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!

I'm Sorry.

Recently God has brought it to my attention that I might have been a little preachy on this media format.

And like one of my all time greatest lyrical genius heroes, Stevie, I'm just writing to say:

I'm Sorry.

Maybe I've been unintentionally fronting as if I have it all together. I don't. I'm just as shaky as the stupid body glue that incorrectly holds me together.

Crud, I'm just like every other mom out there I hope and pray. I have no idea how to be intentional and forget 3/4 of the time to pray to be. And when I remember to pray about being intentional I'm probably unintentionally being a selfish twit.

I'm a lukewarm mess, y'all.

Moms, I am sorry for venting about your various "fronts" when really, I have them too.

Can you please forgive me?

I'm praying about this and trying to step up my daily quiet time game. I'm 2 for 4 this week. I came across this wonderful blog that really does inspire as the name implies: InspiredtoAction.com

This has really helped me find the track to get back on in regards to having a daily QT. Again, I'm not fronting that I have been having a "daily" QT, but I did get to enjoy it twice this week.

And on those days I saw marked improvement in efficiency. I would attest that the early-rising technique does help.

Do I sleep in when I hear my iPhone's Bell Towers? Oh, heck yes I do. But then I eventually roll out.

Today I accidentally time traveled and read ahead in the glorious, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and here's what I loved:
"God can do nothing for me, until I get to the limit of the possible."

You see, this is where I'd want to interject about my weaknesses and reaching that limit (daily) and how God has helped me to persevere and on and on, but maybe that's where I'm being "preachy."

The hersbernd is actually the one that may have slightly pointed it out. And I thank him for that. Sure, I had to pry it out of his clam-like, feelings vault, but I appreciate his honesty.

So whatever that limit of possibility is for you, be thankful for it. That's when God gets to "show out."

Too much?

A Bidding War & The Best Salsa of all Times

Apparently, there's some sort of bidding war happening in our neighborhood.

I guess I better back up and explain. We are putting our house on the market soon in an attempt to sell it and get a home that might accommodate a growing (God willing) family. And I felt really weird typing that. Like presumptuous and stuff.

Like I'm so bold to know what God is telling me? Or leading us?

What am I a dolphin? DO I HAVE A DORSAL FIN!?!? Ace Ventura fans? No? 

I did hear a lady on the radio say that as long as we are seeking God's will then we are pretty much in line with it already. I need to exegeses that when I stop looking up what the word "exegeses" means.

She also recommended to pray that God would "lead us in paths of righteousness." So I'm trying to do a little of that too when I remember.

How come everyone else thinks of these things when they pray? I pray stuff like:

"Lord, please don't let me sweat or say something horrible and stupid- horritupid- ha ha that's funny, I'm hungry. Amen."

Whatever. I do know that praying back Scripture is a good thing.

So we are almost done "depersonalizing" our home to get it show-ready. And I have heard things.

Things such as:

Houses in our area are selling in less than a day.
They aren't even on the market- there's just a sign in the yard.
AND people having bidding fights over prices- as in offering more than the sellers are asking.
AND they be paying in cash.

So, does that mean drug dealers are buying these homes? Dangit.

We can barely buy Leelah a dress or a stinkin' bag of mulch with cash- we do cash only because we are Dave Ramsey folk- but crap. And no, we will not be paying cash for a home. That's in the future. Just like Dippin Dots.

I have pledged on Facebook- so that's totally legit- that I will NOT complain at any point during this process of selling and buying a home. It really bothers me when people complain about home buying/selling- there are people that are homeless and people that would love to be in such a place to buy a home or rather, even set foot in a home like ours.

Can you tell that I probably annoy the everlovin' spit out of my husband??? I annoy him I'm sure because I always bring up the destitute, but I can't help it!

"But in all things I will pray with thanksgiving (and that stupid way I do as aforementioned)...."  So that is the mindset I'm taking.

Some people are telling us we are nuts. I agree. Just once though I would like to do things the normal way. But normal for us is not having to pay for 2 houses at once, unlike every other Katy-ite. So alas, we might take up trainhopping.

If we don't sell or the door closes, then at least we will have a cleaner, more streamlined home. Right?

And maybe I should stop telling people how great our school is? Shutup Gillian!!!!

So, no. I will NOT tell you what the best salsa ever made is and where you can find it! You can't make me!!

I will say that it is so good, I bought 3 jars recently. 2 for me. 1 for a gift. I have since opened the gift salsa to enjoy for myself. I don't like that side of me, but there it is. 

Gillian Gets a Mammogram.

Friday was flat tires day.


Hey y'all. I'm being honest. Flat-out honest. Literally.

And look since I'm tellin' this is me:

I've had cataracts since I was 4 yrs old.
Got a hysterectomy due to stupid endometriosis at 26.
Gallbladder out at 20. Ain't no one got time for gallbladder sludge, yo.
Of course, you know my fave thing to say, "I've had 10 eye surgeries. Hi, I'm Gillian, not Jillian."
Dislocated my hip in high school.
Couldn't walk because my joints were whack for pretty much all of 2010.
I have osteopenia. Everyone's doing it.
I'm on hormones that are so synthetic they might as well say, Johnson & Johnson as the manufacturer.
Oh and I wear progressive glasses.
I can no longer night-drive due to all the surgeries, thus I'm a reverse-vampire. 
I've done water aerobics on account of all of the above.
And I complain a lot.

Yes. I'm a 85 yr old 32 yr old. No offense, to my fabulous 85 yr old friends.

So the other day when I was having some, er, pain in well, a friend close to my heart. I thought, of course I need a mammo.

Oh crap.

I need a mammo.

NoooooooooooooooooooooOooooooooooooooooooooOOooooooooooooooooooooOOOO.

I can be put under for general anesthesia like a pro, but that - well I've heard stories as we all have.

And I'm sorry. But is it just me or is everyone getting cancer these days? That sucks. My heart is broken in so many pieces right now for so many people battling and mourning. Could North Korea just hurry up already? I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING DANG IT. And it's Cancer-Free, thankyouverymuchpleasepassthejelly!

So my grandmother supposedly had b cancer at age 29!?!?! That is at least what I've been told.

LADIES: IF YOU HAVE A FAM MEMBER WHO HAS HAD B CANCER- YOU NEED TO GO GET A MAMMY 10 YEARS FROM WHEN THAT FAM MEMBER WAS DIAGNOSED. So that means I should have gone in at 19.

SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA????

So I'm, ahem, a little late. But still what I feel - freakishly early- like everything else in my life.

They call me in- but get this- the lady actually pronounces my name right so I kind of sat there looking confused and almost didn't realize it was my turn!!!

I walk into this waiting area and it's beautiful, serene, spa-like. So I was jazzed up! Where's the fruit-float-water!?! Look, I know I got nothin' wrong with my doo-dads. So I'm gonna just relax-
"Oh I'm sorry maam- see that gentleman fixing the coffee machine over there?? Yeah, you will have to wait in your dressing room please." 
What? Oh. Okay.
So I wait in the 2x2 dressing room in the dark basically. Oh well, I got my Kindle!

And I'm sorry if this is making some uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable is also the word I would and Memorial Hermann Katy uses for Mammogram.

I had to get a diagnostic one due to the pain and the family history. Let's just skip to the end- no spots! Except for a little cyst which is normal. They suggested I lay off the caffeine (cha, right lady!) and come back yearly for a screening...
Again, I'm sorry for the details here.

And I was also deemed, "The Most Entertaining Patient of the Day." According to the Mammo-Tech.
Probably because I asked her if they had nets to catch things... In case... Things... Busted off.... This joke-credit goes to John.
I also at one point just said, "I don't know where to put my hands!"
And, "I'm sorry I'm so sixth grade, laugh, laugh..."
It's a defense mechanism.

Why am I sharing this before 10 on a Monday? I know there are some ladies out there who might be weird like me, and look, if I can do it. You can too.

Budget for it and go.

And then budget for the lunch at Escalante's afterwards because you were slightly traumatized...

Monday Morning Confessions

The other day I journeyed with some comrades to a wonderful ministry leaders' spa event.

'Twas lovely.

I love the concept of this and definitely felt refreshed. If you are a woman (What? Woman? That sounds weird. I'm sorry I'm so sixth grade still.) in the Katy/Houston area and God has called you to ministry, you might wanna check this out: Inspire Women

But let me tell you why I'm truly a disaster.

There was a part of the session of lovely reflection where the smart, learned leader lady asked us to think, reflect, and ponder (REDUNDANT PLEONASMS!) in a soothing voice of love:

"Think. To a time when you were at your happiest. The happiest moment (breathy voice) of your life is..... *music, clouds, dandelion floating, calm, beauty*...."

Then she continued, "If you are like me (Spoiler: I'm not like this sweet lady- you will see why.) you envisioned your wedding day...."

Oh.

Yeah.

Wait.

Can I redo this?

Craptastic.

I.

Pictured.

This.
and
= GREATEST SNACK OF ALL TIME

 Yes. While all the better-than-me people, leaders, "women" of the world in the room pictured their sweethearts, holding their first born, curing cancer, winning prom queen, saving that kid from that bus-- Gillian pictured that time in Oregon when she stopped at a gas station and got to savor:
Beef Jerky + Popcorn + Pepsi.

But wait! Can I defend myself for a second?

Oregon is like crazy beautiful. So I was eating those things- yes all at once mind you and just call me Sodium-face!- and taking in God's country. Okay?

Lay off!!!!!

Then I was so distracted that I couldn't come back to the Psalms and their healing ways. No. I was done.

I went to Happy Snack Land/Perfect Moment in Time and stayed there.

I then wanted to tell my comrades immediately- and couldn't- that I thought about snacks instead of holy things so we could laugh at an inappropriate time. But I couldn't.

So I told my husrchaband later that night.

And he understood me and forgave my insolence.

Which is why I love him so. :)

Puke Driving. It happened.

 

Ever wonder to your self, "Self, I wonder what it would be like to puke while driving?" Why of course not! I daresay thinking like that would drive you insane or as the fancy-english folk say- "mad."

But on that infamous Thursday of last week, Two Thousand and Thirteen, I no longer have to wonder what that situation would be like. Because I lived it.

Yes, countrymen and fellow humans, I barfed while driving my CR-V last week.

While some of you might be gasping at my crassness this morning, you know there are some of you that are secretly a little jealous because that means I've got mad tactical driving skills now.

And I forced my husband with his crazy good drawing skillz to comic-ize the whole thing for me.

I promise, I had made several attempts to pull over and my innards tricked me- "Oh body-master we are fine now. Just keep driving! ({"Oh we will show her!!! tee heee heee! She's afraid of sneezing while transporting- but we will make her fear our bilious sludge - yes we will!!!"

It came out of nowhere like the twinkling of an eye. Thankfully the innards had quasi-warned me 2 miles back so I had grabbed a foil pan. ANd thankfully I'm a lazy sort who doesn't clean out her car until I need to hold something else in it- so I had that foil pan in there which, embarrassingly had old cookies in from a service project. Wait!!!!

You have to understand. I will allow 4-5 sweaters and books to stay in the vehicle but I HATE FOOD IN THE CAR so that was actually a freak deal I wasn't aware.

So I dumped the cookies/marshmellows out of the pan and held that pan like a baby with one hand. I guess I wouldn't one-hand-hold a baby but you get the point- and then I drove on trying to make it back to the homestead.

And then I hit the Whole Foods/World Market area and HELLO STARSHINE UP COMES well you know- ALL UP IN THE BABY PAN!

And now, I blogbrag- brog- about it to anyone that will listen.

Thank you for listening.

Appendiciting!

Here's what I just wrote a friend in an email and since it kind of made me inner-chuckle and because it really explains John being a medical-divo so well- I thought I'd make a blog post outta it!

I haven't forgotten of your logo (backstory: I quietly design logos for people that are awesome). My husband decided to be a divo last week and get appendicitis. He randomly gets these minor-major illnesses like:
Shingles
Mono
Pneumonia
But trips me up with a man cold ever so often to completely throw me off my good wife game so when he's really sick I'm all: "Hey! It's just a freakin' cold! Get over it!!!!"
And then the fever shakes set in....
"Oh wait. You're truly ill."

You didn't need to know all that.

Thanks for letting me be random.

By the by, I'm so very glad I accidentally met this friend that I was writing to. God is so cool like that orchestrating stuff and all.

So John got appendicitis and I can't shut up about it. It was crazy random y'all. It was just like that episode (trying the joke out one more time) of Garfield & Friends (which is on Netflix now- I will win Leelah over so help me...) where Jon Arbuckle gets appendicitis in the middle of the night and Garfield hears him moaning and calls 911.

I guess you could say it was a Special Episode of Garfield & Friends.

I so love that show. I reference it 2-3 times a yr on FB. No one ever gets it. Still staying strong.

You know how when a loved one complains of their stomach hurting and you always ask- WHICH SIDE IS IT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Well, guess who was the jerk that forgot to ask? This chick. Way to go Wife! I mean, I was tired of asking it to all loved ones all my life and having them say it wasn't the right. So I didn't ask.

Until the morning when I awakened to find John not in bed and talking about how maybe he should drive himself to a clinic.

THEN I asked, "Hey, what side is it?"

"Right." (wince, wince, moan, moan). 

"WELL CRAP JOHN GET IN THE CAR DANG IT WHY DIDN'T YOU I'LL GET LEELAH DRESSED AND CALL LISA TO TAKE HER TO SCHOOL JUST SIT DOWN NO YOU CAN'T GO TO A CLINIC THEY DON'T HAVE CATSCANS DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING FROM MY MEDICAL CRAP I JUST NEED TO BRUSH MY TEETH SO I CAN TALK TO PEOPLE LEELAH JUST EAT A CEREAL BAR AND WEAR WHATEVER HURRY UP AHHHHHH JOHN YOU WILL NOT DRIVE STOP IT!!!!!!!"

Then calm myself down so the kid doesn't freak.... Breathe.

"Leelah, Daddy's tummy tum hurts. We are going to the dr. and sweet Ms. Lisa is going to walk you to school today. Everything's okay. Just eat the bar and get in the car. Thank you."

So drop the kid like it's hot.
I drive "tactically" to the ER and because I know what they will ask (many rodeos have I had) I start asking him:
"What's your pain level on a scale of 1 to 10?"
J: "7."
A 7 Y'ALL!!!!! What?!?!?!? He didn't sleep at all and it's only a 7???
At that point, I really thought we were going in for what a friend says, "A $3000 poop."
But I didn't nag or interject. I just drove.

We get there and John gets meds that he LOVES. He really started talking a lot, but he's so random all the time anyway there wasn't much of a difference in the talking points.
Silver coins into rings.
A bad dream he had the other day.
Fringe episode speculation.
This and that. 

We totally mooch off the hospital's cable for a couple of hours. He gets his catscan fever.

Yup, your appendix is shot the doc says.

Surgery is set up.

Waiting.

Thanks to Tina for bringing me some CFA nuggies, which I respectfully ate far away from John who shant have had food.

Thanks to In-loves for coming in lickety split for support.

And thanks to all the friends who brought food, prayed, watched Leelah, etc. etc. We felt MAJORLY loved. And to use a buzz word going around now, we have some friends who are totally legit.

He gets the 'pendix out and asks the nurses upon recovering, "Where's my Gillie?" Loved that. He said he said "wife" but 2 nurses backed the other term up. :)

We spend the night and I go on a vending machine shopping trip around the hospital at night. Super fun.

The next day, just happened to be me ol' birthday. So let me get this straight. For John's bday he had the 8 hr PE exam. For my bday, we waited in the hospital all the livelong day.

But you know what? Just found out John passed the PE- PRAISES!
And my present, he is well and good. MORE PRAISES!

So that's what's been happening. Normal for the Nichols-
A loose lens,
John's 'pendix shorting out,
Oh and Leelah got a head wound at a Christmas party in between. She's fine, but always instructs us how to brush her hair just so now....

Oh and y'all know I have to have a bday dinner fancy outing, so we went to The Melting Pot on Saturday and wouldn't you know it? We all got food comas and came home and went to bed at 7. It was so slothily disgusting and I'm embarrassed about it... We've decided to only dine there bicentennially.

It's never dull around here!

Normal for the Nichols- Nature Camp

The Nichols do Nature Camp!
So what Gillian, everyone at one time or another does Nature Camp. Yeah, but do they blog about the foibles in an attempt at humor? Probably. Shut it. Who asked you anyway sarcastic inner-person?????
Yes, it's 7:24 am and I just had an inner argument typed out.

So I sign my kid who loves all things exploratory and dirt (animals, bugs) up for this camp at this Sanctuary where they normally hold a fun little dealy called, The Titmouse Club.

Pause for laugh.

Still pausing depending on what grade you are in. I'm mentally still in middle school so I'm still laughing.

Still.
Laughing.

Sigh of completion.

So this is not the Titmouse Club. I've always wanted to take her to that, but I've had a bunch of eye surgeries, blah blah blah, couldn't drive the distance, waah waaahhh. So when I heard about this Nature Camp in the summer from a random Grandmother at the library, I was like:
This is it Gillian! The way you redeem yourself for all those years of lost coolness to your child! Beg your husband for the money and sign her up!!!! 


Yesterday Day 1 of Nature Camp.
  Oh it's in Memorial by the way. For those of you Houstonians, you will definitely get this.
Memorial is a blog post unto itself. It's nice. Trees- not med center equivalent, but nice. Nice shopping. It has it's good schools. But don't go out of that bubble lest you want to be stabbed. And people think they are kind of a big deal there. And, they are. I'm telling you. You don't just move there, it's like a legacy kind of deal. Cinco Ranch you can move in, raise your family, eat at Chick-fil-a whatever, no one bothers you with "Oh do you know The Patterson's?" to validate that you've lived there 20+ years- i.e. Legacy. In Memorial it's Denalis or nothing. But father, I want a vintage Broncooooooooooo!!!!!!! You're so lame for not getting me that!!!!

We lived on the extreme outskirts of Memorial. Please don't ask. I'm still in counseling.

So back to Nature Camp at the Sanctuary of Memorial (Titmouse Club).

I pull my CR-V in and my tire light comes on. AWESOME! Right before I'm about to pull in mind you to RockTownBumpsVille, USA. Maybe, Big Red was trying to tell me that I was going the wrong way? I was.

Leelah and I enter this log cabin with NO signage- first clue. They were having a pump up meeting. I get quasi yelled at by a chick who looked like Gidget and I wanted to like her hair, but couldn't after she had made me look stupid. I made myself look stupid, but you get it. I pray for self-control and for the Redemption of my Coolness to come back and then this sweet older (maybe at one time European?) lady who's totally a docent of this guild or something helped show us the way.

She asked if I had read. OF COURSE I READ IT THAT'S WHAT I DO TO AVOID YELLINGS READ EVERYTHING!!!!! Calm. Calm. We leave the wooded area and proceed to the church next door (MDUMC) parking lot to wait with Memorialites.

How can you tell a Memorial kid? They are holding paper bags that read: Whole Food Market, Everything but Water and my favorite, Pappa Bros. Steakhouse. Awesome. At least I had made the snap decision to use her backpack from school and not the target plastic go-to sack that really holds up for multi-use.

So we stand there and I start chatting it up with cute kids. They are presh. Leelah is borrowing herself into my inner thigh from shyness.

And then the sweet teacher comes out and Leelah runs into the woods with her.

Once I pick her up- well John the man picked her up on a lunch break- he's the best. She wouldn't stop talking about all the fun she had. Totally worth it. She also claimed to have "fell off a bench and almost into a river." So glad to see she carries the Nichols Name with pride.

Now we shall see how Day 2 of Nature Camp goes....

Boo's Poos.

If you are considering eating brownies or anything brown; you want to leave this post. Do not read this.

If you don't have, what I like to call a "Mother's Stomach" you might want to skeedaddle on over to some cute, DIY blog post on chevron stripes.

Right now, it's about to go down.

We have a loveable Maltipoo, named Boo.

Isn't she sweet?
She's 13 lbs of hypoallergenic fun.

Except for the accident.

You know, I wasn't giving much credit to all those crazy doomsdayer's beliefs, until last night when things got messy.

The Husband and I don't think cohesively during late night hours. If something disturbs our sleep, we get up and act as if we are on Ambien or something. If a mess happens, we usually put everything in the tub to find it the next day after we had forgotten about whatever grossity had taken place.

Example: Leelah comes in the room one night at say, 1:00amish. She's asking about wanting water. We are tired (read: Bad Parents). J incoherently says: "Go drink out of the faucet."  I know, I'm so ashamed. I say: "Cup your hands." What!? I'm the worst. Atrocious.

Last night, June 19th: 12:45am. 
Boo, beloved family pet, begins to whine.
I hear it first and murmur to John to get up and go see what is happening. My first thought from growing up in Houston is: We are being robbed. Doesn't matter if it's the Grand Trumpet of the Rapture, my go-to thought is: robbery is taking place.

He goes- always in anger- and lets the dog(s) out. Returns to bed- still angry.


1:00am:
Family Pet-Whining has not ceased.
We say random things to each other like, "Maybe she's hungry." "Are we being robbed?" "Go check on Leelah." and "You didn't leave her out long enough." - Oh wait, I just said all that. John was just angry. Don't mess with Texas, or John's sleeping.

1:30am:
Dog still whining. 
John in a huff goes to let her out again. I'm quasi-sleeping and have hit "snooze" on thinking we are being robbed. John is probably still angry.

2:30am??:
Dog won't shutup. So annoyed. Please don't get all PETA on us.
Am I in purgatory? Oh wait, I don't believe in that. Phew. Why is John not fixing this? He has to fix everything in an unangry matter.

3:00isham:
For the love of Benji, Boo is still wimpering!!!!
John retries the take-out. Maybe it's raining? Can't comprehend thought.

3:30isham: 
Quietness. Good! Way to go John.

3:31am- Destiny happens.
John calmly and loudly says: "Gillian, come here."
I unconsciously think, "Yes, Lord. Is it time?"
Oh it was time.
I realize husband is missing. Now what!?!?!!!

3:32am: 
I realize his voice is coming from the diningroom/kitchen/notsogreatroom.
Now listen/read, I am all kinds of sight impaired when I awake. So I have to feel my way out of my room or else, there will be blood. Stupid, beautiful sleigh bed.
I clumsily walk into the notsogreatroom. I don't see John's tallness and realize he's sublevel on the dining room floor.
There is is his face. Scrunched up all crazy like. He's holding Boo in a strange headlock so as to not move her from her spot. And Boo. Her face is so shameful. Those big soultaking eyes all sad and embarrassed staring at me. And the smell.

IT WAS THE WORST SMELL I'VE EVER SMELLED AND IT KEPT GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.

John proceeds to reenact what happened like some Native American Storytelling hour around a campfire:
I was going to let her out again, but she started to act weird. And then she came back to the rug. And then I heard this sick-nasty squishy noise like this: 
SQQQQUIIIRRRRRRSSHSHHHHHSHSHHSHSPLASHSHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Friends,
our dog lost her bowels all over our Garden Ridge dining room rug. That's why I don't have PB stuff.
It looked like some kind of sauce from h-e-l-l. Sorry, I don't like to swear. The smell grew worse by the second.
I, being trained in Poop Tactics, flew into action and grabbed my arsenal: Oxyclean powder, a wet towel, lysol spray, and a whole roll of paper towels. John maintained the dog-headlock and strangely wiped her tuna-fish-smell butt with wet ones. Those poor, poor wet ones.

I'm pretty sure we accidentally made meth with the chemical combination. I'm being facetious. I'm just saying, we were NOT organic in cleaning it up. And I almost yacked. Which surprised me. I can talk about kid-excrement while eating a burrito all day long, but at 3:45am I was weak.

We went back to bed laughing. I'm glad God put us together. We are a team, John and I.

Earlier in the week we had just gone to see Prometheus--- goozy alert--- and came home to a kid that had sucked juice out of her ice pack she got from a couch fall. Normal for the Nichols. I'm pretty sure if we had our own show, I'd watch it. 

Koozie People.

This is my thoughts on People Watching and Stillness.....

Today I got to enjoy another wonderful time of women's fellowship and study of the Word. How very blessed I am to have the freedom to do this. And not only, the blessing of that freedom which is invaluable, but with the most beautiful ladies that God has ever made (IMHO).

When it comes to talking about my friends, y'all I'm Niagara Falls. I'm a gusher like the fruit snacks that bear that name. Oh Gushers, you taste so good and so do you Fruit by the Foot. Oh you yard of fruit snack bliss! Stop it. Message to Self: You were talking about friends, not fruit snacks your kid eats that you wish you could still enjoy!

Where was I?

Focus!

In the fabulous study we are doing called, Reclaming Your Joy by Lorraine Hill (recommended!) we talk about Joy. Now, I'm only on Week 3 so know that. But already I've been challenged. I'm a dweller. Anyone, with me?

I dwell on so much. From fruit snacks, to past crud, to future longings; you name it I will dwell on it.

Always with the dwelling.

I wish I thought less. Anyone? Amen?

If only I was a Koozie Person.
"Koozie People"- is a term for a special class of people that I coined sometime ago while on a retreat with several ladies from our Bible Study class. We were on a boat, i.e. in a state of relaxation, and I just felt frazzled. I'm a little high-strung. I love boats and the water by the way.

But I noticed something that day. We kept passing people who were blessed enough to have homes on the side of a lake. Some homes were magnificent and dazzling. Some homes were a little too log-cabinish. Some homes were a little, how do you say, less magnificent? But hey, again, side of a lake ain't too shabby. Whatever.

The point is, the people in the magnificent and the less magnificent homes were all doing something: lounging in chairs (PB teak or Walmart plastic) and holding onto drinks in koozies.
Whoa.
They probably were going to be out there all day with their koozies in hand. Perhaps, in a visor.
 Maybe even smoking some kind of meat and not caring that their hair and clothes so permeated from the smoke would then wreak of said meat-smoking for the rest of the evening. 
I don't know what was in their koozies.
Diet Coke.
Not Coke.
Whatever.
It was just the fact that they had mastered the Skill of Chill.
That they live for the weekend. Listen to BTO. Chillax. Then after all that chillin', they head home, go to sleep and begin a new workweek. Amazing.

I am not a Koozie Folk.
 I have to be moving like a hummingbird or a shark. It's hard to stop. Anyone? But God sure wants me to take a page from their book- maybe more His book and be chill. Or as He puts it, "Be still."

Oh wow, Gillian. Congrats on being so visionary and "writing" a blog post about being still. How new!
No, it's not. I get it. But at least I've let you all in on Koozie People and you will now know that subset of interesting loungers. What do they think? Anything? Nothing? Everything?

As I ask God to prepare me for the week ahead, I'm trying to channel the inner Koozie Person inside me. Next week I will be going on a trip. A trip with over a thousand junior high students our church likes to call: Beach Retreat.

We are going to South Padre Island, TX and we are going to be meeting Jesus there. We will have awesome worship and one on one time with the Lord and all He has planned. I'm, of course, freaking out. But God has promised to equip me. So, if you can, say a prayer or two for me and all those kiddos next week! This week too- it's the high schoolers turn first! And ask God to speak through me and to whomever He puts in my path.

Thanks,
A Coffee Mug Person.

Frugalicious Friday. I lost count. :)

Owning your own business. The backstory of how mine originated out of a prayer to be debt free.
Update- now with pics!
Lots of people have asked for my story of how I got to be a photographer and run my own business, Adventure Photo & Design. I know I have not been in business a year yet, but please let me share the blessings and spotlight God's work through my business. This story of God fulfilling not just our family's immediate prayer need but also my heart cries has been an encouragement to several who are in the same place, so why not share it more?
This is long. Grab some toast.

If you were to meet me in person, I'm pretty sure you'd say that I'm a dead ringer for a Microbiologist*.

*INSANE CACKLE LAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Well, I do have an interest in diseases, I think they are crazy-interesting. I read 3/4 of the Hot Zone, I have what Mayo Clinic called, "An Unspecified Connective Tissue Disorder", and I wear glasses! So lay off! But alas, I earned my business degree and majored in marketing as one of the PROUDEST MEMBERS OF THE FIGHTIN' TEXAS AGGIE CLASS OF 2003- WHOOP!!!!!

This picture is disgusting. But the Fork in My Hat- got me props from the Sec. of Defense, past prez of Texas aTm: Dr. Gates. As I shook his hand he said, "Love the hat, love the hat!" Stick a fork in me baby, I was DONE! Thanks John for making that fork happen on my hat.
Jan. 2004:
I got out into the business world and just knew I'd be in a loft-ish type room maybe with a brick wall and filled with people rocking vests sitting around a table filled with pizza while we are throwing out ideas for ad campaigns while other Gap clothed people blew off steam by playing ping pong in the background 'cus you know being creative is hard work.
WRONG. REALITY.
"JILLIAN, WHERE'S THE COFFEE???"
Me, coming to, "What? Where am I?" Inner thought: I don't know how to make coffee Mz. Business Lady who's just an assistant to some dude!!!???
And thus, I promptly muppet-walked off with my hands glued to my sides in my best Lerner New York business outfit to find a coffee machine, just so I could totally not put water in the machine and thus set off crazy alarms- literally and figuratively. Oh I learned how to do a day's work, but my creative love and need died inside that day.
I was never able to move to Dallas, Miami, NY, LA, or wherever you go for real marketing purposes. I never tried to move I should say and was talked out of leaving, not by John, my sweetheart fo' life, but by family. And sadly, I listened.
And speaking of John, I'm so very glad I stayed in H'town, Katy, really. That's where God wanted me to be.
I mean, could you really see a doof like me in New York, i.e. Cool People Central? No.

So I temped here and there and interviewed and did all those businessy things. I failed miserably. It was not a good fit for me, that business world. I made a lot of mistakes. And then I was asked to do something unethical at one of my last jobs - what you mean that really happens!?- and I said no and left that afternoon. I know not all businesses are like this, but there was a message in all of it for me:
YOU ARE NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS.
I wasn't a Christian at the time, or else that would have read:
YOU WERE NOT MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Oh things would have been easier if I was a Christ follower back then.

2006:
The best little blessing happened. We had our little Leelahbug. Then I began work at my current and most favorite job: being a mommy to this little girl. This is definitely the hardest job of all. That's cliche, but very true. I mean that's your heart you just gave birth to and now you have to watch as your little baby heart gets its little tiny heel pricked over and over again? Oh this is just too much I daresay!!!
But what a ride. What love that words can't describe. For her and for John.

2007-2010:
Began walk with Jesus. Best decision ever. Funny that this began the hardest trials of my life:
My father accepting Christ, then losing him a month later on Earth (but gaining him in Heaven)
Surgeries and pain, no more children.


Surgeries and no sight, but gaining the best sight of all: His.
No walking and not understanding, but leaning on loved ones.
Counseling for the past and learning for the future.
And the funny part was that these were the times that truly grew me up. I finally understood the underlying job assignment that I couldn't quite place all along: To love others with His love. How else could He have shown me without these trials? For me, there was no other way and I'm thankful for them.

Aug. 2011:
And then Leelahbug grew up enough to go to school. Tears. I had been promoted I guess to a Kindergartener Mom.

Sept. 2011:
I was beginning to realize that my life was not lived out of a doctor's office anymore. I had time to use a planner for fun things. This took a while to get used to. There's a reason why Leelah can't swim, I couldn't really take her to lessons or to the pool for 3 years of her life. What is this normal? Understanding non-medical normal is strange, but God gently shepherded John and I back to living unafraid.
We began to revisit our debt snowball and see that we might be able to start again on the work we began in Feb. of 2007 before all the trauma began.

We now had normal worries, like let's tackle this debt. So I thought, I guess I need to get a job.
I tried applying here and there. My heart wasn't in it. And I felt no peace.

And we decided to pray. John and I did as a team during a routine business meeting. We wrote out our fears, these new normal worries, and asked God to help us find a way. I even asked for a job to help support my family.
I began to long for the creative bent to be realized again, but then shut it down.
For 3 weeks, the Holy Spirit had been urging me to ask God, "God, I want to be creative and use my talents you gave me. That's what really brings me joy!"
So I did. Here's what He said to my heart:
"You love seeing beautiful visions of creativity. Why don't you create those visions yourself?"
Me: "Oh sure, Lord. Just make pictures that are artistic. How in the world do I do that?"
Lord/Holy Spirit: "I made you what you are. Be who I made you to be."
And then I got this feeling, "Like be a photographer and make my own art pictures that I love? I have no idea how to do that. There are so many photographers already. I'm embarrassed! I'm so not worthy."
And He flooded peace into my heart and told me: "I made you this way and it's time to enjoy your gift."

There are some that are scoffing at this. I understand it sounds very foolish and almost comical to you.

I did enjoy what I learned in business school. I loved the idea of running my own business and I LOVED the idea of marketing and branding. The consistency, the creativity, and I love people- particularly little ones.

So I told John what God had put on my heart and honestly, I was embarrassed to tell an engineer that God told me I should be a photographer. John was of course thinking- we don't even have a dslr. So we budgeted for a new one on ebay after I researched- well first I taught myself how a dslr works- and then I researched and settled on one.

I told a select few about God's vision for me all the while feeling embarrassed for one because it seemed to come out of nowhere to them and two- it was a "vision". But really, what glory to God that someone who was eating Ramen noodles completely blinded after one of 10 eye surgeries one year, could be beginning a photography business the next???

So I asked a friend who has one of the cutest babies in existence if I could do a Secret Garden themed shoot for her sweetie pie. And I had tears of joy the whole time I shot her photos of her sweet God-crafted face. Such peace, joy and excitement during the shoot. I read up on how to work my new dslr- not the fanciest but it works- and God took over. Guys. I don't know how but I learned FAST.

I do know how, God showed me. And being a photog, isn't just about taking pics, it's a business you run and a brand you upkeep and put out there. There's the editing. I have always had a knack for figuring out software and programs, but didn't know what to do with that. God had hardwired me to use Photoshop and I didn't even realize it!!! But it makes so much sense to me, it's scary. And I love editing.

I love dealing with the clients and treating them like stars for their big photo shoot.
Getting those genuine smiles out.
Editing the work.
All the details, God has equipped me for and I thank Him.

What does this have to do with Frugaliciousness? 2 things: I did not go into debt to start this business. I started in the black by budgeting for my equipment. I started small. I didn't go all in.
And secondly, now I'm able to help support my family and we are rolling on with our debt snowball. And the fear of debt controlling us is gone and is replaced with a plan to be debt free in a little over a year and a half. All the money I make goes to our debt snowball. Praise Jesus!

The best part is this:
God can be glorified in your work. I pray before every photo shoot, for God to be in control and to bless the photoees with wonderful images for them to enjoy. He then gives me the vision and ideas for what to shoot each time.
I give all the credit to Him for this vision that He has given me. I told John during the tough times in 2010 when I was unable to walk, "Oh I just want to go on an adventure someday." And I didn't even know what that meant. Now my photography company is named: Adventure Photo & Design. God lets me be creative and make art while being nice to people. And I get to give back by doing volunteer work with it to. I plan on applying to be a Red Thread Photographer next Sept. for families that have just adopted children and need family portraits taken with their new God-appointed child. His work is beautiful. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Maybe you are doing a job that was never yours to do. I would suggest praying without abandon to a God that will excite your heart to do what you were made to do. He took Peter and made him a fisher of men, how crazy did that sound to Peter?
Thank you for reading my story, His story.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,"
Colossians 3:23
Here's my new website- please enjoy the Lord's work in my photos at Adventure Photo & Design: Photography with a Vision.

Must Living Keep On

I'm sinusitis/laryngitis zombie Gillian again. But instead of Brains, I crave MINI EGGS. Actually, I don't think my throat could handle those right now.
But sick-talk that doesn't involve hospitalization is boring, so I'll move on and just tell you what I've been up to lately in random order.
-Being a Hot Mess (That's just me)
-Challenge Cubed (Don't ask!)
-PTA Stuff (Me, in the PTA? baahahahhahahahahahaaaaa LOL! Oh golly.)
-Building my website for my photography business (metatags and sitemaps boyyeeeee)
-Snapping Pics for said photography business (cute people and cupcakes)
-Going to Floor & Decor (6 times- we're all bff's now)
-Reading Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey (Love it!)
-Seeing Hunger Games with Husby (There was a nailbiter to our right that I wanted to harm and a big time choad teenage boy with his date that he would tell how awesome the assault scenes were in Girl with a Dragon Tattoo- I KNOW, I WANTED TO SNATCH HER UP AND HER CELL PHONE AND CALL HER PARENTS AND TELL THEM WHAT SCOURGE OF THE EARTH SHE WAS WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no, I didn't see that trash movie that Scourge-Choad Boy was speaking of)
And while I'm on the subject, thoughts about the HG movie:
-They mis-cast President Snow. Totally missed the mark in my opinion. Loved Jennifer Lawrence. The actor that played Peeta had to grow on me. What about her styling team? Would have loved to see more of them. Stanley Tucci, as always delivers. Elizabeth Banks kind of stole the show for me.

And as of Monday morning say goodbye to our Pit of Despair, aka no-master bathroom shower for over a year...

We are getting a new shower, flooring, Leelah's shower, etc.
I say this as a praise. Thank you Lord! We have been waiting on these things for so long and we are thankful that He gave us the patience to wait so we could pay cash for everything (tax reFUNd!). What a blessing! After pics are coming soon...

Hot Mess Story...

I'm a titch bit high maintenance...
I am dressing up for Halloween early this year as an Undead Mom. Seriously. The sickness must stop. I am about 45 min away from the doc appt where I will show them the inflamed membranes and the doc/PA will look at the meds I'm allergic to (I have a new one to add: Levaquin) she will gasp and then her schooling will come into play. I will then proceed to Targie, where I go when I'm sick and not sick, hit up my fave pharm friends, with popcorn combo already purchased and pick up said meds. I will make sure that I carry my Predisone steroids, benadryl and inhaler so when my body does react I won't get hives that will cause dermatitis again, but just a nice set of plump lips. I have to make sure I take the benadryl quickly so as not to go from Jolie lips to Platypus face. This is my life with a sinus infection. ALWAYS say yes when they offer a shot. It's like they are asking if I'd like to breathe again? YES OXYGEN NEED ME HURT FACE SNARF SNARF HELP.
WARNING: FUNNY, EMBARRASSING SITUATION ALERT!!!!!!!
And it's been fun because my body has kicked in stomach issues with this bug. There is no party in my tummy. There is a crime scene. I had to make THE MOST EMBARRASSING CALL OF MY LIFE the other day to Leelah's school and totally ruin the cred I had built with smiles, brownies and compliments with the office staff in one phone call. Now I'm on the "Diva Mom/Problem Parent" list for sure. Here is how it went:
Me, exasperated sounding: Can I pick my daughter up at 3:30 today since I am ill and cannot wait in the carpool line?
Office Friend: Well we'd prefer if you just pick her up in the car rider line. It goes pretty fast.
UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE. I have to choose to live a lie or tell the Gosh-honest-this-is-who-I-really-am spastic, low brow and hot mess.... Here goes:
Me: I'm frequenting the bathroom....
YES, I SAID THAT AND I HATE MYSELF BUT I HAD TO. I HAAAAAAAAAAD TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Laugh at my misfortune. Go ahead. Laugh it up. But that is the classiest way I could say that I was having unfortunate stomach troubles requiring numerous bathroom visits and a huge supply of Cottonelle Wet Ones. Come people - you know you've had this happen!!!!! If not first I hate you and secondly get your gallbladder removed and then we'll talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, better throw on some facial powder and welding mask to hide my ghoulish appearance- it's doctor appt time!