I'll never forget the time I went to The Way a Solid Rock. For those of you who don't know, The Way was Solid Rock's ministry for 18 - 28 year-olds. I didn't attend often because; 1) paying for a sitter every Friday night would get expensive and 2) I felt too old to go, I definitely didn't belong. I felt like I had a sign on my head that said "homeschooling mom!". So on this particular night when I did go I was telling a friend there about the "mom sign" on my head. As we were talking a friend of hers walked up and I was introduced as Chris' wife. She immediately replied, "Oh, you're Jett's mom!". Okay, was there seriously a sign on my head?!? No, I'm not just Chris' wife, and Jett's mom, I'm Nicole! I am my own person! Of course I didn't say that, I just smiled and said, yes, I am Jett's mom, and yes, he is very cute. However, the reaction I had inside surprised me. What happened to my identity? Before Chris and I got married I was introduced as Nicole. Now it seems like people are more interested in my husband and kids then me. I know this sounds incredibly selfish, but I'm sharing it anyway. I'm okay sharing it, because I don't feel that way anymore. There was a time when my sense of identity loss was a little more bitter than sweet. There has been a shift taking place in my heart on this subject of identity and my "what-about-me" attitude is starting to diminish. I think I can forget who I really am and what I am really here for. When my identity is not in Him, all hope is loss and all bets are off, and it really is bitter. However, when I'm not being so self-centered and when I am properly aligned with Christ, I find that my true identity is sweet indeed.
Here's a little story about an identity "ah-ha" moment I had a while ago. While standing in a check-out line I noticed something interesting on the cover of a magazine. Prince William was doing mission work in some country in Africa. He was working right alongside all the other volunteers building houses and digging wells. None of those people in Africa knew he was a Prince, and he wanted to keep it that way. But Prince William DID know who he was and I am sure that made all the difference in the way he carried himself. This was really inspiring to me. Here we are on earth, sons and daughters of The King. We are on a mission, getting our hands dirty doing the tasks at hand. We need to do our work and serve others with humility, but with the confidence that we are the the children of the King and that the God of the universe is supplying all we need. That is our identity! Wow! I need to live a life worthy of the calling I have received (Ephesians 4:1).
When I think of it like this, just being Nicole seems so small and insignificant. So, I'm not just Nicole. I'm not here just to be Nicole for the sake of being Nicole. I'm here to change the world, to represent the King. My Father has given me a job to do and I need to do it with humility, but with the confidence that the King is providing me with all I need and that I am safe and secure in His hands. My job right now is to be a godly wife and mother, this is where the King has placed me. What a tremendous undertaking and an amazing blessing! I now realize that Chris, Nell, Jett and Naomi are really some of the best parts of me. They are an extension of me. I put my heart, sweat, blood, and tears into those souls. They are God's sweet gift to me and I am honored to be identified with them! Maybe I should put a sign on my head, I'd wear it with pride! Well, maybe not, but at least some bumper stickers on the old Volvo.
Nicole
Who Am I in Christ?
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Ephesians 1:3-8
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
I am a child of God; God is spiritually my Father.
Romans 8:14,15
because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus
John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
I am a new creation in Christ; old things have passed away and all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
I am in Christ.
Galatians 3:26,28
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I am reconciled to God and am an ambassador of reconciliation for Him.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
I am God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I am a citizen of heaven.
Ephesians 2:19
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ
I am chosen and ordained by Christ to bear fruit.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
I am the light of the world.
Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
I am a child of light.
1 Thessalonians 5:5
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
I am an alien and a stranger to this world.
1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
I am part of the Bride of Christ and am making myself ready of Him.
Revelations 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Homeschooling is going well. Better than ever, actually. I credit much of that to Classical Conversations. I'm a tutor at our campus and I love it. The kids and I are learning and growing together. We get to encourage each other when we stumble and rejoice in our successes. Here is Naomi's first time drawing "guys". We love homeschooling.
Redding itself is nice. I like the slower pace. It's small, but not too small. There's no good shopping, but I don't need to be tempted by great shopping. There is no rushed feeling. No one is trying to "out-cool" the next person. People seem comfortable to actually be themselves. I like that feeling. I'm content. The weather is perfect. Hot in summer. Warm in the Fall. Cold and slightly wet and snowy in the winter. Warm in the Spring. Every day is a nice day. The recreation is amazing; lakes, mountains, trails for hiking or dirtbiking. Winter snow adventures and Summer fun. It's all here. Literally, it's all about a half hour from our house. We love it. 
Nell and I are getting along! She's been having a lot of spiritual, emotional and physical growing pains. But I get glimmers and peeks of the finished product and it is beautiful. She a lovely work of art. She is so creative. She never stops creating. She writes songs, can play piano by ear, is an amazing artist and an excellent writer. And she is so funny. She is a perfectionist and if very hard on herself. She's too emotional. She's an artist. My complicated, brilliant, artist. She challenges me. I love her. 
Jett is becoming a dude. He helps me around the house with the man things, like taking out the garbage, raking leaves and even fixing things. He is very wise and passionate. He wants to be a missionary. He loves to serve, just like his dad. He's transitioning from a mama's boy to his dad's right hand man. I'm so proud of him. I love him.
And then there's baby number four. I'm not pregnant, but #4 is on their way. We are starting the adoption process......finally. It's been on our hearts for years, but we just now feel like it's time to start. I am so excited for this story to unfold. I don't know this baby yet, but I love them, too.
Chris is awesome. Really. He loves me. He's my best friend. We laugh a lot together. We steal as many kisses as we can throughout the day. I think he is so talented. He is such a hard worker. He's faithful and diligent. He has so much integrity. He's really becoming a master of his trade. I am so proud of him. I love him the most of all. 
