P.S.,
It's been snowing on and off the past 3 days...and when I got home tonight, I slipped on the ice on my steps.
Isn't it like April 27th or something? Yeah...I love Minnesota.
No big deal or anything. It's kinda warm at a nice 32 degrees right now :)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Are you hungry?
I am.
I am hungry for more.
More of what?
God.
This morning, Rodney Howard Browne was at our church and his message was about being hungry for God. He was talking about how people wait until they are in desperate situations to really get close to God. Then when they are comfortable again and life is going good, they fall away. That is not going to be me. I had an amazing hunger for God in high school. My standards were so so so high. When I started my job at Eagle Street, that is when my standards slowly, but surely went down and down and down. Over almost 4 years. Looking back, I am frustrated at how slowly but continuously I was taken down so low that I began to even question if God was really real anymore and if this "Christianity" stuff was real or just a big joke. (I think sometimes we do need to question to make sure that we believe what we say we believe!) Thank God for a praying family and praying friends that lift you up! If it wasn't for all of them. I would probably still be continuing on that downward spin. I knew that something was wrong when people at my work started telling me, "You're so much cooler now than when you first started working here." What did that mean, really? It meant that I had conformed. Conformed to their standards. To the world. It's tough staying strong in a bad environment if you're not grounded in your faith. And that is where I found myself. I was 2 different people. The one that I hated being, and the one I wanted to be. I feel like I finally have a breakthrough and can get back on track to where I once was. Close to the Father. Always hearing His voice. And to think that the world tried to convince me otherwise and I even bought into it. Today, today I could FEEL His presence. I cried. This is all so much. I see Jeff read the Word EVERY DAY. Do I? It'd be embarrassing to answer that. Although I am exposing myself. This is nothing but real. That's all I've wanted to be lately. Just completely real. None of this fake stuff. People don't like that anyway. People want realness from you. Acting fake just makes others feel intimidated or unworthy or just plain bad. Real. It's what I want. I don't like sugar coatings. I don't like it when people beat around the bush about the truth. Just keep it real and honest, right? My family means the most to me. When I see them pressing into God, it makes me want to press into God. When I see their hunger for God, it makes me hunger. And I don't care if my friends from Eagle Street are reading this. Read it. It's who I really am. When I see them being blessed by being obedient to the calls God has placed on their life, it makes me want to be obedient too. No more messing around. I feel like until I was able to FINALLY quit at Eagle Street, I could not FULLY get my breakthrough. It was a stronghold. And I know my family has been praying for me. I can FEEL it. It was like the last few times I worked there, I didn't even like it anymore. I wanted so badly to just leave. It was like God finalized things within me and I no longer desired to be there. I was reading in Sparkling Gems recently about how you cannot be friends with the world and also be a friend of God. If you are a friend of the world, you are an ENEMY of God and He will do what He can to get you back. Thank you, God, for not giving up on me and doing everything to get me back! Here I am now! Ready and willing! Man, I can just feel it. The presence. It's so refreshing. I can't sleep. How can I? God is doing great things. I could not thank more, my siblings for being such great examples. It means more than you know.
I am hungry for more.
More of what?
God.
This morning, Rodney Howard Browne was at our church and his message was about being hungry for God. He was talking about how people wait until they are in desperate situations to really get close to God. Then when they are comfortable again and life is going good, they fall away. That is not going to be me. I had an amazing hunger for God in high school. My standards were so so so high. When I started my job at Eagle Street, that is when my standards slowly, but surely went down and down and down. Over almost 4 years. Looking back, I am frustrated at how slowly but continuously I was taken down so low that I began to even question if God was really real anymore and if this "Christianity" stuff was real or just a big joke. (I think sometimes we do need to question to make sure that we believe what we say we believe!) Thank God for a praying family and praying friends that lift you up! If it wasn't for all of them. I would probably still be continuing on that downward spin. I knew that something was wrong when people at my work started telling me, "You're so much cooler now than when you first started working here." What did that mean, really? It meant that I had conformed. Conformed to their standards. To the world. It's tough staying strong in a bad environment if you're not grounded in your faith. And that is where I found myself. I was 2 different people. The one that I hated being, and the one I wanted to be. I feel like I finally have a breakthrough and can get back on track to where I once was. Close to the Father. Always hearing His voice. And to think that the world tried to convince me otherwise and I even bought into it. Today, today I could FEEL His presence. I cried. This is all so much. I see Jeff read the Word EVERY DAY. Do I? It'd be embarrassing to answer that. Although I am exposing myself. This is nothing but real. That's all I've wanted to be lately. Just completely real. None of this fake stuff. People don't like that anyway. People want realness from you. Acting fake just makes others feel intimidated or unworthy or just plain bad. Real. It's what I want. I don't like sugar coatings. I don't like it when people beat around the bush about the truth. Just keep it real and honest, right? My family means the most to me. When I see them pressing into God, it makes me want to press into God. When I see their hunger for God, it makes me hunger. And I don't care if my friends from Eagle Street are reading this. Read it. It's who I really am. When I see them being blessed by being obedient to the calls God has placed on their life, it makes me want to be obedient too. No more messing around. I feel like until I was able to FINALLY quit at Eagle Street, I could not FULLY get my breakthrough. It was a stronghold. And I know my family has been praying for me. I can FEEL it. It was like the last few times I worked there, I didn't even like it anymore. I wanted so badly to just leave. It was like God finalized things within me and I no longer desired to be there. I was reading in Sparkling Gems recently about how you cannot be friends with the world and also be a friend of God. If you are a friend of the world, you are an ENEMY of God and He will do what He can to get you back. Thank you, God, for not giving up on me and doing everything to get me back! Here I am now! Ready and willing! Man, I can just feel it. The presence. It's so refreshing. I can't sleep. How can I? God is doing great things. I could not thank more, my siblings for being such great examples. It means more than you know.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I did it.
I did it. Finally. Tomorrow is my last day at Eagle Street. I've worked there for almost 4 years...and for the past year have almost quit a million different times. I've debated and rationalized the decision for so long and this time, I finally decided to be done. It's a good thing. I already feel really good about it. It's time for change and I am soooo ready for that change to take place! I feel like instead of just working a "job" I can focus on doing something that means something to me or someone else. It's exciting! It's like starting over. And for now, I'm just going to enjoy being a mom! Also, I've been making a lot of jewelry lately and Rayna and I are going to do a craft show together next weekend to sell it! I'm excited about that! Also, I am going to start shopping around different floral shops and hopefully get a job at one part time! Yay! Also, next week, I am taking the 40 hour wedding design class at koehler dramm's Institute of Floristry! I am suuuuuuuuuuper psyched (sp?) about that!!!! I can't wait! I love going to school. Especially for something that is HANDS ON and FUN!!! This morning I was dreaming about all of the different things that I could do for my sister's wedding...hahahaha...not that she has a significant other or anything, but it's just fun to think ahead! I'm always trying to think ahead of what I'll do on my next design project or next whatever!
Here's a change of conversation...let's talk about the weather! Yesterday it almost hit 80 Degrees!!!! YAY!!! I thought I was on vacation...it was amazing. Pure happiness. So, I checked my dashboard for the weather tomorrow and the HIGH is supposed to be 44 degrees and rainy/snowy/sleet!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?? SNOW AND SLEET? Yeah right! So much for those shorts and tank tops! I guess I got a little excited too soon. Oh well, I can't wait! This summer is going to be soooooooooooo much fun with Ethan! He LOVES going outside and I know he'll just love going to the beach. It'll be way easier than when he was so little and I had to keep him completely out of the sun. I can't wait! He is getting quite the personality lately too...let me tell you. He is so funny and knows when we laugh at him and then he does this fake laugh to get us to laugh more...it's just funny. Weird to think we'll be trying for another baby somewhat soon. It's all so exciting. This life is so amazing. It just makes you think and there's no way one can even imagine how amazing heaven must be.
And...one more thing...I love growing as a person. Character building. More and more lately. Just bettering yourself. My sister Sarah speaks greatly of reading lots of books to better yourself. And that's what I am going to start doing. It's time to get serious!!! :) I order all these books online because they look so good to read and then they sit on the shelf. I am going to make a list and start on it for the summer.
And another thing...my best friend, Jeff. This quitting Eagle Street is one of the best things for our relationship. This year I think we're actually going to be able to spend time together. In years past, for many many years past, we've always had somewhat opposite work schedules and hardly got to see eachother. Well, this year is going to be different. It already is. We are closer than we've ever been and our rebuilding all started on our trip to Arkansas. We finally got to have quality time. I really enjoyed driving to Arkansas. Moon roof down, frequent stops at coffee shops and just pure quality time. So great. He is so great. Becoming more and more of the man God has called him to be and I love seeing him and me grow. And growing together. The other night I came home and he had a fire going in our fire pit, he was grilling food for dinner, had loads of laundry going, and even bought some milano cookies for me and secretly stashed them in the cupboard. Wow. I couldn't have thought. It was fun. Our fire with s'mores was fun. We never really did s'mores growing up, so now I make them at every bon fire that I can...there's just something fun about it.
Anyways, I hadn't blogged in a while and thought I should update. I'm really missing my dear sister Sarah........I can't wait for her to come home, but am SO EXCITED at how much she is growing as a person! The first year out of high school I think is the hardest and most character building. So, way to go, Sarah! You're doing great! I also miss my family that is in good ol' Arkansas...a special shout out to ya'll...I love you and miss you mucho!
And to all, a good night.
Here's a change of conversation...let's talk about the weather! Yesterday it almost hit 80 Degrees!!!! YAY!!! I thought I was on vacation...it was amazing. Pure happiness. So, I checked my dashboard for the weather tomorrow and the HIGH is supposed to be 44 degrees and rainy/snowy/sleet!!! WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?? SNOW AND SLEET? Yeah right! So much for those shorts and tank tops! I guess I got a little excited too soon. Oh well, I can't wait! This summer is going to be soooooooooooo much fun with Ethan! He LOVES going outside and I know he'll just love going to the beach. It'll be way easier than when he was so little and I had to keep him completely out of the sun. I can't wait! He is getting quite the personality lately too...let me tell you. He is so funny and knows when we laugh at him and then he does this fake laugh to get us to laugh more...it's just funny. Weird to think we'll be trying for another baby somewhat soon. It's all so exciting. This life is so amazing. It just makes you think and there's no way one can even imagine how amazing heaven must be.
And...one more thing...I love growing as a person. Character building. More and more lately. Just bettering yourself. My sister Sarah speaks greatly of reading lots of books to better yourself. And that's what I am going to start doing. It's time to get serious!!! :) I order all these books online because they look so good to read and then they sit on the shelf. I am going to make a list and start on it for the summer.
And another thing...my best friend, Jeff. This quitting Eagle Street is one of the best things for our relationship. This year I think we're actually going to be able to spend time together. In years past, for many many years past, we've always had somewhat opposite work schedules and hardly got to see eachother. Well, this year is going to be different. It already is. We are closer than we've ever been and our rebuilding all started on our trip to Arkansas. We finally got to have quality time. I really enjoyed driving to Arkansas. Moon roof down, frequent stops at coffee shops and just pure quality time. So great. He is so great. Becoming more and more of the man God has called him to be and I love seeing him and me grow. And growing together. The other night I came home and he had a fire going in our fire pit, he was grilling food for dinner, had loads of laundry going, and even bought some milano cookies for me and secretly stashed them in the cupboard. Wow. I couldn't have thought. It was fun. Our fire with s'mores was fun. We never really did s'mores growing up, so now I make them at every bon fire that I can...there's just something fun about it.
Anyways, I hadn't blogged in a while and thought I should update. I'm really missing my dear sister Sarah........I can't wait for her to come home, but am SO EXCITED at how much she is growing as a person! The first year out of high school I think is the hardest and most character building. So, way to go, Sarah! You're doing great! I also miss my family that is in good ol' Arkansas...a special shout out to ya'll...I love you and miss you mucho!
And to all, a good night.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
My Little Bruisers...
Monday morning, Jeff and I were hanging out downstairs and Ethan was coming down the stairs...when he was one step from the bottom, turned around, ran into the wall, and fell flat on his face off the last step...
cut his top and bottom lip open...we were calling him "Puffer" cuz it was all puffy...
Then, Monday evening, before I was about to leave to coach a Cheer America class, Jeff yells from downstairs, "Nicole!"
I said, "Yeah?"
He replies, "I think I need a band-aid."
I said, "What happened?"
He runs upstairs and shows me his hand...cut wide open...open enough to see the tissue inside...
I say, "I think you need stitches."
He says, "Yeah."
So we headed to Urgent Care, where they gave him 5 stitches...luckily he missed cutting any vital tendons and muscles.
(He had cut his hand open with an olfa (razor blade type) knife).
I've got 2 little bruisers on my hands!!!
:)
P.S. My running into the curb the week before (causing my rim to crack) resulted in a flat tire and a need to replace the rim...so we replaced the wheel and then got the alignment fixed today because they said it was way off (on the side I hit the curb, go figure)...sometimes this car stuff doesn't seem to end. Thank God that He always provides when we need it though!!!
cut his top and bottom lip open...we were calling him "Puffer" cuz it was all puffy...
Then, Monday evening, before I was about to leave to coach a Cheer America class, Jeff yells from downstairs, "Nicole!"
I said, "Yeah?"
He replies, "I think I need a band-aid."
I said, "What happened?"
He runs upstairs and shows me his hand...cut wide open...open enough to see the tissue inside...
I say, "I think you need stitches."
He says, "Yeah."
So we headed to Urgent Care, where they gave him 5 stitches...luckily he missed cutting any vital tendons and muscles.
(He had cut his hand open with an olfa (razor blade type) knife).
I've got 2 little bruisers on my hands!!!
:)
P.S. My running into the curb the week before (causing my rim to crack) resulted in a flat tire and a need to replace the rim...so we replaced the wheel and then got the alignment fixed today because they said it was way off (on the side I hit the curb, go figure)...sometimes this car stuff doesn't seem to end. Thank God that He always provides when we need it though!!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
And we just got out our deck furniture last week...what were we thinking???
Last week, Jeff and I cleaned out our garage since it was so nice out...upper 40's...and while doing so, pulled out our little table and chairs that go on our deck so that we could enjoy the weather and have breakfast outside and such...well, I guess that was a little too soon...
(Kudos to Jake--he told me to post pictures)
EDIT: HOURS LATER...
The grill...full of icicles...
EDIT: Hours later...same day! Today! Yay!!!
Ethan, playing with the stick (that goes in the slider door) and putting it in the snow...
I would really like summer to be here already!
EDIT: ONLY HOURS LATER...
all the snow is almost melted...take a look...
glad it didn't stay too long! It's supposed to be 50's on Thursday and Friday!!! Yippee!
(Kudos to Jake--he told me to post pictures)
EDIT: HOURS LATER...
The grill...full of icicles...
EDIT: Hours later...same day! Today! Yay!!!
Ethan, playing with the stick (that goes in the slider door) and putting it in the snow...
I would really like summer to be here already!
EDIT: ONLY HOURS LATER...
all the snow is almost melted...take a look...
glad it didn't stay too long! It's supposed to be 50's on Thursday and Friday!!! Yippee!
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