Sep. 22, 2008 The weather fell. Well, it's Fall anyway.
It's getting chilly around here. Not cold, but chilly. Actually, I like Autumn. I like the colors and the fact that my whole family can be inside and together. Maybe I just love all seasons. Yes, that could be.
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And I think the dust storms might be gone for now. I say this because it has started raining and normally when that happens it means we're over the dust storms. But I'm still going to be on the look-out for them. I never trust Idaho weather.
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I have started taking pictures again. I love taking pictures and want to be a photographer someday, but had almost put the whole thing on the back burner for a bit because I don't own a good camera. But then a week or so ago my Uncle let me barrow his Canon. He is so awesome! So yeah, I've been busy with that :D
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I guess I don't have much more to say right now. I need to go make lunch. I'll try to post again soon. Happy Autumn everyone!
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~Nikki
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Sep. 2, 2008 BAM! Dust storm.
Well, I don't have much time to post, but I do want to share a little something with you all. It's called Idaho weather. The other day I was in our kitchen getting ready to make dinner when my older brother looked out the window and said "Aw man, that does not look good." I was puzzled and asked, "What doesn't look good?" he leaned sideways so he could get a better look and said, "That." as he pointed to the West. I walked into the family room and saw this outside the window...
Yeah, we get dust storms a lot around here. Everything will be just fine one minute and the next -BAM- dust storm. This picture hardly does the storm justice, but it's the best I could do. Hope everyone has had a good start to their school year! I'm glad to be back at the books.
~Nikki |
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Aug. 8, 2008 Take a deep breath of summer air.
Ah, as I take a deep breath of this fine summer air I inhale smoke, toxins from the sprayed fields by our house, and dust still lingering in the air from last nights wind storm. No, I'm not being negative, I'm being matter-of-fact. Idaho air is awful in the summertime.
My poor brother is sick with a cold and I half blame it on the air quality. Next week we will be going to the mountains to camp and I hear the air is nice and clear up out of our valley. I'm hoping that's so. Sometimes the air is even worse in McCall because of their fires. We'll have to see.
I guess that's quite enough of my rambling about my state's air quality concerns. This was actually meant to be a post to talk about summer being almost over. People keep saying "Can you believe summer is almost over?" and at first I want to say "No! Where did it go, anyway?" but then I think of all that has happened this summer. I took Driver's Ed, went camping, saw my mom's whole family at their annual gathering, spent time with my cousins, had family stay with us for a bit, and many other things. I guess what really brought this on was the fact that my cousin, and one of my best friends, turned 14 yesterday. I can hardly believe she's already 14! But then again, I can. She has grown up so much over the summer. She's tall now, very pretty (though she always has been), sweet, funny, smart, and she has also really grown in her faith this last year. I can tell that her belief's are stronger, her trust deeper, and her attitude is one of a happy and content Christian. She is still learning and growing, but she knows this. She's ready for it. I'm so proud of her. She is truly an inspiration to me.
It's funny, she's younger than me, but she has taught me, just by living her life, so much about being a Christian. I feel so blessed to have her as a friend. And the same is to be said about my online friends. Some of you have taught me so much, even though I've never met you. I read your posts and learn. I see how you handle things, how you view things, and I learn. Not from all the blogs I read, but from some. And I thank the Lord for those blogs and the people who write them. To get on with my post I'll just say this, my summer was not wasted. I learned, had fun, and even made some friends. Thank you to all of the bloggers who have taken the time to write encouraging, God-praising posts to teach their brothers and sisters in Christ. I really appreciate them.
I'm off to close up the windows before it gets hot. Summer's not over yet, ya know. ;)
Blessings,
~Nikki |
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Jul. 24, 2008 Life can seem so strange at times. Like my posts.
I need some prayers. I'll explain by telling a bit of a story...
When I was about ten years old my family moved from town to come live near my Grandpa and Uncle's farm. When we first moved I didn't have any friends. I didn't know anyone and spent most of my time playing with my brothers or by myself (which by the way, isn't a bad thing). After being there a little while and not having any friends, I kinda gave up on any ideas of making friends.
Then one day I was in the front yard playing with our dog when a girl who looked to be about my age rode past on her bike. I smiled at her and then went in the house. I think by this point in time I didn't want friends anymore. I was a little scared to be too close with people I didn't know. So anyway, later that day the same girl rode past again. She stopped her bike on the road and from there it went something like this:
Her-"Hey, do you live here?"
Me-"Yeah. We moved in a few months ago."
Her-"Oh. Do you go to the Notus school?"
Me-"No, I'm homeschooled."
Her-"So that's why I never see you around!"
Me-"Ha, yeah."
...Awkward silence.
Her-"What's you name?"
Me-"Nikki."
Her-"You don't look like a Nikki."
Me-"Oh. What's your name?"
Her-"Lindsey."
Me-"Do you live down the road?"
Her-"Yeah. With my grandparents and my dad."
From there on it was about the same. Me, totally shy and a little freaked out by this out-going, public school girl on her fancy bike telling me that my name doesn't fit me. And her trying to sum up the freak who appears to have no contact with the outside world. We ended up playing together for most of that summer. I don't really know why. I wasn't sure what I thought about her and I'm not sure she liked me that much, but we still hung out. Go figure.
After that summer my family moved again. This time only up the road a little ways. Lindsey moved, too. She moved closer to her school. Still not far from me, but not close enough to ride her bike over anymore. I know my mom was never thrilled with me being around Lindsey, but I think she prayed that I might be a bit of a good influence on her. As the time passed I saw less and less of her. Most of this was my own doing. I was afraid of what being her friend might get me into. When I did hear from her she always went on about being a cheerleader and her boyfriend and how she was going to some party or something. I was thinking about how messed up it was that someone so young could even be thinking about such things.
So to avoid the problem I just hid. I didn't give her our new phone number when we got a new one. I didn't go over to her house anymore, and we just grew apart. And I was thankful for this. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to help her. But I didn't feel like I could. I'm not yet that strong spiritually myself, how could I ever help her?? I did continue to pray for her every night. And I would often wonder what she was up to, thinking that it couldn't be good. How could it? She didn't have anyone looking after her! Her dad worked all the time and she doesn't even know her mom. So I prayed, I thought, and I moved on.
Until yesterday. Yesterday a 1975 Candy-Apple Red Firebird rolled into our driveway. Out of the Firebird came a bleached blond Lindsey (she used to have brown hair) in her short shorts and skimpy tank-top. She gave me a big hug and asked how I have been. I blinked and stuttered and probably answered in really stupid ways. Thankfully my dad was there and played the part of a polite and sensible human being. After a while though he went into the shop to 'let you girls talk'. In my mind I was going "But I don't want to!" But outside I tried to be nice and fairly talkative. At one point she looked at me and said,
"You've lost weight!"
"Yeah, I started running this year."
After that she came over and felt my scrawny arms and grinned. I then said,
"Yes, I'm still weak. You were always stronger than me."
She just giggled and went on about how she has to be in shape because she's on the cheer-leading team and so on. She asked me if I wanted to go to the Fair with her and her boyfriend. I told her I would ask, because in the past when I would say no right away she would get mad at me. She said she would stop by today and see if I could. She never came. I'm not sure what's going on. Why did God bring her back into my life? What am I supposed to do? I don't know any of this! To close this little whatever-ya-call-it post I will just ask for prayers. I really need to look to the Lord right now for guidance. I have no plans of spending time with her, but I need to know how to deal with the situations I know I'm going to be put in. So please pray. And any advise would be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
~Nikki
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Jun. 22, 2008 Wowza, update time!
I really don't like telling people I'm busy. I feel dumb when I do it. Like I don't have time for them or anything other than what I'm "busy" with. And it's not true. Well, sometimes I may not have the time to blog or email and IM people and stuff, but that doesn't make it unimportant. I really, really like blogging and talking to friends, so being busy is hard for me. I guess I'll move on with my apology and stop rambling now.
So for anyone who still wanders by here, I am still going to write on this blog and I do not mean to ignore anybody. I have been pretty busy so far this summer (see? doesn't that sound lame?) but I still want to keep in touch with other bloggers. I will try to help my case by giving you a bit of an insight as to what I've been doing.
Driver's Ed. is probably the biggest thing that's causing me to have time-management problems. I wanted to get signed up this year so I could have my license by the time I'm sixteen and be able to babysit for my family members with small children. So mom got me signed up. I was due to start the day after we got back from camping, and yes, I was nervous. The first night of that was weird. Not bad, but weird. I have to go to a public school for classes...and that took some getting used to. Now it's not a big deal, I go, I keep to myself (while being polite to the other kids) and then I leave. End of classroom experience. I'll be done with that soon, which will be nice. I don't really favor getting up at 5:00am for drive classes.
Also just some family stuff. Helping with chores, weddings, friends. All that good stuff. And this summer I'm trying to get in the habit of running everyday. Today I got my little brother to go with me, that was nice. :) Anyway, I do plan on writing more. I'm sure it will be easier when Driver's Ed. is over. I'm trying really hard to learn everything I can in this class.
It would also be wonderful if people would pray for me right now. I had high hopes of getting closer to the Lord this year, but that hasn't been the case. I find myself having time to do everything else, but when it comes to God I say "oh, I need to study my driver's manual. I'll study my Bible later." and I know that is not the right thing. I really can't have it this way, and I'm working on it, but all prayers are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
~Nikki |
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May. 7, 2008 What? It's high-time I write again? Oh...ok.
If I still have any readers after my absence I apologize for not writing and/or not returning comments. I was gone last week and have been busy this week. That's not saying I think it's a good excuse or anything, I'm just telling what I've been up to. I'm going to do my best to come up with a good post soon, but no promises! But really, I need to get some stuff under control around here first. Stuff like out-of-control weeds and camping trips that need planning and school that needs finishing for the summer. Whew. Lots of stuff.
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So please stay with me! I'll try my best to comment soon. Hope everyone is doing well. More later!
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~Nikki
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Apr. 9, 2008 Tune in Next Week...or Whenever.
This is just a post to say that I will be posting again soon. I have not forgotten about my blog or my blogger friends, just stay with me here! Maybe I'll even be able to come up with something worth reading about. Just maybe. Til then!
Blessings,
~Nikki |
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Mar. 10, 2008 Growing and Trusting.
After reading Jocelyn's latest posts on college and marriage I got to thinking about growing up in general. I mean, I know it's something everyone has to do and does do, but sometimes it seems like it either happens too fast or not fast enough. I guess I've been thinking more about it because of certain members of my family growing up and moving forward in their lives. As an example, my cousin started college and now we don't see him as much. My brother is finishing school and when he does who knows how long he'll be home? I think he wants to get an apartment with my cousin (the one that's going to college) so that my cousin won't have to drive so far everyday and so my brother can get a job in Boise. I'm okay with that and all, but then I'll be the oldest kid at home. I can't even imagine how that will be. I've always had my brother to do things and to talk to and it will just be weird not having him.
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It also is a reminder that I too have to grow up and move on. When my brother moves out I'll have to take on more responsibilities. I'll be the one my little brothers watch and learn from. It will always be my job to make dinner when my mom has to work. Alex won't be there when I have questions about a school book that he's already done. Nope, it'll just be me. And I'll have to grow up and learn how to do more. At first I thought about it in a different way, like 'man, Alex will be gone and I'm gonna be left here to do all this stuff without him.' but now I see it the way I should have all along. It's not me being left behind, it's me moving forward and learning how to be more helpful to my family. My Dad and Mom will need me here to help with the boys and chores and all kinds of other things I can't think of right now. I'm moving forward too, even if it doesn't seem like it. And even though I will miss my brother, I'll be okay. He's growing up just like he's supposed to, and so am I. God is still teaching me how to be a home-keeper. He's still working with me. I just need to trust Him and believe that He knows what is best for me. Because I sure don't! The only One I trust to lead my life is the Lord, and in order for that to happen I have to give all my worries and concerns over to Him.
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So that is where I stand. I am not going anywhere, but yet I am. God is working with me and helping me to learn and grow in the safety of my own home. Someday it will be my turn to venture out in to the big scary world, but for now I still have work to do. And I'll do my best to work hard. As long as I have my God to trust in and my family to serve I'm fine where ever I am.
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~Nikki
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Feb. 17, 2008 Here's hoping for an early spring.
Yes, just as the title says, I'm hoping for an early spring. I can't wait for sunny days and pretty flowers. Not to mention I'm supposed to get a new camera this spring. I cannot wait until then! I think I'm going to buy the Canon EOS Rebel. If anyone has that camera please leave me a comment and tell me how you like it.
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I need to reply to some comments, I know that, so stick with me a little longer. I have a really good idea for a post in my head and just need to type it up. I'll try to do that soon. Just wanted to put a quick post up on here, so I'll be back before too long. hope everyone is having a good February so far.
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~Nikki
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Jan. 19, 2008 Yes, I'm still writing on here.
Sorry, again, for the lack of writing being done on the so-called 'writers' blog. I do have some good reasons though. First off, I was babysitting last week for my cousin while she and her husband were gone. It was really my aunt and I, not just me, but I was pretty much given the job of watching the two year old. He was really good and I had a good time, but I didn't know keeping up with a two year old was so much work! And I had to help watch the ten month old. She is so cute! I did have to get up in the middle of the night a few times to give her a bottle, not that I minded or anything. It was fun but I'm glad to be home again. I missed everyone at home.
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Thanks to everyone who has been commenting. I will try and get back with you all soon. And thanks for all the kind comments on my last post. I'm doing much better now and the problems that I was dealing with seem to have worked themselves out. Thanks again for all the prayers and concern. I have such sweet friends here on HSB.
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Okay, well I can't be on here long right now. I just wanted to let you guys know what I've been up to. More soon! (hopefully) 
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~Nikki
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