Back again...

It's crazy how much my life has changed in the last 89 days. {when the amazing Man started dating me} Exciting, {at times} scary and thrillingly hopeful changes. It's been so good. I'm humbly blessed at the incredible Man that God has given me. Sometimes I have moments where I giggle in sheer delight. Pinch myself out of awe-struck wonderment. Marvel at the goodness of God. He shows me over and over and over how beautiful His plan is.

God has used Adam to show me what unmerited favor and grace looks like. I wish each of you could know my amazing Man like I do. I wish you could see the moments where he quietly serves. Watch his strong arms hug an orphan close. Know all the sacrificial times he has spent ministering to countless people with his listening ear and tender heart. If you knew Adam the I know him...

Then again, I am beginning to believe that is part of the mystery of dating and {someday} marriage. The opportunity to know one person like no one else knows them. The opportunity to love someone for who they really are... even for their flaws and quirky ways. What a beautiful thing.

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." -Dr Suess

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God has been laying a lot on my heart lately. Things that pertain to my personal walk with Him. Things that relate to my relationships with family. Friends. My amazing Man. A lot of times I have a hard time getting those things from my heart, to my brain and then practically into my life. One way to attempt to make that transition is to begin blogging here again. It will also be my own way to document what God continues to do in this crazy, exciting adventure of being my amazing Man's girl! {because my journaling skills are pitiful}

Part of my inspiration for picking up writing here again, was a blog that a friend showed me over a month ago. It's one lady's online journal of her family's life. But instead of just writing about daily events or posting her beautiful photography, it's a journal of sorts. Scripture verses, quotes and thoughts from her personal walk with Jesus. Her humility and vivacity for life is a challenge for me.

We can all learn from each other, from the things God is teaching us. This will be my attempt at simply being a link in that chain.... for anyone willing to weed through my long monologues, funky stories and attempts at good photography.

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On the topic of funky stories:

I have a very strange fetish for old dressers. Don't ask me why. Or how it started.

My first dresser I bought was a white, paint chipped wardrobe with spindle legs and two little drawers on top. It was love at first sight at that antique shop. It wasn't 'til I got home that I realized it wreaked of cigarette smoke. Talk about a crushing moment. After baking soda, flower scented drawer liners and lots of time to air out, it's finally normal. Not long after, I found a brown, rather crummy piece on sale for $35. On principle I couldn't leave it behind. If I could only get around to giving it a new coat of paint, it would look light years better.

But Saturday was my dresser-fetish high light of all times. Tiff and I were in a second hand store and as I was walking through the rows of furniture, my eyes happened on this beauty. A tall, five-drawer dresser. Funky handles and awesome wood details. What could make this picture even better?? The price tag which read '$19.99' coupled up with the storewide 25% discount. {Boosh}

Before anyone else came to tackle me down in an attempt to steal my find, I grabbed the price tag, paid for the goods and Tiff and I loaded the hunk of beautiful wood into the back of the van. Definitely the second biggest highlight of my year...

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Speaking of highlights. My {of course} number one is my amazing Man. We have a funny dating relationship. Our daily dates consist of phone calls every night, spanning the 1825 miles between us, sometimes lasting as long as four and a half hours. We actually seen each other a grand total of 21 days out of the 89 we've been dating.

Like my adorable Man said last night, "this long distance thing is way overrated!" Not that the ratings were that high to begin with. :( In a desperate attempt to be positive, we have learned so much about communication. A skill which will benefit us long after the cell phones have been put away for good.

One of my favorite dates while I was out in California the first two weeks of April was this day...

Dating a pilot is such fun. One afternoon Adam took me on a date high above the city and ocean. We flew over Catalina Island, the painfully, gorgeous blue ocean and even Disneyland.

It's a very good thing planes can fly themselves in the air... no hand-holding minutes can be wasted.

Back on the ground again, we hit up the coffee shop and then took a long {romantic} walk on the beach.

From the skies to the sandy beach, it was the perfect date. Then again anytime, anywhere I can be with my amazing Man is a perfect date!

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We also spent 5 days down in Mexico helping at a summer camp for orphans with a wonderful organization, Genesis Diez. It's also funny that around 90% of the time Adam and I have spent together since we first met in the summer of 2007, has been on the mission field. I am thankful that God has given this man an incredible heart of service and love for the hurting all over the world.

We did find a few minutes to slip away during free time to enjoy the incredibly beautiful view...

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Now that I'm back to the {lonely} land of Iowa, I'm desperately attempting to keep myself busy until the next time I can be with my amazing Man.

While sitting in the hanger that Adam works at, a girl I know there gave me a 20 minute crash course in crochet. I immediately went out and bought yarn and a crochet hook to make... something. I have finally decided I will make a small purse for old Thresher's. Who knows. At this point it looks more like a little Jewish kippot.

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Lastly, but definitely not leastly. The past 12 months have felt like God has given me one crash course after another in healthy conflict resolution. I must not be getting it.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger" Proverbs 15:1

"He that handles a matter wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he" Proverbs 16:20

"Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies" 1Cor 8:1

House Cleaning

A couple weeks ago while Grace and I were doing our Saturday house cleaning, we had the hair brain idea to switch a ton of stuff around in the house and see how long it took Mom to notice.

We did things like:

:: turning photos upside down::

:: changing the 'let it snow' sign to 'let it rain' ::

:: turning all the nativity people backwards ::

:: tilting the wall decorations crooked and the willow tree figurines backwards ::

WHO SAYS CLEANING CAN'T BE FUN?!

Absent...

:: because I am {hopelessly} distracted ::

Winter Wonderland of Love

Roses on a cold, snowy day.

And from a {secret} admirer?!

{to that secret admirer... wherever you are}

You are the betterer bestest

{can you top that}

Woot Beew Fwoats

A couple nights ago, Tiffy and I went to this whole-in-the-wall, hick-town-diner for some dinner. She got her favorite 'popcorn chicken salad' and I had a dinner that would make any homeschool mommy proud of her daughter's choices.

:: French fries and a root beer float ::

As we sat there eating, we looked at each other and said, "It's only old people in here. Seriously." The bell about the door would jangle and another cute white haired hubby and his wife would walk in.

As I sat there sipping my root beer and crunching on {what turned out to be} yucky fries, I smiled and hoped that someday when I'm old, wrinkled and bent over I can sit next to my best friend, my hubby.

We'll cuddle on the same side of the booth.

Talk about the good 'ole years.

And sip on big root beer floats together.

Playing

:: At the staff summit, we played like big kids before working like adults ::

Sometimes I shock myself with doing stupid things. For example: taking a zip-line across a massive pond overgrown with {huge} lilly pads. They strapped some pathetic replica of a harness on us...

We climbed the rusty, rickety tower...

And went bouncing across the pond.

We also rented go-carts and I was a blaze of lightning around the track. Ok, not really.

To top the night off, we celebrated our country's day of {freedom} Once again I shocked myself by lighting a {massive} round of fireworks. They were the REAL DEAL and I felt so proud of my skills.

SPECIAL THANKS

:: I need to be sure that credit is given where credit is due ::

Basically the pictures you have seen lately are the creations of {Grace} my beautiful, talented, gracious, adorable, amazing photographer of a sister.

I mean. Seriously. If it wasn't for {her} how could I even be what I am??

But then again. If we really want to give credit where credit is due, should we thank {Seth Haley} who taught her all she knows?

Should we thank my {mom} for helping her buy the camera??

Should we {really} thank me for allowing her to practice her skills on me???

I mean. When you really think about it.

Who should we be thanking?!?!

- - - - -

I guess though it would hurt to thank the photographer.

If you appreciate it, leave a comment to tell her {so}

:: baking in our igloo ::

We had a big ice storm this morning so I decided to be house-wifely and make a lot of baked stuffs.

We pulled out all kinds of ingredients and several hours later had four loaves of {french bread}, two loaves of {cinnamon} bread and a big {apple cake}.

Anyone want to come over for some yummies??

{i never leave his hands}

One Team :: One Family

It's so fun to watch the boys at their basketball games.

Their teamwork as brothers warms my heart every time.

:: family teamwork ::

:: Chris was king of the court with rebounds ::

:: Timmy is an incredible point guard ::

{buddies}

Friend{s}

:: jesus, thanks for the won-trifical people you have brought into my life... i am humbly blessed::

{2009} Amazingest Persons

My first week in China was spent with the entire staff team in XinZheng.

We {laughed} prayed {played games} studied the Word {bonded} spent time getting ready for the next six weeks.

Current Location: Fallbrook, California

Operation {Surprise Bethany} : SUCCESS

:: a new day ::

Thanks to the skillful work of Amos Haley, my blog has a new face.

It's the start of an exciting {new} adventure.

Exciting {changes} in my life.

Come along for the ride...

I'm such a girl... can't make up my mind.

:: While I'm so happy to be with them ::

:: I can't get them out of my mind ::

Full of stories... but nothing to say.

now that i'm back to a land where one's rights to blog aren't obstructed, i realize how much there is to say. but i don't know where to start. i probably have no readers left so it doesn't really matter anyway. but if people care to come back along for the ride, the stories are starting today!

Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes... and I'm not even out of the country.

A little update...

I have been in California since Monday... just relaxing and recouping before headed off to China on Tuesday.  It's been fun days of sleeping in, hanging out, eating lots of stuff that I know I won't be enjoying for many months, and being with lots of my amazing friends.

I just found out that blogger is once again no working in China... so stay tuned for where updates will be posted.  I am thinking about getting a wordpress blog since that is still in operation.   

On the notes of prayer requests... we are continuing to find out more details about the China's swine flu concerns and quarantining in the country.  When we fly into the Beijing airport, people come onto the plane and take everyones temp, we have to go thro several heat sensors, and fill out paper work stating we have not been in Mexico in the past 14 days.  Pray that we all make it thro the airport with no problems... since the thought of being quarantined in a chinese hospital for a week is not too appealing! 

Miss all of you peoples on the homefront... bigs hugs!!

 

China Update Email:

* Do you want to receive these email updates? Please email me and ask nicole@bringmehope.org

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Hey Friends!

I can't believe that in 3 days the first leg of my journey begins as I board a plane in Des Moines. It's been a crazy, stretching last several weeks! I never knew that it could be so much work to coordinate over 75 volunteers, plus get myself ready for 6 months away. :) It has definately been a pleasure planning for the camps this summer and I look forward to being in China again.

I will be leaving for California on Monday to spend a week with friends there before leaving on the 30th for CHINA!! I am flying into Beijing with a group of other staffers. When I first arrive in China, we will be having a Staff Summit in Xin Zheng, the city where I was at camp last year. From there, I will be headed to Kunming where I will be helping to run the summer camps. In several sentences, that is the summary of my next six weeks. I can't wait to see all the stories that will fill in the blanks in between. All the kids I will meet. The stories I will hear. The hugs and high-fives that will be given. I also look forward to the lessons God will teach me. The ways He will stretch me. I pray that He will continue to burn up the dross in my heart and make me more like Him. May each day bring glory to His beautiful Name!

Right now, God has provided enough money for me to fly to China and remain there for the summer. I still have $2300 to raise for my stay at the ranch, plus about $1000 to attend Chinese classes while I am there. God is teaching me to hold my plans with an open hand. At this point, I plan to stay in China until the money runs out. If that means not being a part of the ranch or going without language school, I am willing to do that. Pray that I will wait on God while I am serving there this summer and that if God really wants me to be a part of the ranch, that He will provide the funds before then.

For those of you who have supported my trip already, thanks so much. You are helping to make so many smiles this summer possible. Pray with me, that God will provide the rest of the funds,as He sees fit and that I will rest in that.

I love all of you guys and want you to know that "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy" (Phil 1:3,4)
- Nicole

New Beginnings....

I have been pondering a lot lately about new beginnings... I find over and over again that I am desperately in need of God's new mercy and grace each day.  I fall short so often.  I fail my family.  My friends.  My job.  My God.  I praise Him that the promise He made never fails: 

    

The Lord's loving kind

nesses indeed never cease,

      For His compassions never fail. 

   They are new every morning

  Great is Your faithfulness.

Lam 3:22, 23

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Each day finds me seeking God a fresh.  I am so thankful for the new beginnings He gives us! 

Along these lines, this blog will soon be getting a new beginning too... stay close for the great unveiling!

My beautiful sisters...

Oh how I'm gonna miss these girls!!

The Journey of the Purse

I bought this awesome over the shoulder purse in China last year that I have literally worn out in the last 12 months.  I realized that it's been all over the country with me.  Here is the some of the purse's journey:

The zipper has ripped, it's filthy dirty... but I'm determined to make it last until I get to China in 2 weeks and buy a new one!!  Stay tuned for the new and updated look!!