blog-header
blog-text

Hot Mess

Breathe

By Nikole / November 9, 2016 /

I have a dear friend whom I knew for years before I ever learned she was a secret poet. We’ve laughed together, cried together, raised our kids together. We’ve had deep conversations, hard conversations, and life-giving discussions. And yet this poetic side of her was always kept in the dark. I don’t…

Read More

Living Shame-Free

By Nikole / September 26, 2016 /

(13 minute read – Sermon from 9/22/2016) (In the first few seconds of my audio recording I’m choking back tears but I sound normal after that:) I love Brene Brown’s definition of shame. She describes it as the intensely painful feeling that we are unworthy of love and belonging.  In other…

Read More

Pain and Loss and My First Tattoo

By Nikole / July 17, 2016 /

Friends tease me about the fact that I find papercuts painful and that I hyperventilate whenever I get poked with a needle. (thanks to having donated my plasma one too many times in college). But giving birth without meds? No problem. It hurts, but pushing a baby out seems natural to me; stabbing…

Read More

When Parenthood Sucks

By Nikole / June 21, 2016 /

It’s been one of those days… one of those really bad days as a parent. Where you no longer think happy thoughts but only angry thoughts that are fueled by sleep-deprivation and toddler temper tantrums of epic proportions. Where all joy and happiness that exists in this world are suddenly…

Read More

Everybody Sucks (at something)

By Nikole / May 9, 2016 /

My sister-in-law and I were talking on the phone a couple weeks ago about what triggers our insecurities, particularly as women and for me as a mom, and the expected responsibilities each role assumes. We shared a couple stories of people we know who seem to do the whole wife/life thing so much better…

Read More

The Irony of Motherhood

By Nikole / May 7, 2016 /

As a mother, I am so incredibly fried. Anyone else feeling that way? I have an amazing husband and 3 beautiful children and yet… the sleep deprivation, the discipline, the nursing, the changing of diapers, the battles at bedtime, the sibling fights, the messes, the dishes, the laundry, the toys, the…

Read More

TGIF! or is it?

By Nikole / November 13, 2015 /

  (Image: Stuart Richards) Friday is always a glorious day. It means the long week is finally coming to a close. It means John is going to be home to help out with the kiddos and the house. And it means I can actually try to get some last minute chores…

Read More

It's Happening, Folks…

By Nikole / September 14, 2015 /

Well, we are officially at 40 weeks over here! Which means baby will be arriving any day now, whether I’m ready or not. It’s still surreal to think that I’ll be holding a newborn in my arms anytime now! Am I really ready for this?? Can I do the whole…

Read More

9 Ways to Make an Extrovert Cry While Painting a Room

By Nikole / July 10, 2015 /

Here’s a recap of my two days of painting our master bedroom this past Sunday and Monday and what I learned. Tuck these nuggets of wisdom away for when you consider painting on your own, fellow extroverts. 1. First, leave her by herself in the room. This alone is likely enough to…

Read More

A BitterSweet Announcement

By Nikole / February 16, 2015 /

January was one of the hardest months we’ve had in a long time. In fact, the other night John and I were talking about how January was the hardest month of our marriage. And in that conversation John said, “I actually think we’re entering a really hard season… it’s not…

Read More