It's all connected. Lots of deep thoughts on the title topics lately... and I'll dive into more of them momentarily.
Me + three of my favorite people ~ they all came to help out on my moving day! ❤
YAY for being back in the 918... it's a partial hybrid move for now, but I was very filled with joy on Saturday morning when I realized there is a Reasors, QT, and Walgreens all within one mile from me (not to mention the Bishop fam, Wilson fam, Foster fam, loads of great restaurants, and Evergreen Church all within two miles). Welcome Back was definitely playing in my heart whilst I drove around smiling from ear to ear on Saturday. lol
This cracked me up. I assured the movers that they could bring their smallest truck - they did not listen. This is the truck fully loaded with my one-bedroom furniture and living room stuff!
It's extra-heavy on the pink theme, but I'm not sad about it! This apartment is most likely the last place I will decorate and live as a single woman, and I'm not sad about that either... so by all means, bring on the pink and glitter one last time! lol
It took very little time to decorate, and I'm super happy with what we got done. My only minor regret was not paying more for Mathis Brothers to deliver the furniture for me (I misunderstood the salesman there), but hooray for Adam being there to help me carry it in, unpack it, set it up, and correctly assemble it!! lol
My classy travel girls are back - yay! I ordered one more to complete the set for my living room at the apartment!
So that moving process was Friday morning. Friday night was the Regent game in Drumright. This = Adam praying with the team and their families, the cute Drumright Tornadoes logo, and me and Joni handing out Purell for the boys before they hit the post-game Frito chili pie line!! Thanks to Adam bringing it up, the moms group sang a belated Happy Birthday to Joni (whose actual bday was on election Tuesday). =)
In related news, the Regent school community suffered another painful and tragic loss this week. A sixth grade girl named Lydia passed away after a sudden medical event late Thursday night. (I won't get into the details as I'm not certain what is appropriate to share publicly.)
But I will say that I LOVE seeing the way the Regent community supported the Bishop family, and it's encouraging to see the way they are pulling together to support this grieving family now! I told Adam I believe things like this often make or break whether people are drawn to Jesus - the way the church responds to suffering and loss is truly a big deal. It glorifies God and draws people to the gospel when we get this right. It's important to show up and step up when people need us, and I love that the Regent leadership takes that seriously! They cancelled all classes on Friday and held an optional schoolwide prayer meeting, then they had grief counselors and local youth pastors there today and gave the students time to play and talk and pray and process what they're feeling, while assigning no homework for this week. I mean, well done!
Before kindly picking up my keys and helping out with my move, Adam went over by himself to see this grieving family on Friday morning. Lydia's dad told him they were open to more visitors, so Adam put the word out... the Regent moms showed up strong with loads of comfort food. Lydia's brother is a starter for Regent football, and this = most of the football team in their home praying with and for their family on Friday afternoon. Gracious, it strengthens me to see this!
❤
*No person outside of Jesus is perfect, and no school or community is perfect. "You will know them by their fruit." With that preface in mind, I want to say I am genuinely excited about growing closer to Adam and about becoming a regular part of the close-knit Regent community! ❤
Mmkay, on to Saturday! Adam and I ran by At Home and Hobby Lobby, then spent a stupid amount of time assembling furniture that I thought was coming fully assembled, then worked on starting the Christmas decor at his house! Love the snowy church scene and all the red and white in that painting. Maria is their rescue dog and the main reason I chose my white over black Christmas sweater that day! lol I have no idea (and can't think too hard about) how Adam manages to decorate such a tall tree with this ladder. Yay Christmas welcome mats!
Owen grabbed a box with lots of old family ornaments from their garage, and I loved getting to go through them with him and learn more about their family!
I'm so thankful Adam also loves Christmas and gets excited and traditionally decorates early ~ it's fun that we share that as our favorite holiday! I am also deeply aware of this being their first family Christmas without Kelly, and that the 25th of every month is the actual milestone-marker of the day she went to Heaven... it's a very unique year, and we're moving into a season where every emotion tends to feel heightened.
"This season matters. Christmas is a time when God's presence is more palpable than any other time of year. It's also a time when what we've lost is more present to us, when the pain or the loneliness or the fear are more present than any other time. It's a glorious, beautiful time and also one in which the smallest kindnesses can transform us. It's worth more than pushing and rushing and perfecting your decorations or your homemade cookies." ~Shauna Niequist
I feel like I post that quote every year - I love it. (Anyway, we didn't get quite enough of the ornaments and garland, so Adam will be finishing that up this week, and I'll get a photo the next time I'm in Tulsa.) Saturday night, Adam took the boys and I out for Italian food at Sapori - really good food and a cute little restaurant on Cherry Street! I love that the boys are being themselves more around me, and it was great getting to know them better and learning about their favorite sports-related memories, some things they're looking forward to, and talking about their experience visiting the above-mentioned Regent family the day before. We grabbed Braums for Barbara (and me and the boys) on our drive back, where I learned that Adam is not a fan of ice cream, custard, or frozen yogurt. #what #incompatibledifferences ;-)
This = a happy little duck fam ready for Sunday church at Evergreen! =) It was another fun Sunday school lesson with Harry and Lynette, then the sending service for Verdant Church, then joining Adam's LifeGroup for the first time (and realizing I already knew three people there).
I had a profound gratitude moment just after the worship service on Sunday, sitting there with Adam then John David on my left, sweet Owen on my right, then Josh, Edie, Ike, Jacob, Judson, and Amy on the row in front of us. (Barbara was in their 201 class and met us after the service). I did not know these people two months ago, and I love them all now. The kindness and love they've shown me, the welcoming hugs, the sense of genuine community at both Regent and Evergreen, and me having a saved seat with a family where I belong and feel welcomed and wanted and loved and valued - after years of sitting by myself a lot and/or just doing church online to avoid feeling awkward, this is a very big deal to me, and I couldn't be more grateful!
This = hanging out with Rach and Mom on Sunday afternoon... I drove back early for an expo at the fairgrounds that was a bit of a letdown, but at least we got some free cake out of it! lol
Rach with J&K... aka Michael Jackson, a spider?, and ghostface (they told me that's the name) on Halloween at Gaillardia!
Podcast besties - watching their live show with Beth was fun! ❤
Happy Birthday to John David today - he's officially an adult now, moving into an exciting season of life with several potential changes ahead! Praying he continues to grow in Christ and really enjoys the rest of his Senior year at Regent. And I'm thankful that God's goodness, protection, and mercy will follow him as he makes some big decisions and moves into a new chapter of life next year! ❤
*I love that he requested Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes for his bday. It reminded me of Kyndal Faith's cookie dough cake, and it made me very happy when I saw this pic from Adam! lol It looks legit!!
Edible confetti candle gif! lol
I am the least aggressive of all drivers. lolol
This definitely feels true at times. lol I'm striving for better boundaries in what I share online these days!
Speaking of, I'm working on separating sinful cravings from God-given desires, as both are more vocal lately. My heart's sincere desire is for a deeply connected marriage that moves the gospel forward and glorifies God, and I am closer than I've ever been to that dream becoming a reality. I'm feeling extra-thankful for God's mercy and protection today, and extra-determined to honor Him and be a good steward of the abundant grace He has given me as life moves forward!
"There is no higher way to value a human being than to regard their relationship with Christ as your highest priority." ~Paul Maxwell
Okay then. Remember that God is with you and for you, never indifferent to your pain. He cares about everything that is on your heart - talk about it with Him!! Also, we never know what others are going through or what hidden grief they may be carrying, so "go easy" and respond with kindness and love today!
❤ ❤ ❤
