Memory Lane

Nine years ago today was our belated celebration of Chet Lee's 29th Birthday at The Mercantile (the Pioneer Woman's restaurant in Pawhuska)!  I love this group pic, and how great is it that I saw most of these friends four days ago for Chet's 38th B-day party!?

Side note for those who enjoy details:  My car battery died the day before, so the Wilsons picked me up at 6:15 in the morning - woof!  We met the group at Jeff and Kelly's.  Our road trip cars were Chet & Karli, Tall Kyle, and myself in one, then JEM, LB, and Jessica & Evan in the other (Jeff and Chet driving, of course)!  On my birthday that year, Kyle had met a woman named Sarah, and by July, they were dating pretty seriously - so I'm sure we talked about that to the extent he was willing to share on the trip down.  (Spoiler alert - they're now married with two boys and a third on the way!)

Random sign I liked documenting the town of Pawhuska.

The Wilsons had a surprise announcement for our group... they said that Karli's gift had arrived late, and when Chet opened it, there was a pretty memorable stunned silence as we all took it in and quietly waited for him to read the t-shirt and react. lol  (Whilst he was waiting for us to celebrate and be excited with them - we all caught up and got to celebrating eventually!)

This was the first of many pregnancy announcements in our friend group!

We also met Ladd that morning, husband of Ree, the Pioneer Woman!

Group pic with Ladd!  (Also, this is why I prefer group photos be taken with my phone.)

Getting healthier is fantastic, but photo editing is also our friend. lol

Karli waiting in the long line before the birthday brunch!

Front door sign

Sarah had something else going that morning, but I met her later that day for an afternoon swim at her apartment pool... Chet texted her the pregnancy news so that I would be able to talk about it freely, and we laughed about how it was reminiscent of her texting him her wedding news a few months earlier!

Pool pic!

P.S.  The first pregnancy announcement to the grandparents was caught on camera - love these pics!! lol

Since that time, Tate, Parker, Joy (in Heaven), and Paige have joined the wonderful Wilson family! ❤

And they continue to be the highly-valued connection hub of our thriving friend group, for which I am infinitely grateful!!

Mmkay, that's all my reminiscing for today.  Back to knocking out this protest hearing transcript - the struggle to stay motivated on those is real! lol  Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

❤ ❤ ❤

The Will to Live

I hosted LifeGroup this afternoon... it was me, Natalie, and Josie, and we had a pretty in-depth talk that lasted almost three hours!  I also made these, a classic summer treat in my book. =)

Whilst I was enjoying Chet's party in Tulsa yesterday, my parents were being awesome and getting my porch and flower bed company-ready (unprompted and unexpected - but I'm very grateful)!  Pics are thanks to the doorbell camera. =)

Just a meme that made me laugh!

I'm a fan of Matt Damon (forever Jason Bourne in my book), Anne Hathaway, and especially Tom Holland, but I still did *not* love The Odyssey.  I'd write more on that, but it feels like a waste of energy.

Another meme I saved that caught my attention.

Okay, diving deeper.  One year ago yesterday, I officially signed the contract as the adoptive mother to two frozen-embryo babies.  

(I have a screenshot of the paperwork, but there are too many personal details there to share it publicly.)

I'll acknowledge that all of my emotions are heightened and a little extra-sensitive at this time of the month, but I am feeling real grief today and trying to be gentle with myself.  It's hard for me to look back at the blog posts from July of 2025 - I had just started the PhD program, I had opened a website and I was counseling several new clients at ITS, I had an appointment with Dallas IVF where I was (mistakenly) cleared for the embryo transfer, and I was so full of hope and joy and nervous excitement for all the great things ahead.  I feel deeply aware of all the potential imagined futures that I will not get to live out, and that feels hard right now.  

It honestly makes it hard to set new goals and get my hopes up today... and I know this isn't the first time I've written about that here, but I'm still processing some of it (and that's okay).  It's normal to feel fresh waves of grief at the one-year mark.  And I'm working through that, doing my best to trust that God was working things out for my good and His glory back then and now, and I can keep moving forward with hope and confidence in His goodness, believing He is leading me toward a hope and a bright future with Him.  

Ironically, that is much, much easier for me to believe in the overarching perfected Kingdom of Heaven sense than the messy-here-on-earth sense.  It's a good and rare thing to have that ultimate hope so centered in my heart, but I need a bit more grounded hope for my life HERE and now - that is sketchy at the moment.

Between reading through Job recently, praying for Nancy's situation, hearing Josie's story today, and the recent news on Tina's husband, I've been thinking a lot about long roads to recovery, the will to live, and the sovereignty of God.

"You can make many plans,
but the Lord's purpose will prevail." 
~Proverbs 19:21

I believe that is meant to be comforting, not threatening or ominous, but it is undoubtedly hard when our hopes, efforts, and plans come to nothing.  Still, I am also working on remembering who I am, what I value most, and what I hope to be known for in the end.  As well as praying about how to better align my heart with God's higher purpose for me and the world at large.

Also reminding myself that there are people I deeply respect who sincerely believe in me and see something real that God put inside me to help others... a PROFOUNDLY encouraging thought right now.

It is genuinely okay if motherhood and marriage are not a part of God's best plan for me.

(It would be okay if counseling and/or getting a doctorate and/or publishing a book are not either.)

But I desperately want to live a life that matters in an eternal sense,
that is fruitful and God-honoring and relationally rich.

And I'm excited to have some quiet time to really connect with God and lean into seeking Him over the next couple weeks.  I'm throwing out the mental to-do list and putting that front and center during the Alaska cruise ahead.  It feels like such good timing.  (Prayers appreciated).

Okay, friends.  I love you and believe in you.  I am cheering for you, and I'm thankful that our God is kind and gentle with us when we are hurting.  I believe there is a great cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on -- some in Heaven and some on earth -- so take courage, and keep moving forward.  Our emotions can distort the truth, so don't let them rule you.  God is with us and for us day by day, with good plans in mind for each of us, both when we meet Him in Heaven and right here on earth!!

"Let us press on to know Him."

❤ ❤ ❤

Chet Lee (38)

Yesterday was also the 38th Birthday of Chet Lee Wilson,
aka Chettles, aka "Your Favorite Realtor!"

Above = him leaving Lifetime Fitness that morning after doing 38 reps on all his exercises! lol

This = the FB collage I made for that:  Mockey & The Boys (Mockey Little Christmas #8 at Mom and Dad's last December), Chet's 7th Annual Summer Block Party, Sarah's 38th Bday Brunch, me with double-Chets at the Bougie Charcuterie Board Christmas Party, Route 66 Marathon photo op! lol, Post-race pic at the Disney Marathon, my fav Disney Marathon day pic of him, Pool Party last summer, Paige Evelyn's second day of life, and our finisher pic when we had a relay support team for his Tulsa Marathon!


Balloon garland, decor, and banners by Karli Marie!


Ice cream bar + kids being excited for that 

Happy Birthday, Dear Chettles, Happy Birthday to You!

(This = his Keto-ice cream, and I sincerely applaud him for staying true to his goals!)

On a related note, I teared up when I read this post Chet shared yesterday.  He already does this better than anyone I know, lifting others up in the process - myself included.

Shocking no one, it was quite the crowd for this party!!  Bill & Melissa, Teresa, Michael & Baylee + Lincoln and Finn, Jeffrey & Kelly + Ellie, Henry, and Holly, Jon & Kristin + Miles and Hope, Jessica & Evan + the twins and Sophia, Steve & Sarah + Katherine, Kyle & Sarah + Zealand and Lachlan, me, and the Wilson fam: Chet & Karli + Tate, Parker, and Paige!  (18 adults and 16 kids + one on the way)

Stephen Todd and Tate Haywood having a backyard chat! =)

Another fun banner by Karli!

Chaotic pool party fun!!  For a tiny minute, I sat in that chair by Kristin Foster... then she mentioned seeing a black widow spider, and I promptly went back indoors. lol

Looking out the window a bit later to see Chet fanning himself with three fans at once brought me back out for this photo op! lol  Also, please note the Whataburger swim trunks (to go along with his t-shirts, hat, and Christmas sweater). lol

Indeed, that was our dinner destination for those who stayed all day... here's Sophia and Parker proudly posing it up when I asked for a pic! =)

One of the older kids thought Paige deserved a sticker.  Preshface!

Kate was proud of this tower and distraught when one of the boys knocked it down - (then comforted by the fact that I had a photo).  Aunt Lindsey's camera to the rescue. lol

Impromptu dance party with the kids in the parking lot... I told Karli we've come a long way from the Caravan days! lol

Group pic by Chet (standing in the booth to get the best angle for us)! lol

HBD, Chet Lee, and I hope it's a phenomenal 39th year of life ahead!  In spite of not swimming at either party (lamesauce), it was a very fun day celebrating with lots of people I love!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Diesel (12)

Diesel Eugene turned 12 yesterday, celebrated by family and friends at a pool party at Mom and Dad's house!

This is the collage I made for a FB post - pics = me holding him at the hospital on 7-18-14 (one of very few kids I can say I've known since the day he was born!!), us at his 6th grade graduation, him high-fiving me just before the marathon finish line, and our OKC Zoo trip this spring!

Frankie blowing up one of many inner tubes for the pool party!

Me and Kristin Michelle!

Heather and one of the moms... (the outdoor furniture is covered with trash bags after getting soaked in a thunderstorm the day before).  We've had a lot of those lately!

Presents!  Guess which ones Mom wrapped. lol  (She got one for all three boys!)

Fun in the pool!

Birthday boy - chillin out, maxin', relaxin' all cool! lol

Lunch time!  Charlene and Georgia went to pick up the pizza and most of the kids ate with their feet in the pool! =)

His cousin, Clara, in her adorable sunglasses!

Alan:  "Happy Birthday, Sneeze Sneeze??" lol

Frankie and Raphael (another dad) joined in the swimming fun!

Cake time - a marbled chocolate-and-white cake from Sam's... it did not disappoint!

Present time - (Mom got them Lego cars and a basketball, football, and soccer ball; I went with a gift card for a fun family day at Urban Air).  The party started at 9am - I left just after noon to head to Chet's party in Tulsa - Kristin said Diesel had a great birthday and that the boys were all exhausted when they got home - swimming on hot summer days will really zap your energy sometimes!!

Fun times, though, and I'm so glad he had a great 12th b-day!

❤❤❤