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!

❤ ❤ ❤

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!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Monday Memes!

Happy Monday, and Happy Birthday in Heaven to Babah!!
Pools are opening everywhere, and I hope you're enjoying the day off for Memorial Day...

On that note, I'm starting this post off with some good thoughts shared by my high school History teacher and volleyball coach this morning!

And now, moving right into loads of other memes I've saved recently... enjoy!

Too many to caption them all, but I'm glad to feel "caught up" on those now.  I'll post a weekend recap as soon as I have all the pics.  I'm grateful I got to sleep in this morning then go for a lovely overcast 5k walk, and now I'm gonna get ready and meet Mom and Dad at Warren for the final Mission Impossible movie! =)  It's sure to be both epic and utterly ridiculous, and I'm here for it - yay, Tommy Tom Cruise! lol

For the record, I love you and believe in you, and Jesus does too!!

❤ ❤ ❤