Eighteen

Happy 18th Birthday to my oldest nephew, Triston Michael! ❤  In some ways, it feels surprising that we’re already here!  In others, it feels like he’s been an adult for a while now.  He's resilient, intelligent, and mature for his age, and I'm confident he has a bright future ahead of him!!

This post will be 18 pics/collages as a tribute for this milestone birthday marking official adulthood.  (Above is our 12-15-24 dinner at Tucker's to celebrate him being on Christmas Break and my last day of class!)

* * * * * * *

We first met back in 2010 when Josh and Rachael started dating -- he was 3 and Carter was 2.  This = him looking through the kid's Bible I got him + an adorable LifeChurch lobby pic + them coming to see me and visit the Jenks Aquarium!

So little and cute in their PJs - their first Christmas Eve with us!!

T&C enjoying some watermelon at the DeBusk get together -- that pic was framed in Jace's nursery room!  And I love his bright summer smile in the pic on the right (both of these are at JB's pool/hot tub)!

Rach and T after he lost his first tooth - major news!!

He's the oldest sibling on both sides of his family, and he's always been an awesome big brother (to Carter, Jace, Kyndal, Mason, Bryson, and Emberlee)!

I'm grateful we have a good connection and loads of good memories together!
These pics = After opening his first Macbook on Christmas Eve 2019, Mandalay Bay Beach at our Vegas trip summer 2022, and Serendipity 3 during our NYC trip this January!!

Just hanging out on the stage after the R&J wedding in 2011 + the hoverboard Christmas!

❤ Christmas Eve at Pelican's, surrrious brothers in glasses, dressed up for the CHA program, his baptism Sunday, our "brinner" Christmas 2011, monkey bars at Mom and Dad's, swing at Mom and Dad's, with Alan at Kristin's wedding, and a Parrish family fall photo shoot!

True story - he's the one we call with phone, TV, or computer questions!!

Three of my favorite pics of the four of them!!  (Two at JoBug's, one at 522).

The kids surprising me in the trunk of my car as I was getting ready to head back to Tulsa! lol

Brothers! ❤

Classic tree pic at Woodward Park in Tulsa.  Love them all!!

Timeline hop:  Kindergarten Graduation, candy bar sale in 6th grade, and flying an airplane at age 17!!

Spending quality time with the niece and nephews on the day before the Niagara trip with Mom and Dad!

Rach with T&C at Josh's apartment in 2010 + their rooftop photo shoot 2024!

And #18 = Our escape room adventure + Triston's GoPro swimming pic - love it!

T,

I see you.

I believe in you.

And I'm confident you will change the world!

You've been through a lot, and you have what it takes to keep moving forward.  God is always with you and for you, and as long as I'm around, I am here to support you in any way I can.  I'm excited for your Senior year at CHA ahead!  Praying for continued growth, healing, and strength as you step into the future with a strong foundation and a bright sense of hope and purpose!

Happy 18th Birthday!!

Love you! 
~Aunt Lindsey

❤ ❤ ❤

3-2-1 Let's Go!

Happy Photo Friday, friends and fam!!!  I'm covering the office phones, but it's been nice and quiet on this last day of Spring Break.  After filing four this afternoon, I'm caught up on transcripts for this brief moment.  It's a lovely Spring weekend ahead, and I just officially accepted CCU's offer of admission and registered for the summer residency course (hence my 3-21 post title to commemorate that).

I joined the Whitakers for an early lunch at the Moore Chick-fil-A... always fun to see the boys and hear about what's new in their world!  They told me about the candy barrel store and other fun places they visited in Fort Worth, about Wesson losing a tooth, and Kristin and I caught up on life a bit!  Here's our happy group pic after lunch! ❤

I tried the Pineapple Dragonfruit lemonade... probably won't get it again, but I had to snap a pic with the delightful pink color!  On the right is the CFA wall art and Nash contemplating destroying his cup and lid... "I wanna break this cup so bad!" lolol #thingsiveneverthought #boysarefunny

The Bible App's verse for today... I'm grateful for a solid friend group that sharpens and strengthens me!! ❤

I feel hopeful and excited right now... with a sense of peace that God has everything under control, and He will continue to work things out for me.  I've looked into the class schedule for the next three years, and the internships don't begin until 2027.  I'm likely to move back to Tulsa at that point so that I'll be there for whatever internship opportunities I find.  In the meantime, I may do a combination of court reporting and counseling work with Oak Haven, where I can see clients virtually and book nights and weekend sessions as needed.  I'm grateful for the social media break for Lent - it's good timing and the reduced screen time has been good for my soul!

As a single woman, I sometimes feel like I'm winning the bronze medal in life no matter what I accomplish.  But I'm reframing that.  In the Olympics, certain sports are more popular than others - like figure skating vs. curling.  In life as a Christian woman in Oklahoma, the most popular path would certainly be marriage and family - many of my friends have gold medals there, and I applaud their success and love seeing it!  That particular event is off to a delayed start for me, but I'm doing my part, and I believe God has good things in store.  And in the meantime, I'm training in some areas and winning gold in other areas, and I'm going to celebrate all of that!

Okay, I could've gone much longer on that, but lucky for you, my groceries are being delivered, so I'm off to bring them inside! lol  Happy Friday, and hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead!!

#hashbrown influencer

#CobraKaineverdies #JohnnyLawrence

I freaking love him - so funny!

❤ ❤ ❤

Doctor of Philosophy

Okay, one more post for today.  I've mentioned that on March 7th, I interviewed for the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) program in Counselor Education and Supervision at Colorado Christian.  And today, March 17th, I received my acceptance email!  (I have until the 31st to officially accept or decline their offer of admission, so I'm going to take at least a week to pray about that and seriously consider my options moving forward.)

But for today, I want to celebrate that I did the hard work of applying, preparing, praying, interviewing, and waaaiting... that I felt poised and represented myself as well as I could've hoped for in the virtual interviews, and that I got into the highest counseling degree offered by what I sincerely consider the best Christian university program available!  The CCU faculty is so solid, and I may get to join them someday... which is truly exciting!!

I feel honored and grateful, and in spite of my impatience at having to wait through an extra weekend to hear this news, I feel confident that God was at work in that timing (like the 21-mile jog that reminded my heart to find hope in Spring, and the rubber band video that led me not to give up or let go of other dreams, and the fact that my interview and acceptance date both have 7s in them).  Little things matter to me, and I believe God's hand is often seen in the details!

❤

I was watching my email all day, and this arrived at 3:56 PM.  I felt immediate relief and joy, and it helps me understand how God was shifting my focus here as several jobs I've applied for have not worked out lately.

12 years ago, Laura Allison threw a surprise graduation party for me after I finished my bachelor's degree program at SNU.  She even relabeled the Dr. Pepper with "Dr. Muecke" ...at the time, my plan was to move right into a combined Masters/Doctorate program.  In early 2014, I applied for competitive programs at OSU (ignored because a recommendation letter arrived late), Rosemead (rejected), and eventually SNU (also rejected, in spite of high grades and recommendations from their best professors).  I wasn't particularly confident or ready, I was grieving a major loss, and the doors I stepped toward in that season did not open.  I can see now that the timing would not have been right in any number of ways, and the schools themselves were not where God intended for me to be...

I say all that mostly to emphasize that this has been a long-held dream for me, and God has finally opened the door now.... the right door in the right time.

And I feel very hopeful that it's the first of many, like a series of automatic doors, desired opportunities that God will open as I step toward them. ❤

God is always good and kind, but I'll be the first to acknowledge that hope is much easier to feel and believe after the acceptance email than before - the "renewed strength" part is awesome; the "waiting on the Lord" part is rough!

Gracious, I'm processing this news and praying for wisdom and peace, but I wanted to document this while it's all fresh.  I know it would be a 3-year commitment and a very challenging path ahead, but I also know I am not in this alone.  God is with me and for me, helping me grow in wisdom and maturity and favor with God and man.  I am complete through my union with Christ, and He has the power to shape and transform my heart and open the right doors at the right time that will lead to the greatest Kingdom impact...

And every bit of that deserves to be celebrated!! =)

❤ ❤ ❤

Double Brunch Weekend

Well, it was a lovely weekend featuring a Friday night walk with Kristin, two delicious brunches, a 7-mile jog at The Station, and a 5-mile walk in Tulsa!  

Brunch #1 was at The Main Street Diner in Norman with Marla on Saturday... her last day at the courthouse was Friday, and we caught up on all she learned in her training week at CREOKS and all I've learned through various job searches, interviews, and networking conversations.  (To sum it up, Tulsa pays counseling candidates significantly more than OKC, and Tulsa supervisors charge significantly less, and neither of us fully understand why.) Anyway, I'm grateful for the Cleveland County connection with her, and I wish her all the best as she moves forward with her new school counselor and play therapist career!!

---

Brunch #2 was a belated 'birthday brunch' with the Wilsons and Fultons at Red Rock in Tulsa today... topics included online dating, job searching, challenging interviews, vaccinations, weight loss methods, body image issues, politics, family dramas, past traumas, panic attacks, parenting stressors, church mistrust, and more!  Cue the cheerful birthday music, please. lol  ...But I always appreciate deep conversations with trusted friends, and our brunch food was excellent, as per usual!!

My quiche + fruit = yum!

Group pic of our table!

Walking + listening to HP book 4... JK is truly brilliant, and I will never get over it!

Gifts Rach made for K-Faith and her Club Team!! ❤

Current screensaver at work. =)

This meme reminder came at a good time for me.  God does nothing without purpose... I so wanted this finding-my-first-counseling-job part of my story to be smooth and easy, but it's okay that it looks different than I planned.  Like so many things in life, I need to avoid personalizing it and/or believing that it means something negative about me and/or my value as a counselor.  God is at work in ways I cannot yet see.  I am not alone, ever.  The best is yet to come.  And everything happening in this waiting season matters.

God is with me and for me, empowering me with the passion and perseverance to keep moving forward with hope and purpose.

That's all for today.

❤ ❤ ❤

Catalyst

I've been working on articulating my theoretical orientation and professional identity.... forming a mission statement or a one-sentence way to phrase what I do and what I care about as a counselor.  What I've come up with for now:  I want to serve as a catalyst, empowering people who feel stuck to move forward with hope and purpose.

A catalyst can be any conversation or event that provokes significant change or action.  For me, reading Hero on a Mission, the move to OKC, the May 18 conversation, speaking at Babah's funeral, Launch with Mel Robbins, some of my therapy work with Emily, and other talks with Chet Lee have all been great catalysts for positive change.  The right words at the right time matter deeply.

When people come to therapy, they are typically feeling stuck in some area, but they're also ready for change and feeling hopeful and more receptive to new ideas - good soil, as the parables might phrase it.  I want to speak words of life and hope that encourage and strengthen people to see and step into their God-given power/agency and to create a more compelling vision for their future.  I want to help and empower people who feel stuck --- (in depression, in grief, in bad jobs, in bad relationships, in bad habits or cycles) --- to believe in themselves, to reframe their story, and to take action toward significant change, setting meaningful goals and moving forward with renewed hope!

#goals

Women in abusive relationships who feel stuck there based on toxic theology or bad spiritual counsel are especially high on my list of people I would love to work with and help... I've been reading about how couples counseling is often counterproductive and sometimes puts abused women in more danger, and with all that is in me, I want to protect their hearts and help them GET OUT and BE FREE.  So we'll see where that leads or whether that's part of God's future purpose for me.

I also love to focus on holistic healing -- ie the brilliant way God designed our minds, bodies, souls, and spirits to work together, so focusing on healing and making progress in all four areas.  And I want to heavily emphasize grace -- for ourselves and for others, not expecting too much or letting perfectionism paralyze us, trusting that there will always be enough grace when we take life one day at a time.  But all of that doesn't fit neatly into one sentence.  So when I need to really boil it down and clearly articulate my calling and work as a counselor, I'm going with "My passion is empowering people who feel stuck to move forward with hope and purpose!!" ❤

Life in All its Fullness (41)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come that they may have LIFE,

and have it in all its fullness."

~Jesus, John 10:10

Happy 41st Birthday to Me! ❤

This = my wonderful Tulsa friend group celebrating with me at Los Cabos last night!! ❤

An awesome, sparkly new mug from JEM and Kelly!!  (And a "Birthday Girl" tiara Chet bought for Mom's 70th bday but forgot, so I claimed it for my party!)  =)

Jeffrey and Henry Edward! =)

My mini-BFF, Parker Elizabeth!! ❤

Harvey Lane and Tate Haywood! =)

So much cuteness!!

❤❤❤

Hey, Wilson fam.... for real for real, THANK YOU.  For the key role you've played in my life, obviously, but more specifically today, for the role you've played in making my birthdays special over the past decade+.  Hosting a few of my parties, planning two surprise parties in OKC, baking or buying the cake repeatedly, making fun birthday banners, Cricut cake toppers, great gifts and cards, Swiftie-themed party decor, a surprise snow-day visit, video songs from the kids, a random birthday bonfire (at my request), and more... really just coming through every year in big and small ways - it is much appreciated!!  (The second-from-right pic on the bottom row = Chet adding peanut butter chips to the Ludger's cake for extra decoration, and it brings me joy that that even occurred to him. lol)

I made this for my friend, Kristen, in January.  And today, I am believing for myself that the best is yet to come in my story... God has a better idea of what that means than I do, but I AM TRUSTING HIM.

Hooray for this well-timed holiday!!  

(I would very much welcome a courthouse closing tomorrow, as well.)

I slept in this morning, then Kristin and the boys treated me to lunch!  Our original plan was Neighborhood Jam, but that was everyone else's plan too. lol  To avoid the 45-minute wait, we went to BJ's, where we all enjoyed lunch and mini-pizookies!! ❤

The boys also brought me flowers and candy and a sparkly pink card they picked out for me themselves with a set of stick-on nails! lol  Could not love it more - thanks again, Whitakers!! ❤

* * * * * * *

We have a spiritual enemy whose actual stated goal is to steal, kill, and destroy the good things God is doing in our lives -- I have sensed that more than usual lately.  We also have a caring and powerful God who wants to give us LIFE in all its beauty and fullness -- so I am leaning into that abundant energy and hope today!  There is life and hope and healing in Jesus, and His goodness and mercy and wisdom and love are with me today.

“Christianity is not a promise to enjoy a life without pain, nor to be given a shortcut through it. It is a promise that pain, sorrow, sin – ours and others – will not swallow us, destroy us, define us, or have the final word. Jesus has won the victory. And in Him, so have we!” 

~Stasi Eldredge

So in spite of this dreadfully cold weather and feeling a little blue and off-kilter last week, February remains my favorite month, and this has been a really fantastic birthday weekend!!  And now I'm off to meet the fam for a late birthday dinner at Ted's (after Kyndal's vball practice). ❤

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I love you and believe in you, friends and fam,

and I hope you've had a great day on my 41st birthday!!

❤ ❤ ❤