Hello everyone!

Hello...ello....ello...(do I hear an echo here)

That's probably because I have no more followers here since I haven't written anything in AGES!

Oh well...I'm giving it a good try anyway.

Whats new with me?

Lets see...I was thinking about seriously going into the nursing field but lately I believe God laid something upon my heart and I've changed my mind. Mike has alot going on with his job and will probably start his schooling again to get his degree so he can further his job possibilities and with that..I know that my family needs me doing what I'm going at. I need to be the stability here at home. God blessed me with my family and I know in my heart that I need to be home taking care of things on the homefront. I know I am good at what I do. God gifted me with being a helpmeet to Mike and a mom to my kids. So i've decided to better my skills in the job I'm already doing. I want to learn to be more of a couponer. I think it would be fun to go to the store...and have $300 worth of groceries ring up for almost nothing :) So i'm trying to learn more about couponing and saving money. I'm also revamping my daycare. I want to change some things and find ways to make more money doing that. I also want to try to work on my soaps and stuff more. So much is happening in my life right now. Some people that are dear to my heart have left my life...and those that I thought were gone...are back and I am THRILLED!

Life constantly is changing. I used to get great amounts of anxiety when things changed. I think its cause I like to control things around me. Growing up...I had no control over things like my dads alcoholism, or my mom death. I suffered much growing up and I had no control over any of it so I try to control what I can and that actually causes great amounts of stress. So I NOW do my best to take care of what I can and LET GO AND LET GOD take care of the rest :) Works pretty good !

FAMILY UPDATE:

Michael is still working at the Whg PD. He's been there over 2 years now. I am very proud of him and he's very good at what he does. Lately his life has changed quite a bit too. I think it kinda hit him like a brick wall but its all a VERY GOOD THING!

Joey is still working at Wendy's and pursuing his music with his band Call To Arms. He is so talented! He does alot of his own lyric writing (based on the bible) and he has taught himself to play the drums and wow...he is VERY VERY GOOD! Wish him and his band all the luck in the world. I tell him all the time to remember mom when he hits the big time cause I'm the one who opens the basement up to practice about twice a week!! :)

Tony is working on his Freshman year of high school. Yes, we are still homeschooling. He takes distance learning courses thru American school of Correspondence. Once he's old enough to take classes at Belmont Tech, he wants to attend some there to take his computer courses and design classes there.

Angel is in 8th grade. She's doing well. She's very much looking forward to Summer Swim Team in Ferry that starts June 1. Once that is finished, we are hoping to get her involved in the YMCA swim team thru our local Y. She loves to swim and she improved so much last year that I think if she was able to swim year round, she could improve even more.

...and Sergio? Turned 2 in December and daily...DAILY continues to surprise me! He LOVES to draw..and read. Soon we will start our weekly library run and have him start to pick out books to read. He is so smart and wants to learn everything he can. His foundation in learning starts now! RIght now he is suffering with pneumonia. Just got diagnosed yesterday. He gets this soooo often and its usually because the kids in my daycare sometimes pass along a cold to him and Sergio is one that a cold usually turns into either an ear infection or bronchitis or pneumonia. Tony was exactly the same way.

Mike is doing great at ISS Security Services. Lots of changes but they are all GREAT!

ME? Well, between homeschooling, daycare, managing the home, etc... Still working on my soap and stuff! I really try to do all I can to bring in an income as much as I can without leaving my home much and being here when my famil and friends need me!

Hope this has helped you to catch up with me a bit. I hope to write more...but don't hold your breath :)

I woke up this morning and something occurred to me....
I can choose if I want to be happy or NOT. I put the word N O T cause there are many other words that mean NOT...(angry..discouraged...etc) but I don't want to feel any of those things.


I had to walk in the rain a block this morning to get some coffee to get my morning started because Sergio is getting sick and had me up most of the night...so coffee was a definite must this morning. As I was walking...and the rain drops hitting my face...It occurred to me each drop was a reminder that God sends the rain on EVERYONE. But not EVERYONE recognized the drops creator. 
I don't want to be the kind of person who looks at Gods creation and doesn't see it for what it really is. There are many people out there who have no sensitivity or eyesight to see what God has given us each day. I WON"T be that person.
The rain...a gift.
The clouds...a gift...
Crying baby...YES....a gift


Most people have trouble with COMPLAINING about everything that doesn't fit their " way".
I've been guilty of this...


But I'm trying to get better.


But the rain may make it a "pain" to drive to your destination this morning...but God saw fit to send the rain so enjoy it. Cause it is GOOD.


Look for the good in everything....
Try to not be so pessimistic...


Be blessed because our God is the same today as always and ever more :)

Its a new dawn...its a new day.....

Its been quite a while ..hasn't it? Well.....I think that its about time to start this up again. It was...and always has been therapeutic to write here.

So here I am :)

Nikki.

Mother

Wife

5 Incredible children that I believe WHOLEHEARTEDLY that were given to me specifically by GOD.

Friend(I find I have simplified my friend "list" . Or should I say OTHERS have simplified it for me.)

I am on a quest right now.

A quest to find out if I am still the person I was when I began this journal.

I believe I am not.

I feel God is doing a "transplant" with me....

In with new...and better...

out with the old...and well...immature.

SO many times in my life I felt like I've had blinders on and God has removed them at HIS time to show me certain things. At this point of my life...I'm 43 years old...I have 2 adult children...2 teenagers and 1 toddler...HE is showing me something else. Something VERY important and I wish to share it with others.

So this blog will be a "sharing" of sorts....of what God wants me to share with you as HE shares glimpses with me :)

I really don't write on here very much anymore ...but you can find me on facebook...

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1123372700

Please add me as a friend here..

New mom?

One thing I've found from having Sergio is that I feel like this brand new mom all over again.
Its weird...I mean, I have the knowledge and wisdom that comes from experience but this newly found feeling of awe is just interesting to me.

He wakes up in the morning, and when he smiles and plays with me, I have the feeling well up within me...that I just want to squeeze him! Like I've never played with a baby before.

And these feelings I have are not only with Sergio, its with each one of my kids.

Michael, although he is 21 and will be 22 in June, I just want to hug him so tightly!
Joey, yes, he's 17 and 18 in May...even though he has this Mr. Tough guy persona....I just want to squeeze him till he pops.
Tony and Angel...same thing. I look at each one with such amazement now. How in the world can this happen?

I believe a baby in your life gives you a brand new appreciation for life in general. Look around you....everything is new and exciting when you look at it from a baby's perspective. If you do something new, he's never seen before...he is amazed. Why not take on that new found excitement in our own lives. Look for things to be amazed at. God created this beautiful world and universe for us to explore and be amazed by. Enjoy it! Take it in!!! and while you are enjoying all of it...don't forget to thank God for it too!

God's Family Planning

And the Lord said to Abraham, " Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' Is there anything too difficult for the Lord?

----So why this scripture this morning?
It touches my heart because I've always trusted in God to control my family planning.
After Angel was born, I had a misscarriage at 3 weeks of pregnancy. I didn't even know I was pregnant nor was I even trying to get pregnant. Mike and I thought..YES THOUGHT, we were done after Angel so me being pregnant really threw me for a loop.
Then when I found out I was losing the baby...I vowed to never take our family planning into our own hands again. So many people threw their opinions at us saying things like, " Oh you sure you want to do that? You'll have more babies than you can handle?" Well, so much for that. 12 years of "God planning" and even when I thought it was "impossible" because of me starting pre-menopause stuff...God knew what He was doing.

And Sergio's story began....from a mere prayer from my daughter to a boy who blesses my life daily!

Even again, I still continue to hear, " Are you guys done yet having children?"

The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Let them ask that of God and see what His answer will be lol :)

On my mind today...

Its Wednesday and for our family this means Bible Study tonight.
Truthfully I find myself reluctant to go. Ever since Sergio was born, I find it very difficult to motivate myself to do much of anything outside the house. I can't really leave him home...and it takes so much energy and preparation to take him with me...I just want to stay at home.

Now, before you all start telling me how important it IS to go...I know this very well. Yes, it sets a good example to my kids and to others. I know this....But I'm in the process of finding motivators to go.

I am thinking of either teaching or help to teach the cradle roll class at church.
I am not ready to leave Sergio. He's only 8 weeks old...and he's not ready to leave me either :)

Now, to leave my house to go anywhere besides church? Its getting easier. I took Sergio with me to pick up Joey from work and usually he cries in the car seat ..and not just a whine. We are talking full cry ...chin shake cry. Mothers, you know what I mean.

But he was awake in his seat and very content. So many changes in just 8 weeks of his short life so far. Thank you DEAR LORD for giving me my family. I love my job..as a wife, and mother and teacher and caregiver. May I never take it for granted!!