Friday Challenge

Hello and welcome!



Today's challenge is going to be fun...so if you are needing some fun your at the right place!!



I am going to be revealing a deep secret today...I cannot sing! Now wait... I can sing in the privacy of my own car, home, or just around my family...but I will NOT be making any auditions in front of the judges for American Idol! I really love music, I love the lyrics to songs, and I enjoy listening to people who have been blessed with the talent to sing.



So today's challenge is: SING



If you were to pick a song right now to sing to Jesus what would it be? It can be any song!



This is my pick:




May we sing from our hearts!

You gotta love when life happens!

Life has been happening to me! So read on and join me in a good laugh! Oh boy its happening....so I get this new Red sweater white shirt combination thing (You know the white shirt is 'built-in' to the sweater you can't separate them, what do you call these?) Anyway... the other day from Fred Meyer (my friends in the south do you have one of these stores...its an all in one...groceries, toiletries, clothing, sporting goods, etc) Anyway, I find it on the clearance rack and think...'this will be perfect for my Love and Marriage speaking engagement...what other color makes you think of love', right?!?! So I purchase this beautiful new sweater/shirt combo not only was it on the clearance rack it was another 50% off...woo-hoo this sweater is meant to be worn by me...you know you have had that feeling. Okay so I am set....well actually when I get home I realize that this new sweater is needing some very specific red shoes to go with it...ones that can't not be found in my shoe closet. So this puts me on a mission. I am successful at finding the perfect red/white shoes to go with the sweater! So I decide to wash the sweater a few days ahead of my speaking engagement...get myself all prepared...cause you know life is happening and there are many other things goin' on around here! So I wash new sweater/white shirt combo per washing directions...well all but one or two directions...I forgot to turn the sweater inside out and turn the water to cold....so what do I find when I open the wash machine...a red sweater with what was once a white shirt now is a smeared red/pinkish color. Seriously?!?! So without losing my cool...HA! I immediately think...'I am wearing those shoes I bought'...yep they are too stinkin cute to not be adorning my feet for the Love and Marriage speaking engagement. So now I am on a mission to find a shirt, jacket, sweater...anything that sings red and goes with the shoes...oh and because we are now on a time crunch the Engineer and the boys have now been recruited to join this mission....'think red boys!' Well you now how life happens and when you are looking for a certain something...the stores don't got it!!! So in enters one of my bestest...coolest...most awesome friends...and what does she have...the most adorable little red sweater with little white buttons that will work perfect over a white button-up shirt...oh and just so you know...the little red and white shoes were made for this sweater!!!! Kala I love you...for you are a true friend who truly knows how to love...thank you for loving me!

So last night I am getting my stuff all set out, I am ironing, getting my jammies on for bed, brushing teeth, and flossing...its the flossing part that caused another major life issue to happen. I am flossing right along and all of a sudden I hear this 'ching' and my crown from my back lower molar has popped off and hits the bathroom mirror and is on its way down the sink. This girly was diving into the sink to save herself a crown!!! The Engineer walks in and I announce...'I need me something tacky to get this crown back on!" So the Engineer takes a trip down to the local Walgreen's and snatches me some 'dental fix-it' and we get the crown back on! Thanks babe, I love you, and thanks for loving me and helping to put me back together!

I am happy to report that I survived the Love and Marriages speaking engagement today, looking all 'lovely' in my red and my crown did NOT come flying off into the audience!!

I need some love help!

Hello, today I am sending out a call for you to share your ideas, thoughts, and questions! I am working on a session to share in February on Love and Marriage.


What makes you feel loved by God?


How does God show you He loves you?


How do you show love to your spouse?


What scripture do you use to support your marriage?


What does your spouse do to show you love?


What made you "fall in love" with your spouse?


Do you currently date your spouse?


What are some "date" ideas?



Thanks so much for your help!

May you know I love you, and even more importantly He loves you!


We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Don't miss an oppportunity to see Him!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation or circumstance where you feel like there is not a whole lot you can do? Or maybe right now you feel like your hands are tied. You are just not sure what you can do to change things, or make a difference.

Its been made pretty clear to me in the last few days that I can either focus on what I can do or worry about what I can't do.

There were many women who followed Jesus. And when it came time that Jesus was put on trial and led to the cross, these women could do very little. They couldn't speak out in defense or appeal the decision Pilate made, they couldn't stand against the crowds who were yelling. These women couldn't overpower the Roman guards.

Instead these women focused on what they could do. They stayed at the cross, while Jesus' disciples had left. They followed Jesus' body to the tomb and brought spices they had prepared to anoint His body.

They took advantage of the opportunities they had. And because they stayed with Jesus, they were the first to witness the resurrection. There commitment and obedience led them to see their Jesus! God blessed their commitment!

May we focus on what we can do instead of worrying about what we can't do!

Who's on the end of the life preserver?

Have you ever felt like you were in the middle of a storm? The Bible talks of different people that have found themselves in a storm. Jonah, Paul, the disciples all found themselves in big huge storms.

I want to share today that if you find yourself in a storm, please know its not the size of the storm that matters, how long its been going on, or even how you found yourself in the storm (sometimes we find ourselves in a storm because of someone elses decision...like the people who were on the ship with Jonah). There is purpose in the storm. He wants to be with you in the storm and He will bring your through it. Do I believe He can remove us out of the storm...you betcha...but that's not always the case! Sometimes there are lessons to learn in the storm.

Oh and while we are out there bobbin' around in the storm keep your eyes open for the life perserver to be thrown. And friends, find out who is on the other end of that life preserver, if its NOT God don't grab ahold of it! I know the enemy works to trick us in very creative ways...yeah he even tries to throw you what appears to be a life preserver, but again its who's the other end that is important!

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

Psalm 18:16

I want God on the other end of the life preserver I grab on to in this storm!

Testify to Love

Your plan

Your perfect will

Your timing

Your understanding

Your Grace

Your Love

Your daugther

I got me Jesus!

It has been a rough past few weeks and if I told you I have been enjoying myself, liking it or even been a really good girl during the process, it would be a lie.

I want to be honest, humble and teachable. I am holding on very tight to my Creators hand.

There are a lot of things I don't have right now:

I don't have the ability to care for my family, to cook, and clean for them like I truly desire to do.

I don't have the ability to get on the floor and wrestle, tickle and play with my boys.

I don't have the ability to drive.

I don't have pain free, headache free, days.

I don't have the answers of what is going on with my body.

I don't have a diagnosis.

But the great news is:

I got me Jesus!!!!

God has promised me that nothing and no one will take our relationship away. He has placed a protective seal on it...and its NOT coming off! So even though in the past few weeks I have felt like my purpose was slipping away...He has gently reminded me each day..."no Nichole, remember I created you for the purpose of a relationship with Me!"

There is such healing in that alone....I get it! Okay...I am sure there will be many more lessons to come...to which I say 'bring them on' as I know they will only bring me closer to Him.

Living-not on my terms or even in my strength

My Life- a life He created and He is taking care of

On purpose- in relationship with Him

As I wait, He is NOT standing still! For He is working out the details, one of them being my heart! He is reminding me not to focus on the answers, the diagnosis, or even the healing, but rather our relationship!

I will be visiting a Neurologist on the 18th of this month, sooner if there is an opening/cancellation. Please continue to pray!

Words that came yesterday to a heart that needed them so much:

"We don't always know the words to pray, but thats okay, because when we have Jesus, He takes the right words, the perfect words to God for us, He interecedes for us!"

Does that not just sing to your heart? Friends its not about praying right...its just about praying!

I truly feel blessed to be surrounded with a family and friends who are willing to journey on purpose together.

I love you! I love you for being amazing Christ followers!

Keep praying, keep believing....oh and

Go get yourself some Jesus today!!!!