HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADISON!

Madison, oh, Madison.  You are nine years old today, baby.  Nine years ago I gave birth to a 4lb. 12 oz. little baby girl who turned my world upside down.  I have thanked God for you every single day since your birth.  You make my life worth living.  You are beautiful.  You are amazing.  You are passionate and funny and creative and I cannot imagine a life without you!  You make me laugh constantly.  You make me a better momma.  You remind me of the important things in life, which are not things, but moments.  Like having fun together, and not taking ourselves too seriously, and trying our best even when things get tough.  You have such a heart for the Lord.  I love to watch you worship and pray.  I know the Lord will bless you immensely for He has great plans for you sweetie.  Oh, how I love you baby girl.  Happy Birthday!  Love you more than you'll ever know.

Love Always,

Momma

2009

Well, here we are, 2009.  Even though I'm not a fan of winter, I really do love this time of year.  It is a time of new beginnings, resolutions, and fresh starts.  I have resolved NOT to make resolutions that I can't keep.  I have resolved to make changes that will be more of a lifestyle, and not just a stupid resolution that I can't stick to.  I thought for some time about the changes I would make,  and this is what I've come up with:

1.  BE POSITIVE.  I think I have a habit of looking at the negative of things sometimes, rather than focusing on what is positive in a situation.  This year I hope to be more optimistic.  To look for the good not only in situations, but in people.

2.  SLOW DOWN.  I will not be caught up in the craziness of this world.  To slow down to notice the world around me.  To notice the PEOPLE around me.  To read the extra book at bedtime.  To curl up with a book on a rainy day.  To not get sucked into the world where things and schedules are more important than people.

3.  FORGIVE.  How many times do we let grudges and unresolved arguments stir and fester?  This year I resolve to let go of those things.  The Bible says, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."  Matthew 6:14.  Lord, please help me to forgive.

4.  WRITE.   I took a writing class this fall.  I didn't realize how fun it would be!  I have always loved writing, but I learned so much through this class.  This year I resolve to write.  Not because I want to be published, not for fame, not for anyone but me.  This year I resolve to write because it's what I love to do.

5.  APPRECIATION.   Oh, I think appreciation is a lost art.  I know this might sound silly, but I really think in this day and age that we forget to tell people we appreciate them.  This year I resolve to tell my husband how much I appreciate him and how he provides for our family.  I resolve to tell my girls how much I appreciate their kind words and their hard work.  I resolve to let the people in my life know why I appreciate them.

6.  REMEMBER MY BLESSINGS.   I could not even begin to list the blessings I have.  I have been blessed beyond measure.  And I resolve to remember those blessings daily.

Welcome to 2009 y'all!  I hope this year finds you all happy and healthy.

Love,

Nicki

PLASTIC JESUS

As I have been driving around town the last few weeks I have been taking notice of all the Christmas decorations.  Let me tell you one thing before I start...I am picky about my Christmas decorations.  I don't like big inflatable snowmen or blinking lights or lots of fake garland.  I am a lover of all things simple....white lights, green wreaths with a bow, real pine trees.  I don't like anything gaudy or overdone.  Just my taste.  Anyway, what I am getting at is that there is certainly a wide range of crazy decorations out there.

What I have recently noticed though, is the plastic Jesus.  For one, this is just not my taste; the plastic Jesus with his plastic parents and plastic wise men.  I have been wondering why this bothers me so much, why I can't stand seeing the plastic Jesus.  This morning I had a revelation.  I think the reason this bothers me is that plastic is so...I don't know....fake.  And the Lord is the FARTHEST thing from fake.  He is real.  He is alive.  He is love.  He is peace.  He is joy.  He is freedom.  He is faith.  He is comfort.  He is not some hard, cold, far away being that is untouchable.  He is here.  Now.  And forever.  And He always will be.  So if I can just stand on my soapbox for a minute...PUT THE PLASTIC JESUS AWAY!

Merry Christmas all, love you!

Nicki  

FALL FUN!

I love fall!  I love the trees and leaves and everything that comes with the season.  Here are a couple of pictures of how we spent our Friday evening.  Brrr....it is only in the 40's here right now.  Very cold for South Carolina!  I am praying for milder weather soon!  In the meantime, we had a great time in the leaves!

Love to all,

Nicki

RETREAT...

My Front Yard - Love the Leaves!

Thanks for the idea, Ang...

RETREAT is defined as "the act of withdrawing...as into safety or privacy; seclusion."  Or, "a place of refuge, seclusion or privacy."

Tomorrow afternoon I leave for the women's retreat for which I've been planning.  This week has been so crazy, busy, hectic trying to get everything in place for the weekend.  I am looking forward to leaving the crazy-ness behind, to withdraw into the seclusion of the mountains, to spend time with friends, to spend time in the Lord's presence.

I am looking forward to being reminded of the woman I am in God...to remember that I am not just a mother, not just a wife, but a child of God that the Lord created; a child he breathed life into.  He wired me the way He intended, with unique gifts and traits that He purposely meant for me to have.  What am I to do with these gifts I have been given?  That is what I hope to learn this weekend while I "retreat" from my everyday responsibilities and obligations, while I get away from the distractions that keep me from the Lord.  I am praying that I come back feeling refreshed and renewed from my time away, both in body and mind.

Love to you all,

Nicki

REFLECTING...

Where do I even start?  This past month has been a complete blur.  We have been so busy...that is an understatement...we've been crazy busy.  I have been volunteering at the girls school and helping to plan the women's retreat for church, which includes preparing printed materials, making journals and attending meetings.  I have been busy with Ella's birthday, preparing for Halloween, planning Ella's birthday party, nursing two sick children who had the misfortune of getting strep throat, and all the while trying to find time to do homework and get some writing done for my writing class.  I really do enjoy being busy, and I enjoy doing all the things that seem to take up most of my time, but I am discovering that I am getting to the edge of burnout.  I am so tired.  I am tired from sun up to sun down and my body physically aches from being on my feet all day.  My to do list keeps growing, rather than dwindling.  I feel like I am running in circles most days trying to get everything done.  I certainly do not feel like Superwoman!

This coming weekend is the women's retreat - yes, the one that I have been helping to plan - and I am looking forward to it like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  I am longing to get away, for quiet, for rest, for time with the Lord.  I am craving the peace of being in the mountains in the autumn, surrounded by all the things the Lord created, in the presence of people that I love and admire.  I am looking forward to worshipping the Lord with all I have and giving Him thanks for all He has blessed me with.  Most of all, I am praying that the Lord will give me rest...and restoration...and renewal of both mind and body.

On another note, here are some pictures taken during the last couple weeks:

Jeremieh, being.....Jeremieh

(we were hiking)

Me and Brody (my nephew!), the little monkey, on Halloween!

Ella wanted to have curly hair for her birthday dinner...she looked so cute!

Me and Jeremieh as an old couple for a Halloween Party

Me and Madison before going out to dinner for Ella's birthday

Madison and Ella on Halloween - my Japanese Princesses!

On another note, the weather here is absolutely gorgeous.  It is picture perfect weather.  Low to mid 70's, sunny, clear blue skies, light breezes.  The leaves on the trees are at their peak right now.  The are awesome!  Bright reds and golds and oranges.  Love it!  I have also been loving all our fall traditions - homemade chicken soup, hot spiced cider, watching football games with friends.  Thank you Lord for all the blessings!

Hope this post finds you well.  Hope you are all enjoying your fall weather...Michigan, I pray that you have SNOW soon!  :o)  Of course that is only because I will still be wearing my flip-flops while you all are wearing boots!  :o)  I pray that everyone is healthy and happy!

Love to you all,

Nicki

HIKING

Hey all!  This fall has been so busy!  Regardless, we took Saturday for a family day and went hiking.  It was a blast!  Here are some pictures from our day: