Thankful Thursday #227 (Leaders)

"Now to the One who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to You, our gracious Father, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Today, I am thankful for: 

The impact of good leaders!! ❤

*This week's GTKY question: Who or what has influenced your understanding of leadership in the counseling profession?  It could be a mentor, a specific theory or model, a book, or any other source of inspiration.  Share how this influence has impacted your perspective on leadership.

My Personal Top 10 List:

1.  Donald Miller -- His life story inspires me, and his book Hero on a Mission has changed my life in profound ways!  Reading that book led me to pursue the marathon, the Masters degree, the PhD, motherhood, becoming an author, and more.  (Basically, it led me to take responsibility and take action, setting meaningful goals and living a more fulfilling and interesting life... and what better gift can any leader impart to others!?).  I'm forever grateful for him!

2.  John Eldredge -- His books entirely changed my viewpoint on the larger story (spiritual warfare, God's goodness, my role in all of it).  Knowing that he was a CCU Counseling graduate prompted me to look into their program 3 years ago.  He is prayerful and very reliant on Jesus in his leadership decisions, and I'm grateful for his example and his impact on my life! 

3.  Beth Moore -- Wow, I had missed her.  Her love for Jesus is pure and genuine, and her summer Bible study has been so good for me - next week is the final session, which feels pretty perfectly timed!  Beth's books and Bible studies have been life changing for me, and her compassionate and caring yet direct and firm leadership are inspiring.  I love that she shares her story to help others and serves as an advocate for victims of sexual sin and abuse of power within the church.

4.  Annie F. Downs -- So grateful for her books and podcasts, along with her life example, which has inspired me in several areas!  She's one of very few Christian single women who are leading in a public way with gentle strength and dignity.  She's enjoying her life and friendships while holding onto her hope for marriage and her faith in God's kindness, and I really love seeing that!!

5.  Craig Groeschel -- I have learned a lot from Craig's Leadership Podcast, and I think he is a strong leader who genuinely loves Jesus and cares about reaching the lost.  The new lifegroup I've joined has reignited my appreciation for Life.Church and the positive impact they are having!

6.  Dr. David Frisbie -- My favorite SNU professor - he was interesting and respectful and called each of us "Dr. Muecke, Dr. Gillis, etc." from the beginning as a sign of respect and to encourage us to consider grad school and start to see ourselves differently!  He wrote several great recommendation letters for me, encouraged my book-writing aspirations, helped me with some personal questions via email, and wrote me the kindest note after a hard presentation.  "Best ever - I do not say that lightly."

7.  Chet Wilson -- The only person on this list that I speak with regularly, and what. a. gift. that has been!  While he is not in a leadership role in my life, his leadership style has had a positive influence on my identity and my understanding of leadership - inspiring me to step up, grow, improve, and become all God created me to be.  Chet is self-aware, fiercely loyal, respectful, an exceptional communicator (direct and kind), and a man of Godly wisdom.  When I'm tempted to do something I would regret, I often hear his voice in my head saying "Lead with integrity."  He leads his family and his business well, and he has a real gift for problem-solving and connecting with people.  He has earned my deep trust and respect, and I hope we continue to strengthen and sharpen each other!

8.  Mel Robbins -- Love "my friend, Mel!" =)  We are not aligned theologically, but I've found a great value in her leadership and her vision-casting energy.  There's a reason she has the #1 podcast in the world, and it is evident to me as I listen to her.  She loves to learn and helps others learn by breaking down academic language into layman's terms, and she is continually complimenting and connecting with her listeners.  My life was changed through her Launch course last summer, and I think it's beautiful and genuine that she ends every podcast with "In case no one else says it today, let me say that I love you, and I believe in you, and I believe in your ability to create a better life!"

9.  Dr. Ryan Burkhart & Dr. Selin Philip -- Dr. Burkhart showed humility, wisdom, and kindness by offering to meet with me when I was considering leaving the MAC program 2 years ago. I really bypassed the chain of command by emailing him directly, and he could have easily passed it off or redirected me.  Our meeting was clarifying and helpful and validating.  I was very encouraged to stick with it when he said: "This is Kingdom work, and the counseling profession needs people like you who care enough to wrestle with these issues."  Dr. Philip speaks slowly and thoughtfully and leads with a gentle, quiet authority and an obvious passion for Christ... and it's been really good for me to see an introvert being herself and thriving in an essential leadership position!

10.  Vanessa Van Edwards -- Communication expert who specializes in practical advice and body language cues; her books, podcasts, and emails have taught me a lot about leading with warmth and competence + focusing on making others feel at ease rather than thinking about my own discomfort in any speaking opportunity!

Honorable Mention:  Andy Stanley (moral authority), Emily Matousek (body kindness and self-trust), Susan Cain (the power of introversion), Brene Brown (vulnerability and resilience), Carol Dweck (embracing the growth mindset where I had been stuck), Levi Lusko (grieving with hope), and Shauna Niequist (writing from the heart).

The rest of my post:  I am just beginning to lean into the new identity of seeing myself as a leader.  So many of the above leaders who've had a powerful influence on my life have done so through books or podcasts or one-on-one conversations.  Knowing the impact the words in a book can have is encouraging to me, as I love to write, and my goal is to grow in that and become an author and maybe a speaker eventually.  I also hope to become a CCU professor and an LPC Supervisor down the road.  I think it's important to be intentional about encouraging others and helping people believe in themselves and cultivate a growth mindset.  We tend to think of large-scale, company-wide leadership, but I think counselors often lead quietly through deeper, one-on-one connections that have a wider ripple effect than they may ever know... and the relational aspect of that feels more natural and appealing to me!

Leadership was a theme during our time together in Colorado, and it’s been on my mind and heart since I came back home.  As an introvert who prefers one-on-one connections to speaking in a large group, I have not typically viewed myself as a leader.  But God is gradually changing that, and I am grateful for the leaders He has placed in my story and the ways He is working in me!

Happy Thursday, family and friends!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Let Them

"But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever." 

❤ Psalm 146:5-6

Happy Wednesday, and happy 6-months-till-Christmas, friends and fam!!  I'm taking a very quick minute to blog before I leave for work.  This = my 5k walk yesterday afternoon... I covered at the juvenile court, and we were done before 2:30, which gave me some unexpected and very-much-valued free time! =)

Love this quote - CS Lewis for the win!!  I want to be someone who feels things deeply and takes bold action whenever I feel convicted or challenged or prompted to act.

The Peach Truck did not disappoint... so fresh and good!!  But their smallest order was a 12-pound box of peaches, which is more than I could possibly eat before they go bad, even after sharing with Mom and Kristin.  So I made another peachy dessert last night, and I'm freezing most of it in individual containers for later.

This gem is currently available on Tubi, and I was so happy to watch it again! =)

Following up on my Thunder posts, they won - huzzah!!  I kept saying national champions, but apparently, this win made them "World Champions" according to several FB posts I saw.  Either way, go OKC!!

Emily and Chas cheering them on for 13 years!

A poignant picture from the Champions parade downtown yesterday... sadly, I was in a murder prelim at the time.

This made me happy!

Miss K with all the games on family dinner night - she's so fun and creative and colorful!

Jace Michael relaxing while the girls planned Kyndal's bday party! =)

Proud of Jace as he's working out more and trying healthier foods this summer... he didn't love the peaches and refused to try cherries, but he's a fan of watermelon (not pictured) and pineapple, and that's a new and positive development!

Goals!

Speaking of, I had my first Zoom meeting in the Leadership class with Dr. Burkhart last night... it was great, and I think those weekly discussions will be really helpful in viewing myself as a leader and acting accordingly!

Also, I had my first supervision meeting with Krystal yesterday.  Things are really ramping up, so I'm reminding myself to have GRACE!!

The "let them" phrase caught my attention in this verse, thanks to Mel Robbins and that being my theme for this year... I love that God gives us the power to choose, and gracious, I want to listen to Him and surrender to His will and choose life at every turn!!!

"But no, My people wouldn't listen.

Israel did not want Me around.

So I let them follow their blind and stubborn way,

living according to their own desires.

But oh, that My people would listen to Me!

Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!

How soon My hands would be upon their foes!"

~Psalm 81:11-14

That's all for this morning... make it a great day ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thankful Thursday #226!

"Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.  I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people.  But let them not return to their foolish ways.  Surely He is ready to save those who honor Him, and His saving presence will remain in our land."  ~Psalm 85:7-9

Today, I am thanking God for:

1.  Rach passing her CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam yesterday morning!!  She took amazing notes and studied hard for this one, and I was super happy to hear that she passed it on the first try!  

2.  Kristin's friendship and life example, and that her parents know she is in Heaven with Jesus now (she died early this morning).  Praying for her family and close circle as they process all of this.

3.  This meme from Chettles that made me laugh out loud. lol  (Also, I'm genuinely thankful for the way my identity and life dreams have grown and changed over time.)

4.  This truth.

5.  Squirrels - they're adorable and mischievous and funny. lol  But being this close to so many of them would've freaked me out!  (Dad took this pic on his park walk this morning.)

6.  Alicia!!  A California girl turned proud Texan, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and a fellow PhD student at CCU.  She celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday, so she'll have her PhD by the time she's 33!  I'm just beginning to get to know her, but I really love her vibrant energy and joy!  She has a list of 186 questions on her phone (she continually adds to it as she finds new ones), but during several of our dinners at Residency, each person would choose a number then we'd all go around answering that question - some deep, some funny, some incredibly random.  She had good book recommendations and solid Biblical wisdom during some of our group conversations, and my breakfast coffee convo with her on day one was also really encouraging - she asked me about my adoption hopes and dating history, and we had a good talk about Christian singleness and holding onto hope for marriage while moving forward with other dreams.  We lamented about how much the process of becoming an LPC varies from state to state, then she said, "What's cool is that with this degree we're getting, we'll be in a better position to lead and speak up and create change!"  And that was such an awesome reframe - to look at frustrating problems from the perspective of: How can I be a part of the solution?  Anyway, big fan of her already, and I hope she's having an awesome birth-week!

7.  Afternoon walks... sadly, I've been feeling a bit less safe and more aware of potential danger lately - hoping that subsides because I love being able to take a work-break and go for a walk around Main Street!  My last summer workday 5k included a cool-off stop midway for a small gelato at Apple Tree Chocolate! lol #yum  (My first time using ApplePay - glad to know how it works now.)

8.  Childhood videos... Rach had our old Beta and VHS videos converted to a digital format and played a few for us earlier this week... this was from our 1990 San Antonio trip with the Wallace fam!

9.  The Mini Miss K's creativity and love of games - after fam dinner on Tuesday, she made a "guess the celebrity" game for us on her phone, then screen-mirrored it to the TV! lol

10.  This reminder that life is big and wide and long, and God will open the right doors and close the wrong ones as we move forward!

Bonus:  Things that make me laugh while driving... like this pickup carrying Tiltawhirl cups on my drive to Colorado! lol

Happy Thursday, and Happy Juneteenth - (a Federal holiday, but not a State one, so we still had to work today - lame).  I love you and believe in you, and Jesus does too!!

❤❤❤

Thunder Up, Part 2!!

Dad decided to spring for 4 tickets for last night's Thunder game (Jace and Mom were uninterested or they'd have been welcome to join us)!  Ticketmaster did their best to make it difficult, but eventually Rach succeeded in ordering four tickets at the edge of the row!  ...They had half white and half blue t-shirts for this game, and we were happy to be in a blue section!

We parked at Harkins again - not a bad walk from there!

This guy was playing Rockin' Robin, a song that makes me happy as it makes me think of You've Got Mail!

Miss K is a big fan of Jalen Williams (#8)... apparently there are two players with that same name - crazy!  Anyway, I told her to pose with him when I noticed the sign above her, and she went all out! lol

So fun!!  Congrats to the Thunder for being in the Finals for the first time (I think)... one more win and we're national champions - go Oklahoma!!

False - thank God. lol  The game was nearly 3 hours long in total, and while we did plenty of enthusiastic cheering, I'm grateful we did not stand up the entire time!

The blue light effect was kinda fun!

After me shrugging the first ten times Kyndal asked me to explain what just happened, she learned to ask Grandpa! lol  (She'd made fun of Rach for cheering so intensely, so Rach and Dad switched seats! lol)

Sitting by Kyndal Faith and hearing her commentary was super fun!  We enjoyed watching some of the crazier fans near us - and she was focused and kept me up to speed on what was happening in the game. lol

Yay for this pic, and yay for free refills on the popcorn!

Me and the Miss K (with her Dippin Dots)!

Rach being extra just to annoy Kyndal every so often. lol

It was a loud, passionate, perfectly-energized crowd, and so fun being there for their 3rd win against the Pacers!!  Thanks again, Dad!

This summer has been delightfully light where court reporting work is concerned... I took a 30-minute hearing at the juvenile center this morning, then got to hang out at home for a bit before heading to the courthouse (where we have nothing set, but I'll take a 5k walk and try to finish up my supervision paperwork).  For now, I'm blogging from home... my new Macbook cover arrived today, and I love it! ❤

I guess that's all for now.
Happy Tuesday!

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Weekend Update!

Happy Sunday, and Happy Father's Day to my Dad and to all the great dads I know, love, respect, and value (including but not limited to the five friends pictured below)!! ❤

I completed my video reflection for Residency this afternoon... so that means 1 credit hour down, 59 to go!! lol  I am still in the surreal first mile of this new PhD "marathon," but the start line energy and community are strong, and I'm visualizing the finish line already! ;-)

Okay, catching up on photos now... Thursday, the Fulton fam came to OKC for Sarah to get her badge for clinical rounds at the VA hospitals.  I joined them for lunch at The Collective, a food hall downtown (a first for all of us, and the food was pretty good - I had BBQ and they had fried tacos and split a Hawaiian plate)!

In spite of the brief rain, we all enjoyed the outdoor courtyard with big umbrellas over the tables... here's Kate's dancing it up to Imagine Dragons whilst I chatted with Steve and Sarah (and took pictures, clearly)! =)

Sadly, Sarah fell and had an ankle injury on Tuesday of this past week, which means she was unable to start her clinicals at the planned time in Tahlequah.  She has a follow-up surgery consult this coming Thursday, so praying for good news and answers for her there!  In the meantime, at least Kate is enjoying the scooter! lol

A good reminder for everyone who feels like they're in limbo or making painfully-slow progress...

Yay, Pom energy!! lol

Rach had dental surgery on 3 teeth this Thursday, so I sent her a couple dentist gifs. =)

She's recovering well for the most part, although we're both mildly disturbed by the idea of the cadaver-bone graft... definitely some entertaining commentary there.  Here's the ladies' side of the table at Bricktown Brewery on Friday the 13th for Mom and Dad's 44th Anniversary!!

Terrible lighting on both of these, but here's the guys - Bill, Dad, and Jace Michael!

Bill and Jill just returned from an Arizona trip where she got some great pictures while they were hiking; Mom has been busy decorating and cleaning Neal's apartment with Aisa's help while he's been in Houston over the past week; Jace is focused on his fish and watching Transformers and keeping up with his summer workouts; Miss K is in the summer volleyball league and busy planning an epic birthday party and photo shoot; Rach is recovering and enjoying the summer off (they all got season passes to Frontier City and Hurricane Harbor, formerly known as White Water) and studying for her medical coding test this coming Wednesday; and Dad is walking outside and working at SF and looking into getting tickets for one of the final Thunder games ahead!  Yay for sunshine illuminating us for this summery group pic!!  (And sad that, once again, Dad is hidden where you can't fully see him in the photo.)

We met again on Saturday for an early Father's Day dinner at BJs... this = the front of Rach's Father's Day card! lol

She also brought cookies for everyone - I had part of mine whilst watching How to Train Your Dragon after dinner! =)

I did a double-take when I saw this on Instagram - Ashley's oldest son, Corbett, got married last month!  Craziness... I've followed her blog since they were all toddlers.  Love their family and love that Chris officiated this wedding - congrats to the Campbells! ❤

My new lifegroup had our second meeting yesterday.  God keeps showing up in new ways lately!  Two new women joined us - one is in the midst of a hard medical season needing extra prayer and friend support, and the other is a trauma therapist who moved here from Texas and is interviewing with Integrated Therapy Solutions this week!!  I'm enjoying those new connections and learning new things with Jesus and being outside more this summer... on that note, I've decided to give myself one day off each week on my daily 5k goal, which puts me right on track as we start this third week of June, so YAY!! ❤

I plan to complete my supervision paperwork and get started with my candidacy hours in the week ahead!!  Now I'm off to watch Abbott Elementary, and that concludes my life update for today!  

I love you and believe the best is yet to come, and I'm confident that God will complete the good things He has begun in us and through us and for us!

❤ ❤ ❤