From The Mind of One of Our Teens

 

While on our Annual Fall Retreat with our students the girls were completely spoiled by all of their "Big Sisters!" Which is what they call our High School girls. Well, Taylor Lisco wrote this after the trip with this picture:

"These are two of the most beautiful little girls I know, at such a young age they bring such joy to people's lives and I consider myself blessed to know them. They are also two of the luckiest little girls, Rick and Michelle Nicely are some of the most wonderful parents I've ever seen. I consider them a second set of parents and their love for these little girls amazes me every day. The whole family's love for God is beautiful. Love goes beyond whether your child is biologically yours and the Nicely's prove that every single day."

 

My heart skipped a beat after reading Taylor's post, it's exactly what we hope to teach our students.

Happy 3rd Birthday Emmi

Our sweet Emmi has turned 3. It's amazing to us and her OT and Speech Therapst as to how far she has come this year. We believe its the touch of God's hand in her life causing sweet peace to come over her. She's putting sentences together, counting and understanding the basic details of life. The colors and educational things will come. Right now we are concentrating on loving her, helping her to learn obedience and social skills. When we rescued Emmi we had no idea how much she didn't know. It's truly amazing what a little TLC will do for a child.
Let alone the love a sibling that adores her. God gave HVN a heart for Emmi early last year and we never stopped praying until God gave her to us. HVN heard all those prayers and believes in her heart that Emmi is a gift and "she's special."

 

Happy Birthday Sweet Promised One!!!

 

 



 

 

 

Love These Smiles

 

 

Fall Vacation

Our Annual Fall Camping trip was so much fun. We found a new place not far from home that we fell in love with. We rested, swam, played games, rode bikes, rode horses, skipped rocks, met up with friends, did campfires and enjoyed our together time. God is sooo good to bless us more than we deserve.
HVN is doing well in school and loving it. On the way to our vacation she randomly said, "I love Ms. R, she's gonna miss me this week." True!
E is thriving in her therapy with OT and Speech. Her sentences are still cute but much more clear. HVN understands her best.
It's so sweet to watch how much they love one another...and argue that much too. Guess they are truly sisters or the both wouldn't happen.
HVN towers over the kids in her class. Her long legs are in a 5t. She is still quite shy but is warming up by this 6th week of school.
E on the other hand doesn't meet a stranger and would go home with anyone. She is good at making HVN feel comfortable wherever we go. Neat how they help one another.
This is our favorite time of the year, campfires happen as much as possible. Rick and Ibow  hunt together and the girls love the outdoors.
May we ever be thankful for this Season and the others where God is continuing molding us as families. Blessings to you!

I Know Where the Time Went....

...each morning was spent cuddling, reading, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, getting to know my girl and loving her time, her laugh and smiles, and doing School Stuff that she loves. Im so thankful this is just another beginning and God is growing us altogether. HVN definently has a sweet moldable Spirit, one that already loves the things of God although personally she does not know Him yet.
And so it is that HVN began PreSchool today in  a place of like faith where her teacher loves God and models Him. She will attend twice a week for the academics using Abeka. I was told she would be reading by the end of the school year. She's already writing her letters, her name, her sisters name and my name. She can count and recognize to 20 and has great comprehension of stories and colors.

Im thankful for this day as its another step that we welcome and embrace as a family. Enjoy the pictures, she was so very excited to go.
Although I did great over the last few days, when I dropped her off and turned the corner I cried. I cried tears of joy that she's ours and so very special and tears of joy that she is so ready for this!

Summer 2012

 

I've been a terrible blogger...but for good reasoning. I am a mommy of two special girls that need my attention minute by minute. They have kept me tired with summer fun.

We attended Summer Camp with Daddy and the big kids and loved playing in the creek, meeting new friends, swimming in the lake and the pool. But most of all we didnt have to say good bye to Daddy for another week.

A special high light of the summer was to meet two of our favorite friends who encourage us daily through song or CD. Bob and Larry are two friends we learn core values from in a fun Biblical way.

Then, we spent some time with cousins at home and at the campground. I love having all the girls together, they're so much fun.

In the midst of fun, we moved PaPa & GG in to town. My sweet inlaws are not 4.8 miles away and enjoying our girls more than ever! The girls are getting spoiled and Im so thankful they have regular memories with grand parents...all of them!

Stay tuned for more pictures this week....my HVN is starting Pre-School. Prayers needed as this mommy has shed many tears but I know HVN is ready. Its only for 2 days a week for the academic portion. During that time, E will be in Speech and Occupational Therapy's. 

 

Happy 4th Birthday HVN!

Today, we celebrate a very sweet Miracle in our lives...HVN! Out of all the children in the world God chose her for us and we are GRATEFUL!

She's full of laughter and excitement. She loves deeply and has a very tender heart. HVN loves to sing, learn and play, she enjoys the outdoors but must add her jewelry to the attire. I love that prissiness that she loves! She cares for her friends and speaks of them often as well as her cousins and family. I think HVN considers one of her greatest gifts this year to be her Sister. HVN loves to mother Emmi.

As believers we are teaching HVN to pray and call on Jesus with our thanksgivings, fears, illnesses and request. He answered one of her sincere prayers this year when Emmi came into our family...she still speaks of Him answering that for her. She loves her church and Bible lessons, for that we are thankful.

I believe in my heart that HVN's birth family would be so proud of the sweet girl she is growing into.

Our hearts send love and hugs to them and added appreciation for their part in choosing life for her and continued prayers as HVN growns. God is so good to have sent you into our lives.

A couple months ago I was reading HVN a book on Adoption, its one of our favorites "I Wished for You." When I made mention of HVN having a birth mommy who carried her in her belly she stopped me this time and ask, "Whats her name?" I told her "J." HVN stopped for a minute, thought about it and said with a sweet smile, "I really like her!"

That's her heart!

Happy Birthday my sweet angel...may you grow closer to Jesus in the coming years and call on Him as your Savior at an early age!