God's Glory, Grief, & The Gospel

It's all connected.  Lots of deep thoughts on the title topics lately... and I'll dive into more of them momentarily.

Me + three of my favorite people ~ they all came to help out on my moving day! ❤

YAY for being back in the 918... it's a partial hybrid move for now, but I was very filled with joy on Saturday morning when I realized there is a Reasors, QT, and Walgreens all within one mile from me (not to mention the Bishop fam, Wilson fam, Foster fam, loads of great restaurants, and Evergreen Church all within two miles).  Welcome Back was definitely playing in my heart whilst I drove around smiling from ear to ear on Saturday. lol

This cracked me up.  I assured the movers that they could bring their smallest truck - they did not listen.  This is the truck fully loaded with my one-bedroom furniture and living room stuff!

It's extra-heavy on the pink theme, but I'm not sad about it!  This apartment is most likely the last place I will decorate and live as a single woman, and I'm not sad about that either... so by all means, bring on the pink and glitter one last time! lol

It took very little time to decorate, and I'm super happy with what we got done.  My only minor regret was not paying more for Mathis Brothers to deliver the furniture for me (I misunderstood the salesman there), but hooray for Adam being there to help me carry it in, unpack it, set it up, and correctly assemble it!! lol

My classy travel girls are back - yay!  I ordered one more to complete the set for my living room at the apartment!

So that moving process was Friday morning.  Friday night was the Regent game in Drumright.  This = Adam praying with the team and their families, the cute Drumright Tornadoes logo, and me and Joni handing out Purell for the boys before they hit the post-game Frito chili pie line!!  Thanks to Adam bringing it up, the moms group sang a belated Happy Birthday to Joni (whose actual bday was on election Tuesday). =)

In related news, the Regent school community suffered another painful and tragic loss this week.  A sixth grade girl named Lydia passed away after a sudden medical event late Thursday night.  (I won't get into the details as I'm not certain what is appropriate to share publicly.)  

But I will say that I LOVE seeing the way the Regent community supported the Bishop family, and it's encouraging to see the way they are pulling together to support this grieving family now!  I told Adam I believe things like this often make or break whether people are drawn to Jesus - the way the church responds to suffering and loss is truly a big deal.  It glorifies God and draws people to the gospel when we get this right.  It's important to show up and step up when people need us, and I love that the Regent leadership takes that seriously!  They cancelled all classes on Friday and held an optional schoolwide prayer meeting, then they had grief counselors and local youth pastors there today and gave the students time to play and talk and pray and process what they're feeling, while assigning no homework for this week.  I mean, well done!

Before kindly picking up my keys and helping out with my move, Adam went over by himself to see this grieving family on Friday morning.  Lydia's dad told him they were open to more visitors, so Adam put the word out... the Regent moms showed up strong with loads of comfort food.  Lydia's brother is a starter for Regent football, and this = most of the football team in their home praying with and for their family on Friday afternoon.  Gracious, it strengthens me to see this! 

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*No person outside of Jesus is perfect, and no school or community is perfect.  "You will know them by their fruit."  With that preface in mind, I want to say I am genuinely excited about growing closer to Adam and about becoming a regular part of the close-knit Regent community! ❤

Mmkay, on to Saturday!  Adam and I ran by At Home and Hobby Lobby, then spent a stupid amount of time assembling furniture that I thought was coming fully assembled, then worked on starting the Christmas decor at his house!  Love the snowy church scene and all the red and white in that painting.  Maria is their rescue dog and the main reason I chose my white over black Christmas sweater that day! lol  I have no idea (and can't think too hard about) how Adam manages to decorate such a tall tree with this ladder.  Yay Christmas welcome mats!

Owen grabbed a box with lots of old family ornaments from their garage, and I loved getting to go through them with him and learn more about their family!

I'm so thankful Adam also loves Christmas and gets excited and traditionally decorates early ~ it's fun that we share that as our favorite holiday!  I am also deeply aware of this being their first family Christmas without Kelly, and that the 25th of every month is the actual milestone-marker of the day she went to Heaven... it's a very unique year, and we're moving into a season where every emotion tends to feel heightened.

"This season matters.  Christmas is a time when God's presence is more palpable than any other time of year.  It's also a time when what we've lost is more present to us, when the pain or the loneliness or the fear are more present than any other time.  It's a glorious, beautiful time and also one in which the smallest kindnesses can transform us.  It's worth more than pushing and rushing and perfecting your decorations or your homemade cookies." ~Shauna Niequist

I feel like I post that quote every year - I love it.  (Anyway, we didn't get quite enough of the ornaments and garland, so Adam will be finishing that up this week, and I'll get a photo the next time I'm in Tulsa.)  Saturday night, Adam took the boys and I out for Italian food at Sapori - really good food and a cute little restaurant on Cherry Street!  I love that the boys are being themselves more around me, and it was great getting to know them better and learning about their favorite sports-related memories, some things they're looking forward to, and talking about their experience visiting the above-mentioned Regent family the day before.  We grabbed Braums for Barbara (and me and the boys) on our drive back, where I learned that Adam is not a fan of ice cream, custard, or frozen yogurt. #what #incompatibledifferences ;-)

This = a happy little duck fam ready for Sunday church at Evergreen! =)  It was another fun Sunday school lesson with Harry and Lynette, then the sending service for Verdant Church, then joining Adam's LifeGroup for the first time (and realizing I already knew three people there).

I had a profound gratitude moment just after the worship service on Sunday, sitting there with Adam then John David on my left, sweet Owen on my right, then Josh, Edie, Ike, Jacob, Judson, and Amy on the row in front of us.  (Barbara was in their 201 class and met us after the service).  I did not know these people two months ago, and I love them all now.  The kindness and love they've shown me, the welcoming hugs, the sense of genuine community at both Regent and Evergreen, and me having a saved seat with a family where I belong and feel welcomed and wanted and loved and valued - after years of sitting by myself a lot and/or just doing church online to avoid feeling awkward, this is a very big deal to me, and I couldn't be more grateful!

This = hanging out with Rach and Mom on Sunday afternoon... I drove back early for an expo at the fairgrounds that was a bit of a letdown, but at least we got some free cake out of it! lol

Rach with J&K... aka Michael Jackson, a spider?, and ghostface (they told me that's the name) on Halloween at Gaillardia!

Podcast besties - watching their live show with Beth was fun! ❤

Happy Birthday to John David today - he's officially an adult now, moving into an exciting season of life with several potential changes ahead!  Praying he continues to grow in Christ and really enjoys the rest of his Senior year at Regent.  And I'm thankful that God's goodness, protection, and mercy will follow him as he makes some big decisions and moves into a new chapter of life next year! ❤

*I love that he requested Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes for his bday.  It reminded me of Kyndal Faith's cookie dough cake, and it made me very happy when I saw this pic from Adam! lol  It looks legit!!

Edible confetti candle gif! lol

I am the least aggressive of all drivers. lolol

This definitely feels true at times. lol  I'm striving for better boundaries in what I share online these days! 

Speaking of, I'm working on separating sinful cravings from God-given desires, as both are more vocal lately.  My heart's sincere desire is for a deeply connected marriage that moves the gospel forward and glorifies God, and I am closer than I've ever been to that dream becoming a reality.  I'm feeling extra-thankful for God's mercy and protection today, and extra-determined to honor Him and be a good steward of the abundant grace He has given me as life moves forward!

 "There is no higher way to value a human being than to regard their relationship with Christ as your highest priority."  ~Paul Maxwell

Okay then.  Remember that God is with you and for you, never indifferent to your pain.  He cares about everything that is on your heart - talk about it with Him!!  Also, we never know what others are going through or what hidden grief they may be carrying, so "go easy" and respond with kindness and love today!

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Thankful Thursday #250!!

"Arise, SHINE, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Darkness as black as night covers

all the nations of the earth,

but the glory of the LORD rises

and appears over you!"

~Isaiah 60:1-2

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Adam Christopher, and the level of support, love, and joy I feel with and from him - it's been fun and transformative!

2.  Uplifting friendships with Megan and Amy... and getting to record a fun podcast with them discussing our Alaska cruise (how God brought us there, how He connected us, what we learned from Jesus and Beth that week, and what God's been up to in our lives since then... there was much to say, and I'm VERY GRATEFUL for the opportunity to catch up with them and reflect and praise God for all of the above!!)

3.  Tara Leigh and the Bible Recap, and every eternal blessing and good thing that God grants in our lives!  ...He is God, He is sovereign, His words are truth, and He has promised good things to those who serve Him!

4.  That we are intended to live with great JOY in Christ!  This is my new screensaver, courtesy of ChatGPT and inspired by reading through Desiring God for the first time (that and about 3 other books I've started lately will be on my next book report post).

5.  The gift of connecting with John David, Judson, Owen, Barbara, Josh & Joni, (and various  other Regent families who adore the Bishops) over the past month!  (Owen stayed home to study on Tuesday night, but I'm grateful we got this picture.)

6.  Friends who lean on me for support and friendly counsel - I am grateful any time I can be a calming presence for someone, and joining Natalie for her court hearing was one of those days!

7.  Little Debbie tree cakes (had my first one of 2026 today). lol  And festive early Christmas cheer, and being invited to help Adam and fam decorate this Saturday!

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Book Bag!

Quick recaps and thoughts below...

Situated: Find the People and Places that Bring Out Your Best
(by Angela Duckworth)

Fantastic and inspiring!  Angela is a strong researcher, and she writes in a way everyone can connect with.  This is a follow-up to her first book, Grit (also great!!), and it explains that success requires more than passion and perseverance - that being positioned in the right place with the right friends, leaders, and mentors can make all the difference.  I have seen that play out repeatedly in my life and for others.  (Ironically, the entire time I was reading this one, I assumed it was about God preparing me for an exciting hybrid move to Colorado.  Then He surprised me with a better plan, and I'm not sad about it!)

Preparing for Marriage: Help for Christian Couples
(by John Piper)

(Book #1 out of at least 4 that Adam and I are reading together, which brings me a lot of joy!)  This one was a collection of essays and blogs by John Piper, all centered on the meaning of marriage and the Biblical roles of husbands and wives.  "Submission does not mean putting the husband in the place of Christ or surrendering thought...it is an inclination of the will to say yes to the husband's leadership and a disposition of the spirit to support his initiatives."  Sign. me. up!  He also writes, "Husbands, turn all your leading into serving.  The responsibility of leadership is given not to puff yourself up, but to build your family up."  Adam has practice at doing this well.  This book ends with a poem John wrote for his son's wedding day - my favorite lines were these: "Lest your love become a fool's facade, be sure to love her less than God... The greatest gift you give your wife is loving God above her life." ❤

The King is Coming: It's Time to Prepare for the Return of Christ
(by John Bevere)

I really loved this one - also very well-timed - God is good at that!  John Bevere is so intentional and intense in the way he communicates.  On September 27, 2026, I took a screenshot feeling inspired as I was listening to chapter 8 of this book.  It's titled "The Bond of Trust," and John talked about his relationship with Lysa, emphasizing the detailed planning and preparation that goes on before a wedding for the bride to make herself ready... and going into great detail about how the church is the Bride of Christ, and we need to diligently prepare ourselves for His return.  It was meaningful for me, and I had a  powerful prayer moment with God where I surrendered more deeply than I have before in that area, assuming in my heart that I was unlikely to ever get to be the bride and plan a wedding here on earth, but praying that God would help me to see myself as a bride who is loved, pursued, and chosen, and to take seriously the role of planning and preparing my heart for Jesus.  That prayer still holds, but the abundant kindness and grace of God is not lost on me that exactly 7 days later, Adam became a part of my life and so many things gradually began to shift.  The way God went before me there is a *gift,* and I don't take it lightly.

Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time
(by Rory Vaden)

Another gem recommended by Dr. Burkhart! The first chapter alone held so much value for me here: "Quit telling everybody how busy you are... Your problem is not that you are too busy; it's that you don't OWN your situation. Your life is your responsibility. Any commitments you have were either made or allowed by you. It's not right to complain or whine to others about how busy you are. You are not a victim. You are in charge. You are capable. You are powerful enough to decide what you will and won't do with your time. But one thing you are not is too busy!" (Just the reminder I needed as PhD classes start back up!)

Don't Let That Hold You Back
(by Annie F. Downs)

Annie's best book so far (in my opinion).  Relatable stories from someone whose journey through long-term singleness into a healthy marriage has greatly inspired me!  I've written a fair amount about it already.  I loved the themes of paying attention to what has been killed, stolen, or destroyed by the enemy... then being determined enough to ask, seek, and knock in our walk with God - so good!

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
(by Charles Duhigg)

I enjoyed this audiobook, and I always appreciate advice on becoming a better communicator:  "Effective communication requires recognizing what kind of conversation is occurring, and then matching each other. On a very basic level, if someone seems emotional, allow yourself to become emotional as well. If someone is intent on decision making, match that focus. If they are preoccupied by social implications, reflect their fixation back to them.”  Working on that!

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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!!

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