Nikki Alvarez

Surgery and Such

2011-07-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

I have not told many people that I am having surgery tomorrow July 20th, but I wanted to mention it here. It is nothing serious or cosmetic, but it is something that will be good for me. I covet your prayers for this time that the recovery would be swift and the surgery smooth. My sister Laura is coming to take me to the hospital and take care of me for the first couple of days and then Jill will take over. Actually, Jill being here is my favorite part of this whole scenario because I find it hysterical. You see, Tiffany and I both needed to have surgery so we decided that we would have it around the same time. We planned it this way so Jill could take care of us. Tiffany and I have shared a lot of life together and this is just one more thing that God has allowed us to experience together. Granted, we are not having even close to the same type of surgery, but it is still surgery all the same. I am so thankful that God has given me Tiffany as a friend and sister and roommate. Here are just a few fun memories that we have shared.

Tiffany and I are only 1 month apart so when we turned 30 we decided to have a birthday party together.

Looking super fashionable in our Singing Christmas Trees ensemble

Tiffany got to see me sing as a Slytherin

In Greece at the Temple of the Goddess of Revenge. We both thought this was hilarious!

As you can see, we have had some great times together! I just think it is so funny that we are going through this at the same time. I am a little bit nervous that the recovery will be quite painful and I have to be out of work for almost 2 weeks, but other than that I feel ready.

We are also moving at the end of August into this adorable new apartment in a more central part of town. We feel like this physical move will, in the words of Jill Jones, "re-launch us on society." I like that idea.=)

Here is a photo that I took when we first moved to Orlando. God has been so good to me and I stand on His promises. The rainbows in Florida are plentiful because of the weather, but each one is a special.

Andros Island

2011-06-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I have been on some awesome adventures the past week. On Monday, we went to Andros Island and had a great time. We had to be up and ready to leave the Bible College at 6:30 a.m. to catch a 2 hour ferry to the island. The ride over had some rain, but the scenery was beautiful. Not to mention, the ferry was super nice and comfortable. That certainly is a fantastic way to travel.

Here we are getting ready to board bright and early

It was a cloudy ride over, but that didn't take away from the awesome scenery

I have loved all the old and colorful doors in Greece!

A beautiful church with BLUE on top! I love the blue!

Climbing over to this cool little island

This is the view from the little island. It was GORGEOUS!

Can you see the bridge that I had to climb over? It was an adventure!

Our view for lunch

Part of my yummy lunch. Can you see the Tzaziki sauce? It's most delicious!

Saganaki! Yum!

Swimming in the Agean Sea

Deep thoughts while talking by the sea

Sunset on the Island

So, as you can see, it was a gorgeous day on the island of Andros. The little streets and shops were so adorable. My hope is to one day go on a Mediterranean cruise and see all the Greek Islands. Most of this trip has taken place in Athens, and I LOVE that, but I so look forward to one day exploring more of Greece.
There have been many more adventures since this trip and I hope to post some more updates soon. A small group of us are going to climb Acro-Corinth tomorrow and I hear it's quite the hike. I will be wearing good shoes and lots of sunscreen. It's heating up in Greece!

The Acropolis and Mars Hill

2011-06-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I have had a busy 2 days over here and I want to share some of the amazing things that I have seen. On Sunday we went to see the Acropolis and Mars Hill. I mean, I got to walk up and see the Parthanon and walk where Paul walked! I know that I am in a small minority that will ever get to do this and I am most thankful!
The day started out with a beautiful worship service on the campus of the Greek Bible College that we are staying. I got to help lead worship and I was honored to do so. We sang "Open the Eyes of my Heart Lord," "It is Well," and "How Great is Our God." I love hearing God's people sing in beautiful harmony in the rawest of settings. We should try that more often in our churches back home!

After worship, we went and had a lovely lunch of delicious Greek food. The Greeks order lots of side orders and share them. I am a huge fan of eating this way! Some of my favorite foods have been the Saganaki (friend cheese) and Tzatziki Sauce (a yogurt based dipping sauce with cucumber and amazing garlic flavoring. For those of you who know how much I love sour cream, this stuff is addicting to me!

After lunch, we headed off to see the Acropolis and Mars Hill. Unfortunately, the weather had a mind of its own and decided to show off one of the best thunder storms I have been in. The storm had us sitting for 2 hours under shelter on hard marble. The steps up the Acropolis and Mars Hill are SUPER slippery from years of people walking on them, so rain would make them nearly deadly. We did have fun trying to stay warm and waiting for some reprieve. They tell us that it NEVER rains in Greece in June and if it does, it is a passing short shower. I guess Greece decided to be a little different this year....pretty much like the rest of the world!

When we did get moving, everything that we saw was worth the wait! I wish the pictures could do it justice!

There are live performances in the Acropolis. I would love to sing there someday!

In front of Mars Hill

The Niki Athena at the Acropolis. I felt a slight ownership. :)

The Parthenon!

The Temple of the 7 Virgins

Parthenon

On top of Mars Hill with the Acropolis in the background.

The day was long, but so good! We made it home to get a good nights sleep so that we could be up super early to head to Andros Island. It was beautiful and I will be posting some pictures in the next day or so. Tomorrow the Greeks are going on strike, which they tend to do quite often, so public transportation will be very limited. I have no idea what adventure awaits us tomorrow, but I know it will be memorable. Opa!

What's Said on the Bus Stays on the Bus!

2011-06-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I've been in Greece for almost 5 days! We have been venturing into downtown Athens for the past few days and I have seen some fun things. There have only been a small group of us hanging out together since most of the people here are still taking class. As you all know, you start to get pretty close if you travel together in any capacity. This has held true for us as well and we have laughed a lot while traveling on the bus. Oh the joys, and smells, of public transportation! And I have to say, the Greeks love to drive as if the police are chasing them! They must feel like it's more entertaining or something. All I know is that I fear for my life multiple times a day while walking or riding. At least it keeps the blood flowing. ;)

Yesterday, we went into downtown to do a little shopping. The jewelry and handbags and clothes were beautiful and so colorful. We are going to go back another day because it takes more than one day to see everything. Here are some fun pics from this adventure.

Nick or Niko or Nikki are popular Greek names. I must look a little Greek because I get stopped quite often for directions and such. Unfortunately, I have NO idea what they are saying. It's quite hilarious.

One of the coolest things about being here is seeing the ancient artifacts that are dug up. Here is a working aquaduct that was around during the time of Christ! I love being over on this side of the world!

In the Metro Station

Last night most of us decided to go to a small Brittish Pub that was only a 15 minute walk away. We spent most of the time in the beer garden laughing and sharing stories. I must say that this little pub was totally charming and had loads of character. Here are a few pictures from the evenings festivities.

A beautiful sunset unfolded before us as we walked to the pub

Tiffany and I at the pub

Today a group of us went into downtown Athens to go see the changing of the guard in front of the parliament building at Syntagma Square. It was one of the more interesting things that I have seen.

The guards are not allowed to move or smile. I could never do this job!

We start the morning tomorrow with a church service where I get to help lead worship. I love leading worship. It does something for my soul and I hope it makes God smile.
After that, we go to the Acropolis so I hope to have some fun pictures and stories to share with you.

Some of my favorite things about Greece so far:

*Tzatziki sauce....YUM! It goes well with everything.

*Venetti's.... a pastry and coffee shop. Delicious!

*When I'm here, I'm not working. :)

*Traveling with Dr. Lawson

*New friends

Some of my NOT so favorite things about Greece so far:

*It's hard to shave my legs in the shower

*The dollar to Euro exchange rate is TERRIBLE right now.

Have a great day!

The Ice Cream Walk of Death

2011-06-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Today was a very interesting day here in Athens. I am here as a guest to Tiffany so while she is in class, the rest of us are out and about in the city. This morning we went to a "Flea Market," which was pretty much like a Farmer's Market with amazing fruits and vegetables and other homemade things. Here are a few pictures of the market.

Opa!

Some of the most delicious strawberries I have ever tasted!

Olives are big here.....obviously.

After about 35 minutes, we had seen all there was to see of the market. We then decided that because our ride would not be there for another hour and a half, we needed to find a place to have some coffee. We found this cute little restaurant that had an outdoor patio covered in grapevines. I even had my first Greek cold coffee called a Frappe. I had to keep asking for sugar since I like a little coffee with my coffee and cream. I think the owner thought I was a little crazy.

Sipping my first Frappe.

When it became 2 hrs and no van, we began to wonder what we should do. One of the professors tried calling the college on several different phones and the call would not go through. Finally, one of the host ladies came to pick us up in a car. All 13 of us...in 1 car. Obviously, that was not going to work so she took 4 people in the group and was going to come back in shifts. We were about 20-25 mins from the campus so we just sat at the restaurant and waited. After another hour, and more failed phone calls, we decided that we needed to find the bus to take us back. Now we are HOT and hungry and have walked nearly 3 miles to the main street to catch the bus. At this point, we knew we were not making it back for lunch, so we decided to eat at one of the best Gyros places in Athens. Yum! I am glad to say that we made it home just fine and we even had an adventure. If you aren't a flexible person you may not want to travel internationally. It's all about going with the flow!

*Sidenote: The van had broken down and that is why another host came with the car. When she was told to come back to get the rest of us, she heard that we were going to take the bus instead. Language barriers are FUN!

We got back and had some time to rest and then we ate dinner together. I love that we get to eat all of our meals with each other! Living in community is tough, but I believe it was the way God intended us to live. After dinner, we were informed that we were going to walk to this amazing ice cream shop. I do NOT do ice cream at home, but I was told that the milk processing is different here and I should be fine. That got me excited..... until we started to make the trek to the shop. No one told us it would be about a 2 1/2 mile walk on a road with no sidewalks and HUGE barking dogs around every bend. These dogs were so large that they looked more like horses! Also, did you know that the Greeks don't care much for rules such as speed limits or traffic lights? We practically had to jump out of the way many times so that we were not run over.....while the dogs were looking at us like we were dinner. We did arrive safely to the ice cream shop and while we ate our ice cream, I chickened out and went for sorbet, I was wondering how we were going to get home in the dark? The road we walked on was not what you would call paved. Well, almost too quickly, I got my answer. We were going to try and walk some on the main road to cut off a little time and then head to the back roads after that. This way was even more terrifying than the way over! We were pretty much playing chicken trying to get across the main street and were straddling the guardrail while we waited to cross. Did I mention that Greeks don't care much for rules?! For a different take on this trip and this incident, see my friend Tiffany's Blog (just click on her name).

Well, I am happy to say that I am back in the dorm safe and now just getting ready for bed. I will leave you with a few of my favorite, and not so favorite, things about Greece.

What I do NOT like so much about Greece:

*Older Greek woman who yell, or encourage strongly, at you for singing on the bus. I wasn't quite sure what she was saying since I do not speak Greek.

*The lack of deodorant used. I am breathing through my mouth a lot!

What I LOVE about Greece:

And to all a good night!

I am in Greece!

2011-06-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

I am in Greece!

Well, after 24 hrs of traveling, I made it to Athens! We rode a bus from Orlando to Miami, flew from Miami to Paris, and then from Paris to Athens. The flight to Paris was a little over 8hrs and we flew Air France. I even learned a few things from flying Air France:

1. The food is generally pretty good. Actually, very good for airline food.

2. They play interesting movies. They played the Justin Bieber movie and "Big Mommas House." I watched the Justing Bieber movie, out of curiosity of course, and found it to be pretty good. Not quite sure what they were thinking with those choices.

3. They mostly have male flight attendants.... who are NOT ugly! That helped the time go by quicker as well. :) Don't judge....

4. When they get on the speaker to say that we are about to go through some turbulance, even though it's in French and sounds pretty, it still sucks to go through trubulance!

When we got to Athens, we were picked up by the couple who are hosting us at the Greek Bible College. Most of the cars and buses are Mercedes so I have to say that we got to ride through Athens in style and comfort. The Bible college where we are staying is so beautiful and well kept. Before we even got moved into our rooms they decided to feed us some of their amazing food. Here are a few things that were waiting for us.

Greece is known for it's olives. They have such a strong flavor.

Isn't is all so colorful and lovely! And SO fresh!

The rest of the day was spent unpacking and trying to stay awake until at least 9p.m. Greece time, which is 7 hrs later than Florida time. This is to help with jet-lag and to get on their schedule faster. I made it until about 8:45 p.m. and then I was DONE! I slept until about 7:45 a.m. today and feel so much better!

Today we awoke to a beautiful breakfast of fresh Greek yogurt and honey, cheese, bread and apricot jam, and coffee!!

This was the big bowl of thick and delicious Greek yogurt and juices and milk.

The honey for the yogurt. Yum!

After breakfast the guests of the students got to go into Athens to get a taste of the public transportation. It was a short time, but just enough to get a small sample of the city. We rode the bus and the metra and could pretty much get anywhere we wanted using these 2 systems. Europe in general does public transportation much better than we do back home.

These types of architectural gems are everywhere. It's crazy to think of how old some of this stuff is.

Me and T-bone right before a delicious lunch. I love that we are here together!

Lunch! Fish (I don't eat fish), fries, salad, and bread.

Some of my favorite things about Greece so far:
*Almost NO humidity! I LOVE not sweating every second.
*We eat outside a lot! Eating outside is one of my favorite things to do!

*I get to see real Olive Trees that have been around for a VERY long time.

*I have seen pottery that is so old it was around in the time of Moses.

Some of my NOT so favorite things about Greece so far:

*Not being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet. Yes, you have to

throw it in the garbage. I will try not to take flushing things for granted at home.

*Greeks like to talk LOUDLY and yell. I have to get used to this. =)

Well, this about covers my first day and a half here. I feel so blessed that I get to be here and experience a new culture and place. Traveling is one of my biggest passions, and I am truly thankful for this time. We are off to a cute little coffee and pastry shop after dinner. I will let you know how it is.

Thanks for the prayers!

Until next time.....

Goin' To Greece and Stuff

2011-06-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

OH.MY.GOSH, I'm leaving for Greece in 5 days!!

It has been FOREVER since I have put up a blog, but honestly I have been living la vida loca...(what else is new?) This season has found me working full time at American Idol, singing over at Harry Potter, teaching SINGS workshops for Disney, and singing in my friend Joshua's new community choir. It makes me tired to even type that all out. Let me catch you up on a few details.

The opportunity to go to Greece came up earlier this year when Tiffany let me know that her class goes every summer and she could bring someone. She is in graduate school at Palm Beach Atlantic studying to be a Christian Counselor. While we are there she will be taking a class the first week that will go towards her degree. We will be staying in Athens, but will have the opportunity to see some other parts of the country as well. There is so much Biblical history there and I cannot wait to see places like Corinth and possibly Patmos. This is a trip of a lifetime and I could not be more excited about it! We will be gone for 16 days and the break from routine will be SO nice. I am going to try and keep a traveling photo blog going while we are gone so check back next week for an update.

Did I mention that I'm excited??!!

I do want to give a shout out to my fabulous mom as she starts a new chapter and retires this year from teaching. I was not able to be there for her party, but I wanted her to know that I was with her in spirit. She is so great with the kids and I know her students and fellow teachers are going to miss her very much. Congratulations, mom on making a difference in so many young lives.

I also wanted to give a shout out to my little brother who isn't so little anymore. He is graduating from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago in less than 2 weeks with his masters degree in health systems management. I so wanted to be there when he graduated, but I will be in Greece at that time. He also has already started a job as the operations manager for the section of vascular surgery at the University of Chicago. Here is a pic of my cute brother.

I am so proud of you Eric! I love that you are my brother.

Also, I could not leave you without showing off my beautiful nieces. They are growing so fast and are so much fun to be around! Now they are both walking....

Again, I will be trying to keep pictures and updates of my travels here over the next 2 weeks.

I covet your prayers for Tiffany and I over the next few weeks. Oh, and by the way, we are going to be moving across town at the end of August. We wouldn't mind some prayers for that as well. At least life is NEVER dull around here. :)

Here's to living life to the fullest!

REAL

2010-12-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

Good Evening! It's late and I'm cold, yes I said cold, but I just couldn't sleep without getting some thoughts out of my head. Do you ever have times where there is such a jumbled array of thoughts shooting around in your brain, that you just know you have to let them out or they will explode? Yeah? Me too....

I have had some recent events in my life that have caused me to stop and think again about what I REALLY believe. I mean, when push comes to shove, am I REALLY willing to give up everything and follow the One who saved me from myself? And when I say the word everything, I mean just that...

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

I don't know about you but, more times than not, I don't want to do this! I don't want to give up things that make me feel good. Am I alone here? Seriously, I have lost things for the sake of my faith and, I have to say, it hurts. Don't misunderstand me, I am not having a pity party here. I guess I just needed to say this out loud and have someone else say, "I get it." Loss hurts. Period. Even if it's for my good.

I would think that most people who do not know Him would probably think that it's a crazy thing to deny yourself. Life is all about happiness and instant gratification in our culture and sometimes I just want to jump on this bandwagon. I hate that this is true. Lately, I am totally into quoting people who are smarter than me because they somehow say what I'm thinking, only much prettier. =) Donald Miller says, "The problem with Christian belief-I mean REAL Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell-is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe." Nope. Not popular, especially where I'm living, and not easy.

This last quote pretty much helps me to come to terms with why I am usually dissatisfied. I am content in my circumstances, but not satisfied. How about you?

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. -C.S. Lewis

I just wish I could make everyone see that we were ALL made for another world. Not just some of us, ALL of us. I think this is where most of my tears come from these days. When people walk around and don't know their Daddy, their REAL Daddy, this makes my heart sad. Believing this changes everything!

Well, I feel better now that I've gotten that out of my head. I wish I was a more eloquent writer, but perhaps I will improve as time goes on. I hope you are enjoying your December.

Here's to REAL change!

Nikki

Blessed With Work

2010-11-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm just gonna admit that I SUCK AT BLOGGING!! There, I said it and I feel so much better now. ;) I am sitting here humbled and thankful for what God has been doing in my life the past few months. Since April, I have been working at the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I have been full time since August and I am loving every minute of it! Here I am on the job.

As you can see, as far as Disney uniforms go, I am pretty lucky!

My other new job is singing in the Frog Choir at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I am singing in a quartet as the soprano from Slytherin. I know, I know.... nobody really wants to be a Slytherin, but if you read the end of the book, it's really not so bad. I usually have to pinch myself that I get paid to sing! God, You really know how to bless this girl. Here I am in my HOTT (literally and fashionably speaking) costume. Yes, I am wearing a wool vest and YES this is in Florida.... and NO, it's not a mole, it's a microphone. =)

And last, but certainly not least, today was my first shadow day for learning to be a Disney Sings Workshop Clinician. I told you God was blessing me abundantly! I took my kids from Hillgrove to this particular workshop the last year that I taught there and LOVED it! My first teaching day is December 18th... prayers are welcome for sure!

I have SO much more to share, but I refuse to put up a loooooonnng blog. I have just been so busy with work, you didn't hear that from me a year ago, that I have had little down time lately.

I hope that this finds you and yours healthy and content in wherever God has you.

His way is the best way....I am learning that more and more each day!

Much love to you....

Encore Presents...... Dream Our Dreams!!

2010-08-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

My oh my, how time flies! I cannot believe it has been so long since my last post, but life has been BUSY!! I like that I have been busy because it makes me feel like I am finally making Orlando home. The end of June marked 1 year down here in Orlando. I really do not know how a year went by so quickly, but God has been faithful and even deeper healing has happened. The master physician has been hard at work and it makes me grateful that I am not the one with the scalpel in my hand!

One of the best things that has happened this year has been my new job at Disney. I am a Casting Director at the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios and I'm loving it! I am the first person to listen to a guest sing and then put them through to the Producer if they are a strong singer. The Producer then puts that guest in one of our seven shows of the day if they like them enough....very much like going to "Hollywood" on the real American Idol show. More importantly, I get work with some of the best people and have already made some heart connecting friends. Everyday is different and I get to meet people from all over the world!

Being a Disney Cast Member also allowed me to be a part of the Encore Choir. Encore is an organization made up of Disney Cast Members and their families. We were almost 500 people strong including orchestra, dancers, actors, and production/tech team. We rehearsed from May to August and just had our 4 shows this past weekend. All proceeds from the show went to the Make a Wish Foundation. I had the honor of helping lead the female sectionals a few times and also getting to be a part of a quintet singing "Human Again" from Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. I got to play the french maid Babette. How fun! Here are some pictures from this amazing experience.

Here are many of my friends who work at Idol with me!

I love Joshua Vickery!

Me and our show director Clay Price. He is the best!

My "Human Again" Quintet. Love these folks!

More of my new friends.

It was many long nights and hard work, but the show was amazing! I am now in Chicago visiting my family and getting some much needed r & r. I get back to Orlando late on Friday and get to start full time hours at American Idol on Sunday. Thank you God for providing and allowing me to have so much fun in the process.

Until next time,

Nikki

May was a Marvelous Month!

2010-06-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that it's June already!?? I remember the years of being a teacher and longing for the month of June to come. Summer with all its endless possibilities and adventures would call to me in the grey coldness of February and I would start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This year has been different in so many ways and not having a real "summer break" is one of those differences. Not to mention, February in Florida is a wonderful time of the year and the summer months are the ones that I do not long for. Humidity is NOT my friend!

Last month I was able to go home to Chicago to visit with the family and be a part of my niece Paige's Baptism. She is so munchable and I miss her when I'm not with her. I did get to take some pictures of the angel in her Christening dress that my Auntie Chrissy made for her. My aunt is so talented and so willing to make us the most beautiful and meaningful things. We are most thankful that she shares her talent with us.

Here is me and my beautiful godchild. I am so in love with this little girl.

Here is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend. Her dad really knows how to make her laugh! Precious.

Lastly, every baby needs a keepsake photo of them eating. I had such a blast watching Andrea feed Paige. The little monkey just loves her rice cereal.

The rest of the month just flew by and I got to do a few other fun things. First of all, I started training at Disney and now I am ready and dangerous. =) My first day flying solo was today and I had a great day! I am just so thankful for this opportunity.

Earlier this month I was also able to take pictures at my sister Laura's dance banquet. She has decided to leave teaching to raise Maya and seek other career options. I am so proud of her and was honored that she asked me to take the pictures. Here is a shot of Maya from the banquet. Don't you just LOVE the little curl on top of her head!!

Here is a pic of Luke and Laura. Now you can see why Maya is so dang adorable!

Well, that is just some of the events that happened this month. I am hoping to blog in the next couple of days about what is really going on in life.

Much love to all of you!

xoxo

The Magical Day

2010-05-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to put up a VERY quick blog about my latest happenings. Things down here in sunny Orlando have started to heat up....and not just with the weather. =)

I was starting to get a little nervous about how I was going to pay the bills once the school year ended. I started a job of taking pictures of newborns at a few of the local hospitals here, but soon learned that this was NOT going to pay the bills. Not to mention, trying to take pictures of newborn babies who are crying while making next to nothing is NOT my idea of a good time.

So I knew, like most things, that God needed to show up and show up FAST! About a month ago, I finally got an interview to work at Disney's American Idol Experience at Hollywood Studios. I would be one of the initial judges for the show that says "yes" or "no" to "Hollywood." Anyway, 3 weeks went by and I had figured that I didn't get the job. Then at 5p.m. Friday 2 weeks ago, exactly 3 weeks after my interview, I GOT THE JOB!!!! So, from now on I am officially a Disney employee!

I still covet your prayers for more work this summer and for more community down here. On Saturday I'm off to Chicago for Paige's baptism. I am her godmother and I cannot wait to be with my family. More pictures to come when I return.

xoxo

The Visitors

2010-04-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm not the BEST blogger in the world......but I'm trying!
To say that it's been busy the last month would be QUITE the understatement. My dad came into town at the beginning of March and then my brother Eric came to visit on his spring break. I am so proud of my brother and all that he is pursuing in his life. He is getting his master's degree from Rush in Chicago and is going into medical management. He got the internship this summer at Rush which is a very prestigious honor. We had such a great time while he was here. One day we went ocean kayaking and, let me tell you, what a workout! I have to say, the blisters were worth it. Here is Laura, Eric, and me after our 2 hours on the water. Eric is holding an orange because we found a bunch of oranges in the water because we were near some orange groves. The smell was awesome! One of the many perks of living in Florida.

Another day we went to the beach and the weather was incredible. Here is Maya on her first visit to the beach. All that sun seemed to make Maya SO SLEEPY.

My mom came to visit and it overlapped a few days of my brother being here. We all got to be together as Maya was dedicated to the Lord. Here are a few pictures of that special day. We all got to eat at Outback afterwards and it's was delicious. Thanks mom for the great lunch!

After my brother left, Andrea, Scott and Paige came for a week visit. My niece Paige is now 4 months old and she is getting so big! She is beautiful and I was able to get some great pictures of her. This is one of my favorites of her. She may have Scott's coloring, but she has Andrea's facial expressions for sure!

We all got to spend Easter together this year, which was so nice. I wanted to get some family pics for my sisters to have. Here is the beautiful Guerra Family.

And here is the awesome Detering Family. Look at Maya....she cracks me up. Too cute!

This blog was really just to catch you all up with pictures from my last month of visitors. I will certainly write again soon about what is really going on with me. I did start a new job last week taking pictures of newborns at a hospital. I will let you know how that is going when I have more to say about it. For now, let me leave you with some fun photos of my favorite nieces.

Paige

Maya

Cousins

Until next time!

Oh My Maya and I'm 32!

2010-03-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Greeting to you all!

It has been a while since I've last written, but things have just been SO busy! Here is a short update on what has been happening lately.

My sister Laura was expecting to deliver her little girl on March 5, but God had other plans. She had some pregnancy issues that left her in the hospital for 2 weeks! It was a time of waiting and wondering when little Maya would make her appearance. We were all praying that she would at least make it to 34 weeks and she did! On January 26, 2010 my new niece Maya Nicole was born!! She was 4.7 lbs and 18" long and totally healthy. She stayed in the NCIU for about 6 days and then was able to go home to her very excited parents. Because she was due on my birthday, her middle name is Nicole after me. I cannot tell you what an honor it is to have a niece with part of my name! I so look forward to being a very involved Auntie! Here are some pictures that I got to take of little Maya when she was a few weeks old. Couldn't you just eat her up!!

Our Little Princess

She is gonna be a Latin dancer, just like her mama! Snap it out Maya...
The little sweet pea!
She's is smirking already!
Another sweet surprise was that my dad was here visiting during my birthday. It was his first time meeting his second granddaughter. Here is dad and Maya.

On my actual birthday my dad and Laura and me got to go and hang out in St. Augustine. It was a bit chilly, but I love walking around on St. George Street and shopping and strolling. It was a great day! Here is a pic of me and my dad. There is no question that I am his daughter! =)

It's a bit ironic that Laura and I both went into teaching and are now both trying to do something else. I really did enjoy my time as a teacher, but it is time to do something else for a time. Laura feels the same way.

Sometimes I still cannot believe that I am 32, but I am learning to just enjoy the ride! God has brought so much healing and growth in my life and I am so thankful for every blessing and trial. I look forward to this year and all that it has in store!

Hope you are enjoying your year.....wherever you find yourself!

What To Do When Life Doesn't Look Like You Thought It Would

2010-02-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

I know I am not alone in the feeling that this is NOT the life that I had dreamed of. Like most girls I had dreamed of a beautiful wedding and cute little house that I could call my own. A handsome prince who looks like James Marsden wouldn't hurt either. =) I wanted to be a mother of at least 2 children and have a job that made me want to get up in the morning. In my fantasy I also kept my slender figure and was one of those "graceful agers". The ones where grey hair was so distinguished and lovely and the wrinkles were few. Ahhh, I can just close my eyes and see my life the way I had dreamed it when I was younger. Unfortunately, when I open my eyes this is not what I see. My reality is far from the dreams of a young girl. I find myself divorced for over 4 yrs. with no children. I have a job that calls when they need me and have not been successful at finding much more employment. My palace is an apartment and let me just say, the ever increasing grey hairs are not all that attractive. Sometimes I just lose it and yell, "God, do You see me??!!" (of course, I do this in private so no one commits me). So, once again I ask, what does one do when life doesn't look like you thought?

I believe that I have the answer and it has taken me more than 6 months to realize it! It seems so simple and much smarter people than I have been doing it for a long time. I need to keep dreaming, and dreaming BIG! Killing your dreams is killing your hope for something different. I do not think we can survive long without hope. I also have figured out that it's all in our perspective. For example, I may not have children of my own yet, but my sisters have both just had 2 beautiful little girls. One of them is my godchild and the other has my name as her middle name. I cannot wait to buy them too many dresses and twirl with them and take them to Disney World and watch their faces light up when they see the all the wonder! Most importantly I hope to be an influence in their lives to know Jesus Christ. The One who created wonder and twirling and giggling and hope. And as for a job I love.... I now have the time and life experience to decide what I WANT to do! How freakin' awesome is that! I can decide to do something that makes my heart come alive and make a difference in the world. For now I may have to do some jobs I do not love, but I have a light at the end of the tunnel. AND one of the coolest things has been the opportunity to live with my BF Tiffany. I know that both of us would not have chosen for our marriages to fail, but in that we have gotten to be roommates! We get to laugh and cry as we watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition and talk about our dreams. It has been so amazing to have someone actually get me and understand exactly where I'm at. What a great gift that could not have happened if I were in control!

So you see, I would venture to say that most of us have a life that didn't look like we thought it would. The secret is that God knows what we need and He has plans for us that are much much bigger than we could have ever dreamed up. Our plans are so small compared to His and sometimes He has to shatter our dreams to make room for bigger ones. Please know that I do not feel this way all the time. I have my moments where I need to grieve and cry and hit something or talk out my disappointment for hours at a time. And I am only 31 and not quite ready to let my grey hair win. =) I just want my life to be an encouragement to others and I want God to guide my steps. How do you see your life? Could you change your perspective to see the beauty that is right in front of you?

Here's to dreaming BIG dreams!

My Oh My How Time Flies By....

2010-01-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

Hola!! I hope this finds everyone getting back into the swing of life after the holidays. It's amazing how much cheer and warmth Christmas decorations add to a home. Our apartment seems so bare, and BIG, without them. So much has happened since my last post and I would love to share some of it with you.

First, and most important, my sister Andrea had her first baby! It was a 6lb 11oz baby girl and most of us thought she was having a boy. It came as quite a shock, but a very sweet surprise. They named her Paige Michele and she is the most beautiful little peanut I have ever seen! I got to spend 10 days in Chicago with my family and get to know my new niece. Here are some pictures I took of pretty Paige. You are going to fall in love as I have!

You have fallen in love, haven't you!

When I get to see my brother and sisters and family, we always have a great time. Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve.

Mommy and baby

Well, there you have it. I believe pictures are some of the best ways to tell a story so I don't have much more to say. I pray you all had a very Merry Christmas and that this year is filled with many blessings and new adventures. The glory of God is the human being fully alive. Do what makes you come alive!!

Until next time.....

Thanksgiving, Singing Christmas Trees & More Bellies

2009-12-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone and Merry Christmas-Time!!

I wanted to catch everyone up with the latest news going on in my little world. Some of my favorite people came to Orlando during Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful time. I got to take some Christmas pictures for the Jones Family at Disney's Boardwalk. The Boardwalk looks so jolly with all the Christmas decorations. The decorations really help make it feel like Christmas because 80 degrees doesn't really do it! Here are some of the shots from my time with the Jones'. They really are family to me and I'm so thankful for them!

I know, I know, we look JUST alike! =)

That day we got to go mini-golfing at WinterSummerland. I definitely had a night of extremes with 6 strokes on one hole, to 3 holes in 1!!! Hamp was the overall winner that night and was very mature and didn't rub it in.....much. =)

I also got to share Thanksgiving with my sister in her new house. I even got to take some pictures of her and Luke and the "coming soon" Maya. Here are a few of my favorites.

It was hard to get a serious shot of these two. They like to laugh! I think it's a family trait. =)

Tiffany and I have also spent the last 3 months rehearsing for something called "The Singing Christmas Trees" at First Baptist Orlando. Those huge trees are actually going to be filled with about 350 choir members. My spot was in the tree on the left about 3 rows from the top. We really are quite squished in there and we stand for the entire show. It has been quite the experience and I think that while this is my rookie year, this is my veteran year as well!

So, that is just a short update on what is going on in my life lately. I will be posting another blog VERY shortly, because on December 2nd I became an aunt for the first time!! I will leave you in suspense until I can get some pictures to post. I must say..... the baby is beautiful.

Until next time,

Nikki

Bellies, Baby Showers, & Christmas Time at Disney!

2009-11-21T08:36:00.001-08:00

Hello All and Happy Holidays to you! I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas is next month! How the time flies when you're living in Orlando and still looking for a job. =) I don't really like to put a blog up if there isn't much to say, so that is why there has been some gaps in my blogging life. Now I will catch you up on a couple of recent, and super fun, events in my life.

If you have read my blog in the past, you know that I really enjoy going to Disney World whenever Tiffany and I have some free time. In the midst of trying to find work and doors closing most of the time, Disney always brings a smile and lots of fun. They have it decorated for Christmas and it looks SO beautiful! Also, I went home to Chicago last weekend for my sister Andrea's baby shower. She is due December 13th, but we all think she will be having that baby any time now. Today she made it to 37 weeks so the little guy (or girl...I think she's having a boy) can come out and play anytime now! I get to go home December 20th for Christmas and I cannot wait to hold that baby and take lots of pictures. I have some of my favorite people coming to visit this week, the Sanders and Jones families, so I'm sure I'll have many more smiles to post after this week. I get to go and eat Thanksgiving at my sister Laura's house on Thursday and this year I only have to travel one and a half hours to get there. A great improvement over the 7 or more hours it would have taken if I still lived in Georgia. So, while things are still tough, I still believe that this is where God has planted me and I intend to grow.

I have lots of pictures to share, so here goes.

My beautiful sister Andrea and her awesome belly. She's glowing!

Last night I went to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party where they make it snow on Main St. and the castle is draped in lights that make your heart long for heaven! It was so magical!

The snow was actually foam, but it looked so real! I hope it snows in Chicago when I'm home for Christmas!

The fireworks are always amazing, but there is nothing like fireworks and Christmas music.

Have a great weekend and a very Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for so much, but mostly for my dear friends and family!

XOXO,

Nikki

I'm Gonna Be An Aunt!!

2009-10-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello All! It's mid-October and it's in the 90's here in sunny Orlando. I cannot say I'm used to that, but I will take it over a harsh 3-6 months of winter anytime!

Some of you may not know that both of my younger sisters are pregnant and are 3 months apart. My sister Andrea who lives in Chicago, is due on December 13th so I am looking forward to an amazing Christmas present this year! She and her husband Scott have decided NOT to find out the sex of the baby so we all wait with eager anticipation. I'm going with boy, but you never know. My other sister Laura and her husband Luke decided to find out the sex of their baby last week and they invited me to be there when they did. Luke was convinced it was a boy and I was sure it was a girl. The baby is due on my birthday, March 5th, and if it was a girl she was going to be named Maya Nicole. So you see, I did have some bias here. As the ultrasound got started it only took a few minutes to see that the baby was a girl!! I had my camera all ready and had taken a few shots before the announcement, but I really wanted to capture the moment on Luke and Laura's faces when they announced the sex. Instead, I started screaming and jumping myself and just couldn't wipe the smile from my face. Here are some of the shots I did get during this time.

It was amazing to see the baby on the big screen.

Baby Maya
My excited Brother-in-law Luke
So it was an amazing day full of smiles and excitement. I have to say that it was an honor to get to share this with my sister and Luke. I do have to be honest though, and say that there was a small part of me that hurt. A part of me that still asks God, "why not me? Will I ever get to be a wife to a wonderful man and know what it feels like to be a mother?" I know it may seem selfish to be feeling this way in the light of such a wonderful thing, but that's just the way I feel. I don't feel this way all the time and I am more than excited to be an aunt. Yet at the core of how God made me, these desires just will not go away. I know there is much to be learned in the waiting, no the longing, of this time and He is showing me through it all that He is faithful.

I want to live life to the fullest, for that is why Christ came. In times like these, I always wonder how people get through the pain of life without Christ. Hope comes from knowing that we are loved and loved well and that this life is not the end of our story. It's just a blip on the radar of eternity, but that doesn't always help when I need a hug from someone with skin on. =)

I do know that there is redemption in that I get to share this journey with my sisters. After the past few years, that is saying something.

I also had a friend from Atlanta, who is now living in Baltimore, come and visit last weekend. Here are a few pictures of Lauren that I took at Disney's Boardwalk. She is very photogenic so it was fun to take them.

My roommate Tiffany also got a new haircut so I had to capture that as well. I think she looks beautiful!

One last thing before I go....I got a job!! I am substitute teaching at a prep school here in Winter Garden and I really like it. I get to go in and talk with students all day and then leave. No lesson plans, little stress, and NO WEEKENDS or EVENINGS!! Being in a school does make me miss my former students, but many of them keep in touch and I was so grateful for my time with them. I'm still looking for auditions and to teach private voice lessons, but things are slow here. I am just thankful to have some income coming in.

I wish you all a wonderful week!

xoxo

Lots O' Visitors

2009-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok....now I know that I don't have a following of thousands or hundreds....or even 10 for that matter, but I know it's been a looooong time since I've put up a blog. I've just been busy with some awesome guests while getting the most out of living in Orlando. The Sanders Family came down to celebrate Andie's 18th birthday by going to Disney World. For those of you who do not know the Sanders Family, Andie was in my choir at Hillgrove the past 3 years and I have become wonderful friends with her whole family. Michelle and Bundy sponsored me for my Tres Dias weekend and I have felt so much love from them over the years. Going to Disney with them has become a tradition and it is always so much fun to storm the Magic Kingdom with people who love Disney as much as I do.

They got in Friday night September 11th and we all went to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party where most people were dressed up and the park was decorated for fall. The best part was that we got to go trick or treating inside the park. They gave away the good stuff too! Here are some pics from that fun night.

Andie in her Tinkerbell costume and I in front of the castle.

Andie looking at the castle....I loved the innocence of this shot.

Me and Baloo from The Jungle Book. He liked to cuddle.

These were some of the decorations throughout the park.

The next morning was Andie's real birthday. We all met at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom to have a character breakfast to celebrate. We had to be in the park by 7:50 a.m. so we definitely had a lot of coffee! The park was not open yet so Main Street was almost totally empty. That is something I have never seen.

I loved this picture of Michelle and Tigger!

Andie made a shirt to wear on her birthday. I totally agree, I'm never growing up!

Just being silly in the line for Philharmagic. It's one of my favorite rides at Disney.

Later in the weekend, I got to take some of Andie's senior pictures at the Disney Boardwalk. Here are a few of my favorites.

I had so much fun with the Sanders Crew. I cannot wait for Thanksgiving when they come back down to have fun again. They are some of my favorite people!! Love you guys!!

Last week my good friend Ashley Johnson came to visit. We had a really good time exploring some places that I have never been. We went to Sea World and Busch Gardens and rode some awesome coasters. Ashley also let me take some pics of her so here are a few of my favorites.

Ashley is an awesome photographer so when she told me she liked these pictures, I was super excited! Thanks for visiting me my friend! I love you!!

I keep saying that I will be a better blogger, but honestly...I may not. I try to write when I have something to say and sometimes it just takes me a while to have something to say. Tiffany and I are still looking for a job, but we are keeping busy with much searching and we are participating in the Singing Christmas Trees at First Baptist Orlando. I have directed choir for so long that it is fun to just get to sing. Plus I need to keep up my chops =) I also have some leads to start teaching voice lessons and substitute teaching so we shall see. I keep waiting for something to just "work out," but it is taking longer than I thought. I guess that's why God makes the plans and I do not. It's been a nice long break...but we are ready to work. Keep us in your prayers if we come to mind. Also, pray for the people in Atlanta, GA and Burkina Faso, Africa. They have had some horrible rain and the flooding is becoming a problem. People are losing homes and crops. I love you my friends from all over the world!

Thanks for reading!!

Visitors and the Unending Sickness

2009-08-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I had NO intention of going this long without writing a blog, but some family came into town and a friend and then I've been sick for going on 11 days. So, I will attempt to catch you up quickly on what life has held these last 20 days.

My Auntie Chrissy and Uncle Andie and cousins Brittany, Kristen, and Nick came into town to visit and go to Disney World. I had so much fun with them going swimming and riding rides at Disney. The first day we went to Epcot and my sister Laura and Tiffany joined us. We got to ride Test Track and Soarin and just enjoy being with each other. I didn't realize how much I missed my family. It's funny how family can be the source of so much joy....and SO much pain. I'm sure everyone can relate to that! =) More on that on a different day. Here are some fun shots of our time together!

My Auntie Chrissy and her poncho at Downtown Disney. Love it!

The cousins at Epcot

Little side note: Laura and I were riding the monorail back to the Polanesian Hotel to get our cars and there was a girl and her boyfriend standing right in front of us. Only a few minutes into our ride the poor girl got sick. I mean, REALLY sick! She blew chunks on a very full car of people and we all had to endure for another 7 minutes until the next stop. The girl had thrown up all over her boyfriend and I thought, if that guys sticks around...He is a keeper. =) Just some fun monorail memories to last for a lifetime!

Me and the Taylors in front of Rockin' Roller coaster at Hollywood Studios. I really don't look like them, do I.

We touched the butt!

I just couldn't resist putting this pic up. Aren't they cute!!

Nick and I in front of Tower of Terror. We had SO much fun that day! Nick is starting high school this year. He is such a great kid and I'm so glad we had this time together.

In the middle of the time my family was here, my good friend Joanna came to visit me. I am so grateful to have a friend like her. We had so much fun just hanging out and eating and talking. We got to go see the movie "Julie and Julia" and really liked it.

Tiffany and Joanna let me use them as my muses for a photo shoot in downtown Orlando. Here are a few shots from the shoot. Complete albums can be found on my facebook page. I really love taking pictures and I just want to keep getting better and better. My favorite thing about taking pictures is being able to give people memories of themselves that they love.

Beautiful Joanna

Beautiful Tiffany

Anyhoo, that has been what has kept me busy these past few weeks. I'm actually starting to feel better, but I can't get rid of my cough and stuffy nose. I've been on antibiotics for about 7 days and no change. Even though I NEED to find a job, it's been nice to be able to rest when I'm not feeling well. I'm not used to that. =) I pray that the next time I write, I will be telling you about my new job and new church. I can hope right?!

Until then.........

The Rebirth of Hope

2009-08-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hello One and All!

It has been a while since I last blogged, but sometimes I just have to make sure I really want to tell everyone what I'm thinking. I'm pretty honest when I write so that can be a very good thing....or a not so good thing if you know what I mean. These past couple of weeks have been one of big change for me. A change in perception can make all the difference in how we cope with something. I have chosen to change my attitude on a few things and it has been so freeing! I highly recommend it!

One the coolest things God has been doing is peeling back layers so that even deeper healing can occur. He is using roommates, books, DVDS, and journaling to do this. I don't know if any of you could use some deeper healing from our God, but He will go there with us if we ask. He also goes there when we don't ask and those are some painful times of growth. Louie Giglio is one of my favorite teachers and his messages have always been a balm to my soul. I recently watched "Hope When Life Hurts Most." If you haven't seen it, I would say to get your hands on it and let him speak truth to you. He talked about our suffering being a megaphone to the world of what's in our hearts and that if I ever doubt that God loves me........to look at the cross. His suffering and dying on the cross has been the loudest message of love in history. Wow....wow!

I also wanted to quickly share that I went on an audition on Thursday and it went really well. No details yet, but I go back Monday for more of the process. If nothing else, it has been totally encouraging. I do want to share one part of the audition. After I had sung my 2 songs and did my comedic monologue they asked me if I had a dramatic monologue to do. Well I didn't, but I asked if I could just share something dramatic from my life. I told them about moving to Georgia, marrying Chester, and then a little about the divorce. The Holy Spirit took over and just spoke through me. At the end I shared that God became real to me during that time of pain and that He is good and that I hope my life brings Him glory. As I shared this with them, I realized just how true it all was. How I would not have been there auditioning or living in Orlando or how I would not have met so many WONDERFUL friends by moving to Georgia. God was using my suffering as a megaphone at this audition! "GOD IS GOOD ALWAYS!! BEAUTY FROM ASHES! HOPE IS THE LORD!" I have to say, this was not the typical audition. Well, long story short, I got asked to come back next week. I don't know what will come of it, but that's not the point. The point is that hope has had a rebirth in me and that I am living more intentionally in seeking and spending time with God. Does life get much better!?

Thanks for reading!

Wisdom From a Rug

2009-07-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I write to you because I have once again been reminded that God is good! All the time! Tiffany and I bought a rug during the first week we were here. We both loved it and it now resides in front of our sink in the kitchen. Here is the mat....

Lately I seem to let my circumstances determine my mood. And then my mood affects my relationship with God. Like moving and not knowing a lot of people or trying to follow the dreams, although risky, that my Father put in my heart. I spoke to a dear friend today and we both came to the same conclusion that we were letting our feelings get in the way of spending time with God or praising Him. The saying on the rug, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning to dance in the rain" became so true for me...for all of us. So even though I wasn't "feeling it" I went for a walk today while listening to some praise music. My decision to be obedient softened my heart and I was able to walk with arms stretched towards the sky. It was so freeing and such a good reminder that no matter the circumstance I can praise God and keep a joyful outlook.

So once again the reminder that God is in control and that He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords hit me in the face....hard! He is in control of everything...my life, my hopes, my dreams and the weather. We get some amazing storms here in Orlando and tonight I grabbed my camera while God was showing off His most awesome handiwork. Here are some of the shots that I caught from our balcony. I don't really know how to shoot lightning, but I did what I could.

I have not really shared this, but I have had some trouble with my voice for some time now. Teaching has been a great profession, but it really takes a toll on your voice! I went to the ENT in Atlanta at the beginning of June and they thought that I could have the start of vocal nodules. These are like callouses on the vocal chords and they can be quite dangerous for singers. I went to see a specialist at the end of June and they took some pictures of my vocal chords. They said that I did not have nodules, but that my chords were on their way if I didn't get some vocal therapy. This was not the news you want to hear when you are banking your next career chapter on the use of your voice. I also found out that I have a mild case of acid reflux and that this was irritating my chords as well. Once again, I found myself feeling blue because of my circumstances. After a little time had passed, I once again found myself being obedient and started thanking God for letting me catch this in its early stages. Well, I just went to the ENT in Orlando and they took a few more pictures and guess what...... my throat and chords were looking MUCH better! Thank You God! But even if they weren't better...Thank You God! He is teaching me some amazing lessons. I still have to have some speech therapy, but I can start singing again!! I am even going to an audition at Disney on Monday and I'm super excited to get my feet wet. It's been a risky move to come here and walk by faith, but oh the sweetness of it all. Thanks for reading!

Storms, Rainbows, and Wedding Dresses

2009-07-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

I feel compelled to write another blog this week because a couple really cool things have happened. Yesterday, Tiffany and I were sitting in our little living room feeling sorry for ourselves and having a great big pity-party. I have to be honest, trusting God has been quite hard for me the last few years. Harder than I really thought actually. I suppose I have been a little skittish about trusting a God that has allowed me to go thorough a divorce before I was 30 and has allowed a number of other things that have felt very heavy these past few years. My choice is to believe that He is cruel and He doesn't care about me OR I can believe He is good. Period. I was under the impression that I have always believed that He is good, but the more I look at it the move I believe that I do not fully trust Him because I'm afraid. Afraid that He doesn't remember me or that He doesn't have my best interests at heart. Some people may have an easier time believing that God loves them, but the past few years have been really hard. So, all that to say, I am finding that trusting God and trusting that He is good and trusting that He does love me has come to the surface quite rapidly. I still choose to believe that He is good...now for the trust part! Oh, that He may help me in this area!

So, back to the pity-party. We were just sitting there chatting while this terrible storm approached. The sky looked purple and we were wondering how bad we were going to get hit. I took a picture of the approaching storm. It's crazy how the sun can still shine in some places while the sky can look like this.

The storm came on strong and lasted for a short while. Then out of the darkness the clouds parted and He gave us a gift. A special sign just for us. A sign that He does love us and He will never leave us or forsake us! We ran to get our cameras and this is what we saw.

Can you see it! Oh but it gets better.

It was a full rainbow! I don't know about you, but they are rare to see. I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing because it was still raining and we were stuck on our balcony, but oh it was glorious! Right there in our despair about not having a job and the past few years, God gave us a rainbow. Now that is awesome!

Then today, Tiffany and I decided to go see the movie The Proposal....for the second time. We wanted to see something cute and funny because it was raining and we couldn't go to the pool. We were walking in the mall and we passed a bridal store with dresses in the window. Then we stopped because something caught our eye. In the window, the most BEAUTIFUL wedding dress was displayed so we had to go in. I mean, this dress was something I could not have even made up in my dreams! My heart just fell in love with it and then Tiffany and I just went around and looked at all the dresses. This is something we have not done in a loooonnng time.....dream. Once again, God used a beautiful wedding dress to catch our eye and get us dreaming and hoping again. Hoping that there could be marriage in the future. A marriage that would glorify our God and last to raise children who love Christ and make the world brighter. Oh, He has NOT forgotten me! What a great day this turned out to be!

Home Sweet New Home

2009-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I know it has been a while since my last blog, but things have been crazy with trying to uproot my life from Atlanta to Orlando. We left Atlanta on June 27th and made it to Tifton, GA for the night. I was driving the U-Haul and let me just tell you, what an experience that was! It takes a lot more work to drive one of those than a car. I had no CD player so I was alone with my thoughts a lot...thoughts like , "what am I doing?, why am I moving from my good and safe life, will I find a job??"... and many other thoughts that I will keep to myself. =) I did, however, sense the peace that God has been giving me since I decided to make this move. I want to give a shout out to the many wonderful people who helped us move. I LOVE you all and cannot thank you enough for all your help and support! Here is some of the fearless crew below.

Some adopted dads who always come and help when they hear the call...

Jack, David, Jo, Jill, Tiffany, and me...

Adding the Sanders girls.....

Me and my dear friend Joanna (to be said in a song-like way). Don't let our smiles fool you... we were NOT happy to say "see you soon."

So, we woke up on June 28th and headed the rest of the way to Orlando. Here are some pics of us when we crossed the state line. I love that we are in the Sunshine State!

When we arrived we were greeted by some dear friends Jenn and Will Korver and a couple of their guy friends to help us move. Michelle and Andie Sanders also drove down Sunday morning and stayed until Thursday morning. I do NOT know what I would have done without them!! My sister Laura and her husband Luke (who are expecting their first baby in March!) were also there to help. They live in Palm Coast and came down to carry boxes and more. Luke worked so hard and I am most excited to get to know him better now that I live closer to them.

We have been here almost a week and it as taken that long to just get all moved in. We still have a few boxes on the floor and mirrors to hang, but all in all we have a roof over our heads, beds to sleep in, and of course, wireless internet! This next week will be changing our license and tags and finding a job...yes, a job would be good. I pray that God will show us where to go and what we are to do during this time. I am so grateful to have a sister-friend in Tiffany to share this adventure with. We will keep you posted as we go. There has already been much laughter. Below is a picture of our new place.......well, it's actually the building across the lake, but ours looks identical. Did I mention we have an awesome view of the Disney fireworks from our balcony!? Thanks God for the little things....

Thanks for reading!

2009-05-24T20:14:00.001-07:00

Well, I drank the kool-aid and I've decided to start a blog. I wanted my friends and family to have a chance to keep up with me and I wanted to have a record of this time of my life. Big changes have already started and I feel like I'm rolling down a hill and picking up speed as I go. On Friday, I finished my last day with my wonderful students at Hillgrove High School. Graduation went well and it was the last time I had the opportunity to direct my choir. Graduation is always bittersweet....it is such a time for celebration for the new adventures ahead, but it is also sad. It can be so hard to say good-bye to people that we love.

This particular season for me is bigger than just saying good-bye to seniors. Most of you know by now that I am moving to Orlando to be closer to my sister Laura and to start a new chapter. I have lived in Atlanta for the past 6 years and I just feel that it is time to move on and move forward. There has been so much joy here with meeting new friends and growing in my faith, but joy and sorrow seem to go hand in hand. I do believe that our times of suffering are some of the sweetest times. These are the times that I am relying on God the most and falling more in love with Him. I would not change what has happened to me these past 6 years, but I pray that I can use it to help others and continue to grow.

I will be heading out of town at the end of June to move to Orlando with my friend Tiffany. I can't think of a better gift than getting to go on a new journey with a friend. God has put Tiffany and her family in my life and for that I am most thankful. They have been my "Georgia" family and I have had some of the best times sitting in front of their fireplace and dinner table. There has been SO much laughter and a bit of crying since our paths have crossed and I have a rolodex of amazing memories with this sweet family. I'm learning the truth behind the saying, "home is where the heart is," because it doesn't matter where we go....home is when we are with family.

Quitting a good job and leaving great friends takes a major leap of faith. I feel like Indiana Jones in the scene where he has to step off the cliff to find the next path on his journey. I have to believe that God is guiding me and He will give me just enough to take that next step. This takes TRUST... a word that I am slowly learning to love. I am reading, again, "Ruthless Trust," by Brennan Manning and I have to share with you a few things from the book that has really hit me. Get this book! You will not be sorry!!

He says, " The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise." This is exactly how I feel. I have no idea what is ahead, but I'm trusting God in it all. Perhaps learning to trust Him more, is the point. Hmmmmm....

Last one, he also says, " Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded." and "On the last day, Jesus will look us over not for medals, diplomas, or honors; but for scars. I want to live with my arms wide open, but I know that means I will get hurt. I'm still learning that to be fully alive means I have to risk. To risk we have to trust and to trust we have to know that we are loved....deeply. I believe that I am loved..... and so are you!

I know not if I will be a good blogger, but I will do my best to keep up with this next chapter. Every human life has a story to share. Thank you for letting me share mine.

Until next time.......