Ten Years of Greatness!

This weekend is New Life Church's 10th year anniversary. We had service on Friday Night and then we are having a service today at 2 PM followed by a picnic in the park.

Sacrifice is the only word that I can think of to describe all Home Missions Pastors. They are some pretty amazing people.

To carve something out of nothing-based on a calling that God has placed on your life- is well- Biblical. Others that are similar are some of the Bible greats- Abraham, Noah, Moses, and the list goes on.

Home missions pastors have to get beyond the tiny factor. Tiny meaning sometimes you are preaching to your family and another couple. In Pastor and Sister Gaddy's situation the services were first held in the living room of a home. The main thing was they had the tenacity to make it to this point. Last Sunday we had 179 in service. We have a 9 Am and an 11 Am service to fit everyone. Their sacrifice is being rewarded.

Our family has only been attending New Life Church for 3 months. We have been welcomed, blessed, loved, and strengthened.

To ALL Home Missions Pastors, their wives and families- I celebrate you today. You are amazing. The voice that called and chosen you to do HIS work- WILL bring it all to pass.
Maybe you are only meeting with two or three today in your service- but don't be disappointed with the day of small things. It is the small acorn that grows the mighty oak. YOU are called, and GOD is standing with you!

To Pastor and Sister Gaddy, Madison and Landon- Thank you for enduring so that my family has a place to worship here in Cabot, AR.

Blessings to all-

CMN

Yikers.....

So.....

I tried to get this posted by midnight- but alas it is 12:48 PM...Yikers

Today was interesting......

-I took Emma to School
-Got Dressed (yep in that order)
-Got Gasoline
-Got Gasoline all over me
-Got Dressed (yep all over again)
-Went to the DMV
-Found out that even after bringing 750 papers, a sample of 10 weeks of urine, and a frog leg that was slightly salty....I still needed more information for them.
-Went to Little Rock to pick up my DVDs for General Conference from Anita.
-Helped Miranda prepare food for the Church's 10th anniversary- I was already late so stopped and ran through the drive through for us.
-Drove home and arrived just as Emma's bus was pulling to the street- Stellar moment!
-Laid out the girls clothes, ironed John and My outfits
-Seanna came home- Ran to church to drop off tree (a dead one)
-Ran (well actually drove)to Tuesday Morning to buy two silver platters
-Came Home, made Emma an amazing Peanut butter sandwich.
-plugged in sets of hot-stocks.
-Got Ready
-Did Emma's Hair
-Did Cylinda's Hair
-Did Seanna's Hair
-Did NOT do John's hair
-Got to church at 6:40
-Found out that I read the praise sheet wrong and I could have been there at 7- oh well.
-Had an amazing 10th anniversary service - Way to go New Life Church!!!!

Came home at 12:15
-Hugged the girls
-Did not hug the hamsters
-Getting ready to hug John
-Going to bed

I hope tomorrow is not so busy- Wait who am I kidding- I leave on Monday for General Conference!

Love you all-

Huge slobbery hugs-

An idea for your praise and worship team....

Now promise me you will watch this through- it gets more powerful as it goes on. Don't stop watching in the middle- okay promise?

Daisy!

Today- I was running around doing errands for the booth, the presentation, and the pizza bash.

I went yesterday to Best Buy to get the Dell Mini that we are giving away- to find they did not have any. After being ignored the by huddle of workers in the computer area- I went over to ask them if they had any more Dell Mini's. They looked at me in that disgusted look as one of them quickly told me in a piercing voice, "What we have in stock is already out."

I was determined then to eaves drop on their conversation to find out if they were indeed having a "meeting" or just idle chat time. They were in the midst of a HUGE ROUND of personal conversation, bantering back and forth. All of this was happening while three customers (yes I counted them) were being ignored. I then walked up to one of them and said, "Since you are out of them here, can you check and see which close stores have them in stock?"

He just looked at me.

I said, "I mean look in your computer."

He walks over to the computer and puts in his password four times before getting it right. He then searches for it. There is a whole list of cities and the amount of in-stock computers show on the screen. I said - what about Conway- that is close. He ignores me and says, "Looks like Hot Springs has them."

I looked at him amazed, "What about Conway? That is a lot closer for me."

"Nope, I don't see any."

I am reading the screen (which I used to hate when clients did this to me at the travel agency) and see 7 at the location.

I did the cardinal sin and touched his screen and said- see here they have 7 in stock.

I walked off frustrated. In thinking back over the conversation I should have gone back and turned off his screen while he was typing just to irritate him :)

When I left I exhaled- hoping that the whole store was not filled with carbon dioxide and that is why the workers were huddled for safety ignoring the shoppers.

So now- back to my current story....

I am on the road driving to Conway and looked down at my phone- I had 7 missed calls. Wow- that is why I did not have any calls this morning. I left it in the car after dropping of Emma at school this AM. I returned 6 calls- one person did not leave a VM.

While driving I looked at this huge field on my left. There was this huge black bull galloping and twirling in circles. He caught my eye so much that I pulled over (it's a country road folks- don't freak) and watched him for about five minutes. He would leap, jump, and snort, and then stop and look at the wildflowers that were in his field. I loved it. I should have taken a picture of him.

I sat there and thanked the Lord for this big black bull who the Lord sent my way. God had him do a ballet recital just for me. I think that the Lord has a sense of humor and tries drastically to get our attention on a daily basis- but we are so fixed on our task at hand we miss out on the sweet goodness.

I would have loved to have gone over and given him a huge hug- but alas I think he would not have been so cheerful face to face.

Finally after realizing that I needed to get back on the road I left my friend. I named him Daisy. I know it is a female name- but he had incredible eyelashes!

I am reminded today about all of the vital "Times" in our life. Ecc. 3:4-8 in the Message reads:

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

No Excuses....

SO I am so behind on my blog and I SO MISS being an active, fun, quirky blogger.

I have told myself one day I will get caught up and blog again daily. I have a list of reasons why I am behind - really I do. But who wants excuses?

I can only think back to my second year of college when my professor told those that were incessantly late. "Why are you always late? I will tell you why you are always late- you do what works for you. That is working for you. You are being selfish and inconsiderate of others." Hmmm

Followed by another quote that rolls around in my head from my Mother who proclaimed-
"You always find time to do the things you love." Hmmm

So in thinking over those to quotes I want to change, and I do love writing, and I will find time to blog...Not because you all are missing my blog- but because it is called my free therapy, and it is a record of things that happened when my girls get older. :)

Yesterday I had to get a presentation ready for the MK Pizza Bash at General Conference. It will involve about 200 pictures of MK that will be there. I had to go through my garage to FIND photo albums to find some of them at School of Missions when they were little cutie pies.

While looking for those albums I came across some scrapbooks that I did not even know that I had. One of them was made when I was in the 10th grade. I had a laugh at some of the pages. The things that I thought were so cool that I ripped out of my seventeen magazine. I didn't realize that I was a scrapper that long ago. Before scrap booking even became the thing to do. I was a keeper. I am no longer a keeper- I am a HUGE THROWER.

I almost went into a panic attack as I went through my garage box by box to find that tub-oh-photo albums. I have 10 photo albums that are pre-John days. They are from St. Croix, Wisconsin, St. Paul, Houston, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and several islands of the Caribbean that I have lived in. That one plastic tub has such strong emotions attached to it. I opened up books yesterday that I had not looked at in years. I gasped as I saw how young, naive, and eager I was on so many levels. I left my parents for months at a time- often times not even knowing how to recognize the face at the other side of the customs line. I closed my little tub with only one revelation. I have the best parents in the world. Why? Because they loved me enough to let me go. To let me find myself, to let me explore, and to follow God's voice in my life. I only hope that in about 10 years I have the courage to let my two little precious ones do the same.

What happens when you have kids? You go into labor for approximately 24 hours and give birth to a little 6 or 7 pound bundle that marches around with all of your heart.

We let go daily and pray that we have impacted them enough to be men and women that God has called them to be.

Bye Bloggy Buddies- It's good to be home.

Let it rain...

So today there are flash flood warnings all across Arkansas. I woke up and opened up every blind in the house to let the cloudy light in. I prayed that the LORD today would open up my mind, give me creativity for so many things that need to be done.

I felt such a great freedom today in prayer- a freedom that made me almost giddy. I was ready to face the day. I knew that I had been given just the right amount of strength for what I had to do today.

Yesterday- I had two separate people send me the same scripture- pretty amazing huh? I love when God does cool things like that. I thought it interesting that in the Message it is called a Pilgrim's song. I have told my Mom more than once I would have been a great pilgrim. Traveling and exploring are in my blood.

Psalm 121 (The Message)

Psalm 121
A Pilgrim Song
1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

3-4 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.

Isn't it great to know that GOD guards us? He guards our heart, our minds, our thougths- and just well....us.

Love you bloggy buddies!

You just THOUGHT you knew the answers....

I have been praying lately that the Lord would let me and those around me to see ourselves as He sees us. I then got the greatest email. We think we know the answers....but do we?


A first grade teacher collected old, well known proverbs. She gave each kid in her class the first half of a proverb, and had them come up with the rest:

As you shall make your bed so shall you... mess it up.

Better to be safe than... punch a 5th grader.

Strike while the... bug is close.

It's always darkest before... daylight savings time.

Never underestimate the power of... termites.

You can lead a horse to water but... how?

Don't bite the hand that... looks dirty.

No news is... impossible.

A miss is as good as a... Mr.

You can't teach an old dog new... math.

If you lie down with the dogs, you'll... stink in the morning.

Love all, trust... me.

The pen is mightier than the... pigs.

An idle mind is... the best way to relax.

Where there's smoke, there's... pollution.

Happy the bride who... gets all the presents!

A penny saved is... not much.

Two's company, three's... the Musketeers.

Don't put off tomorrow what... you put on to go to bed.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and... you have to blow your nose.

None are so blind as... Helen Keller.

Children should be seen and not... spanked or grounded.

If at first you don't succeed... get new batteries.

You get out of something what you... see pictured on the box.

When the blind leadeth the blind... get out of the way.

There is no fool like... Aunt Eddie.

Five Little Commands That Can Change Your Day!

SO once again I have been jarred by my daily Bible Reading. I Corinthians 16:14 jumped out of my Bible.....slapped my face...... and then slipped quietly back onto my Bible.

Here is what it reads:

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."

That is a lot of commands in one tiny verse!

1. Watch-

How many times have we forgotten to watch our attitude, the wondering of our mind, the negativity that wants to leap into our hearts? How many times have I failed in being diligent to live fully for Christ daily?

2. Stand Fast in Faith-

This is kind of a pet peeve of mine right now. How have we raised a generation that does not know what it stands for? Obviously the government has figured it out- look who is wanting to talk to our kids. Okay that is a whole other blog. But honestly Mothers- Woman in the mirror included. It is my responsibility to teach the Bible to MY KIDS in MY HOME. Not only that- but on a personal level I have to stand fast in my faith. I know that so many things change- but His Word, and my relationship with him can not!

3. Be Brave-

Wow- that is a hard one. I have struggled with that one this week. I have had some huge situations in both my job and personal life lately. None of which I can share. They sometimes awaken me in the middle of the night. I sometimes cry, sometimes just stare at the ceiling, and hopefully most often get up and pray. I don't want to be brave. I want to lay under my cool cotton sheets and not get up. I want my Mom to step into my room and tell me it will be okay. I want to be six again and the cares of the world are- if I will get to my sixies in jacks on the playground. I can't do that. I have to be brave. I have to be brave for my family, for the MKs that I love, and for the ones that I hope I am some how mentoring in my life. But let's face it- the sheets and calling Mom sure does sound great at 3 AM when you can't sleep.

4. Be Strong-

Again- another tiny yet huge word- Strong. I am not a needy person. John will be the first to tell you this. I remember before we got married we had pre-marriage counseling sessions. My Pastor's wife told me that John needs to be the strong one, the one that could help me, the one that could carry my suitcase. I told her- what if I CAN CARRY IT? I missed the point- true strength is letting others carry the burden with you or for you. It is declaring that I am weak and I need some help.

5. Let all that you do be done with Love-

When as Christians will we get this? I met with a friend of mine this past week. She was telling me about some situations that happened in her church where the leadership had the power to make or break a situation- all by stopping and showing an individual love. In those situations it was a missed opportunity. What happens when love is not shown? There is a questioning of ones value, ones worth, and a recoiling that happens in their spirit. How long does it take to do something in love? The same amount of time it takes to do something without doing it in love. The difference- your heart.

I have asked the Lord over and over in the past two weeks- please God- let my day be led by you- let me show YOUR LOVE to someone, anyone. It happens when we ask for it. It might be letting another person go in front on you at the grocery, not huffing when the waitress gets your order wrong, or as simple as sharing your smile. Your teeth don't have to be perfect- your love can still shine through.

------

I am over whelmed today. My to-do list is longer than my allotted hours. My help others tank is pretty low on fuel, and you can take one look at my hair and know that it has not been my morning. Does that matter? Not at all. HIS GRACE is sufficient. I will stop and live on purpose for him today. I will be refreshed in HIM today. Remember in your weakest moment he celebrates.....because then and only then can he be your strength!

Blogging Math- Did I learn this in the 10th grade?

So In blogging math- 1 comment = 190 views on a post.

Umm was I sleeping during that math class in the 10th grade? Was that when I was daydreaming that I came to school and remembered my locker combination? It must have been.

Speaking of locker's combinations- do you remember yours? When I first got married- before I had kids, moved three times, and started growing wrinkles- I could remember my locker combination. Now I am just glad that I remember to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, start the dishwasher, and lock the doors when I go to bed. We all have priorities- what can I say.

What can I say? A Whole Lot. I can say that I am happy here in Arkansas, but I miss my friends from Charlotte. I can say that while I am passionate about Missionary Kids- not everyone that I encounter is. I can also say that I need to realize this quickly when people are glazing over when I speak about it all of the time.

Glazing over? I miss Krispy Kreme. I need to remember to look up the Krispy Kreme Website tomorrow to see if there is one in the 50 mile radius of my little 22,000 city. I love how when the hot sign is on- you can drive up, pay with your wrinkled dirty money and get a little bit of heaven on earth.

Heaven on earth- that is how I feel when I hear my girls playing together. Neither of them has really made a great friend here. I think half of it is because- well- they have each other. In the past 37 days I have been away 20 of them. I am so thankful that they look out for each other.

Look out for each other? That is what friends do- Which leads me back to you- My friends. I truly THANK GOD for each of you. Sprinkled near and far. On my crazy days you are there. When I am discouraged- I get little notes from you. When I think I have totally dropped the ball- you tell me that it is going to be okay. When I am hyperventilating- you pass me the brown paper bag. When I need an ear- you offer two.

Two- plus Two is four and that is the math that I learned well in second grade I think.

MK Ministries Presents- "I am a Hero"

MK Ministries presents - "I am a Hero"



Written by Cylinda Nickel
Production - Carla Burton
Video pieces- Matt Dugas

My Niece is a blogger!

My Niece Kristen is a blogger!!

Kristen is not only beautiful on the inside and out but extremely talented! She does the layout for the Culture Shock E-Magazine.


Way to go Kristen!

http://www.kwistenbep.blogspot.com/

Love you girl!

You should Thank me Mom....I just saved your life....

SO....I am so behind on all of my Emma-isms for you.

The other day we were at Mom and Dad's Dock and what should happen?

Emma Smacked Me Right in the MIDDLE OF MY HEAD without warning....

I said- what did you do that for?

She looked me square in the eyes and said You Should Thank Me Mom- I just saved your life. A mosquito was biting your head.




Emma still believes that if a mosquito bites you- it sucks your blood out and you die! Thanks Emma- it was another close call :)