Gaillardia Girls Night!

After the girls finished filming their Tik-Tok dances, Rachael and Kyndal and Haydenn met me at the Braum's on Macarthur (aww, vivid 2011-2013 memories of Doris Drive), and I rode with them through the Gaillardia neighborhood across the street!

It was Haydenn's 13th birthday, so happy bday to her!  She and Kyndal are entertaining together, and they dressed as "Soulja Boy," as his Crank That song from the early 2000s has become popular again on Tik-Tok. lolol. Seeing their costumes and watching them kinda trip while trying the dance between houses brought me lots of joy!!

Rough lighting on this pic... for me and Haydenn, at least.  There were some people taking their golf cart through the neighborhood, and the lights were shining right on us, but that also made the shadows much more intense! #metaphorforlife

Rach wore her ghost poncho and black eye makeup and lipstick, and I wore my grad robe and Gryffindor scarf to be a Hogwarts student - yay, easy costumes!!  ...Rach jokingly called me Harry Potter at one point, and I corrected that to Hermione (pronounced "her-my-knee").  Then Rach said, "Seriously, that's how you say it??  I always thought it was her-mee-own."  Like, get all the way out.  So yeah, she and her children clearly haven't even seen the movies and have zero business visiting the magic that is Harry Potter World! lol #muggles

Rach and I mostly stayed in the car and chatted and admired the bougie houses and caught up on life whilst the girls were in and out.  It's a super fancy neighborhood, so naturally, several homes hand out full-size candy bars.  Even the security guard at the neighborhood entrance had some candy for all of us! =)  Also, Kyndal Faith got a haircut this week, and it's super cute!

Jace was at the CHA football game in Minco, but he begged Rach to trick-or-treat for him! lol  She felt dumb going up to the door at the first house, so I jokingly suggested she just tell them her son is in the car with a foot injury, then Kyndal said "Do that after I've walked away!  What if they ask to come see him!?"  The thought of that and how Rach would react made me laugh a lot!  For the record, she did not try that, but Kyndal got plenty of candy to share a bit with Jace. =)

We were there from around 7:00-9:15 and the girls canvassed most of the neighborhood.  Kudos to Rach for her great sense of direction, even if her knowledge of Harry Potter is woefully inadequate. lol  Gryffindors, ghosts, and a fun girls night at Gaillardia - that alliteration just writes itself!

Here's Karsten and Asher... their mismatched costume heads and Emily's caption made me laugh!  The sibling rivalry is so real, and it starts early!! lol

Speaking of cute siblings, here's Parker Elizabeth as a presh unicorn, and Tate Haywood as a daring ninja (Jace's costume from yesteryear)!

Her randomly putting her hand up by her face to pose now after the photographer had her do that for her school pic = my very favorite thing! lol  Gah, so much cuteness!!

That concludes my Halloween 2025 recap!

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Football Fun, Part 2

Jace's Fan Club for his last home game this football season! =)

Post-game pics - Rach had this shirt made on Etsy - cuteness!

Jace, TJ, and Jace!

Kyndal and Kenzie!

Removing the uniform is still an entertaining struggle. lol

Front pic before the sweaty uniform change!

Aunt Lindsey, Jace, and Mamaw!

And outside the world of football, here's Kristin helping Mom decorate on Sunday (I was also there, but mostly to support and document). lol

And the wonderful Moss Fam! ❤

Work in progress...

Happy Tuesday, friends and fam!!

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Football is Life

Rach and I joined Dad for the OSU game yesterday!!

This = us in our verrrry sunny regular seats before we moved to a spot in the shade - love this pic.  My cap and the Chet fans were super helpful... I was very pleased that 2024 Lindsey left the orange sunglasses and those fans in my clear gameday purse! lol

This = Rach being deeply annoyed whilst lifting the caution tape for Dad to drive through it.  Aww, memories. lolol  His stubbornness and her impatience and irritation level make me laugh!

Rachael.

It was a light and fun day, and I know this meant a lot to Dad, and I'm genuinely very grateful the three of us got to go together!  And it was entertaining being there for the shirtless guys that made national news!

Full story by Stephanie here (love her closing paragraph)... we were in and out with the Club tickets, so we saw it when there were four guys looking kinda sad and lonely, then watched the crowd gradually rally as that section became huge... so fun!  I love knowing it started with just one.  Their chaotic energy made Friends in Low Places even more of a delight for me!!

Yay for this pre-game pic in Mom and Dad's driveway!

The food did not disappoint (for me, at least).  There was BBQ brisket and mac and cheese, stuff for salads and nachos and frito chili pie and baked potatoes, as well as brunchy foods since it was an 11am game!!  I gradually sampled the cheddar grits, cheesy hashbrown casserole, waffles, cinnamon role, biscuits and gravy, and bacon... along with some lemonade + cookies and candy and an ice cream bar to go!  (Back on track today, but that was fun!)

I was so happy to see this presh puppy in this huge truck during a 15-minute traffic jam that really stressed Rachael out! lol  When we finally got moving again, I said, "What a cute dog, and what a fun traffic jam!" and she was super annoyed with me! lol

Sister pic + Dad and Rach walking back to his car whilst I ate my ice cream and snapped a photo! =)

The Cowboys lost, but I can't express how little that mattered to me.  They fired Coach Gundy mid-season and their first and second string quarterbacks have been injured.  So it's a rough, slightly embarrassing, rebuilding kind of season for them, and on the metaphorical level, I totally relate to that and wish them all the best!  

Of course, on the reality level, I have no clue what's happening on that field 90% of the time, but I so enjoy being there. lol  Love the crowd, love the food, love the nostalgia, love the vibrant orange, love the fan energy!  To quote Danny Rojas on Ted Lasso, "Football is life!!" ;-)

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Septembers I Remember

As a past-oriented Ennegram 9 (something interesting I learned about in Suzanne's book this month), I like to look for patterns.  

In spite of my genuine love for football season, Fair food, and Fall fun with friends and family, September has historically been a bit of a sad month for me...

2001 – My Senior year at CHA, crystalized memories of watching the national news in Mrs. Young’s office on September 11th

2002 – Trying to find my footing as a new college student at OBU; unsure of my major and not loving the bug-filled dorm room; very much missing my family and CHA friends

2010 – Frustrated with single life and shifting relationships; wrote my first blog post contemplating single motherhood (15th)

2012 – Struggling through a difficult Statistics class at SNU-Tulsa

2013 – Got my printed SNU diploma the same day Malori confirmed our friendship was over (9-6); Lots of grief over that ending + lots of time with newborn Kyndal Faith

2014 – Came off of the antidepressant medication; Walked out of a crazy “prayer ministry” cult (9-19)

2015 – Received a maddening rejection email from SNU’s master’s degree program (reason still unknown) on the day of Sarah’s monkey bread fiasco (9-25)

2016 – Gradually reconnected with a newly-married friend after not speaking for seven months

2019 – Handwriting thank-you notes with Mom after Grandad’s funeral

2020 – Malori announced her family was moving back to OKC, which ironically meant increasing tension and disconnection in our friendship

2021 – Car wreck in Ruby Claire just before my first home study with Shay at 522; (also finished my first adoption profile book)

2022 – Touring my nearly-complete new construction Taber home; lab work and IUI appointments at OU Reproductive; processing some negative pregnancy tests on my own

2023 – Adjusting to the busier schedule with my internship at Restore; Babah’s rapid decline, hospice, death, and memorial service

(The FB memory that got me thinking about this pattern today.  I so love these pics of the Wilson fam!)

2024 – A jarring, friendship-altering conversation on the 3rd; my video interview for a CCU professor job (never heard back); the death of Maggie Smith

2025 – More vulnerable and emotionally-painful Dallas IVF appointments; feeling overwhelmed and under-motivated in multiple areas of life; paused my candidacy hours; briefly researched surrogacy; finally closed the embryo adoption chapter

Even in my current state of mild exhaustion, I feel deeply aware that God's grace has been consistent in every melancholy element and painful season of my life, and I'm grateful He has blessed me with dependable friends and family!

I'm also very grateful that we get to start fresh with a new month tomorrow!!

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A Fond Farewell Fiesta!

Last night was a Farewell Fiesta party for the Shoemaker family, who are moving back to Texas next weekend!  Here's our bright and summery group picture, which delights my soul!! ❤  (JEM was also there but had to leave a little early with Henry and Holly.)

Chet Lee grilling the fajita veggies on the Blackstone (after the tortillas and before the chicken)!

The food was awesome!

Parker Elizabeth and Zealand being cute friends (and classmates)!

Tate Haywood ready to swim!!  I was happy he conquered his fear of the poolside slide on Saturday!  Also, their flippers make me happy!

Heidi Claire enjoying the photo wall of memories!  I printed around 75 photos of the Shoemakers and our friend group over the past six years!

Wilsons and Shoemakers!  Two of my fav families!! ❤

Pinata time!!  (Harvey, Parker, and Sophia)

So much candy!!

Mark and Rachel are both counselors, so we've had lots of great conversations about that!  I'm super grateful for their friendship, support, advice, and encouragement!!

Parker Elizabeth wanted a picture with the moon. lolol  LOVE IT.

Exactly six years ago today (7-7-19), Chet invited a few friends to help his clients paint their new home.  That was my first time meeting Mark and Rachel.  They came to Friendsgiving that November, and to nearly every fun friend group event over the past six years!  I so appreciate people who show up and participate and engage in conversation, and they've been top-tier, dependable friends in that way through the past six years!!

With this move, they will be closer to their families and better able to support Rachel's mom through her cancer treatments.  So I'm sincerely happy for them, while being genuinely sad to see them go!

Much like myself, I think Tulsa will always have a place in their hearts.  Unlike myself, I don't see them moving back down the road.

Our random patriotic final pic with Chet's flags - I couldn't love it more!!

That's all for today - proud of myself for getting these written before work!

Happy 7-7, friends!!  I love you and believe in you, and I pray God gives you the daily grace and strength you need to have an awesome week ahead!

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