Happy Birthday Nicole!!!

Happy 24th Birthday Nicole! Today, on your birthday I would like to dedicate an entire post to you and try to express my love for you on this special day...

Nicole I don't think you will ever know how much you mean to me...

 You are...

My Support:

Nicole, you have always supported me in every decision I have ever made.  You continue to stand by me in both the good times and the bad.  You are my shoulder to cry upon, my strong arm to lean on, and a warm  hug to run to.  Thanks so much for all the support you have given me through the years.

My Ally:

Nicole, you are my ally.  You have always been on my side defending and protecting your little sis through thick and thin.  I can think of so many times in elementary and high school days when girls picked on me.  I knew all I would have to do is tell my big sister and she would take care of the rest...

My Entertainment:

Nicole, oh, how I could expound on this point.:)   Just thinking back over our childhood days, a smile comes to my face.  We had so much fun together didn't we?  Then I think of more recent days...  Times when we are at work laughing so hard together during quiet time that the other teachers have to reprimand us to try to keep us quiet.  You have a way of making me smile and laugh when I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.

My Audience:

Nicole, I can always count on you to be my audience.  Whether it was my first oral book report in the 7th grade, practicing my ventriloquism, or my articular phonetics, or until now practicing my debate and speeches.  I know I can count on you to be audience.  You simply sit there and listen, although I know you have one hundred other things you would rather be doing.

My Critic:

Nicole, we both know you are definitely my critic as well.  But don't take this wrong..I mean who else would tell me when my top totally crashes with my shirt.  Or if that long beaded necklaces I have been dying to wear just doesn't compliment my outfit too well.  Who else would tell me when I have a crease in the back of my hair, or my makeup no longer matches my skin color.  Only a sister, could tell me the truth... that yes- that does make me look fat.

My Biggest Fan:

Nicole, some of early memories include running cross countries, on to running sprints in track, and attempting at girl's basketball and volleyball.  I knew I could count on my big sister to always be in the stands cheering me on (and taking pictures ;))  Thanks Nicole for always cheering for me, for always applauding, for always saying great job- even when I felt like I had the let the entire team down.  

My Best Friend:

Nicole- I don't know if you will ever understand this...but you truly are my best friend.  Sometimes I feel like I am a little girl looking admiringly up at my big sister, trying to mimic all she does.  Then we go to work together, church together, home together. We laugh to together, cry together, vent together pray together... You are the greatest friend I could ever ask for.  

My Sister:

Lucky, Lucky Me!!!

Happy Birthday!

I Love you!

Faith is Walking

This title for a post has been running through my head for over a month now.  However, putting my scrambled  thoughts into words is the hard step.  But here I go:

No doubt most of you  have heard of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho.  Perhaps, some of you, like me, have been told this familiar story since you were a young child.  Some times these wonderful stories become all too familiar to me.  About a month ago, I was reading through this passage, and something in particular seemed to intrigue me...  As a child I was fascinated by the walls tumbling down, but now as I get older it seems like the little things capture my attention.  Let me explain...

Put yourself in the children of Israel's shoes.  Your leader simply commands you to follow the priest.  You are told to  walk around the walls of this enormous city without speaking.  I don't know about you, but I know immediately my mind would be filled with questions.  Most likely I would have questioned the authority of Joshua.  Did Joshua really know what he was doing?  Why are we simply walking, shouldn't  we lay siege or attack?  We are soldiers- why are walking?   The men didn't understand what God was going to do; they simply walked.  Joshua didn't reveal how God was going to destroy the city of Jericho.  He told the people to walk. Then it struck me...Faith is walking.

Walking, even when I don't understand the master plan.... Walking, even when My plan seems more logical. My journey lies in front of me still unclear.  At times I question the master plan.  But when I am tempted to run ahead of God's plan.  I must remember...Faith is simply walking. 

An Eventful Saturday

Saturday was quite the eventful day for my family and I.

As my sisters and I get a little older sometimes it gets more difficult for us all to do something together.  It seems like one of us is always working, or at a teen activity, or at school.  But this Saturday, one of my babysitting jobs fell through.  So my dad decided that after our morning ministries we have some fun together. 

We left for Chicago at about 11:45

And we ate at Lawry's!

Need I say more?  It was absolutely divine!

The food was great, but the company was even better.  I had such a great time with my family.

After our delicious meal, the dessert came...

I love the Windy City!

When we got back home at about 3:30, my dad announced that we would be going to the High school play in a few hours.  I have always enjoyed going to the hometown plays.  As a speech minor, I find it entertaining to   watch the kids act.  They actually do a really good job!  

This year they did "The Surprise Story of the Three Little Pigs."

At about 8:00 our eventful day came to a close.  

I had such a great time with my family!