November, 2010:

The Thanksgiving holiday may be over…

Nov 29th, 2010

… but I am giving thanks everyday for the many blessings that have been showered upon me.

This Thanksgiving was extra special because for the first time in a long time, all of my kids were together at the same place and same time. The past couple years, it has been tough getting everyone together at once– for longer than five minutes. The oldest two are always busy with school or work or life or girlfriends or whatever new is going on in their lives. This year… I was able to see all four kids at once, under the same roof, for more than five minutes. And I took great advantage… (mouse over each pic to see who’s who)

the kiddos Little Man Little Man playing in the leaves Miss Priss

Priss again JoJo and his hat JoJo Nay and his girl Nay and his girl again So, we took pictures! I’m pretty proud of how these turned out… we had a hard time with them because the wind was gusting pretty hard and the sun kept going in and out. But, we did manage to get some pretty good ones I think! (Especially considering I’m not a professional, or even a good amateur for that matter.. hehe!)

And this is what I’m most thankful for… my family.

On a sad note, there is one family member missing from this collage of photos… my step-son. He didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with us– and that is another story for another time.

I’m singing today!

Nov 24th, 2010

by Nickie.

Comments are off for this post

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOUUU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOMMY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOU!!

Okay you can uncover your ears now. And hey, I never said I was singing in tune!

Today is my Mom’s birthday, though that isn’t exactly the birthday tune I sang to her at 7:00 this morning. In fact, I think it mentioned something about a zoo and a monkey, if memory serves.

All joking aside, today is my Mom’s birthday and I am so thankful to God for allowing her another birthday to celebrate.

I have the best Mom in the world. (Yes I know, my opinion is slightly biased, but only slightly.) I’ve recently realized, after listening to a friend talk of all the awful things her own Mother has said and done to her, that I take my own good Mother for granted. What I mean is, I never take the time to thank her for being such a wonderful and loving Mother on days other than those set aside for doing such. Instead of saying this on Mother’s Day, I should be saying it all year long.

Fitting that Mom’s birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving… a day of giving thanks to God for all that he has blessed us with. Is there any greater blessing than a loving Mother?

My Mom… is the strongest woman I know. I have watched her go through trials and battles that no mother should ever have to go through. I have watched her grieve over the loss of her youngest, and survive. Being a mother myself, I can’t even begin to imagine the depth of that loss.

She has taught me how to be a Mother, a daughter, and a friend– by her example. She raised me in a Christian family and, early on, taught me what it meant in my life.

She has wept with me when I’ve gone through my own trials and battles; and she has laughed with me during the joyous times. She has always been there for me, every time I’ve fallen and every time I’ve needed her… and then some.

I am blessed that God chose her to be my Mother, blessed beyond my imagination. She has spent 36 years mothering me, teaching me, guiding me, and correcting me. (Because, you know, you can never be too old for a Mother’s direction.) And she has always loved me unconditionally. Is there anything any better than that?

I love you Mama. Always and forever.

~~~~~
Photo credit: Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The first day of the holiday week…

Nov 22nd, 2010

by Nickie.

1 comment

Today has been a wonderful day… the official first day of the kids Thanksgiving holiday from school. I have spent all day listening to the tv playing, toys making noise, excessive talking, a few sibling arguments, more toys, and more tv. And nobody has paid attention to the tv. Love that! Background noise.

I always look forward to this time of the school year because the time at home with the kids is so great. I remember when each one started school, and how empty I felt sending them off on that first day. This year was the last of those firsts for me. I won’t be sending anymore kids off to school for the first time, unless I am blessed enough to, one day, send grandkids off to school. Of course, I do get those other firsts– first day of a new grade, first day of junior high, first day of high school, first day of college– and have already experienced all of them at least once. But still… those firsts do go by so quickly.

This week is a busy week, but a fun one because it means spending time with family; and not just my immediate family, but our extended family as well. I am very much looking forward to spending time with my parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins.

I probably won’t be around for posting much this week, if any at all. So… let me tell you all now:

Have a wonderful and SAFE Thanksgiving holiday (a wonderful week if you’re not a US friend). Much love to you all!!

~~~~~
Photo credit: Evgeni Dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Count your blessings…

Nov 21st, 2010

by Nickie.

Comments are off for this post

…name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done!

I had a wonderful time last night visiting and fellowshipping with some of the ladies at my church. We had our WMU meeting along with a Thanksgiving dinner at one sweet lady’s house… and had a grand time.

One of the things we talked about was how each of us has been blessed, and what we are grateful for. And how we should– even though we don’t always– thank God for all of our blessings everyday, 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, rather than just on holidays. I made it a habit a while back to thank Him for everything He has given me every night before I go to sleep– because I am so very thankful. But it is so easy to get caught up in our everyday routine and forget to thank Him for something, even the smallest thing.

We talked about what we’re grateful for: for the past ten years, the past year, and the past week. I loved that because talking about these things really emphasized just how blessed we are. Praise God! Our WMU leader gave each of us this cute little ‘Count Your Blessings’ list to put on the refrigerator, and we are to fill in each line (there are ten because that is all that would fit on the page) so we can be reminded of how blessed we are everyday. So, I’m counting my blessings and sharing them with you:

I am thankful for…

my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
God’s mercy and grace
forgiveness
my family (hubby and children)
my extended family (parents, grandparents, etc)
my church family
my friends, including all of YOU!
my health and family’s health
my country
hubby’s job

And these are just a handful of the things I’m thankful for. It is so awesome to really stop and think about what God has given me, and to thank Him and praise Him for all the many blessings he has poured on me even though I absolutely don’t deserve them. Praise God!

Our WMU leader also gave us these cute little baskets called a “Blessing Basket.” Inside the basket is a little slip of paper that says to “Fill me up once a day. Write a blessing so you can say,

Thank you Lord, one blessing more- You’ve given me from Your rich store.”

Now that is a cute and clever way to count your blessings… Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done!

A letter to my crush…

Nov 19th, 2010

by Nickie.

5 comments

Oh haha, this one doesn’t seem quite fair. Because, well, my crush is the Hubster… and I wrote the first letter to him! But you know what, I have other crushes. Not crushes in the “romantic” sense, but crushes nonetheless. So…

Week 2 — Your Crush

To my four amazing kiddos,

Yes, I am writing you four a letter on “crush” day. What? I am not weird so just get that out of your heads! There is nothing wrong with a mom having a crush on her kids. Nothing at all. This kind of crush is the kind only a mother can understand.

It started the minute I found out you were going to be born. Each experience was different, but my feelings were the same with each one of you. I can’t describe what an amazing and wonderful privilege it is to carry a child. I can’t describe the bond that forms from the very first moment. And that bond only grows stronger and stronger with each passing day.

I remember how, with each one of you, I worried over picking your name– wondering if the name I chose would fit your personality. I remember how I wondered what kind of personality you’d have. I remember how excited I was the first time I felt each one of you move– from the first tiny ‘flutter’ to a full-on kick. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent with my hand on my swollen tummy just talking to you.

When you each were born, I remember thinking the same thing… how beautiful! There aren’t words to describe the feeling of meeting your child face to face for the first time. There is nothing that compares.

My love for you is far deeper than a crush; but I did crush on each one of you every time you did something new. Every smile, every giggle, every step. Yes, a full on crush; and over the simplest of things!

It has been such an honor to be your mother, to watch you grow, and to share in all your milestones. I am so incredibly blessed that God chose me to be your mother… and I love you all more than anything on earth.

You are my babies, no matter how big you get; no matter how old you are; no matter how grown you think you are. You will always be my babies. And I will always love you unconditionally.

Now go clean your room!

Love,
Mom

~~~~~
Photo credit: Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net