Halftime Pep Talk!

Today marks the official halfway point of 2025, so this is my mid-year check in post.  

It's been a pretty full and amazing year so far.... starting with a New Years trip to NYC with Triston where we saw the big Christmas tree, the 9-11 Memorial Museum, and Wicked on Broadway!  We celebrated Mom's 70th birthday with family and friends at Firebirds, with a special poster by Rach and an awesome Ludger's cake from the Wilsons.  I came to Kellyville for Judge Golden's Retirement Party, pushed myself to complete the PhD program application, supported Abby as she finalized her CHA Senior Thesis, enjoyed fam dinners and fun movies with Rach and the kids, and a Red Rock dinner with the Wilsons and Fultons! ❤

February was full of birthday fun and lots of great parties, as per usual!  I had fun celebrating the Jaceman, Tate Haywood, Wesson and Nash, Rach, and my own birthday!  It was the party I'd originally planned for my 40th, pre-OKC surprise party (dinner at Los Cabos + Marble Slab dessert with the Tulsa crew).  Other highlights were fun family dinners, marathon training runs, cheering for Kyndal in club volleyball tournaments, and helping Rach and Kyn with her class Valentines cards during Mom and Dad's Super Bowl party! ❤

Lots of good long training runs at Central Park through the weekends in March - they gave me time to pray over various job interviews and applications + accepting my place in CCU's PhD program!  There were more volleyball tournaments, family dinners, walks with Kristin, lunch with her and the boys, fish talk with Jace, my first Segway ride, seeing the Wilsons and Fosters in OKC, and seeing the Wilsons and Fultons in Tulsa! ❤

April brought a random minor foot injury at the Tulsa outlet mall, but in the end, I reached my long-held goal of finishing the 26.2 whilst being cheered on by my awesome family and friends!!  We celebrated Triston's 18th, Carter's 17th, and Parker Elizabeth's 4th birthdays!  I caught a 3rd Tulsa PAC play with Chet and Karli, and they hosted an Easter dinner where I grabbed some cap and gown pics with the friend group! And Mom and I came to the Myriad Gardens to take JSB photos for Triston! ❤

May was graduation month for me and Jace Michael.  Mom and I traveled to Colorado where I officially walked the stage for my Master's diploma, and Jace rocked a purple suit for his 6th Grade Graduation at CHA!  He also won a character award and did confetti poppers in the awards assembly, so he ended his elementary years with style! =)  I loved watching Parker Elizabeth's ballet recital, praying together in what turned out to be my last conversation with Kristen Harriss, taking graduation pics in the backyard with the fam, cheering for K's summer volleyball team, attending Abby's senior graduation, celebrating Mom and Rach on Mother's Day, a memorable outdoor CF brunch with Mom and Dad, a bloody-entertaining ER trip and going to a Thunder playoff game with Rach, and spending a fun day in Tulsa for Chet Lee's block party! ❤

And finally, June included lots of summer 5k walks, swimming with J&K, Beth's summer Bible study, Thunder finals game 5 with Dad and Rach and Kyn, celebrating Dad on Father's Day, seeing the Fulton fam in OKC and again in SS for Kate's early bday party, and lunch with the Wilson fam after attending Kristen's funeral service!  After several job interviews that didn't work for one reason or another, I interviewed and accepted a flexible part-time LPC-Candidate job with Integrated Therapy Solutions, interviewed a few supervisors and found one I really like, and started the process of moving forward with all of that!  And last but not least was getting an embryo adoption match email during my Colorado trip to start my doctoral program, then starting week one of my Leadership class with Dr. Burkhart - all FANTASTIC!! ❤

Happy 4th Birthday to Miss Katherine Claire today! ❤

There have been new challenges and struggles, but God is showing up and growing me up in new ways in my 41st year!!  You know when a player lobs the basketball from half-court as the buzzer goes off, and the shot goes in?  Well, in light of knowing it was the final day of the first half of 2025, yesterday felt kinda like that! lol

...I received an email from Dallas IVF approving the embryo match, so that's big news and further than I've ever gotten before!  Dr. Ku is out for vacation this week, so he will officially sign the papers on Monday (which is 7-7, just so we're all clear!).  Then I believe the next step will be a Zoom medical consult and signing legal contracts to adopt the embryos, which is super exciting!! ❤

I also finished setting up my HIPAA-compliant business email, simplified website, and Pyschology Today page, so YAY for getting those time-consuming-but-important things done yesterday!!  It was really kind of God to give me this break week from school right now - it's been pretty productive so far, and I'm hoping for a fun-filled and semi-restful 4th of July weekend ahead!  I will be creating a schedule this afternoon to make sure I prioritize my relationships, health goals, rest, school reading and homework, clients, supervision meetings, tracking hours, court schedule, and transcripts as needed moving forward!!  Rest assured I'll make time for blogging, as it's become a lifeline and important creative outlet for me. =)

Side note: I tried approximately one million domain names and most were already taken, but Rebuilding Peace was available!  My first name means peacemaker, and that all fits with what I hope to offer as a counselor -- more peace with God, peace with yourself and your decisions, and peace in all relationships!  So my new counseling email is lindsey@rebuildingpeace.com.  I thought for a bit yesterday about what images convey peace for me, and I freaking LOVE that I decided to use my pink tree-bridge pic for the website - it comes off best on a full computer screen - it feels very me, and I'm happy about that!!  I may add a counseling blog/vlog to that site in the future, but keeping it sweet and simple for now.  ❤

And now for the halftime pep talk - I'll keep it brief:

God is with you and for you, directing your steps.  He will not fail you or give up on you or let you go - don't fail Him or give up on Him or let go of your faith.  He knows your needs and desires, and He has a good plan to give you a future and a hope.  Submit to the Holy Spirit and walk in obedience - our humility and integrity MATTER!  God has the power to open the right doors and close the wrong ones, providing the wisdom and help we need day by day.  Do your best to stay close to Him and make the most of the talents and the opportunities He gives you!  For me, that includes growing in leadership skills and decisive action; learning as much as I can from my new supervisor; reworking my health goals; and moving toward motherhood with faith, hope, and love.

Let's finish strong in 2025!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Beauty Icons of Yesteryear

Going with something lighter and a little shallow today - the women who defined beauty for me in the late '90s and early 2000s!

There was once a life-size poster of this black-and-white Estee Lauder ad in our local mall.  I remember just standing there and being mesmerized by it.  My teenage self was convinced that Elizabeth Hurley was the epitome of beauty and class (pre-Austin Powers, of course). lol  She did approximately 500 other ads for Estee Lauder, many of which were more globally popular (based on how long it took me to find this particular photo), but this was the clear favorite for me, and still what would immediately come to mind if I put on any Estee Lauder makeup or perfume!

Total twinsies, right!? ;-)  I remember feeling so grown up and proud of this tapered-bob haircut in 8th grade, and I can almost promise I was thinking of Liz and this ad when I did my hair for this 1998 photo!

Next up is everyone's favorite older sister, DJ Tanner.  Candace Cameron had a natural beauty and radiant joy, a round face, golden-blonde hair, and a fluctuating body size that made her character more real and relatable for me.  That coupled with me growing up as she was growing up on TV, so her '90s fashion choices all felt perfectly on point!

Once again, I loved her shorter haircut in the final season of Full House and equated that with being a real grown up!

1995 Alicia Silverstone, more specifically Cher in Clueless.  Her vocabulary, confidence, wardrobe, hairstyles, lip liner, workout routine, pink fuzzy pen, leather jacket, cute heels, plaid suit, sheer overshirt, and wide-eyed innocent look were all things I very much tried to emulate! lol

Jennifer as Rachel Karen Green... not so much in the famous "Rachel haircut" look of season 1, but this exact hair from Season 3 of Friends was her best look, in my opinion!  As a die-hard Friends fan, I appreciate how often Rachel's hairstyle, hair color, and clothing style changed throughout that 10-year period.  It inspired me to remix it up and keep trying new things, and I'm glad for that!

My favorite actress through most of childhood was easily Julia Roberts - loved several of her movies, and I loved her red hair, brown eyes, big smile, and full laugh!  This red dress scene from Pretty Woman gets all the attention - and I get it, the red dress and red lipstick and ruby necklace are pretty fab...

But it's this quieter scene for me.  He totally misses her at first, then does a doubletake when he recognizes this transformed version of her.  She gets up with her fancy clutch purse in hand and says, "You're late."  And he's totally smitten...

The summer before my senior year at CHA, Elle Woods was there to help me see what college life might be like! lol  I love Reese to this day, and I loved Elle's joy, ambition, resilience, and nearly every makeup, clothing, shoes, and hair decision she made in that 2001 movie!!  Loud and sparkly and pink ...and scented - it gives it a little something extra, don't you think!?  ;-)

And finally, pre-addiction-struggles Lindsay Lohan was the fashion icon of my early 20s.  JMM and Sarah and I were obsessed with quoting Mean Girls at the time.  She inspired my first set of extensions (red, obvi), and I still have this page from 2004's 50 Most Beautiful People Magazine saved in a box somewhere.

So there you have it.  Elizabeth, Candace, Alicia, Jennifer, Julia, Reese, and Lindsay... the top 7 women who had a positive influence on my young adult makeup, hair, and clothing decisions! lol

Now that I'm officially in the "midlife" stage, I feel more grateful than ever for all the things that make my face and body and story unique.  I'm happy with who I am today and excited about who I'm becoming!

To give this post a little more substance, I'll end with one of my favorite quotes on beauty. ❤ 

“We desire to possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, a beauty that is core to who we truly are.  We want beauty that can be seen; beauty that can be felt; beauty that affects others; a beauty all our own to unveil...  A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough.  She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that He find her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in Him, she is enough.  Her soul is alive, and we are drawn to her!"  ~John and Stasi Eldredge, Captivating

Night Will Be No More

"And He who was seated on the throne said,

Behold, I am making all things NEW...

And we will see His face,

And His name will be on our foreheads.

And night will be no more."

Revelation 21:5, 22:5

*Harriss - her last name was misspelled on the program.

"All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth."  ~Hebrews 11:13

I went by myself to Kristen's funeral service on Saturday.  It was beautiful and well done, and I'm glad I decided to make the trip for it.  When it's just me, I feel more freedom to feel my own emotions (as opposed to monitoring others and making sure they're okay), and I cried more than I have cried at any other funeral.  Seeing her frail Grandad there mourning for her.  Their family pastor ringing the bell for her to signify that she'd had her last treatment and was healed from cancer.  And the pastor speaking about Hebrews 11:13 above, talking about her strong hope and prayers for marriage and family + her courage in refusing to compromise and honoring God in her singleness.  All of those moments got me, and I cried.  Hard.  (And that was okay and good and appropriate and cathartic and healing.)

I tend to be weirdly aware of numbers, and I believe God numbers our days with purpose.  Kristen was one month and six days older than me.  My numbered days on earth are likely to surpass hers, but they haven't yet - that shifts on July 25th, and it's a sobering thought to me.  In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about it being good for us to mourn and to think about how brief our time here is.  Praying that I will have wisdom to focus on what matters and make the most of whatever time God gives me.

And gracious, I have a lot of deeper thoughts on that Hebrews verse.  I've wrestled pretty hard with everything it means in the lives of so many Christians, including myself.  To faithfully hold onto our hope and faith in the face of opposition, yet never receive the promise in our earthly life... when my thoughts are focused here, that feels purely heartbreaking and brutal and tragic and unfair.  I'm genuinely sad for the physical suffering she endured and the grief and mounting medical bills her parents now face.  And yes, the myriad of emotions surrounding the unanswered prayers for marriage and family felt way too familiar - I felt real grief and anger and confusion rising in me as the pastor talked about that verse and did his best to honor her value.  ...All valid emotions to feel and acknowledge and work through.  The minor themes are real and present for all of us, but they cannot dominate our thinking.  It's the darkness of night that comes before the dawn.  And one day, God will do away with the sin, sorrow, pain, evil, and brokenness that plague us here.

"Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.  He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise Him and give Him glory."  ~Ephesians 1:11-12

So I am reminding my heart again tonight that God is good, and His love for each of us is steadfast and strong and unfailing.  He wastes nothing and does nothing without purpose, and our limited understanding of His plan does not change that.  The things that stand the test of time are faith, hope, and love - and I'm holding onto them, as Kristen did.  If any of us die without receiving the valuable and worthy things we've desired and hoped and prayed for, God will still be undeniably and unchangingly good.  He is my heart's highest desire, and that. is. essential.  Without sugarcoating the brutal realities she faced here or the grief her parents will absolutely deal with until they die, I simultaneously feel great confidence that Kristen is more alive and fully well today than she ever was here on earth.  She is wholeheartedly present, surrounded by a newly-defined family, basking in the love of God and family and friends, not feeling sad or lonely or short-changed based on anything she didn't receive here.  Heaven is REAL, and Jesus is really there, and He is our inheritance from God - who makes everything work out according to His plan.  I am anchoring my heart there.  To quote Peter, "There is wonderful joy ahead, even though we must endure many trials for a little while."  God is at work even now, preparing a place for us and making all things new.  And someday we will see Jesus face to face, and His name will be on our foreheads.  And night will be no more.

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #227 (Leaders)

"Now to the One who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to You, our gracious Father, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Today, I am thankful for: 

The impact of good leaders!! ❤

*This week's GTKY question: Who or what has influenced your understanding of leadership in the counseling profession?  It could be a mentor, a specific theory or model, a book, or any other source of inspiration.  Share how this influence has impacted your perspective on leadership.

My Personal Top 10 List:

1.  Donald Miller -- His life story inspires me, and his book Hero on a Mission has changed my life in profound ways!  Reading that book led me to pursue the marathon, the Masters degree, the PhD, motherhood, becoming an author, and more.  (Basically, it led me to take responsibility and take action, setting meaningful goals and living a more fulfilling and interesting life... and what better gift can any leader impart to others!?).  I'm forever grateful for him!

2.  John Eldredge -- His books entirely changed my viewpoint on the larger story (spiritual warfare, God's goodness, my role in all of it).  Knowing that he was a CCU Counseling graduate prompted me to look into their program 3 years ago.  He is prayerful and very reliant on Jesus in his leadership decisions, and I'm grateful for his example and his impact on my life! 

3.  Beth Moore -- Wow, I had missed her.  Her love for Jesus is pure and genuine, and her summer Bible study has been so good for me - next week is the final session, which feels pretty perfectly timed!  Beth's books and Bible studies have been life changing for me, and her compassionate and caring yet direct and firm leadership are inspiring.  I love that she shares her story to help others and serves as an advocate for victims of sexual sin and abuse of power within the church.

4.  Annie F. Downs -- So grateful for her books and podcasts, along with her life example, which has inspired me in several areas!  She's one of very few Christian single women who are leading in a public way with gentle strength and dignity.  She's enjoying her life and friendships while holding onto her hope for marriage and her faith in God's kindness, and I really love seeing that!!

5.  Craig Groeschel -- I have learned a lot from Craig's Leadership Podcast, and I think he is a strong leader who genuinely loves Jesus and cares about reaching the lost.  The new lifegroup I've joined has reignited my appreciation for Life.Church and the positive impact they are having!

6.  Dr. David Frisbie -- My favorite SNU professor - he was interesting and respectful and called each of us "Dr. Muecke, Dr. Gillis, etc." from the beginning as a sign of respect and to encourage us to consider grad school and start to see ourselves differently!  He wrote several great recommendation letters for me, encouraged my book-writing aspirations, helped me with some personal questions via email, and wrote me the kindest note after a hard presentation.  "Best ever - I do not say that lightly."

7.  Chet Wilson -- The only person on this list that I speak with regularly, and what. a. gift. that has been!  While he is not in a leadership role in my life, his leadership style has had a positive influence on my identity and my understanding of leadership - inspiring me to step up, grow, improve, and become all God created me to be.  Chet is self-aware, fiercely loyal, respectful, an exceptional communicator (direct and kind), and a man of Godly wisdom.  When I'm tempted to do something I would regret, I often hear his voice in my head saying "Lead with integrity."  He leads his family and his business well, and he has a real gift for problem-solving and connecting with people.  He has earned my deep trust and respect, and I hope we continue to strengthen and sharpen each other!

8.  Mel Robbins -- Love "my friend, Mel!" =)  We are not aligned theologically, but I've found a great value in her leadership and her vision-casting energy.  There's a reason she has the #1 podcast in the world, and it is evident to me as I listen to her.  She loves to learn and helps others learn by breaking down academic language into layman's terms, and she is continually complimenting and connecting with her listeners.  My life was changed through her Launch course last summer, and I think it's beautiful and genuine that she ends every podcast with "In case no one else says it today, let me say that I love you, and I believe in you, and I believe in your ability to create a better life!"

9.  Dr. Ryan Burkhart & Dr. Selin Philip -- Dr. Burkhart showed humility, wisdom, and kindness by offering to meet with me when I was considering leaving the MAC program 2 years ago. I really bypassed the chain of command by emailing him directly, and he could have easily passed it off or redirected me.  Our meeting was clarifying and helpful and validating.  I was very encouraged to stick with it when he said: "This is Kingdom work, and the counseling profession needs people like you who care enough to wrestle with these issues."  Dr. Philip speaks slowly and thoughtfully and leads with a gentle, quiet authority and an obvious passion for Christ... and it's been really good for me to see an introvert being herself and thriving in an essential leadership position!

10.  Vanessa Van Edwards -- Communication expert who specializes in practical advice and body language cues; her books, podcasts, and emails have taught me a lot about leading with warmth and competence + focusing on making others feel at ease rather than thinking about my own discomfort in any speaking opportunity!

Honorable Mention:  Andy Stanley (moral authority), Emily Matousek (body kindness and self-trust), Susan Cain (the power of introversion), Brene Brown (vulnerability and resilience), Carol Dweck (embracing the growth mindset where I had been stuck), Levi Lusko (grieving with hope), and Shauna Niequist (writing from the heart).

The rest of my post:  I am just beginning to lean into the new identity of seeing myself as a leader.  So many of the above leaders who've had a powerful influence on my life have done so through books or podcasts or one-on-one conversations.  Knowing the impact the words in a book can have is encouraging to me, as I love to write, and my goal is to grow in that and become an author and maybe a speaker eventually.  I also hope to become a CCU professor and an LPC Supervisor down the road.  I think it's important to be intentional about encouraging others and helping people believe in themselves and cultivate a growth mindset.  We tend to think of large-scale, company-wide leadership, but I think counselors often lead quietly through deeper, one-on-one connections that have a wider ripple effect than they may ever know... and the relational aspect of that feels more natural and appealing to me!

Leadership was a theme during our time together in Colorado, and it’s been on my mind and heart since I came back home.  As an introvert who prefers one-on-one connections to speaking in a large group, I have not typically viewed myself as a leader.  But God is gradually changing that, and I am grateful for the leaders He has placed in my story and the ways He is working in me!

Happy Thursday, family and friends!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Moral Authority and Finishing Well

This started on the Thankful Thursday list, then I quickly realized it deserved its own separate post.  

Lately, God is re-sensitizing my conscience in a few areas where I'd become complacent.  I'm entirely grateful for that shift, but it is CHALLENGING to surrender and submit.

For the life of me, it is HARD to spend 5+ hours reading the textbook and sifting through journal articles and piecing together quotes and APA-7 citations to write a 'simple' discussion board post when I know ChatGPT could churn out a better version in five seconds or less. 

In my deepest heart, I want to honor God and live with integrity, and I want to EARN my LPC and my PhD.

On a more shallow surface level, the work feels overwhelming, and I am incredibly aware that it is entirely possible to use generative AI to "help me" write every post, response, paper, and dissertation chapter.  I could make it sound like me, and many graduate students across the country will do just that and receive an equally-respectable degree.  I'm feeling overwhelmed this week with starting my supervised hours at Integrated Therapy Solutions and all the paperwork and the learning curve goes into starting any new position, so I'm not about to pretend that it's not tempting...

In Visioneering, the audiobook I finished recently, Andy Stanley was very clear that we have to be willing to let go of our dream or vision before we compromise our moral authority and integrity.  It's taken me longer than one would hope to get there, but I had a real chat with God during my walk yesterday... God honors our obedience and rewards those who seek and obey Him... holding faith in that promise will be KEY for me here.

**To be clear, AI itself is not evil - it's a tool that can be used for good or bad, and I've gotten some really good, fun things and cool new ideas out of it.  During my walk-break yesterday, God helped me see that using AI through this doctoral program would be a lot like driving myself through the marathon course.  I would be using a machine to move along the same path in a way that is admittedly MUCH easier and faster, that requires far less training and effort and inner grit, that is undeniably cheating even if it is never "caught."  That inner picture and thinking about what I want my "finish line" to feel like made it all very clear to me.  I don't want to take the easy shortcut and shortchange myself and dishonor God.  And yes, that's all a dramatic train of thought... but it was my first assignment in this new program, and I knew I was setting a precedent yesterday.  Part of me has bought into the belief that I'm incapable of doing it without outside help, and that's not true.  I am out of the groove with academic writing, but I am intelligent and capable and actually desire to keep learning and growing.  They required us to cite 3 peer-reviewed articles along with our Leadership textbook, so it all felt surprisingly HARD yesterday - I spent most of the afternoon and evening working on it, and what I turned in around midnight still felt rough to me.

(I think the biggest difference here is that I imagine everyone else is driving the course by utilizing AI - while I'm feeling very compelled to stay behind and walk it, doing all the work on my own - and that feels hard and lonely and unfair.  I know that's not entirely true and that there are at least a few in the same boat with me.  Either way, other people cannot be my standard.  And Psalm 73 helps redirect my mind and heart when I struggle with these thoughts.)

Now I have to write 4 discussion responses and outline a paper where I will cite 10 journal articles by Sunday night - woof.  Mercifully, next week will actually be a school break week for the 4th of July.  So that gives me time to get myself together and create a legit schedule.  After that, we write a 12-page paper about our Leadership Philosophy (which honestly sounds fun/interesting to me).  I'm going to make a concerted effort to get my candidacy stuff started next week and to set out a clear daily schedule for myself as this program moves forward.  I need to be more disciplined and manage my time well, and I believe it will all be doable as I watch less TV and prioritize sleep and get really organized.  But if I cannot manage to do the work and keep my grades up honestly, then I will either defer or fully let go of the doctorate.  And that outcome will be better and more God-honoring and identity-affirming than receiving a degree I did not earn.  

Yes, an easier path is freely available.  But there is an intangible cost to it, and taking that broad path feels like the equivalent of Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew.  My ability to think critically and write creatively and manage my time well will grow as I do the work myself, and I will rebuild integrity and self-trust and my ability to clearly hear from God... so I will come out much stronger for it in the end.  So that's my self pep talk for today! lol

P.S.  Two months ago was the day before the Full - aww, memories.  It was mentally and physically tough, and I walked a lot and took a mini-break in the middle, but I'm very proud that I trained hard and finished it, and I can't even tell you how much that metaphor helps me to see things more clearly here!!!

I love you and believe in you, and I believe God sees your hard work and integrity even if it feels absurdly slow and undervalued in our broken culture.  I am confident that God exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who sincerely seek Him!

❤ ❤ ❤

Let Them

"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever." 

❤ Psalm 146:5-6

Happy Wednesday, and happy 6-months-till-Christmas, friends and fam!!  I'm taking a very quick minute to blog before I leave for work.  This = my 5k walk yesterday afternoon... I covered at the juvenile court, and we were done before 2:30, which gave me some unexpected and very-much-valued free time! =)

Love this quote - CS Lewis for the win!!  I want to be someone who feels things deeply and takes bold action whenever I feel convicted or challenged or prompted to act.

The Peach Truck did not disappoint... so fresh and good!!  But their smallest order was a 12-pound box of peaches, which is more than I could possibly eat before they go bad, even after sharing with Mom and Kristin.  So I made another peachy dessert last night, and I'm freezing most of it in individual containers for later.

This gem is currently available on Tubi, and I was so happy to watch it again! =)

Following up on my Thunder posts, they won - huzzah!!  I kept saying national champions, but apparently, this win made them "World Champions" according to several FB posts I saw.  Either way, go OKC!!

Emily and Chas cheering them on for 13 years!

A poignant picture from the Champions parade downtown yesterday... sadly, I was in a murder prelim at the time.

This made me happy!

Miss K with all the games on family dinner night - she's so fun and creative and colorful!

Jace Michael relaxing while the girls planned Kyndal's bday party! =)

Proud of Jace as he's working out more and trying healthier foods this summer... he didn't love the peaches and refused to try cherries, but he's a fan of watermelon (not pictured) and pineapple, and that's a new and positive development!

Goals!

Speaking of, I had my first Zoom meeting in the Leadership class with Dr. Burkhart last night... it was great, and I think those weekly discussions will be really helpful in viewing myself as a leader and acting accordingly!

Also, I had my first supervision meeting with Krystal yesterday.  Things are really ramping up, so I'm reminding myself to have GRACE!!

The "let them" phrase caught my attention in this verse, thanks to Mel Robbins and that being my theme for this year... I love that God gives us the power to choose, and gracious, I want to listen to Him and surrender to His will and choose life at every turn!!!

"But no, My people wouldn't listen.

Israel did not want Me around.

So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way,

living according to their own desires.

But oh, that My people would listen to Me!

Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!

How soon My hands would be upon their foes!"

~Psalm 81:11-14

That's all for this morning... make it a great day ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Peaches, Princesses, and a Pilgrimage

Hey, friends!  I'm about to head to Mom and Dad's to watch the last half of the NBA World Championship basketball game... GO THUNDER!!  At the moment, I'm eating a Pioneer Woman peach dumpling (YUM) and writing this lovely blog. =)

So without further ado, here's a recap of recent photos and events... starting with this throwback to hanging out with Sarah and Chettles (and Nancy and puppy Shiloh and other LG friends and cute kids and firemen) at the Eugene Field cookout SIXTEEN years ago!!  

The Walmart bakery did a rough job writing on this one, but yay for Rach being a Certified Professional Coder!  Here's hoping she can find a great remote job that starts in early fall!

Jeffrey Edward took a very hot walk from the Wynn to the Bellagio to send an awesomesauce Vegas fountains video last week... it was Celine singing My Heart Will Go On, so that's my favorite place, favorite singer, and favorite movie all at once!!  He's there for another work event this week, planning a Mon Ami trip, and it's all inspiring me to go to Vegas again (when it's a little cooler outside there).

Speaking of inspiring, this is Ali, one of my CCU classmates during last year's internship course...

She recently went on a 10-day, 110-mile oceanside backpacking pilgrimage/hike from Portugal to Spain... Google says "the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain."  She had read something about that being a pilgrimage to honor your ancestors, so she made a video every night talking about their day's journey and highlighting one of her parents/grandparents/great-grandparents with a few facts, memories, and stories about their lives.  She did this for her 50th birthday... they arrived today, and she dedicated the final video to her children and grandchildren.  I've been so inspired watching her videos - I absolutely love it - and now I wanna do this too, so who wants to join me!?   You have 8.75 years to decide. lolol  I'm adding it to my Life List, for real!

Happy 12th Anniversary to Chet Lee and Karli Marie today!!

From their fav third-wheely single fran! lol

I adore and admire them, and I'm grateful for their friendship and loads of fun memories together!

Shifting gears, I got a box of peaches from the Peach Truck on Friday!  Nom nom for us, David!

I spent Friday night washing all of my fake hair, which turned out to be a more intense and time-consuming project than I'd imagined. lolol It's a blond and dirty blond set of clip-in Cashmere extensions (as seen on Shark Tank) + the red Halo Couture extensions.  Now they're all fresh and ready to go! =)

Saturday morning was an 11am Princess Tea Birthday for Katherine Claire!! 

So much cuteness!

Kate wanted donuts instead of cake, and that was a hit and a little easier for serving!

Chet humming the song on Sarah's shirt made me laugh - an old school favorite of his for sure!

The Fulton fam... this turned out really cute!

Karli and Tate were at another birthday party that same morning.  I joined Teresa and Parker and Chet for ice cream at the Sand Springs Braums... literally all of us were planning on twist fro-yo, but their machine was broken.  #lamesauce

Group pic!

I randomly decided on the Tulsa outlet mall for my afternoon 5k walk... huzzah for ApplePay and pretzel nuggets and shade and air-conditioned stores I could pop in and out of!!

After that, Laura Allison and I had dinner at Cava and a 5-hour chat catching up on all of life!!

Today I met Kristin for lunch at Hideaway, then did a neighborhood walk 5k, then the Whitaker fam stopped by and Frankie got rid of the dirt dobber nest inside my garage!  "And then a hero comes along..." lol  I'd love for the family of bunnies to stick around, but I'm very happy the stinging insects are gone now!

The aforementioned peach dumplings... really good!  (Recipe HERE)

And now I'm ready to Thunder Up one last time this season... let's freaking go!! #maximumeffort

(Also, new AE jean shorts - yay!)

Okay, friends!  I love you and believe in you, and I hope the feeling is mutual! =)

❤ ❤ ❤