A Second Look

I had walked this place at least a dozen times before, but this time was different. This time I went alone, by myself, and without a cell or ear phones attached. It had been a long, rough day at work; I was frustrated and just wanted to crash at home. However, it was so beautiful and I had my camera with me... So I ended up taking a long walk and a very satisfying one to say the least. I discovered things that I normally would not have noticed. Things so simple as a fly on a daisy, a turtle scuttling across the path, or a snake slithering under a rock. It is walks like these while observing God's beautiful nature that encourage me to take that second look...

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown,

for going out, I found, was really going in. John Muir

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and flowers, and clouds, and stars. Martin Luther

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. George Washington Carver

In His Time

Over a month ago, my little pre-school students and I planted gladiolus along side the school building. I must say that I was quite doubtful that we would ever see results. We had planted a total of 16 bulbs and I remember jokingly saying to another teacher, "We will be lucky if 1 out of those 16 comes up!"

The directions had said to plant 6 inches into the ground and we had struck rock up 1 inch down; in my mind there was no way anything would grow there. I didn't even bother watering them or trying to help them grow, instead I forgot all about them. Just this past week I was out in the field along side the school when one of the children ran to me and said, "Miss Nicole, Owen just pulled up one of your flowers!!!"

I was confused for a minute..."What flowers??" I walked over and to my surprise there were gladiolus sprouting up from the brown earth. I shook my head in disbelief and began counting...1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15...and 16 counting the one in Owen's hand.

I called the other teachers over to see the miracle growing up; I could not believe it!

The gladiolus reminded me of my lack of faith. Reminded me that even in spite of my lack of belief, God is still working; He is still performing miracles. Just as I doubted the growth of those flowers, sometimes I find myself doubting God, and I hear my mother saying, "Nicole, do you put limits on God..."

But, you know what is so wonderful?

That, even though I do not exercise my faith as I should God still wants to bless me; He still wants to make the "gladiolus" grow...

He hath made everything beautiful in His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Linking up with Emily to unwrap the gift of Tuesday.

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies:

Christ our God, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,

Sun and moon and stars of light:

Christ our God, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

I cannot help but want to sing whenever I look around at God's beautiful creation; it truly is awe-inspiring. Sharing my mosaic over at the Little Red House for Mosaic Monday; see more there.

"Do not go where the path may lead..."

"...go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Graduation...that time in one's life where they accomplish a period of schooling and are ready to embrace the next! The last two weeks I have been able to attend and be a part of four graduations: Fairhaven Baptist College and Academy, Fairhaven Kindergarten, and two Pre-School Graduations at my work. I can't believe that it has already been a year since my college graduation, and five years since high school.

I remember my senior year of high school like it was yesterday; I remember how excited and nervous I was about entering college. I remember the first day of College orientation; my classmates and I had practiced what we would say when we got up and introduced ourselves. Boy, was I scared! It seemed like I blinked my eyes and four years had went by and I was graduating from college.

Recently I was looking at a picture I had taken with all my college graduates. It was exciting to see just how much has happened in all of our lives in just one short year. Quite a few have been married, several have went on to other schools to teach, some to churches to assist the Pastor, and then some who are like me and are serving in their home churches and waiting for next step or place God may lead them to. Another "school year" has ended and I am anxious to see what God has in store for me and those hopeful graduates in the next!

Fairhaven College & Academy Graduation

My baby sister with some of her senior friends...

I can't believe this is gonna be her senior year!

Me and my sweet friend Liz!

Fairhaven Kindergarten Graduation

I was asked take some photographs of the k-5 class, the morning of their ceremony. I had lots of fun and was able to get a lot of cute shots of the little graduates!

Future graduating class of 2022!

These little boys were too much fun!

Preschool Graduations at my Work

And...last but not least, I got to sit with my kiddies as they did a singing program and graduated from preschool!

Some were hardly interested...:)

And...others just came for the food!

So, as you can see it has been quite busy around here, but I have thoroughly enjoyed each one of these graduations!

Family Dinner

Family dinners... the time of day when everything finally settles down and the family is able to gather 'round the table and catch up on each others' day. Oh how I love this time; and I am ever so grateful that despite our busy schedules we usually always come to the table for food and fellowship. I am so fortunate to have both a Mother and Father who are excellent cooks, and I hope to pick up on their talent when I have a family of my own.

This is a family favorite of ours:

Stuffed Shells (served with Texas toast of course!)

Stuff pasta shells with whatever you desire...

We use Italian Sausage, ricotta, spaghetti sauce, mozzarella,

Parmesan, oregano, and garlic.

DELICIOUS!

And then there were three...

Growing up we were called the foursome and last week the first of us was married. We were inseparable crew in high school, we did everything together; from birthday parties to getting in trouble. College came and we were in different classes, dating, and working jobs; no longer were we the foursome. College graduation came and went and then "she" was asked THE question by her special someone. Of course I had known it was coming, but I really could not believe that she was going to be married and move to another country!

I was not for sure what I would feel when she walked down that aisle; and then the moment came... The organ was playing the wedding march and she was walking down the aisle looking beautiful as ever. Suddenly I found myself remembering so many of the good times we had had together in high school and wishing we had stayed that close through college. Then, she looked at me and smiled... That is when the tears began to fall. I don't know where they came from; I was so happy for her, yet so sad. Where had our childhood gone? I felt the tears falling harder now and I had to focus on stopping them and taking in every moment of her special day.

The ceremony was over and I was able to get a couple pictures and hug her one last time. It was such a beautiful wedding and I was so proud to have shared a part in her life.

Only in Chesterton...

...Can you read these headlines:

Woman's Purse ALMOST Stolen

Work Continues on Sinkhole

170 Bikes Collected in Bike Drive

Sparkler Ignites Bush in Town

GPS Taken Out of UNLOCKED Car

Community Warning: Middle Aged Man Posing as Police, Pulls Over Boy on Bike

Solar Powered Light Stolen...

...(following day) Solar Powered Light Returned

Elderly Man Takes Picture With Cell Phone of Woman's Backside

Dog Attempts to Bite Boy