Friday, March 28, 2008

Nanoo


Tomorrow, if she were living, would be my Nanoo's birthday. I am pretty sure she would have been 87. To anyone...and I do mean ANYONE...that knew her, loved her. She was known by all, loved by all. The span of her life, she did things that mattered. Nothing was ever done half-heartedly. She put her all into it, and lived her life to the utter fullest. I don't really remember her being mean-spririted to anyone, and if she was...well, she just said what she thought and moved on. I learned so much for her, and yet if I become half the person she was, then that'll be just fine with me. I really do believe that I had the best example in her of what a Godly woman should be.
I used to spend the night with her a lot growing up. I always loved to go on Fridays because she watched Dallas and my parents would never allow me to watch that. I always felt that I was getting away with something watching that show with her, trying to figure out who shot JR, and hoping that one day I would grow up to look like Victoria Principal. We had so much fun on our little sleepovers. Usually we made Peanut Butter cookies or Chocolate Chip cookies, but eating the batter was the real treat. I am not sure how many cookies each recipe should've made, but most assuredly, we never had that many turn out. Were it not for the cookies, I plum near thought I would starve at Nanoo's house, though. Nanoo's and Papa's idea of a meal was number one...it started at 4:30 and number two...a pot of beans is a MEAL! What? What 10 year old eats beans anyway, but you ate what you were served at Nanoo's, and if you were lucky, she might let you have a frozen pizza, too! Wouldn't you know it now, though - I love beans for supper. There is nothing quite like it, with a good chunk of cornbread (although I don't eat my cornbread in buttermilk like Papa. I have a quick gag reflex over things like that and I think I'll just play it safe and not mess with seeing if it's working!)


The memories at Nanoo's little yellow house are abundant, but the one I wouldn't trade for the world is hearing her pray after she had put me to bed each night. She would go back into her den and she would pray outloud. Now, Nanoo and Papa lived in an old mill village house and it was small, so you could hear everything. Nanoo would begin to pray and she wouldn't finish until she had prayed for everyone of us by name. Her prayers were uninhibited and bold. She prayed powerfully for family members to be saved, to return to the Lord, to live boldly for Him. She prayed for her Sunday School class. She taught every Sunday and she never took it lightly. She spent hours reading and studying, but most of all, asking God to fill her up so that she might teach His word effectively. We'll never know how many of those prayers were answered, and are still being answered to this day. I know the prayer of her heart that one of her children would serve on the foreign mission field came to be in the lives of my parents, but the aftereffects of that prayer is still being played out today as we have too many to count serving in full time ministry today, or again, too many to count serving faithfully as layleaders in their local church.


You know...never take for granted the wisdom and discernment of a simple, yet Godly woman, who just wanted to give the Lord her days - and not just her best days, but her worst ones, too. She had one mission, and that was to touch lives. Whether it be lead them to Christ, disciple them in the faith, or just to even speak words of encouragement, she lived out her life in obedience to all God asked of her.


I am passionate about seeing older women mentor younger women. Titus 2:2-4 directs the older women to teach the younger women a sound life in faith, doctrine, love and endurance. I don't know if you've looked around recently, ladies, but we are all older than somebody. We have the responsibility to pass it on to those behind us. We have a choice to do it half-heartedly, or we can do it like Nanoo and do it wholeheartedly. Maybe having a Nanoo like I did makes me want to lead well...I don't know. I do know that we can all be Nanoo and leave a legacy of faith and love so that one day our children's children are encouraging those behind them to do the same.


It's nice to remember Nanoo. I miss her, but I know she is not wasting time missing me. Rather she is singing a new song at the feet of Jesus today and hearing the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant...well done!" Yep Nanoo, yep...Well done!!

Monday, March 24, 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday


You know...I still don't feel very well today, but TGIGF...Thank God Its Good Friday! I am so humbled by today. I have found myself basking in God's goodness today - that He would send His son to die and live for me is truly a gift like none other. Join me today in thanking Him for His great gift. Read my post He's Alive on my Aroma blog http://www.aromawomensministry.blogspot.com/ Share your Easter thoughts with me. How are you remembering?

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Woes and More Woes

If you are reading my blog for the first time, I truly hope that you will come back after reading what you are about to read. I am about to complain a little bit. Don't say I didn't forewarn you.
I don't feel good! Not one bit. Not one iota! I have finally had the sick bug bite me and I feel rotten. We have not had a very healthy winter here at the Hickman Home. For whatever reason, the girls have brought everything home from school and have just passed around and around, and then around some more! Somehow, through it all, I never got IT...whatever IT was. Well, now, I have. I haven't been to the doctor, much to the demise of my husband. He keeps telling me to go to the doctor, but I just ignore him and I don't go. In turn, I just keep feeling worse. I am pretty sure I know what I have, though. It's a sinus infection. So, why don't I just pay myself for this correct diagnosis and call myself in an antibiotic? I mean, really, aren't moms the real doctors anyway? I don't know about you, but when my Nanoo was still living, my mom always called her for her diagnosis, and now I call my mom to diagnose me. (By the way, she thinks I have a sinus infection, too.) Jeff is none too happy with me for being so stubborn and not going to see the doctor, but I mean, really...I can count the number of times on one hand that Jeff has been to the doctor, and yes, that includes a time for a colonoscopy! My theory is that Jeff is really saying, "I don't like it when you are sick. We need you to run this house for us, so go get yourself better." I rather like to look at things this way - my family needs me! Ah! Yes, that's it! They need me, they really do! I'm sure there's a song in there somewhere (I might just write it!) In my affliction this week I did manage to prepare a tasty roast. Well, they said they liked it, but I couldn't taste it because whatever I have has killed my tastebuds. Tonight, however, we are having Subway. Hey, there are some perks to not feeling well. Sometimes you just feel too bad to stay in the kitchen, but you feel well enough to write a blog. I am sure there's a lesson to be learned here, but remember...I'm sick! I'm in no mood to learn. Hopefully, tomorrow, I will be back to normal. I just need a good night of sleep, so pray for that, ok? I really have so much I need to do. We are going to Las Vegas next week, so there's much to be done.
Thanks for indulging me and allowing me to vent a little. I found the whole experience very therapeutic! Who says "an apple a day keeps the doctor away"? I say, "Write a blog! It's all the same!"
(By the way, take a look to your right. We're counting down. We'll have a 10 year old soon! Ugh!)

Friday, March 14, 2008

B-soni-per-cation!

On the way to school this morning the girls decided to have deep conversation with me. Ya'll know I am no morning person, so already this would be challenging for me! Avery said, "Mama, Bailey is doing B-soni-per-cation!" (This was said in a tattletale voice, too) Bailey responded very emphatically, "Nuh, uh, Mama. I'm doing fact versus opinion." I said, "What are both of you talking about?", to which McKenna replied, "Avery, it's NOT b-soni-per-cation...it's PERSONIFICATION." So, there you have it. It's neither! It's FACT and OPINION, she said!
No more deep conversations for me on a 7 am drive to school!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The Witness


Be in prayer for us this weekend as we are a part of LifeSong's musical drama, "The Witness."
This was written several years ago by our worship Pastor, Larry Lawson, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. It is a powerful, modern day presentation depicting opportunities we have to share of Christ's resurrection. It's been an absolute blessing to be a part of this, which is a lot for me to say when it comes to being up in front of people acting and singing. I really have felt like I've worshiped. It's neat to see the bonds that form between those of us participating just because we love the One that binds us together. If you read this, and you live in the area, we would love to have you be a part of this time. We have two opportunities to share...Friday, March 14th at 7pm and Saturday, March 15th at 7pm. We would love to have you come.
If you can't make it, please pray for us. We are very serious about seeing our community won for Christ and we just want as many there as possible to hear the Gospel. Can't wait to update you on everything!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Girl's Weekend

Most of you know I was a part of planning our Ladies' Retreat for our women's ministry at LifeSong. I am part of a great team of five ladies that desire to see women grow closer in their walk with Christ, and closer in their relationships with one another. We spent the weekend in Pigeon Forge, TN. I'll be honest...it's not my favorite place to visit, but it provided the perfect backdrop for a cozy weekend. It snowed all day on Saturday and was beautiful. We studied Beth Moore's study, "Loving Well." Boy, was I challenged. I felt God reaffirmed His call for me to go on this mission trip to Las Vegas next month. I am geared up and ready to go. I am so thankful for the time away. I hope I came back better renewed as a wife and mother, but you'll have to ask Jeff and the girls that!
Here are some pictures of some special memories of the weekend. I sure do love my friends!

I'm waiting to play Guesstures...where is everyone!

Not sure what Debbie was "preaching" to us about but she insisted on getting up
there and was letting us have it for not getting her down!

Some great teaching by Beth Moore!

The Aroma Team...Allison and Barbie (Back)
Bonnie, Jennifer and Amy (Front)

Below...The Chefs...Beva and Debbie