We Are MOVING!!!

Now, don't get on your phone and call all of your friends and tell them we're leaving town! We are just changing blog addresses! Trust me, though! I've been busy all week moving things around and making our new home just like I like it. It combines a little of our home life, along with our ministry life. We hope you will like our new digs and come visit often. We still have some work to do on the place, but we're glad you dropped in!

THE HICKMAN HAPPENINGS

Wordless Wednesday

And the Word of the Day...YEAR...is...

My title may give me away as the parent of a preschooler that watches Sesame Street, but really, I've decided to take it a step further and have a word of the YEAR! I've seen a lot of people I follow on Twitter, and really respect as well, talk about their One Word. I had been thinking before the New Year began about some things I would like to have characterize my life at the end of 2011, so when I began to see all of the tweets and updates, it was as though I already knew what my one word would be. No doubt, God had already been preparing my heart. I haven't officially participated in this One Word challenge, but it did give me some encouragement to know that others were thinking intentionally over their year as I have thought over mine. I really believe God is not done showing me plans and goals for 2011, but I DO know that irregardless of the plans or goals, this word will be my constant. I hear it, think it, dwell on it and my heart races! The word?

PURPOSE

Wikepedia defines it as "Purpose is a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken." Guess which part I really, really like in this? "Intentionally!" It changes everything for me.

As I read through the Gospels toward the end of 2010 with my fellow Pastor's wives at LifeSong, I saw Jesus being so intentional day in and day out. I can remember viewing the word, "intentional" as a stressor in my life. I, for whatever reason, felt that it required a whole lot of work and a whole lot of planning ahead. What I discovered when I read is that Jesus just lived life. He was! I mean, He is...OK, He's the great I AM! As I read the Gospels and focused on reading in order to just see Jesus for who He is, I saw Purpose and a realness that felt new and fresh to me. In applying this to a New Year, that freshness and realness took on new meaning and put my focus on having purpose and intentionality in every, single thing I do. Every, single thing I say. Every, single circumstance - whether big or small! I honestly believe that I thought I would see fireworks or sirens would sound when I actually had "planned" ahead on how I would approach my New Year. That just hasn't been the case. I have the most honest, real and sincere peace over me as I seek to make every moment count. I've failed countless times already, here 11 days in, thus bringing another change. The old Amy would be beyond frazzled over failure, but the new Amy is taking the failures and waking up each day CHOOSING to not be ruled by fear, failure, disappointment, but instead she is living. Yep...living! She rolls with the punches. She looks in her mirror and not the mirror of another for approval or comparison. She understands freedom and she lives in it, irregardless of the opinion of another. There's a lot of life to live. I wasn't put on this earth to live it just for me. Being a mom that stays home, it's easy to lose my identity and feel I'm not making a difference, but when I see it through the lens of purpose I see that I could be raising a daughter that will be a world-changer, or that as I spend a day sending out notes of encouragement to someone who is alone, or taking a meal to someone who is too weak to cook for themselves, or going to serve my husband in the office just so he can concentrate on something else, I see that I'm loving others more than myself. It's purpose! It may not be how the world defines it, but nonetheless, it is loving others as Christ did.

The definition of PURPOSE also states there is an end result. Check back in 2012 for what I hope will be a HUGE end result of changed lives (not just mine) and big impact on me personally, my family and my community. May God use me for HIS purposes and to venture out WAY beyond myself!

Win Your Man Over

They say the best way to your man's heart is through his stomach! I think my man would agree. :)
Before ya know it, the Super Bowl will be here and you better get your dip recipes ready. Let me be the first to "bless your heart"....ummm, I mean your stomach...with this "yummy to your man's tummy" dip. I thank the greatest mentor of my life, The Pioneer Woman, for blessing my heart with this one (OK, maybe not the greatest mentor, but I'm hungry right now as I type this, so my thoughts are to the great food influences of my life). So, here ya go...I bless thee!

Hot Olive and Artichoke Dip
Ingredients

• 1 can Artichoke Hearts (14 Oz. Can)
• 10 whole Black Olives
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese (1 Pack)
• 1 cup (Real) Mayonnaise
• 1 whole Egg
• ¼ cups Red Onion, Diced
• ¼ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Cayenne Pepper (for Spice)

Preparation Instructions

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 5 to 8 times until mixture is combined but not totally liquefied. Stir and check seasonings, then pour into a small casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Serve with Stacy’s Simply Naked chips.

How Many Friends Do YOU Have?

How many times have you asked, been asked, or even checked Facebook to see if you have more friends than someone else? Are you living under the disillusion that the more friends you have on Facebook, or the more people that follow you on Twitter, define how many real relationships you have in your life? Do you feel like you have "arrived" if you have over 500 friends? I feel, sometimes, that our identity gets wrapped up in little petty things like this and in the long run, we miss a way bigger picture.

I'm very relationship driven. I love being around people and it energizes me, but I'm NOT that girl that has/had a ton of friends. My friendships have always been based on an intense loyalty. My friends from 25 years ago, are my friends today...with very little exception. As I've looked back on what makes these friendships tick, it all comes back to the same thing - we spend TIME together. We DO life together and through thick and thin, we endure it all - the good and the bad.
Managing Facebook and Twitter is somewhat a tricky thing for this "want to know the heart of who you are" type person. Let's be real. It's hard to really get to KNOW someone through these two avenues of social media. Sometimes it even keeps us at a arm's lengths distance from knowing the heart of the person. Now, there's no way we can get to know EVERYONE on Facebook or Twitter that we have friend-ed, or have friend-ed (followed) us, but how can we integrate our culture and still pour into the lives of people on our friend's lists? I'm convinced that social media is here to stay and how we use it can make great impact. From time to time, personal statements like where you're eating lunch, or you got a great deal on a sweater (me!!) give us an inside look into the everyday-ness of people's lives, but how are we using the opportunity we have to update our status to be difference-makers in the lives of others? Luke 10:8 says, "When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you." Now, lest you think this post is going to turn into a post about food, look at what the Scripture is really saying. Get to know your community. Put your finger on the pulse of who they are. DO life with them! Tap into the culture where you live. Statements like these can oftentimes overwhelm me because I feel a sense of "I have to get to know EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. INTIMATELY???!!!!" No! Be engaging. Show people you care from how you treat your waiter, your cashier at the grocery store, to loving on your child's teacher, be interested in meeting people's needs. Speak to people when you pass them by, rather than trying to write them messages, or posting on their wall, and really believe that you are forming some sort of relationship with them. I've had people walk right on by when they see me in public and not say a word, only to come home and find posts and messages from them in an attempt to converse. Look people in the eye. People don't walk right on by and not speak when we are looking people in the eye. Our eye contact often says to someone, I'm saying hello and acknowledging you without even saying a word. We once served in a church where people grew up with one another, yet they barely spoke to each other, much less had any physical contact of hugging or patting each other on the back. We began to break the wall and actually hug on them, and before you knew it, they were speaking and actually stopping in the hallways to share life together. It really doesn't take much.
Now, I have NOT arrived at all in bridging the gap of social media and real everyday life. I despise talking on the phone, and texting, I believe was created for ME alone! We're not gonna be great at all things regarding relationships, but we can sure be great at some things. Not doing anything will not make a difference at all. Tap into the world around you. Coming back from Venezuela years and years ago, this issue still causes me a whole lotta confusion. America seems to live in a busy, get it done fast mentality, leaving very little time to look people in the eye, pat them on the back and actually say, "You matter to me." 2011 should be a year of new beginnings for us. We need goals everyday. Start today making people matter. For the ones God has allowed me to get close to in my life, I'm a waaaaaaaay better person now than I was when I started off!

Labels

About two months ago, I took an amazing group of ladies through "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore. We used the online discussion questions found on her blog to guide us through the chapters of the book. One particular day, our discussion turned to labeling people - depersonalizing them by giving them a title, rather than a real person identity. It was....ummmm....TOE-STOMPING to say the least. I was mortified (that's the strongest word I can think of right now) over how I depersonalize people over petty things, like how they dress, how they hold their posture, whether they come to church (or don't), education (or lack thereof). I know of another word that turns into depersonalizing another...JUDGMENT. As I studied to teach this particular day, my oldest daughter was telling me how kids at school had been coming up to her - kids she did not even know - and laughed at her and called her a "goody, goody" because she is a Pastor's Kid. Most of the kids I could forgive because they are not in relationship with Christ. I don't expect those walking in darkness to live like they are walking in the LIGHT, but it's the Christ-followers that I admittedly had problem forgiving. I caught myself depersonalizing the children that depersonalized MY child! It was becoming a vicious cycle, really! The Mama bear in me wanted to yank them by the scalp and give 'em a piece of my mind for labeling my child before knowing her! Then, that still, quiet voice pops in and I'm mortified! Mortified that I am depersonalizing people everyday without taking time to get to know them...to really know what they are going through. I wish I could say that I've become a success at seeing everyone for who they are, but I'm not there yet. I still react in my flesh. I still rush through life so fast that I don't take time to really listen.
Admittedly, I've experienced the receiving end of labels often in ministry. I, too, as a pastor's kid received labels..."You should know the right answer...you're the preacher's kid." "You shouldn't let anyone see you do that...you're the preacher's kid." As an adult, I've more than received them. "You shouldn't say what you really think. You're a Pastor's wife." "I can't believe that you listen to Bon Jovi...You're a Pastor's wife." (True statement!) While this bothers me to have my life singled out as though I'm superwoman, a non-human, I'm more disgusted when I see/hear the same things coming out of my life/mouth. So, the statement we've often made so cliché really ought to hold some truth...we've gotta begin to "see people as Jesus sees them." Rather one is in ministry publicly or not, we ALL...and let me say that again...we ALL have a ministry! We all put our church clothes on everyday and influence someone's life. While it's easier to point a finger at a pastor or a pastor's wife and say, "You shouldn't" this or that, pluck the log out of your own eye and see that the same things we say "you should not" to are true of each of our lives. Someone is always watching, always critiquing. Start seeing people how Jesus sees them. After all, "We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.Isaiah 64:8 MSG.
None of us have arrived! I remove labels off of cans to send in with my daughters to school for rewards for their class. It's time I, and the rest of us, begin to remove them off the faces and lives of real, life people. It's time to reap the rewards of knowing a person for whom God created them to really be!

My New Year's Resolution...Early!

I'm not a big resolution maker. Half the time, I don't keep them, but sometimes you just need a recharge, and I definitely need one with blogging again. I love writing more than just about anything, but I have simply (yet chaotically) allowed life to take over. Time to take back what I enjoy doing...writing about my family, my life in ministry, sharing recipes and photos of our life.
So, there's no time like the present...

As I look back over the last few years of our life, I've heard myself say, "My heart is so full" so many times. I'm beyond grateful for how God has allowed us to be used and see lives impacted. We have such a great platform in serving LifeSong Church, but it is learning to live and love like Him everyday that excites me the most. It's where life, even in the mundane, not so busy days, is full because His love has become more real to me each day. Life has been full for us, but the moments we have experienced have been as though time has stood still and given us a view of great appreciation.

In a nutshell, life with the Hickman's is full of a whole lot of school, where the girls are doing so well. Mommy has time to herself, even, as the youngest little Hickman is off to preschool. There's a lot of running around, working and playing going on!
We are excited to see our church, LifeSong, experience a great deal of growth over the last year. We have just broken ground for a new building that we pray will continue to be used to greatly impact our community.
We look forward to catching up with you over the holidays, whether it be face to face, virtually or by phone call. Look for us to catch up with you here at our blog, or on Twitter (@AmyCHickman and JeffWHickman)or Facebook.

I Pretty Much Looked the Other Way

**(I shared this post in our monthly Pastor's Wives' Newsletter. I think it's something we all face, so I wanted to share here, too.)

I began my day with a great deal of excitement. School was starting and I was gaining some freedom...some ME time! I still had one child at home, but my day was looking pretty good irregardless. I had plans for pedicures with my girlfriend and a nice lunch later. My day was completely planned out...just the way I like it! For the most part of the morning and early afternoon, I stuck to my plans. I had well-groomed toes with a nice Burgandy polish, and later enjoyed a healthy lunch, and wonderful conversation with my friend. All of it proved to be medicine to my soul...until I left the restaurant and headed home.

As I left the restaurant, I waited in a line of about six cars, where I was about 5th in line. I looked around and noticed a woman about three cars up standing in the grass holding a sign. I could only make out the word

"HOMELESS."

Immediately, my "Yeah, I bet you are" attitude took over - the one where I got taken for a fool more times than I can count when I lived in Venezuela. I mean, we live in the land of opportunity in America and I have never quite been able to rationalize homelessness in this country. I really shut down my heart to the possibility that this could be legitimate. As I inched closer, a different picture took shape. In seconds my world changed. I began to pass by to turn at the stoplight at which I had been waiting, taking me face to face with a woman holding the sign, red-faced, with tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. The sign could have, instead, read

"HUMILIATION."

My heart broke into. I began to cry and ask God what I should do. I had to get to a gas station. I was on empty and had to make it before I ran out. I reached the gas station beside a grocery store and began to ask God if I should go in and buy groceries for this woman. I rationalized my way out of it, though. "How would she get the home?" "Where did she live?" "How did she get to where she stood by the road?" I filled up my car and headed home...leaving a woman by the road without a solution...without relief. All day, her face haunted me. All I could see were her eyes, full of tears, empty of hope. I went though my day, only to wake up the next morning knowing I had to find that lady.

I got two bags of clothes together, put them by the door to load in my car, only to leave them when I went out to run errands...MY agenda only on my mind. And now, the days have gone by and here I sit writing a story with an unhappy ending. I never found the lady.

I never again tried!

I've asked myself a thousand times why I didn't reach out to her. My past would say it was just fear, but I wasn't scared to turn around and go back. I really just didn't have the follow-through. I knew God spoke clearly to go, but I didn't have faith enough to turn around and see where His leading took me. I just didn't have the full picture!

Often times, we don't have the full picture of what it's like to walk the Jesus Way. It calls us to step out on faith. Fear may not be present in our lack of obedience, but our lack of faith to see it to an end may be. Jesus' Way calls us to step out on faith, to take an otherwise stereotypical picture of homelessness in this country and see the individual...see the pain behind the sign.

What my experience has done for me is remind me that each day God has called me to take up my cross and follow Him...follow him out of a planned out day...follow Him to turn my car around and serve...follow Him into danger.

How are you, everyday, walking the Jesus Way? Are you ready to see where His way will take you? Will you step out in faith?

I Like to Go to School

The title is Quinn's words EXACTLY. She tells me over and over how much she likes to go to school. I'm finally, after 12 years of being home with my girls, enjoying a little alone time. Tuesday - Thursday I have three and 1/2 hrs a day to myself. I've been staying busy working out tons, cleaning lots and volunteering at Jeff's office and at the other girls' schools. I miss my girls, but I would be lying if I said I didn't love this time to pursue some other interests. I'm always ready, though, to pick this cutie up from school everyday...

Missing Daddy

When Daddy is away, we miss him like crazy! This week the girls worked on their special sign to welcome him home from his trip to Haiti, where he was gone for 8 days!!!

My Best Friend's Wedding

I am taking part in Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life posts today w/ very optimistic expectations (read the title if you don't believe me). Today, we are linking up to show off our amazing single friends in hopes that there's a match made in heaven...or here, in blogland! ;)My very dear friend, Amy, is one of the kindest, truest souls I've ever known. I met Amy when we attended boarding school in Venezuela, where my parents were missionaries. Amy traveled to school from Colombia, where her parents were missionaries. From the moment I met her, we hit it off due to her "never meet a stranger" attitude and her infectious laughter! She is truly a person that lives each day to the fullest, and she does it all with a smile!
She loves the Lord with all of her heart, and seeks to follow Him wherever He would have her be. She currently resides in Texas, where she attends seminary, and works full time as a Labor and Delivery nurse. She LOVES her job of bringing new life into the world. She loves kids and all of her nieces and nephews can attest to the fact that Aunt Amy is the coolest!Amy also loves to travel, spends a lot of time outdoors camping and in her new kayak and loves hanging out with her friends as much as possible. She is very close to her family. Amy is very loyal, confident and always has time to listen. She is 37 years old, and would make any man an AMAZING wife! I look forward to the day that God answers her prayer and sends her someone to love her as she deserves! How much fun we're gonna have at her wedding! One thing is for sure...there will be a lot of smiles and laughter!

Reunions

I love that God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends from all over the world. In my day to day life, I'm learning that God has given me a safe haven to lean on and trust in. It has been a hard journey to find that, and I'm so thankful for the peace I've found in having people to trust and who genuinely love me. That desire to have that love and investment in my life was most definitely born out of an amazing background of growing up in a boarding school, where the girls you lived with in the dorm became your sisters and your best friends. I'm so blessed that now, 20 and 25 years later, we still can't go very long without seeing one another. Two years ago we reunited in Dallas. This year, we reunited in Phoenix, Arizona, where my best friend, Lana, lives.We had such a good time spending our days hitting every great restaurant in the city (well, maybe not 'every', but my waistline is saying A LOT of them!), watching movies and looking at old pictures from high school (there was a whole lot of bad hair going on in those pics) and listening to a ton of 80's/90's music so we could relive the "good 'ole days"! I've known Lana since we met in Costa Rica, where our parents were in language school. We both bonded over how much resentment we had for our parents making us move to another country!! ;) I've known Camille since our parents served in Caracas, Venezuela together, and I've known Amy since my first visit to our boarding school, Christiansen Academy. She was the first person I met there, and later ended up being a roommate there numerous semesters. Lastly, my sister, Missy, and I shared most of our friends growing up, so of course she joined me for the trip!

Here's some great highlights of our time together....
Our day trip to Sedona

A Chapel in Sedona

Lana and Amy

Camille and Missy

Missy and Me

All of us

Lana and me
Amy and Amy!

Favorite Children's Book

Today I'm participating in Kelly's Korner "Show Me Your Life" posts because I cannot ever pass up an opportunity to brag on my cousin, the author. If you are looking for an AMAZING children's book that your kids will grow up and say, "One of my most special times was when you read...", then you want to get "Me With You." It's about the relationship a grandparent has with their grandchild, but it can translate to any special relationship we have in our lives. The illustrations are timeless and heartwarming. Check out this great trailer of when her book came out last year, and then RUN to your local Barnes and Noble and get one!

Birthday Hoopla!

I hesitate to blog at all anymore! I've stunk my blog up here lately, but we've had two very specials birthdays at our house that need to be written about! The photos of said birthdays may be few, but let's try to paint a pretty picture of the ones celebrated!!

We have a 12 year old in the HOUSE!!!(McKenna is pictured in the middle)

I think that we are actually still celebrating McKenna's birthday. It seems to have been a few weeks long celebration from breaking her out of school early the weekend of her birthday to taking off to Columbia for "The Rock and Worship Roadshow" on the actual day of her birthday.

McKenna is our firstborn. We first learned to be parents through her, and she teaches us more how to do that everyday. There are so many words that describe McKenna, but here are a few...

M - marvelous C - Child of God (we're so thankful she calls God her Father!)
K - kindhearted...always thinks of others
E - everyone's friend
N - non-stop worker...amazing work ethic
N - nice, courteous, gracious
A -An AMAZING daughter

McKenna is, quite simply, a blessing to know. She shows me everyday that while she is my child, she is also my friend. I love talking to her and learning from her. She genuinely loves others and you will not find a more servant-hearted person. Our precious firstborn is growing into a beautiful young woman. Each year with you, McKenna, is a gift to us. If you know McKenna, you LOVE her!
The latest birthday in the house was for Jeff! He's 38 years young! We've had lots of fun celebrating as a family and with friends. So many people have a love for Jeff...he's known by many and a friend to all, but for us, he's an amazing husband and father. He's someone that never lets a day go by without it being evident that we are his priority. He makes us laugh. He challenges us to be better and work harder. He walks with the Father so closely that the overflow of that is the love he pours out on you when you are with him. He is never content with being the same, but he is always on a path to being better and stronger! I'm so thankful for how hard he works for us and takes care of us. One day a year is not a long enough celebration of just how we feel to know you, Jeff. You fill our hearts up! We love you!

A Giveaway for Moms and Their Daughters

This is a great giveaway over at All Access. Check it out if you have daughters!

We're NOT Professionals...

We are not professional bowlers, but we sure had fun taking all of my girls and my sister's girls bowling on Spring Break w/ my mom.

Easter

Our Easter 2010 was wonderful! We saw almost 2000 people come out to LifeSong Church for our Easter Egg Drop/Hunt, and then over 700 come back the next day to our Easter services. We are so grateful for the lives we saw changed this Easter. I loved how Jeff said it on Sunday. He said that you won't find us doing any different service at Easter than we strive to do every single Sunday at LifeSong Church. We always want to come together on Sundays and celebrate Jesus resurrection and life because we have Victory! I can tell ya, though...celebrating Sunday was extra special! What a great thing to know that we can reach out to our community in such fun ways and meet their need for great family activities for their families, and see them come on Sunday and meet Jesus. We saw 13 salvations Sunday, and we rejoice in every one of them!The girls had fun this Easter starting off with lots of excitement at our Egg Drop/Hunt. We had so much fun waiting on the plane to fly overhead, dropping tons of eggs out, and off we went to gather them all in our baskets. You can imagine with almost 2000 people there, the eggs were gone like THAT! Even still, candy was to be had, and very dirty faces after!
Easter morning, the girls woke up to a much more "intentional" Easter basket. This year, I felt very strongly that our emphasis needed to be more focused on the life, death and resurrection of Christ rather than filling our baskets with a lot of commercialism. We presented all four of our girls with brand new Bibles. Of course, they got candy, because who doesn't have a smile on their face after a little bit of sugar! Our prayer is that these new Bibles will be a constant reminder of our desire to see our girls walk in victory each day.Easter Sunday afternoon was spent over a yummy Sunday lunch, naps and egg dying and hunting. It was fun spending time together on what could not have been a more gloriously beautiful day!

Catching Up In Pictures

Nicer weather makes for fun times outside!

Our house is for sale...NOT this cutie!

3 of the 4 girls enjoyed a day at the park



A Dinner Party

The HOST of the Dinner Party

A visit to see Papa and Meme

Loving on Meme after her hospital stay

Sitting in her favorite chair at Meme's and Papa's House


Bailey's chorus concert