Photo Friday!

Well, hellooooo, and HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!  It's Friday, I'm fully caught up at work, and the weather outside is finally getting cooler... I am 100% here for all of that!!

Okay, first things first - look at my adorable "personality mascot," Miss Claire Bear, the smart, warm, playful, intensely loyal, and action-oriented Golden Retriever.  She was chosen by ChatGPT in a random viral trend - I could only have been happier with a Corgi or Pom Puppy, but I love this energy.  Fun fact:  I hear  "Claire Bear" in Christopher Walken's voice from Wedding Crashers. lol  Also, yes, please to this full and vibrant copper-red hair!!

From ChatGPT:  "You strike me as having an unusual combination of warmth + intensity + optimism + “we are absolutely going to figure this out” energy.  You’re very relational and nurturing—you invest heavily in family, counseling, mentoring, faith, and the people you care about—but you’re not passive about it.  You tend to move quickly from “Okay, this is happening” to “What are our options, what’s the plan, and what do we do next?”  That felt much more golden retriever than, say, an aloof cat or a serene woodland creature.  The glasses were the little connection to you, but they also accidentally make the dog look like your enthusiastic research assistant, which feels extremely appropriate.  You have a strong intellectual/academic side—counseling, doctoral work, writing, research—but you're also playful and expressive.  So I liked the contrast of this ridiculously cheerful dog wearing serious little black glasses beside glamorous cartoon-you.  It has the energy of: “We have read the literature. We have made a spreadsheet. We also brought snacks.”  And “Claire Bear” came from your middle name rather than just calling it Lindsey-something. It gives the mascot this affectionate alter-ego quality. The tagline “Big Energy for Brighter Days” was essentially my cartoon translation of what seems to run through a lot of what you care about: helping people recognize that circumstances matter, but they aren't necessarily helpless inside them—and then figuring out what constructive choice comes next. That connects well with your counseling interests and the central idea you've been developing around Not Beyond Your Reach." ❤

Kyndal's Rise VB Coach, Nikki, was the first to alert me to this trend.  It chose a Highland Cow for her, which cracks me up!  "Big energy, bigger purpose" feels spot on, as she is an exceptional leader who seems very mission-focused in her vision for the girls and coaches at Rise Club!

Speaking of Kyndal Faith, she got the adorable puppy version of the golden retriever - CUTENESS - I love this so much!  She has used ChatGPT to brainstorm plans for a side jewelry business, so "Creative energy, big plans" feels spot on for her too!

Love her and proud of her hard work, ambition, and advocacy!

Here's a team pic from their final home game on Tuesday. ❤

Elise, Aniston, Evelyn, Hope, Rylan (former club teammate), and Dylan!

My Uncle Gene turned 80 this week - HBD to him!!

Annie's "Wedding Wednesday" posts are super fun!

And this wedding-centered podcast episode did not disappoint!  It helps dramatically that Eddie is a thoughtful Enneagram 4 who pays more attention to details and feels things more deeply and expressively than a lot of men... hearing him describe Annie's wedding in detail (followed by their debate over whether married couples should ever take off their wedding rings) was both meaningful and entertaining!

I took Mom for a Wednesday appt with her primary care doctor and a Thursday appt with Dr. Fene, the spine specialist at Integris.  We learned that her hemoglobin is low (9 when it should be 12) and that accounts for the weakness and lightheadedness she's been feeling.  Praying the iron pills will remedy that and that God renews her strength and energy!  We also learned that her C7 neck fracture is stable and healing well, which was very happy news - praising God for that!

Two of their teammates backed out last minute, so it was just Dad and Bill as a "team" in the CHA golf tournament.  This team pic brings me joy. lol  They both hit every shot twice, which they probably enjoyed!

Kinda true, but also, I absolutely ADORE Tom and Andrew.  So did their co-stars. lol

Tate's final cross-county run + Chet Lee being an awesome dad running with him!

I'm starting fresh here, and my main 2027 goal = Become an excellent counselor (warm, competent, grounded in Christ).  That means WHOLEHEARTEDNESS + following the steps below without giving in to lies or self-doubt!

Larson (an 8th grade girl who's really nice to Kyndal) and Titus, her classmate and friend!

Jace Michael and friends + a pic with Kyndal post-game! =)

It really was the best seeing them all come check on Mom and be excited to see her... she loves and cares about all of them, and I was happy to see them all wanting to show her what they've been up to! =)

The Mini Miss K-Faith and Aunt Lindsey - ironically, I also wore the very same shirt and hat to the one scrimmage we attended the day of Mom's wreck.  Big eyeroll when I realized that. lol

Kyndal and Mamaw ❤

Closeup of these new shoes, crystalled by Rach!

She didn't miss a serve all game!

Catching up with Jerry (who remembered Mom from her courthouse days) and Megan and Cheryl - (Megs is pregnant with a baby boy, which is very exciting news!)

For the first time since Mom's car wreck and double hospital stay, I am fully caught up on transcripts as of this afternoon!  YAAAAY... it's a big deal!  This was today's verse, and my devotional for today was also centered on rest.  After a busy season and two nights of staying up working past 1am, I am taking that to heart and planning to lean in and surriously catch up on sleep this weekend!

In other news, this is likely my last full month without counseling clients and/or PhD courses for the foreseeable future (2-3 years).  A lot of potential change on the horizon, and I'll post more thoughts on that journey soon.  I am preparing for a meeting with Dr. Burkhart on Monday... having a solid mentor is bringing me joy and strengthening my ambition and hope in this season!  

In the meantime, I am very much looking forward to finally catching up with Kristin Michelle tonight over dinner at Spud Muffin, a new baked-potato-themed restaurant!  (We had plans to try it on 8-7-26, then the car wreck changed everything, so this will be another redemptive meal in my book!)  Then I'm excited to see all the girls at LifeGroup for the first time in a while tomorrow morning - fun!  Big energy for brighter days ahead!

Mmkay, that's all I've got.
I sincerely hope you have a lovely autumn weekend ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #245!

"My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is perfected in weakness."
~2 Corinthians 12:10

Today, I am grateful to God for...

1.  A fun Tuesday with the fam at Kyndal Faith's last CHA home game for this season... thankful that Mom had the strength and energy to be there in person, thankful Kyndal played well, thankful we got some great pics, and thankful Jace's friends were extra-kind to check on Mom! ❤  (More pics from that and other recent events coming tomorrow!)

2.  Podcasts where seeing the title brings me joy before I even start listening, most definitely including these two... I love that The Curiosity Shop brings out my more academic side - normalizing intelligent conversations, evidence-based research, thoughtful/nuanced language, male/female friendships, and strengthening my professor/author/speaker dreams.  This time, Brene and Adam are talking with Angela Duckworth about her fantastic new Situated book that I'm in the process of finishing - so great!  Also love Annie and Eddie, always, and can't wait to listen to that one and learn more about her wedding details next!!

3.  Jaceman's love of basketball... and hearing him say, "Since I can't play football right now, I might as well focus on the sport where I can play all season!"  YESSSSS to that growth mindset and personal agency and leadership identity!!  Also VERY thankful for the doors God has opened through his great Discovery teacher this year - yay for Rach taking the initiative to talk with her, and yay for that teacher taking the initiative to make Jace's 8th grade year far more manageable!!

4.  Kyndal Faith's love of volleyball, and what her competence, recognition, and meaningful contribution in that sport have done for her leadership identity and sense of agency in all areas of life... (this is my main focus as I'm prepping for dissertation topics lately, so I'm kinda seeing it everywhere, and it's exciting!)

5.  Having an in-person meeting that gave me a reason to be fully dressed professionally for the first time in a while.  Also thankful for God's timing in hearing back from the OCC and MCC just minutes after I'd talked with Chet about feeling a little stressed that I hadn't heard from either of them. lol  Praying for continued guidance and that God would open the right doors and close the wrong ones!

6.  Annie F. Downs being on a full season of Candace Cameron Bure's podcast discussing the themes from her new book - loving it so far - their talk about rebuilding after something has been destroyed was powerful!

7.  I'm thankful to be in a rich, fertile season where my energy is actively being renewed and God is planting so many good seeds in my heart.  I am absolutely seeking Him more intentionally, and He is absolutely showing up!  Almost everything that I hear and read lately (Scripture, emails, music, audiobooks, podcasts, conversations with friends/family/mentors) has felt meaningful and alive, inspiring action and courage and Kingdom hope for brighter days ahead.  More on that soon enough, I'm sure, but I want to acknowledge that I'm thankful for God's almost-tangible presence in the aftermath of a pretty challenging season.  "I don't want to forget how I feel right now.  On the mountaintop, I can see so clear what it's all about.  So stay by my side when the sun goes down... Jireh, I am enough because You are enough." ❤

"The Lord will establish you... the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord" - yes, please!  IF YOU OBEY HIM AND WALK IN HIS WAYS.  And on a related note, I really appreciated this insight from John Eldredge's latest podcast:  "A strong sense of identity is not pride.  It's not biblical humility to avoid talking about yourself with esteem or dignity.  We are meant to be maturing and growing in a really rooted sense of identity.  Look at how Paul opens his letters:  'Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ...'"

Also grateful for you, friends - thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a delightful weekend ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Choose the Story

Hey, friends!!  Happy Monday, and I hope this week is off to a good start for you! ❤

I've DoorDashed P.F. Chang's for dinner, so I'm attempting to finish writing this post before it gets here.  Fun Fact:  I had grabbed that for a late lunch after K's scrimmage the day of Mom's car wreck, then threw away most of my delicious chicken pad thai at a gas station on my way to OU Hospital, so this will kinda feel like a redemptive dinner for me! lol

I got in a lovely 88-degree afternoon walk today with a fantastic 2000s-era pop playlist - yes, please!

Choose. the. story. you'll tell yourself!!!

Split portrait ChatGPT trend...
(This = Mom's Senior pic on the left and Rachael's on the right)

Rach left and Kyndal Faith right

Me left and Kyndal right! lol  Pretty fun!

Currently listening to this book and loving it!  So many fantastic books on my list right now!!

Including Annie's new one... didn't expect to cry while listening to it, but her ultrasound story (left) was so incredibly familiar that it hit me and gave me an unexpected healthy grief moment.  Also, I love that her stated goal for this book is to help readers identify what is holding them back in their callings and then "do the work to get unstuck."

She writes with wisdom about the enemy's plot to steal, kill, and destroy... and Jesus' instructions for us to ask, seek, and knock.  Finished the book yesterday and highly recommend it - my favorite of hers so far!

Love her, and her nails and book cover and shoes! lol

Also adore Eddie and their friendship and genuine conversations!!

Encouraging truth:

Mom's donor site and skin graft are looking better and better!  (The grafted skin will continue to heal and gradually become lighter and blend with the rest of her knee, but this is a vast improvement from the first time we saw it on 8-28!!)

Miss Paige Evelyn ready to run! lol

So thankful for Chet Lee, a wonderful friend and encourager whose wholehearted belief in me helps me to believe in myself!

(Current context:  In part two of a potentially three-part interview process, I had to do a mock counseling session on video with an AI simulated bot - an awkward process that shook my confidence a bit, but I did my best, and I am trusting God with the outcome!)

Mom and I ordered new phone covers - yay!

Solid reminders:

Praying for more of God's anointing and authority lately as I read these verses and lean into a leadership identity, seriously considering God's standards and His heart toward leaders:  "I will be with you as I was with Moses...  You are the one who will lead... Be strong and very courageous... Be careful to obey... Study this Book of Instruction continually."  (Then you will be successful and no one will be able to stand against you.  Challenging instructions with massive promises - integrity and obedience always matter, and the Lord is a faithful rewarder of those who sincerely seek Him!)

Okay, now I'm off to eat my chicken lo mein - right on time. =)
"May the joy of Jesus be in you, that your joy may be complete!"

Make it a great week ahead!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #244!

"When I fall, I will arise;

When I sit in darkness,

The Lord will be a light to me."

Micah 7:8

Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Getting to catch up and have an encouraging convo with my cousin, Ashley, over lunch in Norman today! ❤

2.  Kirsten Ferguson's 20-minute Lauren Daigle walk - bookmarked it a while back, and I've done it twice this week - the music and Kirsten's words throughout that class are really uplifting and empowering!!  Yes, please, to walking on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose! ❤

3.  Parker Elizabeth making me laugh from afar... when she feels upset, she apparently draws a sad girl surrounded by hearts with X's through them - one of which was in response to her not having money available for the book fair at school. lol  A tragic tale of woe and misfortune.  I love her expressiveness and drama-level!

4.  Still having this phone note (of CCU professor quotes from Doctoral Residency 1, June 2025).  ❤  I love them all.

5.  Cannot say enough good things about Dr. Burkhart in this season.  Thankful for his obedience to God and the anointing that is clearly on his life.  Thankful that he's been a Guide in my story repeatedly.  Thankful for two 30-minute conversations with him (February 2023, August 2026) that were pivotal in my staying the course at CCU!  Thankful for getting the opportunity to tell him all that very directly in our last meeting.  Thankful for his encouraging feedback and direction in the Leadership course and beyond.  Thankful for solid mentorship, a developing friendship, and having an inspiring example in this field.  Thankful for the high expectations and high support.  Thankful for a clear sense of safety and good boundaries.  Thankful he paved the way for a streamlined path to LPCC status in Colorado (for me and so many others).  And thankful he recommended a potential CO job for me (and recommended me to them!).  Extremely grateful to know him, and would not be aglow and fully committed to CCU without his influence!  (2024 Masters Res 3 pic)

6.  La Madeleine - always a fan of their Cafe Sampler lunch - yay, quiche + strawberry feta salad + potato soup!

7.  A solid first interview this morning - thankful that I took the time to prepare well and felt poised and confident and was invited into the next step in their process - part one of three completed!!

Bonus:  I'm grateful for all the empowering reminders to take courage (and take bold action) and remember that God is with and for us in my Bible reading lately!!

"DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE NATIONS, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS AMONG YOU, AND HE IS A GREAT AND AWESOME GOD... RECOGNIZE TODAY THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS THE ONE WHO WILL CROSS OVER AHEAD OF YOU LIKE A DEVOURING FIRE."  ~Deut. 7:21, 9:3

❤ ❤ ❤