Coach Bishop

Hey, friends and fam!  I have some exciting news to share (that several of you already know at this point).  Please allow me to officially introduce my boyfriend, Coach Adam Christopher Bishop!! ❤

God is doing something NEW,
and we're both excited about where He's leading us!

Adam loves Jesus wholeheartedly, and he leads with protective strength and gentleness.  We have shared values and complementary strengths and personalities, and I'm thanking God very regularly for bringing this man into my life.  He is fun, kind, forward-thinking, and a very solid and intentional communicator (in writing, via phone, and in person).  I so admire his heart for Jesus and the way he consistently loves, serves, and leads others.  This is new territory for each of us in very different ways.  Adam is a widower, an incredible dad to three great boys (12, 15, and 17), and the Head Football Coach and Associate Athletic Director for Regent Preparatory School in Tulsa.  (For context, he was faithfully married for almost 20 years to a wonderful woman named Kelly Lauren Bishop.  She passed away in June after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, having blessed her men to move forward with courage and encouraged her boys to watch their dad and follow his Christlike example.  Their family is clearly beloved and very well supported in this season by the Regent School and Evergreen Church communities.  They all know the Lord and are anchored by the hope of heaven as they grieve and gradually process this heartbreaking loss).

God has prepared this path, and Adam and I have individually sought wise counsel as things progress here.  We've had many intentional conversations about God's appointed timing and it being okay for him to be excited about this and grieving for Kelly at the same time.

In a story that does not mirror my online dating history, Adam was on eHarmony less than 24 hours when he found my profile - (very out of his comfort zone to try online dating, but he was looking for a Christian woman who specifically mentioned Jesus in the intro/headline, and he found me - yay, God!)  We messaged for a couple days there, then he asked if he could call me.  I have been semi-awkward and nervous every step of the way here, but it's also been really fun and exciting, and Adam is good at making me feel more comfortable.  We connected well and had multiple hours-long phone calls, then I would recap the highlights of those conversations with Mom and Chet. lol  I put Chet in charge of reining me in if I got ahead of myself, but he was also fully on board with Adam before we'd even met in person.  I'm still laughing about this one! lol

Our first official date was at the OSU v. UCF football game - I had talked to him enough to trust that we could handle that much time together without it getting awkward, and I was not wrong.  We met around 10:15, then we held hands and prayed together in my car before heading over to the stadium - praying for wisdom and discernment, for God to clarify it quickly if this was not the right fit, and for Jesus to be the foundation of whatever we build together if it is. ❤  Here's what I wore that day, thanks to some input/advice from Mom, Rach, and Chet:

We mostly hung out inside, and I was cracking up at Adam's ability to listen attentively to me while also knowing what was happening on the field in some detail.  He likes that I am not competitive and mostly oblivious when it comes to sports, and I LOVE that he is a football coach who leads the boys with so much heart and Christ-centered purpose.  It's all giving me Ted Lasso and Friday Night Lights vibes, and again, I'm totally here for it!  

Here's our first photo together. ❤

We ran into my cousin Emily and her family, so she was technically the first person in the fam to meet Adam.  I grabbed a couple pics with Miss Kartsen Blair, then we went on to find a table and keep talking!

We ran outside for my favorite Friends in Low Places moment, then Adam bought us concert tickets for Garth's show in Tulsa next weekend - FUN!!!  We sat in the Braum's parking lot for 2+ hours talking after the game, and Adam prayed for us before he left.  We both agreed that God was in this, and we decided we wanted to move forward and meet each others' people.  (Adam's oldest son was in a wreck the night before, so he was running on very little sleep, so we parted ways around 5:30, making it a 7-hour first date in Stillwater, bookended with prayer!) ❤  Then I promptly drove to Tulsa to recap all of that with the wonderful Wilson fam over Andy's custard! =) 

After I talked with everyone individually about him (everyone in our lives seems excited and very on board), Adam came to OKC to meet the fam!  He got to my house around 1 o'clock, and he and I got to have lunch and go shopping together.  We came back to my house for the afternoon, where we covered some important topics and had our first kiss (aka my first kiss ever, and I love that it was with him)!

We grabbed Hideaway Pizza and brought it back to Mom and Dad's.  He talked football with Jace, volleyball with Kyndal, and technology with Triston.  I love that he's multifaceted and can connect with everyone on some level.  As an athlete who played baseball in college and has spent years coaching football, I assumed he would mesh well with the fam - I was more nervous than he was about that meeting, but it all went smoothly.  Jace and Kyndal were totally themselves around him, which brought me joy!  We sat outside for a bit and watched them play basketball, then we headed back to my place where I quickly packed a suitcase for the Tulsa trip...

(The Wilsons are in Disney World, so I'm staying at their place for a few days - Adam and his family live two miles down the road from them in Bixby.  Thankful for God's timing and answers to prayer in that, as well.)

Definitely looking forward to reading this when I get back home tomorrow!

True story:

Thursday night, I got to watch him coach for the first time.  SO. FANTASTIC.  As I'd already assumed it would, this week has confirmed some things.  He was worried I might hate the football life, but I assured him I am 100% on board!

It was an away game in Mounds.  I got there an hour and a half early and got to meet two of his boys (the youngest, Owen, and the oldest, John David).  I'd already talked with his mom and his middle son, Judson, on the phone!

I had texted earlier that day with Joni, and I was so glad to meet her in person that night (she was Kelly's best friend and is very supportive of their family and sincerely excited about this for Adam).  She's a legit football fan and brings cowbells to ring for the team, and she gave me this one for that game! lol

I wore the Regent quarter-zip Adam had given me the day before, and I sat by Barbara, Adam's mom, and had a great talk with her!  A cold front came through that night, and I was very impressed with how kind and caring everyone around me was - giving me a rain jacket (Adam) and a blanket (Joni) and gloves (Joni's mom) and hot chocolate and an umbrella to block the wind (Barbara).  So nice!!

I had fun watching the game and cheering with the fans, but even more fun seeing in-person some of the traditions I'd heard about.  Adam built this football program 16 years ago, and it is atypical in the best ways.  He cares more about their hearts than wins and losses, and they do so many cool things that make me excited about his leadership style.  (Commitment cards where the players set weekly goals, a mom's prayer circle before every game, friends and family surrounding the boys after the game as Adam encourages and motivates them, then the boys on the team give each other shoutouts/words of affirmation, then Adam prays over all of them, then the Mom's coordinate to bring and serve dinner for them.  Every.  game.)  Yes, please to being a part of that culture and dating the man who built it!!!  I told him his words are likely more influential for those boys long-term than what they hear from their teachers, and the ripple effect of his leadership is deep and wide!  He is humble, prayerful, and purposeful in all of that, and it. is. attractive.

He'd warned me early on that we needed to be prepared because him bringing a woman to the game would start some conversations around the school and the team.  I was aware of that, but pretty locked in on him, and his people made me feel very protected.  When he hugged me on that field, it felt like a T-Swift and Travis moment (or something more epic than that). lol  

This = me with Joni and Barbara, helping the moms group serve BBQ chicken sliders, mac n cheese, pumpkin bread, etc. post game!  After all of that, I came to their house for a couple hours.  He did a quick radio interview with the Sports Animal show, then we sat on the porch swing out back, and it was fantastic and redemptive!

Still feels a bit surreal to me, but I'm deeply grateful for it!!

Look at me having a boyfriend who can put air in my tires! lol

Walking the pedestrian bridge in Bixby and discussing future plans and dreams!

He is such a good dad, and I'm genuinely excited to continue getting to know the boys!

Last night, his oldest son joined us for an Italian dinner, and it was good to talk to him about senior year stuff!  This is at his house after dinner... he was starting to change in to comfy clothes, but I caught him to get a photo before that.  He doesn't really do social media or take many pictures, and I told him we do *not* have that in common. lol  He'll get used to me; it's fun learning about each other!

Last night was also fantastic.  After our dinner at Ti Amo, the boys joined us outside and we made s'mores over the fire pit and talked about some of the Regent events and traditions.  Y'all know I love a smores and fire pit moment!!  I was in open-toed shoes, but Adam's shoes and hoodie fit me well, which made me pretty happy!  We've covered so much ground already in our conversations... we love Jesus and we love each other, and we are going to work through the Preparing for Marriage book together, potentially followed by The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller. ❤

Perhaps the most surreal part of all of this for me is the mutuality - we BOTH feel like we've won a great prize here, which makes it feel like such a wonderful gift from God!  His genuine interest in me is a very new feeling, and my mind is still spinning a bit as I adjust and relax into that.  I am far more familiar with unrequited love and deferred hope than I am with hearing (among other things): "If it's okay with you, I want to be very intentional about pursuing and desiring and protecting you - I read the blog for hours last night; I'm gonna be your biggest fan - I'm going to help you get that book written - I can't believe you're still single; there are a lot of stupid men out there - I'm amazed by what the Lord is doing here - I feel like I've found gold, or something more valuable than gold!  - I've got this; let me lead - I'm here; I'm not going anywhere - saying that you're pursuing holiness was the most attractive thing you could have said to me - you're really beautiful; please don't be hard on yourself - please call me anytime you need anything; you don't have to do everything by yourself anymore - I'm thinking long-term, and I want us to have many years together."  Please protect this man at all costs. lol

Let's do this, Coach Bishop!

❤❤❤❤

This was today's email from Christine - another well-timed gem.

Okay then, I'm off to hang out with Adam then join his family and friends for a cookout tonight!  Very much looking forward to a gathering with my friend group soon when the Wilsons return from Florida!  Thanks for sharing in our joy here.  And Spirit-led prayers would be appreciated as we move forward! ❤

I gotta say I'm loving this 4th quarter comeback in my "year of dating" goal!! lol  God rewards those who sincerely seek Him, and He loves to write redemptive stories, and this is genuinely more than I dreamed!!  I will go ahead and close with this verse, as I think it nicely sums up our feelings here.  I'm so grateful that Jesus answers prayers and paves the way and makes our paths straight.  We are two imperfect people with unique life stories, and we still have a lot to learn about each other, but we are prayerfully walking into this new chapter together.  God has been good and kind to us, and we are genuinely excited and hopeful about where this is headed!

❤ ❤ ❤

Kingdom Hope & Doing Hard Things

Started a new FB page yesterday!  Two of my CCU professors are now following it, which initially shook and then strengthened my courage.  I'm going to focus on a different theme every month, starting with courage because there's so much fear-based content pushed in October.  I have loads of ideas, so I'm reminding myself to keep it slow and simple and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus!  Praying for wisdom and a positive impact - that this would glorify God, encourage readers, and give me a good foundation for future speaking/writing projects. ❤

I do LOVE the mountain sunset cover photo and the name I landed on... Kingdom Hope has been a theme in my heart since I heard John Eldredge's Hope in the Coming Kingdom CDs in 2013.  And Leadership is obviously a rising theme for me, and counseling a resurrected one.  I want to gradually become a trusted source for strengthening faith, mental health, and leadership identity, so I'm excited about building this!! ❤

A random FB ad talked me into buying this embosser thing for my books - FUN! =)  I have zero real need for it, but it does make me happy!

Also happy about my long-overdue hair appointment with Janelle on Friday morning!  Michaela is back in place (the shorter extensions), and Janelle and I are caught up on each others' lives... and I had time for a Los Cabos and Laurannae run that afternoon!!

Cookie Mamma is right across the street from Wildflower Blu, so I stopped there for myself and the Wilson fam!

The Jenks Laurannae was far more on point this time, with a delightful selection of cupcakes - of which I grabbed one of each. lol  Apple cinnamon, cookie dough, blackout chocolate, and bride's cake... all truly fantastic!

Throwback to me, Kristin Renee, and Kim at the Utica Starbucks with the Changie group, Fall 2007!  Yay for having friends who've been in my life for almost 20 years!

Miss Paige Evelyn was bouncy and happy to see me! =)

Group pic at the South BA Chick-fil-A!  I was happy to see all of them again on what may have been my first Tulsa trip since Chet's birthday!!

JW and Annie F. back at the conference where they met last spring - love it!

Count me ALL THE WAY IN for this party!!

(It's Lisa Harper, Beth Moore, Christine Caine, Priscilla Shirer, and Shelley Giglio celebrating Christine's 60th birthday!)

'Twas a slumber party event with themed costumes, dancing, cheesy photos, laughter, great food, and undoubtedly phenomenal and God-honoring conversation!! =)  HBD, Christine!  Thankful for each of these women and their individual examples, genuine friendships, and impact on my life and walk with God!

Aww, look - it's me trying to quietly pull out of CCU and counseling, and Dr. Burkhart reminding me of a few things and convincing me to push through (his talk was far more nuanced and tactful, but this was basically the vibe of our 8-26 meeting).

 Ironically, I wrote about that very scene in his Leadership class last August (quoted HERE).  Of the plethora of movies I know and love, it's surprising to me that I'm coming back to this one so often, but I've always identified with Dottie's character on some level, and seeing how much he cares in that scene makes it land and feel poignant!

Ashley sent me this adorable pic of Miles looking proud of himself at the jog-a-thon!  Go, Miles, go!! =)

Okay, friends!  We can do hard things, and sometimes, the "hard" is what makes it great!!  Having said that, may we all have a RESTFUL Sunday ahead where God can strengthen and refresh us for the hard work ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Rebuilding What Was Destroyed

One thing that stuck with me from the 9/11 Memorial Museum tour last January was seeing and touching this massive steel column that had buckled and folded over itself when the South Tower collapsed.

It stood out as the only artifact in the museum we were encouraged to touch - our guide even told us to work together to try to lift it.  Feeling the literal weight of that multi-ton piece of steel (that landed amid 360 million pounds of rubble) made me step back with renewed awe at the level of destruction.  The full magnitude of the Ground Zero clean-up work felt heavier and more real.

* * * * * * *

A recent podcast I heard brought that experience back to mind.  The host was emotional describing a time when her public reputation was unjustly maligned, when everything she had spent years building seemed to collapse at once.  The idea of rebuilding felt HEAVY and required a lot of support.

I could relate thinking about my journey within the counseling profession and all that happened last fall...

From February 2012 when I started night school classes at SNU to October 2025 when I pressed pause and felt like giving up, internally and externally, I had been BUILDING toward a counseling career path - a goal I had set with the belief that it had lasting Kingdom value.  Brick by brick, pursuing counseling has required tremendous personal courage and growth from me:  the applications, interviews, residency trips, presentations, papers, role plays, hundreds of practicum and internship hours, counseling children and adults, facilitating grief and divorce groups, challenging feedback, research, confusing rejections, wrestling with ethical questions, strong mentors and friendships, questions of identity and calling, repeatedly pressing through self-doubt, and consistently seeking God's direction!  (And what a gift every bit of that has been, looking back.  I love the grit and confidence it has gradually instilled in me!)

Still, watching my adoption plans/dreams crumble to the ground last fall took a serious toll on my identity, hope, determination, and faith.  Some negative feedback from a misaligned supervisor in that season added fuel to the fire, and it became surprisingly easy to believe I had misheard God about the adoption and the counseling dreams.  It all seemed too hard and heavy, and I opted to quietly fade back and let the LPC dream go.  But God never let go of me.

"Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery?   Of course not!  ...For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]."  ~Romans 11:11-29

*Adding that one to my board of empowerment ASAP.*
After passing the National Counselor Exam and navigating the painfully-difficult process of becoming an LPC-Candidate in Oklahoma, the 104 clinical hours I earned last fall have now officially expired.  So I am starting from ground zero in that area.  When you spend years building something meaningful, watching it collapse can feel like a personal failure.  Standing among the wreckage of something you poured your heart, energy, money, prayers, and effort into can make walking away seem more appealing than rebuilding.

BUT what if I am supposed to acknowledge the brokenness and devastation around me as the work of the enemy, learn from it, and intentionally CHOOSE to start over and rebuild with God?  What if part of leadership is having the courage and audacious faith to rebuild what the enemy worked so hard to crush and destroy?

The challenges I've experienced here have been humbling, sobering, and educational.  My accumulated hours will no longer count toward becoming an LPC, but there was real value there (for my growth and hopefully for the clients I served), and I'm building from a stronger foundation of wisdom and experience now.

It also brings me great JOY and comfort to realize that the Bible passage I chose for my vision board and my grad school announcement in 2022 -- the very same one I posted on this blog a full decade earlier (the week I started classes at SNU Tulsa) -- concludes with this poignant verse about rebuilding:

"They will REBUILD the ancient ruins.  They will RESTORE the places destroyed long ago.  They will RENEW the ruined cities..."  ~Isaiah 61:4

God is bringing so many pieces together in my mind and heart lately.  I was always called to rebuild - I just didn't think it would start with my own God-given dreams and identity.  (But honestly, why would it start anywhere else?  God establishes things internally before He increases our Kingdom impact.)

Exciting News:  This afternoon, following a 3-step interview process, I signed the offer letter and was hired as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate for Momentum Counseling & Consulting, a growing firm based in Colorado and recommended by a trusted mentor.  I'm genuinely excited and grateful... and a bit reflective as I anticipate the changing of seasons and all that it may encompass.  Breathe - one step at a time.  I feel a good nervous energy, like I'm standing at the start line of a marathon, gearing up for a challenging course ahead, knowing there will be hard hills and meaningful support and unexpected turns, and trusting that the finish line will be worth the effort!  I am determined to represent Christ with wisdom, grace, renewed JOY, and endurance.

The word "rebuilding" usually sounds hopeful to me, and for good reason.  There is beauty in casting a new vision, but there is heaviness and pain behind it, as well.  It means there was real devastation - something you built with great care that was crushed, and now you have to reassess and do the work a second time.

Someday soon, I will undoubtedly have clients and future grad students who are rebuilding parts of their lives... sifting through the wreckage of dreams, plans, and/or relationships that were shattered.  And this experience will inform and strengthen my response.  I am growing in my firsthand understanding and ability to slow it all down and sit. with. people. in the midst of devastating grief, honoring their emotions and valuing the full magnitude of what they've lost.  And when the timing is appropriate, I believe God will empower me to speak words that help strengthen them with renewed hope as He provides the courage needed to rebuild.

Going back to the top of this post, after touring the 9/11 Memorial Museum, we went to see the view from the top of the Freedom Tower.  You can feel it when you step into it - that building tells a new story of hope, one that is powerful and redemptive and special.  Beauty for ashes, you might say.  Obviously, the entire story matters, and it mirrors the larger Kingdom narrative.  I believe that will be true in my life, as well - our losses matter, and what we build moving forward with God's help matters.  What a gift that God loves to write redemptive stories!

I'm reminding myself that Kingdom work is opposed, and rebuilding was never intended to be easy.  This work requires great effort and heart, and God understands that.  I am starting with a sparkly clean slate in a new state system where I can build my caseload and counseling skills while building a trusted reputation for Godly wisdom, excellence, and integrity! #goals  My capacity may be limited, but I will have a team of solid supervisors for support, and I can lean on Jesus and continually invite God's help and guidance!!

❤

Important Perspective:  In spite of losing my accumulated hours, I'm so thankful I took the past year "off" from counseling and schoolwork.  There was needed healing and growth, and I'm in a much better place to move forward now!  When you are wounded and surrounded by the wreckage of a broken dream, have grace for yourself.  It is 100% okay to pause and grieve over what has collapsed.  Acknowledge all that you invested, then take inventory of what was ruined and what remains.  Most importantly, DRAW NEAR TO GOD, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).  He will guard you with fiercely protective strength, gently bind and care for your wounds as you heal, then give you a fresh perspective and renewed strength for moving forward.  He is with you in your lowest moments; He has not forgotten you.

God rewards those who sincerely seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

He shows up when we seek Him wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13).

Promises, not exaggerations.

If you are in Christ, the rubble does not get the last word in your story!

Jesus is still writing new chapters.

The one true God is FOR YOU, infusing you with His power, His love, and sound wisdom that overcomes lies, fear, and timidity.  All is not lost.  Some doors may be closed, but stay alert for the new doors God is opening before you.  His hope is still the secure anchor for your soul, and He has not withdrawn His gifts or changed His mind about calling you!!  When the time comes to rebuild, press forward in faith, trusting God to redeem E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G the enemy intended for your destruction.

"Those who look to Him for help will be RADIANT WITH JOY, and no shadow of shame will darken their faces."  ~Psalm 34:5

Go in the strength you have, and do the work!
Build something new and stronger with God, one obedient step at a time.

The best is yet to come! ❤

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is WITH YOU.  He will not fail you nor abandon you [but will GUIDE YOU in the construction] until you have finished all the work..."  ~1 Chronicles 28:20 

 ❤ ❤ ❤

Across the Street

Following God is such a fun and fascinating journey!  I had the distinct honor and privilege of leading a good friend to Christ this morning...

This = our group pic after LifeGroup... me, Josie, Katie, Ashley, Natalie, Haley, Amira, and baby Esther (who literally took her first steps during group, which was also pretty exciting)!!

Katie felt unprepared and considered canceling yesterday; I offered to help lead, then a few things felt off and I didn't want to step into potentially hard conversations, so I was honestly debating whether to go to group at all this morning.  Checked my email when I woke up, and that included Christine Caine's "First Things First" devotional (a daily email that's been fruitful and timely multiple times lately - highly recommend subscribing HERE).  Today's email was titled "Across the Street," emphasizing that God wants us to be willing to cross the street to reach out to the lost and hurting world who needs Him.  Katie's house is quite literally across the street from mine, so that was a fairly clear sign I couldn't ignore. lol

I arrived early to help prepare and co-lead.  Katie and I prayed together and discussed the need to clarify and not overcomplicate the gospel message (pic below = her reading the Genesis account of the fall of man from a children's Bible).

We were covering the basics of what we believe, and one of the women had sincere questions (no names out of respect for her privacy).  We discussed the Romans road Scriptures below, why christening doesn't save you (not a personal choice), why baptism is symbolic but not essential for salvation, and the differences between conviction and condemnation.  Because I had a closer relationship with her, Katie texted me that I should lead her through the prayer if I was comfortable with that.  I carefully asked if she wanted to make that choice, and she was ready and willing and excited (and a little nervous) about it.  The group gathered around to support her, the Holy Spirit gave me the words to say, and I led her through a prayer to make Jesus her Savior and Lord.  We all clapped and celebrated together, continuing to share support and answer questions.  (Today had marked a painful anniversary for her, so we talked about it being good that she will have a better anniversary to celebrate on this day moving forward.)  It was a sacred moment, and I really feel so much gratitude for the way God showed up there!! ❤

Looking at Facebook later, I realized this is the 3-year anniversary of Babah's funeral service.  Speaking at her graveside and memorial service took courage for me that day, and I am glad I leaned into that and followed God's call to be brave.  My talk included the verses below, and it was encouraging for me to re-read them today.

"Be steadfast, strong, and immovable...
nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted or without purpose."

AMEN to that!!

❤

K-Faith and friends celebrating their victory at the Tulsa tournament today!

Proud of them, and happy they have one last tournament in Norman on Monday!

Kyndal with Coach Jantzen (Heidi, who was in the class of 2003 between Rach and I at CHA)

I've been praying for God to work in me and through me and for me, and He is showing up in all the ways.  I'm deeply grateful for that!

OSU also had another exciting victory today - go Cowboys!

I missed it because I was watching the Avengers save the world (again) - my first theater movie since August 6th, a familiar gem that spurs so much Kingdom hope in my heart!

So today included a delicious chicken and waffle sandwich, a favorite movie in theaters, a FaceTime call from Kyndal, a butterscotch Icee, time with Mom and Dad, co-leading Lifegroup, and leading a good friend to Jesus!!  What a gift!

Also thankful for the identity-affirming gift of mentors who really believe in me, and for so many timely devotional emails as I gear up for a rebuilding season - God knows I need all of it - the internal rebuilding always comes before the external!

God is with you, and He is for you.

Hope you have a restful Sunday ahead!

❤ ❤ ❤