships with friends and family!!

8.  Level 37-42

• (2021-2026, The Healthy Parent Years?)  My hope and plan for this set of years is that the overarching themes will be pursuing and then maintaining good health AND adopting a child and stepping into the role of "Mom!"
• As a single woman, I'm grateful God gave me the courage and confirmation I needed to start the adoption process, which has already included multiple small steps that required bravery and hope.  I love that it's strengthening my faith and confidence and giving me a very clear reason to pray and seek God's grace and guidance every day!
• Grateful that I've made great progress in my mental/emotional/spiritual health and in building good exercise habits.  And I am determined to improve my nutrition habits and overall physical health... it's easy to coast on old habits and comfort foods and be apathetic and feel defeatist about the possibility of change there, but I want to set a good example and live a healthier lifestyle that enables me to be a more active parent with a longer lifespan... so I have to do the work and get serious about the pursuit of better nutrition and physical health!  It's a deeply-rooted mental and physical stronghold that I need to break in order to build the future I truly desire.
• I'm expecting good things and determined to do the day-to-day work toward building a more meaningful life!  As always, there are some things I'm working on with God and working out in my soul... but overall, I'm excited about where I am and what God is doing right now, and I'm looking forward to creating a bright future with His help!!

I set this to publish at 2:17 AM on 2-17 because cheesy things like that make me happy. =)

Thanks for being here to read and thanks for being a part of my real life, friends and fam!  "Level 40" is coming up soon, and for the first time in my life thus far, that one feels a bit daunting in my mind.  But hopefully I can prepare for it over the next two years and step into it with confidence and peace when I get there.  I know "level up" is a gaming term, but it's also a phrase they use a lot in Peloton, so it makes me happy to reframe birthdays and aging in that way!  There are future unknowns and there are certainly people that I miss from past seasons, and in spite of many long-term friendships, I struggle with loneliness more often than I would like lately.  I don't have everything I want in my life right now (I'm guessing no one does), but I'm also very aware that life is a gift, and becoming more aware that I have the power to create meaningful change... I have much to be grateful for and so many good things to keep reaching toward and conquering as I continue to level up!  

So Happy Birthday to me... let's do this!! =)

And Happy Thursday to all of you.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead! ❤