Sometimes I Write

When I was growing up I rearranged my bedroom atleast once a month. It was my little way of having some control during a time I most often felt I had none. I was also fortunate enough to have a mother who indulged me by letting me have free reign rearranging the livingroom as well. I liked giving a new, fresh look to something that had become mundane through my eyes. I also loved the look of surprise on the faces of everyone who walked through our door and admired my handiwork. It taught me to be creative with my space, and resourceful with what I could find to work with while having no money to spend on my projects.

Well, I didn’t pursue a career in interior decorating or home design, and I find it amusing and a little annoying when my oldest child wants to use his creativity to rearrange our house. We were definitely cut from the same cloth. That makes me wonder if he’s going to have control issues as well. 😉 My friends tease me about how often I still rearrange our livingroom and I secretly think Benny attached our bed to the wall so I couldn’t rearrange in there. I almost typed “so I couldn’t get creative in there” but that’s talk for my other blog! The creativity and resourcefulness have carried on into adulthood and I’m trying to pass that on to my children…but not today.

Today’s rearranging took all afternoon, was fraught with frustration at my lack of html knowledge and code placement, and produced a project (webpage) that’s not half bad. If I were a computer geek like some of my unmentioned friends (unmentioned for my safety -haha), I could have whipped out these changes like it was nothing. That is sooooooo not me! But so far I’m pleased with the finished product, and a little surprised that it took me two years to change my template. I was finally tiring of the pink and I would really make it my own if I knew how to design templates. Anyone want to do me a favor and do it for me? I’ll do your laundry for a week. No? Darn it. My Yoda wasn’t even around to help me…he works at Starbucks now. 😉 And Kevin, thanks for calling and averting my attention before I wanted to cuss out the people at Blogger. You’re a true friend. 😉

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Life has been a little crazy here at the Nowell Hacienda. There’s been too much to say and not enough motivation to say it. Some days are like that, aren’t they? First things first. I received another Turner update:

I haven’t updated your recently on Brandon’s status mostly because there hadn’t been much change. This past week, though, has been an answer to all the prayers going up on his behalf. He is talking!!! That’s right, he is talking. It may be a whisper at times; and, sometime he has to repeat himself several times to be understood. But, he is talking. The doctors changed one of his medications (removed him from it) a week ago last Friday. We almost immediately began to see a change in him. He began making noises like he was trying to talk. He also began following instructions in therapy much better. Then on Thursday, the speech therapist called Kathie all excited that Brandon was talking. When Kathie got to the hospital, he met her with the question, “What did you do today?” Needless to say, we have been excited and praising God. Brandon still has a long recovery process ahead of him and he may never recover fully. But, we can now communicate with him. We have been trying to assess what he remembers and how much he really understands. For him it is still July. His memory of us, his grandparents and old friends seems to be intact. However, there are some gaps in his short-term memory and he will become confused when too many questions are asked in a row.

I have attached a picture of Brandon to show how well he is doing. The strange look on his face is him trying to smile. Only the right side of his mouth works when he tries to smile; but, he is working on. Keep praying for Brandon. Kathie and I know the recovery he is experiencing is the direct result of God hearing prayers and applying his healing to Brandon. We continue to put Brandon in God’s care and know God cares for him. Thank you so much for your prayers. As Brandon improves, we will send further updates on his progress.

Thank you again for all of the prayers for our friends, the Turner family. I am so thankful I can count on my friends to pray for the needs of others. Bless you all! With that being said, I have another request for you. My Aunt Sharon was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer last week. One of her breasts is completely full of cancer, and the other may be treatable. She was scheduled to have a mastectomy today, but failed the stress tests on her heart on Tuesday. She has had two kidney transplants in the past few years and though she has an iron will, her body isn’t strong. There is a fear that whatever treatment she has to receive will severely damage her kidney, which has been working well. She is having a repeat stress test tomorrow, please pray for her…I’m not sure how…but God knows. I don’t want it to come down to a decision between letting the cancer kill her or the possibility of the surgery killing her. My mom and her other sisters and brothers are really hurting through all of this. Please pray for strength for all of them, especially my Uncle Randy and my cousins Scott and Shannon. Breast cancer isn’t always fatal, but this is a situation where it could be.

Thank you again for your prayers!

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It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a picture of my family. We really don’t take them very often. When we do, Pete usually has his tongue sticking out of his mouth. Little stinker! This one was taken last month when our friends Mark and Katrina were here visiting. This is at Skyline II, a park in downtown Denver. Our kids love playing on the multi-level cement sculptures. Benny had to take a quick look around first to make sure there were no needles or drugs hidden or carelessly left behind by those who come here to shoot up. The only thing found this day was a stash of clothes. So there we were hanging out with our friends and letting the kids climb around when a streetkid we knew saw Benny and approached us. Benny hugged him and introduced him to the rest of us. (We weren’t too terribly far from where some of our street friends buy their drugs, and “Tim” as I’ll call him was on his way there or on his way back…I’m not sure which, though I know he was high when we saw him.) He said he remembered meeting me before. Tim had a friend with him that we think was fairly new to the Denver area. He was really a nice guy. His friend, “Andy” offered us a Tom Clancy book he had just finished and was telling me and Mark how it wasn’t as good as some of the Clancy books he’d read. They were both generous and friendly as we all talked. After a few minutes they left us, but came back about a half hour later when they saw we were still sitting there. I watched Tim give each of my children a dollar bill. He asked Benny if that was o.k., then looked at me, smiled and said “A kid needs some money in his pocket, you know?” I returned his smile and thanked him. My kids were indeed pretty excited to have their own money in their pockets, with the exception of Pete who had his in a death grip in his hand and refused to pocket his new treasure. 😉 Talking to Benny later I told him how surprised I was at Tim’s act of generosity – “I KNOW he could have used that money for a million other things” I said. Benny said he wasn’t surprised at all. “That’s the kind of guy he is Niki – he’s a really nice guy, he’s just also enslaved to his drugs”. Though it felt strange, I was glad I didn’t refuse the opportunity for Tim to give to someone else. I haven’t seen Tim or Andy since that day, but I think of them often. They have so little, yet gave anyway. It was a good lesson for me. I was also reminded to love whenever and wherever we have the opportunity…and there will ALWAYS be opportunities like that.

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Those aren’t words you’ll hear me say often. I grew up in Wisconsin and had my fair share of snow – enough to last me a lifetime thank you very much! 😉 But today I’m grateful for the white stuff that is pouring out of the sky. North Denver has 6″ already and we’re expecting a lot more. We’ve already had the power go out for an hour this morning, so I’m typing fast hoping to get this posted in case it goes out again. The kids and I have already gathered candles and flashlights just in case. We cleaned their rooms so they wouldn’t step on toys in the dark, and had the talk about not opening the refrigerator before asking Mommy. We talked about electricity and how it effects our lives, and planned what we will eat for lunch and supper in case we can’t use the stove. A hot meal is still possible thanks to our gas grill on the patio and two extra tanks of propane. 😉 The kids are loving it, and looking forward to building a snowman later. I’m grateful for the forced rest.

I was absent from the blogoshphere last week because my Mom and Stepdad were here visiting from Wisconsin. As you know, when I have company at my house, I’m present with them and don’t spend time on the phone or the computer. But I’ve missed you all, both sharing my life through blogging and reading what is going on in yours. We had a good visit with my parents and did all the usual tourist stuff. They got some great pictures of the mountains and of the grandkids, and got to meet some of our closest friends here. They came to church with us even though it made them a little uncomfortable since our worship is very different than what they’re used to. They left Tuesday and are now spending a few days with my brother in Minneapolis before returning home.

There was a report on the news this morning about all of the power outages around the city. There are about 13,000 customers without power right now – mainly caused by heavy tree branches breaking and knocking down power lines. I’ve been thinking about how this effects those without power. People who have medical equipment that needs electricity to run it. People who are elderly or poor and already can’t afford to heat their homes any more than absolutely necessary. People who can’t get out to buy the needed supplies to be prepared for storms like this. The mayor has declared next week the “Be prepared” week. You know, get your 72 hour emergency kit ready for your family. The problem is that the storm is hitting NOW, not next week. If you KNOW winter is coming and it’s going to snow in October, shouldn’t you be ready for it? The stores are all ready for the Christmas rush already, yet people are scrambling to buy a shovel and some salt for their driveways. I view it as one of those insane behaviors we could avoid if we just plan ahead a little. Here’s my short list of plan ahead crazies that could be avoided, and how to avoid them.

The Holidays – you know they come around every year. Plan for them in advance. Budget money all year if you plan to buy gifts for others for Christmas. There is no excuse for credit card debt to skyrocket every Nov.-Jan. Like we need more stuff. Are you buying for people you don’t love because you feel obligated since they bought you a gift? Are you spending money on gifts when you’re struggling to pay your bills? Are you stressed out by the length of your shopping list every year? Simplify my friend. Simplify! Let people know you love them by telling them in person, or writing them a hand written letter instead of the overdone generic family newsletter everyone shoves in Christmas cards so they can sign their names and be done with it. (I’m guilty too.) The holidays don’t have to be as stressful as we make them out to be. Have you ever wanted to rebel against the phrase “Holiday Rush?” Me too. More on this in a future post.

Winter – During the big winter storm probably isn’t the best time to shop for shovels, extra batteries, and other emergency supplies. Why not prepare ahead of time – like in the Spring when winter accessories go on clearance or during the summer at garage sales? Even the Fall is a good time, when you know winter is approaching and you’re going to need these things. An emergency kit in your car is always a good idea, but one for the home is essential as well. I found a great list at TheEpicenter.com. It has a supply list for your car, home, and workplace, and includes needs for medical supplies, baby stuff, and pets.

Summer Fun – Same principle applies here. Summer happens every year and Fall is the best time to stock up on summer supplies – when they’re on clearance. Pool noodles, floaties, water guns, and swimming suits are always on sale at the end of summer so the stores can make room for Christmas stuff by their September deadline – I’m kidding…sort of.

Birthdays – with a little planning ahead, you can have a small stash of cards to mail to family and friends when special occasions arise. Buy gifts throughout the year when you see them and think of the special people in your life, and keep them in a box or tote in your closet or garage labeled “Gifts” or better yet, label it “cleaning supplies” and nosy children and spouses are sure to leave it alone. 😉 Whatever the label says, it will help you avoid rushing to find something at the last minute for those occasions you probably forgot to write on your calendar.

CALENDARS! Having a Master Calendar hanging where everyone can see it is a start. Actually using it is the key. Set aside an hour a year to write down everyone’s birthdays, anniversaries (including your own if applicable), and other special events and activities you know will come up. You can be as fancy or simple as you want, just do it. I have symbols on mine. For example, for birthdays I draw a small balloon then write the name next to it. For anniversaries, I draw a small heart then the last name of the couple after it. For my immediate family’s birthdays, I draw a big balloon around the date so they see that I think they’re really important. The kids love this because it helps them count down the days until their balloon. If you have school age children, include their monthly activities on the master calendar so you don’t have to keep up with more than one calendar – it increases the chances of forgetting about an important activity, fieldtrip, due date, concert, etc. Now here’s the important part, check your calendar DAILY and WEEKLY to see what is coming up so you’ll be prepared. Check it before committing to people to add something to your schedule. If you need to, schedule days on the calendar to make sure you have everything you need in your emergency kits for bad weather and/or accidents.

Living in the tyranny of the urgent is ridiculous and unnecessary. We all fall into that trap sometimes, but we don’t have to keep falling into it. Why would we choose to? Choose to be as prepared as you can be. It’s an easy way to add some peace to your life. It’s my version of “The early bird gets the worm”.

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Sometimes when I find I’m sinking into myself and starting to feel the weariness of life, I retreat into solitude and silence. My life has been anything but quiet and I am still learning the art of being still and knowing that HE is God…and I am not. It can be rough and lonely. I seem to be on an emotional rollercoaster the past month or so. Being sick and tired took it’s toll a few weeks ago, but by God’s love and mercy I overcame both the physical illness and the weariness of spirit. Then last week I hit another low. When that happens I don’t feel like blogging, doing laundry, going grocery shopping, or facing the outside world at all. Words of brothers and sisters wounded and stung me and in my need to be understood, the tears flowed freely when I was trying desperately to be calm and in control. Silent tears that steadily streamed down my face – devoid of the wracking sobs I was feeling internally. They evoked little response from those who had summoned them in the first place. I was spent.

But this weekend I had some wonderful soul-filling talks with girlfriends who love me dearly and I decided that maybe I was being so inward focused that I was holding myself captive to my grief. I needed to turn my attention to those I love. I’ve been terrible about keeping up with long-distance friends since my 3rd child was born. Saturday I decided that it’s o.k. for my family to be #1 and friends who don’t make the effort to keep in touch with me will have to deal with the temporary separation. I want to live in the present – not in the past. I’m not letting go of those friendships and I miss them all greatly, but at this season of my life I need to concentrate a little more on those I love that I actually see and those that we mutually put time and energy into the relationship. And that’s o.k….no guilt.

This weekend I had the opportunity to show love and support for two friends who I felt needed me. Sunday morning I got up early and met Abi downtown so I could love on her and pray for her before she ran in the Inaugural Denver Marathon (26.2 miles). We walked and talked and I wasn’t sure exactly what to say to encourage her since I’m not a runner and I’ve never been involved with a marathon. I finally decided that it was enough that I got up to meet her and show my support. The woman is amazing! While she ran that marathon, I went home to bake, shower, go to church, and eat lunch. I made it back downtown just in time to see her cross the finish line. Her time was 5 hours, 20 minutes, and 16 seconds…or 15 seconds. It was hard to tell from my perspective. 5 hours of running with 5,000 other people from 45 states! Incredible! As she ran past me towards the finish line, I screamed and yelled her name, how proud I was of her, how she rocks, and a bunch of other things I know she didn’t hear. When I finally caught up with her, we cried and hugged and she thanked me for being there. It felt so good to focus on her…and not me. Abi, I know you’ll read this and I just have to say…I’m glad I was an encouragement to you, but I was just as uplifted by being there. You are a fantastic picture of perseverance to me. Thank you so much for the reminder. Thank you for being who you are. That medal looked great hanging around your neck! I love you Abi!

Sunday was also Creative Day at The Journey. Everyone is welcome and invited to share their special gifts, talents, and creativity however they feel led. I baked. My famous (or they should be) Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies, Carrot Cake, and a Triple Layer Pumpkin cake. I loved sharing a talent that is fairly hidden since I don’t bake much anymore. We try not to eat that stuff very often, so I try not to add to the temptation. Anyway, Michael – one of our Pastors – teased me because he didn’t know I could bake and when we had them over for supper, I had bought a Boston Cream Pie. 😉 It was also funny to hear over and over again, “I didn’t know you baked!” I think people are so used to seeing me up in front singing with the band that maybe they assumed that was the only thing I could do. How often do I make that same assumption with others in our fellowship? I need to work on that. I did get to send the biggest piece of Pumpkin cake home with Jerry for my dear friend Paula.

Paula has been sick for over a week. Moms don’t have time to get sick…especially Mom’s with four kids! This woman has loved me through some rough spots in life since I met her last Spring. She has shared her wisdom, tears, advice, listening ears, and so much more with me. We have become great friends and there’s not much I wouldn’t do for her. I made her (and her family) a big pot of chicken noodle soup and a pan of cornbread so she wouldn’t have to cook. Little did I know that was her wish. I am so grateful for having a simple and practical way to lift her up. Today I spent the afternoon with her. We sipped tea and she coughed. We talked and laughed and teared up. It was great. She is starting to feel a little better, and I ask that you pray for her quick healing. Paula, thank you for who you are and pouring your kindness all over me – even when you’re sick. You’ll be ready to don your cape again in no time! 😉 I love you too! I mean it! 😉

Holy Father,
So often you place people in my life at just the right moment when I need a smile and a friend. You continually provide for my needs and my family and I am so grateful! Thank you for using me to encourage Abi and Paula this weekend. I ask that you help me keep my eyes and heart open to serving whenever I can. It’s the least I can do for you after all you have done for me!
I love you Lord!

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