200th Post Tuesday

Today is a momentous occasion! It is my 200th post!!! There will be a variety of things to read today for this post. Thank you all for being continued readers of Nic’s Place. Many of you have grown into treasured friends. Though we may never meet in person, we have come close through emails, reading each other’s blogs and just plain caring.

I want to highlight just a few of the blogs/blogfriends that I really enjoy on a regular basis. My apologies to anyone who was left out, it wasn’t intentional by any means. For an expanded list of amazing bloggers and blogs visit my blogroll on the lower right sidebar.

No Average Girl, is the sweetest person. A young, strong girl who has a head on her shoulders and a maturity beyond many who are twice (or more) her age. She is going through a tough time. Her beloved pawpaw passed away over the weekend after a prolonged battle. She is handling it exceptionally well and is a real rock for her family. You can find out more about the ordeal that they have been through over the past week on her blog and gain a great deal of insight into her. You will come away awed by the strength of character that she has maintained throughout her life so far.

THE Great White Bear is another dear friend who has been a real source of encouragement to me when I’ve been down. I’ve mentioned before that he is so different from me philosophically, theologically, ideologically among others. However, in spite of the fact that he is liberal, leftist, anti-Bush and his administration, a self-proclaimed XXXL hippie, a humanistic atheist and much older than me with grandkids, he, most importantly, is kind, compassionate, caring, a real friend, encourager and cheerleader to me always. He has my back and I know he always will. He also is a huge hockey fan and loves all things Celtic – especially the beer! I adore him and would have his back without hesitation should he ever need it.

Some great homegrown (as in Texas) blogfriends that I visit on a regular basis, but don’t always post a comment on their blog and the delightful Present Storms (aka Stormie), her husband Guppy and then dear Epiphany. I enjoy them all.

A woman who knows what I am going through b/c she is going through it too is One4JC. She's kind, empathetic and a voice of support during our respective ordeals with divorce. Go on by and give her a word of encouragement too.

There are also some other great blogs out there that I enjoy going to, especially the always interesting and wonderful Michael Manning. He is a great friend and another amazing encourager for everyone he comes across. He is a Steve McQueen fanatic and enthusiast and finds the good in everyone or at least he brings it out in everyone.

A great conservative blog out there is Oblogitory Anecdotes – because everyone is entitled to his opinion! He is pro-America, pro-family, pro-ethics and pro-morals and always has interesting opinions on the stories that he reports on his blog.

Mike Jones is a really sweet single dad in California, in law enforcement and loves singing and God. He is a real encourager to both myself and No Average Girl over the past months. He's a real class act and one I'm glad to say is a good blogfriend.

Next up are three wonderfully witty and deeply delightful ladies. Lois Lane keeps her “Home Fires” burning bright, Ms. Susie Sunshine (my nickname for her) begs an answer to the question “What was I thinking?” and finally CMHL (Crouching Mommy Hidden Laundry) gives you a glimpse into her wonderfully hectic and stressed life with a hint of humor (after all, isn't that the only way to go through life and be sane is with some humor). You will either be touched deeply by their posts about their respective families and some of the struggles they go through or will be laughing out loud hard enough about their (or their kids/spouses) antics to bring tears to your eyes.

And lastly, but not least, are my intergalactic friends Captain Picard who is currently, with his crew, on the Walt Springer show in order to garner better understanding between the citizens of the Federation and those who are on Starships; and Master Yoda who is having to put up with the likes of the street speaking Young Anakin Skywalker, the narcissistic Mace Windu, the slightly annoying Harvey the Youngling and his pet Bob the Bantha. Captain Picard has been ever gracious and kind and is always an encourager when he leaves a comment on my blog and Master Yoda and his stupid intern Bill J. are funny and a wonderful daily read!

Check 'em out, you'll be glad you did!
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Some things about me that you probably don't know yet:

• My favorite shows are American Idol, Nashville Star, Grey's Anatomy and Criminal Minds. Yes I'm a sucker for the singing shows. I have a good voice – a really good voice, but I have never had a great voice so I love listening to the undiscovered talent out there who have a chance to make it.

• I love watching Saturday morning cartoons with Emily on Saturday mornings – I never grew out of enjoying cartoons.

•I'm a sucker for flowers – yellow and Shasta daisies and white and yellow roses especially.

• I can recite the alphabet backwards with almost no hesitation

• I can read and write upside down and backwards and also read and write both ways at the same time
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I was watching "The Best of Guy Penrod" form the Gaither series this weekend and I thought to myself...that is the kind of man I want. He's a Godly, God-fearing, man who loves his God, his family, his country and his friends. He's funny, fun-loving, respectful, a great husband and father (of 8 – 7 boys and 1 brand new baby girl – though I don't want that many!), who sings, reads morning Bible verses with the whole family, helps home school his kids and hunts among many other things. I was watching this with Emily and my mom and just felt that thought so deeply.

I told my dearest friend MC this weekend that I'm perfectly ok with being single. For the first time in my life I am completely ok with being single and I know that it is because I have been able to really concentrate on my relationship with God and my daughter and have really grown in both, especially how I am learning to really lean on God instead of trying to be so self-sufficient and if I'm single until the day I die, I will truly be ok with it. However, that being said, I would really love to, buy the grace of God, find someone like Guy Penrod. Those of you who know the Gaithers and who know about Guy Penrod know what I mean.
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I was reading the verse of the day from Bible Gateway and it really was what I needed to hear today in a big way.

You know how sometimes you read a random verse and it speaks to you in a voice so loud you can't help but know that it was from God? Yeah, that was this verse...

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”- Jeremiah 17:7-8

I was reminded - as I often need to be, unfortunately, that no matter what is going on in my life that I need to keep trusting God, regardless of the level of trouble. I shouldn't worry, no matter what the situation, I shouldn't be concerned b/c God is always in control and He will always watch over me and care for me.

Consider Matthew 6:25-34:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to their life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all of his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own..

If God takes care of the birds of the air how much more will He take care of me if I just trust in Him that He will take care of me?
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Now for a joke:

One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Manager was tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where she was met at the Pearly Gates by an Angel.

"Welcome to Heaven," said the Angel. "Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a Human Resources Manager make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," said the woman.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."

"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said the woman.

"Sorry, we have rules..."

And with that the Angel put the executive in an elevator and it went down-down-down to hell.

The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were well dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.

She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy kind of cute and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing.

She was having such a good time that before she knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got on the elevator.

The elevator went up-up-up and opened back up at the Pearly Gates and found the Angel waiting for her.

"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," the Angel said.

So she spent the next 24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and the Angel came and got her.

"So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in heaven. Now you must choose your eternity."

The woman paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell."
So the Angel escorted her to the elevator and again she went down-down-down back to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks.

The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her.

"I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a waste land of garbage and all my friends look miserable."

The Devil looked at her smiled and told...

"Yesterday we were recruiting you, today you're an Employee."
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This “joke” is a good lesson in 'deception'. Deception is what the enemy uses and deception is what we see in the organizational set up of this world. In this fallen world, mankind's philosophy has been one of deception. Everyone wants to be rich and successful and the art of deception IS, one of the key ingredients.
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I wish everyone had the innocence and faith of a child!

In his beautiful book, "I Shall Not Want," Robert Ketchum tells of a Sunday School teacher who asked her group of children if anyone could quote the entire 23rd Psalm.

A golden-haired, four-and-a-half-year-old girl was among those who raised their hands. A bit skeptical, the teacher asked if she could really quote the entire psalm.

The little girl came to the front of the room, faced the class, made a perky little bow, and said, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want."

She bowed again and went and sat down.

That may well be the greatest interpretation of the 23rd Psalm ever heard.
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Again, thank you all for being continued readers and for your kindness and support over the past (almost) year. March 28 will be my official one year "blogiversary". I first started this blog in October of 2004, but didn't post anything on it until March 28, 2005. I've been blessed by y'all more than you know! Here's to another 200 posts with all of you!