You Know You're A Social Worker When...

You know you're a social worker when, as you are driving 70 down the highway you see a pick-up truck next to you with a bassinet in the bed, and you strain your neck looking to make sure there isn't a baby in it...

Ya think I'm jaded by my job the slightest bit?

Confessions...

Ok, so last night I was feeling kinda blue, and Sugarbear, being the wonderful, thoughtful husband he is, convinced me to go for a walk to raise my spirits. He was right, the walk did just that, but that is not my confession...

My confession has to do with a certain Ginger-named Dachshund... see, when Mommy says "Wanna go", it is the cue for the dogs to jump up and down, whine, and run for the 'leash storage spot'. Well, the girls got to accompany us on our moonlit jaunt around the neighborhood... well, Chica, being the hardy terrier she is, loved the walk. She was running around, doing what good dogs do- sniffing, marking, trying to chase the rabbits, etc. Ginger, however, is a little more delicate. She has very short legs, and is quite effective over a sprint, but is not made for distance. Well, she also has asthma.... which means that when she overexerts herself, she starts wheezing... loudly...

So we make it about a block when Ginger starts her wheezing routine. Well, we stop for a minute, we move on. So, we keep this up for another two blocks. By this time, she is looking up at me with those big, hound dog eyes and I'm worried that the neighbors are going to call the Humane Society. So, what's a dog mommy to do? I pick up my Dachshund, and proceed to carry her, leash and all, for our walk. She instantly becomes the happiest puppy, tongue hanging out, ears blowing in the breeze, smile on her little doggy face... cause she knows that Mommy is a sucker.

Good Posts...

Ok, so most of you who would ever read my blog I know also read MckMama and Bring the Rain, so this post doesn't apply to you. But, I know there are at least a couple of you out there who don't know who I'm talking about. They wrote a couple of excellent posts today, and I wanted to share the links. I, at least, was inspired and convicted at the same time. So, instead of expounding on what these two excellent women have said, I'm going to let their posts do the talking and add just a big 'ol hearty concurrence. That said, there are so many people in need of prayer at the moment, don't forget Baby Stellan...



http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/03/to-him-be-glory

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2009/03/miracle

I can't get the links to work for some reason, so just copy and paste!

Not Me Monday! (Almost)

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


I am not posting this early, not me.

I did not, yet again, leave a pile of 'hang up' clothes in the closet just because, in case you haven't heard already, I simply despise anything to do with laundry folding and putting away...not me.

I did not buy a complete new dress this weekend just to have something to match perfectly with the $6 pair of shoes I found at the thrift store...not me, again.

I did not have to fight the urge to throw my knitting needles at the youth tonight who thought the middle of a lesson on the Holy Spirit was a perfect time to play with fire... like actual fire, from a candle... because I love them dearly, and would therefore never lose my temper like that...definitely not me.

I am not contemplating the ramifications of faking a serious illness just to get a little time off of work... nope, not me.

I did not leave the cheesy crockpot soaking in the sink when I could have easily finished washing it, just because I wanted to sit and enjoy my silent house...

Happy (almost) Monday Everyone!

Yep, That's Right...

I actually took off early...Shocker, I know. The time and space continuum is still in tact, I hear. Now I am trying to convince Sugarbear to go outside and play... the baby ducks at the park are beckoning!

American Idol Time!

It’s American Idol Time!
Now for the running commentary… as always, I don’t delude myself into thinking anyone particularly cares about my opinion, SO… I’m going to give it anyway:-)

1. Yea for country and western night!
2. Michael- Not sure that’s a great song choice… the harmonica is annoying me… I am not liking this… I bet Simon won’t either…
3. Allison- She’s cute… It’s ok…. You can tell this isn’t really her style… and Paula makes no sense...
4. Kris- Another Garth Brooks (or Bob Dylan...) song… the Adele version is very good, if you haven’t heard it yet… He is a cutie pie… and I’ve always loved this song! Pretty Pretty. I didn’t hear the pitch problems Paula is talking about…
5. Lil- She keeps going in and out of key…she can rock it, but I do not think it was her best… but Simon is being disrespectful with the "Little" thing...
6. I still think "The Osbourne's Reloaded" is a sign of the Apocolypse...
7. Adam- Haha. Randy Travis was funny. Again, one side of my brain hates this version, the other side is fascinated... and I think Johnny Cash would hate it... and HE covered Nine Inch Nails...
8. Scott- Interesting choice... feels kind of disjointed... very adult contemporary... Paula and Simon are about to throw down... I still like Scott...
9. Alexis- I like her hair... I like her dress... is her monitor working? She seems behind... kinda weird... but I like her anyways...
10. Danny- I really liked that... Paula is verging on incoherent.. Yea for Danny:-)
11. Anoop- He's got to get rid of the hoodies... I'm bored now...
12. Paula is getting on my nerves...
13. Megan- Awww... such a pretty girl... what is up with her diction? Yikes... I can't pick on the poor girl who was in the hospital...
14. Matt- the arrangement was a little weird... he's got talent... I just can't get the image of Justin Timberlake's goofy second cousin out of my head... good job, though.

Until next week...

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


This past week....

I was not secretly thankful that one of our youth group kids ONLY brought beer to our house for Bible study last night... they have been known to bring other, even more illegal substances to church... I mean, seriously, they brought BEER to the youth pastor's house... (props to Sugarbear for his handling of this particular siutation).

I was not tempted to laugh when said youth replied "Apple Juice" when asked what was in the fast food cup he brought... as the substance in the cup had a good head of froth, and smelled like a brewery...

I did not hit the snooze button, like, 8 times this morning. I love my job and can't wait to get started in the morning, afterall... I would never be late like that just cause I wanted to spend a few extra minutes snuggling with my snoring husband instead of going to work...

I did not just leave the "hanging up" clothes just laying in a (neat!) pile in my closet floor this week, just because I hate anything to do with folding/putting away laundry, and I figured they would find hangers eventually... not me.

Happy Monday everyone!

"The Day"

Today is “The Day”…. If you have ever struggled with infertility, you know exactly what I mean… Today is the day that determines what kind of doctor’s appointment the next one will be… Today is not a good day for me. Since I like numbers, today is the 41st “The Day” I have experienced. I am tired of “The Day”. “The Day” stinks. So, here we are, facing the choice of moving on to the next, more invasive, more expensive treatment, as we are at the limit of the current treatment.

If this were happening several years ago, I would be struggling in a very different way. I would be fighting with my husband, I would be blaming myself, I would be very involved in the worldly process. Not now. Now this period of my life is becoming very much a spiritual process. I am not fighting with my husband; I am fighting with my faith. I am fighting with the temptation to give in to the horribly negative feelings that I can’t seem to get rid of. I am fighting the temptation to be a very bratty, petulant child of God. (Yeah, doesn’t work… didn’t work on my mother when I was a teenager; of course it’s not going to work on the Creator of the Universe and my inmost being… ).

So, in a fit of honesty, here I am, the Pastor’s wife, the Sunday School teacher, the choir member… and I am struggling with the very promises that are laid out in black and white in front of me on the pages of my Bible… not struggling to believe them… struggling to believe that they apply to me today. Tomorrow will be different, but today it’s hard to trust that this situation is part of things working for good. Today it is hard to consider any part of this trial with joy. Today I find it impossible to trade this wearisome burden for a lighter one.

In all of that, I must recognize all that God has given me, and be thankful. I am... even today... on "The Day"... somedays the 'poor me' fog just gets in the way...

Here’s to a lighter post for tomorrow:-) It is Not Me Monday, after all!

What Does It Say About Me?

In our church nursery, the walls in one room are painted in Noah's Ark murals. One has a rainbow... What does it say about me that it drives me absolutely bonkers that the rainbow colors are in the wrong order? Or that I sometimes think about how bonkers it drives me even when I'm not at church? Just wondering...

American Idol Time!

As if anyone especially cares about my running Idol commentary…. Here are my observations from tonight’s show! Feel free to agree, disagree, or even not to care…

1. What weird bird had to sacrifice its feathers for Paula’s outfit?
2. Michael Jackson… difficult stuff. Is anyone gonna brave Bad?
3. Lil Rounds- are high wasted pants flattering on anyone? That said… she’s got chops. I liked the way she added that jazzy, bluesy thing at the end.
4. Scott Macintyre- What is there not to like. I bet he’s a good neighbor. I like a guy that can play an instrument. Not bad… his mom looks so proud When Simon is right, he’s right…
5. Danny Gokey- ehhhh… not loving it… oh, that’s better… ahhh that’s way better…
6. Michael Sarver- Boring… The judges disagree…ok, maybe it wasn’t so boring.
7. Jasmine Murray- Awww She’s so pretty. Now this is boring… And she’s sharp, or flat… I think… And no matter if Jackson sang it first, it should be a written rule not to sing anything Mariah Carey has done…
8. Kris Allen- oh my… was it good? Was it awful? I don’t know, and now Simon is undressing Paula… scary. Chris is a cutie pie though.
9. Allison Iraheta - why is she singing in a furniture store? She’s got a Pink vibe going on… don’t know if I like it…
10. Anoop Desai- How many times will we here a joke about “Anoop Dog”? Beat It… interesting… one of my favorites… too bad the song is almost monotone…. Paula got booed… interesting…
11. Jorge Nunez- I’m noncommittal at the moment. It’s kind of shrill…
12. The Osbourne's Reloaded has to be a sign of the Apocolypse...
13. Megan Corkrey- This is kind of silly… there are much better songs… Simon is sooo right…
14. Adam Lambert- it takes a real man to wear periwinkle leather on national television… not to mention the necklaces… he hurts my head. But I’m inexplicably fascinated…
15. Matt Giraud- He looks like Justin Timberlake’s goofy second cousin…
16. Alexis Grace- I’ve been looking forward to her… let’s see what she does… She just might be my favorite, simply because she is kind of spunky.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This week...
I did not spend a good portion of the day Saturday reading in bed and napping while leaving laundry and dishes to be done, simply because it's my only real off day in the week... not me.

I did not put a pan in the dishwasher without prewashing full well knowing that it wasn't going to get clean just because I didn't want to spend the time scrubbing it.

I did not have to fight the urge on Sunday to swat someone else's child on the behind while keeping the nursery because said child wouldn't stop being mean to other kids.

I most certainly did not sneak both puppies table scraps when I'm not supposed to, because I think that they feel it's unfair if I only gave one of them some...

Not Me Monday! (Or Tuesday?)

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not try to sneak this Not Me Monday in on Tuesday because I was too busy enjoying my alone time last night...not me.

My lunch today did not consist of a bag of chips and a Diet Pepsi because I was too wrapped up in work to stop and have a decent meal...definitely not me.

I did not suppliment said lunch with Green Apple Sour Straws... not me again.

Last night I did not let the Dachshund in the bed after I was given strict instructions not to, just because I was tired of hearing her whine and I imagined she was cold on the floor all by herself... not me, of course.

I most certainly did not make a slightly inappropriate joke during my doctor's appointment yesterday about my feelings regarding the frequency of certain testing... most certainly not me!

Welcome!

Welcome to Nichols Family Fun Time! I am a long-time “blurker” of some very excellent blogs, and I thought it high time I join in. For introductions- My name is Jennifer. I am married to Eric, aka Sugarbear. We have three pets. First there is Chica, the loyal pound puppy who devotes her life to sitting in Mommy’s lap. Second comes Ginger, the high-maintenance Dachshund. Third is Sergeant Death (Sugarbear’s doing, not mine), the house cat that hates my guts. We live outside of DFW, Texas where my husband is a Worship/Youth minister and I am a social worker. We have been married six wonderful years. Being youngin’s when we got married, we waited several years before we decided to start a family. We started trying three and a half years ago, and are currently in the middle of fertility treatments. Like most people, this is never somewhere I’d thought I’d ever be, the doctor’s visits every other week, the constant lab work, the multitude of total strangers seeing more of me than I’d ever think necessary… (TMI maybe? Oh well…) But, here I am. Part of the point of this blog is to share this experience, and hopefully one of these days share the experience of successful treatment. However, this will not be the sole purpose of my musing, or even the primary purpose for that matter, as life with Sugarbear contains many blog-worthy happenings. But, I know that God is allowing us to have this challenge for a reason, as painful as it is. Some days are good, others not so good. But, on good days and bad days the reality is that my God doesn’t change. He still promises beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair! How awesome is that?!?