Final Thoughts and Thank Yous.

My lengthy FB video finally uploaded, so I added it to this post, but here's the written recap with shout-outs to people who influenced and impacted my life this year!

• Judge Brockman - Thanks for being kind and supporting me as I pursue my passion for counseling, being very flexible with my internship schedule, and giving me your awesome parking spot during these winter months!
• Debra Conley and Amy Huesman - Thank you for investing in me and for being amazing supervisors who inspire me to learn and grow and potentially supervise aspiring counselors and counselor candidates in the future! 
• My Family - I love you, and I’m so grateful for your support and for our weekly family dinners and fun game nights. I promise to continue to prioritize you when I move back to Tulsa!
• Kristin Michelle - Thank you for being an exceptional close friend and walking buddy, and for sincerely offering to be a full-time caregiver for my child had the adoption or pregnancy plan worked out. I am infinitely grateful and promised to continue to prioritize you and our relationship!
• Sarah Elizabeth - Thankful for your friendship and your willingness to stick it out and have difficult conversations!  Hope you and your fam are enjoying the road trip and that Katherine Claire is feeling better!!
• Weatherfords and Wilsons - Thank you for consistently including me and making time for me, for allowing me to join your family trip to Disney World this year, and for making me feel like part of your family!  Thanks to Chet and Karli for all they did in planning my 40th birthday surprise party, and for the life-changing conversation on May 18th!
• Miss Parker Elizabeth - Thanks for being excited to sit with me, for being my mini BFF and the cutest person I know, as evidenced by my 565 photos of you from this year!
• Chet Lee - In so many ways, I'm a better person for knowing you.  Thank you for being a friend who challenges me, believes the best in me, and makes me want to be a better person! 
• Kristin Renée - Thanks for being a trustworthy friend I can count on for wise, Biblical counsel, solid priorities, and sincere encouragement!
• Rachael LaJo - I love that we’ve gotten closer over the past year - let's keep that going!  Thanks for sharing your closet with me and cheering me on and being a bright and fun part of my life!
• Jace Michael - Thank you for FaceTime calling to check in on me every day during the first few weeks when you heard I would be having surgery. I love your passion for life, and I'm excited that you’re loving the new fish tank! 
• Kyndal Faith - Thanks for being a fun road trip buddy and an entertaining and fun niece.  I love hanging out with you and hearing your thoughts on life! 
• Triston Michael - I’ve loved getting closer to you, and I’m excited about 2025 being a year of pressing into your God-given purpose!
• Mel Robbins, John Eldredge, Melanie Shankle, Sophie Hudson, Annie F. Downs, Eddie Kaufholz, Steven Furtick, Christine Caine, Craig Groeschel, Donald Miller, James Clear, Robin Arzon, Kirsten Ferguson, and Rebecca Kennedy - Thanks for speaking strong words of life and hope and encouragement into my life in 2024, drawing me closer to God and to the woman I want to be!
• JESUS - Thank you for directing me and guiding me in big and small ways, for being with me and for me, for working all things together for my good!  As I step toward a counseling career, I can see so clearly how every piece of my story matters and shapes my current ability to relate and empathize and counsel others. 
• Blog Readers - If you're not directly mentioned above, then I'm kinda surprised you're here. lol  But either way, thank you for reading and caring about my life!  I love you and believe in you, and I am praying you have a wonderful new year ahead!!

Happy New Year's Eve!  My 2024 theme was "Every Second Counts," and it has proven true in this eventful year of growth and change.  Soon, I'm off to watch the Forks episode of The Bear while baking some Pioneer Woman Apple Dumplings for Mom and I (and maybe Kristin) to enjoy whilst taking down Christmas stuff tomorrow.  This is the latest I've ever had my tree up, but I love that I'll get to enjoy the sparkling lights of the Christmas tree for one final night in this home on this New Year's Eve!! ❤

FINAL THOUGHTS:  The verse God put on my heart for the coming year is Luke 10:41-42, where Jesus is talking to Martha and tells her:  

"You are worried and upset over all these details, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her."  

I want to choose what is best - to prioritize being present and engaged and attuned in my relationship with God and my counseling work and my core relationships with friends and family.  Not to let busywork or image-based details or the opinions/decisions of other people cloud my vision and stress me out.  To pursue peace and joy and love and hope and growth in my relationships!  I’m following John Eldredge's advice to pray in the new year and sincerely consecrate it to God - I have a lot of big things coming up where I need to slow down and seek His direction and favor, and the quiet prayer time with Jesus feels like a perfect way to center my heart in what matters most and "choose what is best" as I enter a new year and a new chapter of life!!

Pic from our final 2024 family dinner at Chili's tonight!

I'm deeply grateful for all God has done and sincerely excited about all He is doing and will do in 2025!  HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends and fam!! ❤

Marathon Monday #3!

Happy New Year's Eve Eve, gang!

Time has flown lately.

Quick mini-side note:  I get what parents mean, but I've never liked the phrase "time is a thief."  Satan is a thief.  Time is a massive gift from God, quite literally the most valuable thing we have, and it's up to us whether we waste it or spend/invest it wisely!  And for those who are in Christ, the things that moved too quickly and registered as loss to us in this earthly life will be ours forever when Jesus makes all things new... but that's a deeper discussion for another day!

 

 Okay, so happy Marathon Monday... I'm proud of myself for heading outside and walk/jogging a 5k around Norman in my work clothes and tennis shoes this morning, then I did a 10-minute Standing Core workout in my office!  HUZZAH for having it all done early!

The Wilson fam Christmas card makes me even happier knowing I took this photo. lol

True story, and I'm not sad about it:

Sparkly Betsy Johnson boots, to be exact! ;-)

Talon and Kyndal Faith ❤

Me and Mom grabbing lunch at Chicken Salad Chick last week!

I always feel this in this season - such a strange week, especially in the midst of planning a move.

Chet sent this and I laughed out loud... so me and my Bells Palsy eye! lol

;-)

Just me in my new house. lol  This new build by Executive Homes is a strong contender, but we're still looking at all the options!

Jace showing Chet Lee and Mamaw his new clown fish (so many FaceTime calls from him that day - he was extra excited!!)

Just me and my franz and Mom hanging out in my new *very white* kitchen! lol  We shall see.

And last but not least, today's FB video was short and it was very windy outside, so I'm sharing this happy slideshow with Jennifer Hudson belting out an inspiring song instead!  The lyrics are all great, but you really feel the passion in that last line, "I'll change my life - I'll make a vow: Nothing's gonna stop me now!" ❤  It resonates for me... with marathon training and health goals and counseling and life in general!

#marathonmonday #maximumeffort

Happy almost new year, friends and fam!

I love you and believe in you, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for each of us in 2025!

❤ ❤ ❤

Let Them.

Based on a true story.  ;-)

❤ ❤ ❤

I'm so grateful to feel this way here at the end of a pivotal year in my adult life!

I have worried a bit about annoying others by posting lots of celebratory things toward the end of this year.  Then I saw this and thought, YES, Mel Robbins!

My favorite quote from Mel's new audiobook (finished it last night and loved it):

"Never feel bad about asking for what you deserve...

A real conversation only destroys something that's fake."

Mic drop.

Paraphrased from the book:  As people come in and out of your life, as the energy shifts, let them.  Trust the timing... when someone drifts away and the energy feels off, don't make them your enemy.  Let them be.  You always get to choose who and how you love.  Other people do not hold the power in your relationships - you do.  When you say "let them," you accept people as they are, and you accept their behavior as the truth about how they feel about you.  When you say "let me," you choose how love shows up in your life.  Let them be who they are and live their lives without judgment or pressure from you, and let me show up fully and communicate what I need and take responsibility for MY choices!! ❤

I ordered the hoodie pictured above.

And "Let Them" is my chosen theme for 2025.

Mel is very clear that the let them theory is always two-parts:

You say, "Let them....., and let ME......"

Let them be themselves and focus on what's important to them.

Let me be myself and focus on what's important to me!

❤❤❤

Let them live without pressure or judgment from me; let me take responsibility for changing my own life one habit at a time!

Let them be themselves - let them judge and have their opinions and unique viewpoints.  Let me be myself, not shrinking or hiding to fit anyone else's idea of what I should be.

Big new challenges ahead - ready to face them and lean into the rough adjustment period.  

Let others love and support me; let me keep learning and growing!

Let God be God; let me submit myself to His will.

In conclusion, it boils down to releasing what I can't control and taking responsibility for what I can - my 2025 goal is to LET THEM - let other people have the full freedom to be themselves (believing their behavior over their words), and not seeking to pressure or control them.  And LET ME press in and step up and take responsibility for my own JOY and energy and daily decisions.  And most importantly, let all of that be done out of sincere love for God and others and myself! ❤

A Mockey Little Christmas #7

My awesomesauce friends, Jeffrey Edward and Ellie Faye + Chet Lee, Karli Marie, Tate Haywood, and Parker Elizabeth, drove down from Tulsa this morning for my 7th annual Mockey Little Christmas party!! ❤  Mom came over early to help set up, and Rach picked up Jace Michael and Kyndal Faith so they could join us!

At the last minute yesterday, I grabbed this lemonade stand and put it together while watching Molly's Game (great movie!)  Since I don't have a playset or many toys, this is a cheap and simple option that's fun for the kids to play in and color!  Of course, they also ran circles around my house, played hide and seek, rolled down the mini-hill out back, and found ways to be creative with dirt and grass (literally all my backyard had to offer them). lol #kidsareawesome

Also, my friends are awesome!!!  Couldn't have picked better ones - I'm always happy to get quality time with them! #grateful

Parker and Kyndal Faith became besties pretty quickly, and it was the cutest!

Also cute (but perhaps a bit loud and shrill) was this bear game where Jaceman was an attacking bear and the girls killed him by screaming at the top of their lungs! lol

I'm so glad they had fun together!  ...I somehow failed to get food pics, but we catered Chick-Fil-A, so we had chicken minis and fruit + a tray of cheese and crackers + bundtinis + Karen Bullard cookies from Rach + candy + H-Tea-O and orange juice!!  This = my happy new ice bucket from CFA, which made the order just enough to qualify for delivery. =)

....We were getting a Parrish fam pic, and Parker followed Kyndal right over. =) #adorable

The fam + Parker E... LOVE HER! lol
We will totally claim her as part of our family!

Miss Ellie and JEM!  (Henry Edward was sick with a fever, so Kelly stayed home with him and Holly.  Praying he feels better soon!)

The wonderful Wilson fam!

Group pic with the tripod and remote! =)

Chet:  "Ohhh, are we about to film a Marathon Monday video!?" lol

❤❤❤


Cuteness!!

My favorite guys in all the land, genuinely.  Ryan and Hugh are a close second. ;-) lol #mockeyandtheboys #andthemoose

Mother/daughter pic! 

JEM pointing at a scrapbook pic of JEM pointing at a scrapbook pic of him and Kelly pointing at a scrapbook pic! =)  #meta #randomthingsthatmakemehappy

Without getting into too much detail online, there was a bit of unexpected custody drama between my sister and ex-brother-in-law this afternoon that culminated in some memorable conversations AND the police dropping by my house to check on things.  In all seriousness, things like this make me feel eager to learn more about working with kids to help them communicate clearly and regulate their emotions when things feel out of control or stressful for them.  And in less seriousness, this = Chettles and I taking a "panic selfie" to commemorate the drama of the moment. lol

In an entertaining turn of events, this officer immediately knew me when I answered the door - I assumed that was from Prelims at the courthouse, but it was from my aforementioned fingerprinting extravaganza last week!  He was really nice and talked with Mom and I for a minute as we explained things to the best of our ability (everyone else had already left at that point).  Thankfully, the needless drama seems to have subsided and settled down.  I was being extra and snuck in a photo because it just seemed like a #decembertoremember kind of moment. lol

And after all of that, I did 5.5-miles at Central Park, including 70 minutes of slow jogging (10 sets of 7:1 intervals), so yay for that!!  (My self-imposed rule about not posting pics until I complete the day's workouts was helpful there, as I didn't feel particularly motivated to go for a jog after eating lots of candy and bundt cake. lol  It ended up being great and cathartic, though, as it almost always is with undesired exercise - Ed Sheeran and Usher Peloton walks for the win!!)

Thankful for a fun/memorable day, for family and friends mingling well, for long-term supportive friendships, for a great workout with epic music, and for the calm that always follows the storm!  I love you and believe in you, and I believe you have the God-given grace and power to finish well in 2024!! ❤

Year in Review - 2024!

2024 has been a year of growth, grace, and great memories.  I'm thankful for the moments that shaped me, the challenges that strengthened me, and the blessings that reminded me of God's goodness!!  Here's to 2025 and all God has in store! ❤  #yearinreview

New Year’s Day lunch at Napa Flats, Mom’s birthday at The Ranch, Kyndal’s first club tournament and first fruit smoothie, and the beginning of Travis & Taylor! Lol

Jace’s birthday, Tate’s birthday, the Super Bowl party, the twins’ birthdays, Cheryl’s retirement party, Valentine’s flowers, and my 40th birthday surprise party! 

Supervision meeting with Amy and Michelle, lunch with the Whitakers, Easter egg hunt at Moss manor, Tate’s baseball games and Los Cabos lunch, and fun with baby Asher Kenneth!

Tate’s Kindergarten graduation pics, Kelly’s baby shower for Holly Marie, the Brook with the Wilsons and Fultons, leading grief groups at Calm Waters, Wednesday walks with Kristin, Amber Marie with Mom, and Parker side-eyeing her mermaid bday cake! 

Chet’s client appreciation block party, Kyndal’s final Tulsa volleyball tournament, Launch course with Mel Robbins, Mother’s Day lunch at Saltgrass, and an important convo with the Wilsons at the Riverwalk!!

Summer swim with the niece and nephew, Father’s Day at LifeChurch, pre-op diet and surgery/recovery, Kate’s birthday party, Mom and Dad’s anniversary, movie day with the Oak Haven team, and more!

Celebrating Debra’s birthday at Restore, Kyndal Faith’s birthday, July 4th, Kristin’s birthday, Chet and Sarah’s birthdays, Triston’s “discovery flight,” leading role plays and catching up with friends at Residency 3 at CCU!!

The official end of my counseling internship year, meeting Annie F. Downs in Nashville with Mandy, Jace’s football games, Dad’s birthday, Sarah coming to OKC, and partnering with Abby for her CHA Senior Thesis!

OSU football games, the Wilsons’ Labor Day pool party, Tate and Parker’s lemonade stand, study session with Abby, 3-month surgiversary, and Central Park walks with Kristin!

Training for the Half, sequined up for MJ: The Musical, BSF Revelation study, Top Golf with the fam, Halloween fun at Gaillardia with Rach and the kids!!

Epic Disney trip, Thanksgiving fun, Asher’s 1st birthday, decorating Melissa’s house, the Route 66 Half, Jon’s birthday, and coming home to surprise Christmas decor by Mom and Kristin! 

Finishing grad school, landing a new job, celebratory photo shoot with CCU friends, Classic Christmas, Chet’s charcuterie board party, missing Reagan, the Sapulpa Christmas Chute, girls road trip, and more! 

Reflection Questions from Mel Robbins:

Or as Abby would say, "I'm gonna be so real with you right now..."

1.  What were the highlights of 2024 for you?

The days when I felt bold and took meaningful action + the days when that paid off + moments of real connection/love..... Signing up for the Launch course and watching those videos, signing up for the safe-sleeve surgery and following through with it, noticing details and feeling confident in God's leading there, noticing details and feeling confident in God's leading with the CREOKS job opening, my four-park Disney day, turning in my final paper for grad school, the photo shoot with the CCU girls, the Tulsa trip with Rach and Kyndal, seeing Annie and Eddie live at her 10th anniversary event in Nashville, a pivotal Leap-Day conversation with a close friend, the May 18th convo with Chet and Karli, pushing through to finish the Half with Kristin after thinking we might not get to, Parker being cute and cuddly and wanting to sit by me #miniBFF, connecting with my clients in virtual sessions and grief groups, connecting with Emily in our sessions and being more vulnerable than I have in the past, our family dinners and playing fun games together, feeling loved by friends going out of their way to plan my surprise party and all the friends who came from Tulsa for that!

2.  What were the hardest parts of the year for you?

Relational misunderstanding and pain + days when I felt helpless or unqualified + processing hard news or decisions..... Genuinely, the difficult moments of friendship tension or drama are always the worst for me - feeling the threat of rejection/loss can create a sort of temporary paralysis and overwhelm.  It was challenging to speak up for myself a few times when I felt hurt or misunderstood.  Feeling incompetent/overwhelmed and clueless about how to help and what to do in my work with younger kid clients at Restore (I'm taking steps to remedy that now and believing I am capable of growth and change there).  Recently learning my chance of a baby with IVF is still only 35% - still processing that one.  My fear of failure and emotional eating and how they can be a ridiculous negative spiral.  Needless stress in areas where I can take clear action to change things.  Feeling overwhelmed and in limbo about big future decisions (that's getting better now that I have a job lined up).

3.  What did you learn about yourself over the past year?

That I deeply need God and others and downtime....... That it's okay to seek and accept outside help in areas of struggle, that I need regular accountability and support, that I'm tired of feeling untethered to a church community, that I sometimes misunderstand God's heart and fail to draw near to Him when I most need His help... that I miss Tulsa and feel ready to move back, that I am very serious about people treating me with respect, that I love our family feeling connected and plan to prioritize regular time with them, that my hunger cravings are far more mental/emotional than physical, that I'm capable of navigating conflict and hard conversations (and that not all conflict is destructive), that I always feel better when I take small action steps and take responsibility for what I can control; that when life is rich and full, I genuinely need a good amount of sleep and writing and reading time, and that I don't always know what is best for myself (God often redirects me and has other plans).

4.  What will you stop doing in the coming year?

Lying to myself about what I really want, playing the victim or the villain, rationalizing sinful & self-defeating decisions, seeking too much validation through social media

5.  What will you start doing in the coming year?

Hosting friends regularly (second half of 2025); limiting myself to posting two days a week on FB/Instagram; learning all I can about school counseling (starting now); finding a new church home and small group (starting in March).

6.  What are you going to continue doing in the coming year?

The marathon training plan + prioritizing key relationships + seeking wise counsel + taking action toward meaningful goals

7.  What can you do today to take the first step toward the life you want in 2025!?

Start back with WW tracking + continue marathon training, step by step, day by day!

Happy Friday, friends and fam!  Praying you stay the course and finish strong in 2024.  And in case no one else tells you today, here's a friendly reminder that I love you and believe in you, and I am confident that God is with you and for you, and I believe in your ability to create a wonderful life as you draw close to Him!!

❤ ❤ ❤