Now we are back at Wayne and Ann’s and I am enjoying a lovely rainstorm while sitting in their sunroom and drinking a good cup of coffee.
Family, dancing, music, food, foreign culture, coffee, and rain… Opa!
Opa!
June 29, 2008 at 2:22 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: Greek Fest
Calling for Backup
June 27, 2008 at 9:04 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: encouragement, friends, husband, Kabiye team, NGOs, support
About two years ago, we were making plans to return to Togo. I had come across some material on AIDS in Africa that pricked my heart so I started to read and research the topic. I knew we were planning on moving to Togo at the time, but I wasn’t planning on getting involved in work with AIDS because I felt so unqualified and inadequate for something that important. As I was looking up information, I came across a global health conference that was to be hosted by an NGO called Unite for Sight and I told Mark about it. He encouraged me to register and go, but I didn’t because I thought it was out of my league. Mark looked up the sight and registered for me. What a sweet husband to encourage me, give me a little push, and reject any doubts I had in myself.
When it came time for the conference I was all prepared to go. It took Friday off of work, planned my lessons so that I would be prepared for the substitute and still be able to leave when the bell rang so that I could catch my flight to San Francisco. My friend, Lola, was going to pick me up at my house to take me to the airport. My flight itinerary, rental car papers, and tickets for the conference were all neatly organized (by Mark) in a nifty and convenient little folder, along with a map to the place where I was going to stay.
I left on time, got home, got my suitcase to put in Lola’s car and realized that I had left my nifty, organized folder on my desk at work. There was not enough time to drive out to my work and get to the airport, I didn’t know what to do. I called my friend, Beth Garrison, but she had already left work, too. A few minutes later she called me back saying that she had turned around, was driving back to the school, and would meet me with my folder of papers at a place by the airport, which she did. When she got there and I apologized she just laughed and said, “It’s ok Nicole, you take care of other people and your friends take care of you.” That made me feel so good to know that my friends love and appreciate me even when I’m disorganized and scatterbrained (not that it happens very often – WINK!) In fact, some friends (like Lola) find my flightiness endearing.
The point to this whole story is that we’ve been given a lot of praise and credit since we’ve been back in the States, for the work we are planning to do. People think highly of us and are especially touched by the work with AED and the well drilling project. But I oftentimes feel like I’m getting credit for something that I am just the smallest part of. Sometimes I look at my teammates experience (read this on Becky’s blog) or at what Kevin Fiori and Jenny Schechter are doing and I feel like such a poser (yes, I just used the word poser.) My teammates have been there for much longer and have done so much, everyone at Hope Through Health has affected so much change in Kara, and even the things I do are usually a result of action, encouragement, and support from Mark and my friends. I am so grateful to the company I keep and I thank God for friends who are so servant-hearted.
Revisiting Christian Music
June 27, 2008 at 8:08 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: Christian music
I’m just getting back from a lengthy hiatus from Christian music. Several years ago I listened to it a lot, probably because we had a great Christian radio station (a rare commodity) in Tulsa, and my kids were little and I was wanting to fill them with positive messages without subjecting myself to Raffi every time we climbed into the car. When we moved to Memphis, I didn’t have as much time to keep myself up to date on the new Christian music that I like, and there were no stations that suited my taste (no, I’m not a big fan of K-LOVE,) so I spent more time with my secular favorites and expanding my repertoire of indie bands.
All of this coincided with something else that was going on in my walk with Christ. For the first time in our marriage, we were not working as ministers, and we had the opportunity to live out our spiritual lives as a family rather than as the missionaries, youth minister, etc. This caused me to step back and look at things purely in light of my relationship with Christ and not with the constant thought of “what will our church think?” I have to say that I am really grateful for that freedom and how it functioned to allow me time to re-solidify my convictions and beliefs in Christ. I noticed that when you are constantly keeping yourself aware of what others need and believe and continuously submitting to that, you can lose many opportunities to find your own stance on those subjects.
As far as the opinion that Christians should listen to Christian music exclusively, I don’t buy it. I don’t think that our choices on participation regarding popular Christian culture can be used as an accurate gauge for how we are doing in our spiritual lives. However, I am grateful for the talent God has given so many Christian artists and how their love for and commitment to Christ overflows in their work. I sometimes feel, as I listen to certain artists, that they are so overwhelmed by God’s magnificence that praise erupts from within them and spills out in song. I love to hear God’s truths throughout the day and while I’m going about my business. And I’m so glad that there are young women that my daughters admire and who are actually worthy of their admiration (thank you Bethany Dillon and Rebecca St. James!)
13 years of talking…
June 25, 2008 at 12:55 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: husbands, marriage
When I first started dating my husband, I told one of my friends that I had a date with him and she said that she had been on a date with him once and he was boring. I wonder if she would have told me that if she had known that he would one day be my life partner! It really didn’t bother me though. Mark was not my friend’s type. She ended up marrying the kind of guy who is always trying to entertain others. My courtship with Mark was more low key, and filled with hours of conversations about God, books, art, music, life, philosophy.
it is funny to think that the very thing that drew me to him to begin with is the thing that binds us so closely today. The idea of initial attraction fading and not wanting to be with your spouse anymore is something I can’t relate to. We certainly have had our ups and downs, and marriage is far from simple for sure, but the experiences we’ve shared together have made me a better person and life much sweeter. We have been married for almost twelve years now, and I think it’s really cool that we still enjoy the same things we did when we first met. I love that he listens to me and that he thinks deeply about things. We usually have different perspectives, but I love to hear his ideas and why he thinks the way he does.
So… I don’t know how I ended up posting a gushy message about Mark. I seems like I should have saved this for August 3rd (our anniversary,) but I guess since I’m thinking it now I’ll put it out there.
June 21, 2008 at 12:46 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: family
Our time in STL ended well, especially the great pedicure/girl time with my sister Carrie. Her nail salon is one of the best as it is comparatively well priced and they let us sit in the spa chairs as long as we want. It is an environment perfectly conducive to good catch up conversation between sisters! I also got some good alone time with my favorite mom the day before we left, and went to the community movie night at Lafayette (my home church) Wednesday night. It was such a warm feeling to be there visiting with long time friends and having my daughter, dad, and two of my sisters all together (and I can’t forget my “niece” Gracie). Another highlight of our time in STL was a lot of quality time with my nephew, Ben. He hung out with us for almost all of our time there, and that meant a lot to me. Through all of my high school years I helped take care of him after school and during summers, we were very close. I have missed having time with him and Jeremy, and I’m proud of how he is trying so hard to recover from some hardships he has faced for several years now. I am grateful that the love God places within the hearts of family maintains a light that is not dimmed by time and space.
We are in Indiana visiting Mark’s family now. It is always very laid back and relaxing being here and I slept until 10:30 yesterday morning! Not something I’d want to do daily but it is truly a sign that I am in relaxation mode. I will try not to shirk all responsibility, and I should be getting around to some emails that I have been planning to write soon. I hope all of our family and friends are doing well and I’d love to hear from you!
Growing Up In Church
June 19, 2008 at 5:56 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: church, St. Louis
Lafayette Church of Christ has been a part of my life for 25 years now, and I can honestly say that I truly love the people there as a part of my extended family. Every time I go back for a visit I feel like I coming home, and there are so many people I love and appreciate there.
I remember fourth grade Bible classes, Paul Wert was my teacher and I got a High Achiever Award for learning all of my memory verses. I also remember going Putt Putt and to Pantera’s Pizza at the end of the year with that class.
I remember many, many youth group summer trips. Marquette, MI; Chicago, IL; and Wilderness Trek. Trudy Schmidlap made sure we knew the lessons we were teaching for VBS like the back of our hands, and meeting her rigorous standards was good preparation for advanced college courses!
I remember when Allen Clute was our summer intern, and going to Soul Lift, going to TABS and Sunday night devos. I remember lock-ins and Soul Lift.
I remember so many wonderful Bible teachers like Ann Nichols, Marilyn Campbell, Debbie Webb, Lisa Gershenson, and the time that my mom was teaching our High School girls class and she left the room because we were being so talkative and obnoxious and Jennifer Zins felt horrible about it.
I remember my wedding shower that was at Deb Wright’s house, my wedding which was at the church, and the shower they threw for Maddie’s birth which was in the same room where I had my wedding reception.
I remember living here after Maddie was born and how her little legs dangled down from the Cradle Roll table, how I used to go to lunch with the LCP crew, and that Linda Coffee gave my girls those beautiful flannel graph books and Nancy Mitchell gave them sweet books, too.
I remember spending Sunday afternoons at Logan Street communing with our brothers and sisters there and witnessing Nathaniel Cobb’s service to that community.
I remember…
… how Cheryl Aston encouraged me after my first miscarriage
… how our home group collected money to buy us an air conditioner for our bedroom
… how Steve and Dixie Baker and Margaret and Randy Deaton took us into their homes at a very crazy, hectic, and disorganized time in our lives,
… how Evelyn and Dale Lundy took us in during another crazy time in our lives
… how the preschool helped us with our girls when we first came back from Africa
… how we lived in the church house when we first came back and how much I loved sitting in front of that huge picture window
… how someone sent us a book of arts and crafts projects, plus all the supplies we would need to do them
… how the Hawleys and the Bakers hosted a Marriage Enrichment retreat for our entire team
… how Orville and Nita Boyher hosted the babies of our entire team during the Marriage Enrichment retreat
… how church members volunteered to care for all of the babies for our entire team for the Marriage Enrichment retreat
I could go on and on (as I already have,) but I will stop and say that I am thankful for my family at Lafayette, and I am encouraged to see the things they are doing to reach out to the community and to serve our Lord.
There were never such devoted…
June 19, 2008 at 4:45 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: moving, sisters
As the child of an Air Force officer, the wife of a minister, and a missionary, moving from one place to another is second nature to me. The hardest part of leaving a place is leaving the people we meet and get to know and come to love. As daily life unrolls little things bring up memories of friends I have had in years past, and I always feel a little wistful because I cannot adequately express to people how much I appreciate them, how they’ve affected my life, and how grateful I am that I’ve been able to partake in how God has expressed His artistry through their existence. I feel this way about close friends, of course, but I even think about people that I have known more casually. Anyway, I’ve decided that I might start a series of blog posts about people that I am grateful to have known as an effort to outpour my thanks to God for the rich relationships he’s given me.
As we finish up our initial time in St. Louis, I am thinking of my family. I grew up with three older sisters in a house that reflects all the things that typify a predominantly female environment. My sister Julie is one of the most entertaining people I know. Almost anything she says, whether it’s a story of something that has happened, her opinion on something, whether happy or sad, it is amusing. She makes my girls feel like little princesses and spoils them endlessly with time, treats, gifts, and love. I love that my girls know that they have family who love them so much and will always cheer them on. My sister Paula is passionate, exuberant, and a ton of fun. She would challenge me to hop down the grocery aisle on one leg (and I don’t mean when we were kids, it was last weekend,) and do tricks in the pool or on the trampoline with me. She still likes to do my hair and make-up. Paula has never met a stranger and can relate to anyone regardless of age, nationality, socioeconomic status, education level, or race. She genuinely loves people and it shows. My sister Carrie is supportive, sweet and sincere. She loves her family and friends earnestly and is always thinking of their well-being. She listens to me talk about what we are doing in Africa and asks questions. She encourages me about my faith, my parenting, and my marriage. She thinks about the things that are important to Mark and me and she cares about them, and she shares about what’s going on in her life and in her walk with God. My sisters aren’t perfect and we all make mistakes or poor decisions sometimes, but I can honestly see such wonderful and beautiful things in each of them. I love them, enjoy them, admire them, and I am thankful for them.
My family is a little crazy sometimes, and our lives and interactions can be pretty dramatic, but I am so grateful for the love and devotion that underlies and supersedes everything else that goes on. In fact, sometimes it is the drama that lets you know that you really are a close family. If we can stick together through all that we have, I guess we’ll stick through anything. It has been great to laugh and talk with my sisters for the last couple of days and I am already looking forward to seeing them again.
Grains of Sand
June 17, 2008 at 10:55 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: faith, God, prayer, refinement
I want to lift up a praise and thanksgiving to God for the tiny, almost imperceptible discomforts he puts in our spirits that lead us back to His truth. Do you know what I’m talking about?
I have had a feeling of not being completely at peace in certain areas of my life lately. In fact, it has been there for awhile, but when I would stop to reflect on things, everything looked all right so I just assumed that they were.
That feeling has continued, and as I was praying this morning, I understood that I have let an untruth into my heart and have been nurturing it there for quite some time now. It’s not the kind of untruth that looks bad, in fact it seems quite benign and very acceptable in our culture. However, I can’t deny it leads me to inevitably rely on myself and things of this world for fulfillment instead of looking to God.
I am grateful for the little gains of sand that God allows in our shells. The tiny things that cause irritations and that can’t be ignored. Those things let us know that something is not right and refuse to let us shrug off the restlessness we feel in our spirits. That discomfort insists that we deal with those intruders and keep them from becoming an acceptable part of our lives.
Frenetic Activity
June 17, 2008 at 3:37 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: City Museum, friends, St. Louis
Not surprisingly, we have been very busy since we have been in the States, so now my excuse for not posting has less to do with internet not being available and more to do with time not being available.
We got into the States and went to see our teammates, Matt and Grace Hangen. We ate hamburgers and greatly enjoyed the hospitality of Grace’s parents. We also all woke up at about three or four in the morning so we sat as a family and watched The Gods Must be Crazy. What a perfect movie for re-entry! The next morning we were fed a huge breakfast (including bacon- yum!) and took off for Shreveport to visit the Moore family.
In Shreveport we got to spend time with our beloved friend and mentor, Tom Moore. His daughter Holly, who graduated from culinary school in New York made us an incredible dinner and the whole family treated our girls like royalty.
Wednesday we travelled from Shreveport to Memphis. Our time in Memphis felt like a celebratory reunion with all of the friends we have missed so much and like we’d never left them all at the same time. We stayed with Ryan and Beth Richardson and Michal had a joyful reunion with Katie. We spent an afternoon/evening at Rhodes College pool reuniting with our friends from Midtown and then ate at Dino’s, a neighborhood restaurant, together. We were only there for four days, which wasn’t near long enough to see all of the people that we love so much. I am certainly grateful that we will be back in Memphis in August.
Sunday Ryan and Melissa Head (our teammates) drove us to Sikeston, MO to meet up with my family so we could go to St. Louis. We have not a vehicle since we’ve been here and we needed a big vehicle to transport us and all of our stuff. Mark started to ask Matt and Diana Wisdom if we could borrow their van and allow Ryan and Melissa to drive it back, and Matt was nodding his head “yes” before Mark could even get the question out of his mouth. Our friends are so good to us.
Our time in St. Louis has been filled with family, friends, trampoline jumping, coffee on the porch, a little shopping, grilling out, and eating at Mi Lupita. I’ve had time with each of my sisters and have gotten to see my cousin, his wife, and their twin baby girls. Some friends of ours who lived in Memphis but moved to Kansas City came to visit us, and Maddie had a joyful reunion with her friend Emma. Beth, Chris, and Emma came and met Mark, the girls, my sister Paula, my nephew Christian, and me at the City Museum. I have said it before but I have to reiterate that it is absolutely the coolest place for kids that I have ever been. Later that night, after the kids were in bed, Mark and I agreed that we should have kept on our bracelets so we could go back and play some more (it’s open until 1 a.m.) Yesterday we made our requisite trips to eat Imo’s Pizza and Ted Drewe’s frozen custard.
