Thoughts from Nikki

MOVING TIME

2009-01-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

My blog has moved to:

www.nikkiboggs.wordpress.com

THIS is why I love Oak Leaf

2009-01-19T18:35:00.001-08:00

When I was eating dinner Friday night with my mom, grandparents and some of their friends, the topic of the conversation became about the church that one of the other couples went to. the big story...someone had sat in their seats. Apparently they have been sitting there, in the same spot, for a very long time. Upon this couple sitting there, my grandmother's friends sat in the row behind them. So, for the last two months, these two couple have been racing each other to the service every Sunday so they could have these two seats. Their entire Sunday's have been consumed by two seats! This has gotten so bad that at their Christmas party, the pastor had to say something.

I am so thankful for Oak Leaf. I can't possibly thank God for letting me a part of this church. I have never once been mad when someone sat in the seat I sat in the week before, and I have never the entire time I have been at Oak Leaf heard any of the pastors say anything about something so petty. I am so proud that Oak Leaf will do anything to help people become closer to God. I am so proud that I can be a part of the church that will do anything to reach people that other churches see as unreachable. I am so proud that I am part of a church that welcomes everyone with open arms. I am so proud to be part of a church where teenagers will give up a seat to sit on the floor when an adult gets there after the theater is packed.

This is why I love Oak Leaf. This is why no matter how many times my grandmother refuses to give the church a chance, that I still continue to ask her to go. This is why no matter how much smack people talk that I will forever defend this church and what God is doing there. This is why no matter how many times people look at me and wonder why in the world I could go to "that church" I will tell them that I am closer to God than I have ever been before.

2009-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

Man school has been really boring so far...I'm looking at transfering to highlands to finish my associate's degree. It's closer and they are offereing more classes so I can be finished sooner, so that's a huge selling point. My teacher's really seem to be into chapter reviews this semester, and they are taking forever to get finished with.

Ok, ok, I am finished with my pity party. At least I can give you guys a good update: I've lost five pounds, and after some regrouping have decided to loose thirty pounds...by Easter. That averages out to like 2.2 pounds a week. I understand why people become addicted to exercising. I feel so much more energized!

Here's to a great year 2008

2008-12-31T08:28:00.001-08:00

2008 was a good year. It was filled with ups and downs, good times, funny times, and sad times. I laughed and I cried. I was loud and I was quiet. I made new friends and lost old friends. I have set goals and reached them, and I have failed to reach some of them. I loved God with all of my heart, and still questioned why some things happened. Because of these things, I have been molded and shaped into the person that I will start a new year out with.

Here are my goals for all of next year:

Lose 20 pounds...I know this is really generic, but I really want to lose those 20 pounds.
Tithe...regularly.
Make President's list every quarter.
Take enough classes my first and second quarters to take the summer off and only have to work.
Remain a person of integrity.
Pay off my computer so I have an extra $50 bucks a month to put into savings.
Build my savings account back up.
Do more for myself...I resolve to get a pedicure once a month...or buy a pair of jeans or shoes. This will probably be the hardest one for me, because I would much rather spend the money on someone else.
I need to continually read my Bible every day, and develop a daily relationship with God.
Eat lunch with my Grandfather once a week.

I really can't wait to see how this looks in six months, let alone in twelve. I would love to bring in 2010 saying that I accomplished all of my goals for 2009/

I know...I know...

2008-12-28T14:39:00.001-08:00

I think this might be the longest time I've ever gone without writing a blog. Since finals, my life has been all about work and getting ready to come to Kentucky. I've been here for a week, and over all, I've had a pretty good time. It's been fun seeing all of my family. Christmas was great, and I got a ton of new scrap book stuff....I can't wait to get home and use it all. Work starts the day after I get home, and school starts that Thursday. I'm really hoping that I can add another class in to my schedule so that I can take the summer off. That would be awesome!

I visited a church with my mom and my aunt today. It was a really good service and I liked the aucoustic thing they had going today, even though it isn't an everyday thing there. They did a great rendition of 'Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing.' It was probably one of the best I've ever heard.

Well that's all for now. I'm gonna see if my mom needs any help with dinner.

Updates

2008-12-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a long while since I have written. Here are a few updates.

I have one actual final left, and another that is a party...I've been out of kindergarten for a while now, but that's how we roll at NMTC.
I only have one more full week of work, and then I'm heading to Kentucky. I am so ready to see some snow...my mom is ready for it to go away.
My grandmother's birthday is next Tuesday, and she volunteered me to cook dinner for her and her friends.
I love Christmas time! I love the weather, I love the decorations, I love that God gave his son to spend thirty three years walking around with sinners like us.
I love Oak Leaf Church and how hard they work to always make people feel welcome.
I get to sleep in tomorrow, but since I haven't been able to sleep in for awhile, it'll probably only be until 9 or so.
Kaela is coming home this weekend, and we are planning on finishing our Christmas shopping together...with a nice peppermint mocha twist to go along with it.

It's a day late...

2008-11-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

But here are some of the things that I am thankful for!

I have a relationship with God, and although it is far from perfect, and I am always reaching to make it better, I couldn't possibly be more thankful that God chose to give his only son to die for me.
I have an absolutely amazing family, and love the support and love they constantly give to me.
I have awesome friends, and an even better best friend.
I am getting really close to being able to transfer, and I am so glad God has given me the patience to last through the times when I have wanted to quit.
I have an amazing church that knows that it isn't about what someone wears or how many tattoos they have--it's all about the people, and getting them to where God wants them to be.

There are so many things to be thankful for this time of the year, and I hope that you all take the time to be thankful for something! Thanks for reading!

2008-11-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

All of the packing is finally done, and my family is in Kentucky. All of my stuff is at Grandma's house, and waiting to be unpacked...that's a great thing to come home to right? I only have one more full week of school after I get back from vacation, and I will be back in Kentucky once my boss leaves for her vacation with her family. I'm hoping for snow. I thought I might get some while we were here for thanksgiving, but I'll probably have to wait until Christmas.

It's so good not to have to do any homework over the break, and really just relax and help get everythign ready for thanksgiving. This is my favorite time of the year. I love the cold, and the food! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Lots and lots and lots of boxes...

2008-11-20T20:24:00.001-08:00

Man there is a lot going on around my house. There are no pictures on the walls, we have boxes piled to the cieling, and the empty shelves in my bedroom make it look completely empty. Did I mention the boxes? They are everywhere!

School is almost over!!! It's actualy so close to be over that I am almost excited...I did one of my teacher interviews today. It went pretty well. I absolutely can not wait to transfer schools. I can't wait to be out of North Metro, but for now and the next semester, I'm gonna tough it out. I only got to take three classes next semester. I really wanted four. I just wish that they would hurry up and get everything switched over so I could add another class. I know....I know....I've got to be like the only person on the planet to want to take another clas. I don't actually want to take it, I just want to get it over with!

It's what I'll be praying for

2008-11-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

I couldn't think of what to title this blog, so I decided to leave it blank. As I write this, I'm fixing to go into my bedroom and start packing up boxes. My mom and sisters are moving to Kentucky, and I will be moving back in with my grandmother. As much as I would like to go, I can't....I have to stay here for school.

It's the best choice possible right now, but my mom is exceptionally nervous about the move. I wish she could see just how strong she really is. I know she'll be able to do it, but I dont' think she thinks she can. My sisters, on the other hand, are the most excited. Jessica has been wanting to move back for awhile, and Samantha can't wait to have her new beginning.

I'd love the prayer support from all of you readers. Pray that my mom finds strength in herself, and most importantly from God. Pray that my sisters transition smoothly into school, and make friends that are completely in love with God. It's what I'll be praying for, and I'd love for you to do the same thing.

I think I just found my title...

Respect

2008-11-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

I've always believed that respect is earned. I always give someone the benefit of the doubt to begin with. They have the responsibility to keep my respect. There are very few people I have ever lost respect for, and they have done nothing to gain it back. Although I find it in myself to be able to be nice and find compassion if they are in a time of need, I can't find it in myself to have respect for them as a person.

Sometimes I wonder if the way that I view this is wrong, or if I see it the right way. I have an exceptionally hard time trusting people, and I think respect is one of the greatest contributors to trust. To trust someone, and to have respect for them is giving them a peice of yourself-of your heart. Should they break that trust, it breaks that part of you.

I know this is an insanely random thing to write about, but I seem to be having a hard time with it today, and needed to vent a little bit about it.

It's been like a week...

2008-11-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a very long time since I've written anything. There's been a lot going on in the past week. Most notably, we have a new president. Although you all know that I wasn't backing Obama during the elections; I have come to the realization that Obama is our President.

Kind of a DUH thing to realize right?

Well, I don't know your opinion, and unless you share, I probably wont even ask. But, since you are reading my blog, I feel like you should at least get to know where I am standing at now. I think we all need to get over the fact that Obama isn't McCain. Obama is my the leader of the free world for the next four years at least. We need to stop complaining about him and start praying for him. Let's pray that he can finds the bast way to improve the economy, and that he does everything he can to protect our men and women over seas, lets pray that he can improve education standards and policy, and lets pray that he can lead this country to a place where God looks at all of us with love. Lets pray that we as a country can show Obama what it feels like to have support of a country, but to have the support of a people that prays for him daily.

Ok...thats enough politics until the next election.

The rest of my week actually went somewhat smooth. I finally got a new phone...and iPhone, and I absolutely love it...where has this thing been all of my life? That part was awesome...the rest...well...at least I had the iPhone. I am taking the hardest class I have to take to get my Associates. We have two new full time teachers, and they are changing the syllabus for every class. Needless to say, it has been changed three times. That's got me a little stressed right now, but I think that I'm gonna be ok. We only have four weeks left in this semester anyways.

I also found out that my next college has pretty much been decided for me. Since my school is in the middle of a transfer, the only school they have a running contract for transfers with is Reinhardt. It's an awesome school, and it's not too far away from home.

Just Being Me

2008-10-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

In class yesterday, after talking about politics and religion, my teacher asked a pretty hard hitting question. The question--if you could leave the world with one thing, what would it be?

I only get to leave one thing? I had the hardest time finding an answer to that. I would like to think that I have done quite a few good things, and have affected the lives of at least a few people in a positive way. So, what did I choose?

I didn't. I couldn't. I haven't lived my entire life. I haven't done everything I want to do. There are things that I want to be known for. I want to be know as a girl who above anything was completely filled by the love of God. I want to be known as a girl who would do anything she could to help, a girl who would give you the shirt off of her back if that's what you needed. I want to be known as a girl who was full of integrity, and a girl who did anything she could to make you smile.

As for leaving the world with one thing, I don't know...but...I don't see myself leaving the world anytime soon...unless God has another plan. So, for now, I choose to be known for the things I am doing and living for right now. I choose to be known for just being me.

2008-10-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

Last week, I found out that Michael still didn't have anyone to write the family devotion guide. I asked to be given the chance, and he gave me the chance to go after it. When I asked for some past message notes, the ones that I got was more than I expected. Michael sent me all of the notes for the crossing over series. It was a great reminder of just how big God is. I was reminded of prayers that have been answered, and ones that I am still praying for. My sun stand still prayer is in full swing, and some parts of it have definately been answered!

Are you ready to submit to God?

2008-10-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely amazing night at Fuel. There were a few kids who decided to give their lives to God tonight! I absolutely love to see how God is working in lives of the teenagers in our city. Jake did the teaching tonight, and said something that made me think about my relationship with God.

"Are you ready to submit to God?"

As soon as Jake asked this question, I was hit with my reality of the moment. I couldn't help but think that I haven't been very submissive to God lately. I've been relying on myself more than God, and I've been putting myself through more trouble than I need to go through. From now on, I am praying that I am able to turn to God when things begin to get hard, and not turn to myself or anyone else to see the truth.

Trying to write a paper...

2008-10-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

School is kicking my rear end this semester. I have a research paper that I know isn't due for a few weeks, but I feel like I'm so far behind. My teacher said to write on anything in our five hundred page book. Why can't she just give us something specific? It almost feels like I'm forgetting something, even though I've checked all of classes and I'm not. Maybe God will tell me to quit school...I don't think it will ever happen.

I really don't know why this semester is so hard. I have written so many papers. I think that next semester I'm gonna do some more core classes, and not have to worry about doing all of the kids research again next semester. I need a change of pace.

Weekend Update

2008-10-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things that went on this weekend...

Friday:

Finally got all of the papers and transcripts that I needed for the scholarship.
I went with Grandma to about four different Lowe's stores looking for three rocks

Saturday:

Spent the morning doing homework and washing clothes
Went to the haunted corn maze and the regular corn maze with Cliffy, Jenna, Mike, Bradley, Jennifer, Jarrett, Megan, and Josh. we had an awesome night!

Sunday:

Went to bed around one or so, and woke up at 5:30. I didn't fall back asleep until 7.
We had a guest speaker at Oak Leaf today because Michael is in Mexico. She said Jackass, and the fire alarms were going off all morning.
Gonna try and take a nap before starting on a research paper.

Mighty to Save

2008-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

I recently downloaded a song that I hadn't heard in quite a long time. It's a song that I absolutely love, but for some reason I just hadn't listened to it. It's called mighty to save, and I couldn't love the words to it more. Here are a few of my favorite lines from it.

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

I love the fact that God takes us as we are- completely full of imperfections. I love knowing that no matter what I do, or what happens to me that God is always there. I have no doubt that God is going to do amazing things in my life. He already has. I have completely surrendered to what he has planned for my life, and I can't wait to see where he takes me.

2008-10-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would give you all an update on everything. I still have to go to the doctor on Wednesday, but I'm feelin pretty good today. I figured out that the medicine was makin me sick. So sick, that I felt like I had the flu. Thanks to some great advice from my boss, I felt great today...while taking the medicine! Anyways, I am really excited to be able to go to FUEL again this week. Man, Wednesday is gonna be a busy day. I have to go to class too. Thanks for everyone that prayed! I didn't get to go to Kentucky this weekend, and I was really lookin forward to it, but Thanksgiving will be here before I know it.

My mom was Terrified

2008-10-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

First, I will start by saying that I have had a cold for the last couple of days. Last night, when I went to take my cold medicine, I apparently passed out and had a seizure. The only thing that I remember was taking the medicine and waking up with my mom standing over me and my sister on the phone with 911. I had to go to the hospital, and the only thing they could figure out was that I have a couple of infections. So, I now have to go back to my regular doctor on Wednesday. Hopefully, they will say it's some crazy one time kind of thing.

I guess it turns out to be a good thing that we didn't end up in Kentucky last night. I can't imagine what my mom would have done if we were in the car in the middle of no where and that happened.

2008-10-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

So I stole this from this guy, who stole it from this guy. I liked it, so did they, and I'm hoping that you all like it too. Here are some things that you may or may not know about me.

I would rather have something salty than something sweet, unless it is a chocolate chip cookie.
Bella happens to be one of my favorite toddlers in the world. She calls me Kiki..its so stinking cute.
If I could adopt her, I would in a heart beat...no matter how hard it would be on me.
My dream car has changed like five times...right now it's a black Range Rover.
I would rather be in the mountains than at the beach.
I love the winter. It's my favorite season.
I wish that it would snow everyday. I've often thought that Alaska would be a great place to live.
I want a small tattoo, but I can't settle on one thing.
I am the oldest child in my family...I also happen to be the shortest.
My favorite television show is Grey's Anatomy...F-R-I-E-N-D-S plays a very very close second.
My favorite colors are brown and blue.
I have a guilty pleasure...Reality TV!!
I have changed my mind three times, trying to decide on a major. I think I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.
I would love to spend a couple weeks in south France. Followed by a couple of weeks in Greece.
Skydiving is at the top of my list of things to do in life.
If I could be a super star, I would be a country music singer...I would love to tour with Brad Paisley or Sugarland.
My all time favorite song is Set Me as a Seal by Joel and Stacey Goddard...I have a lot of favorite songs, and they tend to change very often.
Right now those favorite songs include 'Very Last Country Song' by Sugarland, 'Diverse City' by Toby Mac, 'She's gonna hurt Somebody' by Chuck Wicks, and 'So Deep' by Will Goodwin
My mom and best friend threw a surprise party for my 18th birthday.
I love to shop...for anything really.
I love when my Grandfather gets dressed up and wears Old Spice. It reminds me of Sunday mornings when I was like 5.
I love push pops...but only the orange ones.
I own like a bazillion pairs of flip-flops.
I have seen Third Day in concert quite a few times, and they get better every time I see them.
I believe in God with everything in me. Yet I still sometimes find it hard to turn to God in the hard times, instead of just blaming him for it. It's something that I pray for every day.

I hope that gives you a bit more insight to who I am. I had fun writing this. It kind of made me think about the things that make me who I am.

I don't know how to do it...

2008-10-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in like a week...what in the world is wrong with me? Well today, it happens to be that I have a crazy bad cold. Anyway, I am so looking forward to tomorrow night. I love seeing the kids of Cartersville totally pumped about what God is doing in their lives. I can't wait to be part of the change that I am praying will take place in this city!

On another note, I learned a very valuable lesson that I think everyone should get the chance to learn...I was at work today, playing on myspace (of course) and heard a kid in the waiting room saying 'I don't know how to do it...show me daddy.' Take a moment to let it sink in. I was blown away. I had to take a moment just to be reminded what a child-like was all about. It's about trusting that God will show you exactly how to do it. No matter what, we need to be reminded that God will always show us what to do, even when we don't know how to do it.

The lesson for the day: don't be someone who only prays when things are going good. Pray when you have absolutely no idea what you are going to do, and need God to show you how to get through it.

FUEL

2008-10-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Fuel kicked off last night. It was so much more than I expected. I was so happy to be a part of something that is giving the kids of Cartersville something to look forward to. I tried to make my way around to everyone last night, and introduce myself...aparently Cartersville Middle school has a surplus of kids named AAron. I met like 10 of these guys. I can't wait to see where God takes this. Michael was at Starbucks this morning, and all of the guys working there were trying to figure out what was going on at Club 104 last night. That's awesome! I also met some great volunteers last night. It's awesome to see what a support group theese teenagers have. I am soo excited to be a part of it!

My first day of class was yesterday. I haven't had either of the teachers that I have this quarter before. I'm kind of nervous about the class that I have today. Everyone that I have talked to says that this teacher is the hardest one in the entire program. I guess we'll see today.

2008-09-30T18:00:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I found out that someone I know recently decided to completely go against everything she was taught and rebel. At first, I was furious. I was so mad that the things she yelled at me for, she was doing herself. It was the perfect example of the reason that I left the last church I was at. The more I thought about though, the more I started to realize that I was spending more time on all of the bad things that were going on in her life, than praying for her to get her life back on track with God.

How crazy is it that we focus on why some one is doing something wrong, rather than just asking God to help them get through the hard time they are going through. I was once told, that it was impossible to be a christian, do the wrong thing, and still be able to go to sleep at night feeling good about yourself. I hold that true for myself...if I know that I have done something wrong, I feel horrible about when I go to bed that night. If this is true for everyone, I can't imagine the way someone who was saved and turns away from God feels when they go to sleep.

I'd like to ask everyone to pray for this girl. I don't want to share her name, but please, God will know exactly who you are praying for.

Louder than Creation

2008-09-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

I think that I have a new favorite worship song. It's called 'Louder than Creation.' My favorite line from the entire song is "Let me shine brighter than the stars in the sky an offering of praise all my life to you my holy king."

That line always hits me pretty hard. I want to be that person...so in love with God, that when people look at me, they just know. Even if they aren't a christian, they would know that God is seriuosly working in my life. Part of my sun stand still prayer has always been to be part of a radical change in someone's life, and I know that living this song will be a huge part of it.

So Wednesday is going to be a really busy day. It's my first day of class; and I have no idea who either of my teachers are. I've never met them. I think it's going to be a pretty interesting quarter...human growth and development. This is pretty much what I'll have to be doing when I have my own practice so I am really looking forward to learning more about it. I also have a language arts class...not sure how I feel about that yet.

Wednesday also happens to be the first day of FUEL. I am so ubsurdly excited to see where God takes this city through kids who are younger than I am.