Fearless by Max Lucado

Fear is something that grips everyone at some point in their life, even those with the greatest of faith fall victim to fear. Fear is so present everywhere in the world right now. Diseases, the economy, job stability, you name it people are fearing it.

Max Lucado uses scripture to show us how God is present with us at all times and that with him we can overcome our fears. Lucado is a fountain of wisdom that over flows in each of his books. He guides Christians through many situations and with God’s guidance helps people get a peace that passes understanding! God has used Lucado in such a way that only God can.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is not just for those that are experiencing fear; it is also for those that may face fear in the future or even for those that have overcome past fears. God’s peace flows through this book to help anyone overcome the control that fear can have on their life. This book shows you the way to live each day without fear.

She Still Calls Me Daddy Book Review

Recently I read She Still Calls Me Daddy. It was a wonderful book that opened my eyes to the changes that happen to a father and daughter once the daughter gets married. That time in a woman's life is so exciting and there are so many changes that how it affects others may not be as apparent as they should be.

Having been a woman married in the last 7 years, I never thought about how my father would have felt the day that I got married. I just thought that everyone would be happy for me because I found the man that would be the half that makes me whole.

Reading this book showed me that my father, through his smile was mourning the lose of his relationship with me. Although, he would still be in my life it would be different.

I would highly recommended this book to fathers, and daughters alike. Anyone would benefit from the wisdom shown in this book.

Catching Up!

So as most of you know I have been laid off now since January 30, 2009. It has been awhile since I have blogged as I usually blogged while at work. Yup, there was that much free time at work at the end, that I need to find things to do.

Well life has been busy here at home. I kicked back most of February and enjoyed being home with Jason and Jacoba. Talk about lazy days! It was nice, but not much got done around the house. Now we are working ourselves into a regular routine and things seem to be coming back to some order.

In February, Emily and I started to take cake decorating classes. We have already completed 2 of 4 classes. Tomorrow we start class 3 which covers fondant and tiered cakes. I have decided that if I can't find a job I might as well develop another skill and if I am lucky at the end of this I might have a new profession. I love to back and cake decorating is fun, so I am praying lots about the possibility of opening my own business. Nichole's Sweet Endings! Custom Cakes and Confections. We shall see what the Lord's plan in all of this is! So if anyone needs cakes, just let me know! Since I am so new to biz I am way cheaper than most places! lol

So now it is the first week of April and there is snow on the ground! Yuck. Jason is currently repainting our room, which will hopefully be done Wednesday, so we can move back into our room. We are getting the house ready for Chelsea's birthday party on Saturday. Today I used some of my new acquired skills and made flowers for her cake which I will bake later in the week. The flowers need time to harder or they will fall apart as I try to put them on. Chelsea will be 13 this Saturday! Wow how time flies. She was 5 when I meet her and now she is going to be a teenager! Its just amazing!

Hmmm, I think that is all the major catching up. Of course we are working hard with the kids of kids' choir and junior praise to get ready for the spring musical. The kids are doing a great job and are just as excited as we are for the show! Adults and kids alike will love this show! Great music and a great message! What can get better than that! Oh yeah, we got Jacoba into Taylor Exemplar Academy, so our school worries have been taken care of, well for at least the next 9 years. We will have to think about high school when the time comes. She is excited for school, but was not happy with the shots she had to have last week! Luckily she does not have to have anymore until she is 11.

I think that is it. That is the last 2 months in a nutshell!

UPDATE to Random

Yup, it was a strange cake party to say the least. Everyone ask the other lady what her plans for her special day were and how old she was going to be. They actually went the opposite direction than I was thinking. They ignored me. No one asked about my day or how old I am going to be. I have to say that I was thankful. I really don't like being the center of attention and this time I just got to sit back and eat my cake and just enjoy the day.

I have to say that I made everyone sad though. I packed up my pictures from my desk and have officially emptied my desk of any personal affects. I also made my office manager sad because I asked her if I need to clear out any supplies that are currently in my desk or if I should leave them for future use. She looked very sad and said that I can leave them.

Thursday and Friday were interesting days. Both days task came up for the other secretaries that I usually do. Each time, they had to ask me how to do them. I finally came to the conclusion that the really is only one reason that I was let go verses one of the other ladies. My age. I could step into either of their jobs and do it without a problem, but there are many task that I do that I have to train them to do. I just hope that after next week that I don't start getting phone calls from them asking me how to do things. LOL, should I say my contract fee is way more expensive than had they kept me! Nah, I am looking forward to being home with Jacoba and Jason. His new schedule starts the first week of February and that meant that we were going to see each other only on the weekends, so it is totally a blessing to be home. God will show us the way to keep this going. Sacrifices will be made, but this is a gift to me and my family that we have wanted, but were convinced we could not do. Money is such a vicious evil that makes us think that we cannot do so many things. If God wants me to stay home, he will show us the way.

I just feel so blessed to have this chance and time to be home! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!

Random

So it is 3:20 on Friday, January 23rd and we are about to have a "cake party" here at my soon to be ex-office. We have cake parties for people's birthday. I always share my "cake party" with a co-worker Lorraine because our birthdays are 6 days apart. Today is our cake party. I have a feeling it will also be a little going away party as well since next week my office manager will be on vacation and will not be able to plan anything. Can I say I am dreading this event? I hate being the center of attention and I can already figure that I will be the focus of conversation. I know for some of you that may seem strange. Yes, I love to sing and I love being on stage worshiping my Heavenly Father! It is such an awesome feeling, but to me, the focus should not be on me and my voice, but on worshiping God! Maybe that is why it is different for me! Anyways, here I go, off to the cake party! I guess I will have to give an update once the party is over!

Feeling Led!

I just thought I would share that right now in this "trial" of my life, I feel more led by God than every before. Yes, I am looking for a job, even though there really are no jobs to be had. At the same time, I feel led to stay home for a while with Jacoba. Get her prepped for Kindergarten, but mainly just so I can spend some quality time with her. It sure feels like God is helping me to make the choice of being home and taking care of my family.

I feel blessed to have the opportunity to have some time home with my family and I have to say that God knows me so well. My end day has been moved forward to January 30th rather than February 27th. It has been a struggle each day going to work. Knowing that I am no longer employed here, makes it hard to focus on the training of another person to do my job. I just find it ironic that I can do all the jobs in the office and I am being let go, yet I am the only one that knows how to do my job, so I have to train people to take over my work so that they can let me go. Makes me think a little age discrimination is going on, but I have to say as much as it irritates me to train someone to take over my job, I am truly blessed by my heavenly father to have the time with family. The only reason I say the whole age thing is that I am 28, 29 on the 31st of this month and I am 20 years younger and 30 years younger than the other secretaries. I guess they think it will be easier for me to get job than either of them. At the same time, I have a degree, which neither of them do and I have a lot more skills when it comes to technology. I guess the thought that I am a little more marketable should boast my ego, but every day when I look at jobs on careerbuilder and monster.com and all the sites, my brain comes back to what is best for my family and right now, there just doesn't seem to be anything better than me right at home taking care of my family.

Thank you Lord for this blessed time with my family! I hope to learn and grow and be just what you want me to be! I look forward to having this time and growing in you as well as with my family!

Cold Day!

I have to laugh that the kids have school off today! In the past Jason and I have discussed with Chelsea how we had days off from school because it was too cold! She laughed and said there is no way schools would close for the cold now. Now mind you, part of the response is because her mother thought that and the other part is because other kids have said it would never happen. So here I sit laughing, because sure enough there is a "cold day." Just because it has not happened yet, does not mean it won't happen! Over the last 7 or so years, there have not been any days quite this cold to warrant a "cold day." I promise, I will be nice and not do the I told ya so! Can you imagine how painful it must have been for my mom giving birth to me this big, because some days I think Chelsea thinks I was born yesterday! I guess someday when I am old and grey, she will see that I have a brain!

Concentration!

I have to admit that I am having a hard time concentrating here at work today and I am sure it will be that way as long as I am still here. I want to be looking for a job, so I have been spending most of my time looking through monster, careerbuilder, michigan works and other sites seeing whats out there. Really there is not a whole lot since Michigan's economy is in the dumps. On top of that I am spending a lot of time in prayer. I pray that I find a job, but I also pray for the firm that I currently work for, these hard times are really affecting the office and I just hope that they can stay the course.

My distractions also come in waves of the other secretaries pity. I don't want pity. God has a plan for me and I am not scared. I know that they feel bad because I am leaving and they still have jobs, but it is not there fault and it is not something they can control.

Eventually I will find the job that God wants me in and it will fit like a glove. Until that time, I will be distracted and just go through the motions of my limited days here at NTA.

Prayer Request

As some of you may already know, on Tuesday I was informed that my office needs to let me go because of the bad economy. I would greatly appreciate all the prayer I can get. I need guidance to find the job that will help pay bills, but will allow me to be a greater presence in my family.

I was a little surprised with myself on Tuesday. I was not shocked when my office manager said they needed to let me go. I have until February 27th to find a new job or start collecting unemployment. If that is what it comes to, I will cherish the time home with my husband and daughter. I was also shocked at how calm I felt. God truly has his hands on me right now. I know that in the end everything will work out and that there is no reason to get all stressed right now. What an awesome God I serve that he can help me in such an odd, scary situation! God is Good ALL the time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

We had a great New Year's Eve. We traveled across state to visit with my mom and step-dad. Of course, we ate lots and just enjoyed each other's company. We did not stay up too terrible late, which was a bummer to the kids, but it was still a good time. Over the last week, we played lots of games and definitely ate our fill and than some.

Saturday we attend my step-dad's family Christmas party. The kids love this event because Aunt Barb spoils the kids rotten! It kid gets a bag full of goodies. Each bag always has at least one clothing item and at least one book, but there are always plenty of toys as well! For the adults, it is just a good time together. We don't get to see each other, but twice a year because of the distance. Mom and Kevin see them a little more frequently, but they still enjoy the fellowship. It is always a blessing spending time with family that shares your faith. Unfortunately some of our other family events are not as enjoyable because those events have many non-Christians. Its sad when your own family looks down on you because they don't understand your faith. or they assume you are judging them because they don't share your faith.

Sunday we came home. It was nice to be home and able to relax a little bit before we started the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The time off from work and visiting with family was such a blessing. It left us refreshed and ready to start the New Year!