Photo Friday - Holiday Fun!

Happy Friday, friends and fam!!! ❤

We've exchanged gifts and cards, Christmas movies are being played, and Christmas candy is being eaten.  Today is such a non-worky workday that it's kinda fun to be here. =)

Last weekend, Mom and I went to see Kristie's house (she is Mom's long-time nurse friend who was so amazing and helpful earlier this year)!  ...I like it when people accidentally color coordinate. lol #bluechristmas

The giant nutcrackers, the Faberge egg, the tissue paper floral art, and their tree with ornaments from every year of their marriage all made me happy!

It was nice to catch up with Kristie a bit, and her home is really beautiful!  My parents' former rug is now in their living room, so yay for seeing that again! lol

On Monday night, I joined Mom and Dad and Charlene at Tacos 4 Life - fun and tasty!

Shoutout to my concealer for working harder than usual these days... the unexplained rash/breakout is gradually improving a bit, but I did suuriously consider cutting bangs in the meantime. lol  This = me at Restore on my last day of counseling work for 2023!  What a gift this year has been. ❤

Last night, the whole fam + Bill and Jill met for dinner and dessert at The Ranch in OKC!  Here's our pics around the table. =)

Jace teasing Dad and laughing at his own jokes, Miss K and I planning ahead for our "Try 24 new things in 2024" resolution, my spinach and berry salad, and Dad and Kyndal!

Rach with all four kids!

And Mom with all four grandkids!

Spider-Jace (in his best Spider-Man pose)!

My happy Christmas tree - the Amber Marie round snowflake ornaments are not hard to spot! lol  I was  just admiring it all and basking in the glow of the happy Christmas atmosphere the other night when Mom (pondering what she'd like to change) announced, "Man, we'll do your tree so much better next year!" lolol #whatarelief #lookatthistrash

An annual reminder from Annie... the metaphor that the light grows and grows starting today makes me even happier than the reality of more and more sunshine, but yay all around!!

I feel this one.  I want a day of NOTHING but Christmas movies in pajamas.  But I also want to see all the people and do all the traditional things and take all the pictures and bake all the cakes and get ready for Internship and read my new books and write all the essays and finish all my transcripts and more...

Not a Christmasy meme, but one that brought me a lot of joy as a big RDJ fan who needed this encouragement!!  Past behavior is *not always* the best predictor of future behavior - our choices matter, and our trajectory is up to us... small changes, remarkable results! #atomichabits

Nearly choked on my water laughing at this meme. #accurate

Yippeekiyay!  Must find this and watch it this weekend.

"Now I have a machine gun.  Ho...Ho...Ho." lol

Speaking of Alan Rickman (the transition makes sense in my mind), I am listening to my favorite Harry Potter book this week, and I gotta say I just ADORE Neville!  Christmas on the Closed Ward = one of the most poignant chapters ever, and the way he buckles down and improves dramatically when Bellatrix escapes - he's ready to fight for what matters to him, and I am SO HERE FOR IT.  

And in the real life muggle world, I'm so here for my amazing friends who are fighting for their dreams goals!!  ;-)

Sorry for the lengthy and fairly random post, but really, what else do you expect here?

Happy Christmas weekend, friends and fam!!

And Merry Christmas-Eve Eve tomorrow!

May we prepare our hearts by making room for a little time each day to pause and truly connect with Jesus! ❤

A Convivial Cozy Christmas & More!

Happy Sunday, friends!  A week from today is Christmas Eve, which feels a bit crazy to me!!

Anyway, I'll jump straight into the photos.  Yesterday was the 7th annual Convivial Cozy Christmas party at Moss Manor... here's me with Kelly and Alex, with Rachel and Heidi, with Evan and the Shoemaker fam (minus Harvey), and with Jeff and Kelly! 

Shoemakers + Jeffrey and Henry + Danielle + me!

Me with Ellie Faye, Heidi Claire, and Henry Edward! ❤

And a couple where JEM joined me and Henry! lol (Please note Home Alone playing on the TV behind us). =)

Rachel and Danielle with their baby girls (Heidi and Juliette); Ellie showing me the photo props - yes, please!; The Moss fam stockings (stockings make me very happy for whatever reason); Jessie and Kelly with their babies; Evan, Brent, and Jeffrey with their clear glasses; and one more pic with Ellie!

I hadn't been there since Jeff and Kelly redid their backyard earlier this year, but wow, I was very impressed!  It was super nice out there -- a big couch and table, picnic table, TV, bar area (with the "naughty punch" and other adult beverages), fantastic porch swing, covered patio, wood-burning fireplace, and several chairs!  I know there were tons of people there for this party, but it didn't feel crowded because we had all that room outside + the kitchen and living room and the whole upstairs playroom area/theater room for the kids -- such a great house for fun parties!

I tried Karen Bullard's cookie recipe and brought those for the Christmas party!  There were also chips and queso and sliders and meatballs and two tables full of other dessert choices - lots of great food that I failed to get a photo of, but I got the people and that's what matters most.  I got to catch up with the Shoemakers & Mosses + Evan + several old LG friends (Elizabeth, Jessie, Alex) + met a couple new people!  We missed the Wilson family, who were home due to a very unwelcome stomach bug.  But it was a fun party and I feel deeply grateful for my Tulsa friend group!

Earlier yesterday, Mom joined me in Tulsa for another trip to Amber Marie (we hit both locations).  As her Christmas gift from Dad, she got these very large Mackenzie Childs' reindeer that she'd been admiring!  Getting them loaded into the car was quite the entertaining process, but they're now safely back in MWC with her! =)

Pre- the sudden onset stomach bug, Chettles joined us for Cookie Mama and a CFA pep talk! =)  The pic on the right is one I took of the Moss fam when I first arrived (with the Santa Clause playing in the background - yay)... the pic is a little blurry, but still makes me happy!

Speaking of a little blurry, I want a new fancy camera that takes suuuper-crisp photos like these... Chet's Santa pictures event was a hit last week (with his photographer neighbor, Steve Doak, taking the photos).  Here's Kate, Heidi Claire, Tate, and Parker E. ❤

Our intern group pic from the Restore Christmas Party... this group = Fily, Cecilia, Kayla, Melissa, Holli, Eram, Reese, Angel, Logan, Kelli, Brien, Jeremy, Hannah, Jen, me, and Jacey (12 women and 4 men - which is actually a much higher percentage of men than you see in court reporting, so that's something)!

I met Michelle and Amy at Pub W in Edmond this afternoon for a fun celebration lunch for finishing our grad school semester!

That final case study project was intense!!  When I was up at 2am working on the DSM diagnostic part, this chant was happening inside my brain, and it took me a minute to realize it was Das Sound Machine! lolol  So now I like the DSM book at least a tiny bit better. =)

Today officially marks 15 years of friendship with Chettles and Sarah...

Soooo here's a short and cheesy video to commemorate that... 15 pics for 15 years + the Three Best Friends 'song' from The Hangover, an Instagram reel suggestion that made me laugh! =)

And I'm done now...

Almost.

I'm having some sort of allergic reaction (or bug bites or rash or something?) that's causing what looks like the world's worst adult breakout all over the left side of my face and neck.  All over may be dramatic, but there are 11 itchy red bumps, and one would be too many.  And when anything affects only the BP side of my face, it's a stressor for me.  So that's a fairly minor issue thus far, but prayers appreciated.  Here's hoping and praying that I figure out what's causing that and get it to caaalm down over the next week!  For now, I've taken some Benadryl and I'm heading to bed early, which sounds like perfection.  Love and appreciate my regular readers, and I hope you've had a lovely and restful weekend!

❤

Beauty for Ashes

Hey, friends!

I just completed my first full calendar year of graduate school, and my first semester working as a counselor!!

Debra approved my completed hours, and I finished editing the case study of Jonathan for the Appraisal class, submitting them both just after 10pm, and that did it - 2023 school time is over!  Considering that I was questioning everything and ready to drop out in January, then stressing a lot over the internship site and whether I might have to freelance, this really feels like quite a gift and quite an accomplishment.  In spite of how it may appear, it truly has been a lot of work that is consistently just a little outside of my comfort zone (and occasionally way out of it).  I don't love navigating schedule conflicts and/or being dependent on other people to complete projects on time, but both have been necessary here, and it's all helping me grow.  I have seven clients now, women ranging from age 8 to 28.  I am so constantly aware of my need for God's guidance, and I'm grateful that it feels like I'm climbing a faith ladder -- like I'm learning from the new people I meet and growing with every tiny brave step up that I convince myself to take!  So for anyone who needs some extra encouragement, I'm going with Hebrews 11:6 - Without faith it is impossible to please God, for those who draw near to God must believe that He exists, and He is a REWARDER of those who sincerely seek Him. ❤

Today is also the anniversary of the reconciliation that wasn't... the friendship redemption that didn't pan out the way I hoped and expected.  I reached out to clear the air as that decade was ending on 12-13-19, and I received an unexpected, kind, sincerely apologetic and hopeful response the next morning that set off a volcano of bottled-up wounds and grief emotions and future hopes in me - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  In lieu of reliving that or rehashing it all for the hundredth time, I'll say this:  As I look back at that day now, I'm struck by God's protective goodness.  I remember feeling next-level euphoric about the idea of us being friends again, quickly looking up flight prices and drive times to Colorado, and fighting myself not to friend request her or appear too eager (I painstakingly waited till January 9th to suggest that idea, then promptly had a panic attack while looking through old photos). lol  Not exactly a laughing matter, but gracious, hindsight is 20/20 on all of this.

On 12-14-19, (after my internal dance party flip-out as I read her message and immediately responded with a "thrilled" level of excitement that would terrify any Dismissive Avoidant), I spent the rest of that morning painting the Fultons' new home with Chet Lee, Karli Marie, Sarah Elizabeth, and Steve.  Activities like painting are always good for me when I need to calm down and think through things, so that was a gift, along with being surrounded by my favorite people, friends whose very presence calmed my highly-activated nervous system and helped me to feel safe.  I framed it as cautious wisdom or protecting something fragile then, but looking back, the fact that I did not say a word about this monumental shift to them that morning or to Mom on the phone or to any friends at Jeff and Kelly's Christmas party that night... is such a clear indicator that there were bright red flags in my soul that I was not ready to acknowledge.  Chettles and Sarah are vibrant mirrors for that kind of stuff, often the first to say out loud the things I'm already thinking and feeling, and I so deeply wanted to whitewash it and push forward.  A year and two months later, after approximately 500 difficult conversations with various friends and family members and lots of tears and confusion and internal wrestling on my end, it all ended in much the way they would've predicted on that first day.  The quickest recap would be Dwight's "Unshun... Reshun" gif.  BUT "better to have fought and lost than never fought at all."  I truly would not change it or undo my original message - I believe it all needed to happen just as it did for my sake (and probably for hers), and I see so many ways God used all of that for good as I prayed and cried and wrestled and struggled and graaaaadually gave it to Him and found closure and healing.  And beauty and hope.

God exists...
And He brings beauty for ashes.
And He rewards those who sincerely seek Him!
❤

Better to Have Fought and Lost...

Well, first things first - Happy Taylor Swift's Birthday to us all! lol  I hope she had a lovely 34th birthday basking in the glow of her new love, personal success, and good karma! ❤

I stayed up crazy late on Sunday finishing my Case Study project, then I tried to catch up on sleep on Monday night.  Yesterday included working through lunch on a lengthy rape/murder prelim that was emotionally rough... followed by two emotionally rich sessions in the afternoon (notable progress and good connection with my young adult client, then reading the Big Feelings book and playing board games with my kid client).  With those two sessions, I completed my required 40 direct hours for this semester (just in the nick of time) - so that was exciting!  Then I spent part of my night watching TV and baking cookies for today's party.  Today started with our Restore Christmas party, then we had another lengthy prelim this afternoon where we stayed well past 5 to finish up.  And now I just completed my final Practicum Zoom class for this semester.  Huh--zaaah!! lol  I've loved that class, and tonight was no exception (lots of good, deeper talks + getting to know each other and learn with and from others who are equally new to all this, and I love that Dr. Harrison prayed a Biblical blessing over us at the end of tonight's class).  However, I'm also very grateful to have a break-month ahead of me just in time for Christmas and the New Year!! ❤❤

I initially read this as great advice for certain clients, but it's also great advice for me.  Not verbally agreeing or nodding along with things I don't actually agree with... and not matching the negative or anxious or chaotic energy of others... choosing empathy, but staying emotionally regulated (calm and centered), pulling them up instead of being pulled down. 

In the certification hearings we've had lately, the prosecuting attorneys repeatedly emphasize, "We all know the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."  And every time they say it, I find myself cringing internally as I think about myself and my friends and family and my clients.  I can be judgmental and jaded based on all I've seen in the courtroom, but I want to be more careful about my thoughts moving forward.  Change is incredibly hard work, but people CAN change.  And more importantly, people can be changed by Jesus.  Furtick has a new book coming in 2024 called Do the New You, and I've already pre-ordered the audio version.  It's the energy I want to saturate myself with in 2024 - we are made new through the power of Jesus.  The old is gone.  We are NOT STUCK or powerless or helpless.  We have God-given power and love and self-discipline, and God is with us and for us, and nothing we've done can separate us from His love!  

I listened to a John Eldredge podcast today where he talked about how the enemy always wants to "disassemble and disintegrate" us.  Then I tuned out for a minute as my mind pictured the dissolving people when Thanos snaps in Infinity War... pairing that with the final battle scene when Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man (the ones left behind) are still fighting but so exhausted from being outnumbered... then the scene that brings me such joy I tear up when everyone who had disappeared reappears, and suddenly their numbers are STRONG, and they still have to fight, but they have renewed bring-it-on energy and hope!  Metaphorically, that could not be more accurate or poignant.  It makes a huge difference to have something worth fighting for and to know we are not fighting alone.  "Avengers, assemble!"  YESSS.  Must watch Endgame again soon!! lol  (My point in that Marvel metaphor tangent was that while Satan consistently works to disassemble and weaken us, God works to put us back together, strengthen our resolve, and assemble others who will help us keep fighting.  Both are true simultaneously, and we have to choose to remember the big picture and press into this epic larger story in the midst of all the randomness that fills our daily lives.  Good vs. evil, life vs. death, light vs. darkness, hope vs. despair... that battle is playing out all around us and inside us, and our choices matter.)

On that note, I'm freaking obsessed with this beautiful song the last couple days.  It's from the penultimate episode of Ted Lasso, and it's obviously perfect for the actual sports wins and losses... but it's ALSO perfect for approaching the end of a year where you've worked hard but experienced a few setbacks, and you've celebrated as others achieve their dreams and get things you've been hoping/praying for, but you have yet to reach your goals and share the same joy.  BUT you're not as alone as the enemy wants you to feel, and you're increasingly determined to press forward, working and praying and believing for a better outcome next year... 

"And everybody falls,

But some of us are born to fight, and fight and fight some more.

So we will see you here - same time, same place next year.  

And you may win this battle, but you'll never win the war!

Better to have fought and lost than never fought at all!!"

❤

 

Moving back to lighter things, I was happy to get Dad's SF Christmas letter today -- yay for a two-page letter with a photo from their 40-year celebration in August! ❤

This morning was our Christmas Party at The Center for Restore!  Here's me with Jacey and Hannah - the three of us are the online-grad-school interns (them with Liberty and me with CCU)! =)

And here's the OU interns - Logan, Cecilia, Reece, and Fily!

Food and decor + Debra talking about the graduating interns, Kelli, Holli, and Kayla!

This post didn't really have a theme.  Just needed to write and get a few thoughts out.

I'll end with this random FB ad that made me laugh... who else immediately hears that in Matthew McConaughey's voice from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days!? lol

That's it.  Tomorrow starts the 12 days of Christmas - get excited!

Christmas Cheer!

Just me, surrounded by my people.  I really love this pic!!! ❤

*I also have Moore people and MWC people and more Tulsa/Bixby people, but I do adore the above group and feel simultaneously empowered and protected by these wonderful friendships.

❤

Steve photobombing Sarah's cute cookie pic. lol

Chet Lee and Ronda, a piano-playing realtor he hired for this party. =)

Karli and Paul and Stephanie discussing the list of the top Christmas Movies.

Chet with Cody and Yolanda - nice to see them again!

The Barden Bellas adding to our pre-party entertainment!

A hostess gift from Mom and I in the cute Amber Marie bag (where I bought my Christmas sweater earlier that afternoon).

"The very best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" ❤  This was a fun party addition this year... JEM and Sarah were our strongest and most vocal singers, which was awesome!  I loved hearing everyone sing, and certain songs brought back fun memories, like all the extra lines in the Rudolph song! #likealightbulb

Wilson fam Christmas stockings. ❤

Sarah enjoying the wine she brought. lol

The Wilsons with a few of their Country Crossings neighbor friends!

Dessert board - yum!!

Charcu-tree board - cuteness!

Our singing stars + our piano player!

Wilsons - please note Chet's Whataburger sweater! lol

Ronda playing music for us - I was singing along well before the official caroling time! lol

I'm thankful Chet made it possible for Sarah Elizabeth to join us (paying a coworker to cover for her)! lol

Pic Sarah sent of me laughing while listening to Jeffrey sing all the harmonies! =)

Chettles got these books as Christmas gifts for me and Sarah... Becoming More by Dianna Kokoszka of the #BOLD fame!  He said it's to motivate us to keep pursuing our dreams, which I couldn't love more!  I also LOVE all of these photos... and the fact that next Sunday is our 15-year Friendiversary (as a friend trio, that is... the two of them were actually friends long before I was assigned to be their Scavenger Hunt chauffeur). lol  Even though something tells me we're all more likely to listen to the audio version, I'm declaring this a book club read and saying we need to meet in January or February to discuss it!

Tate took this group photo for us and did a great job! =)  ...I typically avoid wearing super-bright colors on photo-op days due to past photos where I was extra self-critical and shame-spirally and wished I had blended in more, but red was the only Christmas sweater color they had at Amber Marie, so I reluctantly went for it, and I'm glad for that!  Yay for being bright and cheery and festive, yay for stepping out of our comfort zones in big and small ways, and yay for loving ourselves wherever we are today on our path to becoming more. (#BOLD!)

Chet decided to host a kid-free party this year - it was fun to catch up and have more uninterrupted adult conversation than usual... but I was also delighted when Bill and Melissa brought Tate and Parker back home! =)  They were playful and adorable in their comfy PJs, and very ready to dig into the leftover food!!

Side note: I was surprised to see these deflated inflatables in their yard as I drove up (I came about an hour early to chat and help them set up after my hair appointment).  And as Chet came out to refill them, he said, "I told myself we would never be those people, but Tate and Parker love them, sooo they each got to pick one!" lol  His tone of mock-disdain made me laugh, as per usual, but now this pic makes me smile thinking about happy, silly kids with awesome, loving parents!  I drove through a very bright and cheery Bixby neighborhood to look at their fun Christmas lights before heading back home.... and already, that short convo is positively reframing the way I view inflatable yards, so that's an unexpected gift for me. lol ❤ #Christmascheer

In summary, Chet's 3rd Annual Bougie Charcuterie Board Party!!! was a delicious success!  There were crab cakes + spinach-and-artichoke dip + HTeaO + holiday punch + 'very popular' wine + Christmas Vacation cups + kid-friendly-ish cheese cubes + a variety of fruit and vegetables + chocolate candies + Karli's M&M cookies + Cookie Mamma sugar cookies + mini-cheesecakes from NYC Junior's + cashews and almonds + Gouda cheese and "sturdy cheese-bearing crackers" + loads of pickled things I avoided + confusing brie cheese + Olaf's summer sausage + beloved cranberry dip I still haven't tried + little smokies + cute star-shaped cheese ornaments I cut out my very own self (Karli's idea) + white chocolate and PB pretzels and more!! 

There was inflatable Minnie and Darth + the Barden Bellas + Mariah Carey and Alan Jackson's Christmas music.  There was legit old-school Christmas caroling + cute kids + constant snacking + catching up on big and small things.  There was laughter + fun gifts + fluffing Mom's bow on the hostess gift she made them + discussing our favorite (and least favorite) Christmas songs and movies. #yippeekiyay #yesMaryknew  There was even a short-but-delightful Heart and Soul piano duet by me and Sarah -- she messed up a couple notes and Chet said, "There's the wine!!" then I was still laughing about that through the next video he recorded. lol  So thanks again to the Wilsons for putting in the energy and effort of hosting and providing fun memories & all this food for everyone!! ❤

Happy Monday - have a lovely week ahead! ❤

Photo Friday + Memes!

Happy Friday, friends!!  Very ready for the weekend right about now!

Short on time, so I'm throwing it all in and mixing memes and real-life photos, starting with this ridiculously adorable Pomeranian Christmas card! lolol  The best girlfranz would never have been still long enough to pull this off. 

Another thing that makes me happy: T-Swift was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year... of course she was! lol

The Christmas food-themed gifts have begun at the office, and it is out of control. lol  Six kinds of fudge, two frosted sugar cookies, a holiday Chex mix, and toffee bark (so far).  No complaints from me! lol

If I were ever to buy a shirt that included cuss words, this would be it. lol  I love Roy, and I think it was so smart of them to make memorable chants for Roy and Jamie that mimic the vibrant stadium energy when you watch Ted Lasso!

Speaking of Roy Kent... I saved this meme for Rach, who is often up late scrolling stupid reels and such. lolol

The Mini Miss K was taking a cue from Chet Lee and planning her next bday party 9-10 months in advance! lol  (It makes me laugh that her Ys look like Xs.  Happx Bdax, Kxndal!)  The next pic was what she wrote when I mentioned Jeff and his family coming for my party... there's a stupid video from 21 Jump Street that's popular on TikTok now, so she and Jace both started laughing and saying "My name is Jeff" in a funny voice.  The yasss Queen addition was all her. lol

Laughed out loud on this one.  It was a pretty shocking and aggressive move!

Jaceman with Isaiah? and TJ after the basketball game

Lol

My neighbors need a better fence.  Their pretty Australian Shepherds keep getting out.  Fortunately, I'm more scared for them than scared of them, which wouldn't be the case with most big dogs running around off-leash.

Yes to this plan - Texas Roadhouse, please! lol

This made me think of Sarah working nightshift back in the day! lol

Growing here!

Aww, Hallmark Christmas. lol

Friday Flashback: The Mini Miss K and Rach on this day six years ago... cuteness!

Lol let 'em know!

Baby Asher in his cute preemie clothes  - JB said they were scrambling to find clothes small enough for him, so Amazon to the rescue! lol

❤❤

Me when they assign 100+ pages of reading plus a couple extra super-small-font articles.

A lighter school thing I enjoyed this week was this short intelligence assessment (HERE), showing which types of intelligence are strongest for you.  Not surprisingly,  Language/Linguistic Intelligence was the highest for me (the love of words - reading, writing, listening, and speaking).  Second was Existential (intrapersonal and introspective), then Musical (kind of surprising), then Social/Interpersonal.  Natural (nature) and Spatial (directional) were at the bottom of my list, which surprises nnnno one. lol  But the whole thing made me happy thinking about how uniquely God designed us and how we are all smart in different ways... reflecting the multifaceted wisdom and intelligence of God.  I also like to remind myself that intelligence is not fixed - that we can grow and develop and cultivate our intelligence in any of these areas, and what a gift that is! ❤

P.S.  If you take that one too, by all means, let me know your results - this stuff always fascinates me! =)

That's all for today.  Hope you have a phenomenal weekend ahead! =)