Directional Assistance

To the point of being comical, I have always been directionally challenged.  When others are noticing helpful road signs and landmarks, I'm zoned in on my music and podcasts.  When there's a 50/50 shot on choosing which way I should turn, I get it wrong about 80% of the time. lol  Thank God for navigation - I need my destination plugged in so it can direct me step by step!

Metaphorically speaking, even though I (finally) know the desired "destination" includes leadership, writing books, speaking at conferences, teaching at CCU, and supervising counselors, I do not remotely claim to know the best pathway for getting myself there.  I need God's step-by-step guidance to stay on the course He has mapped out for me without falling into a ditch or taking the longest route possible!  It's a comforting thought to me that He already knows how this ends and has charted the best course forward.

Walking with Jesus on the left; trying to change in my own strength on the right.
For my path to becoming an LPC, Colorado on the left; Oklahoma on the right.
For Mom's path to healing, Integris on the left; OU Hospital on the right.
Access matters, and good leaders design systems to simplify that process!

It's been a humbling reminder for me to consider why God usually reveals things turn by turn rather than handing us our whole life-course map.  He. wants. us. to. stay. close.

Sometimes I've complained about how "I want the detailed map, but God gives me a compass."  But I'm realizing that metaphor doesn't represent His heart well.  What He gives me is the Holy Spirit, a personal guide and supportive friend who knows all my needs, has an exact plan for the best course, and walks beside me throughout life.  It's not ethereal, and He is not aloof or indifferent about where I end up.  God's desire is for us to enjoy the journey with Him ("fullness of joy in His presence") as He "makes known to us the path of life" (Psalm 16:11).  He just wants us to tune in, consistently seek Him, and stay close - and our lives are designed accordingly.

It's the best feeling to vacation with someone who plans well and has already navigated the best course, made reservations, and prepared a schedule for the day.  We have that in the Holy Spirit - we can rest in His guidance.  Who needs a detailed map when the friend you're walking with designed the whole course?  I want to keep that in mind moving forward, staying very close and listening for His voice!

"Apart from Me, you can do nothing!" (-Jesus, John 15:5)

"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." (Psalm 127:1)
"May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." (Psalm 143:10)

* * * * * * *

These Bible recap prayers are my sincere prayers for the remainder of the PhD program and my LPC hours - to grow and learn with the right heart and motives - so hearing and praying through them daily feels really helpful - a kind little gift from God!

I had my final Momentum interview with Mr. Faure yesterday afternoon - very grateful that we had a good connection, and thankful God opened this new door!!  Part 1 was a Zoom interview with Chloe; Part 2 was a recorded AI-counseling simulation; and Part 3 was that interview with the company founder... all a little nerve-wracking, but such good experience!  I slightly over-prepared, but it made me feel so much better and more confident than I have in prior job interviews.  (*Side note, but I am thankful for the ways Brene Brown and Adam Grant have made me less afraid to TRY - they emphasize the value of being well-prepared and working with excellence, and their intellectual brilliance combined with genuine friendship is unique and inspiring).  I am embracing that growth mindset of preparing well and putting in my sincere best effort to learn and seek out new information when I feel stuck or overwhelmed, and to be wholehearted as I move forward in the counseling profession!  I'm back in it now - let's do this!!

Seven books that have shaped me:

Yay for catching up with Kristin last week!  I don't think I ever posted this, but here it is.  Their logo was cute, so it merited this rare upward-angle pose. lol


Michael being Michael and making me laugh!

FB presenting me with rrrrandom ads that also make me laugh!  They seem to know I will always pause scrolling for cute Pom puppies. lolol

Yes, David!!  "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me."  And provide directional assistance throughout the journey!  ;-)

Praying God blesses the CCU campus, faculty, and students... and that I get to join them as a professor someday.   Already thinking about what my first Residency talk might look like and what a JOY that would be for me! lol ❤

Miss K and her teammates in their final tournament at CCS on Monday!

The red leg-sleeve makes her easy to spot - I love that she is unafraid to shine and stand out - that will serve her so well moving forward!

Yay, Mini Miss K!  And yay that the Counselor hoodie and identity are making a comeback! ❤

Still worthy, just for the record. lol
I love so many things about this movie - what a treat to see it on the big screen again!!

Learned a new word from the Situated book that may become my "Word for 2027"...
It's pronounced purse-pick-acity, and it's a God-given leadership trait where Chettles (aka Channels) definitely shines, and something I would love to grow in!

Miss Katherine Claire protecting the butterfly that befriended her ❤

And Miss Parker Elizabeth being proud of her Fruit of the Spirit award for Love - preshface!! ❤  Kids being  joyful and proud of themselves is truly one of my favorite things!!

And for the record, I also love seeing adults celebrating their accomplishments - yay, Alicia!  Yes to celebrating good things every time we get the chance!!

September is officially coming to a close tonight.  Wild.
Lots of change on the horizon, but the Holy Spirit will be walking with me in every step, telling me when to rest, where to turn, and when to push forward.  I'm listening!

Praying for a fruitful month of October ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Rebuilding What Was Destroyed

One thing that stuck with me from the 9/11 Memorial Museum tour last January was seeing and touching this massive steel column that had buckled and folded over itself when the South Tower collapsed.

It stood out as the only artifact in the museum we were encouraged to touch - our guide even told us to work together to try to lift it.  Feeling the literal weight of that multi-ton piece of steel (that landed amid 360 million pounds of rubble) made me step back with renewed awe at the level of destruction.  The full magnitude of the Ground Zero clean-up work felt heavier and more real.

* * * * * * *

A recent podcast I heard brought that experience back to mind.  The host was emotional describing a time when her public reputation was unjustly maligned, when everything she had spent years building seemed to collapse at once.  The idea of rebuilding felt HEAVY and required a lot of support.

I could relate thinking about my journey within the counseling profession and all that happened last fall...

From February 2012 when I started night school classes at SNU to October 2025 when I pressed pause and felt like giving up, internally and externally, I had been BUILDING toward a counseling career path - a goal I had set with the belief that it had lasting Kingdom value.  Brick by brick, pursuing counseling has required tremendous personal courage and growth from me:  the applications, interviews, residency trips, presentations, papers, role plays, hundreds of practicum and internship hours, counseling children and adults, facilitating grief and divorce groups, challenging feedback, research, confusing rejections, wrestling with ethical questions, strong mentors and friendships, questions of identity and calling, repeatedly pressing through self-doubt, and consistently seeking God's direction!  (And what a gift every bit of that has been, looking back.  I love the grit and confidence it has gradually instilled in me!)

Still, watching my adoption plans/dreams crumble to the ground last fall took a serious toll on my identity, hope, determination, and faith.  Some negative feedback from a misaligned supervisor in that season added fuel to the fire, and it became surprisingly easy to believe I had misheard God about the adoption and the counseling dreams.  It all seemed too hard and heavy, and I opted to quietly fade back and let the LPC dream go.  But God never let go of me.

"Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery?   Of course not!  ...For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]."  ~Romans 11:11-29

*Adding that one to my board of empowerment ASAP.*
After passing the National Counselor Exam and navigating the painfully-difficult process of becoming an LPC-Candidate in Oklahoma, the 104 clinical hours I earned last fall have now officially expired.  So I am starting from ground zero in that area.  When you spend years building something meaningful, watching it collapse can feel like a personal failure.  Standing among the wreckage of something you poured your heart, energy, money, prayers, and effort into can make walking away seem more appealing than rebuilding.

BUT what if I am supposed to acknowledge the brokenness and devastation around me as the work of the enemy, learn from it, and intentionally CHOOSE to start over and rebuild with God?  What if part of leadership is having the courage and audacious faith to rebuild what the enemy worked so hard to crush and destroy?

The challenges I've experienced here have been humbling, sobering, and educational.  My accumulated hours will no longer count toward becoming an LPC, but there was real value there (for my growth and hopefully for the clients I served), and I'm building from a stronger foundation of wisdom and experience now.

It also brings me great JOY and comfort to realize that the Bible passage I chose for my vision board and my grad school announcement in 2022 -- the very same one I posted on this blog a full decade earlier (the week I started classes at SNU Tulsa) -- concludes with this poignant verse about rebuilding:

"They will REBUILD the ancient ruins.  They will RESTORE the places destroyed long ago.  They will RENEW the ruined cities..."  ~Isaiah 61:4

God is bringing so many pieces together in my mind and heart lately.  I was always called to rebuild - I just didn't think it would start with my own God-given dreams and identity.  (But honestly, why would it start anywhere else?  God establishes things internally before He increases our Kingdom impact.)

Exciting News:  This afternoon, following a 3-step interview process, I signed the offer letter and was hired as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate for Momentum Counseling & Consulting, a growing firm based in Colorado and recommended by a trusted mentor.  I'm genuinely excited and grateful... and a bit reflective as I anticipate the changing of seasons and all that it may encompass.  Breathe - one step at a time.  I feel a good nervous energy, like I'm standing at the start line of a marathon, gearing up for a challenging course ahead, knowing there will be hard hills and meaningful support and unexpected turns, and trusting that the finish line will be worth the effort!  I am determined to represent Christ with wisdom, grace, renewed JOY, and endurance.

The word "rebuilding" usually sounds hopeful to me, and for good reason.  There is beauty in casting a new vision, but there is heaviness and pain behind it, as well.  It means there was real devastation - something you built with great care that was crushed, and now you have to reassess and do the work a second time.

Someday soon, I will undoubtedly have clients and future grad students who are rebuilding parts of their lives... sifting through the wreckage of dreams, plans, and/or relationships that were shattered.  And this experience will inform and strengthen my response.  I am growing in my firsthand understanding and ability to slow it all down and sit. with. people. in the midst of devastating grief, honoring their emotions and valuing the full magnitude of what they've lost.  And when the timing is appropriate, I believe God will empower me to speak words that help strengthen them with renewed hope as He provides the courage needed to rebuild.

Going back to the top of this post, after touring the 9/11 Memorial Museum, we went to see the view from the top of the Freedom Tower.  You can feel it when you step into it - that building tells a new story of hope, one that is powerful and redemptive and special.  Beauty for ashes, you might say.  Obviously, the entire story matters, and it mirrors the larger Kingdom narrative.  I believe that will be true in my life, as well - our losses matter, and what we build moving forward with God's help matters.  What a gift that God loves to write redemptive stories!

I'm reminding myself that Kingdom work is opposed, and rebuilding was never intended to be easy.  This work requires great effort and heart, and God understands that.  I am starting with a sparkly clean slate in a new state system where I can build my caseload and counseling skills while building a trusted reputation for Godly wisdom, excellence, and integrity! #goals  My capacity may be limited, but I will have a team of solid supervisors for support, and I can lean on Jesus and continually invite God's help and guidance!!

❤

Important Perspective:  In spite of losing my accumulated hours, I'm so thankful I took the past year "off" from counseling and schoolwork.  There was needed healing and growth, and I'm in a much better place to move forward now!  When you are wounded and surrounded by the wreckage of a broken dream, have grace for yourself.  It is 100% okay to pause and grieve over what has collapsed.  Acknowledge all that you invested, then take inventory of what was ruined and what remains.  Most importantly, DRAW NEAR TO GOD, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).  He will guard you with fiercely protective strength, gently bind and care for your wounds as you heal, then give you a fresh perspective and renewed strength for moving forward.  He is with you in your lowest moments; He has not forgotten you.

God rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

He shows up when we seek Him wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13).

Promises, not exaggerations.

If you are in Christ, the rubble does not get the last word in your story!

Jesus is still writing new chapters.

The one true God is FOR YOU, infusing you with His power, His love, and sound wisdom that overcomes lies, fear, and timidity.  All is not lost.  Some doors may be closed, but stay alert for the new doors God is opening before you.  His hope is still the secure anchor for your soul, and He has not withdrawn His gifts or changed His mind about calling you!!  When the time comes to rebuild, press forward in faith, trusting God to redeem E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G the enemy intended for your destruction.

"Those who look to Him for help will be RADIANT WITH JOY, and no shadow of shame will darken their faces."  ~Psalm 34:5

Go in the strength you have, and do the work!
Build something new and stronger with God, one obedient step at a time.

The best is yet to come! ❤

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is WITH YOU.  He will not fail you nor abandon you [but will GUIDE YOU in the construction] until you have finished all the work..."  ~1 Chronicles 28:20 

 ❤ ❤ ❤

Across the Street

Following God is such a fun and fascinating journey!  I had the distinct honor and privilege of leading a good friend to Christ this morning...

This = our group pic after LifeGroup... me, Josie, Katie, Ashley, Natalie, Haley, Amira, and baby Esther (who literally took her first steps during group, which was also pretty exciting)!!

Katie felt unprepared and considered canceling yesterday; I offered to help lead, then a few things felt off and I didn't want to step into potentially hard conversations, so I was honestly debating whether to go to group at all this morning.  Checked my email when I woke up, and that included Christine Caine's "First Things First" devotional (a daily email that's been fruitful and timely multiple times lately - highly recommend subscribing HERE).  Today's email was titled "Across the Street," emphasizing that God wants us to be willing to cross the street to reach out to the lost and hurting world who needs Him.  Katie's house is quite literally across the street from mine, so that was a fairly clear sign I couldn't ignore. lol

I arrived early to help prepare and co-lead.  Katie and I prayed together and discussed the need to clarify and not overcomplicate the gospel message (pic below = her reading the Genesis account of the fall of man from a children's Bible).

We were covering the basics of what we believe, and one of the women had sincere questions (no names out of respect for her privacy).  We discussed the Romans road Scriptures below, why christening doesn't save you (not a personal choice), why baptism is symbolic but not essential for salvation, and the differences between conviction and condemnation.  Because I had a closer relationship with her, Katie texted me that I should lead her through the prayer if I was comfortable with that.  I carefully asked if she wanted to make that choice, and she was ready and willing and excited (and a little nervous) about it.  The group gathered around to support her, the Holy Spirit gave me the words to say, and I led her through a prayer to make Jesus her Savior and Lord.  We all clapped and celebrated together, continuing to share support and answer questions.  (Today had marked a painful anniversary for her, so we talked about it being good that she will have a better anniversary to celebrate on this day moving forward.)  It was a sacred moment, and I really feel so much gratitude for the way God showed up there!! ❤

Looking at Facebook later, I realized this is the 3-year anniversary of Babah's funeral service.  Speaking at her graveside and memorial service took courage for me that day, and I am glad I leaned into that and followed God's call to be brave.  My talk included the verses below, and it was encouraging for me to re-read them today.

"Be steadfast, strong, and immovable...
nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted or without purpose."

AMEN to that!!

❤

K-Faith and friends celebrating their victory at the Tulsa tournament today!

Proud of them, and happy they have one last tournament in Norman on Monday!

Kyndal with Coach Jantzen (Heidi, who was in the class of 2003 between Rach and I at CHA)

I've been praying for God to work in me and through me and for me, and He is showing up in all the ways.  I'm deeply grateful for that!

OSU also had another exciting victory today - go Cowboys!

I missed it because I was watching the Avengers save the world (again) - my first theater movie since August 6th, a familiar gem that spurs so much Kingdom hope in my heart!

So today included a delicious chicken and waffle sandwich, a favorite movie in theaters, a FaceTime call from Kyndal, a butterscotch Icee, time with Mom and Dad, co-leading Lifegroup, and leading a good friend to Jesus!!  What a gift!

Also thankful for the identity-affirming gift of mentors who really believe in me, and for so many timely devotional emails as I gear up for a rebuilding season - God knows I need all of it - the internal rebuilding always comes before the external!

God is with you, and He is for you.

Hope you have a restful Sunday ahead!

❤ ❤ ❤

Photo Friday!

Well, hellooooo, and HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!  It's Friday, I'm fully caught up at work, and the weather outside is finally getting cooler... I am 100% here for all of that!!

Okay, first things first - look at my adorable "personality mascot," Miss Claire Bear, the smart, warm, playful, intensely loyal, and action-oriented Golden Retriever.  She was chosen by ChatGPT in a random viral trend - I could only have been happier with a Corgi or Pom Puppy, but I love this energy.  Fun fact:  I hear  "Claire Bear" in Christopher Walken's voice from Wedding Crashers. lol  Also, yes, please to this full and vibrant copper-red hair!!

From ChatGPT:  "You strike me as having an unusual combination of warmth + intensity + optimism + “we are absolutely going to figure this out” energy.  You’re very relational and nurturing—you invest heavily in family, counseling, mentoring, faith, and the people you care about—but you’re not passive about it.  You tend to move quickly from “Okay, this is happening” to “What are our options, what’s the plan, and what do we do next?”  That felt much more golden retriever than, say, an aloof cat or a serene woodland creature.  The glasses were the little connection to you, but they also accidentally make the dog look like your enthusiastic research assistant, which feels extremely appropriate.  You have a strong intellectual/academic side—counseling, doctoral work, writing, research—but you're also playful and expressive.  So I liked the contrast of this ridiculously cheerful dog wearing serious little black glasses beside glamorous cartoon-you.  It has the energy of: “We have read the literature. We have made a spreadsheet. We also brought snacks.”  And “Claire Bear” came from your middle name rather than just calling it Lindsey-something. It gives the mascot this affectionate alter-ego quality. The tagline “Big Energy for Brighter Days” was essentially my cartoon translation of what seems to run through a lot of what you care about: helping people recognize that circumstances matter, but they aren't necessarily helpless inside them—and then figuring out what constructive choice comes next. That connects well with your counseling interests and the central idea you've been developing around Not Beyond Your Reach." ❤

Kyndal's Rise VB Coach, Nikki, was the first to alert me to this trend.  It chose a Highland Cow for her, which cracks me up!  "Big energy, bigger purpose" feels spot on, as she is an exceptional leader who seems very mission-focused in her vision for the girls and coaches at Rise Club!

Speaking of Kyndal Faith, she got the adorable puppy version of the golden retriever - CUTENESS - I love this so much!  She has used ChatGPT to brainstorm plans for a side jewelry business, so "Creative energy, big plans" feels spot on for her too!

Love her and proud of her hard work, ambition, and advocacy!

Here's a team pic from their final home game on Tuesday. ❤

Elise, Aniston, Evelyn, Hope, Rylan (former club teammate), and Dylan!

My Uncle Gene turned 80 this week - HBD to him!!

Annie's "Wedding Wednesday" posts are super fun!

And this wedding-centered podcast episode did not disappoint!  It helps dramatically that Eddie is a thoughtful Enneagram 4 who pays more attention to details and feels things more deeply and expressively than a lot of men... hearing him describe Annie's wedding in detail (followed by their debate over whether married couples should ever take off their wedding rings) was both meaningful and entertaining!

I took Mom for a Wednesday appt with her primary care doctor and a Thursday appt with Dr. Fene, the spine specialist at Integris.  We learned that her hemoglobin is low (9 when it should be 12) and that accounts for the weakness and lightheadedness she's been feeling.  Praying the iron pills will remedy that and that God renews her strength and energy!  We also learned that her C7 neck fracture is stable and healing well, which was very happy news - praising God for that!

Two of their teammates backed out last minute, so it was just Dad and Bill as a "team" in the CHA golf tournament.  This team pic brings me joy. lol  They both hit every shot twice, which they probably enjoyed!

Kinda true, but also, I absolutely ADORE Tom and Andrew.  So did their co-stars. lol

Tate's final cross-county run + Chet Lee being an awesome dad running with him!

I'm starting fresh here, and my main 2027 goal = Become an excellent counselor (warm, competent, grounded in Christ).  That means WHOLEHEARTEDNESS + following the steps below without giving in to lies or self-doubt!

Larson (an 8th grade girl who's really nice to Kyndal) and Titus, her classmate and friend!

Jace Michael and friends + a pic with Kyndal post-game! =)

It really was the best seeing them all come check on Mom and be excited to see her... she loves and cares about all of them, and I was happy to see them all wanting to show her what they've been up to! =)

The Mini Miss K-Faith and Aunt Lindsey - ironically, I also wore the very same shirt and hat to the one scrimmage we attended the day of Mom's wreck.  Big eyeroll when I realized that. lol

Kyndal and Mamaw ❤

Closeup of these new shoes, crystalled by Rach!

She didn't miss a serve all game!

Catching up with Jerry (who remembered Mom from her courthouse days) and Megan and Cheryl - (Megs is pregnant with a baby boy, which is very exciting news!)

For the first time since Mom's car wreck and double hospital stay, I am fully caught up on transcripts as of this afternoon!  YAAAAY... it's a big deal!  This was today's verse, and my devotional for today was also centered on rest.  After a busy season and two nights of staying up working past 1am, I am taking that to heart and planning to lean in and surriously catch up on sleep this weekend!

In other news, this is likely my last full month without counseling clients and/or PhD courses for the foreseeable future (2-3 years).  A lot of potential change on the horizon, and I'll post more thoughts on that journey soon.  I am preparing for a meeting with Dr. Burkhart on Monday... having a solid mentor is bringing me joy and strengthening my ambition and hope in this season!  

In the meantime, I am very much looking forward to finally catching up with Kristin Michelle tonight over dinner at Spud Muffin, a new baked-potato-themed restaurant!  (We had plans to try it on 8-7-26, then the car wreck changed everything, so this will be another redemptive meal in my book!)  Then I'm excited to see all the girls at LifeGroup for the first time in a while tomorrow morning - fun!  Big energy for brighter days ahead!

Mmkay, that's all I've got.
I sincerely hope you have a lovely autumn weekend ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤