Japan, you have my heart.

Really missing Japan today.  Thanks to Google I was able to take a 'bike ride' down the streets I knew as 'home' for 6 months.  An ache fills my heart as I see them.  Each of my trips to Japan have been such special times.  Still waiting for my chance to buy a one-way ticket...

Running with the bulls

See that stud on the left?  That’s my little brother after (or maybe before?) he ran with the bulls in Spain a couple years ago. 

He ran with the bulls!  How cool is that?

I’m bringing this up because this week at church we talked about taking risks and stepping out in faith!  We weren’t called to join our Creator’s team just to sit in the bleachers and watch other people do great things.  We need to be out there, giving up everything we have to gain the prize! 

At the end of your life do you want your ‘claim to fame’ to be that you sat on the sidelines and watched everyone else running with the bulls?  Not me.  I want to be in there, running for my life!  At the end of the day I want to know that I left my blood, sweat and tears on that earth. 

I want to take risks, ‘sell all I own’, ‘not have a place to lay my head’ and ‘leave the dead to bury the dead’ as I set out on the Great Adventure that He has called me to!  Bring on the bulls!

(Shout out to my incredible brother for not being afraid and truly experiencing Spain for all it was worth!)

Are all those kids yours??

I come from a family of 7 kids.  While many people are shocked by this, I can't imagine anything else.  And I prefer it.  Growing up in a big family was the BEST.  Yes, there are some 'inconveniences'.  We may have to:

• take two separate cars to get anywhere
• sit in separate booths at a restaurant (after you wait an hour to be seated because your 'party' is so big AND you have forced gratuity)
• be more conscientious of others when we're in the grocery store, on a bike path or in a crowd because we are a 'wide load, coming through'
• share (knowing you may never see that shirt, pen, earrings or laptop again ;)
• split up at Cedar Point because only half of us are tall enough for the 'big' rides
• sleep lined up on the floor on many vacations because there aren't enough beds

But we've also learned so many things and grown in character in a way that I don't see in smaller families!

• Generosity. We hold things with an open hand.  Maybe you need that thing today, but maybe a sibling needs it more than you tomorrow! 
• Selflessness.  You're always reminded the world doesn't revolve around you!
• Independence.  Sometimes Mom or Dad isn't available to meet  your every need (they have 6 other kids to think about!) so you toughen up, fend for yourself, kiss your own boo-boo, drive yourself to the airport
• Conflict resolution.  With 9 people in your family, communication is of utmost importance and also being able to work through conflict.  Talk about things, forgive and move on.
• Support.  You've never felt more loved than when you get off a plane and your whole family is there with signs and flowers, waiting to mob you!  My immediate support system is 3 times bigger than the average family's is.  So blessed!

Our joys are multiplied by 7 and our sorrows are divided by 7.  Christmas morning is 7 times more exciting.  The anticipation of a good birthday surprise is 7 times MORE anticipated.  Anything is better when you get 7 crazy Nicola kids excited about it :)

Side note: now we are starting to grow even more as people get married and eventually have kids.  There's always room for more...new additions don't threaten our family dynamics, they only add to it!  Bring it on...can't wait to see what God does in our family as we continue to grow!