marias birthday  3--22-2010 0070 resizedMaria had a birthday this weekend!!!
We are so thankful for her!  She came into our lives exactly when we needed her.  Evan brought her to Nick’s funeral, and our first hug was in the visitation line…she has been a comforter to us ever since.  We love you, Maria. marias birthday  3--22-2010 0084 resized Erich and Evan were both home this weekend…..my little boys are all grown up. I love you both so much.IMG_4304_resize Can you find Erich and Evan in this “old” picture of all the kids with Mamaw?

(Nick is right in the middle.)

marias birthday  3--22-2010 0072 resizedMallory got to come for the weekend too!  All the way from Nashville!  She brings such a bubbly fun spirit to our home and we are thankful to know that she will soon be our “daughter.”  September 18th is the wedding date!

We love you, Mallory!marias birthday  3--22-2010 0019 resized Olivia started golf last week!!  I’ll let you know how she does! 
This is a first for our family!!!

state tournament 007

Tim, Olivia,and I had a fun time at the state tournament!! 

We are so proud of the Raiders! 

tennis and raider socks 003

Todd spends most of his time playing tennis or running around with his friends, so I had a hard time finding a recent picture of him but I didn’t want to leave him out.

Because, this is “life” at our house.

We keep pressing on.

Making memories.

Laughing.

Crying.

Sharing.

Arguing.

Fussing.

Complaining.

Things aren’t always perfect here in the Nischan house.

I’d be lying if I claimed they were.

But we keep praying our way through every up and every down and trusting that God will pick us up when and where we fall short.

My friend Melanie has challenged me to pray for my family in a more fervent way, because we live in a time when the devil is doing all that he can to tear down anything built on love.

I wanted to share that challenge with you, too, and allow you to share any needs your family might have either through a comment or an email, so I can pray for your family too. 

You are not alone in whatever you are facing.

It’s good for me to remind myself of that truth. 

God never leaves or forsakes us even in the toughest of times…He is there.

Grief has been weighing me down recently to a level much lower than I had ever thought I would go again, but I have learned from several friends who have walked this road before me that this is normal and that, in time, these periods of deep grief will soften……I think I fear softening in my grief,  because in some way the devil has convinced me that this pain is the only way to feel near Nick.  But somewhere deep, down inside of me I know that Nick is never far away, and I have GOT to look up for strength and comfort and hope to press forward in this life. 

Today I am determined to pull myself out of my own “pain” and pray for others, and that is what I am committing to do in the days and months ahead.

I am reminded of a poem that my roommate in college (20 years ago) had on our mirror.

“Lord, let me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayer shall be for others.”

I will regularly be scrolling over the map on the lower part of the column to the right and praying for your “hearts” represented by your visits.

Praying faithfully and lovingly  for my family and for all of you – my family through the blood of Jesus,