Author: nicole

It’s Monday, but I’m stuck in a time warp because I’m at a basketball tournament in Sioux Falls, SD. Basketball tournaments do that to me. I forget what day it is, what time I’m supposed to go to bed and what I should to eat to stay a human in reasonably good shape.

So it’s Monday and thanks to the diligence ... Read More


There is a flower arrangement sitting on my kitchen table. It is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, with red roses along with Stargazer lilies.

Do you want to hear something that will make you groan out loud? Stargazers are my favorite flowers because way back when Saul and I were dating, he brought me Stargazers the first ... Read More


A year ago we were living in a home filled with uncertainty. My husband’s basketball season was coming to a close and we were unsure what the next few months would bring.

While we thought there would be two more years to build the team, we could hear faint voices yelling from the sidelines, “Off with his head!”

Social media is ... Read More


They say you either had a good childhood or a good story to tell. Andrea Abbate, from Glendale, Calif., says she has the latter.

Her childhood was terribly traumatic, but as she bravely shares with us, it was an act of kindness during that time that saved her.

“When I was 10, my father had a drinking problem that would sometimes end ... Read More


I always love it when I write something and someone comes back and says, “That message has been repeating itself in my life lately.”

I think it’s fun and amazing and proof that God cares so deeply about the intimate details of our lives.

I love it — except when it happens to me.

When it happens to me, it often ... Read More


Don’t cringe if you hate Valentine’s Day. Keep reading. I’m about to share an incredible lesson from a 6-year-old.

Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that is filled with expectations. If there is a sweetheart involved, we tend to expect that person to love us a little better on this particular day. If expectations aren’t met, we may wish the ... Read More


I like to dream big. Really big. This used to confuse people in my household.

For instance, I went to LA for work last February and weeks before I left, I declared I was going to win a car on The Price is Right. My family reminded me of the odds of getting on stage and then of actually winning a ... Read More


I think we’ve all witnessed people with bad behavior. I’m not talking about personal choices, I’m talking about treating someone poorly.

It turns my stomach to see someone hurting someone else with their words or actions. Many times, there is nothing we can do in the midst of the situation, but as this woman from central Wisconsin demonstrates, there is plenty ... Read More


How do you see yourself? Is the image you see in photos the same image you see in your mind?

Maybe you picture yourself being ten years younger, or ten pounds lighter, or ten shades less grey.

My friend, Andrea, sent me a photo from last week’s trip to San Diego. We were waiting for a yoga class when she looked at ... Read More


Have you ever leaned into someone during a challenging season in that person’s life?

Did you deliver a casserole or a plate of fresh-baked cookies? As the recipient of both casseroles and cookies, I can tell you they hit their mark and remind us we’re not alone in our suffering.

Kindness is healing, because when we need a friend, we ... Read More