Nine Ladies Dancing

1.  McAlister's lunch and catching up with Laura and Tiffany!

2.  Sunset walk at Central Park/The Station in Moore!

3.  Zoom meeting with Dr. Burkhart about his favorite books!

4.  After Jace Michael's first football game this season!

5.  Watching Jace's game with Mom and Rachael!

6.  Seeing Beth Moore live in Tulsa with Kantrell and Amber!

7.  Box seats for Leslie Odom Jr. in Hamilton in NYC!!

8.  Mission BBQ after the final Downton Abbey movie!

9.  Olive Garden with the fam!

This = 12 Days of Recaps with a few blog quotes and my top nine photos from each month of 2025!  Side note: What a strange and lyrically absurd song The 12 Days of Christmas is!

SEPTEMBER:

"Krystal had me lead our supervision group this week to practice Written Exposure Therapy, which I'm excited to try with clients moving forward!"
~Thankful Thursday #230, 9-4-25

"My other new purchases = the HamilTEN hoodie (obvi), a cute Texas t-shirt from the DFW airport, and my NYC M&M pajama pants!!  Some fun items to commemorate this solo adventure to Dallas and NYC!"

~Ready to Face Whatever's Awaiting Me in NYC, 9-15-25

"Lately, I haven’t felt quite okay or like myself.  I am overextended, overwhelmed, resisting depression, and numbing with food.  I had a moment of clarity while watching Gladys walk down the aisle, silently hoping someone would stop her and feeling trapped by the momentum of her own decisions."

~The Path of Life, 9-20-25

"My recent sonogram suggests that another surgery would be needed if I pursue pregnancy and embryo adoption.  This pattern of high vulnerability, high expense, and deferred hope has left me feeling numb... letting go of the motherhood dream would create a real void in my sense of purpose... I would need God's help to face that ambiguous grief, reframe my identity, and embrace His best for me -- whatever that looks like moving forward.
~The Path of Life, 9-20-25

"I really wanted a very clear "Let go" or "Hold on" theme, and instead I got the vague, "There is a time to keep and a time to cast away" passage, along with several peppy reminders from the teacher in Ecclesiastes that much of what happens under the sun is meaningless, senseless, futile, vain, absurd, and out of our control.  Beth said this book gives us "a soulmate in our anguished doubt." 

~Living Proof, 9-29-25

"After LOTS of prayer and back-and-forth inner wrestling and hard conversations and personal journaling and seeking clarity, I have decided to close the chapter on the embryo adoption journey.  I'm not closing my heart to motherhood, but not putting myself through any more physical, mental, and emotional hurdles on this particular route.  I am tired of life feeling "on pause," so finally making a decision and being able to move forward accordingly is a relief at this point, but there is grief that comes with it too."

~Living Proof, 9-29-25

"[On The Wedding People] - The main character is Phoebe, a detail-oriented, intelligent, and quietly depressed single woman in her early 40s who decides life isn't really worth living anymore after years of painful fertility struggles and bad relationship endings and slowly realizing her dream of motherhood will probably never happen and that all the hard work and time she put into her doctorate was barely interesting to her anymore and she is mostly unfulfilled by her work as a college literature professor.  Nope, not kidding... it's well written and relatable with a good redemptive arc in the end.  The emphasis is on our ability to change our minds and shift our course to create a vastly different life that makes us happier and more energized, which feels encouraging to me even now!"

~Brilliant Books, 9-30-25

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Feliz Navidad!

Couldn't decide on a post title, so I went with Chet Lee's favorite song. lol ;-)

This group pic from yesterday's party makes me happy!  Left to right, it's Dad, Melissa, Karli, Tate, Chet, Parker, Jace, Kyndal, Rachael, Ellie, Jeffrey, me, Mom, and Triston! 

Parker didn't take long to cozy up to Kyndal and Rach! =)

The brunch party menu included Gourmet Donuts (my fav donut shop in Norman), Candace's Cookie Creations (a CHA mom who has a side bakery business), pigs in a blanket, and CFA chicken minis and fruit! =) There was also H-Tea-O + apple cider, chocolate milk, and orange juice available!

Closer pic of the cute cookies. ❤

Parrishes by the tree (T came late and left early, so he wasn't a part of this pic, but something tells me he's okay with that)!

Rach was kind enough to take this group pic of our table! ❤

T-man and I - he's been busy applying to 20 colleges, and I'm proud of his hard work there!  (He's been accepted to OSU, OU, and a few schools in Colorado, and he is working on scholarship applications now).

Our attempt to get a fun outdoor pic (under the carport) by the nutcrackers Rach painted for Mom... you can only see one eye and the hat of each of them, which is hilarious to me!  As is the angle of this pic (from a phone camera with a timer resting precariously on Dad's car door handle). lol

Better pic of one of the aforementioned Nutcrackers...

Pistols firing!  Tate and Chettles took Dad's golf cart for a spin around the neighborhood!

"Mockey and the Boys!"

Thankful for the way these two have shown up for me over the past 15+ years... their Godly wisdom, genuine support, and all the laughter they bring into my life has gotten me through some rough seasons and shaped who I am today!

Parker and Ellie had fun hanging out with Dad!

We were first in line for the group pic, so Rach snapped this picture of us... just Chet, JEM, Ellie, me, Vivian, and Michaela! ;-)

The Jaceman did a brave-and-entertaining early Polar Bear plunge jump into the very cold pool, a preview of Chet's New Year's day party! lol

Mother/daughter pic by the Christmas banner!  (Kudos to Jen Hatmaker's "Black Friday deals" Amazon list for this red blazer jacket - a random pop-up on FB since I don't even follow her at this point, but I'm a fan of this cuteness!!)

A Mockey Little Christmas #8 (hosted by Mom) was a success!  I'm grateful my friends traveled from Tulsa to join our fam in OKC for this party for the 4th year in a row, and I'm grateful Tman and J&K were all able to come, and I'm happy that we had no drama or visits from the police this year!! lol

Mom came over last night and we worked on my home office a bit, working on closet shelves + cleaning and hanging my Oklahoma CSR, Texas CSR, RPR license, SNU diploma, and Chi Sigma Iota certificate... and most importantly, the red mirror that started in Mom's CR office in Lawton in 1977 and has been with me in Grady County, Creek County, and Cleveland County! ❤  Most people would wait and post a big reveal at the end, but I feel compelled to give little progress updates all along the way. lol 

Anywho, happy Christmas week, everyone!!  This glam-raccoon pic by the parks department made me laugh this week... and moments later, I asked ChatGPT to change my dress and headband to magenta-pink sequins. lol

Yes, please. lol  Ridiculous but fun!

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Eight Maids-A-Milking

1.  Parrish kids with Rach on the first day of school!
2.  Integrated Therapy Solutions' FB ad for me!
3.  Me and the Mini Miss K on her 12th Birthday (spaghetti fam dinner)!
4.  Dad's 72nd Birthday dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse!
5.  Andy's Custard with the fam after Dad's bday dinner!
6.  Meeting Ashley Campbell in person for the first time!
7.  Taylor and Travis getting engaged on 8-26-25!
8.  Shopping fun with Chet and the kids (the day I learned Karli was pregnant)!
9.  Book signing with the entire Campbell family in Broken Arrow!

This = 12 Days of Recaps with a few blog quotes and my top nine photos from each month of 2025!

AUGUST:

"I feel an increasing disenchantment with the counseling career path, and I'm uncertain about the next right step forward.  So pray with me for direction - for the strength to press forward or the courage to change course - whatever is most needed here!"
~The Next Right Step, 8-3-25

"She had a book signing event at Book and Bloom in Broken Arrow... an adorable bookstore & flower shop that she said reminded her of You've Got Mail.  For real, Main Street in Broken Arrow is the best, and they chose the perfect location for this event!  Oooh, and I stopped by the Laurannae Bakery Ashley had recommended afterward and had the very best cupcake ever, but let's not get sidetracked... The Campbell family is such a light in the world, and I'm happy this book will carry that light a little further!!"

~I've Never Been Here Before, 8-10-25

"I'm grateful that all of these pics hold equal weight for me in this moment; I no longer feel pain, longing, or loss when I see photos with Malori.  Thanks to the '7 years and 12 days' revelation from God, the soul tie that was gripping for me is finally gone.  The difference I am talking about is internal and intangible, but I am deeply aware of it - the power this once had over me is gone, and that's not a small thing."

~Carousel of Progress, 8-11-25

"A lot of other areas of my life feel suspended in limbo while I'm waiting to know something definitive (a clear yes or no on the pregnancy hopes), and that has been more challenging than I expected...  A repeated and loud thought when it comes to big life decisions lately has been, "You're on your own here."  The fruit of it has been a. lot. of extra pressure and stress/exhaustion."

~In Limbo (But Not Alone), 8-19-25

"A repeated theme in this documentary was that overweight people felt invisible and saw weight loss as the best path to being seen and valued.  So they were willing to make enormous sacrifices and sometimes compromises to get there.  Check, that resonates."

~Seen and Valued, 8-21-25

"I am signed up to co-author a chapter of a textbook written by CCU and Liberty University professors, so yay for adding that to the resume!"

~Prepared for Magic, 8-24-25

"I cannot bank my hopes on any specific answered prayer.  And I cannot be petty and frustrated with God when life doesn't pan out according to my dreams or my timeline.  (Easier to write than live out - it's been messy lately, but I want to honor God as I move forward.)"

~Diving Deeper, 8-25-25

"I've wanted more of an ongoing mentor-style relationship there, and today, [Dr. Burkhart] sent me a reusable calendar link to set up future meetings whenever he has available time.  I promised not to overuse it, and he responded saying, "I truly enjoy investing in the people I see great potential in." which totally made my day, even before hearing T-Swift's big news!! =)"

~NEW NEWS, 8-26-25

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Seven Swans A-Swimming

1.  Walking to the Big Dipper after Sarah's Birthday dinner at Charleston's!
2.  Pool party with the Whitaker fam around Diesel's birthday!
3.  Chet Lee's Birthday dinner at Whataburger!
4.  Seeing Superman in 4Dx with the Parrishes!
5.  Happy summer pic with two of my favorite people!
6.  Pool pic with presh Parker Elizabeth!
7.  My candidacy website launch... (it will make a comeback eventually)!
8.  Final Tulsa pic with the Shoemakers after the Farewell Fiesta party!
9.  Girls pic, 4th of July party at Mom and Dad's!

This = month number 7 in my 12 Days of Recaps with a few blog quotes and my top nine photos from each month of 2025!

JULY:

"You know when a player lobs the basketball from half-court as the buzzer goes off, and the shot goes in?  Well, in light of knowing it was the final day of the first half of 2025, yesterday felt kinda like that! lol  ...I received an email from Dallas IVF approving the embryo match, so that's big news and further than I've ever gotten before! ...I also finished setting up my HIPAA-compliant business email, simplified website, and Pyschology Today page, so YAY for getting those time-consuming-but-important things done yesterday!!"

~Halftime Pep Talk, 7-2-25

"Every once in a while, I'm just gripped with intense thankfulness to have a friend group like this.  Seeing Parker and Hope and Kristin holding hands while Chet prayed was one of those times."

~Food & Fireworks with Friends, 7-7-25

"Exactly six years ago today (7-7-19), Chet invited a few friends to help his clients paint their new home.  That was my first time meeting Mark and Rachel.  They came to Friendsgiving that November, and to nearly every fun friend group event over the past six years!  I so appreciate people who show up and participate and engage in conversation, and they've been top-tier, dependable friends in that way through the past six years!! With this move, they will be closer to their families and better able to support Rachel's mom through her cancer treatments.  So I'm sincerely happy for them, while being genuinely sad to see them go!"

~A Fond Farewell Fiesta, 7-7-25

"After 10.5 months without counseling a single client, my LPC-Candidacy has finally begun.  My first session back took every bit of two hours, but it went well... It's such a learning curve in the beginning with all the new software and mountain of paperwork and regulations and more, but the actual real life connection and the sense that (with God's help) I am capable of helping someone improve their life in a real and lasting way makes the rest feel very worth it... Trying to reframe the nerves as being excited - and honestly, both are true."

~I'm Back, 7-16-25

"Signed the contracts to officially adopt 2 living-but-frozen Snowflakes embryos (on 7-18-25 - YAY!!), writing a thank you note to the placing parent today, and navigating next steps and medical appointments moving forward... I'm planting good seeds, and God will decide what grows from it!"

~In God's Hands, 7-28-25

"Dr. Burkhart:  "I have seven weeks with you, and I want to push you as hard as I can, but I want you to know that I am doing that because I actually care.  I am 100% here to support you… My motto when it comes to teaching classes is: High expectations and high support!"

~High Expectations and High Support, 7-29-25

"The exit on the way to Dallas IVF is "Legacy Drive."  Reading that made me happy, so I snapped a picture... My emotions did such an intense down-and-back-up swing during that appointment - I feel truly relieved and grateful that I get to move forward here!"

~A Clear Path Forward, 7-30-25

(*The very next day, I got a voicemail from Dr. Ku that changed the entire trajectory of that story, but for that one day, things felt glittery and perfectly aligned.  Reading that post is still hard for me now, but I'm also highlighting it for myself to remember how easily we can get it wrong and misinterpret things as "signs from God" when we want something and get caught up in our emotions about it.  Not a shame-based thing, just a reminder to try to be emotionally healthy and prayerful and wise and maybe a bit better at guarding my heart in the future - not putting expectations on God for things He never directly promised.  Hard but important.)

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Random Christmas Cheer

After mocking it for a tiny minute, I hypocritically jumped on the AI Christmas portrait trend. lol. Umm, yes, please to this flat stomach and glittery dress!  ChatGPT randomly making my hoop earring a hook is funny to me - AI does so many odd little things like that.

For the record, ChatGPT taught me that you have to be extra-specific in a way that feels a bit comical in the prompt:
"Create an ultra-realistic professional portrait using the uploaded image as the exact identity reference. Maintain exact facial structure, proportions, and likeness of the person in the photo. Confident female realtor, early-40s, modern hairstyle. Wearing a tailored silver sequin gown. Holding an oversized pink and white lollipop prop. Luxury Christmas editorial photoshoot, candy-themed holiday set with soft snow, decorated Christmas trees, warm glowing lights. Bright, natural smile, relaxed confident pose. Studio lighting, sharp focus, shallow depth of field, high-end fashion photography, 85mm lens look, cinematic color grading, magazine cover quality realism. Do not change facial features. No face swapping, no age change, no exaggerated jawline, no extra fingers, no warped hands, no cartoon style, no AI artifacts, no blur, no over-smoothing skin.”

You're welcome.  Obviously, you change the age, gender, and clothing according to what you're wanting.  The no extra fingers or warped hands made me laugh!  (It only says realtor because that's what started this random trend - I saw two posts like this on FB, then made one to text Chet to be funny.)   In Debbie's photo, I told it to keep the dog, and it did a good job!  It makes me very happy seeing her and Mia! lol  She was texting Chettles not to jump on this trend right before I sent the pic of him, then he had me make one for her too and she said they should both be on FB! lolol

We need a higher quality pic of Rach for it to start from - it kept changing up her face (and giving her less modest clothing).  Her commentary was entertaining, as per usual, and we laughed about that whilst halfway watching the CHA Christmas program!  It was reminiscent of me trying to use ChatGPT to make a flyer for Chet a few months back when it kept his exact clothes but made his face about 10 verrry different people. lol

It's got the face-matching down for the most part now!!  Look at this Christmasy cuteness - fun! =)  I believe the quality level of the original photo makes a big difference in the result.

Anyway, back to reality, Kristin and I took a lovely winter-wonderland walk at the Station on Wednesday!  A nice warm-up before our delicious Hideaway pizza! =)  It was great to catch up with her!

The Mini-Miss K had her final CHA Christmas program Thursday night (it's elementary only and she's in 6th grade)!

Haydenn, Kyndal, (not sure), Story, Colin, and Talon!

Proud grandparents! ❤

My lovely prayer plant or peacock plant from Trader Joe's - both names make me happy.  I've always loved that it moves every day, but I didn't know what it was called until this week.

The last-minute group pic after Kyle's bday lunch with the guys at Napa Flats!  I so appreciate them humoring my love of pictures even as I'm 100 miles away. lol  Looking forward to seeing Jeffrey Edward and Chettles and their families in MWC tomorrow morning!!

This was my final Friday working at the Cleveland County Courthouse, and it was a half day thanks to the OU Alabama game (they shut the courthouse down early due to the extra traffic in Norman). lol  Google tells me Alabama is up 34-24 right now.  As per usual, I don't really care who wins, but I have friends and family who are passionately cheering for one team or the other!  I was just happy to have the afternoon off, and very thrilled that Mom and I went to get new phones today - yay for quality photos for Christmas!! ❤  This is a pic taken before my arrival at work this morning of lots of Cleveland County employees (Judge Brockman included) in their best OU gear. lol

On a related note, I think about this scene a lot! lol

Mmkay, that's all I've got for you today.  Happy Friday!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Six Geese A-Laying

1.  Me and Sarah after lunch at The Collective in OKC!

2.  Mom and Dad's 44th Anniversary group pic at Bricktown Brewery!

3.  Program from Kristen's funeral service ❤

4.  Pic with Dr. Burkhart and Dr. Philip at CCU, Day one of the PhD Program

5.  Pool fun with Jace and Kyndal Faith!

6.  Dinner and a movie with the girls at the end of our first doctoral Residency weekend!

7.  Celebrating Rach passing her CPC-A exam!

8.  CFA lunch with the Wilsons after Kristen's service!
9.  Thunder playoffs game with Dad, Rach, and Kyndal!

This = 12 Days of Recaps with a few blog quotes and my top nine photos from each month of 2025!

JUNE:

"Over 80 people applied, 18 were admitted, and 17 are in our current group! "

~Doctoral Residency, Part 1, 6-6-25

"Dr. Elliott:  "You are where you are supposed to be - do not let go of it easily!  You made this decision with fortitude and faith and determination... and the only way you won't make it through at this point is if you choose not to make it!" 

~Doctoral Residency, Part 2, 6-8-25

"The rejection I've endured means it usually takes me a whiiiiile to really trust people and be vulnerable with them, and when I finally get there, not everyone has handled it well.  I’m so very thankful for the people in my life who have loved me well -- not perfectly, but consistently... they have been a tangible picture of God's love and His refusal to give up on me - it's why loving others well is so important to Jesus."

~Love and Leadership, 6-11-25

"Kristen shared about her daily routine and the physical pain she was experiencing and the loneliness of some friends/family distancing themselves from her suffering... She was feeling pretty good that night but had been diagnosed with pneumonia earlier that morning, and neither of us had any idea how quickly things would shift... The day before their trip back to Oklahoma, she texted: "God is giving me a peace and looking forward to going home."  I so appreciate the double meaning there."
~Love and Leadership, 6-11-25

"I am beyond grateful for Emily's validation, gentleness, empathy, support, example, and wisdom!  Feeling seen and heard matters, and even if we only discussed some of the above one time, it's made a difference for me."

~Therapy Takeaways, 6-13-25

"I had a real chat with God during my walk yesterday... God helped me see that using AI through this doctoral program would be a lot like driving myself through the marathon course... That inner picture and thinking about what I want my "finish line" to feel like made it all very clear to me."

~Moral Authority and Finishing Well, 6-26-25

"I am just beginning to lean into the new identity of seeing myself as a leader... my goal is to grow in that and become an author and maybe a speaker eventually."

~Thankful Thursday #227 (Leaders), 6-26-25

"When it's just me, I feel more freedom to feel my own emotions (as opposed to monitoring others and making sure they're okay), and I cried more than I have cried at any other funeral."

~Night Will Be No More, 6-30-25

"Without sugarcoating the brutal realities she faced here or the grief her parents will absolutely deal with until they die, I simultaneously feel great confidence that Kristen is more alive and fully well today than she ever was here on earth.  She is wholeheartedly present, surrounded by a newly-defined family, basking in the love of God and family and friends, not feeling sad or lonely or short-changed based on anything she didn't receive here."

~Night Will Be No More, 6-30-25

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Five Golden Rings

1.  Jace (purple suit) and friends celebrating their final day of elementary school!

2.  Cap and gown pics with the fam in Mom and Dad's backyard!

3.  Ballet afterparty pic at Braums with Parker Elizabeth!

4.  Master's Graduation day; bejeweled cap by Rach, awesome pic by Mom!

5.  Thunder playoffs game with Rachael LaJo, courtesy of Dad!

6.  Rach icing her ankle while curling Vivian, just before our trip to the ER! lol

7.  Diploma pic with Mom after Graduation (in Loveland, Colorado)!

8.  Andy's afterparty to celebrate Chet's Summer Block Party success! =)

9.  Graduation day pic with Michelle, Lauren, and Amy (CCU Roomies, minus Joy)!

This = 12 Days of Recaps with a few blog quotes and my top nine photos from each month of 2025!

MAY:

"My foundation is still rock solid... I am tethering myself to the Anchor... praying for renewed strength and endurance, and joining David in declaring:  "You are my God - my future is in Your hands."

~The Anchor Holds, 5-7-25

"Rach is often funny to me, but never more so than when she's mildly flustered or irritated, which she definitely was by the end of the night!  Earlier, while Rach was curling my hairpiece - LOL - I freaked out about the curling iron and dropped it on the ground right where she'd just cleaned up a pile of blood.  Five second rule!? lol  ...In the end, we laughed a lot and all was well.  And we spent zero dollars and less than 30 minutes at the hospital."

~A Family Dinner to Remember, 5-7-25

"It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world... remembering that first impressions are not always correct, you must always have faith in people, and most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself!"  ~Elle Woods ;-)

~Graduation, 5-10-25

"Mom's distaste for white cars and white walls has rubbed off on us, and we for sure all tend to LOVE color and glitter and confetti and sparkly things, cars and clothes and jewelry and shoes and hair and home decor that make a unique and bold statement.  And if I'm being honest, I LOVE that journey for us!!"

~Life in Vibrant Color, 5-14-25

"Today, I am struggling to know what God wants from me, specifically in the adoption journey.  I'm unsure if pressing forward shows faith or foolishness... if letting go would be wisdom or fear.  It’s been setback after setback, and I'm in limbo again after some discouraging news... sitting in the tension of hope and grief, asking for wisdom and craving comfort."

~Ambiguous Grief, 5-16-25

"A volleyball was coming in hard right at me, but a little 6- or 7-year-old girl ran by and hit it back to the court just in time... then Sailor's dad sitting behind me sang in his best Mariah impression: "And then a hero comes along..." and I laughed about that for a stupidly long time. lol  What a great song I'd mostly forgotten about!"

~Framily Fun, 5-18-25

"Chet and Karli go all out and do an amazing job planning and hosting this every year!  It is never lost on me what a privilege it is to be in their close circle."

~Block Party Summer, 5-27-25

"Whew... the last five months have been tiring and hard on my sense of calling and identity as a counselor.  Satan meant for them to be... I'm grateful to Mr. Smith for the reminder that the Lord will make my paths straight and show me which path to take.  For now, that looks like giving my best effort here... surrendering and saying yes to what He has placed before me, even when it looks nothing like the life I once imagined."

~The Lord Will Make Your Paths Straight, 5-31-25

"Jesus told Peter when he asked about John: “What is that to you? You follow Me.” And that’s what I keep coming back to.  I'm not responsible for what others justify—I’m fully responsible for my obedience... God has good gifts and wants good things for us: abundant life, strong relationships, and a future that reflects His character and goodness! ❤"

~Pure and Blameless, 5-31-25

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