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!!

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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. ❤

I've Never Been Here Before

So I've been following Ashley's blog and Instagram stories for. a. minute.

(15 years and counting now).

Saturday, I had the privilege of meeting her in person for the first time! ❤

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. lol

The entire Campbell family was there... they're all kind and down-to-earth people who probably found the book-signing dynamic a bit awkward, but they're basically celebrities from my vantage point!!

Fun fact: My favorite photo wall at 522 was inspired by Ashley Ann!!

Campbell fam exactly ten years ago on Saturday. ❤ 

I felt very happy and proud for Ashley that there was a steady crowd of people from 10am to 1pm for this book launch event - amazing!!

Love the whole Campbell fam more than you might think possible - their childhood stories and photos, and the way Ashley celebrates what makes each of her kids unique - gracious, it's been subtle and gradual, but her writing style, eye for detail, love of adventure and color, exceptional photography skills (#snapshops2011), and her genuine love of humanity have shaped my life and taught me so much!! ❤

For a while, Chris and Ashley had three boys and one girl, and that dynamic reminded me of my preshface niece and nephews.

After a long road in the adoption process, in 2012, they traveled internationally to adopt Evann, who completes the awesome Campbell fam party of 7! ❤

In 2022, they took a highly-anticipated year-long trip around the world, visiting 20 different countries and learning from all the people and places along the way.  Ashley wrote and published her first book detailing their memories and stories from that trip, and it is phenomenal!  Genuinely.  Highly recommend it!!

I loved seeing their whole family there in BA supporting her and signing books with her!!  Blogging creates such a fascinating dynamic... I understand that I'm a kind and supportive stranger to them, but I feel like I've known them well for years, and I am so cheering for them right now!!

Each of her kids wrote a personal essay that is included in the book, so I marked their pages for them to sign! =)

Chris was greeting people in the line, so he was the first to sign my book... then I reached Corbett, Hudson, and Everett... the awesome men of the Campbell fam!  I loved following their Instagram posts and stories during their world-traveling adventure, and it made me happy to see them in person!!

I was also really happy to see Breese... fun fact: she has loved baking since she was little (left pic)... she now has her own side business called Sunshine Baked Goods.  And this summer, she baked and decorated the cake for her oldest brother, Corbett's wedding - so cool!

Finally, I was delighted to meet the youngest member of the Campbell fam... following Chris and Ashley's adoption journey was inspiring for me - I was among the hundreds who donated to the Incubator Project for the orphanage, and I cried when Ashley cried the day she met her daughter almost 13 years ago.  I so LOVED reading Evann's essay about conquering her fears and food aversions and embracing new things throughout this trip!!

Ashley Ann was the last person I connected with at the signing table.  The friendly woman next to me in line knew their family well and announced that I had traveled from OKC to be there.  Ashley thanked me for that, and I told her I've followed the blog for years and congratulated her on this massive accomplishment!!  We talked about the cute bookstore and the book launch team and got a photo together, then I stepped forward to keep the line moving.  All in all, my time in the bookstore was relatively short, and there was no way to adequately convey my deeper thoughts or level of gratitude there... but it was a fun Saturday in the Tulsa area, and I'm really glad I came out to support them!

This ended up being more of a tribute to their family than an official book review... but the book is exceptional!  How could it not be!?  I'll write a shorter review for Amazon later this week.  Ashley is a gifted writer and photographer, and her debut book is brimming over with high-quality photos from their trip - (mostly taken by her, but some courtesy of Corbett's impressive drone photography).  Anyway, following their family's trip in real-time was great fun, and it's awesome and expansive to get the behind-the-scenes stories in the book, vicariously experiencing the new people, places, foods, and great memories they shared!  

As a long-time blogger who aspires to be a book author someday, I can appreciate what opening this box meant to Ashley!  Well-deserved joy!!  I really love that Chris and each of the kids wrote their own essays that are included in it - what a gift and keepsake this book will be for their family, and what a gift for everyone who takes the time to read it!  Even the way Ashley formatted the book has inspired me creatively - it's unique, and it's exactly what it should be.  I am deeply thankful for Ashley's wisdom, warmth, and personal strength - over the past 15+ years, her subtle influence on my life has been positive and profound.  The Campbell family is such a light in the world, and I'm happy this book will carry that light a little further!!

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The Hard... Is What Makes It Great

As Jesus reminds His followers, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Matthew 25:29).  Even in the face of systemic problems that feel overwhelming and well beyond our personal ability to resolve, we have a God-given role.  When His disciples pointed out that the massive crowd was hungry and exhausted, Jesus answered, “You feed them,” giving them the responsibility to find and collect the available food, organize the crowd into smaller groups, and hand out the food He graciously multiplied (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Mark 6:37-44).  As a Christian counseling professional, part of strategic planning is being intentional about upholding my values and ethics, resisting temptation and submitting myself to God’s authority, which calls for more proactive engagement and advocacy (James 4:7)...

My personal philosophy of leadership and advocacy begins with a God-given calling and the practice of personal integrity that sets committed believers apart.  In any leadership role I embrace, one of the most important factors will be upholding personal integrity and moral authority.  Based on that, I know there will be continued temptations to compromise, settle, or take shortcuts to reach my vision (Stanley, 2005).  Godly mentorship, collaboration, and accountability will be important safeguards for me as I move forward with this plan, one step at a time.  Implementing an action plan for advocacy is rarely simple or linear (Chang, et al., 2021).  It requires pressing through our fear and intimidation, making multiple revisions and adjustments, and celebrating our progress along the way (p. 91).

At this stage in my life and career, the biggest challenge before me is overcoming my own subtle cowardice and love of comfort, and wholeheartedly stepping into all that God has planned for me.  I wish that were a one-time heroic decision, but I am learning that it happens one surrendered step at a time.  As a professional counselor and future counselor educator and supervisor, I feel a sober understanding that my willingness to submit to God will impact every life I have the sacred privilege of influencing.  Serving as a counseling leader and advocate will undoubtedly require courage and intentionality, and it will hold foreseen and unforeseen challenges.  And what comes to mind as I reflect on that tonight is the quote from Coach Dugan in A League of Their Own, “It’s supposed to be hard.  If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it.  The hard… is what makes it great” (Marshall, 1992).

Conclusion

This paper articulates my personal philosophy of leadership and advocacy, detailing a personal advocacy plan of action that aligns with my philosophy.  I am confident that the finest counseling leaders are set apart through their God-given calling and personal integrity, embracing a growth mindset, inspiring positive change, and serving through advocacy.  This philosophy is shaped by my theoretical orientation, supported by research literature and personal experience, and aligned with my future aspirations and Biblical values.  This paper also examines how conditioned passivity and perceived inadequacy negatively impact counselor advocacy, detailing a practical action plan and proposing strategies to overcome conceivable obstacles.  Our calling to serve as advocates can be thwarted by learned helplessness, emotional overwhelm, and apathy in the face of systemic problems and social injustice.  We are limited and finite, but we are not helpless, and we serve an all-powerful God.  Leadership and advocacy roles are vital for Christian counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors, and we must be bold and intentional about doing our part and trusting Jesus to multiply our efforts.

That's a small portion of the paper I wrote a couple weeks back.

Some good reminders for me today.

I very much want to live with a growth mindset.  Not the safe and small life, but the adventurous, expanding one.  That means when I feel like I'm not good at something, I focus on how I can learn and grow and improve (absolutely possible) rather than how quickly I can quit and retreat and change course.  Stepping into a new identity is challenging, and counseling feels complicated and messy and hard right now, but God has given me enough little breaks and enough clear confirmations to stay the course.  Even if circumstances change and I do not finish the LPC hours and/or the PhD program, my choices in this season will still count and MATTER to God (and to my self-respect and character).  God wastes nothing, and I trust Him!  And in the end, I believe it will be true that the hard is what makes it great.

❤ ❤ ❤

A Clear Path Forward...

So Dallas IVF was willing to let me do all the pre-embryo-transfer medical appointments here at OU. Sadly, OU was not willing to do that if I'm not using them for the transfer.  

So I called yesterday, and the DIVF nurse said (based on my cycle) that if I could come in today for the preliminary saline sonogram, ultrasound, and initial bloodwork, we would still be on track for a September embryo transfer (which has been my hope for a while).  And I said yes, please!  God worked it out for another CR to cover for me this morning, and I made it to their Frisco office by 1:30 (it's only a 2 hour and 40-minute trip from my house, and no scary Dallas traffic is involved).

These were the same tests they did in 2023 (HERE) where I found out I would need the hysteroscopy D&C surgery to remove the uterine polyp.  The nurse who did my first ultrasound today casually mentioned seeing some fibroids and measuring them, and my heart sank pretty hard when I heard that.  Confusion, irrational shame, irritation, sadness, etc. ran through my mind as I asked if that meant another surgery and potential delay... and she said Dr. Ku would have to look at it and talk with me later.

So during the predictably-complicated blood draw and the 20-minute wait for the saline sonogram, I was going back and forth between contingency planning/grasping for control and praying for good news... calculating the cost of various other options and feeling ready to call Rach on my drive back and see how serious she was about being a surrogate. lol 

Dr. Ku eventually came in and asked how I've been - I said I was feeling really discouraged after hearing about the fibroids.  He quickly told me that wouldn't necessarily be a problem, and that we would know based on the sonogram (a very quick procedure involving a in-color camera view of the birth canal and uterus - it put me in awe of God even as I was bracing for bad news).  As he finished that, he said, "Well, I have good news for you - we're done, and everything looks good to move forward!"

So after the walls and hurdles I wrote about on my last DIVF appointment, I'm very VERY happy and grateful to say that round 2 was a success!

I grabbed an In N' Out Burger to celebrate, then raced back to Moore for two counseling appointments tonight (an in-person intake followed by a virtual intake) - session #6 and 7 for me.

The exit on the way to Dallas IVF is "Legacy Drive."  Reading that made me happy, so I snapped a picture... then realized later that the mileage was at 7.7 (a fun little nod from God).  Also, as I was leaving, it told me to turn left out of their parking lot, and it's a pretty busy street right there, so I assumed I'd end up going right then turning around... but right as I drove up, there was a very clear opening on all sides... and in my heart in that moment, it felt like such a clear metaphor for God opening new doors.

Having said that, I obviously have no idea if this will all result in me having a baby, but I do firmly believe God is at work and that He will work things out for my good and His glory, and I'm so thankful to even have this opportunity to try for a pregnancy with my adopted embryos!

❤

On my drives down and back, I listened to the remainder of Ashley's incredible book, thanks to Speechify, an app that read the PDF to me in Gwyneth Paltrow's voice!  (Snoop Dogg was also an option, but that would've been such a wrong fit for Ashley's writing. lol)  I will 100% slowly read and enjoy the physical book when it arrives in the mail, but this was the best way for me to absorb the content with my current schedule.

I also had a good talk with Mom and Kristin on the drive back, and with Chet Lee on the way there - this new pic from his summer branding session makes me happy.

My sessions tonight went well - I'm gradually feeling more comfortable in this role.  Then I have 3 clients tomorrow, some homework to finish on Saturday, and Dad's 72nd birthday on Sunday!  And that's really all I've got for this post.  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!  (Prayers appreciated.)

I love you and believe in you, and I'm confident God is with us and for us, clearing new paths as we seek His best for our lives!

❤ ❤ ❤

In God's Hands

Hey, friends and fam!  It's been a whole week, which is rare for me.  I'm in a pretty awesome new season with a very full schedule... and I'm confident God is expanding my capacity and giving me the daily grace I need to navigate these current roles well!

• Adoptive Mom:  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!
• Counselor:  My part-time role with Integrated Therapy Solutions - embracing the intense learning curve with the Milan electronic records system, submitting treatment plans and progress notes, attending weekly supervision meetings, and counseling 2 continuing clients and 4 new clients this week!
• Court Reporter:  My secure and steady full-time job - interesting Preliminary Hearings, scoping transcripts, covering court for other Judges with the current CR shortage, and enjoying the feeling of established competence and the accrued leave and benefits here!
• Doctoral Student:  Writing discussion posts and leadership papers + Zoom classes and group meetings + preparing a conference presentation (all without the help of AI, thank you very much! lol)!
• Individual:  Returning to regular church attendance, listening to great audiobooks, blogging as needed, and developing a solid morning routine for daily workouts and time with God!
• Relational:  Maintaining strong friendships in Tulsa, cultivating new friendships in OKC, daily talks with Mom, weekly family dinners, and weekly walks with Kristin!
• Extras:  A 10-hour Trauma Focused CBT training (online - started it Friday) + helping on Ashley Campbell's book launch team (YAY!)

I also believe God will help me narrow that list a bit by the end of this year, which helps me dive deep and invest faithfully in the meantime.  It helps that I believe every bit of the above is fruitful -- I'm planting good seeds, and God will decide what grows from it!  For now, I'm working on not using the words scattered, fragmented, or divided when I talk about my attention span.  Instead, I'll say God is teaching me and growing my capacity for leadership and giving me what I need day by day.  I am learning to trust His timing and doing my best to be intentional about focusing on one role at a time, shifting my full focus as needed to engage in all the things that matter to me!! ❤

Okay, so about the book launch team... I'm about 1/3rd of the way through my pre-release copy of Ashley's book and loving everything about it so far!  Not a surprise - her writing has always been poignant, and the stories and pictures from their family trip around the world are captivating!  (It's also inspiring the writer side of me - I love this reminder that a book can be anything you want it to be.  Every page of her book is filled with family photos or pictures from their trip - somehow, I didn't realize that was an option, but it's fantastic, and it's changing how I want to format my future book!!)

The best!  Loved following their trip in real-time via Instagram, but seeing it all in one book now - along with Ashley's insightful reflections and a page written by each of her kids and Chris - is freaking awesome!!

Here's my beautiful niece, Miss Kyndal Faith, enjoying her new blonde highlights this summer!  Love her, and I was happy to see this front-facing smiley profile pic!! lol

Yesterday would have been Grandad's 96th birthday, although I'm confident he's forever young now in Heaven!  I'm thankful for his life and the way he loved us!

Last Friday was a Tulsa trip for CFA lunch with the wonderful Wilson fam, a hair appointment with Janelle, and an impromptu stop at Tulsa Lexus for an oil change - gracious, the Tulsa one is just so much better than the Edmond branch!  In spite of the lack of color on their showroom floor (Mom would not approve!), it was nice to be back! ;-)

This and chapter 107 are speaking to me lately.  This one talks about God's commands being trustworthy and true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity... reminding us that "the rewards of wisdom come to all who obey Him."  And Chapter 107 repeatedly shows people royally messing things up then crying out to God for help, and He repeatedly rescues them in their distress.  Both are encouraging chapters that apply to my life in different seasons!

This was the Verse of the Day when I had to write a paper on advocacy and was internally resisting that whole topic.  All the suggested topics were causing me to shut down, so I ended up writing about that emotional response, and specifically about overcoming the conditioned passivity and learned helplessness that often hold us back from getting involved in potential political conflict and/or serving as professional or social justice advocates.  It was personal and intense, and over the past couple weeks, I spent literally 17+ hours researching and writing that 12-page paper.  However, the grades and the feedback videos from Dr. Burkhart made all that effort feel very worth it!  (Something I'll keep in mind if/when I'm a professor down the road.)  I'm VERY grateful for his encouragement and the growing confidence I feel there.  Anyway, I used this verse in my paper as evidence that God wants us to grow in our role as leaders and advocates, to keep learning new ways we can help others and fight for those who are vulnerable!  And it's true - leadership doesn't have lasting impact if you're not actively serving others and using your God-given position, skills, and influence for good!

Finally, here's a pic from the Shoemakers' moving day two weeks ago - the Wilsons coming to see them at that house one last time.  I miss them already!

Okay, that's all I've got for now... headed to a meeting about the new electronic/recording system they're installing in our courtroom, and looking forward to family dinner tonight! ❤

Thanks for being here!  I love you and believe in you, and I believe God will give you all the grace you need for the roles He has placed you in TODAY!  He gives us new grace one day at a time, just like the manna for the Israelites, and our lives and futures are secure in His hands! 

❤ ❤ ❤

"I'm Back."

So I'm rewatching The Last Dance lately (incredibly slowly due to school + counseling + court work).  When Michael Jordan temporarily retired in 1993, I'm very convinced that decision was made out of deep love and respect for his dad (murdered earlier that year).  He wanted to be able to say that his dad saw his last game, and he wanted to honor him by trying baseball, which his dad had strongly encouraged.  A couple years later, he really missed basketball and decided to return.  A speechwriter for the Bulls press conference worked hard trying to convey the nuanced details and complex emotions behind his decision, offering him 3 or 4 different versions to choose from.  Michael told him none of them quite reflected how he wanted to say it, so the writer asked MJ to draft his own version.  He grabbed a pen and wrote: "I'm back." which became the official press release. lol  No lengthy explanation or justification needed.  I love it so much, and I love him and his fiercely competitive spirit!

"Winning has a price, and leadership has a price.  So I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled.  I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged.  And I earned that right... Once you joined the team, you lived at a certain standard that I played the game, and I wasn’t going to take anything less... I wanted to win, but I wanted them to win and be a part of that as well."  ~Michael Jordan, The Last Dance (episode 7)

And yes, a shorter version of that quote made its way into my leadership philosophy paper! =)  I'm thinking about leadership in everything I watch and read and listen to lately, and I'm enjoying that.

In other news, after 10.5 months without counseling a single client, my LPC-Candidacy has finally begun.  As of today, I'm back!  

I brought Rach's clipboard with me today, and it was comforting to look down and see this! =)

I also wore my fav "peasant shirt" from my vintage 2009 collection - still a fan! ;-)

My first session back took every bit of two hours, but it went well!  I'm mildly overwhelmed but also super grateful to be communicating with five new clients and more referrals coming in from ITSOK, and apparently a local pediatrician has been recommending me based on a younger client who enjoyed working with me last year, which was a surprising but flattering turn of events this morning. lol

Three memes I've saved recently with a very clear common theme:

If that didn't make it clear, everything in me was nervous about getting started again - but I didn't talk myself out of it, so that's a mini-victory.  Having session one over with helps a bit, but I will still have to push myself with my "calm and confident, warm and competent" mantra and my strong desire to nonverbally communicate, "You are safe here, you can trust me, and I can help you!"  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! ❤  I'm thankful to be back and in a setting with more autonomy in my approach and the clients I choose.  Trying to reframe the nerves as being excited - and honestly, both are true.  Prayers appreciated as I move forward!

Feelings fade.  Purpose is forever.  Keep going.

❤ ❤ ❤

Halftime Pep Talk!

Today marks the official halfway point of 2025, so this is my mid-year check in post.  

It's been a pretty full and amazing year so far.... starting with a New Years trip to NYC with Triston where we saw the big Christmas tree, the 9-11 Memorial Museum, and Wicked on Broadway!  We celebrated Mom's 70th birthday with family and friends at Firebirds, with a special poster by Rach and an awesome Ludger's cake from the Wilsons.  I came to Kellyville for Judge Golden's Retirement Party, pushed myself to complete the PhD program application, supported Abby as she finalized her CHA Senior Thesis, enjoyed fam dinners and fun movies with Rach and the kids, and a Red Rock dinner with the Wilsons and Fultons! ❤

February was full of birthday fun and lots of great parties, as per usual!  I had fun celebrating the Jaceman, Tate Haywood, Wesson and Nash, Rach, and my own birthday!  It was the party I'd originally planned for my 40th, pre-OKC surprise party (dinner at Los Cabos + Marble Slab dessert with the Tulsa crew).  Other highlights were fun family dinners, marathon training runs, cheering for Kyndal in club volleyball tournaments, and helping Rach and Kyn with her class Valentines cards during Mom and Dad's Super Bowl party! ❤

Lots of good long training runs at Central Park through the weekends in March - they gave me time to pray over various job interviews and applications + accepting my place in CCU's PhD program!  There were more volleyball tournaments, family dinners, walks with Kristin, lunch with her and the boys, fish talk with Jace, my first Segway ride, seeing the Wilsons and Fosters in OKC, and seeing the Wilsons and Fultons in Tulsa! ❤

April brought a random minor foot injury at the Tulsa outlet mall, but in the end, I reached my long-held goal of finishing the 26.2 whilst being cheered on by my awesome family and friends!!  We celebrated Triston's 18th, Carter's 17th, and Parker Elizabeth's 4th birthdays!  I caught a 3rd Tulsa PAC play with Chet and Karli, and they hosted an Easter dinner where I grabbed some cap and gown pics with the friend group! And Mom and I came to the Myriad Gardens to take JSB photos for Triston! ❤

May was graduation month for me and Jace Michael.  Mom and I traveled to Colorado where I officially walked the stage for my Master's diploma, and Jace rocked a purple suit for his 6th Grade Graduation at CHA!  He also won a character award and did confetti poppers in the awards assembly, so he ended his elementary years with style! =)  I loved watching Parker Elizabeth's ballet recital, praying together in what turned out to be my last conversation with Kristen Harriss, taking graduation pics in the backyard with the fam, cheering for K's summer volleyball team, attending Abby's senior graduation, celebrating Mom and Rach on Mother's Day, a memorable outdoor CF brunch with Mom and Dad, a bloody-entertaining ER trip and going to a Thunder playoff game with Rach, and spending a fun day in Tulsa for Chet Lee's block party! ❤

And finally, June included lots of summer 5k walks, swimming with J&K, Beth's summer Bible study, Thunder finals game 5 with Dad and Rach and Kyn, celebrating Dad on Father's Day, seeing the Fulton fam in OKC and again in SS for Kate's early bday party, and lunch with the Wilson fam after attending Kristen's funeral service!  After several job interviews that didn't work for one reason or another, I interviewed and accepted a flexible part-time LPC-Candidate job with Integrated Therapy Solutions, interviewed a few supervisors and found one I really like, and started the process of moving forward with all of that!  And last but not least was getting an embryo adoption match email during my Colorado trip to start my doctoral program, then starting week one of my Leadership class with Dr. Burkhart - all FANTASTIC!! ❤

Happy 4th Birthday to Miss Katherine Claire today! ❤

There have been new challenges and struggles, but God is showing up and growing me up in new ways in my 41st year!!  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!  Dr. Ku is out for vacation this week, so he will officially sign the papers on Monday (which is 7-7, just so we're all clear!).  Then I believe the next step will be a Zoom medical consult and signing legal contracts to adopt the embryos, which is super exciting!! ❤

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!!  It was really kind of God to give me this break week from school right now - it's been pretty productive so far, and I'm hoping for a fun-filled and semi-restful 4th of July weekend ahead!  I will be creating a schedule this afternoon to make sure I prioritize my relationships, health goals, rest, school reading and homework, clients, supervision meetings, tracking hours, court schedule, and transcripts as needed moving forward!!  Rest assured I'll make time for blogging, as it's become a lifeline and important creative outlet for me. =)

Side note: I tried approximately one million domain names and most were already taken, but Rebuilding Peace was available!  My first name means peacemaker, and that all fits with what I hope to offer as a counselor -- more peace with God, peace with yourself and your decisions, and peace in all relationships!  So my new counseling email is lindsey@rebuildingpeace.com.  I thought for a bit yesterday about what images convey peace for me, and I freaking LOVE that I decided to use my pink tree-bridge pic for the website - it comes off best on a full computer screen - it feels very me, and I'm happy about that!!  I may add a counseling blog/vlog to that site in the future, but keeping it sweet and simple for now.  ❤

And now for the halftime pep talk - I'll keep it brief:

God is with you and for you, directing your steps.  He will not fail you or give up on you or let you go - don't fail Him or give up on Him or let go of your faith.  He knows your needs and desires, and He has a good plan to give you a future and a hope.  Submit to the Holy Spirit and walk in obedience - our humility and integrity MATTER!  God has the power to open the right doors and close the wrong ones, providing the wisdom and help we need day by day.  Do your best to stay close to Him and make the most of the talents and the opportunities He gives you!  For me, that includes growing in leadership skills and decisive action; learning as much as I can from my new supervisor; reworking my health goals; and moving toward motherhood with faith, hope, and love.

Let's finish strong in 2025!!

❤ ❤ ❤