NEW NEWS!!

Happy T-Swift Engagement Day!! ❤

I was so happy to open Instagram and see this during my lunch hour!

Hooray for Travis Michael Kelce and Taylor Alison Swift!!
87 + 13 = 100 ❤

I texted several people, including my Supervisor, who I learned was a Swiftie because she'd set a timer and stopped our group meeting last Monday to check Taylor's website and see what the countdown was leading to. lol

Jason is a funny one!  I finally listened to their whole podcast last week and thoroughly enjoyed it - (hence this post title - that's a regular segment on the New Heights podcast)!  I'm glad the whole Kelce fam seems to love and celebrate her!  (Also, please note the 777 comments at the time of my screenshot - random but fun!)

Sometimes I look at other Swifties and think I'm not really that big a fan, but then I spend 9 hours in theaters watching the Eras movie the week it comes out. lol  I really didn't love TTPD era, but they said her new album is "much more upbeat" aligned with her current season of life, so I expect to enjoy that, and I will gladly spend my lunch hour celebrating her exciting personal news! lol  So yeah, still in the #Swiftie club, and I'm ridiculously happy for them. ❤

Tiffany was on the list of Swifties I had to celebrate with! lol

I'm quickly reminded online that there will always be unhappy people who feel the need to reduce, minimize, and belittle people who are thriving. #villainmode #letthem  I hope their bitterness does minimal damage and that they eventually make better choices, and I hope to rise above that attitude in my own life and in my reactions to the good fortune of others. #celebrategoodnesseverywhere #personalcommandment5  I like that they are both fun-loving, kindhearted, well-rounded, highly successful people who are secure and okay with or without each other, but happier together!  She said Travis is a whole vibe, like a human exclamation point or "enhance color" button.  I love that!

GACC jumping in on the marketing train. lol

In other news, this perfectly sums up something I have struggled to articulate.  The need to teach my mind that growth is safe - that it's okay to struggle as you're learning new things, that it's good and right to push yourself and keep moving forward!  I'm working on that. ❤

This morning also included my second one-on-one Zoom meeting with Dr. Burkhart.  It went well, and I so deeply appreciate and value his insight!  I've wanted more of an ongoing mentor-style relationship there, and today, he 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!! =)

(MAC Res 3, July 2024)

Happy 9th Anniversary to Steve and Sarah today!

I'm catching up on things at work, and tonight is family dinner.

All in all, it's been a peaceful and joyful 8-26, a former grief anniversary that feels redemptive now.

❤ ❤ ❤

Diving Deeper

"Faith is predicated on trust, not understanding. You will never trust or obey a God that you don't think is FOR YOU.  Not ultimately.  Why would you maintain a Christian sexual ethic if you didn't believe God was good and He was for you?  Legalism never kept anyone in anything."  ~Christine Caine (this week's podcast)

Timely and true.  I am most susceptible to compromise or seeking comfort in the wrong places when I start to doubt God's heart toward me (our spiritual enemy's continual marketing campaign).  Does God care enough to come through, or am I basically alone and grasping to build something great on my own?

When our view of God is off, our obedience won't have deep roots.  And I think my view of His goodness has been too tied to my specific life plan(s).  It's good to set big goals and pursue them, but I have to acknowledge God's sovereign authority and trust His love and wisdom.

Ugh, it feels more complicated than it should.  The verse that helps me most right now is Hebrews 11:6: "It is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him."

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.)

God is real, and He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

We don't know exactly how or when the reward is coming.  But we can trust that He sees the things no one else does, and He. values. our. faithfulness.  That's the part I need to internalize more deeply.  Heart-level repentance and pursuing integrity, purity, obedience, and a clean conscience with a desire to honor God because we love Him... that doesn't go unnoticed or undervalued, and God is not indifferent or blasé about it.  God is trustworthy, and His heart is invested in this relationship.  So it's good and right for me to put my whole heart (mind, body, soul, and strength) into it, too - He will not waste my time or energy, even if the outcome is not what I have prayed for!

Every day, in a hundred little ways, He sets before us the choice between life and death.  Will we align ourselves with Jesus (being transformed) or conform to the surrounding culture?  Will we push our own agenda or trust God's character enough to surrender to His?  Will we choose the path of life in our thoughts, words, actions, and relationships?

God is good, and He is for you.
Be still today, and know that He exists.
And He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
❤ ❤ ❤

Prepared for Magic

Happy Sunday, friends and fam. ❤  

In spite of the disappointing medical delay, having this break week between CCU semesters has been really nice!  I am 100% caught up on my progress notes and treatment plans for the first time since I joined ITS.  Yay!  I scoped and filed 2 transcripts, started a new show about the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, took advantage of the extra writing time, and enjoyed a couple days off from the courthouse!  This weekend included a great convo with Katie and Jennifer at Lifegroup, a 7-mile walk/jog to officially kick off my 3 months of training for the Route 66 Relay, a relaxing bath, and watching my favorite HP movie at Warren Theater tonight!!

As per usual, the book is better and far more detailed, but the final battle scene in this movie is THE. BEST. depiction of spiritual warfare I've ever seen.  Truly, I adore it.  And I love everything about Harry leading the Dumbledore's Army group - I could easily work that into my presentation on heroes and guides and leadership.  Also love when Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore pops in as a surprise witness for the defense at Harry's trial (pictured) - yes, please.  When they bring movies like this back, it delights me that the 4Dx theater is packed out with true HP fans who are willing to pay good money to watch something they could've streamed for free...  We laugh at all the overt and subtle humor, cheer for APWBD, react with groans when Deloris Umbridge first appears, boo Lucius and Bellatrix, shake our heads at Cornelius Fudge, tear up for Sirius, and clap as if it's the first time we're seeing it when the movie ends.  All while enjoying our Butterbeer Icees topped with caramel and whipped cream - yum. =)  What a fantastic way to end the break!

And now, catching up on everything else...

"If you believe that nothing is working for you,
then you will notice all the signs
that nothing is working for you.
And if you believe things are moving in your favor,
then you will notice all the signs
that things are moving in your favor!"

~Jay Shetty

Dr. Mayfield and other CCU professors wrote a book for church leaders that releases this coming week! =)

Speaking of, 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!

I'm seeing a lot of Jay Shetty on FB lately.  He talks about how praise and positive feedback from others are not enough to change how we feel about ourselves... he says the three keys to building real confidence are:

1)  Choosing discomfort
2)  Keeping promises to yourself

3)  Building competence 

In my experience, this holds true.  We have to choose to step into things that are hard and uncomfortable for us, to press through fear and honor our commitments, and to take action in order to become more competent and confident in anything new!  Then the positive feedback is just icing on the cake. ❤

Our current AppleTV+ users. =)

For real!

"Sometimes we cling to loyalty when liberation is needed... Sometimes, the most loyal thing you can do for your future is to stop being loyal to your past."  ~Jay Papasan (Full post HERE)

I totally feel this right now.

Lindsay and fam - I'm so rooting for them!

I'm determined to crack the code on resetting a new normal/ new identity that embraces healthy habits.

Breese Campbell's latest cake for their 3-year-old neighbor's bday. ❤

Feeling this.  Signed up for 6 months of WW starting tomorrow.

"Difficulty shrinks with action."  Absolutely!  A key phrase I want to remember for myself and my clients moving forward!

Hanging out with the Mini Miss K, 7 years back and today!

Tomorrow starts the Fall Semester that includes the very last math-based class I will ever have to take!!  I gave myself a legit break and didn't glance at the new courses this past week, so I'll be diving in full force tomorrow.  Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research will likely be less fun for me than the Leadership class, but I'll make the best of it.  We're moving into better weather and football season, which will lead straight into the holidays!  I've been in a self-indulgent stress-eating pattern with all the embryo adoption drama and disappointment, but I'm not staying there.  Frustration ignites the level-up, and I feel really good about tracking with WW and training to run the relay in November.

Wherever you find yourself today, I'm praying we embrace the daily grace and strength we need for the race God has marked out for us.

And that we believe with all our hearts the best is yet to come!

❤ ❤ ❤

The Reason I'm Telling You This...

Trying out Ally's method of writing directly to the reader about what I want them to learn from my story (in my future memoir-style book).

Another unrelated pic, but what a fun girls' trip memory! =)

The reason I'm telling you this is:

• To encourage you and point you to HOPE in Christ.
• I want you to know you are not alone in your pain.
• I want you to know you are not a permanent victim, but a survivor and conqueror.
• Pain will not get the last word; God really does bring beauty for ashes.
• Your heart matters.  Your voice matters.  Your story matters.  Step up.
• God has given you power and love and a sound mind.  Don't let our spiritual enemy convince you that you are weak, indifferent, or emotionally unstable!
• You. are. not. stuck.  Real and lasting change is possible.
• You sincerely have the power to disentangle yourself from the relationships, beliefs, and behaviors that are hurting you.  And I'd love to help you with that.
• God is INTENTIONAL.  He wastes nothing, and no person in your story was placed there accidentally (including those who have hurt you).
• Like manna, God's grace is enough for us day by day.  Like manna, we must take action to receive and enjoy it.
• Whatever you have to manipulate to get is rarely yours to keep. (-Beth Moore)
• Life is messy, and we are all works in progress.  I want to strengthen you and encourage you not to give up!
• You were created to be set apart and lead with integrity.  Do not compromise or sell yourself short.  Don't let anyone convince you that character doesn't matter.
• Security and insecurity are both contagious.  Be intentional about who you surround yourself with!
• We can learn and grow from our mistakes to become healthy people who are good at relationships, no matter how messy our past relationships have been!!
• God cares about (and is sovereign over) the details of your life.
• To remind you your interpretation and response to the painful things you've endured will shape the rest of your life.
• I want you to expand your vision for what your life can become!
• I love you and believe in you, and I'm confident in your ability to work with God and build a meaningful life!

That's a good start, and it does help to look at my stories from that lens!

❤❤❤

Villains & Morals

"Even the greatest villain in your personal story has the right to evolve and become someone new... Remember, they are a hero in their own story even though they acted like a villain in yours.  Perhaps you were the villain in someone else's story.  You likely have been.  How would you like that story to be told?   Would you like the author to treat the telling of that story as their golden opportunity to air your dirty laundry and get revenge?  Or would you rather they focus on what matters most - how your actions affected them?  

It's my experience that writing our story helps us fall deeper in love with life itself, including the villains who helped us change.  Writing demystifies the villains in our lives and helps us to see that they were actually vehicles for our own evolution.

From a narrative perspective, villains enter the story with one purpose and one purpose only:  To facilitate and expedite the transformation of the hero.  Not every story has a villain, but the ones that do have an added benefit... The greater the tension, the greater the arc - so if there's a villain in your story, congratulations.  Share all the details about this person that help the reader understand how this frustrating character helped you to evolve.  And then focus the narrative more on who you became because of how you were treated and less on how the villain acted.  Don't include details for the sake of revenge or even self-proclaimed justice; those will only weaken the narrative.  The tension villains provide is a great gift if you allow it to be -- tension is the X-factor that facilitates your growth, the resistance that produces your strength, and the very thing you needed in order to change!"

~Allison Fallon, Write Your Story 
Chapter 12, Writing About Those Who Hurt You

This post needed a photo.  Here's me 1.5 years ago, entering a transformative new decade! ❤

"Not all morals are created equal.  Not all of them are helpful or supportive... The good news is you can always write or rewrite a new moral, even to a very old story.  The morals I came up with back then were things like, "Men are such jerks" or "No one can be trusted" or "The world is an unsafe place."  When you choose a moral, it becomes a filter for all future experiences.  Instead of "Why is this happening to me?" I started asking myself, "Why am I telling this to a reader?"  At the end of each little writing vignette, I would write the words: "The reason I'm telling you this is because..."  then I'd picture my imaginary reader and write the next few sentences to her...

I'm convinced, although there's no definitive way to prove this, that the only reason I have the life I have today -- a very happy marriage, two happy and healthy children -- is because I changed the moral I was writing in that story.  If I had continued forward with the "men are such jerks" moral after my divorce, I never would have even noticed my now husband, who is one of the kindest, gentlest, most sincere people I know.  My brain would've glossed right over him or made up a story about how he must be faking it.  The kinder he was to me, the more I would have dismissed it, thrown it out, pushed it away.  This is how neural pathways work.  There's no way for you to write a story in your life that veers from your morals too much.  What might become possible when you write a better moral to your story??"

-Allison Fallon, Write Your Story
Chapter 10: The Reason I'm Telling You This (The Moral)

So gooood!!  Re-listening to this book for my story-based presentation, and I LOVE and appreciate her perspective on the above topics.  This book gives you a great framework for writing a memoir, and it makes me wish I had more time for writing in this season.  In the meantime, I can build a gradual outline and rethink the underlying 'morals' guiding my story!  (Which may be my next post here.) ❤

Seen and Valued

Yesterday was CHA's first day back at school!  Triston's first day as a Senior, Jace's first day of Junior High, and Kyndal's first day of 6th grade... that's a pivotal school year for all of them, honestly!!

❤❤❤

Praying God blesses them with good friendships, stronger faith, and a growth mindset through the year ahead!

I'm covering the phones at our office -- it's been a pretty good, quiet day.  Yesterday was more of a restful break than Tuesday, and I'm very grateful for that!  I am feeling a bit more confident and seeing real progress with several of my clients lately, and I'm super grateful for that, as well!!

This is from the FB welcome post by ITS... yay!

So last night, I watched a 3-part Netflix documentary about The Biggest Loser... so interesting!  Lots of memories and thoughts and personal/emotional ties to their stories.  Danny (the Season 8 winner who was born in Midwest City then moved to the Tulsa area and trained with my same Fitness Together trainers in 2009) - he talked about his rapid weight loss, weight regain, lessons learned, and future hopes.

I think the thing that struck me most was something I'd already been thinking about, thanks to the Mel Robbins podcast with Jim Doty.  They talked about the things we desire in childhood (to be thin and beautiful, to be rich, to be famous, to be a wife/mom, to be a teacher, to be a pro athlete or star, etc.) -- and how those desires stem from feeling invisible/unseen/unloved in certain areas, and believing based on our life experience that the people who have those things ($$, success, beauty, thinness, children, etc.) are SEEN and LOVED.  The God-given desire to feel connected and have people care about us - it was profound and just deeply true.

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.  (For me and millions of others.)

I don't have a way to tie that all up neatly right now, but it's very worth thinking about and examining your own desires and where you have felt unseen in life.  And praying sincerely for God to fill the things we might be seeking in the wrong places and/or through the wrong avenues.

Anyway, here's a reminder I needed this morning.

That's all I've got for now.

I love you and believe in you,

and I hope you feel seen and valued riiiiight where you are today!

❤ ❤ ❤

In Limbo (But Not Alone)

You know the game of limbo we played as kids?  Sometimes at parties, sometimes at skating rinks... always with a bar that was gradually lowered.  The goal was to cross beneath it without touching the bar - your feet and knees did their very best to keep you grounded and pull you forward, while the rest of your body bent backwards and risked a painful collapse.  Mmmm, so many metaphors.  

Anyway, the real-life adult version is decidedly less fun...

What I thought would be a nice rest day did not go according to plan.  I had my OBGYN appointment today - thank you to anyone who saw the early morning blog and prayed.  

Long story short:  After doing all I could to prepare and help things go smoothly, the planned saline infusion sonogram is not something they actually do at any SSM facility.  They referred me to OU Reproductive, who cannot get me in until November.  Today involved a lot of frustration and phone tag, and I'm still waiting to hear back from Dallas IVF about the potential cost and whether they could work me in this week.  I have legally adopted two embryos, and I feel like God entrusted them to me, and I do not take that lightly.  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.

I'm reminding myself of how chaotic and terrible it felt to live through the 2020 home remodel at 522... it felt as if it would never end - minor delays felt overwhelming, and it felt catastrophic when the original contractor just gave up and stopped answering texts and calls.  But we found someone better to finish things up, and it all came together beautifully in the end.  

Three months is not the end of the world.  My body will adjust and calm down, and my mind can pivot and adjust to whatever timeline God puts in place here.  I will not catastrophize this; I am not a victim.

For whatever reason #spirtualwarfare, 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.

So that's an agreement I'm going to break very early in this single parent storyline. 

God is WITH me.

God is FOR me.

He is faithful and true.

I am not partnerless.

My child will not be Father-less.

I never have to face any decision alone.

God wastes nothing.

His plans are higher than mine.

He guards me with protective strength.

However this journey ends, He will use it for my good and His glory.

I am okay.  This is not all on me.  I can rest in Him.

I'm gonna end this there and get some rest tonight. ❤

Keep Going!

Happy Tuesday!  I'm off work today and tomorrow, then covering our office phones all day Thursday + Friday afternoon.  It's a legit break week from school, and I only have 2-3 virtual clients this week!!  I took a nap after work today and plan to get extra rest tomorrow too - I need it, and I'm very grateful for God orchestrating all of the above!!

I also have my ultrasound to determine whether I'll need surgery this morning.  Not positive how soon I'll know the results, but prayers are appreciated for peace and faith either way.

And now, I'm diving into a photo catch-up post, including several memes and random pictures I've saved over the past few weeks! =)

❤ ❤ ❤

Brothers pics, three years apart.  (2013 - 2017 - 2021 - 2025)

Dentist Neil and fam celebrating his bday yesterday + Pastor Craig and Amy

Surprisingly, I haven't Googled or watched this entire podcast yet, but the clips I'm seeing all. over. my. FB. feed have been fun, and I'm glad they're happy together!

Laughed out loud at this one. =)

Jeff Moore with all the "Keep going" memes - I'm a fan!

Lol this is the sense of humor I would imagine worms would have. =)

Aww, memories of 1990s McDonald's playgrounds!!

Not Jeff Moore, but the keep going message is still appreciated!

Just me, randomly looking at wedding cakes and saving ones I like. lol  Whyyy??  Who knows.  For the record, I would do the middle one with red, pinks, yellow, orange, and white roses + the Laurannae bride's cake for the cake & icing!  And a better cake topper. lol  And the groom's cake would be the Lauranna chocolate cake with cookies and cream icing and loads of chocolate covered strawberries.  And there would be a fun cookie table room like they talk about on Annie & Eddie's podcast.  (And I have like 1,000 other ideas on the food and dresses and decor and music and slideshows and venue.)  Just missing an awesome groom. lolol  Details.

YES to this one.  Speaking of, I'm likely making this blog private soon.  I so don't want to, but feel like I need to in this season of counseling work.

Lindsay's birthday this month + the Shoemaker fam as the kids start with their new school in Texas!

Not positive where I heard this, but the quote itself stuck with me:  "If you tend toward obsession in any area, abstinence is usually better than moderation."  I keep thinking about that one.

Fultons on their August vacation to Fort Walton Beach + Hannah with her Cottage Flower business!

Another meme I've thought about a lot.  I'm doing my best to batch similar tasks - really focusing on court reporting work, then counseling progress notes and treatment plans, then homework... without switching back and forth 1000 times.  

Last week was the first week back for Evergreen - yay Wilsons and Fosters (and future Muecke child)! lol

The audiobook I'm listening to lately talks about how our food and workout choices are always tending toward a pattern of decay (hibernation-style stagnancy and indulgence) or healthy growth (building stamina, energy, muscles, etc.).  I think the same is true for our relationships.

Chet sent me a poster for The Holiday 2... Googled it.  It was fake.  Why do people do that!?  Then I got curious about how old the cute British daughters would be... 27, and a very different look now.  So I'm good with sticking to the original movie, which was near perfection!  Not everything needs a sequel!!

Narrowing down what I really want; feeling more engaged and purposeful!

Run with endurance - pay attention to what God has set before you.  Strip off what weighs you down and continually trips you up.  Heaven is cheering for you! 

That's all for now.  Have a fantastic Tuesday!

I love you and believe in you. 

Keep going!!

❤ ❤ ❤