I have no shame in saying that I am NOT a supporter of Barack Obama. I think he is a phony and that he has the capabilities of destroying our nation. I think the article below says a lot!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_el_pr/rel_dobson_obama
June 24, 2008
The Big 3-0
Today is officially The Big 3-0!!! You know, I was dreading it for a while.... but I woke up excited this morning! I think it's been a progressive decision to be excited. Today, I am officially a grown up! I love that I'm 30! Life is only going to get better from here. There is a diploma to get, a husband to find, a house to build, and lots of little rugrats to be born. There are lifetime acheivements to be made and a world to be changed!!! Watch out world.... HERE I COME!!!
June 23, 2008
I love being loved!
My family and my friends are absolutely amazing!!! They threw me a surprise 30th birthday party yesterday that just blew my mind. I can honestly say that I've never been so surprised in my life! Anyone who knows me knows that it's pretty much impossible to surprise me! I am so curious that I figure things out when I'm not even trying to. I had NO idea what I was in for yesterday! A friend of mine put it best when she said, "you guys did a great job! You know you did well when Nicole can't find words to speak!" LOL!
It's so hard to even begin to explain how loved I feel right now. It's this overwhelming feeling. I dont't even know how to explain it! I must admit I had some reservations about turning 30 tomorrow but those are ALL GONE now!! LOL! I'm really beginning to understand that it only get's better from here. There are so many things to accomplish in the next 10 years of my life.
Thank you SO much to everyone who made this happen. I feel so incredibly special! I'm not sure that I could ever do anything in return for any one of you to show you my appreciation! Each one of you really touched my heart! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
It's so hard to even begin to explain how loved I feel right now. It's this overwhelming feeling. I dont't even know how to explain it! I must admit I had some reservations about turning 30 tomorrow but those are ALL GONE now!! LOL! I'm really beginning to understand that it only get's better from here. There are so many things to accomplish in the next 10 years of my life.
Thank you SO much to everyone who made this happen. I feel so incredibly special! I'm not sure that I could ever do anything in return for any one of you to show you my appreciation! Each one of you really touched my heart! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!
June 19, 2008
Time goes by....
Man, it feels like it's just been a few years since I graduated high school and was off to explore the "real world". The reality is it's been almost 12 years since that day!!! I can't believe that 30 is staring me in the face.
Who knew that a number could present such mixed emotions. On one hand, there are so many things that I've not accomplished yet and I'm about to put 30 years behind me. On the other hand, it feels like life is just beginning! This still so much to see and do! I set out at 20 years old thinking I knew how life was going to go and what I was going to do but I only found out that God had other plans! He took me way out of my comfort zone to a city in the middle of nowhere to teach me social skills and to make some lifelong friends. Then i was able to realize my love of the outdoors while I worked at a camp and an outdoor school. After that, I was able to find a job that I loved (b/c who doesn't love coffee!) and use those skills as a volunteer at church. I was able to gain invaulable leadership skills and put them into practice under a skillfully guided hand! I have been able to heal old wounds with family and reconcile relationships that seemed lost for good. I lived in another nation on the other side of the world and deepened my relationship with God. There, i learned my purpose in life and found the desire to see it to fruition.
Man, the last 10 years of my life have been full of unexpected surprises, disappointments, successes and failures. It's been a ride I never could have planned for! I must say, I've loved every thing about the last 10 years. Granted there are moments I would NOT want to live over again! LOL! I know that the next decade is not in my hands (although some days I think it should be) and that whatever God has in store for me will be good! I can't wait to see what it holds!!!
Who knew that a number could present such mixed emotions. On one hand, there are so many things that I've not accomplished yet and I'm about to put 30 years behind me. On the other hand, it feels like life is just beginning! This still so much to see and do! I set out at 20 years old thinking I knew how life was going to go and what I was going to do but I only found out that God had other plans! He took me way out of my comfort zone to a city in the middle of nowhere to teach me social skills and to make some lifelong friends. Then i was able to realize my love of the outdoors while I worked at a camp and an outdoor school. After that, I was able to find a job that I loved (b/c who doesn't love coffee!) and use those skills as a volunteer at church. I was able to gain invaulable leadership skills and put them into practice under a skillfully guided hand! I have been able to heal old wounds with family and reconcile relationships that seemed lost for good. I lived in another nation on the other side of the world and deepened my relationship with God. There, i learned my purpose in life and found the desire to see it to fruition.
Man, the last 10 years of my life have been full of unexpected surprises, disappointments, successes and failures. It's been a ride I never could have planned for! I must say, I've loved every thing about the last 10 years. Granted there are moments I would NOT want to live over again! LOL! I know that the next decade is not in my hands (although some days I think it should be) and that whatever God has in store for me will be good! I can't wait to see what it holds!!!
June 12, 2008
The difference between men and women
Think about this..... When men do something (starting when they are little boys) it's all about comptetition. They need to be the best, the top dog. When women do something it's all about cooperation. They need to make sure no one gets their feelings hurt and everyone feels included. Interesting isn't it???
June 11, 2008
Raising Children
You know, being the oldest of four kids and growing up around kids of all ages, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what it was going to take to be a parent. I'm starting to figure out that the more I think I know..... I DON'T KNOW JACK! LOL! I'm just full of a lot of opinions that come from what I've seen and heard. There is so much to learn about the way that a child functions, reacts, thinks, behaves... and the list goes on! We've been studying Child Psychology in class for the last two days and there are so many things that you don't think about.
For example let's take the concept of spanking. (so controversial, I know!) There are so many simple ideas on this subject but "in the heat of the moment" they never cross your mind. (Disclaimer: I am in no way against spanking your children when needed.) If you spank your child everytime you go into the pantry to find that they have eaten all of the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms cereal box and then turn around and spank your child for running into the street where there is oncoming traffic, what have you taught them? Essentially..... nothing. Obviously eating all the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms box is no where near as life threatening as running into oncoming traffic! The child has to be able to distinguish between the different levels of punishment.
I, in no way, think that it could be "easy" to be a parent nor do I think that parents should be expected to be perfect. What I do think is that parents need to spend more time investing in their children. They need to find creative punishments that are effective with their child on their childs level of understanding. Every child has a different and unique way of learning, even when they are the same age. They are all different. (thank god!) If parents would take the time to get to know what makes their children tick and think ahead about discipline I think they would find a lot of relief in their own creativity!
For example let's take the concept of spanking. (so controversial, I know!) There are so many simple ideas on this subject but "in the heat of the moment" they never cross your mind. (Disclaimer: I am in no way against spanking your children when needed.) If you spank your child everytime you go into the pantry to find that they have eaten all of the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms cereal box and then turn around and spank your child for running into the street where there is oncoming traffic, what have you taught them? Essentially..... nothing. Obviously eating all the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms box is no where near as life threatening as running into oncoming traffic! The child has to be able to distinguish between the different levels of punishment.
I, in no way, think that it could be "easy" to be a parent nor do I think that parents should be expected to be perfect. What I do think is that parents need to spend more time investing in their children. They need to find creative punishments that are effective with their child on their childs level of understanding. Every child has a different and unique way of learning, even when they are the same age. They are all different. (thank god!) If parents would take the time to get to know what makes their children tick and think ahead about discipline I think they would find a lot of relief in their own creativity!
June 10, 2008
Let the blogging begin....
Well, here it goes. The blogging has begun. It seems that this is the way to stay in touch without having to spend 3,000+ minutes on the phone everymonth sooooo..... I'm going to attempt to blog on a regular basis. Here is the first one so we'll see where it goes from here!
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