Weekend Update!

Hey, friends and fam!  Last night was a Tulsa trip for dinner with the Wilsons and the Fultons!  A tiny bit of rain and lightning on my drive home, but nothing as terrible as they predicted, so no regrets on my end!  The Wilsons were kind enough to host us - Sarah had an extra-stressful week, and it was good to be able to talk through it with the adults while the kids played on the bouncy house outside.  Here's our happy group pic at the end of the night. ❤

The kids waiting on their friend, Kate, to arrive + Chettles grilling awesome steaks for us!!

The cutest little besties... both in purple dresses and silver "click-clack" heels! =)

Chet with Karli's famous parmesan/jalapeno focaccia bread + Karli sautéing the asparagus... the pics are purely bc I was excited about them both having fun aprons for cooking!! =)

Steaks, mac n' cheese, veggies, potatoes, and bread (thanks again, Wilson fam!!) + everyone watching the International Space Station pass by overhead, thanks to Karli signing up for location-based text alerts (and now I have too.)

Group pic minus Kate and Parker + a bright and cheery assortment of Poppi sodas - better than expected + the kids having Cookie Two Step ice cream brought by the Fultons!  Mom also made brickle bars for us, so we were well stocked on dinner and desserts! =)

Rach texted me on Friday that her hand was cramping from all the note-taking... I applaud her studious efforts and her colorful notes - hopefully this will pay off and help her remember it all for the CPC certification test!

Her hands didn't get much of a break, as she's been busy painting then starting the process of crystalling my graduation cap most of this weekend... get excited!!  My parents shan't have trouble finding me in the crowd. lol


I told her the term "crystalling" in her text made me think of Winnie the Bish and his puzzling song! lol

I've spent part of this weekend working on another creative project, building my counseling website with Wix and Storyline... still an unpublished work in progress that needs extra "tweaking" (#youvegotmail), but it's a fun and uplifting project for me!  Compass Counseling: Empowering Women to Move Forward with Hope. ❤ Yay!

So my weekend mostly consisted of website work + the Tulsa trip + a lengthy jog yesterday morning, and of course, Harry Potter audiobooks and Cobra Kai! lol

That show is a treat - funnier characters and more redemptive storylines than I expected.  I went down a rabbit hole reading entertaining Reddit threads and Googling the actors... I had no idea Miguel was Victor from Parenthood and Sam was the first daughter in Scandal!

A presh duck couple stopping by Mom and Dad's pool for a spring swim - I freaking love it! =)

And finally, a meme from Chet Lee that made me laugh!

That's all for tonight.  Hope it's an excellent week ahead!

❤ ❤ ❤

Happy Spring!

Today is the official first day of Spring, so huzzah for that!! ❤

This week is Spring Break week for most schools, so I'm hoping it's been a fun one for my sister's fam and all my friends who have kids!  The Foster fam came down to the new Okana indoor waterpark and resort for Spring Break (they're loving it and said it's better than Great Wolf Lodge), and the Wilsons made a day trip to OKC yesterday, so it was fun to see my fav Tulsa friends in my hometown.  Here's our group pic after dinner... I adore them all!!!

I covered a murder prelim in Purcell on Tuesday - the court reporter shortage is real, so we're all covering wherever we can.  This afternoon, I'll be at the Couch Center, then tomorrow I'm covering the office and catching up on transcripts.  Anyway, that prelim ended by noon, so I had Tuesday afternoon off and did speed and hills intervals at Planet Fitness, followed by a lovely neighborhood walk!

In a fantastic surprise, I learned that Judge was taking Wednesday through Friday off, so I took off yesterday to join the Wilsons at the Science Museum in OKC... formerly the Omniplex.  I hadn't been there in years, and it has loads of new stuff, as well as a few familiar things!  This = the Wilson fam getting blown away in a simulated tornado! #oklahoma

Parker E on the carousel - she was in a fun mood ready to explore all the things!

Tate and Karli learning about... some sort of spacecraft!?

I chatted with Mom whilst the Wilsons grabbed the last two seats available for the Planetarium show!  Then we explored the sand spinner, the spirograph art pendulum, the toy photography exhibit, the shadow wall, and several other exhibits and kids play areas!

Spirograph pendulum art by Parker and her Dad. ❤  Her first color choices were purple and brown, which made me laugh!

Mirror maze selfie! =)

So much randomness, but most of it is fun for adults and kids!

They had a Segway park where you could try it out on various surfaces... Tate surprised us by going first and having fun with it!

Next up was Chettles, who had done it once before on their last trip to this museum!

And round 3 was me - yay, trying new things!!  It was fun and made me wonder if I could do the hoverboards... but I'm pretty sure the lack of handles would throw me right off balance!

Random cloud ring fun... I feel like all these play-based exhibits have posters trying to teach you things, and I'm guessing about 2% of the museum visitors actually read them and learn a lot. lol

Wilson fam + "Auntie Lindsey" random group pic at the giant table and chairs!! lol

We were at the Science Museum from 11-ish to 5, then met the Fosters for dinner downtown.  We were planning on Old Spaghetti Factory and Chet was psyched about their spumoni dessert... but alas, I forgot to factor in that we were a party of 9 on Spring Break week on a Thunder game night!  We opted out of the 2.5-hour wait for OSF and the hour+ wait at a few other restaurants, and we ended up at Dave's Hot Chicken near Harkins Theater... another new thing for me, and it was pretty good!

I told the Fosters about being accepted into the doctoral program, and Kristin cracked me up saying, "Congrats, that's awesome... and here we all are at Dave's Hot Chicken to celebrate!" lol  I said, "It's just what I always dreamed!"  But for reals, I'm happy to be with this group any day, any place!

Happy first day of Spring, friends!
May this be a season of fresh hope and vibrant growth for all of us!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Fifteen Thousand

The Queen of Random Information here, letting you all know today is my 15,000th day on earth, which just popped up on the calendar reminder I set for myself a few years ago. lol  Hooray for Day 15,000!! ❤

I actually wrote a post for Day 10,000 (HERE) back in 2011.  It fell right in between our OKC road trip to celebrate Malori's birthday and me being the Maid of Honor at Rachael's wedding.  Needless to say, a lot has changed over time, and every season God gives us is a gift!  I appreciate that this falls on a relatively ordinary day, and I like the reminder that our days are numbered and Every Second Counts.  I could go on and on about it, but I'll spare you that.  I am very grateful for the people who have stayed the course with me, and I'm grateful for the daily grace of God, and I'm praying for a renewed sense of God-given hope, clarity, and purpose as I continue to move forward!!

"I figure life's a gift,
and I don't intend on wasting it.
You never know what hand you're gonna get dealt next.
You learn to take life as it comes at you,
to make each day count."
-Jack Dawson (Rest in Peace)

 

 Cheers! lol

45 days from now, I will run the OKC Memorial Marathon.  I'm pushing myself harder for these final 7 weeks of training - already feeling sore from that, but I'm excited about putting more heart into it!  I hope the same holds true for you in whatever goal you are pursuing in this season!!

Okay then, that's really all for this post.
I love you and believe in you, and Jesus does too!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Birthdays & Besties

Saturday was Mom's 70th Birthday (born in Texas, 1-18-55)... and we celebrated with dinner at Firebirds in OKC (a new place for us - good and similar to Red Rock)!  Chet Lee kindly provided this lovely pink Christmas-themed cake from Ludger's... YUM!  Love this pic with Mom! ❤

The wonderful Wilson fam made the trip from Tulsa to celebrate with us, and Karli made the glittery Cricut cake topper Mom is holding here!!

Kyndal and Parker were cute friends again... Chet also brought Mom's long-awaited Christmas ribbon from Amber Marie!

Table group pic... (they initially tried to seat us at 3 separate tables, but they eventually made this work without too much drama)!

Mom looking beautiful with her impressive birthday board made by Rach, lovely cake topper by Karli, and birthday roses from the restaurant! ❤

Kyndal Faith made Parker Elizabeth a rainbow-loom bracelet, which made my day as much as it made Parker's! lol. We got pics of everyone with Mom in their patio room after dinner!  I got one of Chet and Mom together since it was also his 1/2 birthday!! =)

Christmas cake gif!

Group pic! ❤❤

A 2-player version of Ring Around the Rosie. lol

All in all, it was a memorable night and a wonderful celebration for Mom - good food, fun atmosphere, great pictures, and I'm super grateful that the Wilsons and Charlene joined us for it!!  (For the record, Carter Lee was competing in a rodeo and could not make it, and Bill and Jill's first great-grandson, Gatlin, shares a bday with Mom, so they were understandably at his party!)

Yesterday, I came to Tulsa for dinner with the Wilsons and Fultons - here's our party-of-8 group pic!

We were celebrating Sarah's last day before heading back to Kansas to start her 3rd semester of the DNAP program to become a CRNA!  Chet sent a group text to confirm this plan around 3pm.  Thankfully, Steve was also there to remind Sarah, as she had started cooking them dinner at home just before this! lol  I totally get being frazzled and having your thoughts feel fragmented, though - hopefully everything will calm back down as this new semester gets going for her!

It was good to catch up with the Fultons and hear more about their family road trip.  And it was fun to watch the girls play together and see Tate bonding with Uncle Steve! =)  Sarah eventually put on the animated Cinderella for the girls, which will forever and always bring back delightful childhood memories for me! 

Voicing their princess dolls...

Kate as Belle:  "HEY!!  You wanna be best friends!?"

Parker as Snow White:  "Yeeees!" lolol No introduction needed!

❤

And that brings us to today, where I made another Tulsa trip for an MLK Day hair appointment with Janelle!  We had a good talk, my hair now matches my extensions better, and I got this cute Valentine's-themed headband - hooray!

Sarah and her fam traveled to Kansas and changed out her mattress for the coming semester... her course load has doubled for this season - praying she has a good semester ahead, and thankful that all of us completed our road trips before tonight's snowfall!

I'm grateful for all the fun times and group events pictured above!  And I am extra grateful for the sincere encouragement and solid advice from Chet Lee lately on family stuff, health goals, work decisions, & Scriptural discernment... pictured here in his Inauguration-Day patriotic flannel shirt! =)

Speaking of, here's Carrie Underwood's impromptu, brief-but-powerful acapella version of America the Beautiful from today's Inauguration ceremony!

❤ ❤ ❤

Choosing Belonging

Okay, I legit need to complete three transcripts and I'm struggling to get out of holiday mode (eating all the things and procrastinating on all the work), so I've deleted FB and Instagram from my phone for at least the remainder of this week, and this will be the last blog post I write from work (started it yesterday and just need to finish and publish it this morning).

I went to see Mufasa with Rach and J&K at Flix yesterday afternoon - enjoyed the movie more than I expected, and it was fun times hanging out with the Parrish crew!! ❤

Saturday was Kyndal's volleyball tournament at UCO!  I chatted with Rach and laughed about her and Mom's intensity at all sporting events!  It makes me happy just to watch the team camaraderie, and I don't care deeply if they win or lose, outside of wanting K-Faith to enjoy it and do her best! lol

I believe this used to be a pile of snow in the corner of the parking lot at Lake Hefner... either way, the standing water is new, and it made me happy to see a couple ducks hopping in for a swim on Saturday afternoon! lol

In sad news, presh Ella "Bellsy" is now in Heaven... Friday night, David texted me that they had to put her to sleep after she injured her back and was partially paralyzed... sadness.  Sam-puffins is doing well and will be 12 in October.  They've moved to Texas, so it's been a while since I've seen the best girlfranz or heard from David, but I'm glad to know Sammich has other small dog friends to play with now, and I'm grateful Bellsy didn't suffer long.  She was the best girlfran and the sweetest Pom puppy, and I so look forward to seeing her smiley little fluffy self again in Heaven (along with Rylee and Reagan and Kelsey and more)!!

❤❤❤

10-24-2013 to 1-09-2025

Rest in Peace Ella Belle, aka "Bellsy"

❤❤❤

Just inserting something random that made me laugh! =)

Huzzah for snow days and these impressive snowmen by the Wilson fam!!

Katherine Claire living it up at Disneyland - Sarah said they had a great road trip, and she highly recommends a Disneyland visit!

My fav niece and nephew enjoying CHA's Spirit Week!!
(Kyn and Dylan as refs for Duo Day + J&K on Cowboy/Cowgirl Day)

Happy Birthday to Michelle today! ❤

This = a fun new headband holder from Mom - yay!  To be honest, I like what my headband collection says about me. lol  Chet calls this dynamic "visually loud," but I'm going with "sparkly and vibrant!" =) ❤

Shifting to a more difficult and important topic, a fellow CHA alumni and FB friend is on my heart today.  She has overcome several challenges and lived with resilient strength, so I've paid attention to her story.  She shared a beautiful, joyful post on January 1st about how she couldn't be more grateful for her relationships and felt like she had everything she'd ever dreamt of at her fingertips... only three days later, she was grieving her boyfriend's death by suicide.  I do not know him or his family, and I do not know her well at this stage of life.  Still, even seeing this from a distance had a sharp impact on me.  The juxtaposition of her New Year's Day post to the heartbroken tribute posts and an obituary encouraging donations to mental health foundations and suicide prevention... it's tragic in so many ways, and I'm praying for her and her boys and his family and everyone directly affected in the aftermath of his choice.

With that context in mind, I am reminding myself (and you) to choose life in big and small ways, to draw near to God, to engage and be present with others, to set and work toward goals that mean something to you, to dwell on the ways you belong and  how you can add value to the lives around you (rather than dwelling on how you don't fit in or don't really matter to others).  The enemy is always speaking, but so is Jesus, and we get to choose which voice we listen to and get to know and prioritize.

As someone who has struggled with the darkness of suicidal thoughts MANY years ago, and as a single woman who is very familiar with playing the third-wheel role and being included in other people's family dynamics and hanging out with older and/or younger generations, I have thought about all of this a lot.  The truth is, on any given day and in any group setting, you can dwell on how you don't really fit in and make yourself feel like the outcast or the odd man out... you can choose to withdraw and dissociate and disengage and isolate and feel invisible... OR you can intentionally choose belonging and decide to be seen, to contribute to the conversation, to be genuine and vibrant and joyful, to learn from others and add value, to believe you are wanted and loved by the people surrounding you.  Relationships matter, and YOU matter - your life, your story, your talents, your God-given gifts, your opinions and desires - they matter.  When other people aren't around, you can choose to feel alone or to connect with God and believe He is always present with you - there's a huge difference in how you will feel.  I want to be a beacon for choosing life and hope and light, for reaching out every time you need help!  Choose to notice the details, to care about others, to celebrate goodness wherever you see it.  You really can step up and speak up and choose to belong.  As God's children, none of us are ever fully "at home" outside of Heaven, and everyone wants good company for the journey until we get there!  Single or dating or married, you can always choose community and belonging, and it's worth it!!

Praying we all embrace the abundant love and support that's available for us, and intentionally love and support others in return!! ❤

Seeing this was a good reminder for me as I step back from the Tulsa-move plan and prayerfully wait on what God has planned for me next.  To be here now, fully present and alive and wholehearted.  (Annnnd getting back to work. lol)

This moment matters, and your choices matter.
❤❤❤