(PCM+) Mental Health Minute with Mr. Ponca City

Story by Relo Adams, MS, MCP, LPC-C / Ashley Adams, M.Ed, MCP, LPC-C /Contributing Writer

The following article appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine, which includes hyperlocal stories about Ponca City. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.

“The Journey Part 1” : A Prayer in the Sand

June 17 is Ashley’s and my 14th wedding anniversary. As I thought about what I’d write about for June, I knew I wanted to incorporate my marriage somehow. Being married 14 years means we have lots of ups and downs, especially considering that for the majority of our marriage we were, or are, healing from chronic illnesses. That alone, is a story in, and of, itself. The mental health struggles that chronic illness brings, the uncertainty, the strain it brings to a marriage. I mean, I can go on and on. If our marriage was not centered in Christ, I am not sure where we would be as a couple. Our love story is simple. We were both performers in the Northern Oklahoma College performance group, The Roustabouts! My first year there, summer 2007, was Ashley’s first year at Belmont University in Nashville. Her reputation at NOC was impressive, but I couldn’t care less. I was fresh out of Lawton, Okla. Everything was new to me, and I thought it was so strange how genuinely nice everyone seemed to be. Ashley came to visit one day during a break from school and a mutual friend, Tatia Cordes (Collins), introduced us. She said, “This is THEE Ashley “LeeLee” Hopkins. She’s a signed country singer in Tennessee.” I said “Hi” and scurried away to practice. I wasn’t the most confident person back then, and again, I didn’t care. I too was signed to a recording contract at one time and thought I was hot stuff. How embarrassing ... Honestly, the arrogance should have been enough for Ashley to go the other way. Instead, she came to watch our performance that night and the rest is literal history!