October 2025

 

"Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings, and now for October eves." -- Humbert Wolfe

The 2025 BINGO card keeps coming up empty.  So many things happening that were not on our card.  Some good, some not so good - all of them learning moments, opportunities for growth and grace, and even a few laughs (through tears) along the way.  I often tell the kids, live is never easy, sometimes it is just harder than others.  This roller coaster is a GIFT, and we can either embrace it or get thrown off.  That's not to say we don't grieve and mourn the losses, and of course we celebrate the wins, but we know the next bend, hill, or loop is right around the corner.  "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" 1 Corinthians 16:13.  This is where I live most days in 2025.  BUT!  October is always fun - birthdays, homecoming, and start of BASKETBALL!  We had a wild and crazy month.  Let's recap!  (Trying out a new format this month...)

Oct. 1 - Finn’s PRE-Birthday-palooza

We celebrated Finn's birthday a little early at Cane's on Wednesday the 1st - because part of his gift was an event on the 4th.  Dinner at his favorite eatery, and an epic present! (We also started a little fall decorating!)

He got a (secondhand) camera, bag, and lenses to get his photographer journey started!  He also got a memory card and a USB adapter to move photos from the card to his laptop. ;) -- AND of course, CANE'S!

Oct. 3 - First  BASKETBALL of the Season!

We found out of of Jake's best friends - who is in college in Iowa - was going to be down in Norman for aa JUCO showcase at the Young Family Athletic Center, so we said HECK YEAH! Played a little hookie from work for a couple hours and made it happen!  LOVED this time with sweet friends from his high school days.  We say so many friends and got so many hugs, high fives, and fist bumps!  Me heart was SO FULL!

 

Oct. 4 - Finn goes to "class" 

Part of Finn's birthday present was an into to digital photography class at Bedford Camera in Oklahoma City.  There were only 3 people enrolled, so he got a lot of individual attention and learned about his new camera and lenses.  He was super nervous, but the teacher was amazing and made him feel so much for comfortable with his camera! 

 

Basic camera functions, equipment care, shooting tips, and printing options. “Camera Essentials” is designed for people who are brand new to the digital photography world

Oct. 5 - Finn's 14th birthday - and a road trip to Wichita

We spent the first part of the day at the place where it all started.  We took snacks to the nurses, and Finn got to see his photo on the Wall of Hope, and we got to see SO MANY of his caregivers - including his neonatologist!  It was so joyful!

 

 

 

Then, we drive up to Wichita to give Jake his new basketball shoes so he could have them for Media Day - even though he would be home in 2 days!  LOL

 

Oct.  6/7 - Mom at a Conference

I was asked to present on Slate at the Oklahoma Higher Ed Super Conference. It was so fun to be around all my Registrar friends!  It was held at the New OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City, so an easy commute for me.  :) Especially enjoyed hanging out with Chelsea and Emily!

   

  What they knew, that most didn't, was that on Thursday before this conference, I quit my job as Assistant Director of Student Success Slate at Oklahoma State University.  We didn't tell anyone till after this conference, but my boss and I had started working in the background to make this transition as easy as possible.  My last day was set to be October 30 -  already had the 31st off for travelling to see Jake play ball.  The girls and I spent a lot of time those 2 days reminiscing on the almost decade of co-working and besting BEST FRIENDS!

Oct. 8 - Betsey's Birthday

Finn and I got Dutch Bros - and free gifts (ducks)

Oct. 9 - Betsey starts the Farewell Tour - and gets a flu shot

 

Media Day and KB3's visit to Tabor

 

Oct. 10 - Busy Friday!  Jersey Day for Finn, I chaperoned a field trip to North for Sequoyah Choir, Jake came home for Fall break, and there was a choir concert!

Oct. 11-13, PUPPY LOVE

We drove to Melissa, Texas, via Buc-cee's, and added a family member.  We picked up "Jack" - with fill intent to change his name - from hs breeder to bring him home to Oklahoma.  He is the sweetest 10 week old, 8 pound FLOOF ball!  We spend the weekend falling in love, taking pictures, and getting to know him....

MEET "JACK"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPOLIER ALERT - we didn't change his name.  It's still Jack!

 

Oct. 13-16  We spent the week getting to know Jack and getting into a puppy groove... And Media pics hit th Tabor MBB website!

 

Oct. 17 - OSU Homecoming Walkaround - We went early in the evening, and Finn brought his camera!  It was a neat experience with him wanting all the good pics!

 

 

 

AAAAaaaaand, we came home ot a good pup!

Oct. 18 - OSU Homecoming Sea of Orange Parade - Took Jack with us.  We had a thunderstorm in the mddle of the parde.  LOL  LOTS of fun memoires- not so many pics!

 

 

 

 Breakfast from Missy's in Guthrie, Lunch from Hideaway in Stillwater

Oct. 19-24 - Life with Jack while I worked to wrap up my responsibilities at OSU.  Dad and Finn came to Stillwater on Monday the 20th to help pack up my office and we had lunch at Eskimo Joe's!

 

Oct. 25 - Impromptu trip to downtown OKC.  We headed down to the City to go to a Home and Garden show at the fairgrounds.  It was a total bust, but Finn had his camera with him, and he wanted to wonder downtown and take pics.  It turned out to be a FABULOUS idea!  We explored Scissortail Park, The Paycom Center, Midtown, and The Wheeler District.  These are some pics I took and many Finn did! SO MUCH FUN!

 

Oct. 28 - Jake's first game as a Tabor Bluejay!  It was in Nebraska, but we got to stream it.  It was a day we have dreamed of for years, and it did not disappoint!

 

Jack was not impressed!

Oct. 25 - Jack and Jake Day! Jack visited a dog trainer, and had his first vet visit.  Jake got highlighted for his contributions to the game the night before 

 

  

All that activity wore him out!

Oct. 30 - PART 1 - Last Day at OSU. 

 

Oct. 30 - PART 2 - Let's Go THUNDER! Bought some last minute tickets to change the mood...

 

 

 

 

Oct. 31 - You say "Halloween," we say "Basketball!"  Tabor College Basketball teams hosted a tournament in Hillsboro for the weekend, so OFF WE WENT! Spent the weekend in Kansas, and had the ABSOLUTE best puppy sitter back at home.

 

Made up some ground and read SEVEN books!  Noting that i was in the middle of 2 of these when the month started, I still got through 6 or 7 (SIX SEVEN!!!!! IYKYK - middle schoolers!)  There was even a little drought in there where no books were read.  Reflecting on the number of things that happened this month as I write this, I am shocked I got that much done!  YAY BOOKS! 

"Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

"Anxious for Nothing" by Max Lucado

"Sunday Morning" by Jewel E. Ann

"I Love You Like It's 1999" by A.J. Pine

"We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

"Remembering You" by Coleen Hoover

"The Scammer" by Tiffany D. Jackson

Find me on GoodReads:

  goodreads.com/bdub_ok

September 2025

 

"September days have the warmth of summer in the briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of Autumn." -- Rowland E. Robinson

We are in such a season of change - seems logical that September would spear that on.  September in Oklahoma is still hot, but the days thankfully get shorter and cooler as the month moves forward. We spent the month getting into the groove of a new school year and routines.  My job was insanely busy this month, so it RUSHED by.  Always busy, and sometimes frantic and but the feel of something coming, something changing was on the horizon.  The calendar was not super full, but the undercurrent of what was to come was always buzzing just below the surface.  September is always a fun month because it starts with a Monday holiday!  So it was holiday, school days, fall daze and longer sun rays in September!

Here are a few photos to commemorate the month.  Enjoy!

We had so much fun at Junklahoma in Piedmont!
Video:

   

Jake got featured on Tabor Men's Basketball Page
"Day in the Life"
Video below:

Jake Flew to SLC to see the girl ... I had lunch with the girls, then met Pete again, Jake came to town "real quick" to see us and some football, and I worked on my home office

 

And, I learned how to navigate a terrible tragedy on a college campus with a class full of college kids, all while managing my own grief, my own college kid's emotions, and how to tell a young teenager about all of this.  It was A LOT!

 

We celebrated NICU Nurse Day, the girls "anniversary" on 9/11, and they had Game Day fun together - COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK!

Emma and Parker - SO CUTE!

 

Tabor MBB numbers were released, I had a little adventure to a fun little room, I dressed up my dresser and decorated for fall!

 

Mr. Weaver and I spent a weekend in OKC for his college service fraternity reunion - SO MUCH FUN!

 

We are together forever, Defying Gravity!

AND....... this...

I read 4 books this month.  Progress.  It was a busy month - even with not a lot of things on the calendar and not many photos.  I don't really remember WHAT we were doing (It took me a month to get to this post - today is October 24).  UGH!)  Here's what I read:

"The Housemaid's Wedding" by Frieda McFadden

"The Things We Do For Love" by Kristin Hannah

"Both Things Are True" by Kathleen Barber

"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Find me on GoodReads:

  goodreads.com/bdub_ok