Sunday, November 1, 2026

Merry November!

"He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
He snapped their chains.
Let them praise the Lord for His great love
and for the wonderful things He has done for them."
~Psalm 107:14-15

❤

No clue what these things that fall off the trees in this season are called, but it brings me stupid amounts of joy every year to crush them and see all the fluffy goodness inside! lol

This also brings me joy!  "A majestic uni-corgi." lol #yasqueen
Side note: We saw a Corgi in a Christmas sweater at Evergreen last night, and I promptly ran over to befriend him!

Speaking of Evergreen, here we are hanging out with Edie and Joni before heading back to Adam's house last night!

(These pictures came into Blogger in reverse order, so I'm just going with it rather than selecting them all again.)

Adam (as Coach Bear Bryant) with the Long family and their impressive pirate ship!  (Ike, Edie, Joni, and Josh)

Adsey + Charli and fam. lol
...Nope, I will never call us that again.

Wonderful Wilson fam (Chet and Karli are truffalo trees, Parker is The Lorax, Paige is a bar-ba-loot, and Tate is the Once-ler).  Tate's friend, Leo, is an angry stormtrooper! lol

Us with the Foster fam!

Bluey's Mum and Dad + Bingo + Miles as King David! lol  I love it!!

Earlier that afternoon, we had a fun lunch at Hideaway with Adam's family + his brother Mark, cousin Greg, and niece Kaeci!  That was followed by a trip to Scheels and Starbucks, then back to Adam's for a bit before Adam and I went to Evergreen's rainy Trunk-or-Treat event!

It made me happy to see Adam awaiting my arrival with a big umbrella ready to guard me on the walk to the door - one of many consistent and genuine acts of kindness and service - he's the best!

Greg and Mark walking back across the bridge after the game Friday night.  I love this bridge, and it was fun getting to experience my first "Ram Walk" on Friday!

Mark and Greg joined Adam and his coaching staff on the sidelines throughout the game - I'm getting a little more comfortable asking for photos, and I'm happy we got this one!

Post-game prayer and shoutouts... I love it all!  The Rams lost to the Talahina Tigers this time (their 5th loss at home in the past 12 years - WOW), but that puts them in a better bracket moving forward, and we very much hope they make it to the championship game on 12-11 in Edmond, OK!! ❤

The cheerleaders did a halftime routine to Thriller that made me happy! lol
Also, one of the cheer dads is super passionate and fun - after they get the crowd going then things calm back down, he'll randomly yell out "Yay, cheeeer!!" and his daughter and her friends will turn around and smile and wave - it's the best! =)

Pre-game warm-ups!  It was fun seeing John David out there in his mascot uniform!

Earlier that day, Adam drove the bus for the Regent sophomores field trip to Clear Creek Abbey in Hulbert, OK.  He's told me a lot about it, and I'd love to see the monastery and nunnery (we talked about how there should be a protestant equivalent for those things).  Anyway, their main sanctuary is under construction right now, but I'm hoping to come with him to see it once it's been rebuilt!

Adam invited me upstairs for this, and I loved seeing it!  They have a pre-game pep talk and prayer time where the boys pray over each other - everyone prayed for the player/coach to the right of them, and what I could hear was FANTASTIC and heartwarming and brought me a lot of hope and joy!!

Coach Bishop (Regent) and Coach Kelly Gravitt (Talahina) - it makes me happy that they're good friends who can celebrate each others successes!

Friday was Senior Night - pictured is John David with Adam and Barbara + Cade Johnson and his family (Amy is the mom) + Cai Brookover and his family (Amy is his mom's name too) + Rory Casey with Heath and Shea (old friends from FBC) + Jude Emerson with his family (Amy is his mom's name also - there are five Amys total!) + Eli Peters with his parents (his mom's name is Karah).

I'll try not to take any more mid-prayer pics, but I do love the Mom's pre-game prayer circle, and I appreciated the specific prayers for the Bishop fam this week!

Yay, Regent! ❤

The Ram walk is a fun tradition where the cheerleaders and fans (and in this case, the entire Talahina football team) line the sides and cheer as the Regent coaches and players walk over from the school across the bridge to their football field!  (Adam led the way, grabbing my hand for a bit as we crossed paths, which brought me so. much. joy!)  Joni and her mom and I cheered them all on, then I crossed back over to join Adam's family.  I decided to get a picture with them, then a kind referee offered to take it for us!  So here's me, Mark, Barbara, Greg, and Kaeci!  (And behind us is the construction work for Adam's future office.)
 Mark and Greg live in Houston, TX, and Kaeci goes to college in OKC.  It was a really fun weekend getting to know them and hanging out with the Bishop fam, who I'm growing to love more day by day! ❤

My apologies for these pics being absurdly out of order, but feel free to scroll back up in reverse now. lol  I drove back home late last night then slept in/ laid around until noon today... it was really nice and needed! #noragrets  I took an afternoon walk, then talked to Adam, then finished up my homework for week 2 of Biblical Foundations - it's good to be getting back into the swing of academic writing, and we have a worldview interview assignment coming up that I'm honestly looking forward to.  In the non-academic realm, tomorrow night, I have a podcast interview with my friends Amy and Megan from the Alaska cruise - fun! 

October is historically not my favorite month with its emphasis on Halloween and fear-based decor and entertainment... but this October was among the best months of my life thus far!  It may go without saying, but I'm deeply grateful for all God has done, all He is doing, and all He will continue to do ahead!!  We are now officially 5/6ths of the way through 2026, and by God's grace, I'm determined to finish strong.

For everyone in Christ, the best is yet to come.
Happy November, friends!!
❤ ❤ ❤

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Thankful Thursday #249 (Extended Version)

"Show forth Your gracious love;
save those who take refuge in You
from those who rebel against Your sovereign power."
~Psalm 17:7

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Light court + a productive transcript and school week + furniture shopping and lunch with Mom today!

2.  My hybrid move to Bixby, starting next week! #yayTulsa #itsallcomingbacktomenow


3.  Reid H. being cancer free at his follow-up appointment this week!! ❤

4.  "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"  Tomorrow is Halloween Eve, so naturally, we are well into Christmas decorating mode!! lol

5.  Amazing seats and a fantastic time with Adam seeing Garth last weekend!

6.  Steve snapping this photo during the pre-dinner prayer just to text me that he's very happy and excited for us! lol

7.  Dad's staff honoring and supporting him well (Boss's Day pictured below), and SF extending his retirement date to December of 2027! ❤

8.  Dr. Philip sharing her story of serving as a caretaker for her husband over the past 8-9 months as he was hospitalized and enduring a serious medical crisis... it strengthened me to read her story toward the end of my major caretaking time with Mom, to know she had also taken time away from the CCU program, and to hear that he is improving and recovering at long last!  Knowing Dr. Philip, I am *certain* that her faithful presence in that hospital was a ministry to all the doctors and nurses on his care team.  Praising God for all of the above!

9.  Getting to know Amira (our newest Lifegroup member) and hang out with her and Esther for lunch at Panera!

10.  Being "Facebook official" for the very first time and feeling so much kindness, support, joy, and love coming in from friends and family there!  I'm grateful for every person genuinely celebrating with us!!  (And thankful that Adam and Chet helped me tone down the post thrice to land on this appropriate and concise paragraph.  It was for the best. lol)


11.  Solid mentors and coaches for Jaceman, and that he had some great football moments even with his shortened season, and that basketball season has finally arrived!

12.  Frankie and Diesel helping us unload the recliner I bought for the apartment today!

13.  Rach being willing to spend a large portion of her day gluing crystals to my Regent sweater before tomorrow's game! #fridaynightlights #sparkleandshine

14.  God's faithfulness, evident in a myriad of ways lately.  I was given Beth's Aligned prayer journal book at the end of the Alaska cruise (focusing on aligning our heart's desires with God's Word and His will).  Among many other prayers, on October 1st, I prayed for Jesus to show up in a meaningful and personal way that I could not miss.  I got the job with Momentum the day before, and three days later, I matched with Adam.  

15.  The relationship with Adam.  I am thankful for his Christlike leadership, humility, kindness, and courage!  Thankful for mutual admiration and clear communication that helps me feel truly loved.  I feel a calm sense of belonging and joy with him rather than anxious or insecure attachment vibes.  I don't have to wonder what he's thinking, and I'm not idolizing or pedestaling him.  I'm thankful for the Christ-centered purpose and personal calling that keeps me grounded rather than obsessive or morphing into someone else's identity.  God's timing has been incredible here, and I am deeply thankful for the entire Bishop family and excited to continue getting to know them!  (*Speaking of, tomorrow night's game is Senior Night for John David, so please join me in praying that it goes well and that the Bishops feel loved, celebrated, and supported by their friends and family in the Regent community!!)

Thanks again for joining me here!

"May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance."
~Jude 1:2
❤ ❤ ❤

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Crusader Football

Jace Michael's final junior high football game was last night at the First Southern field!  It was a fun night and another CHA victory (40-36 over the Jets).  Pretty early in the game, Jace tackled someone then helped him get back up, and Mom was very proud of his sportsmanlike conduct there! 

We're all proud of how well he has played and the resilience and growth he has shown this season!!

Sister pic! ❤

Jace Michael fan club - we were thankful Carter came out to support him again! =)

Dad bought a rock from this clever little entrepreneur!  I found her sales pitch very endearing. lol

Rach and Liam chatting it up! =)

Post-game pics!

Axel, Asher, Jace C., TJ, Sean, Jace P., Kason, and Gabe!

They're the most fun, and Jace's smile is so great when there's real joy behind it! =)

TJ and Jace with their moms! ❤

Axel, Asher, and Jace Michael

Pic with one of their coaches!

Last but not least, here's this fantastic team pic...
big thanks to Amanda Johnson for getting this photo and a video of Jace's best tackle!!

Congrats again to the Crusaders!!
❤ ❤ ❤