SUCH a slacker!

Yes that’s me – Slacker Numero Uno! Sorry about that – the summer has completely gotten away from me and now it’s pretty much “over” as far as we’re concerned. (Please don’t think that means that the HEAT from summer is over – rather, it’s pretty much still just begun…..)

So Micah is starting school in just a couple of days – Thursday – which he’s really excited about. First Grade – WOW! And he thinks summer will be over and it’ll start cooling off – yeah….sorry kid, not so much.   Olivia is into EVERYTHING and anything she can get her hands on. She’s currently wandering around with socks on her hands (yes that’s right) and a ziplock baggie with about 5 old cheerios in it. I am supposed to be opening it for her (she’s whining at me) so she can eat them but I think I will continue to ignore her right now.

Alright so I never EVER gave any sort of update on the NTM thing. Please don’t misunderstand – it’s not because we’re lazy or because we are trying to keep it from anybody – but rather I just plain forgot. And then there’s the fact that I don’t really know what to say. So here it is – we resigned a few weeks ago. And that’s pretty much THAT. We’re looking forward to what God has for us outside of NTM and we are definitely looking forward to finding other ways to be involved in mission and evangelization work…..but I’m really sad to be honest. NTM is pretty much all I “know”…..I grew up in the organization and went to Bible School and did my training with them…..so even another mission board would be different – NTM is home for me. I do know, however, that we are where God wants us. He has made that very clear to both Matthew and I and for that, we are thankful. It’s good to know that we made the right decision – even though it wasn’t easy – and it’s good to know that He has a plan for our lives.

So if you were wondering, that’s what’s up. I am probably going to drop this blog since the entire purpose was to keep in touch with our friends/family/supporters and let them know what was going on with our ministry with NTM…and that’s no longer necessary. Perhaps if I have one less blog to update I’ll actually UPDATE it.

End of the Year

It’s almost here. Wow….another year has gone by. And I chuckle when I think about how our “years” are gauged – starting and ending – with the school year. Kinda funny, huh? Before kids (when my job title was “wife & co-worker” and no longer “student”) my year actually went from January to December.

Anyway – today we went to Micah’s school and watched him and his classmates show us several of the things they learned this past year. Micah was….um….well, in fine form. (I videotaped most of the program so I can hold it over his head when he’s older.) I’m watching him as he hits his head (he does this when he’s embarassed or makes a mistake – and HOW can I help him break this habit?!?) and I watched him as he staggered to his feet when it was his turn – and then wave his arms around as he “caught his balance”…. fortunately I didn’t get any death stares from the other parents – there were some smiles and snickers along with my own snorts of laughter….probably all a little relieved it wasn’t THEIR child who was the odd one out with too much drama!!

Ahh but he’s my child. And he is definately MY child. (You need go no further than any of my sisters, parents, grandparents…..childhood friends….current friends – sheesh – anybody who knows me even a LITTLE can recognize me for the drama queen I am.) But a good drama queen – I totally grew out of hitting my head when I’m embarassed and creating my own drama YEARS ago.

I was incredibly proud of him – to see him recite the poems they’d memorized…sing for us, and he’s so proud of the work they have compiled to give to us.   I have a pile of pictures of him and his classmates from the last year, along with a book that his teacher put together for all of us…..full of things the kids said during the year. He gave his daddy a folder with his letters and lots of other things they put together for us…..and he’s so proud of his work. And we are of him.

Some funny quotes that I’m STILL laughing about 4 hours later!

-Micah’s weather report today was, “Doubly windy, but not really windy.”

-The kids were discussing who would be picking them up today when Micah said, “My regular mom is the one who picks me up.” (I didn’t know there were other moms!!)

-The kids had to write from 1 to 20 across a long strip of paper. Micah almost ran out of room at the end so he wrote 19 & 21. When I (his teacher) asked him what happened to the 20, he said, “The 21 is the 20 because I couldn’t squeeze a zero, so I substituted a one.”

-We were talking in Bible class about loving your neighbor as much as you love yourself and that you are supposed to love yourself so that you can love your neighbor that much too, when Micah said, “I don’t have equal love, so I give all my love to my neighbor.”

Lastly, the sweestest thing….and made me smile and glad Micah’s my little boy…

- Micah said tenderly, “When I grow up I want to get married and be a Dad and have babies, because I love babies.” He’ll make a wonderful husband someday….and I can’t wait to see who God has picked out for my little prince.

Breathe! Breathe!

That’s what I keep telling myself. And then I wonder, how on EARTH did I let myself get this busy? The month of May has started something new for me though. I’m trying to learn to say no. I was reading some interesting stuff online one night (way too late, I should have been in bed!) but I couldn’t stop. It was about being busy. She used “busy” as an acronym for “buried under Satan’s yoke”. I try really hard not to spiritualize everything…..but THIS perfectly describes how I’ve felt the last loooooooong while.

I feel like I’m running around trying to please (maybe not PLEASE but at least do “my part”) of everything – and of course in all of this I’m telling myself that I will do it all as unto the Lord. But I don’t know that I really am doing any of it for the Lord. Deep DEEP down, it’s for me. I hate to say no. I love to say yes. Here’s a big admission for me: I love it when people need my help. I LOVE to help them! I love it when somebody asks me to do something, it means I’m actually HELPFUL to somebody out there in this big wide world….and I love it when something I do makes life a little easier for somebody else. But I’m not really doing it for the Lord like I “say” I am. It’s really for me. It’s for that good feeling that I get when I do something nice. But that feeling only goes so far when I look around my personal life and see the disarray that happens when you never do anything for your own self.

The house is barely under control (but I would NEVER let anybody see that – instead I’ll drop something else that’s important to clean the house in order to have it look perfect before somebody comes over!) ps…don’t ever look upstairs. Then you’ll see how I REALLY live..

Ella wants me to play with her – I want to play with her – and yet there are “other things” and “other people” that I am putting before her. What on EARTH is more important than taking an hour of my day to dress her dolls? To play a game? The answer to that should be “nothing”. This sweet little girl that God has entrusted to my care is growing up so fast. Soon she won’t really want me to play with her….I’ll be a nuisance in HER life. HA! ME! A nuisance!

Dinner….lunch…..what’s that? Oh it’s NOT OK to eat peanut butter and jelly 7 days a week? (Even if it’s what they REALLY want??) Yeah. On my list of things to do – find a good, cheap, used deep freeze. Put it in the pantry. Fill it with all of the stuff I have “saved” in the little freezer that’s next to my fridge and START USING the stuff that’s in there. (right now it’s “lost” because it’s so crammed full….)

My clients…my poor, poor clients. Replying to emails, making phone calls, editing pictures, designing albums and cards and then ALL the “business” stuff that goes along with running a business….I’m not good at it. At least, I’m not good with organization OR time management. So Ella once again gets neglected (thank goodness Olive Juice still naps every morning & afternoon or she’d be neglected too!) while I scramble to stay on top of this stuff. Of course, I really do have to put this stuff before some things – like sweeping up the crumbs from breakfast or going for a play date – because it’s a real job, something I am committed to do.

Ahh..yes….so my changes. I’m making changes. With GOD’S help. I’ve been praying for a while about WHAT I should be doing. Where do I spend my time? I know it’s a good thing to be involved in our church – and I LOVE to be a part of ANY club that will have me! But is it really good for our family if we’re so involved in EVERYTHIGN that will have us that we start missing out on the really important things? Quiet time with the Lord….one of the things that I do treasure and LOVE…because I Love HIM. It’s so easy to say, well Lord…I’m at church all evening doing “important” stuff for You and it’ll have to do because there’s soo many other things I must do before I go there. Or – yeah, Sunday’s a FULL day “for the Lord” so I have to catch up on the other stuff I’m not able to do on the other days…..yeah it doesn’t work like that. NOt so much.

So Lord, what IS it that you want me to do with my time? I KNOW in my heart that He wants ME. He wants my attention and He wants my life. And I want Him to have it. I’ve made the decision to cut way back business-wise….yes I’m turning some people away but at this stage in my life, this is right. Everybody has been kind enough to understand and if anything, it gives us something to bond over because we are ALL too busy. I’ve also made the decision to spend less time online. Facebook…..blogging….random surfing online…..time suckers for me and I LOVE to do it. I LOVE reading blogs and see what other moms are doing “out there” – but I need to focus a little more on what I need to be doing right here in my home and in my heart.

Lastly, I’m going to start saying no. {GASP!} Yes. I said it. NO. And I’m going to STOP making excuses for why I’m saying no. I don’t need an excuse. It’s enough that I realize I can’t do everything, even though I may have time to actually participate….it doesn’t mean I should. Mom tells me I need margins. She’s RIGHT. Just like a paper written out looks SO much better with neat margins….so my life will be SO much nicer with margins. White space….down time. You know….read a book with the kids. Go to the park. Make cookies. (eat dough??) Take a nap….and then stay up late watching a movie with Matthew. (if he’s reading this he’s rolling his eyes because I don’t watch movies anymore – they’ve become a burden of 2 hours when there is SO much else to do.) WHEN DID I BECOME THIS PERSON?

I don’t know, but with God’s help I’m hoping to completely rewrite my life….and hopefully so many things will be better for it.

Emma & Ella – Besties

Emma and Ella are still playing together – even though they are thousands of miles apart. Here’s proof of that. Ella talks about Emma every single day – and still worries if EMma has more barbies than her…..I hope they are able to keep this sweet relationship even though we’re so far away….

Olivia is One Year Old

The day came…and went. As much as a one year old can “enjoy” her day, I think Olivia did. She got up at 5am, had a bottle because she was STARVING (this never EVER happens, btw…she’s pretty regular at 7:00am) and snuggled with us. (And Ella too because, well, Ella was in bed with us from being afraid during the storm in the night. Micah was there as well because of an “accident” *wink wink* and was sleeping on a cot on the floor. So we ALL were in bed together at 5am snuggling and singing Happy Birthday to Olivia.

She then proceeded to take her FIRST nap of the day, followed by breakfast, followed by her second nap of the day – all before lunch! Then we went to get Bubby from school. I should add that I woke her up from her second nap to go pick up Micah and she was still in her pjs. (At least Ella and I were dressed!) We ended up leaving Micah and Ella at Grandma Esther’s house and Olive Juice and I went to Walmart (I HATE WALMART) for birthday party necessities. (Like a cake mix!) We then ran into a client/friend of mine and her little one – and I embarassingly admitted that yes, I’m the mom who takes her kids out of the house at 2pm STILL in their pajamas. Then I made the lame excuse that (1) I went to walmart and NOT target and (2) It was her birthday and you shouldnt’ have to get dressed up on your birthday. Not sure it passes close scrutiny but it’s something!

So we went home, Olive had her THIRD nap of the day while I made a chocolate cake and a strawberry cake. Then I made a FABULOUS frosting for the strawberry cake – cool whip + strawberry yogurt + a bit of confectioner’s sugar – and got the house picked up for her impromptu birthday party that night.

The kids (M & E) came home from my mom’s house, we had supper and then we all went to church. (A little late, as always) and I thoroughly enjoyed my Bible Study group M & E LOOOOVE Children’s choir and Olive loooves “her” babysitters – Mrs. Marilyn & Mrs. Vicki – two of her favorite people. THen we RUSHED home for her birthday party with the fam. She was tired but pushed through (ate a lot of cake!) and laughed at the balloons – all in all, it was a great success and her first birthday was celebrated with style! (OK not so much style but Auntie Sara tells me this is the “coolest” party our family has EVER had – because it started after 8pm – HA!!) Awesome. THis is how I roll.   I will share some pictures as well – perhaps a video if I can figure it out again!

Please ignore the “Mama-razzi” – I can’t help myself….we don’t take enough pictures and so I’m willing to be “that mom” in order to have something special from the days we DO take pictures!

Whatever happened to those Nixon people anyway?

Yeah that’s what all three of you are wondering, right? To be honest – there’s a little TOO MUCH going on with these Nixon people. I feel like I’m running in a million directions these days……

We are alive and we are doing well. I’ll post more in a bit – today I am just not feeling like it…..

Olivia is like ice cream :)

I put a post on my photography blog today and thought it’d be easier to just link to there to share it. Olivia is going to be 10 months old on Sunday (two days) so today we had a little 3 minute photo-shoot.

http://elisabethnixonphotography.blogspot.com/2010/02/olivia-10-months-old-central-florida.html