Everyone needs a best friend....

So I just gotta write a post about someone who pretty much has meant the world to me because I'm taking her to the airport tomorrow and I won't see her for two weeks and we are sitting here acting like it's saying goodbye for forever.
So one day four years ago I was sitting in my room with a group of people and a friend of a friend. Somehow during the evening the two of us got ditched and well you know those people you just have a connection with the first time you even meet them? Well this was one of those. We ended up having a wonderful heart to heart that night and life was never the same after that moment. This is me talking about my best friend, my sister, my support, my roomie, my encourager and accountability partner. I truly believe everyone needs that person in their life (yes even you guys). You need someone there (not of the opposite sex) to grow in life together, to challenge each other and be the close community that God had planned for each of us. Everyone needs someone to stay up late talking about boys with, to fight with (yes we have and do actually fight), to forgive, to cry with, laugh with and go on wonderful adventures with. I like any other girl long for the day I will meet the person I will spend the rest of my life with....but I am so blessed to already know the one that I will get to giggle and share with about that soul mate that I hopefully one day will have. I already have the person that I want to speak at my wedding (however embarressing it may be), who I want to have play dates with and talk about growing families and life as we get older. I am beyond blessed.
Our friendship the last four years has not been dull in any sense. We have walked through some major deserts and storms, and we have laughed until our sides hurt and tears were streaming from our eyes. We have cried together and watched as each of us has had to take on trials, feeling helpless and wanting to take the other's burdens. We have made fools of ourselves and weirded out many many people around us, we have traveled together and served together. I have watched this girl grow and serve and show her heart in so many ways and am always blown away.
I continue each day here in Nashville just in disbelief that I am living what most people only get to see in movies and tv shows. I moved to the most exciting city, with no plans of jobs or living situations but I did it with my best friend. The things we have gone through would be things that would normally make me want to sit down cry and give up...yet we have treasured them as our most priceless moments and laughed more than I have ever laughed in my life. We have had adventures in an AL walmart, rented a uhaul and moved a HUGE couch by ourselves, lived the life of unemployment, learned to cook without a microwave, slept on the floor and lived in an apartment with no furniture, had photoshoots just to keep us from getting bored from not having jobs, we have worked jobs at 5 am together, we have cried at the wheelers together (thanks for putting up with us you guys) we have snapped at each other and been blessed by each other. So I may not have found my future spouse yet....but I have found my soul sister and best friend. And after this crazy insane week I just felt that she deserved a little shout out on the blog.......I heart you Jenna Noonan and look forward to all the crazy adventures yet to be had.......

thankful for the hectic life

Alright so this was going to be posted more than a week ago but when you are juggling a schedule of babysitting for different families at different times each day, starting a full-time official job, being over you head in folders and folders of pictures needing editing, still not having unpacked from Thanksgiving...and the only down-time is 1 am...blogging just gets put on the back burner.
Anyway, I have had lots of thoughts going through my head about who I am and what my life looks like (being the psych major/over-analyizer that I am). This was what I came to....as much as I always look forward to a day of peace, a normal schedule, normal job, a serene life....that just isn't me.
I was thinking of all the things I miss about my past experiences and not a single one was one of the rare moments of peace and serenity. Not a single one was a memory of sitting on a beach or being by myself reading a nice book or just sitting.
Nope....these are the things that I miss and that I am so beyond thankful that God brought me to.
I miss living in a house of 4 moms and 5 babies, screaming, laughing, tensions and stress levels sky rocketing, struggling with language and adaptation. Walking in the scary dark in the pouring rain with a sleeping baby and strollers full of groceries falling out everywhere. Not knowing what each day would hold. If there would be good news, bad news or no news at all....wondering what I would do if someone were to really follow through with threats and take one of those sweet babies away and spending hours thinking of what I would do if they did (the results would not have been pretty for whoever tried).
I miss being at Mel's having guacamole fights with Mary Margaret, eating oreos and peanut butter with Gin, spending two weeks with my dear dear sweet niece who gave me a wonderful challenge ;) and staying up all night talking about absolutely everything there is to talk about and more while eating strawberries and cut up snickers because that is all we had.
I miss trying to juggle leading a team of people my own age in a foreign country and trying to catch up and be at home in a place that was so familiar to me.
I also miss this....
I miss waking up at the Scott's and laying in bed thinking, oh boy...what will this day bring...and feeling like I couldn't wait to get out of bed and face it, knowing that at the end of the day when I crash and take a deep breath I would look back at the uncountable moments of blessings and laughter. I miss the loudness, the laughter, the talks, the dinners with my dear Mama Scott, the bowling and adventures with Mary Margaret, Gin and Lizzy...the wal mart runs and car wash incidents. I miss playing energy drink games, laying out under the stars all night giggling from being over caffinated yet still in awe and wonder of the amazing meteor shower. I miss feeling totally out of place while Daniel and Caleb took us out two steppin....I miss going to Josh and Betty's and being constantly pulled in two directions, steven on one arm and Jojo on the other all the while looking at my peaceful perfect little simeon.
I miss that the whole day could be stressful, eventful, hectic, crazy and just about everything.....but at the end we could all sit there and laugh and talk and just enjoy family....
And then there are the moments....when my sweet sweet Alli would wrap her arms around me and say.."you are staying forever and ever and ever" or when we would play the "what's your name" game and she would come up with silly names for everyone and then turn to me and say "your name is Kelsey Scott" with the biggest grin on her face. I miss putting her to bed and staying up playing McDonalds Drive through with her. God used that girl to bless me in ways I so badly needed without even knowing I needed it. I miss taking all of them to Cicis and everyone looking at me like I was crazy for bringing 11 children into a restraunt by myself and being so proud of every single one of them. I miss sethys slobery kisses and matthews mischivious moments. I miss Jonathan getting so excited to tell me something that I really had no idea what he was saying. I miss Samuel...Oh MY COW....enough said. I miss My sweet "big" girls and how different they each were from each other but how well they got along and played like best friends. I miss my claire pop and katy....for so so so many reasons. and Gaby ohhhh Gaby I just miss her light...she was usually the first person I saw in the morning and she was always so bright and ready to face the day...it was contagious.
Now here, the moments that wear me out the most, the days when I just want to curl up, fall asleep and have a day off...those are the days I am looking back on and loving the most. The kids I babysit that want to have light saber wars and pirate fights for hours on end....who want to wrestle and tackle and then have a serious 20 yr old conversation......or how one tiny tiny little doll 2 yr old can take more energy out of me than an army of kids but then lay curled up on the couch snuggling and look at me and say ohhhhh KEllSeeeyyyyyy.....oh those are the moments when I am so thankful to be alive and blessed to have so many wonderful little angels in my life. The moments when everyone's voices telling me I need a "real" job and I need to step away from nannying and child care.....thats when those voices just become silence.
I am so beyond blessed to be a part of so many wonderful families lives and to live a life of unpredictability and excitement...even if it is exhausting....
So there is my sentimental belated Thanksgiving post......

Thankfulness

So I have a lot of catching up to do. A lot has been going on the past few weeks emotionally, spiritually, and socially....pretty much to the point where I kinda of got on the fast track of just putting my head down and running full on, not stopping to process and think because sometimes when it get to be so much its just easier to run and not look around.
So I wanted to summarize some thoughts and do a quick catch up. Two weekends we had so many events to go to (which is very rare for us) and these weren't just la di da events...these were "smack you in the face, make you want to save the world" types of events, if you know what I mean.
First was the Athentikos event...oh boy did that make me miss Guatemala. This incredible (go check it out) group of people have been working on a documentary about some of the crisis issues in Guatemala and their hearts simply pour out of the work they are doing. So I walked away from that night wanting to go back and wanting to do something to make just the slightest difference in the beautiful country I have fallen in love with.
Then there was the Show Hope annual fundraiser banquet that Jenna and I were lucky enough to be invited to. I could write ten posts just on that night and how impacting it was. You could not go in and listen and then walk away not wanting to adopt, its impossible. The president from Compassion international spoke and was the most to the point, real speaker I have ever heard. He did an incredible job describing the orphan crisis and where as Christians we come in. There was a lot of talk about how we are called not to care ABOUT orphans but to care FOR them and that really hit me. Then my sweet Wheeler family's testimony was shown and I realized how being here now and seeing my sweet girl everyday has made me somewhat forget the battle that was fought for her. Watching their testimony brought tears to my eyes as all the memories of last summer, being in Guatemala and praying everyday that we would one day see this sweet girl home in her parents arms, and how there were so many moments that did not seem like it was going to come. Adoption really, truly is a miracle and probably the most clear way I have ever seen God work and fight for his precious children. Not only that but to watch the parents who decide to step out blindly and follow his call to care for the orphans inspires me more than anything.
Sunday was spent at an adoption picnic for orphan sunday and then we went to the Worldwide Orphan Sunday event...W O W.....Steven got up and spoke and sang and our whole row just had tears pouring from our eyes. I cannot even describe the feeling of sitting there listening to these people talk so passionately about orphans and God's call and the rawness of the Chapman's own testimony....it was impacting and moving to say the very least. Someday my turn will come....and until then I spend my time praying for my sweet child and searching for the doors God is opening in which I can walk through and help those who have or are going through such an incredible process.

Then tonight was yet another night among many since moving to Nashville that I was hit so hard with just how faithful God is. Not only that but how generous in His faithfulness He is. God has not only provided for the daily needs and the finances and all those material things that I love to worry about but He has provided so much emotion and spiritual support and surrounded me with so much. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it and as I drove home tonight I just kept asking God, why? What have I done to deserve all these people coming into my life and caring so much? I have so much going through my head I can't decifer what is anxiety, whats thankfulness and what is just being overwhelmed with everything. I have every worldly odd against me, I moved to a brand new state with no job, no money and nothing to begin making a home with...and here I sit in my adorable living room in my amazing apartment, having just spent time with such wonderful kids and felt so cared for by incredible couples who I have grown to just love and respect more than anything. I look back on the last several years and really cannot believe that at one point I lay crying out to God and being faced with the decision to walk with Him or walk away....I look at my foot and read the verse that I have been reciting through my head every single day and am reminded of the pure truth of it (The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still. Ex 14:14)
Jenna and I could not have made it without the support we have received. There have been so many moments we wanted to give up or we questioned if we had done the right thing and we were always answered as God brought people into our lives. We have been given to so generously for our apartment, and I have been beyond blessed with constant babysitting and photography. Despite being "unemployed" I am thriving, paying bills, and feeling oh so taken care of.
I really cannot describe how humbled I am by the people I have met here. People I have known for a year now who have just given to us beyond what I can thank them for and then people I had never met just pulling me in and treating me like we had known each other for years. I can never thank you all enough. I know that I am where I belong and that this truly is where God wants me at this moment, even when the worldy material things just don't make sense. God never does things the "normal" way in my life and I really should not have expected it here either :)
So another long post...Blessing to you all and thank you....for everything

CALLING ALL ADOPTION FAMILES/ADOPTION ADVOCATES/AND WHOEVER ELSE

These are some dear sweet friends of mine and they are starting their first adoption. As most of you who have adopted know...it is not cheap. I thought since I know so many families who have adopted I could help out a little and try to get some more people involved. I am sending them a package next week so if you have anything you would like to add (I know many of you are creative) let me know either we can add it to my package or you can send it to them yourself. Thanks!!!
Any donations are always appreciated as well (I will probably be hosting a blog fundraiser in the near future for them too.)
Here is their blog link and here is the note the Sam and Laura wrote: http://nikolasfamily.wordpress.com/

Family & Friends,

You may or may not know that most couples going through the adoption process do some fundraising. This makes us slightly uncomfortable, but adoption is extremely expensive, and therefore we feel it's necessary to find assistance wherever we can. We decided to be creative in our efforts, and so we would like to tell you about the NIKOLAS ADOPTION AUCTION.

We are asking our loved ones (yes, that’s you) to offer something to auction off. All proceeds will go toward adoption costs. Ideas include but are not limited to:

* food items
* gift cards or baskets
* handmade or purchased items
* a service (i.e. babysitting, writing, music/cooking lessons, yard work)
* a special skill or talent that you’re willing to provide (for example, knitting a scarf)
* another example = we will be auctioning off the first phone call for when we find out we have a child, and also our baby names (no one else will know but us and you!)

We fully realize that the holidays are approaching and you probably have other expenses. The reason we are doing this now is because once our home study is completed (December or January), we could receive news of a child anytime. Please do not feel obliged to contribute if you would rather not or are unable.

Thank you in advance, from the bottom of our hearts, for considering helping us with this. We felt it would be a neat way for you to feel like a part of our adoption experience, get something neat in return and maybe get to know someone else that plays an important role in our lives.

If you are willing to offer something, please let us know by November 10 (next Tuesday). We know that we have friends and family in many different locations. If you choose to offer something that is area-specific, please let us know. The auction will take place later this month – more details to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Love,
Sam and Laura

P.S. Please email Laura at laura.nikolas@gmail.com or contact her through Facebook if you are willing to help with this. You can also reach me at 763-381-2538.

A place to call home...

So now that the comcast guy just left and I am sitting in the middle of MY living room in awe of the fact that I am living in my own apartment with real live internet....I figured I would take a break from painting/organizing/picture editing to give a little update on mine and Jenna's life right now.
currently I am becoming a pro at opening boxes, assembling furniture, putting clothes on racks, etc. Not exactly my cup of tea and really not bringing in enough money to pay rent, but, its a job. We finally we able to move into the apartment after postponing it about four times. It still seems unreal and it is still very empty.
Other than working the 4:30 am shifts at Old Navy and Pier 1 I have also been doing a lot of babysitting for some wonderful families, running a few photo sessions (please let me know if you want one!) and getting to tag along with this wonderful lady while she shines like a pro and I watch on hoping someday to be as cool as her ;)
So as much as I have been frustrated and slightly on the glass half empty side lately....life really is not treatin me to bad. It's an adventure and a crazy one at that.

Enough talk...here are some pictures to show you more:

eating our first dinner in our living room :)
this is why we were eating on the floor...our great deal table was a "great" deal because, well there was some assembly required
before we even braved opening the box-our one and only piece of furniture in our apartment
my window is the one on the second story
move in day...pretty much felt like move in day at college except everyone just stares at you while you struggle to carry a huge dining room table box up the stairs...which eventually just got pushing up the stairs while we were almost peeing our pants from how ridiculous we looked...yeah no more 3000 college students all moving in together and helping each other out deals
hmm phrase of the day "Whats that?" "Uh, I don't want to know"
Living room...oh so spacious and empty haha
Jenna's glamorous bedroom
my wondeful bedroom...you should have seen the look on our landlord's face when we told her we didn't have furniture or beds....she thought we were insane

YAY a piece of furniture (still missing two chairs which are still sitting un-assembled, they were pretty painful to put together)More to come...hopefully when things start looking a little better. But we are so thrilled to finally have our own place. I am currently working on painting my bedroom and we are hitting up some garage sales this weekend hoping to find some more filler furniture!!!

The I Heart Revolution

This will definitely bring you back to being thankful for what you have and at the same time, challenge the purpose you have set for yourself in this life....
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/inbox/?folder=[fb]messages&page=1&tid=1213888118026

This is just the trailer, there will be a showing of the full documentary in select theaters on November 4th...look to see if it will be playing near you. If you live in the Nashville area it will be playing at the Green Hills 16 and also the Opry Mills 20 plus IMAX!

Sweet kids/Eliana's Gotcha Day!!

Well these pictures are totally backwards but I am too exhausted .....

I have been surprisingly BUSY the last two days! YAY!   Yesterday I woke up at 3:55 am so Jenna and I could get to work, it was quite the morning of unloading new merchandise from the truck at Pier 1. It was kinda like Christmas you never knew what you were going to find in the box.   

I then got up this morning and babysat for 8 hours for an incredible family, they have two boys, two girls adopted from China and they are heading to Uganda soon to pick up the next two kids, the Oatsvalls (check out their blog). We had lots of fun doing crafts, going on a nature walk, playing and swinging outside....such precious, gorgeous kids....

So after running to an interview after babysitting I then ran across town to see my sweet girl Eliana and watch her and the Moore's boys who are also ADORABLE and such sweet fun kids.

Well it is Eliana's Gotcha day! I cannot believe it has been a year since our sweet baby girl finally came home...We decided to celebrate tonight but well only having two hands, three toddlers, a lit candle and a camera...it was slightly a disaster. As I was trying to get a picture Eliana was trying to grab her cookie so Micah was holding her hands down while sweet Elliot sat there patiently which is when Eliana saw her chance...bam she had Elliot's cookie in her mouth before anyone knew what happened then was reaching for the lit candle..Micah was freaking out and yelling at her and I am trying to get across the table without dropping the camera or knocking over a kid...well she grabbed the lit candle before anyone could stop her and put it out without blinking an eye and she had the cookie in her mouth....Looks like someone has been watching a little too much cookie monster....

Happy Gotcha Day Baby Girl!!!