The Goodness of God

❤ Joy, Lindsey, Michelle, Lauren, and Amy ❤

Amy sent these photos via our Roomies group text late last night, which felt like perfect timing on the day I'd submitted my final reflection paper for the Masters in Counseling degree!!  The headshots turned out great!  And here again, I am grateful for the timing aligning with my 6-month surgiversary...

Michelle Sharp Cartmill... my early childhood friend (her dad was a groomsman in my parents' wedding and JoBug is her Godmother) turned college buddy - so thankful for the way God worked that out!  Michelle will continue teaching at Epic Charter Schools while working with Oak Haven and Verite Counseling in Edmond to complete her supervised hours!

We all have a painful backstory and a vicious spiritual enemy, accompanied by a redemptive arc with a very faithful God who has now called us into the counseling field to lead others toward hope and healing!!  On a related note, I've always loved this poem for the "All that's best of dark and bright" line. ❤

Hooray for the sparkly boots making a minor appearance here... 

...and yay for not hating these seated pics!!  That. is. new. ❤

Joelnika, aka "Joy" Martin... a feisty mom of seven who is going to be the Director for a Texas branch of a private practice run by a CCU professor!

More than anything else, I'm so happy to have these group pics of us!!

*In the above pics, Michelle borrowed my black cardigan, which I'd borrowed from Rachael. lol

Thankful for notable physical progress, even without the flattering mirror-selfie angle!  I feel peace with where I am today and fully believe I will continue to improve my health moving forward.  Also, thankful for glasses - Amy tried a few shots without them, but I really feel more like myself in them now!

Lauren Bennett... a tenderhearted Texan who will also be running a branch of the private practice with Dr. Welsh from CCU!

What a gift to do this alongside other women who are also making a major career transition in their 40s.  These ladies are wonderful, encouraging, faith-filled, wise counselors - women of substance who are called and anointed by God!  They're also healthy (and thin) and beautiful, and a year ago, I might've found a reason to bow out of this photo session... or felt very self-conscious about my weight in every pic that showed anything below the chest and face.  Looking at these group pics fills me with SO MUCH JOY AND GRATITUDE about the renewed confidence and sense of belonging - not hiding or fading or playing it small, but fully embracing all God has for me in this new chapter!! ❤

Lindsey Claire Muecke... A warm and competent Christian counselor feeling hopeful about what God has in store!  (Not positive exactly where I am headed, but as of 4pm yesterday, I have a promising interview tomorrow afternoon and may know more soon!)  This is probably my fav headshot by Amy... *huge thanks to Rachael Parrish for the hair help and for suggesting browns and reds as good colors for me!

Submitting my last assignment after our family dinner last night!! #getexcited  I finished that paper at work, but waited until I was with people so it wouldn't feel so anticlimactic to submit it. lol  Thankful for the fam and their emotional and financial support through the past 2.5 years!!

My fav selfie from our photo shoot!  We all changed several times, and sadly, I never had this exact clothing combo on in any of Amy's pics.  I chose jewelry, jeans, and a "hair crown" that I could wear with everything. =)

Amy Christian Sargeant... our photographer extraordinaire!  A kind and confident Edmond native and military wife and mom who will be working with Verite Counseling moving forward!

"All my life, You have been faithful.

And all my life, You have been so, so good.

With every breath that I am able,

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God!"

❤ ❤ ❤