Nikki Rosen's Blog, page 23

Thankful Thursday

"Although the world is full of suffering it is also full of the overcoming of it." Helen Keller

Watching the news this week hit home that evil really does exist in the heart of some very deranged people. Some people though....don't give up. They refuse to. Instead they hang on and fight....sometimes for years with no indication of ever getting free......yet they keep holding on and  somehow they do it.....they overcome.
This week I'm thankful for.....

-The bravery of the women in Cleveland to fight for their freedom and realize it.
-The neighbour who heard Amanda's cry for help.....and got involved. He is a total hero. 
-People everywhere who care....in big ways and small and aren't afraid to get involved. 
-My oldest is part of Jr. Achievement. Last night we were at the awards night. I"m grateful for all the dedicated people volunteering their time and expertise to inspire kids to dream big. 
-Mostly for the touch of His gentleness. It's what kept me holding on....and making it to side of freedom.  

Thankful Thursday

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring......all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Leo F. Buscaglia

The quote's right on. It's amazing that a simple smile can be so incredibly powerful. 

We were hiking the trails and came to the top leading to the exit. A woman stood there, gripping onto a walker barely able to move her feet. I smiled and said hello. We started chatting. She told me she used to love going on the trails...seeing all the birds....breathing in the beauty of nature. Now she can't. 
 
I didn't ask what happened to her. I wondered if she had a MS. She wasn't old. She said she had been wishing her life would end but my smiling and taking the time to talk to her....changed her mind. 

This week grateful for.....

-big wide smiles from my girls when I pick them up from school or activities.
-smiles from strangers in the grocery store....on the streets..... anywhere and everywhere. 
-weather. love it. It feels incredibly good....makes me want to run....fly....sing. And makes everyone smile more.
-smiles from friends when we meet up for lunch or to hike or to spend time together.
-Mostly....that He touched me so incredibly that he turned all the bad into a reason to smile. I  lived angry and sad and lonely and broken. I am totally and forever grateful that He changed all that.  

Thankful Thursday

How did it get so late so soon? 
It’s night before it’s afternoon. 
December is here before it’s June. 
My goodness how the time has flewn. 
How did it get so late so soon?  Dr. Seuss

Time flies. Really flies. Even my youngest said the other day....she can't believe school is almost done.

Time....I want it to count...to mean something....and use it well. I don't always. Sometimes I get lazy...I put stuff off thinking I can do it tomorrow or the next day or the day after. Sometimes I let weeks...months...even a couple of years go by and still don't do that thing that plays in my head. 

Other times....something pops into my mind.....and it's all I can think about until I make it happen. Time....we're only given so much.  Okay....my new commitment - not to waste any more of it. Grateful this week for.....

-Time with my girls...laughing, goofing around and even having deep talks.
-Time spent mentoring a couple of people...Weird how helping them helps me too and reminds me how far I've come.
-Time wandering the woods, listening to the sounds of nature....feeling the power of His presence - I come home infused with incredible courage and bravery and feeling as if I can leap tall building and touch the sky.
-Time with friends....friends that make me feel loved and special.
-Mostly.....Time He's given me. I used to think I wouldn't live past 20 or 26 or 30....but He let me live. And everyday I wake up grateful for being alive.....and given another day to live my best life. 
 

Grace

Linking with Charlotte Spiritual Sunday  at and Laura at Faith Filled Fridays



"Sometimes grace works like water wings when you feel you're sinking." Anne Lamott
I had some free time today so I went to this open field and stood near the small pond, watching the solitary swan and the lone blueheron.
It was crazy windy. I loved the feel of the wind whipping around me as I listened for the whisper of His gentleness. He didn't disappoint. 
I didn't care that my hair was totally wonky or even that it started to rain softly. I didn't care about anything. I just soaked in the calm...
And then the bluey (blueheron) spread his incredible wings and flew off. I think before he did, he turned to me and winked. 
To me....that moment was Grace....gentle trusting I'm here kind of grace. 
I knew as I watched the bluey fly away.....no matter what happens....it'll all be ok.
You gave me wings so I can fly.....Grace. I'm nothing without you.

Thankful Thursday

“Somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive.” Melina Marchetta

It's been a hard week.....watching the news...seeing the terror, the pain and loss in Boston....and then this morning....an explosion in Texas. More people devastated. How does someone move forward after the unthinkable happens? 

Somehow we do....life may change in the way we move in the world..maybe with more caution...maybe with gratitude for each day given b/c none of us knows how long we got. 

It makes me want to live my life with more purpose....shining His hope wherever I can. This week grateful for 

-Today....living, breathing.....alive. 
-A woman at the prison yesterday shared her poems with me that left me stunned and almost in tears. Her life has been horrific....yet she pens powerful words about life and love and God and hope. 
-The group of women I met who desperately want to live their best lives.I feel incredibly honoured to be a small part of their journey's.
-My second book, Dancing Softly, shortlisted for The Word Guild Award. Winners will be announced June 12.
-Mostly...for Him being in my world.....and knowing He holds every minute, every hour...every day in his hands.-

Thankful Thursday

 “That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.” Simone de Beauvoir

Giving back...helping others....always feels as if I'm the one getting back so much more. I'm grateful this week for....

-the women in my empowerment group....love watching these amazing woman reach for their best. I love that I get to be a small part of their life journeys.
-one of the women who attended the prison group last week that I spoke at asked if I'd come and talk with her. She wants to change....wants her life to be better. I think of all the people who took time to help me. I'm committed to paying their kindness forward.  
-my daughter volunteers at a local hospital. She's been doing it for a couple of years. The coordinator told me she's amazing....very kind and bubbly and everyone seems to be attracted to her. Yeah...that's my girl!!!!
-someone asked if I'd mentor them in their writing. I told them I'd share whatever I know (which isn't a whole lot) I remember an award winning author believed in me when I started writing. She helped me finish and get my first book out there. 
-And the best....I can never out give His goodness to me. Everyday shines b/c of Him.  

Free

Linking with Charlotte at  Spiritual Sunday and Laura at  Faith Filled Fridays

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Michelangelo Buonarroti

When I go into the women's prison.....I have this feeling of being trapped.....of being closed in and having no control. Anything can happen in there and I'm powerless to do anything about it.

The thing is....I'm free to come and go. Makes me wonder how the women incarcerated feel.

Last week....I spoke to a group of women who are trying to  make sense of how their lives spiraled so out of control. Most read my book, In the Eye of Deception.....and were inspired. It gave them hope.  They asked if I'd meet with them. 

They had questions for me...lots of them. Nothing was off limits. 

I looked into the faces of these women....mostly young....all grasping for hope. 

I saw them as angels in the marble. 

Being in prison is awful. But being in prison inside yourself is even worse. There's no release date from that prison. No escape....no reprieve. No way out.......

Except.....The power of a touch of His gentleness. 

Everyone needs compassion....a love that's never failing...

Thankful Thursday

" There is something infinitely healing in the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter." Rachel Carson

It snowed this week. And temps were freezing. But on the news....they promised  the end of this week will be warmer.... definitely spring weather.

The weather these last two weeks reminds me of life. Sometimes things start turning around for the better and then without warning.....they revert back to yuck. 

But it never stays awful. Spring is guaranteed. So is the hope that things will always turn around for the better. This week, I'm grateful for......

-the group of women in the prison that I spoke to. They're all reading my first book and told me it's giving them tremendous hope.
-a worker at the prison emailed me afterward and said, she's now reading my book and wants to meet me. Rippling effect. Love that!
-mentoring a couple of people....love that I can give back what I've learned and watching them reach for their best is so awesome.
-we went back to where we used to live and hiked the hills. Being there...on the trails...in the woods....in nature trumps everything. 
-peace....amazing incredible peace. His peace. It feels incredible.

Thankful Thursday

“In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential.” Suze Orman,
I've learned not to listen when there's something I really want to do and someone tells me I  can't, impossible, no way, ain't gonna happen.

The first thing I think...how do they know?  And there's always got to be a first time for everything.  It doesn't matter if something hasn't been done before or someone tried it and blew it or it looks impossible to achieve.. 

If my heart sings when I think of that thing.....I'm gonna give it a shot....I'm gonna go for it. Stubborn? Courage? Not sure which but sometimes I think you got to step up...step out....and do what plays in your heart no matter what. This week I'm thankful for.....   

-Lesson from my oldest - she invested her money in a company she and others formed through Jr. Achievers. She said she'd make a profit. I was skeptical. This week she learned she more than doubled what she put in. 
-After upteen frustrating rewrites, finally got the first three chapters done on my novel, The Game Player. I like how it reads now. 
-Saw a couple of robins. Even though it's still chilly, they're back and that means it really is spring. YEAHHHH. 
-All the incredible people in my world, including you guys here online.
-Faith...simple steady......always there kind of faith. It's the anchor that grounds me. The thing that never fails to pumps me with hope. 

Happy Easter Guys.

Brave

Linking with Charlotte at Spiritiual Sunday and Laura at  Faith Filled Fridays

 "Sometimes even to live is an act of courage."  Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Took my daughter out driving. She did great until......
Not sure if she got too relaxed....or just wasn't thinking....but she sailed through a red light on a busy street.

Brave....a kid learning to drive. 
Brave....a mom teaching a kid to drive. 
Brave...facing our worst fears. 
Brave....trusting Him nothing bad will happen.

Brave....a niece battling cancer
Brave....a person taking a stand against an injustice
Brave...a survivor speaking out telling her story Brave...total trust Him.

 My reason to be brave....in the face of what I don't understand