Annie's Gotcha Glory Story: the Homecoming

And now I can tell the FULL story. 

On Jan. 21, 2014, I received a phone call from our adoption agency, Homes with Hope. It was the call and I was at the dry cleaners.

"We've finished your home study... And we have your baby girl." 

My mind formed a thought-slushie and my eyes formed tear juice and I pulled around back and called Johnicles to tell him we had a baby! 

Our agency at the time was not able to provide many details, but God knew them all. 

Would you allow me to time travel a bit? 

My husband and I are very open with our story in hopes you will see God's marvelous workmanship throughout it. That we can only bring glory is our aim. 

John did not want to adopt in the beginning. He's such a great father, husband, everything. You see at the time I began the adopt talk I was blind in one eye and going blind in the other soon. So all he could "see" was that I could not. He could not fathom it and I do not blame him. I'm so thankful for his patience with me. 

10 eye surgeries later (Yeah, I brag on God about it all the time) and I'm seeing, praise! And I'm still talking adoption. But the idea was not God's yet in John's mind. So more and more waiting.... 

And I'd nag. 

Get convicted. Pray. And then one day God pacified my heart, "You are not waiting on him, you are waiting on me." 

It was hard. And I will say I lost hope. 

Leelah would bring up wanting a sister. I gave that to God and told her to pray. I tried to not ever sic her on dad. 

In the spring of 2013, I felt a very strong urge to pray on my knees for a baby. But I felt wrong because John was still not on board the adoption train. I sought wise counsel and a dear, dear friend told me, "Mary knew about her baby before Joseph did..." Or something to that sort. And so I prayed hard. Put that in your thought bucket for later please. 

Then John's heart began to shift in the summer of 2013. And it was a miracle. He said yes! 

We began training and by November had completed the entire process. The home study took a month to be completed. Then Jan. 21. On that day she was 2 months old.

We were told we could see our baby first on the phone of our caseworker. So we met her at McD's the next day. We hadn't confirmed yet only because we were praying and well it's a very huge decision. I knew in my heart that she was ours however and loved her already and had for forever. 

We saw her pic and to be honest could not see much as she was very swaddled. We saw black hair and big cheeks. YES. 

John being the one to carefully examine it all wanted to sleep on it. You've got to love that this man will not commit to anything until he is absolutely sure. 

Mentally exhausted, I was so very tired of waiting at this point. I pray-begged to God for John's yes. And on the way home that night we saw a shooting star. John said yes again and we then began to wait until she came home. 

We then told Leelah after we had both agreed over lunch that God was going to give her a sister. That she was not yet our forever baby, but we were going to love her as though she is. We carefully explained fostering to adopt to a then 7 yr old and prayed for God to do the rest in her little mind. She was very pensive and very excited all at once. We then went to go to Build-a-Bear so that she could make her little sister a bear. We are so thankful for the counsel our agency gave us in how to talk to our bio daughter, it was such a sweet time. 

Then we got another call that we could see her in person! Sort of like when you've had a c-section (I guess) and then you can see the baby. We had prayed that she was in a loving foster home and she was! Prayer answered indeed! So we took Leelah out of school- OHYESWEDIDDON'TYOUEVENGOTHERE- and we all went to where else? Chick-fil-A where miracles happen and chicken is holy. 

I held her in my arms and she fit perfectly. Literally, figuratively, she was a Nichols. We all held her with her foster mom and foster sisters in tow. If the Chick-fil-A staff only knew the Kingdom work that was being done. I was not allowed to take pics and that was hard. But my mind's eye focused so much on her precious cheeks, her nugget feet and her blue eyes. That's right, her eyes are blue, just like John. Nice details God. 

Then we had to say goodbye. I had bought her diapers, outfits, everything she needed and we had to let her go until the cps and attorneys agreed for her to switch to us. Her at the time foster parents were looking for boys. :) 

The next wait was so hard and the stress was visible on my face as a planet appeared on my lip. I just could not take not having her home with me. Not being able to tell the world we had a baby and to pray for her life and it was so incomplete. Moms need their birdies in their nest! Before we get to her homecoming, please know I don't mean to make such a huge deal out of this but it is a HUGE deal. 

This child was saved. We are forever grateful for her bio mom for choosing life. That being said, her bio mom was in a VERY unsafe place. It is amazing she is still alive. In the spring when I was praying, God was knitting her together in her bio mom's unsafe, dangerous womb with the care of the most masterful, artistic, technical seamstress My God performed a miracle and shielded my baby from the danger, the evil that was bombarding her. There is no scientific reason that my baby did not suffer severe defects other than God's Almighty Hands were holding her and protecting her. And He was doing this in Spring of 2013. Exactly when I was told by Him to pray for her. 

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

People need to understand. Adoption through CPS and period is not something you go lightly into. Especially fostering to adopt. You want to see the Spiritual battle between good and evil? There is no better way than to adopt. 

On March 5, 2014 our darling Annie McKee Nichols came home. She was brought to our door by 2 mighty, mighty warriors for the Lord and in my eyes, Angels- our agency caseworkers. They carried all that belonged to her. A bag, a car seat, a tummy mat and a few changes of clothes. That was it. And most of that was from her foster parents. But God made a way. He is all that she needed and He gave us this blessing:

Then we loaded her up in the car and we went to go pick up Sissy from school. 

I have to end this part now, because said baby needs to get up from her nap, but I have to share this. When I just knew we should adopt I rested on this verse- Isaiah 41:20. Please check this amazingness out--- see the date I wrote next to the verse- 3/5/12 and then see when she came home--- 3/5/14. 

Amen. 

That Thursday: Hoping in Grief.

Tomorrow will be six years since I've seen my dad on earth.

With this blog, I try but I know I fail ("We all stumble...") to purpose my posts for "building others up" a la 1 Thess. 5:11.

 You know what's interesting? I get a lot of hits on a post I wrote several years ago: Teaching Kids about Heaven.

It's not me that is doing the teaching, it's the Bible. And honestly we Christians are being bullied on this certainty. There is major fear concerning this topic, naturally, the topic of death, passing on, etc. And I completely understand it.

But I also understand that in that fear and bullying, the ultimate bully, the devil wins. And I do not mean that in a facetious tone. I fully believe that the devil is real. Funny that as I was typing this sentence I got this weird message on Blogger: "An error occurred while trying to save or publish your post. Please try again." Oh, I will keep trying.

Because you need to know, without doubt, and your kids need to know that "death has lost its sting."
⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a]

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”^[b]

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
1 Cor. 15:54-56
  
As Christians, we have victory through Jesus Christ over death. 

 Yesterday while we were driving Leelah began to divulge her confusion regarding Tornadoes. Leelah has bouts of anxiety about certain issues: flu shots (she's already worried for a 3 sec. shot in Sept.), random things, and tornadoes.  We all have things we have to work on for our missions here on Earth, this is just one of hers and it's been one of mine as well. 

She asked why God would allow horrible things like Tornadoes to happen. She just couldn't wrap her head around it. 

A dear friend gave me a wonderful, wonderful devotional about 2 weeks after my father graduated to Heaven. The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie.

Up until this moment, I was in my late 20's I had not watched very many sad movies and I had only been to one funeral. It was natural for me to omit deeply sad events in my life. To me, I was protecting myself, but ultimately I was stunting my growth in learning to process grief. Process. Not get over. You do not get over grief. 

Anyone that tells you that is not a friend who has experienced or grown through trials of grief. Their intentions may be the kindest. And that is another thing, for those grieving, get ready to be a Grace giver. People will not understand your pain, how can they? They will forget. They will ask too much or too little and you will have to cut them some slack. You might want to prayerfully ask for help with that. I sure had to.

In the book there is a particular devotional (that's just a verse or thought usually written in a devotional book designed to get your mind focused on God and it gives you a little nugget of knowledge) that talks about why bad things happen to good people. This resource was huge for me in my grief.

So I quickly prayed for God to help me explain to this little one, to build her up, to encourage her that God knows what He is doing even when it seems so horrendous. "ALL things work together for good for those who are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28

We talked about Gigi (my dad) and how he had not known Jesus personally for 60 years. God used the storm of cancer to bring him home to Him. I told her that Gigi could see Jesus when he had cancer in people bringing us meals, people paging his prayer pager, us praying continually for him, people loving on him, random money from kind people (God) showing up, etc. He was surrounded by Jesus. I told her it was the sweetest times even though it was the hardest. Just like the disciples. Joseph. And so many more. 
I think she got it. She told me she did. I can't worry about it. I will just have faith that God will work it out in her heart with the Holy Spirit. 

My mom, dad and I were sitting in Murphy's Deli inside Methodist about 5 days before my dad graduated. We were trying to grab lunch, but none of us could eat. We didn't know at the time that the cancer had returned, it should have been obvious as my dad weighed 88 lbs at that point. 4 months prior he had the cancer on his bone in his hip and had a hip replacement. I don't know why God kept us from knowing it had come back with a vengeance that week. The devil has tried many, many times to beat me up about this. God won't let my heart succumb to this spiritual battle. 

This was the last time we would eat together as a family. 

And my dad looked at us and I now know he was aware of what was happening. I was not. I just wasn't and I don't know why. Forever optimistic I guess. 

We were waiting on a room for him in the hospital because he had a nasty bout of bronchitis he couldn't shake. He looks at us, and asks if he was going to be okay. I assured him he was going to be fine. How tough he was. He started to worry more aloud. He never did that. Finally, I reminded him that he knew Jesus, "Right dad? Remember?" 

"Yeah I know." He said. This is his testimony if you have time. He accepted Jesus one month prior to his passing with the help of my mom and I'm sure, hundreds of friends praying. You are never too late to know Him. 

He had said his last words several days prior/ They were very strained and so precious, "I love you Gilliebob." I used to bob my head while learning to walk as a baby. 

I was at home when my mom called. I was really sick with a stomach bug and had been sleeping at the hospital and was told I needed to go home and rest. I hate that I wasn't there.

 I cried all the tears in my body. John got me off the ground and we called my best friend, Lesly to come and watch our princess. 

I could only cry and say to her, "It's okay." And she with the words she always has said, "No, it's not." It was exactly what I needed to hear. 
  
I have no words about what I saw at the hospital. It was surreal and I just know he was gone even though he was right there. He was with Jesus I just had to keep saying. 

The kind chaplain came and held our hands and told us about perhaps starting a new tradition, like planting a tree. We took that to heart and planted a rose bush in honor of him on the one year mark. 

Because I'm a Christian, hope defines my life. And that's why I will end by telling you that my dad visited me in a dream a few days after May 29, 2008. He was smiling. There was gold light everywhere. He was restored. He told me, "I am okay. I love you." 

It pardoned my heart from the horridness I felt telling him that he was going to be okay. He really was! 
It also helped take away the horrible image I had of the shell of the man who had always been the strongest. He was healed. 

I know God used that as a vision to give my heart peace. It was a miracle. You don't have to believe, I do. 

This past Spring in Lovely Girls Club, I got to talk about Jesus' BFF, Lazarus. And this morning I reread his story again. Highly recommend- John 11. Something I realized today was that it was that event, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (4 days of death in fact) that seemed to be a real turning point in the conversions of many Jews. It spurred even more interest in The Way (Christianity) and it also drew a lot more heat from the Pharisees, the non-believing Jews.

The death of Lazarus was one of the tipping points of Jesus being crucified which was the way we, that believe, could all be saved from sin forever and have that victory over death.

Yet another demonstration of God using bad things for good, the "saving of many lives." Gen. 50:20

Have hope friends.

I'd Like To Order One INCREDIBLE CFA Employee To Go Please.

This is a little story of Customer Service at its finest. 

Today I picked up my catering order from the Katy Mills Chick-fil-A operation and I almost came home with the nicest college-aged-employee ever.
Like almost adopted/Christian-abducted him and became his benefactor for life except I'm not "of wealth."

Y'all.
Go visit him now.
If you are in the vicinity of Texas, you need to leave your sitting position and head on over to the Katy Mills Chick-fil-A and meet Christopher T. He might still be there!
I know his last name because I asked him for it when I was profusely bragging on his awesomeness. I had to know it for when I called the "Operator" who sounded equally as wonderful herself.

It was 10:30ish and the weather, balmy. Wind. I hate you. Breeze, you are okay, but Wind- lame.

I had to pick up a catering order for a lunch- wait- I know this is making me sound important. I'm not, so don't get crazy. Let me just dash those hopes! I do think it was a baller move though.

SO I got Squishy (our darling nugget in her own 5-6month way) in the stroller and there's the aforementioned Wind and I see the Chick-fil-A uniformed Angel briskly walking/running to the door. I almost started to back that stroller up (It's a big, fine stroller...) and then I realized that this boy (can I call him that?? Is that weird? I haven't owned my age yet. I'm 33. Someone tell me is that weird?) was opening BOTH doors simultaneously for me.

I thought, oh surely he was going outside himself and just happened upon this already-tired Wind hating mother- NO. As I said, "Oh thank you! You are a guardian angel!" He goes---- wait for it----
"You're welcome. No, I'm just a Chick-fil-A employee!"

Shut.

Wait.

At this point I'm already mentally writing his letter of recommendation for a GM position to Mr. Cathy himself.  BUT IT GETS BETTER.

He goes on, "Yeah, I saw you coming and thought I'd come help."

Y'ALL. HE LEFT HIS CASHIER AREA AND CAME AND GOT 2 DOORS FOR ME. Saint.

He then proceeded to kindly fill the catering order and not mind me just hanging out while I bottle-fed the Squishy. Another sweet girl-employee asked me if I wanted something to drink. I don't know if she meant for free or for purchase, but whatever totally sweet. I declined.

Baby done eating- so I say casually how I will need help to the car and you know our guy was ALL OVER IT.

He made - are you ready for this- 3 trips to my car and back.
One to get the bags to my car- which he helped load.
Two to get my bag of ice that I kept harping on about. Maybe I was just really glad I finally remembered ice.?? I have issues. Ice-sues.
Three- and this is the best- he asks, "Did you get your sauces? Is it okay if I check for you?" (Me- stunned, "uhhh yeah, sure, you are the best- do you have a mother??") Turns out, I was missing the Chick-fil-A sauce (I now know it has mayo cleverly disguised in it. Nice try Mayo. Well played, but you are still the condiment of the devil...) So the 3rd trip is to get my sauce and bring it to my car.

This kid amidst all the helping tells me he is hoping to go to Texas A&M University. You know, where Jesus went. - Well I jest, I went there and I think it's where the worlds nicest people go. So.... OF COURSE HE IS AN AGGIE. At this point, I'm telling him "Good luck and Gig 'em!" and also calling our lawyer to add him as a beneficiary.

The sweetest.

So I naturally called the store to brag via phone on this "Just a Chick-fil-A employee Saint." I get the "Operator" who I told all about my adventures with Christopher T. the nicest employee in the world. She said she'd not only make sure it gets back to him, but will also tell her whole staff so it can serve as an example! Smart leader!!!

This is how you serve others people. He went above and beyond for this tired Mama. And I am heralding Chick-fil-A for hiring people with integrity and kindness and with a heart committed to excellence!

Thank you Lord for Chick-fil-A!

The Four Nichols Two Cents must be crazy!

Hey guess what? I need to change my blog title to the FOUR Nichols Two Cents! That's right! Our darling squishy has come home to be a part of our family and we love her oh so much!!!! She came home on March 5th and yeah, everything is awesome.

I can't go into details because this is a foster to adopt situation. But what I can say is:
-It's a girl!
-She is under 1 yrs!
-We love her oh so much!
-Her arms and legs look like drumsticks!!

And oh the questions!
People are so funny.
Believe it or not, the number one question we get is:
"Did you adopt from overseas??" We know several knock-your-flip-flops-off families that have and they are great. But hey, we were not called to do that. We know God could provide in a heartbeat financially and whatever need, but He led us to adopt through CPS.

Now, I know what you are thinking not that I believe in mind reading, but you are thinking that I am off my glider with this. Oh sure, you are simultaneously thinking oh wow, so glad she could give a little one who's in a hard place a loving home-
but I COULD NEVER DO THAT.

What that do you mean exactly?

"That" meaning:
- the dealing with CPS-
well we have a fantastic, loving, and highly knowledgeable Christian agency who works with CPS (for free mind you!). And yeah, we do have to have dealings with CPS, but you know what? I've only had positive interactions with them so far. It's not a perfect system of course and there are some changes I would make if asked, but it's what God is using to place our daughter forever with us, we pray. And it's just allows for more chances to meet people and God willing, be used as a witness for Him.
Plus, when God says to take heart for He has conquered the world- I'm pretty sure that included CPS and any other red tape or person or entity I can think of.
- the visitations-
 yeah those are no fun at all. What's a visitation you ask? It's where you take your foster child to meet with their birth family- or whoever is presumed or named to be in some cases...
It stinks like poop outta water (yeah I said it!).
We've only been to 2 so far. There are 2 a month. The Husband goes with. He better! And after last time, we just pray during it. So at least we get to have prayer time together. Also, we look at it as just another piece of the puzzle that we have to do to complete this part of the journey.
- the birth family issue-
We pray for them.
We pray for them to first receive salvation.
For them to see Jesus and repent and find the way.
We pray for them to see Jesus in us.
This is hard, but what else can we do?
- the hearings-
 Everyone said: "It's not like what you see on TV." WRONG. It is. For us, it is. And that's fine, I'm so used to drama and things being all whaaaaaat??? It doesn't bother me. We just get to have that "front lines" feeling and really see God in action. I'm telling you. You having a bad day? Go to a courtroom downtown and watch people's lives being ripped apart or put back together and then thank God for the "Oh this Chick-fil-a line is too long!" grief you have to endure. Not that I'm hating- those lines are too long! 
- the worst fact of all-
We are in complete control of nothing except for the love we readily give this adorable child. That's it. Things change constantly on her case. And yes, she can be taken away from us at the drop of a hat. This has been naturally a truth that has already pre-broke my very sensitive (I don't watch sad movies y'all) heart.
Until God told me this- Leelah the lion-lover, John my bff, and any number of peeps I adore could also be taken away from me in an instant. Yes.
And now my heart is reconciled.
It really helps to go there for me. To actually picture that happening- in a healthy way. I don't want to grieve in advance and cause joy theft here- but just get to that point where I ask myself, "And what would I do next?" Turn to God and let Him be enough.

And we have this precious 7 yr old who thinks way too much. Our wonderful agency told us what to tell her:
"You are going to have a sister! And I know you will be a wonderful big sister to her and show her lots of love. She is going to be your foster sister until she can be your forever sister. You don't need to worry about what that means- mommy and daddy are waiting on what God is going to do about that- all you have to do is give her forever love."
"Okay, I love her already!" She says.

And for now, we hold this piece of Heaven and laugh and play and praise God.

Should He decide His best for her is not with us, we will be so very sad. But like those brave 3 in Daniel said, "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

To me that means, I am gonna praise God no matter what He has planned for her and us in this because I know it is better than anything I can dream up or imagine.

Thank you all for praying for our family.

30 Days of Sight: Day 8

Day 8: Nature's cutest bug.

30 Days of Sight: Day 7

Day 7: Aren't chandies the best? This one was at a hair salon for fancy ladies.

30 Days of Sight: Day 6

Day 6: The sight of my in-loves' backyard. I think it's got a certain Thomas Kinkade-ish quality about it.

30 Days of Sight: Day 5

Day 5: I love to see my huzby rock my world.

30 Days of Sight: Day 4

Day 4: I love to see the King of Beasts bein' all I RULE.

This is Jonathan from the Houston Zoo btw.

30 Days of Sight: Day 3

Day 3: I love seeing my child concentrate on creating.

30 Days of Sight: Day 2

Day 2: Let there be light. Crazy cool light writing light.

30 Days of Sight

I want my life to be a billboard advertising that God is still King of the Miracle Business and to give others hope through my sight.

Since God restored my sight through the hands of talented surgeons 2 years ago and since I'm photographer, I thought it'd be cool to post a pic a day of things I see that I'm so thankful to well, see. I don't want to forget the miracle that has happened and keeps happening- that I have eyes that work! It's the least I can do - to use my gift!

Day 1: That's my dawg.

The Big News

If you are facebook friendly with me then you already know it:

 

We may already or we will have a little girl in the works by way of the precious gift of adoption. 

We have finished all our paperwork, thus making us "paper pregnant." The only thing we are waiting on is the home study, which we've been told is going to be sometime this month. 

God told me while doing dishes back in January that we would have a child before the end of the year. Remember?

And I was all, "Cha, right!" because my husband that I love and I were not on the same page. Which was totally God at work. Then summer happened and the heart change took place after years of answered prayers- I have heard the call to adopt for several years prior to God saying the timeline for us. But I was all blind in one eye and such and gimpy. It didn't stop me from literally dreaming of her!

It's super crazy to think that we will have another little girl before the year ends, but not in God's eyes. So we will see! 

Now, the training is done and we are working with a Godsend of an agency in the Heights in Houston. Funny story, our street's name (we just moved in Sept) it's the same name as the street where our adoption agency is!? !! !! 

Last night we visited a church to hear speakers speak on adoption and it's various forms. I was moved by the speaker from a pro-adoption, pro-life organization here in Katy, TX- Act of Life- she said that Moses is the most famous case of adoption in the Bible and who else is adopted (I thought of Esther) but she said, "Jesus." Whoa! Of course! He was adopted and raised as Joseph's own. Brilliant.

In Believer-vision, we are all adopted as God's sons and daughters. 

So here's the specifics. 

We are working with a Christian agency, known as Homes with Hope. They blow us away with their hearts full of purpose and heads full of information. 

We will adopt through CPS/DFPS here in Houston - Region 6 (greater surrounding areas of Houston)

We have requested a girl, aged 2 and under. We did this so as not to interrupt the birth order since we have an older child who is very much a, shall we say, choleric spirit (i.e. Lion if you know the animal personality traits- see Treasure Tree!) in terms of personality. 

Once we finish the home study where they come to our home and interview each of us separately, then together over dinner and such, then in our understanding, we will receive calls. 

The calls will be to come and see our daughter on paper and then our agency will submit our family to be one of 3 families (well, actually many but ultimately 3) to be chosen by CPS/DFPS. We have been rightly instructed to not bring our daughter to this process. But to have her wait to meet her sister after the 2nd pre-placement visit. Again, this is so good to know and we are thankful for our agency in helping us with this info!

We are praying for her case to be rights-terminated, as in straight adopt and not foster to adopt. With our daughter we just don't think it would be best for her to go through having a sister taken away which can happen in foster-to-adopt situations where they find a distant family member and then take the child back to place her with her family.

We are praying daily for her protection, health and well-being and for her to be guarded from any weapon formed against her.

Tonight we are going to begin taking the prayers to "Little Sister's" room where we will each pray something specific for her - Leelah suggested we pray that she would know Jesus and be saved at an early age- um best prayer yet! 

You can pray for these things too along with us if you think of our family and let us praise God for your intercession and thank you in advance!!! We all share in this journey. 

And I have to say that if you are where I was back in January, in disbelief that you and your mate will ever be on the same page or maybe you think this process is too hard- let me say- rubbish! God can do this for your family too, will you let Him help you save a little one?

Luke 1:37  For nothing is impossible with God.

Thank you for praying with us and for us. When the finalization day happens after we get her, we promise to post pictures of that glorious day so you can say, hey I prayed for that little one! 

Almost Debt Free. Tips!

It's almost:

Guys. Are you sitting down? Standing up? A littlea both? Eating an apple? I love apples. Galas only please. Running? Laying down? In a zero-gravity plane?

I HAVE NEWS.

$1639.89

Um. Yeah. So close I am tearing up.

$1639.89 left until The Nichols are debt free minus the house!

PRAISE JESUS.

This is a victory. A loooooooong road.

Today I want to tell you that YES you can do this. I'm praying for those reading this with tears of defeat or who's spouse just won't be on the same page. I'm praying for you. You guys can do this. There will be healing.

I can't believe I'm even typing that we are about a month and half or so maybe less of being done with debt. Again, still paying the house and utilities of course.

Can I share what helped us? Reverse-pride. Unbragging. Get proud of the ol' tired stuff you are living with- that's what is going to get you to the end. That's what the "gazelle intensity" that Dave Ramsey teaches- is all about.

Non-Flat TVs and NO Cable:
We were/are proud of the non-flat screen in our living room. Do people want to come watch stuff at our house? No, but we don't have cable either and we are proud of that too!
We know and love our true-blue friends that come to our house, because we literally just sit and talk and enjoy them so much!!!
Getting rid of the cable has helped my soul y'all.
John was ticked at first. I mean I told him that I felt convicted about watching a certain show. If it was on, I'd watch it (It was Real Housewives) and it drained my energy and truly made me ill with all the backstabbery/fake crap.
He did NOT want to release cable. So we babystepped it.
And each month went down a package.
And down another package.
And survived.
Until finally, blammo, goodbye.
Now yes, we have netflix and amazon prime- which I use for my biz, Kindle and we stream shows.
After a yr, John was finally cool with it and now LOVES it. It was all his idea anyway....
I LOVE bragging that I don't have cable. Plus, I got friends that do and they invite me over b/c they are amazing. Thank you 'zing friends.

Cars:
Yo. That's my car with the dings, stains, and I'm rockin an '08 with low mileage. And yeah, huszzby is rollin in the Corolla- '05 baby- "Ol Smokey" with the cigarette burns from the previous owner/renters.
And we like it.
We don't feel oppressed because those bad boys are paid off. We know we are "Living like no one else, so we can live like no one else."
We thank God for our vehicles at all.
Be proud of what some might consider a jalopy and know where it's really taking you to- FREEDOM.

Clothes n' Things:
acquaintance: Hey Jillian, cute shirt!
me: Thanks I got it at KCM boutique for $4. It's Ann Taylor Loft!
acquaintance: Whaaaaa????
If I can't score something $10 and under I don't buy it. $15 and under for dresses. I know that is disgusting to some of you.
This is really easy for me because I really don't like trends anyway.
Now I did just buy a yellow backpack for my camera and it was NOT following these rules. Purses do not fit here, because you will be burned by buying cheap since you use it and abuse it. Also, I am realizing that yellow bags are trendy.
I have loved yellow forever so I am plainly stating that I'm not following a trend here.
But know, that there will ALWAYS be cute shirts and things to buy.

Emeals!!!! Yes. They really do help. I didn't like the fact that I have to pay, but I've acquiesced to the fact that my brain doesn't function this way. It pays to pay them think for me so I can save money and eat better by not going out.

Anyone else care to share???

So we have filled out the form to go see Dave for August. We are awaiting their approval. We hope to be on the Aug. 9th show. We will let everyone know!!!!

Gift from God through a Friend!!!

God totally answered a prayer (see below post) I had through a sweet friend of mine today. Just when I think oh there's no way I can pray for that or that totally won't happen, God blows me away.
Check out what we at the Nichols' home are celebrating today:

So John comes home with the pizza box and on top of that box is this box:

And this was what was inside!!!

THE BACKSTORY:
My eyes are whackadoodle most days. I'm going back to the surgeon next week in fact because the lens is wiggling- out of place again in the left eye so we will set up another big surgery to reposition it. The right eye has a cataract that is growing daily. My computer is zoomed to 150%+. I have TRIFOCALS on the way. TRIFOCALS!!! But whatev, it's no biggie until you mess with my reading abilities. Which have been the case- especially when I go to the eye doc for HOURS at a time and have both eyes dilated and so I sit there with John- who can read. I sit there and make jokes and sleep. UNTIL TODAY
THE STORY:
When we opened the box I gasped!!! And said, JOHN!! To which he said, "I didn't buy that!" and then we read - John had to because I was too busy happy-weeping at this point- the sweetest note from an amazing friend, Lezlie. Thank you Lezlie for listening to what God put on your heart. I pray you have joy knowing that you personified the "love note" (Captivating book) from God to me. I can't tell you how amazed I was to see this answered prayer in my kitchen tonight! The coolest part is that God had totally been telling her to look into getting some kind of reading contraption for me and then I posted the below post yesterday and it was as if God reaffirmed it for her. WOW! Isn't our God amazing in every sense? Words cannot do this justice. So I must chronicle this Nichols Style: Get ready to laugh... Hopefully...
The Kindle and Me:
Talk to the hand real books!!!

Dining with Ms. Thang:

Fireplace Time with Kindlito:
(white grape don't judge me!)

Us watching Project Runway:

Ahhhh... Nighty Night! What a day- we're tuckered out!


Seriously guys. This is the best. The Kindle for those that don't know is a reader that you can have books on- I know I'm terrible at describing this. Go to Amazon.com. It's so great for low vision people because you can increase the font size to huge and a lot of books have the text to speech option available. I've already been using it up!!! It's just so great. I had been talking with John the other day about my "if I only had a Kindle" dream. And I knew we could not afford it (hey we do Dave Ramsey and aren't ashamed). For what it does, the price is very reasonable especially compared to some low vision devices. And so I prayed. I have never prayed for an actual object like that before and I felt a tinge of guilt about it. But God like the perfect Father He is knows what blessings you need.

Lezlie, again thank you. Thank you Lord for your love that was shown!