Best Brothers Ever, Part 2

Friday was the JSB pics, followed by The King of Kings (animated movie) at Warren Theater.  Saturday was a Tulsa trip for Kyndal's volleyball tournament at the Titan Sports Complex, where Jeffrey Edward and Ellie Faye came to watch her 2:30 game!!

This = Kyndal and Rylen, a kind friend who is her current bestie on this team! =)

It was good to catch up with JEM, and I'm so grateful for him and Ellie taking the time to come support Kyndal!

Pic with Mamaw and a team huddle!

Mom's a big fan of Jeffrey Edward, and it always makes me happy when my friends and family get to hang out!

Kyndal had a few great serving streaks, and their team went undefeated all day Saturday!  Rach captured these fun team pictures while they were hanging out upstairs between games. =)

Rach and I snacked and chatted in her car for a bit during the longer break, and we pondered the ironic mismatch of this person's bumper stickers. lol

Kyndal Faith with Ellie Faye and Parker Elizabeth - love them all! =)

Chet and Tate were planning to come for the afternoon game, but Parker heard that and vetoed it, telling them, "Kyndal is MY friend." lol  So the whole Wilson fam joined us for the last game after Parker's ballet pics! =)

That final game started 45 minutes ahead of schedule, which was kinda frustrating!  But still awesome for the Wilsons to be there for the celebratory final set and get some pics with the fam!!

Charge 11's team pic after winning all 3 games that day... Mom and I came home and did not return for the Sunday games, but they won gold in this entire tournament, so HOORAY - go Charge!!

A final pic with the Jaceman, who was hard to track down (outside playing football with his stepbrother, Aden, and their friend, Isaiah).

After learning there was an hour wait for the Riverwalk Los Cabos, we decided on the Little Kitchen at the outlet mall!  Very different menu, but still good and fun, and a better atmosphere for hearing each other in conversation. lol

Mom grabbed a random guy walking by to take our group photo here, and surprise to no one, it turned out Chettles knew him! lol

We stopped by Claire's for the Mini Miss K to get her ear pierced... (just the one - she had them done recently, but one earring came out overnight and the hole closed up).

Parker Elizabeth's first time in Claire's with her adorable ballet bun, unicorn scrunchie/bracelet, and beautiful hair crown! #feelincute  I just love her almost-4-year-old self!!

JEM and Kelly went to the Ben Rector concert that night, and he texted this pic of them running into Laura Allison - fun!  

*Post title is a throwback to this post last year, when Chet and Jeff came to cheer for Kyndal's 2024 team.  I'm mildly upset about a potential injury today - more on that tomorrow - but I feel rich in relational love and support, which helps tremendously for anyone facing any stressful situation.  I am especially grateful for the long-term friendships of the Wilsons and Moss families - having healthy male friendships means a great deal to me, and having kind and trustworthy people who have been around for a while and seen me at my lowest, yet they continue to believe in the most beautiful/healed version of me and to cheer me on as I work to move toward that is a gift I don't take lightly (and hope to reciprocate well).  Anyway, I sincerely believe I have the best friends around, and my heart is full of gratitude for them tonight!! ❤

Happy Sunday, and congrats again to Kyndal Faith and her team!

❤ ❤ ❤

JSB!

Yesterday was Triston's first JSB (Junior-Senior Banquet), aka CHA's version of prom, minus dancing.  Mom and I joined him and several of his classmates at the Myriad Gardens downtown for a few pre-dinner photos! =)

Holden, Libby, Gavin, Athena, Worth, Karissa, Triston, and Kate! 

Mom grabbed these pics of him with Rach and Kyndal Faith at their house earlier!

Kate and Triston in an obnoxiously-shadowy spot with a lovely background... she brought comfy shoes for their long walk through downtown, then changed into her heels.  I told her, "Oh, that was smart!!" and her mom chimed in, "Oh, that was me - she was sure she'd be fine in the heels!" lol

A group pic and a couple candids by Mom

Everyone looked great... and yay for Athena smiling with her teeth showing!  Apparently, it's overrated at that age. lol

Me and Mamaw with T-man!

I was so happy to run into Abby there too! =)

Gavin, Worth, and Triston!

The girls and their wrist corsages! =)

Love the tulips in the background!

Group pic by the Crystal Bridge... it was fun getting to see them all dressed up.  T-man introduced us to several of his friends and to Kate's family, and they were all happy to pose for pics for this particular night!  I hope they all had a great time at dinner and a fun after-party!!

Quick flashback to my very own Junior-year JSB with Chris Munn 24 years ago!

And now, I'm off to MWC to ride with Mom to Tulsa to watch the Mini Miss K in another Volleyball tournament - fun!! ❤

ONEderland!

Good morning and happy Friday, friends and fam!

There have been loads of important non-scale victories and things to celebrate along the marathon-training journey!  However, after a few months of feeling stuck behind an invisible barrier, finally reaching ONEderland this morning for the first time in 15 years is a scale-victory worth celebrating!! ❤

I made the above collage for the Blossom Support group where everyone posts their numbers.  And at this point, I figured why not share it here too - with appreciation for all of the above versions of myself.  This milestone took longer than I anticipated and required some difficult choices, and I am very grateful to Blossom for helping me get here!  It really does feel like an internal sigh of relief to be back in the ones - I was 25 the last time I was here.

Numbers Game:  In case you're unfamiliar with weight-loss-group lingo, my highest weight ever was 296 in January 2023 (just after my four failed IUIs and finding out Mom's cancer had returned).  My starting weight when I chose surgery last year was 277, and my current weight is 198.  My goal for myself is to reach 177 or below (which was my best weight in 2009, and the 100-pound mark from my surgery decision).  And Dr. Apel's goal for me was 155 - TBD on whether that ever becomes my desired goal, but I doubt it.  I understand that the scale isn't everything and the changing numbers don't define me or change my value, and BMI is not always an accurate indicator of genuine health and wellness.  At present, I am grateful to be in a pretty good place mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  And I want to continue with body kindness and taking good care of myself, focusing on being healthy and strong over being "thin."

ONEderland at 41 on 4-11! ❤
Random number stuff like this brings me joy. lol

Text I sent Kristin yesterday - I knew I was close and thought it might happen then, but no such luck. lol

I had great initial weight loss, then I hit an intense plateau around 205 where this has felt just out of my reach for a while.  I'm grateful that I've avoided extremes, and I'm grateful things are finally shifting again.  The physical progress is exciting, but more importantly, the sense of mental breakthrough that comes with crossing this painfully-stubborn milestone!  I'm ready to stay on this side of 200 and keep moving forward in pursuing a strong and healthy mind, body, soul, and spirit. ❤

Fifteen days to the Finish Line!

I'm confident God is with us and for us,
working in us and through us!!

Okay, that's all I've got for today.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #224

"For this reason we do not lose heart.  Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is RENEWED day after day.  And this small and temporary trouble we suffer is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine." 

~2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Our weekly family dinners, and more specifically, celebrating the birthdays of Triston Michael (18 on 4-2) and Carter Lee (17 on 4-18) with the fam at Ted's on Tuesday!! ❤

2.  Jon Tyson, who I have now heard in an audiobook he cowrote + the AFD podcast and the Wild at Heart podcast... the sincerity of his obedience and his heart for Jesus has increased my desire to study God's Word and seek Him more diligently, and I'm thankful for that shift!

3.  This once-in-a-lifetime season of marathon training and all God is teaching me through it!! ❤  Grit, endurance, accepting support, pressing past fear, trusting the process, celebrating small milestones, encouraging myself when it's just me and Jesus out there, etc.

4.  An encouraging interview last Friday - hearing "You have the qualities that can't be taught as a therapist who genuinely connects with people, and we can help you with the knowledge and diagnostic tools" felt like a high compliment (with room/encouragement to keep growing).  *Prayers appreciated for God to give me wisdom and open the right doors at the right time for me in this job search.

5.  Supporting T-man at his new barista job at the Choctaw Starbucks - fun!  He was super busy running the drive-through line, but he traded with a friend to come make my drink and chat for a sec before getting back to it! ❤

6.  The Wilsons and Weatherfords, who kindly let me join their family dinner last Friday!  The kids were in playful moods, and we all had a good talk about my interview that morning, the January Disney trip, and Miss Parker Elizabeth's 4th birthday and Belle party later this month, which is sure to be the very cutest!!

7.  A successful impromptu shopping spree on my first real trip to the Tulsa Premier Outlets last Friday... six new shirts, a gold bracelet, a J. Crew necklace, a Vera Bradley travel bag, and a Coach purse - huzzah!  All things I'll enjoy and use well, but it's probably for the best that my shopping time was limited. lol

8.  From my FB post:  Happy National Sibling Day to my younger sister, Rachael LaJo! ❤  Thankful for our childhood memories, our adult friendship, our family dinners, and all the ways you've made my life more colorful and fun and exciting (including my awesome niece and nephews)!!  Also grateful that you've shared clothes with me and become my fashion consultant, and that you're willing/eager to spend hours gluing tiny crystals to my graduation cap.  Love you!!  

9.  A great 4-mile walk with Kristin Michelle last night... with background music by the massive church youth gathering at the outdoor amphitheater part of our Central Park! =)

10.  Reading through Abby's Autobiography (a Senior-year project for all CHA students)... she has overcome a lot in her first 18 years, and she wrote about it with admirable vulnerability and courage! ❤  I told her this will be a great keepsake to look back at later, which I know now from experience - there are so many little memories from childhood and adolescence that would be easy to forget if they were not written down and preserved! =)

11.  Getting to watch Kyndal Faith's team play in the Lone Star Classic tournament from the comfort of my own home last weekend... whoever is in charge of the videos for these tournaments deserves a raise!

12.  Janelle told me (and showed me) that she's seeing "lots of new growth" and baby hairs coming in, saying I'll just have to be patient as it continues to grow and become more noticeable.  #metaphorforlife  (Weight loss surgery and the initial rapid loss typically leads to some hair thinning, but I've been taking the pricey Nutrafol supplements Dr. Apel recommended, and I'm so glad to know they are actually helping!  And I'm grateful for Halo Couture in the meantime. lol)

13.  This Netflix movie being better than I'd expected -- it was in the "We think you'll love this" category from Netflix, and they were not wrong. lol  It made me think about finding true love (and where I've already found it), leaving nothing left unsaid, growing through grief, and how my childhood goals align with who I am today!

14.  “I believe deeply that God does His best work in our lives during times of great heartbreak and loss, and I believe that much of that rich work is done by the hands of people who love us, who dive into the wreckage with us and show us who God is, over and over and over."  ~Shauna Niequist  I'm thankful for Chet Lee and Karli Marie and the way their loyal friendship, steadfast support, timely words of wisdom, and well-stewarded gift for cultivating solid community have been part of "God's best work" in my life, showing me who He is, over and over and over!! ❤

15.  Today's jury trial being continued (YAY), a lunch workout at Planet Fitness, and the gift of coming home to a lovely, fresh and clean house when I leave in a few minutes!!  Ahhh, I have missed Alisa (my once-a-month house cleaner) over the past 3 months... I am extra thankful for the great work she does, and I am grateful she's feeling better and able to come back now!

I'm also thankful for you being here! =)  This is my first Thankful Thursday post since January, so it's a little longer than usual.  Happy Thursday!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Marathon Monday #17!

Kristin and I went for a lovely 6-mile stroll last night, chatting and catching up on all of life while trying to keep warm in the stupidly-cold April weather!  I'm thankful that the predicted snow was overhyped, but I'd like it to feel like Spring again ASAP.

I've adjusted the training plan to be a better fit for what I need right now.  This coming weekend will be my final intense 20-mile training jog, then it's one lighter week of tapering down over Easter weekend, and then the Full Marathon - only 19 DAYS from today!!  Get excited! ❤

Sad-ish news: my 256-week Peloton streak lapsed last week... (260 would have been 5 solid years, so that's kinda irritating, especially when I've been working out harder this year than most).  I've just gradually come to prefer watching TV at night while I do strength exercises or stretches or yoga or cycling, and I often listen to Apple Music or Audible or chat with friends during my outdoor jogs.   I cancelled the auto-renew on my Peloton subscription, and I've decided the Marathon day will be my last hoorah and final send-off for my five-year Peloton journey!  I so appreciate the many ways Peloton has improved and changed my life and given me a more empowered perspective, and I'm super excited for the 7-hours of classes I have programmed in as my official playlist for my first Full Marathon race... (all ones I've done at least 3x and know I love and enjoy)!  I planned them in an order that feels right to keep me going strong, and I think having the great music + the coaches encouragement + the race-day adrenaline + crowd support will be an awesome combo to carry me to the Finish Line!!  That and my Run-Interval timing prompts and my black cherry energy chews, and maybe a donut along the way! lol ❤

And no matter what, when I reach the 26th mile marker, I'm playing OneRepublic's Marching On for the actual Finish Line crossing! =)

Make it a great week!!

❤❤❤

Five-Star Movies!

Happy Monday!  Here's the follow-up post with my Top 25 "Five-Star Movies," inspired by the Big Boo Podcast. =)

1.  TITANIC - "was called the ship of dreams, and it was - it really was."  Zero percent of people who know me are shocked by this one being on my list. lol  The love story draws your heart into it, but James Cameron's attention to detail is unparalleled -- the historical accuracy with the entire set and the wardrobes and so many nonfiction characters they meet and/or describe along the way, the meticulous planning it required, the casual dialogue that provided details about the water temperature and the class differences and the timing of the sinking and the limited life boats and more, the clever way they explained and illustrated the way the ship breaks in half well before they show it actually sinking, the moving back and forth from the decaying ship at the bottom of the ocean to the beautiful, brand new ship on its maiden voyage -- just saying, he fully deserved that Best Director Oscar, and the movie deserved Best Picture and the 9 other Oscars it won that year!  *Leo and Kate were robbed, but they've done okay for themselves since, so I'm willing to let it go. lol

2.  THE GREATEST SHOWMAN - an inspiring, goosebumps-inducing, truly transcendent theater experience for me on the very day it opened in 2017.  The music, the lyrics, the casting, the dialogue, the plot, the pacing, the dancing, the whole vibe - start to finish theatrical perfection - I kept waiting for something to ruin it, and it never came. ❤

3.  YOU'VE GOT MAIL - a comforting classic that's become my go-to for happy, familiar background noise.  F-O-X.  Daisies are the friendliest flower.  Happy Thanksgeebing back.  Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal!  152 insights into my soul.  She had to be... she HAD TO BE!! lol

4.  FATHER OF THE BRIDE - Rach asked me the other day what I think of when I see the Touchstone logo.  I answered, "I don't know why, but Father of the Bride," and she said, "OMG, YESSS!!"  So yeah, we watched this one enough that the company logo is embedded in our minds as belonging to this specific movie. lol  It's funny and surprisingly poignant - I know and love every song in it, and I know and love every character.  Sometimes movies can take you back the way songs do, and this one always takes me back to 1992 when our family was living at the Warwick West Apartments whilst 9121 was being built.

5.  THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Love Andrew Garfield and Jessie Eisenberg (pictured above) and Justin Timberlake (all perfectly cast for these roles), and love every quickly-spoken word of this Aaron Sorkin film.  I enjoy the whole story of Facebook's founding, and the relational dynamics at play there are pretty fascinating to me.  This is unlikely to make a lot of sense to anyone else, (and I'm not talking about this specific plot or characters or anything negative), but Aaron Sorkin's writing often makes me think of Malori, assuming we would share a strong appreciation for the brilliant dialogue, the rapid pacing, and the sharp humor... so there's a subtle layer of nostalgia/soul-tie connection for me there too.

6.  AVENGERS: ENDGAME - They ended this series so freaking well.  The "Marvel sparkle circles," as Deadpool calls them, are legit - that final assembly scene makes me tear up.  There's so much humor and so many great call-backs to the thousand previous movies that give this one its rich context.  There's Captain America with the hammer.  Tony making the sacrifice play.  Wanda getting her revenge moment.  Thor still being worthy.  The women banding together in a way that made a woman in my theater yell, "All riiiight, ladieeees!!"  It's all fantastic!!  Avengers, Assemble!

7.  MAN OF THE HOUSE - There are two very different movies with this same title; I'm talking about the JTT and Chevy Chase one from 1995.  I freaking love this movie - it came out when I was in 5th grade and had a crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas, so that's probably part of the nostalgia element for me.  Hearing the "Everybody Dance Now" song always makes me picture the montage from this movie as the Indian Guides practice archery and learn the rain dance together, when JTT finally gets into it all in spite of his valiant efforts to be too cool for that group. =)

8.  THE HOLIDAY - The only Christmas movie on this list, my favorite Christmas movie by a mile!  (Elf would come in second for me.)  Love Jack Black's character, love Arthur, love Jude Law and his British daughters, love Kate Winslet finding her gumption and slamming the door on Jasper, love the Christmas vibes, and love the idea of Amanda's job ("movie trailer maker" - so fun! lol)

9.  SPEED - Sandra and Keanu... it was between this and White House Down and Die Hard for the top action movie in this list... love them all, but I know this one best!!  "Wildcats, huh?"  "Oh darn."  "I've got gum on my seat... gum!!"

10.  COOL RUNNINGS - How can you not love this movie!?  The slow clap scene at the end is possibly my favorite sports-movie scene ever.  "The fastest of the fastest of Jamaican sprinters!  Respect to the man, Irv Blitzer!" ;-)

11.  EVER AFTER - It was a hard choice for me between this and the 2015 Cinderella with Lily James (adore her and LOVED her dress and the way the prince treated her in that movie).  In the end, what gives Ever After the slight edge for me is that one of the stepsisters was kind to her (which makes her backstory feel so much more bearable and gives you another character to root for), Drew's character is feisty and rescues herself from the sleezy jerk who tried to own and "break" her, and then she "only asks" that her cruel stepmother and stepsister be shown the same kindness they had shown to her.  Yes to all of that - forgiveness doesn't mean being a doormat.

12.  NATIONAL TREASURE - Such a great movie from start to finish!  Action and history and romance and suspense and humor and exciting music - it's one of my top favorites and inspired our Trinity Church tour in NYC!  "Heere at the Wall, Wall Street and Broadway."

13.  LEGALLY BLONDE - Okay, I was kinda judging myself for including this one, but truthfully, it's a light and fun movie that I've watched repeatedly, and in addition to inspiring some cute shoes and hairstyles, it also shaped how I saw myself in really positive ways!  It came out during my Junior year of high school, and it went a long way in normalizing being girly and fashionable and a little silly and loving pink and glitter and diamonds and bright colors and cute hair and awesome shoes and fun parties *while ALSO being* intelligent and ambitious and caring and sincere and assertive and doing things your own way.  In its own cheesy way, it showed a girl who went from rejection-based insecurity and literally moving to chase after an uninterested boy to a confident, educated woman chasing after big goals and dreams.  And that girl is Elle Woods, and that girl is me. lol (And let's just agree to ignore the movie sequel - they kinda ruined it.)

14.  THE SOUND OF MUSIC - This movie brings back so many childhood memories for me!  And my adult heart has connected with it in new ways.  It's a beautiful story with great songs and strong characters.  Stuck in my head right now: "I go to the hills when my heart is lonely.  I know I will hear what I've heard before.  My heart will be blessed with the sound of music, and I'll sing once more."

15.  SISTER ACT 2 - I was so inspired when I saw this one in theaters in 3rd grade, sure that joining a Christian choir would be the most fun thing I could ever do!  My church and school choir experiences were fun, but never lived up to my high expectations. lol I know this movie and the original Sister Act super well, and Rach and I had this soundtrack CD memorized!  "Singing does not put food on the table. Singing does not pay the bills.  Singing is no guarantee for a future...There are a lot of people out there singing their shoulda coulda wouldas!"  I always loved the irony of that petty speech recipient being Lauryn Hill.

16.  GLADIATOR - It was between this and The Patriot - both exceptional, epic movies with more violence than I generally prefer - surprisingly, I knew more standout quotes from this one.  The movie name itself makes me think of Elizabeth Taylor announcing it at the Oscars. lol. "Are you not entertained!?"  "The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end."  "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius..."

17.  MY COUSIN, VINNY - So. many. good. quotes.  Fantastic and entertaining courtroom movie - love Marisa Tomei and can pretty much quote her entire testimony as the Defense's surprise expert witness!  "No, the Defense is WRONG!"  "Imagine you're a deer..." "Maybe it was a bad time to bring it up!"  "The two youts..." "Mrs. Riley, and ONLY Mrs. Riley..." "IIII-*clap*-DENTICAL!"

18.  A FEW GOOD MEN - My favorite legal drama movie of all time - another sharp, rapid-fire script written by Aaron Sorkin.  Stellar writing and stellar cast.  And again, I can quote Jessup's testimony and the follow-up courtroom drama.  SO GOOD!!

19.  TOP GUN: MAVERICK - What an unexpected gem this summer hit movie was!  I didn't care much about the original Top Gun, but I loved this sequel.  Tommy Tom Cruise at his best, and you can't go wrong with Glen Powell and Miles Teller!

20.  THE PARENT TRAP - The newer version with Lindsay Lohan - I still remember watching the previews where it said "Introducing Lindsay Lohan" and being excited for an actress who shared my name (with an alternate spelling, but still).  As a child, I always loved the idea of being a twin, and as an adult, I've loved the idea of having twins.  I like everyone in this cast, and it's a light and fun, summery, feel-good movie for me!

21.  HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX - One of very few times where the movie does it better than the book is the epic fight scene between Dumbledore and Voldemort where Voldemort changes tactics midway and fully possesses Harry in the midst of his sharp grief and rage over Sirius, then Harry has to dwell on love and goodness to break free and create separation - the spiritual connections there are more than I can put into words - it's so well done.  (Harry and co. forming the DA, the Weasleys messing with Umbridge, Dumbledore showing up at Harry's trial, Luna telling Harry he's not alone, Harry saving Arthur's life, the Order forming, Sirius and Harry's relationship growing, him finally learning about the prophecy, etc. - there's so much to love here.)

22.  JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - Not positive why I like this one so much, but I do - bought it on Prime, and I've watched it many times!  The original was a traumatic experience in my childhood, but this one was much lighter and more fun, while still being action packed and requiring heroic courage from each of the characters!  The Rock and Kevin Hart's friendship is always a delight, Karen Gillian's dance fight scenes are epic, Jack Black is hilarious, and Nick Jonas was a fun addition to the team!!  I also love the idea of suddenly having a brand new body with a lower threat of death and new strengths programmed right in for you, but still having to press through your internal insecurities and relational issues to lean into those new strengths and learn to rely on the team surrounding you! #metaphorforChristianity

23.  MEAN GIRLS - Not a poignant or particularly meaningful movie, but it makes the list because I know it well and it quickly takes me back to a very specific season of my life (2005-2007, quoting this back and forth ad nauseum with JMM and Sarah Bliss).  "Booo, you whore!" "OMG, Karen, you can't just ask people why they're white."  "You're a regulation hottie - own it!"  "She doesn't even go here!"  "The limit does not exist!"  "That is so fetch."  "I want my pink shirt back - I WANT MY PINK SHIRT BACK!"

24.  TROOP BEVERLY HILLS - This takes me back to Blockbuster rental days and summer fun with Rachael!  We watched this gem several times - I remember the cartoon illustrations during the song at the beginning - I love it all!  "I am the log.  I am the ravine."  "It's missing a bead."  "Patches?  We don't need no stinking patches!"  

25.  THE INTERN - The growing friendship/mentorship between Jules (Anne Hathaway) and her new senior intern, Ben (Robert DeNiro) is poignant - a unique and likable cast of  characters!  This movie is endearing and inspiring, another unexpected gem!!

❤ ❤ ❤