Notes from Nicole

Ocotber is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I would imagine that if I were to ask any of you that are reading this right now you could either name someone or maybe you are the someone that has experienced this disease. I found my first lump in 2009;I was 36 years old. I had never, ever performed a self breast exam before and I had never had a mammogram before. The only time I was checked was when I went for my yearly exam with my gynecologist. I remember being in the shower one night and for some reason I thought to myself, "Maybe I should just do a quick self-exam like I hear and read about." So, I did. I instantly felt something on my right breast. I didn't neccesarily feel upset or worried, but I knew that I should contact my doctor soon. I waited about a week, checking on that same area periodically. I wanted to make sure that what I felt was really there and it wasn't just my mind playing tricks on me. Sure enough, the lump stayed with me. It was the Su...

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." This quote was first written by French critic, journalist and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr in 1839 in one of his satirical epigrams. Little did he know how many times this same quote would be uttered in everyday life. According to wiktionary.com the translation of this phrase has two definitions; 1. Turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo. 2. A change of heart must accompany experience before lasting change occurs. Either way something is going to change. Maybe it is a change in your daily living habits. Maybe it is a change in your geographic location. Maybe it is a change in your marital status. Maybe it is a change in your family status. Maybe it is a change so turbulent that it has shaken you to your very core. Change is something that we try so hard to either make happen, prevent or stop from happening that we tend to focus on the act of change i...

To say that I have been in sort of a slump would be a drastic understatement. I just haven't felt like myself lately. I haven't had those same desires to do things like I did before. Is it COVID? Is it menopause? Is it lack of effort? Maybe it is all of the above?! Well, I have been struggling to "figure it out" in the past few months when I realized that what I should have been doing is going to God. Sometimes because I feel so efficient, self-sufficient and self-reliant that I somehow forget to go to the creator, you know the ONE who is REALLY in control! Yes, I am one of THOSE people who thinks I can fix everything and everyone and that I somehow have a say in it all! But guess what happens, the more I try to be in control is when I am painfully aware of just how out of control I truly am. If you were to sit down and make a list of all of the things that you or what you feel others expect from you on a daily basis I am sure the list would be quite long fo...

Have you ever watched one of those "strong man" contests on TV? When I was growing up I remember my mom would watch such a show if she happened upon one while channel surfing. She would say, "Wow! I wish I was that strong? Wouldn't it be something if I could just lift a whole car up?" I would laugh and say, "Yeah, that would be something to see-we could probably sell tickets!" We would both laugh and then watch in awe at the great feats of strength that these men would endure; pull vehicles using their teeth, lift enormous amounts of weight until you thought the veins in their bodies were literally going to burst, flip tires bigger than a car, the list goes on and you get the idea. These contestants showed such great physical strength that I had to wonder how long it took them to get to this point in their career as a "strong man"? When you think about the hours of training, discipline and sacrifices that they had to make it is really ...

One of my favorite movies of all time is Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." I am assuming if you have never seen it, you have at least heard of it. Here is a brief synopsis; George Bailey has lived a life of humility and serving others, he has given up his hopes and dreams in order to further someone else's along, he has always chosen to do the "right" and noble thing, even at times when he was tempted to give into his selfish desires. Then the bottom falls out. He realizes that the "almighty dollar" is more powerful than he could have ever imagined. George does not continue on with his positive attitude, but instead he realizes that he would be worth more dead than alive. An angel, of sorts, appears to George and gives him the opportunity to see what life really would have been like had he not ever been born into the world. Have you ever thought, "I just wish things would slow down!" or "I just wish that our family w...

I am sure most of us are aware by now, going to the store isn't what it used to be. For me, if I needed something for a recipe or dinner I would just grab my purse, my keys and hop into my vehicle and go to my nearest store and get what I needed without even really thinking about it. Today a trip to the store could mean contracting a serious virus that could not only infect me but also infect the lives of those I love. As I sit here and plan my list I am wondering if I should wear a mask, should I wear gloves, should I bring my own wipes, etc..... It reminded me of the passage from the bible in the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, wearing the full armor of God. I remember learning about this in Sunday School and we even had a coloring page that labeled all of the pieces of armor and what their function was in protecting us from the things of this world. This is what the Full Armor of God looks like; the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted with readiness...