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!

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Photo Friday!

We turned the tables at our latest family dinner... Mom and Dad's kitchen table top flips to become a poker table, in "America's brightest orange," naturally! =)

Mom made taco salad for our dinner, and I made Pioneer Woman apple dumplings for dessert!

After dinner, I went to Rachael's to see Jaceman's new fish tank, a riveting live show... I love that he's so into it! lol   He rode with me on the way there to talk about Cobra Kai (one of his fav shows ever, and I've finally made it to season 6!)

He takes good care of the tank and watches the fish with great interest!

Kristin and I walked four miles and then split a pizza at Hideaway on Wednesday - she got a new car on Monday, so we celebrated that delightful news!!  This pic makes me very happy! lol

I had a job interview with Family & Children's Services on Wednesday morning in Tulsa, then two Zoom interviews for the PhD program today... a 2-hour group interview in the morning, then a 30-minute individual interview from 2:15-2:45.  Whatever happens moving forward, I can sincerely say that I gave it my best effort.  I was able to stay calm and centered and speak with more composure and eloquence than I typically feel during interviews, and I'm grateful for God's grace in that!

My short list of potential topics that might hold my interest through a 3-year research and writing project!

Lent is here, and Easter is coming.  I feel that in more ways than one.  I am gradually processing ambiguous losses, potential moves, big future questions, positive identity shifts, etc.  It's best that I keep some of the processing offline.  But I will say two verses that are speaking to me in this season are Judges 6:14 where God tells Gideon, "Go in the strength you have...  Am I not sending you?"  And Psalm 46:10 -- "Be still and know that I am God."

Centering my heart in that truth today!

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend ahead!! ❤

Photo Friday!

Happy Friday, friends and fam!!

Here's me on a FishTime call with the Jaceman! lol  He got his new tank 180-gallon tank last weekend, and he literally had his recliner set up in front of it as if it were a TV screen... super cute and funny to me!  He's a little obsessed, but I kinda love this hyperfocus aspect of ADHD!

I think this is always true - the ripple effect of our lives and decisions is bigger than we can comprehend right now.

Adore them - so happy they're doing monthly recap episodes now! =) #AnnieandEddie #AEkeeptalking

Miss K and her volleyball team!

Megan Elizabeth had me over to her new house for a healthy, home-cooked dinner last night... fun to see her and catch up on life!!

The Easter stuff is out, and the Peeps are still cute to me! =)

1) Identify limiting beliefs

2) Uproot them and plant seeds of truth

3) Lean into my newer, truer identity

4) Behave like the person I hope to become

5) Lean on God for daily grace/strength

Today concludes my favorite month.
I'm grateful this has been a pretty good February!  

I interview for the doctoral program a week from today - eek!  The season of Lent, Saint Patrick's Day, Easter Sunday, my first full marathon, and CCU graduation lie ahead!!  I have health goals, dating goals, and finding-a-job goals for March... taking life one step at a time, and trusting that God will continue the good things He has started in me and for me and through me!

Names of God art at Megan's house...

I love you and believe in you, and I believe God will be faithful to complete the good things He has begun in you and for you and through you! ❤

Character Breakfast

Good morning, friends and fam!  Here's a fun "Photo Friday" flashback to the Artist Mickey Character Breakfast (featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy) at Topolino's Terrace on the top floor of Disney's Riviera Hotel!!

This = a sunrise photo by Chet just before our Skyliner ride to the Riviera, me with my new Minnie-backpack at the start of my four-park adventure day, saving the best for last!

I love breakfast food more than the average person, and I would always try to book one of these for any Disney trip I take moving forward - excellent food, super fun atmosphere, and the best photo ops!!

The characters rotate around the room and come to you, stopping with every group for hugs and pictures.  There were Mickey hugs and Mickey waffles for the kids... so much cuteness!

Yay for my Disney Christmas t-shirt, rosegold magic band, leopard Minnie ears, and this classic Disney pic with "Artist Mickey!" ❤

My quiche gruyere and breakfast potatoes did not disappoint - nom nom for us, David!!  Melissa loved the POG juice (pineapple, orange, and pomegranate), and I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed their food!

Group pic with Mickey, the first to come visit our table!

The kids looking ever so cute with Daisy Duck, who's doing a little curtsey move that makes me laugh!

This bread basket was chef's kiss perfection. lol  Mini croissants, chocolate chip muffins, apple cinnamon muffins, and more, with sides of butter, strawberry jam, and chocolate frosting!

Love this cuteness!!

Donald! ❤

We checked out their wrap-around patio balcony before leaving...

The weather was nice that day, and the balcony had a lovely view!

Then we were off on our next Skyliner ride, ready for our final day at the parks... this may be my fav Parker pic from the entire trip - so much spirit and joy!! ❤

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Happy Friday, and Happy Valentine's Day to my few but faithful readers!  I got cracked up at lunch yesterday when I realized I had on my fun Valentine's headband, and I was using one of my last 4th of July plates and a festive Christmas napkin... just really celebrating all the holidays at once, red being the vibrant (year-round) theme that binds them all together!!  =)

Anyway, I love you and believe in you, and I wish you rest and joy and peace, and I hope you feel truly seen and loved today!

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Photo Friday!

Happy Friday, friends!  They closed the courthouse for the morning, and I think the roads will be much better for this afternoon.  What a grueling 2.5-day work week this will be. ;-)

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2024 were closer together than usual, and there are always so many fun parties and events that go by fast through the holiday season!  I love the details and feel like little things tend to get overlooked when life is really full, so I'm taking a minute to slow down and recap a few things through the holiday season today...

Here's Mom and Dad at Justin and Anna's dining table after the big family Thanksgiving dinner! ❤  Mom has Jace's discarded hoodie wrapped around her for extra warmth. lol

The fam came by to see my house on Black Friday before our Red Robin lunch.  The Whitaker boys always love this couch in my bedroom, the "cotton candy couch" according to them! =)

Quick pic with Chet and Karli outside Mission BBQ after Parker's ballet!

The cutest little feisty mouse from The Nutcracker!

Submitting my final CCU assignment (a paper on leadership)... I waited for the family dinner so it wouldn't feel alone and anticlimactic. lol

Professional photos by Amy... YAY!

I'm thankful for these women and our time together at CCU, and I'm so happy we have these photos to commemorate that!!  I told Chet and Sarah we're doing a legit photo shoot (with them and their families) for our Golden Friendiversary next December, and I'm quite serious about that. ❤

JEM + the Wilsons and Bradleys singing fun Christmas carols at Chet's 4th Annual Child-Free Bougie Charcuterie Board Party! lol

Kristin Michelle and I by the tree... they came by on December 15th (the official last day of class) to celebrate the official end of my grad school season, which meant a lot to me!!

Fun with Rach and Kyndal Faith (this was at Quail Springs mall the day before our Tulsa road trip)!

My 5k jog at Lake Hefner... probably my favorite training run thus far - the weather and the lakeside sunset view were fantastic, and I pushed myself and felt really good about it!

Hogie ❤

(Sapulpa Christmas Chute - photo by Chet - could corgi puppies BE any cuter!?)

Kudos to Dad and Jace for looking at the right camera. lol

This pic makes me very happy!! ❤

Lunch with Mom at the Moore Chicken Salad Chick on our party prep day (12-27).

❤ Parker E joining the fam! (minus Dad and T, who didn't come for this year's party)

Parker being the very cutest while toasting in the new year!

The ladies behind us had super-fun pink and gold balloons, so this = me deliberately getting that in the background of our Bow Bridge pic at Central Park!!

I was hoping to recreate the giant syrup bottle pic from 2010 but couldn't find any so this had to suffice.

This = why I chose the S'mores Frozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity later that night!!  I want s'more! ;-)

On a far more serious note, this was the only artifact you could touch at the 9/11 Museum, a 10-ton piece of steel recovered from the collapsed buildings.  The tour guide encouraged us to touch it and to work together to try to lift it (which was obviously quite impossible)... but he used that to emphasize the magnitude and difficulty of a cleanup project involving 180,000+ tons of HEAVY metal and debris surrounded by semi-toxic dust.  It made things click in a new way in my mind, so I appreciated that!

The 360-degree-view from the One World Observatory is epic and very worth the visit!!

Verse outside of Trinity Church. ❤

The Miss K's unicorn drawing at our last family dinner! ❤

My backyard this morning. ❤

An appropriate winter season meme and an illustration of being deeply rooted that I love!

Shifting gears a bit, this was a fun-filled and food-filled holiday season!!  I'm honestly surprised that I haven't gained back any weight (likely thanks to the consistent increase in exercise), but I haven't lost any lately either.  More importantly, I haven't been taking care of myself in a way that makes me feel good and proud.  I have zero regrets about enjoying fun foods during vacations and holiday parties, but there were also plenty of solo, stress-based or apathy-based sugary snacks that have had a negative impact on my sleep, mindset, blood sugar, physical endurance, and overall health.  I'm seeing that more clearly, which is a gift in itself.  I'm genuinely not far from where I want to be at this point, but staying on the right trajectory is VITAL!  Thanks to having a clear plan and checklist, I've done very well with my marathon training workouts, but exercise alone is not enough.  One way or another, the season of life ahead holds a lot of transition and potential for stress, which means I will crave all the familiar comfort foods... but my mind, body, soul, spirit, and circle of influence would all benefit greatly from me making consistent, healthy nutrition choices!!  So today is prep day for a body kindness reset tomorrow - taking responsibility and buying some healthier foods, restarting the CGM tracking, and printing out a food game plan and habit-forming checklist for the marathon training months ahead!

That's all for today.

I love you and believe in you,

and I hope you take care of yourself
and have a fun and beautiful weekend ahead!!

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