Letter to my 21 year old self

Dearest Nikki,

Honey, Baby, Sugar...
First of all and the most important thing I want to tell you is that the guy your with is not for you. It isn't going to work out. No matter how much cry, beg, or plead...It isn't going to happen. God doesn't want him for you...so just break it off now and let it go. It is hard..It will hurt..I know you spent seven years with him. You have a lot of memories with him...but guess what? There is good news...because someone even better will walk right up to you and blow you away! This new guy...His name is Gregg..He is great. He is the one. Spend your time with him..He is going to invest his future in you. He asks you where you want to eat.. and what movie you want to see. He is literally great! Don't waste anymore of your time trying to make something work with the other dude. This new guy will give you love, praise, affection...not to mention a wonderful house and a beautiful baby girl! Heck ...later on in your marriage ..he buys you a new car..for putting up with him! Seriously! Go now! Don't look back!

Remember that all the hurtful words you have been told ..is not true.. You are not fat! No where near it! Dont' let it hurt you. You are good enough.. there is someone waiting to be in a great relationship with you...

Finish college.. it is going to be hard going back after marriage and a baby. Go ahead and get it done now.

Start slowing down on the Dr Pepper ..you will find yourself crazy addicted to it later...and with the stresses of life you start to depend on it more.. no lie.. so just start making yourself like water.

Keep taking care of your little brother.. make sure his life is great. I know it's hard.. and you miss out on a lot for doing it.. but in the end.. it is worth it.. He will be thankful and appreciative. And when you get those Happy Mother's Day's from him..you will see why you put in the hard work to raise your brother..why you missed so many football games and date nights...to potty train and sing lullabies. It is worth it. Cherish it. Note: You will lose feeling in the bottom of your hair line because baby brother likes to twist your hair to fall asleep. but it is ok.. you don't really need feeling there.. LOL...

Keep taking care of your dad. He is grown..but he needs you. He has been through a lot in his life. His main purpose in life is taking care of you and your brother so he has to work...a lot...he is now a single dad.. give him some slack and be patient with him. He is learning too.

Don't let your mom and dad's divorce get you down. You have learned a lot from it. You now know how to take care of a child when you are ready to have your own..and believe it helps a lot. You aren't as touchy and scared to take that new precious life home. You are excited..because you know what your doing! You have learned to take care of a bank account and pay bills...which comes in handy a lot now. You have learned that all people make mistakes and life isn't as grand as it was when we were 11. Dust yourself off...pull yourself up...and keep going.

Your cousin Brittany is a lifesaver. She is there for you no matter what...or when. She listens to you for hours.. gives advice when you need it..and rescues you if she has to. Don't take that for granted...and do the same for her.

Sometimes you will be discouraged because you never got to live out your glory days...but that's ok.. you didn't need them...you turn out just fine.

Jesus never left you..He is still there.. and this new amazing guy...will lead you straight back to him. Follow.

This year will be the end of your hard years.. after this it gets better.. I promise... it has been rough...but you have pulled through.. and you will come out on the other side shining... you have overcome and you will win this game of life and I am so proud of you!
Don't lose touch with family...it is all you have in life.
Now go put a smile on your face and get ready to tackle the world!

and be prepared...in a couple years..you are going to be planning a wedding.. then shortly after you will be a momma..
see..told you the bad days were over..
from here on out ..life is GREAT!

Your 28 year old self:

Tonight I had our Home Friendship Group over at my house. Home Friendship Group is just a group of people from our church that takes turns meeting at each other's houses for good food and a bible study. It is more of a relaxed environment ..where we can talk and eat and learn something about God without there being the pressure of what to wear to church or hoping the preacher don't call you out as a visitor and make everyone clap for you. I know that is how I felt when I first starting going to church. I just wanted to slip in...and see if I liked it. I didn't want to be adopted and then feel like I have a burden to fulfill..I just wanted to get my feet wet.

So anyway.........

Tonight I did an icebreaker...something to get everyone talking....about being in a plane crash and picking from a list of what you would take to try to survive. It was fun..I never knew Crisco shortening could be so useful!!! But I will now start to carry a little can of Crisco in my purse in case I am ever caught in the event of a plane crash.

Moving on.........

The topic for tonight was a "Friendly Invite" It pretty much just talked about how a friendly invite to church could possibly get that person into church..on fire for God..and that one person you invite could become a preacher or a missionary and save millions of people's lives. You never know what a person's purpose is in life according to God when you invite them to church.

This is one area...I know that I have been lacking in. Tonight I actually invited my friend I used to work with to Friendship Group..but seems like something else always comes up and she can't make it. I wonder if something would happen if she ever gave God a chance to really get ahold of her. She is such a committed person ...that once she grabs a hold of something ..she doesn't let go until she has gotten everything she wants from it. Could you imagine someone like that getting ahold of the Holy Spirit of God and taking off!!???? I would just love to be a spectator of something like that! So since she didn't come this week..I will invite her again next week. But I need to think of more people to invite. So....Lord....lay some people on my heart!

After the bible study we all just sat and talked a little bit about how we got into church...and where we would be if we hadn't found church...and what made us go to our particular church. Some of the stories were pretty amazing...and some were actually a suprise to me....for example ...my mother in law told us that when they were stationed here because my father in law was in the Army..they were fixing to get divorced...papers ready and everything....then they decided to find a church...and my father in law drove right up to our church and said this one is it. And they have been there ever since. But..my father in law isnt completely in church....

and by completely ..I mean ....I know he believes in God..and God heals...but he doesn't fully put himself out there for God to grab a hold of...on the other hand..my mother in law..is all in.

One thing...amongst many more...that I can say about my mother in law is that she is a Godly woman...no matter what is said or what happens...she remians steadfast in her faith! That is an inspiration to me. I know that whatever question I may have or problem that comes up....She is there to answer it or pray with me for an answer!! And that is a tremendous characteristic!!!

I had a good time tonight in Friendship Group and I thank God for everyone that comes and allowing us to have that great fellowship!

Have a blessed day..and watch out for all these storms....we are getting one right now that is calling for egg sized hail!