tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15141069091317371732024-03-04T23:47:34.263-08:00The Ricley's: Party of Three :Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-88915833994931103702015-02-12T16:24:00.000-08:002015-02-12T16:57:35.287-08:00To Whom Do You Belong? <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2bQSd0CcWZRBF0pH_GEVrLWSjVcTXxfC2VCMIapFhCqXewmXivVdGHUozjUDyIAG2NHQ78xF1px6mTsE_bUoeo7g-UkwPUf-5kSLA7ZeTrX6X5rynLc8M2iv5v2ruTNEg-FUpFjtT8w/s1600/make-your-own-path.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2bQSd0CcWZRBF0pH_GEVrLWSjVcTXxfC2VCMIapFhCqXewmXivVdGHUozjUDyIAG2NHQ78xF1px6mTsE_bUoeo7g-UkwPUf-5kSLA7ZeTrX6X5rynLc8M2iv5v2ruTNEg-FUpFjtT8w/s1600/make-your-own-path.jpeg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sisters in Christ, To Whom do we belong? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have read so many articles, blog posts and Facebook
conversations this past week about that movie. You know which one I’m talking
about. No need to get into that hot mess. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the whole topic has been weighing on me, and as I read a
couple of articles this morning, I felt God impress something on my heart…about
how it’s really not about the movie… <b><u>at all</u></b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People everywhere, Christian and not, have been debating
back and forth and airing their opinions about why you should or why you
shouldn’t see this film. But I think in the midst of it all, we’re just asking
the <b><u>wrong question</u></b>. No matter
which side of the line you find yourself on, I think the question we need to be
asking ourselves is, “<i>to whom do I belong</i>?” Because today the
topic of conversation revolves around this movie, tomorrow it’ll revolve around
something else, but that question at the root of all the debates and all the
opinions will still be the same. <i>“To whom do I belong?”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people today will tell us that we are our own; that “I
belong to me!” We can call the shots, make our own decisions and judge for
ourselves what is “right” and what is “wrong”. We have free will to be, do, say
and see what we want. And we do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And let me just get real honest here for a second. There are
many, many times in my life when I want to call all the shots. After all, I am
human and I think that is the choice we most naturally gravitate towards. There
are so many times when I think I know better than God, and when I want to just
do what I want. So, is there a part of me that wants to read the books? Yes. Is
there a part of me that wants to see the movie? Yes. Is there a part of me that
often wants to do countless other things that society tells me is permissible, fun,
normal, etc? Of course; but that is not the part that controls me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have made a choice to belong to someone else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I made the choice to surrender my life to Christ, I
surrendered to the fact that I was no longer my own. My old self, with my old desires,
and my ego were put to death. And now, it is no longer what is central in my
life. Instead, I identify with Christ, and the life that you see, is Him living
in me! (<b>Galatians 2:20</b>) If that is the
identity that I now claim, and if I truly believe that I have become a new
creation in Christ (<b>2 Corinthians 5:17</b>), then I have to let those old things fall to the wayside. I have to <i><u>choose</u></i>
on a daily basis, to deny myself and follow Christ. He is in charge, not me. (<b>Luke
9:23</b>) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This does not by any means equate to perfection. You know as
well as I do, that it means quite the opposite actually! I struggle and I fight
the urge to let those old habits, old desires and old ways of thinking take
over. But at the end of the day, I know whom I belong to. I belong to Christ! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we decide to answer that one single question, in light
of what Christ has done and what He asks of us as His followers, <b><u>every
single thing changes</u></b>. We no longer
become concerned with what pleases us, we are concerned with what pleases <b><i>HIM</i></b>. We are no longer worried about
what we’ll be missing out on if we say “no”, but we will be worried with how
our Jesus hurts when we compromise. We will stop freely letting our old selves
control what we say, do, and see, but we will start submitting every area to
the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So sisters, let’s change the questions in our
lives, and start living like we know exactly to whom we belong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-20570135305692416332012-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:002012-09-11T09:07:03.972-07:00We Made It. Finally.Well, it's been a little over a week since we arrived at our new home in Salt Lake City. To say that this process has been a roller coaster of emotion would a complete understatement. Over the past few weeks (not to mention the past year and a half), I have felt incredible excitement as we look toward the future and a new adventure in our life together, incredible anxiety as we tried to figure out all the practical details of moving almost 1,000 from our home, and incredible heartache as we anticipated leaving so many friends and family behind in the Midwest.<br />
<br />
Now that we are here, I have felt incredible peace.<br />
<br />
Yes, that's right. Peace.<br />
<br />
Of all the emotions I thought I would feel this first week (fear, sadness, stress, loneliness, etc.), peace was probably the last one I was expecting to feel, especially in such great measure. But leave it to God to just completely overwhelm me with this sense of contentment as we start this new phase of our lives. He has a way of knowing just what I need. That's neat.<br />
<br />
Sure, there have been moments where I miss my family and wonder how I'm going to handle our first Thanksgiving and first Christmas away from them. I'm human. And yes, there have been moments of stress as I try to figure out something as simple as where to find a new couch for our living room. Especially one that fits in our budget. Beh. But for the past 10 days, time and time again, I have found rest in the arms of my Heavenly Father. I find comfort and rest in the One who brought us to this place and has provided everything we needed to get here, and therefore I continue to trust and believe that He will provide as we make this place our new home.<br />
<br />
So for all those who have been curious as to how we're doing, we are settling into our apartment, slowly but surely. The laundry is slowly getting caught up, the dishes are gradually finding their way into the cupboards (very...gradually..) and pictures are, one at a time, finding their home on the previously blank white walls. Yes, this place is slowly becoming our home. And visitors are welcome :)<br />
<br />Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-41441290201599665202012-02-23T11:19:00.001-08:002012-02-23T11:19:08.323-08:00A Place to Call HomeI've been feeling rather displaced lately. It's as though I'm in this limbo stage where I don't belong anywhere, really. Part of that has to do with the fact that we are still in the process of support raising, and we can't make the move to Utah until we reach our 100% mark. My heart is longing more and more, everyday, to be there and to begin the work that God has laid out for us to do. The other part of that feeling, I think, is the fact that we are currently living with my parents. Don't get me wrong, we have been <u style="font-style: italic;">extremely</u> blessed by their generosity and willingness to let us live with them. We are so grateful to be able to save more money while we wait to make our big move. Even so, I am beginning to feel anxious and eager to have a place to call my own once again.<br />
<br />
It's the simple things I miss. Like being able to get creative and decorate our place to make a simple house/apartment feel like belongs to us. Like having a space for Jonathan to play in and make as messy as his little heart desires. But most of all, I miss having a place to have friends over. I miss the love, life and the laughter that used to flow through our home on a regular basis. (insert dramatic sigh here)<br />
<br />
So, the topic in the Live Dead Journal today is all about hospitality. Needless to say, it spoke directly to my heart and all these feelings I've been having lately. The author says this about hospitality...<br />
<br />
"[it is] our faith in action. It is prayerfully preparing a meal, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead and bless the conversation and fellowship. It is giving and often sacrificing time and focused attention to those whom Christ brings into our homes and seeing each one as Jesus does - because hospitality is really all about the way we see people....<i>our home is one of the most powerful arenas to affect a life for God." </i><br />
<br />
That last statement was good for me to read and is something I am still trying to grasp as true. Ever since Brett and I decided that I would stay home, I have struggled (and still do sometimes) with thinking that I wasn't "doing enough" or being as effective as I could be in life and in ministry. God has continued to do a work in my heart and mind to reassure me that staying home to take care of my family is and will continue to be the best thing I can do at this point in our lives, and as we get closer and closer to doing college ministry, I know this decision will only prove to be more beneficial.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w9GiSAF3bQLW79vZEBL9oumuNvqMiIKiDHUj-8ckXNw5HRM08o68vCUFy8JaOGUWbuoNVuAyi_f6zj6WbcLvySksSx9RRKEcTYaBV2J-rBMO7Pi2VZ_6TqkJbHq80l4cL_QO9Valz30/s1600/Home-icon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7w9GiSAF3bQLW79vZEBL9oumuNvqMiIKiDHUj-8ckXNw5HRM08o68vCUFy8JaOGUWbuoNVuAyi_f6zj6WbcLvySksSx9RRKEcTYaBV2J-rBMO7Pi2VZ_6TqkJbHq80l4cL_QO9Valz30/s320/Home-icon.gif" width="270" /></a></div>
Brett and I are looking forward to having our own place again soon. We are looking forward to hosting dinners and parties and having that love, life and laughter once again flow through our home. We are looking forward to giving our children room to grow and play, but most of all, we are eager to use our home as a conduit through which God's presence and love are made known to anyone who enters...to "affect a life for God".<br />
<br />
Until then, I will try to be content with the home that I have and learn to use it as a tool for His glory, even if I can't call it my own.Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-32060043403020896742012-01-29T20:05:00.000-08:002012-01-29T20:05:08.010-08:00Returning to my First Love...I can remember a time not so long ago, before I possessed the title of wife or mother, that I could simply be called a woman who was in love with God. I remember being single and in love with no one except the One who had created me, and that season of my life now seems like such a distant memory. Since getting married and then giving birth to our wonderful son, I have continually strived to keep God my #1 love and I have recently been made increasingly more aware of my failure to do so successfully. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't get me wrong, I am so blessed and so thankful to be Mrs. Ricley. I have grown and evolved because of my relationship with Brett, and I know that God has given him to me to challenge me, correct me, help me lighten up a bit and constantly love me despite my shortcomings. I am also so incredibly blessed and thankful to be Jonathan's mom. My heart has grown so much since he entered the world and He has taught me more about being selfless, patient and gentle than I ever thought possible. With that said, and even though it is difficult to do at times, God still tells me to love HIM more.<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, the sermon in church today was centered on this very thought, that we cannot forsake our first love. The passage referenced was from Revelation 2 and the letter to the church at Ephesus. They were told, "you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first", and I feel like that is what God has been saying to me repeatedly over the past month. I have allowed the other loves in my life to take precedence over the One that should be first. I have been searching for my satisfaction, my value and my contentment in the wrong places and I need to return to the only place where those needs are truly satisfied.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I want to return to my First Love, my God and the One who deserves so much more than I give Him. I am daily humbled at the fact that God is revealing and teaching me these things about myself. I am thankful that even though I fail Him daily, He keeps reaching down and reminding me that I am worthy of His love. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-64174941248847643682012-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:22:02.302-08:00Live Dead Challenge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K491TGoOTqyJaALGeQ9eRtmdbj4duXK963-jVHOshjXv_oDvhPRPcSI3fLQTnMbgzpL9Yrs7IudEklS-wMYVaI1oT2j3JgBp6W9Wx9S7TjVPNvrNnekThy-IXco9B0Vosb4u60q4URE/s1600/210204_127741083966779_127740403966847_200131_981967_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K491TGoOTqyJaALGeQ9eRtmdbj4duXK963-jVHOshjXv_oDvhPRPcSI3fLQTnMbgzpL9Yrs7IudEklS-wMYVaI1oT2j3JgBp6W9Wx9S7TjVPNvrNnekThy-IXco9B0Vosb4u60q4URE/s320/210204_127741083966779_127740403966847_200131_981967_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693194392983488978" border="0" /></a><br />Live Dead. What a strange statement. How can two simple words, portraying two completely opposite concepts, be put together into a single statement and make sense to someone? Having been a believer nearly my entire life, I am still trying to fully understand not only what that means for me as a follower of Jesus, but also what that looks like in a tangible, practical every day way. Jesus says in Luke 9:23-24, "<span class="woj">“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.</span> <span class="woj">For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it", and while sometimes this means actually losing one's life to a physical death caused by their belief in Jesus, more often than not I hear those words and the inherent call to a daily commitment of dying to selfish thoughts, selfish ambitions and worldly desires and doing everything for the sake of Jesus and bringing Him glory.</span><br /><br />So, our church has given us a challenge for the month of January, which is to devote ourselves to spending extravagant daily time with God. As a medium to help us do that, we are going through The Live Dead Journal which is a compilation of devotions written by missionaries all over the world and focused on what it means to truly "live dead". On the back of the journal is their explanation of what it means to live dead: <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"To live dead is to live life wholly for Jesus. To die to self, knowing God will do a greater work through you. To announce the life of God among those who are unreached."</span><br /><br />I read that and my heart aches. One, because I know I still have a LONG way to go in my faith journey, and as much as I want to say I live dead every day of my life, I know I don't. Not even close. My heart also aches because I know what joy and peace can be known through a relationship with the one, true living God and I want others to know how that feels too! Many of the missionaries featured in the journal serve in areas of the world where the name of Jesus is completely foreign, but there are also some that serve here in the states. Yes, believe it or not, there are people here that don't know the true heart of Christ. Because of that often forgotten truth, Brett and I are committed to serving college age students in Salt Lake City. There are so many students, in Salt Lake City and across the nation, who don't know the name of Jesus, and we have seen so many more that have a distorted view of what it means to truly follow Him. Imagine what could happen if these students, who are beginning to explore and search for their place in the world, found the God who loves them, and who is watching, waiting and yearning for them to come home? (Insert goosebumps here...)<br /><br />Needless to say, I am excited for the next 28 days and what God is going to teach me through reading and praying through this journal. I want to discover, even more intimately, His heart for His lost children and I want to be able to share and show that heart to those who need it the most. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said <span class="st">"when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and <em>die", </em></span>and it is only then that we find out what it means to truly live.Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-61110000536874133952011-12-29T18:59:00.000-08:002011-12-29T20:28:33.387-08:00Lots of Thoughts.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHQutSJXcq3WxKEofaRS7595dNYAAWCU5rcZHsOZG9313mlix4ZOj3JPOlS9UgfZbQMGGu0-nU3CRDJb5eofwuma_j0HE7qf710Ezslf7wNdUZvbW3Y2cpvMW8SlsUZBUqnmI4rAi7Og/s1600/167497_504696857388_109700037_30086452_5735517_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSHiwDtmx2xcHQb2E6rB5NZE9LXXVEoxcgAohQ9yPG8AFgFwzg-h5Vg_5f8XNvSM8yjD31Iv4cnHBPDKV7TNQ72QNkm9rXvX8RkWvJjAwywtM3xmF8tNxcgKaw_TYYDPBqA6r1m7F6Y8/s1600/167495_504696797508_109700037_30086446_5969740_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2fBdqN9S7ag09ERBG89a9dzj4S_bq7SRP7yjthsEPwwWYKXkHPlGBH0egh2sgEnTMtzd3CJLeIWxLqpLew74Tkr1UM4_w6mP1IQDwsp0qHymbThPsGC7cDVSUT6RlMjpse4nyVUYhrk/s1600/165386_504696722658_109700037_30086439_590471_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwipHuks-nySguUyZvZLbdBwkRq5boDL071IKikSv49T1DYgyvuMgV_gQcGMjAZa4P_M6ejNjjGPW7VufVbScZtyzr61UStVMWTF7ZOidxRvlMEDyzspm5hH2BTvbEz7ePC58HqgvGFwY/s1600/167497_504696857388_109700037_30086452_5735517_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span></a><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, I've done a lot of thinking this past week. Like most of you, this week has conjured up thoughts of Jesus and His miraculous birth, and the incomprehensible decision for Him to come to earth for sinner's sake. These things humble me, baffle me and overwhelm me with thankfulness for what this holiday really represents. Like many of you, this week has also caused me to look forward, with anticipation, to a new year and be hopeful for the change, growth and new opportunities that it will bring (which for me includes keeping up on this blog on any sort of consistent basis!) Now, unlike most of you, there is one more significant life event that this week holds in store for our family that has given my mind so much to chew on lately - my son's birthday.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Yes, it is so hard for me to believe even as I sit here typing it but, Jonathan turns 1 year old tomorrow! At 4:42 pm tomorrow, I will officially be the mother of a one year old little boy, and as I stroll through the memories that occupy my mind, my heart swells with so many emotions. Thankfulness, because God (for some reason still unknown to me) decided to bless me with one of the sweetest, most loving, most handsome, incredibly intelligent babies I have ever met. Pride, because I know that someday this child will grow up to do so many great things, and I will be able to proudly boast to others that he is "mine". Blessed beyond measure, because I have been able to experience something that I know many women will go their entire lives wishing they could experience. Anticipation, for what the future holds just barely out of reach, things yet to be discovered about our son. Humbled, that God trusted me and Brett enough to take care of this little life that He so carefully and thoughtfully created.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, on this, the eve of the anniversary of our entrance into parenthood, I sit in awe of the 9 lb. 7.5 oz. present he brought us on December 30th, 2010. This gift, we named Jonathan Alan Ricley, and I will forever be grateful to God for choosing me to be his mommy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2fBdqN9S7ag09ERBG89a9dzj4S_bq7SRP7yjthsEPwwWYKXkHPlGBH0egh2sgEnTMtzd3CJLeIWxLqpLew74Tkr1UM4_w6mP1IQDwsp0qHymbThPsGC7cDVSUT6RlMjpse4nyVUYhrk/s200/165386_504696722658_109700037_30086439_590471_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691771329248398034" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHQutSJXcq3WxKEofaRS7595dNYAAWCU5rcZHsOZG9313mlix4ZOj3JPOlS9UgfZbQMGGu0-nU3CRDJb5eofwuma_j0HE7qf710Ezslf7wNdUZvbW3Y2cpvMW8SlsUZBUqnmI4rAi7Og/s200/167497_504696857388_109700037_30086452_5735517_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691771780312881890" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSHiwDtmx2xcHQb2E6rB5NZE9LXXVEoxcgAohQ9yPG8AFgFwzg-h5Vg_5f8XNvSM8yjD31Iv4cnHBPDKV7TNQ72QNkm9rXvX8RkWvJjAwywtM3xmF8tNxcgKaw_TYYDPBqA6r1m7F6Y8/s200/167495_504696797508_109700037_30086446_5969740_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691771456521682082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-66270991761496024972011-04-11T10:29:00.000-07:002011-04-11T11:22:57.546-07:0040 Days Later...I must have amnesia. Apparently I made a promise on here not too long ago, that after failing miserably to keep the cyber world informed of our pregnancy journey, I would do better to blog about the happenings in our life from now on as it relates to our growing family. Whoops :) Seems as though I didn't keep that promise very well. So in honor of my aunt (who gently reminded me this weekend that I hadn't blogged in quite some time!), here I am to take another crack at this whole "being a good blogger" deal.<br /><br />So, what has happened in the 40 days since I last blogged?<br /><br />- We took a trip to Austin, Texas March 3rd-5th for some support raising training. That meant we had to leave Baby J for the first time since he was born. Now, Brett was used to being away from him due to work, but up until this point, I had not left him with anyone (other than Brett) for more than about 2 hours. Needless to say, it was super tough, and I definitely cried when I drove away without him the day we left. It was a rough 3 days for me, but Jonathan was fine and my parents loved having him while we were gone!<br /><br />- Probably the biggest news we have to share from the past 40 days is the fact that Brett has officially quit his full-time security job to put all of his time and energy into support raising. We fully believe that God has called us to do ministry in Salt Lake City with Impact Campus Ministries, and because of that belief we are committed to doing everything we can to get out there as soon as possible, i.e. the decision for Brett to quit his job. Our goal is to be fully funded by the beginning of August so we can be there for the start of the school year, and so far God is doing some amazing things and working on our behalf to make that happen! (For those of you who are completely lost and may not know what I'm talking about, you can check <a href="http://livingtodisplaythegospel.blogspot.com/">Brett's blog</a> for more details about what is going on with him in regards to ministry).<br /><br />- We are also planning to move out of the house we are renting very soon! While I am definitely not looking forward to moving all of our stuff again - (3rd move in less than 3 years) - I am excited to downsize/simplify a little and know that we are one step closer to being in Salt Lake. As of right now, the plan is to move into a small cottage we've been offered by some friends from church until we leave for SLC. That means its time to start packing & cleaning and hopefully getting stuff together for a yard/garage sale before we move out! Lots to do, not lots of time!<br /><br />- Oh yeah, and then there's Jonathan!! He officially rolled over for the first time on March 24th, and while I think the majority of the credit goes to his heavy noggin' we are excited to see all his developments! He's also smiling a lot has the beginnings of some adorable giggles! Here's the video of him rolling over if you didn't get to see it on Facebook!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrhEmbvO6FYTzZRKTMNB1dHgNl8txrnLzOMOZFmOHm_dKReb5GwX_Z55BxWIxMAyZFZQm6JWTnhDCmohPZAg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />I think that's about it. While the last 40 days have been filled with adventure, fear, some hardship and lots of unknowns, it has also been filled with lots of joy, happiness, excitement and anticipation for the future!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyqf64s8SmjptqmFR2FALdJlkicCxWCfMO3Xnj7z36TaDRGHD1izdrZE4AbzWBVeqFBSmIr5N3xJ_6oGI6HRk0DqM26iZkiwLIjfNBeiv8ngjq_sLG1a8YJ7TIlUMTwLANsJfSwtg0Es/s1600/DSC00418.JPG"><br /></a>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-8827245084811066702011-03-02T20:33:00.001-08:002011-03-02T20:33:19.496-08:00What's in a Name...Many people have asked us why we chose the name Jonathan for our son. They usually start off asking if it's a family name, to which we answer "no", and then proceed to ask if it has any sort of significance - to which we definitely answer "YES!" While time usually only allows us to say that its a biblical name that we liked, here's the whole story...<br /><br />Ever since Brett and I started considering names for our future children, Brett insisted that one of our sons be named Jonathan. Now, me being the stubborn woman that I am (hard to believe me being stubborn, right?) told him no way, no how! I would not have my future son being called "Johnny", "John-Boy", "Little Johnny" or anything of the sort. I didn't like it. In fact, I was dead set against it...that was until I began seeing it from Brett's perspective. His reasoning behind wanting this name was far more noble than my reason for not wanting it, so I began to let go of my stubbornness and look into what this name really meant.<br /><br />Brett picked this name because he loves the story of Jonathan and his armor-bearer found in 1 Samuel 14:1-14. In it, Jonathan exhibits such courage and such trust in God that he is willing to act, in a rather dangerous way, on the chance of "perhaps". He says in verse 6, "perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few", and that is the kind of faith Brett wanted our son to have. After reading it for myself, that was the kind of faith I too wanted my son to have. So, since then I have prayed that our son would grow up to believe in the God who is all powerful and able to act on our behalf when we ask Him to. I have prayed that just like Jonathan in the bible, our son would walk through life with courage and confidence, knowing that he is first and foremost a child of God. I have prayed that he would grow to be a man of integrity who others want to follow. But most of all, I have prayed that God would do mighty things through him and use him to bring glory to His name!<br /><br />So, after much disagreement and going back and forth, our son was given the name Jonathan, and whether he gets called "Johnny" or "John-Boy" or any other nickname as he grows up doesn't matter. His name has meaning and purpose behind it, and I can't wait to tell him all about it someday.Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-1621771789975500832011-02-25T11:07:00.000-08:002011-02-26T09:18:48.777-08:00Reminicsing....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnl_a6xOFIfS5Ju-98HJMZjgokXwCFXDZCtX2U4_YcVJ5wvzN1U7L3wVpyqISMGjm_ibbiPX1KtjG8WcaaBHMSRk9zuK2LqBYI7sLCwy-ThB_rgdHJZ5E61LQ5AVt1wVLlq8mIDDjGeI/s1600/DSC00382.JPG"><br /></a><br />I was watching my 8 week old son sleep soundly this morning (one of the most heartwarming and precious moments a mother can have in my opinion) and couldn't help but think back to the evening that we found out we were pregnant with him. We were planning on having some friends over for the evening, so my friend Anna and I ran to Wal-mart to pick up a few things. I told her that I was a couple of days late for my period and said I was going to pick up a pregnancy test just for fun :)<br /><br />Now, pause and back track to a few months earlier....Brett and I had taken a trip to Mexico to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. It was such a nice getaway and I believe we were truly able to reconnect and rediscover that we had truly married our best friend in the entire world! (It was hard to believe that even after a year, we found ourselves needing that connection again) Anyway, while we were on this trip, Brett and I talked a lot about the past - what we loved, what wish we could do over - and about the future - what we wished and hoped for. As we were talking about our future together, we kept talking about a family and how we wanted kids so badly. Now, as Christians we knew in our heads that we needed to give God control of our lives in every sense of the word, and it wasn't until this trip that we realized that also included our family plans. We decided that when we got back home, I would go off birth control and we would let God take over and decide the timing of us having our first child. That was in August...<br /><br />Now, fast forward again to that evening in May. I had purchased a pregnancy test and now I'm standing in our bathroom, pregnancy test in hand, waiting for the results. Let me tell you, that was the longest 3 minutes of my life!! Mind you, we have some of best friends over out in the living room playing cards and one might ponder why in the world I would take a pregnancy test while in the middle of entertaining. Well, I would answer that when you have been waiting in anticipation for several months and your monthly visitor fails to show up, it's hard to be patient! Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the screen on the little blue and white stick displayed the word "pregnant" and I couldn't help but cry. I tried to collect myself enough to open the door and summon Brett to come and join me in the bathroom, and once he was there I burst out in tears again as I showed him the results.<br /><br />We hugged and kissed and cried together for probably a couple minutes before we realized that we had left our house guests alone in our living room to fend for themselves. By this time I'm sure they had caught on to the fact that something out of the ordinary was happening (after all, Brett and I don't normally escape to the bathroom together while we have friends over), but we emerged from the bathroom together and tried to act as though everything was completely normal.<br /><br />We continued to play cards and all the while, I sat next to my husband, the soon to be father of our baby, and tried to mask the huge smile that was tempting to burst onto my face. Finally, after a few minutes I decided to send the picture I had taken on my phone of the positive pregnancy test to Anna and her then fiance, Jared who were sitting across the table from us. As soon as their phones went off, I no longer worried about hiding the excitement that was bubbling within me and as they screamed with joy at the news, we knew this was going to be an incredible adventure.<br /><br />God is good and I am so thankful that He gave us the opportunity to be parents. It had been a growing desire of my heart to be a mother for so long and now that I am here, living in the middle of it, I can't express enough how wonderful it is! So, there is a reminiscence of one of the most exciting days of our lives thus far. I hope we get to experience that joy over and over as we welcome more children into our family.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnl_a6xOFIfS5Ju-98HJMZjgokXwCFXDZCtX2U4_YcVJ5wvzN1U7L3wVpyqISMGjm_ibbiPX1KtjG8WcaaBHMSRk9zuK2LqBYI7sLCwy-ThB_rgdHJZ5E61LQ5AVt1wVLlq8mIDDjGeI/s1600/DSC00382.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnl_a6xOFIfS5Ju-98HJMZjgokXwCFXDZCtX2U4_YcVJ5wvzN1U7L3wVpyqISMGjm_ibbiPX1KtjG8WcaaBHMSRk9zuK2LqBYI7sLCwy-ThB_rgdHJZ5E61LQ5AVt1wVLlq8mIDDjGeI/s320/DSC00382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578048833760346546" border="0" /></a>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-4441397790189922882011-02-23T21:03:00.000-08:002011-02-24T04:17:56.855-08:00I'm a bad blogger...Wow. To say I am a bit tardy in updating this thing called a blog is quite an understatement if I've ever heard one. Last I posted, we were excited to announce the impending arrival of our first child - today, that child, Jonathan Alan Ricley, is here and will be 8 weeks old in t-minus approximately 17 hours! He is the most precious gift we have ever been given and since he's come into our lives, I finally feel like I have found exactly what I was meant to do - be a mother. As much as I would love to ramble on and on about how different life is with a new baby around and how wonderfully difficult it can all be at times, I'll save some of that for another post. After all, I'll need something to talk about if I'm going to be more consistent with this thing... :)<br /><br />In other exciting news, Brett has also found exactly what he is supposed to do in life...well, at least for this season of life! We have been on a journey with God, basically since the moment we said "I do", that has been full of twists and turns and often times been confusing and downright difficult. Although it was all those things and more, it has now brought us to this place where we feel like we are directly in the middle of God's will for our lives, and we are excited for the ministry He has placed before us! As of a February 12th of this year, Brett is a Campus Ministry Recruit with Impact Campus Ministries. We are currently just beginning the process of being trained and prepared to go and do ministry in Salt Lake City, Utah on their college campuses. While we are anxious to get out there and begin this new phase of our lives, we will still be in Omaha for as long as it takes for us to raise the support we need to live and do ministry out there.<br /><br />If you want to keep up with that aspect of our lives and the journey God is taking us on in respect to Brett's ministry, his blog will be more geared toward those events (<a href="http://livingtodisplaythegospel.blogspot.com">Brett's blog</a>) This blog, on the other hand, will deal more with my journey as a wife and mother and the everyday happenings in my life. While the two are intertwined, we thought it would be easier to separate the two and thus not overwhelm anyone who might read these with mile long posts each day... You're welcome :)<br /><br />So, for now I think that's all. My little guy is sleeping and some might say I have taken advantage of it - updating my blog, folding some laundry and watching the episode of the Bachelor that I missed Monday night! Now, I hope I have not spent this time unwisely as I attempt to go get some sleep myself and cross my fingers that Jonathan stays sleeping as well.<br /><br />Until then...Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-89493988205042794852010-06-30T08:39:00.000-07:002010-06-30T08:50:07.811-07:00We're Expecting!!For those of you who may not already know, Brett and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our first baby!! Our due date is January 10th, 2011, which right now seems like absolutely forever away! We got our first positive pregnancy test on May 2nd and have been overjoyed ever since :) We just went to the doctor's office this morning for our 12 week appointment and she says everything looks good! Praise God!<br /><br />I have attached a couple pictures and don't worry, there will be LOTS more to come :) Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8X-QRXTtc4xQkOnjRbnsP5oy5czl4_eaDKdG4nXzNd8WW3ayuq9wq2QmfyX8dXLihGCI-abAX0JlSwAh1i-MirUheQAei_ZlwgIIeE41XUoWLLdCq9kIS6PXgX4GS0FQCJTRyu3b4uE/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8X-QRXTtc4xQkOnjRbnsP5oy5czl4_eaDKdG4nXzNd8WW3ayuq9wq2QmfyX8dXLihGCI-abAX0JlSwAh1i-MirUheQAei_ZlwgIIeE41XUoWLLdCq9kIS6PXgX4GS0FQCJTRyu3b4uE/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488593893568382770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r1ouxNyFswln0Qeyf21tDYY8GnlxXgWMc9LS0xD9iL3pvYJXL4Q2elOVOagxngCsL-1g3azSIHEChNaz3NyW9PoD5_8jTLm0ArHTL0HpZ_Pr6olgzMFm28hB9lwvovigk0MKFCJUx24/s1600/BABY2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2r1ouxNyFswln0Qeyf21tDYY8GnlxXgWMc9LS0xD9iL3pvYJXL4Q2elOVOagxngCsL-1g3azSIHEChNaz3NyW9PoD5_8jTLm0ArHTL0HpZ_Pr6olgzMFm28hB9lwvovigk0MKFCJUx24/s320/BABY2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488594086675575378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8X-QRXTtc4xQkOnjRbnsP5oy5czl4_eaDKdG4nXzNd8WW3ayuq9wq2QmfyX8dXLihGCI-abAX0JlSwAh1i-MirUheQAei_ZlwgIIeE41XUoWLLdCq9kIS6PXgX4GS0FQCJTRyu3b4uE/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG"><br /></a>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-40551604415577464072010-05-04T10:55:00.000-07:002010-05-04T11:04:12.815-07:00WE'RE MOVING!!Yes, you heard correctly. Brett and I are moving...again. We have been given (literally given to us by our amazing Heavenly Father) the opportunity to move into a 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2,200 sq. ft. house for a little bit more $$ per month than we're paying now for rent at our apartment. We will be renting it for a year and have the option to buy it at the end of that year. It's such a blessing and all glory goes to God for coordinating all the details of this move. We are excited to start painting and renovating the place to make it our own, but more than anything we are excited to see how God chooses to use this home to expand His kingdom and bring people closer to Him! If you think about it, pray for me and Brett as we begin this journey and continue to follow what He has planned for our lives. We would really appreciate it!<br /><br />Oh, and don't worry, pictures will be coming along very soon! :)Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-76955681651494618142010-04-15T07:12:00.000-07:002010-04-15T08:20:15.479-07:00I'm Baaaack!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBkUP7nXRCXYmsF-6i1mtLCh6lXdGID0rXBywN17Fzr1yyC7kFi9PpyAfOw_B5ppRzF_6G3NhRYfRiGYvP0UowujwZzyZqlazoyGukzeAiP4-WhUN_GBB0uvv-1WJdhGeeWhxBb6LNnc/s1600/IMG_1484.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DyYtSdGpmga-Bf6lZ2s9iqlmGathPThi36mJAZnoNKKZwbL31zhNmkhDOciNyvMFsKATjvaRnwm11CgThE56dgqFsqWPY_FiXb2kAOFU-1uDuoo44Emvp7g41jl9MzDQevKDrbmLx14/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG"></a>So, here I am again - back in blogger world! If you didn't notice (which I'm sure most, if not all of you <b>did</b>, right?) my 1 month "fast" from all things social networking turned into 2, and if I'm going to be perfectly honest, it was tough. I will admit that I did log on and check up on people/statuses/situations from time to time and did watch a few TV shows/movies. Despite that, I believe that through these 2 months my goal and purpose of doing this "fast" was accomplished. I have found myself spending less time on the computer and in front of the TV and more time being quiet and still before God. More than anything, I got into a routine where my priorities are more in line with what I believe God wants from me. This is going to be a continuous journey where I have to remind myself of where I should be spending my time and energy, but spending these 2 months completely away was a good start.<div><br /></div><div>With all that said, here are a couple pictures from my time away.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. I finally got curtains put up in the dining room! It's amazing how something so simple and easy makes such a difference. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcJw9SidPm4MvuRS77nFZnkE8tU6FP042a4ENePS7aoaWq1syT0IfBbvqxXIT3xMRxASX7UyHnDqWL2LK-Nd8XSmPmlmgdkTyhMj5Bae3moUoK3abRINY0e2Dk_NofJOUdPM7sdI5tug/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcJw9SidPm4MvuRS77nFZnkE8tU6FP042a4ENePS7aoaWq1syT0IfBbvqxXIT3xMRxASX7UyHnDqWL2LK-Nd8XSmPmlmgdkTyhMj5Bae3moUoK3abRINY0e2Dk_NofJOUdPM7sdI5tug/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460378449990282114" /></a><br /><div>2. The flowers on the table above (& the closer shot below) are from Brett's mom Linnea as a birthday/Easter gift. I turned 23 on March 18th and one of my favorite gift was these flowers! Pretty, huh?<br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DyYtSdGpmga-Bf6lZ2s9iqlmGathPThi36mJAZnoNKKZwbL31zhNmkhDOciNyvMFsKATjvaRnwm11CgThE56dgqFsqWPY_FiXb2kAOFU-1uDuoo44Emvp7g41jl9MzDQevKDrbmLx14/s320/IMG_1444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460379111897657106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Happy (belated) Easter! This is me and my handsome husband on Easter morning. We had a wonderful morning of worship with our church family and then got to spend some great time with my family in the afternoon. What's better is that reason that we got to celebrate - because Jesus Christ is risen!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeBr7bCgKREVR31EvmuPGL0JuYpkSkhJ-U-aZDQFidRupCXNuRbas2_eqmvNgW4P2IJ55TpHS4toyhyphenhyphenwpUFv0nGEl199Wb_QbhRfmhLBRVBNfoSEN8MT9FFMB4hvjkuQ9BLJTnkuHhlM/s320/IMG_1435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460380596543100738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Brett and I attending our very last Nebraska Christian College Spring Formal. Brett is graduating May 8th and it's crazy to think that our college days (collectively) are very close to being over. I posted 2 pictures from that night - the first is (obviously) of me and Brett and the second is of us with some of our best friends - (from left to right) Anna and Jared, us, Michael and Leah. Love them! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc1faVyZIKzZ_7Kj3mByPBPj-q7OeluWFMwt-ztkEGlfiwbF8g7GYFYVJDo3fSC8oqDfxf7Cw8dxecbQdeGId3-W4LhUOucjVtAo1llitIQt7WC3tkbRf2vyO3xIoLZJ6z7nkARinCEA/s320/IMG_1491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460382363811256562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBkUP7nXRCXYmsF-6i1mtLCh6lXdGID0rXBywN17Fzr1yyC7kFi9PpyAfOw_B5ppRzF_6G3NhRYfRiGYvP0UowujwZzyZqlazoyGukzeAiP4-WhUN_GBB0uvv-1WJdhGeeWhxBb6LNnc/s320/IMG_1484.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460382916898202082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's all for now :) But no worries, I'll be back soon! We've got some exciting events happening in the near future, so I'll have plenty of things to blog about and share :) </div></div>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-60929196675308007112010-02-10T18:55:00.001-08:002010-02-10T19:06:53.117-08:00FastI didn't really realize that it has been a full week since my last post, and unfortunately (or fortunately - depending on your point of view) I won't be making anymore posts for at least 30 days. We had a wonderfully refreshing evening at our weekly prayer service at church and God really convicted my heart and lead me to decide that I needed to make a few changes in my life for a while. Sooooo, to make a very long story short, I will not be on here, Facebook or any other time-consuming internet location nor will I be watching TV for the next 30 days. You could call it a fast if you want - although I will be checking my email, but other than that, I'm done for at least a month. I need to be spending that valuable time on things more important and precious to me, and that is first and foremost my relationship with Christ. So friends, adios! for now. I'll definitely let you know how this whole fasting experience ends up, but in the meantime say a prayer for me if you think about it. Pray that God would do some transformation in my heart as I try to give up some of the distractions that have kept me from pursuing Him with more abandon and more passion. Thanks :)Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-48505878487266527222010-02-03T19:04:00.000-08:002010-02-03T19:32:16.651-08:00Joy<div style="text-align: left;">Sorry about bombarding you with the whole 2-blogs-in-one-day thing, but I just had to share this moment before its imprint left my heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight after our mid-week prayer service was over and most people had left, I walked back into the sanctuary to find my husband and tell him I was heading home. I found him talking to an 8 year old girl from our children's ministry & her mom in the front pew. As I got closer and sat down 2 rows behind them (trying not to make too much noise as to disturb them), I heard them discussing this little girls desire to be baptized. </div><div><br /></div><div>First of all, that right there brings joy to my heart because this little girl was making the biggest, most important decision she will <b>EVER</b> make in her entire life. I'm getting a little teary-eyed even now, just like I do whenever I witness someone actually getting baptized, because I know the blessing it is to follow Christ and serve Him with your life. I pray that this little girl, although she thinks she understands and probably does understand (at least to the best of her ability right now) what it will mean to follow Christ, will come to know this overwhelming joy more fully as she grows up. </div><div><br /></div><div>This moment blessed me in a second way because she asked Brett to be the one to baptize her. What an honor! As many of you know, Brett was the full-time children's minister at the church for a year and half in addition to being an intern and working with the young kids before that. When moments like this happen, it seems to validate all the things that he has been helping teach them and it shows that he is producing fruit in his ministry. I am so honored, as I know Brett is, that this little girl (along with 3 or 4 other kids before her) asked him to be the one to participate in this important day! </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, just to hear the way Brett spoke to her made me smile. His voice was so gentle and loving. His words expressed how proud he was of her for making such and important decision. He told her the truth, ever so tenderly, about how this was going to change her life forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just had to share how blessed I was to witness this conversation and how proud I am of my husband for making such an impact on these little lives. It makes me excited for the future and our hopes of raising children to love Christ and follow Him with everything they have! </div>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-82007317102169100032010-02-03T06:24:00.000-08:002010-02-03T07:56:17.866-08:00Virtual TourI mentioned in an earlier post that Brett and I, along with our good friend Michael recently moved out of our on-campus, married student housing apartment, to a more centrally located apartment complex in Omaha. I am grateful that we made this decision and I have enjoyed it immensely. Not only have I enjoyed meeting our neighbors, but I have enjoyed decorating our new space! Our old apartment was great, don't get me wrong, but there is something about this one that just feels more like home. So, about a month ago I hardcore cleaned this place and took all these pictures to show the world (with the exception of two photos I took this morning). <div><div style="text-align: right;">Only now am I actually posting them :)</div><br />As you look through these pictures, you will note a couple of things:<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>1.</b></span> The Christmas decorations are up. Like I said, I took these at the beginning on January, but have since taken them down. It does make the pictures more festive though, huh?<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2.</b></span> If you have been to our place recently, you know that our living room has been rearranged. I don't have pictures up of the new arrangement because that would require some picking up and I don't want to do that. HA! So, that just means if you want to see it, you'll have to come visit!<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>3.</b></span> There are no window treatments anywhere. I have had intentions of getting curtains for some of the rooms since, oh, November. You'll just have to use your imagination for now :)<br /><div style="text-align: right;"> <b>ENJOY! </b></div><br /><b>Entry (Kitchen on the left) </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aTU1aKquQDsWs_l5Xn8w_TBhgF7m7iWxy3EiDVrnvbjuDwvNfNIp9MeBFuMaBRoEjfy_xOiyip53l7PkfwQ2Tl-f48R8Mp-KrUzvtsq0-qFUqWXrsqKVFzaofWMOngODLxebbGu2X-c/s1600-h/IMG_1330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aTU1aKquQDsWs_l5Xn8w_TBhgF7m7iWxy3EiDVrnvbjuDwvNfNIp9MeBFuMaBRoEjfy_xOiyip53l7PkfwQ2Tl-f48R8Mp-KrUzvtsq0-qFUqWXrsqKVFzaofWMOngODLxebbGu2X-c/s320/IMG_1330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434027991840724210" /></a><br /><br /><b>Pantry/Storage/Blessing!<br />(directly on right as you walk in the front door - across from kitchen) </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPqMviKa8xhksIAs0Ccj26FVkWp3cqkX8ABE3MLhFXSqrUin6zYA2EgrDhL5jD_TgQoS_IEh1dNXiQhrj1QE0V9NG0F_EjxC8cOUSiKsM7II2XJUymR4I4BUXbp2i51aMiMsowufKfok/s1600-h/IMG_1359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPqMviKa8xhksIAs0Ccj26FVkWp3cqkX8ABE3MLhFXSqrUin6zYA2EgrDhL5jD_TgQoS_IEh1dNXiQhrj1QE0V9NG0F_EjxC8cOUSiKsM7II2XJUymR4I4BUXbp2i51aMiMsowufKfok/s320/IMG_1359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434035384841440706" /></a><br /><br /><b>Kitchen - View 1 </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyae9HqWjNOTifQEbrMEUwPvYz2YIJWnq1qQY0uvtPxkUBeUpya0VN1nGClGyCZTzdWVGDGEl63vnLoHV8bcHdvZzK9tjo6qFMTXSQyedW7DIaQWYZQwSDlr4D_pil1pnLcPw2TOfhTo/s1600-h/IMG_1333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyae9HqWjNOTifQEbrMEUwPvYz2YIJWnq1qQY0uvtPxkUBeUpya0VN1nGClGyCZTzdWVGDGEl63vnLoHV8bcHdvZzK9tjo6qFMTXSQyedW7DIaQWYZQwSDlr4D_pil1pnLcPw2TOfhTo/s320/IMG_1333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434029013166934866" /></a><br /><br /><b>Kitchen - View 2<br />*NOTE* Several people who have come over have asked me about the pictures in the frame below - They are close up, detailed photos of some spices from my spice rack, printed off & put in a fun frame. Boom. Instant art. </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWJcQvqLf1h2tx51umkSy-Yt-XGbpBUZqkpqZDy8W9stMGkZ_Nokh0hShOt1GTTKnF5lyrCrtpPtK0Np3ZvPtEkwuyQWsg8SGuyz9c7XFQ9iL1Ag9xTGRaABOGdqlVBfSec0pg8t2Yrc/s1600-h/IMG_1332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWJcQvqLf1h2tx51umkSy-Yt-XGbpBUZqkpqZDy8W9stMGkZ_Nokh0hShOt1GTTKnF5lyrCrtpPtK0Np3ZvPtEkwuyQWsg8SGuyz9c7XFQ9iL1Ag9xTGRaABOGdqlVBfSec0pg8t2Yrc/s320/IMG_1332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434028000675652002" /></a><br /><br /><b>View of Kitchen from Dining Room </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV3R6f-QUaeTNpgqUaDsPE8zJez_4VGlvFU7mSfLEgyyygcNPFqON_CCXuna_j3fHi11qeKEUnCfbVEQL76wNMrVm-PPZoy3NazJS2FDMTjgb4FD-GOi9U5QdX6riU0FFxqqBOPfoNk0/s1600-h/IMG_1329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV3R6f-QUaeTNpgqUaDsPE8zJez_4VGlvFU7mSfLEgyyygcNPFqON_CCXuna_j3fHi11qeKEUnCfbVEQL76wNMrVm-PPZoy3NazJS2FDMTjgb4FD-GOi9U5QdX6riU0FFxqqBOPfoNk0/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434027985534301154" /></a><br /><br /><b>Dining Room </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt0kLNbgTBhYJU1ysmV1vEMJ07_mU9U1ufBi8znPaI39KhZliXrpeydH3X45broiKwkw-KUD1y2ewOx3H068HRTsZwvoI1jR-EYkiG-9Ca0DObeEXMfOzsLSUj6QVRdlJSXuXe5aUiYA/s1600-h/IMG_1328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkt0kLNbgTBhYJU1ysmV1vEMJ07_mU9U1ufBi8znPaI39KhZliXrpeydH3X45broiKwkw-KUD1y2ewOx3H068HRTsZwvoI1jR-EYkiG-9Ca0DObeEXMfOzsLSUj6QVRdlJSXuXe5aUiYA/s320/IMG_1328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434027157039495586" /></a><br /><br /><b>Living Room - View 1 (from dining room) </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTeB89Q1Ntz3mr2mV0i5JYVwkWCMnwi_WCpsT022Qgv-KIB0Ea9ASnkzu4x0TPFN7bNiGZPFs8zPBwiRdjrFvqNE7W83ukpssMBuj5E89rEqyv9ORvs-OyQtWVz-_Ks1Vi7TcPzATeHU/s1600-h/IMG_1343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTeB89Q1Ntz3mr2mV0i5JYVwkWCMnwi_WCpsT022Qgv-KIB0Ea9ASnkzu4x0TPFN7bNiGZPFs8zPBwiRdjrFvqNE7W83ukpssMBuj5E89rEqyv9ORvs-OyQtWVz-_Ks1Vi7TcPzATeHU/s320/IMG_1343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434027997595631218" /></a><br /><br /><b>Mantle/Fireplace</b><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JIK6aD9f1U8_LuCVe3hUTK0j1QGw0Ge9jc6Jbs0KXO7bOJyGedRpJJZ0CZUp8AUMZZ1QHXvyxMlIg0BUOiSMK1EZayrJ6aUpNzJ4mFg0C0hoW9MHKQkcfprTBFOTRSuvj7JsNLztYuc/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JIK6aD9f1U8_LuCVe3hUTK0j1QGw0Ge9jc6Jbs0KXO7bOJyGedRpJJZ0CZUp8AUMZZ1QHXvyxMlIg0BUOiSMK1EZayrJ6aUpNzJ4mFg0C0hoW9MHKQkcfprTBFOTRSuvj7JsNLztYuc/s320/IMG_1344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434039697727666690" /></a><br /><br /><b>Living Room - View 2/Dining Room </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUsnPRugCTLsYtFOke5eIrzewml26z38y660DlEasF4qcwz4vJDgFz1BBVfJA0p76Cj-inrRcBbYFfIGProJs63fNVucqxfQFBfrH07XGre_qLr1lnOhDasra_YKonZQRLr-QNzRR7oQ/s1600-h/IMG_1349.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUsnPRugCTLsYtFOke5eIrzewml26z38y660DlEasF4qcwz4vJDgFz1BBVfJA0p76Cj-inrRcBbYFfIGProJs63fNVucqxfQFBfrH07XGre_qLr1lnOhDasra_YKonZQRLr-QNzRR7oQ/s320/IMG_1349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434033304590281090" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b>My Favorite Wall (with a few empty frames & a few pictures MIA)<br />Living room to the left & bathroom directly to the right of this picture</b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n7Qjr4wqmcMSpegYEwAjx6S-svlf7xGvAlM_K2-rahpMBeVfrFSa5g6ISt6bMGjku8BN4Q7lqac33AOlxYK9y7t1STYNuVN4U3QYKNuGfJR-h08mQRWZH_TC-owLQMDjX0ra1Ce7AWE/s1600-h/IMG_1350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0n7Qjr4wqmcMSpegYEwAjx6S-svlf7xGvAlM_K2-rahpMBeVfrFSa5g6ISt6bMGjku8BN4Q7lqac33AOlxYK9y7t1STYNuVN4U3QYKNuGfJR-h08mQRWZH_TC-owLQMDjX0ra1Ce7AWE/s320/IMG_1350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434027991994441890" /></a><br /><br /><b>Bathroom - View 1 (Also, taken this morning)<br />*Paintings inspired by a Wal-mart set ($90) ...painted by yours truly ($20) </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIXmuCLID7kNLmpbHntYd6qPBaIG68uOAyb7O0A3ryc63Zaw4ouZMcXk96UZ1uy8lbhaxLmOHxULiXXhVIHk2i-0_X_zYN7YvjHEqzgR1GZZVUEeAqmvJhnC_Vp8uaAHjg_1JGqC980Y/s1600-h/IMG_1408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIXmuCLID7kNLmpbHntYd6qPBaIG68uOAyb7O0A3ryc63Zaw4ouZMcXk96UZ1uy8lbhaxLmOHxULiXXhVIHk2i-0_X_zYN7YvjHEqzgR1GZZVUEeAqmvJhnC_Vp8uaAHjg_1JGqC980Y/s320/IMG_1408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434029020206252162" /></a><br /><br /><b>Bathroom - View 2 </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsyPpfWod_j7i_IFlC6cLF_HWASSzjFFcLUZw-kLm1E1WafqnKNGHgB4C9pItxpQAWPEYwI_NWynQKwwYJamkmyaJfPBkPrdNC97ZOJj-OuJJbM19b77ebE9IaRlCo_CC5jIL-9fCTMQ/s1600-h/IMG_1335.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsyPpfWod_j7i_IFlC6cLF_HWASSzjFFcLUZw-kLm1E1WafqnKNGHgB4C9pItxpQAWPEYwI_NWynQKwwYJamkmyaJfPBkPrdNC97ZOJj-OuJJbM19b77ebE9IaRlCo_CC5jIL-9fCTMQ/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434029017418175138" /></a><br /><br /><b>Hallway (picture taken from bathroom door)<br />Our bedroom door is on the left - Michael's room (which leads into Office/Den/Bonus Room) in middle - Smallest linen closet</b><span><b> EVER</b></span><b> on far right </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQUrAwQXatZI1CKld_z2Oa7attRPEBt1m6d3U-2Q9VyiiyiPYvzJXxU86ZEWygoLUFE1znZE1rFJH7oEMio9tFjOFxmFg1ENM9VGXH8iWPdpJ7kwWBTQPikXOUmrHnuHPLLnqh9BpYpY/s1600-h/IMG_1340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQUrAwQXatZI1CKld_z2Oa7attRPEBt1m6d3U-2Q9VyiiyiPYvzJXxU86ZEWygoLUFE1znZE1rFJH7oEMio9tFjOFxmFg1ENM9VGXH8iWPdpJ7kwWBTQPikXOUmrHnuHPLLnqh9BpYpY/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434033311252140818" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Our Bedroom - View 1 (Taken this morning)<br />*Calla Lilly Photos above bed = recent addition (Thanks Wal-mart!)</b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMaXZ5W8pFDKggGokEBFUBakNySXL0FgFS8MtO7wnVksY3CAn4QM3vtLZaySfNqdXfSJXTy60G1nuzZkRiQirGD9s8ObBhpjYxOcGXOUxhLBkac5m5NakwE7C9exbqHFNwbHKtjfSfZY/s1600-h/IMG_1407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMaXZ5W8pFDKggGokEBFUBakNySXL0FgFS8MtO7wnVksY3CAn4QM3vtLZaySfNqdXfSJXTy60G1nuzZkRiQirGD9s8ObBhpjYxOcGXOUxhLBkac5m5NakwE7C9exbqHFNwbHKtjfSfZY/s320/IMG_1407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434029031580826258" /></a><br /><br /><b>Bedroom - View 2 </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFzS5LBpE0hyphenhyphen_lKi3SA3s3nC1E349ighr0ZvJ8ZNjwgPjO2Gj7_VuEF1g5Pmb6-d227w2zx4X2CfJVFzB6_UQFSfG9MHs-0X2S_K0yvawpAE0HjQIPBGLjlM5BFLkp18-4jRfJupamPA/s1600-h/IMG_1338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFzS5LBpE0hyphenhyphen_lKi3SA3s3nC1E349ighr0ZvJ8ZNjwgPjO2Gj7_VuEF1g5Pmb6-d227w2zx4X2CfJVFzB6_UQFSfG9MHs-0X2S_K0yvawpAE0HjQIPBGLjlM5BFLkp18-4jRfJupamPA/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434029029889536258" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Michael's Room - Leading into Office/Den/Bonus Room </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o45fmQDEgoNPT_SQg-LQXPWpBKqCMmv5nMAEN3b_mB8webw0eW6tsIfLAGnP9Cso9NMfVrOmJEbVGX-TiQ24GUsIMg0ZCe6UbwRkZLkTjwuVE38PUbHvElYp3GTvAU9pcmuonS21AIs/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o45fmQDEgoNPT_SQg-LQXPWpBKqCMmv5nMAEN3b_mB8webw0eW6tsIfLAGnP9Cso9NMfVrOmJEbVGX-TiQ24GUsIMg0ZCe6UbwRkZLkTjwuVE38PUbHvElYp3GTvAU9pcmuonS21AIs/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434033325993836994" /></a><br /><br /><b>Office/Den/Bonus Room - View 1 </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWvlIVTDhnUshjBDmGCUAbx-0fTFcRcgFbIDq5rrXx-2xdsmvstG4CXQqwEASPcnKEmDtzxar47_ZbWnM-t2AUoVKyhe5gNJOmvUa06XrcVTlCCi5rnD4Htk3dnzME9UgfC_MCOuVgKY/s1600-h/IMG_1355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWvlIVTDhnUshjBDmGCUAbx-0fTFcRcgFbIDq5rrXx-2xdsmvstG4CXQqwEASPcnKEmDtzxar47_ZbWnM-t2AUoVKyhe5gNJOmvUa06XrcVTlCCi5rnD4Htk3dnzME9UgfC_MCOuVgKY/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434033320838528114" /></a><br /><br /><b>Office/Den/Bonus Room - View 2 </b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BRmEKvxsp9S24XlVPq5oYdk8pkq8s5VYfML0cVxnEK5fDm53bL54uGKIi2Q_jYM4i4K6EzT1q5axMS6dcsQFYebPo5mLwwTXSStk1cyRqATEpz3BG5_4u7eB3n3fDmZm2ZlDKOK0TEA/s1600-h/IMG_1353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BRmEKvxsp9S24XlVPq5oYdk8pkq8s5VYfML0cVxnEK5fDm53bL54uGKIi2Q_jYM4i4K6EzT1q5axMS6dcsQFYebPo5mLwwTXSStk1cyRqATEpz3BG5_4u7eB3n3fDmZm2ZlDKOK0TEA/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434033316947575618" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><b>THE END! </b></div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-60041447725869958482010-02-02T08:13:00.000-08:002010-02-02T08:50:46.044-08:00New job, new outlook ...oh, and a new mail organizing system<span style="font-weight:bold;">New Job</span> - Yesterday I started a new position at the Open Door Mission as Administrative Support Staff at our Timberlake Outreach Center. Sounds impressive? Good..but fancy titles like that will fool ya :) It's exciting because I am being challenged to step up and take on more leadership responsibility and once again, step out of my comfort zone. Since I got hired in July, I have been working in the volunteer department, helping facilitate and direct all the volunteers that come through the Mission. Now, while still working with volunteers, I get to work with a group of workers from a program called Employment First, get trained to do some community case management, and possibly teach some bible & life skill classes. All in all, it's an exciting opportunity that God plopped directly in my lap and I'm sure there will be many lessons learned through this new job. I'll keep ya posted...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">New Outlook</span>- Since, oh probably mid-January or so, I have made a commitment to being healthier. Call it a New Year's resolution if you like, but more than anything I just want to get back to a point where I'm exercising on a regular basis, making smart food choices and just feeling good about myself. So, my friend Corine and I signed up to do a bootcamp 2 days a week at the YMCA and I have been trying (<--Key word right there) to stick to a 1,300-1,400 calorie daily food regimen. First of all, bootcamp kicks my butt. One, because it's at 5:30 in the morning. Two, because it's just plain hard. And besides the motivation to just live healthier, I'm in FOUR weddings this summer and want to feel good wearing all those dresses! Down 8 lbs. so far, and looking for more! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">New mail organizing system</span> - I picked up some old records at work the other day thinking that it could be a cute way to decorate in our music room/office. I went online hoping to find some inspiration, and voila!, I found this really cute idea for organizing mail, bills, papers etc., so unfortunately I can't take credit for it, but I hope it will help me stay sane amongst all the papers! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmAFjp2byrnI8Jtko6IUbPH4tZSpJnalelj3oOh4a0DuswmWYK4Twx46Cp0dzV6TB0foYpugb6L1TasAHLcbjEUztb56Y-yOKpSRiXNT6ojmwL-NNNaYdBgcr8ych69hL2Hvi9yswxyI/s1600-h/IMG_1406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmAFjp2byrnI8Jtko6IUbPH4tZSpJnalelj3oOh4a0DuswmWYK4Twx46Cp0dzV6TB0foYpugb6L1TasAHLcbjEUztb56Y-yOKpSRiXNT6ojmwL-NNNaYdBgcr8ych69hL2Hvi9yswxyI/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433688629995592002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fOi8HDCLqqrfS1k_tRH8StVR7xB838F5stFBy5RyOj9AVViFsoR_Iqpn6Zi2Z6Q2SRttYe4bjgxcF5fcJ7hQYLTFopSK_pfN1clgiXShn2BeLgr8pGarVlDPmFfBl-5VfVDDKb1rvyw/s1600-h/IMG_1405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fOi8HDCLqqrfS1k_tRH8StVR7xB838F5stFBy5RyOj9AVViFsoR_Iqpn6Zi2Z6Q2SRttYe4bjgxcF5fcJ7hQYLTFopSK_pfN1clgiXShn2BeLgr8pGarVlDPmFfBl-5VfVDDKb1rvyw/s320/IMG_1405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433688625669480098" /></a>Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-24154282095986437152010-01-20T13:01:00.000-08:002010-01-20T13:05:27.753-08:00It's that time again...I hate grocery shopping. Absolutely hate it. <br /><br />It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't care about prices, but I simply can't NOT compare prices and clip coupons to keep more money in my pocket. It just takes forever for me to sit down and plan meals along with the whole price matching/coupon cutting, and then on top of that go out to actually get what we need. I would much rather spend all that time scrapbooking. <br /><br />So basically what I'm saying is that if anyone would like to volunteer to come and do all of that for me, that would be great. Thanks. :)Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-47915984346479908532010-01-17T12:14:00.000-08:002010-01-17T13:59:01.258-08:00The Past Year and a Half...Here it is, as promised...a quick update covering the major events of the past year and half of our lives as husband and wife. There's a lot to take in and sometimes it's difficult for me to even comprehend all that we've done and all we've been through, but it's definitely been exciting and we're looking forward with anticipation to what's coming next. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Marriage </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHAokINiHxOWyssCpzdkHYy6emytjUZReRSft5bDAqhTHEeIICPBlfHk0LjjtQkWxPcNzjfzbhl6G1TWRooGT4Y-lff89ZtAVRBNti2U63SYvgTCLX_0-wOtx5doCDu3DM7i92ohz_40/s1600-h/us_edited.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHAokINiHxOWyssCpzdkHYy6emytjUZReRSft5bDAqhTHEeIICPBlfHk0LjjtQkWxPcNzjfzbhl6G1TWRooGT4Y-lff89ZtAVRBNti2U63SYvgTCLX_0-wOtx5doCDu3DM7i92ohz_40/s320/us_edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427807648664273314" /></a><br /><br />June 7th, 2008 was the day our two separate lives officially joined into one. Little did we know then how much joy we would experience being able to spend each day with our best friend! We knew even less about how difficult it would be to start living with another person who is totally and completely different than you (in a good way of course). But, after being great friends for a year and a half, dating for about 9 months and being engaged for another 8 months, we were more than ready to be together for the rest of our lives, and so far so good :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Ministry </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wrnDpI9iAlWteS6Z6iK7NF6IsefIuKR_zkBeMW3qgujFGB3AQghqWFh7OzQEt810cmUkrwr57_WkmPEo7x6A0VLhsnzUY-_IE-Qx2VCXWwL7jaXYTMBoBX5Ysoe-lxGS44ZZPFp2ndU/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wrnDpI9iAlWteS6Z6iK7NF6IsefIuKR_zkBeMW3qgujFGB3AQghqWFh7OzQEt810cmUkrwr57_WkmPEo7x6A0VLhsnzUY-_IE-Qx2VCXWwL7jaXYTMBoBX5Ysoe-lxGS44ZZPFp2ndU/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427809467069067922" /></a><br /><br />After returning from our honeymoon in Tennessee, we immediately jumped into full-time ministry! Brett was hired as the full-time children's minister at Kingsway Christian Church here in Omaha, and I was blessed to be able to join the ministry team as an intern. We also both went back to school at Nebraska Christian College that fall, me full-time and Brett part-time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"> 3. Trip to Salt Lake City, Utah </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCl-WOxGlKte8-nkjIqlyx5xhGdpgd4OZi7ibVb1S_8UpUr98DGPLhNJLik80Cys2X_SkNJ-JXI_URvg0De2nma7B1eqdZVvVzlbTdV-MMajCKeMB2GvbyGyPGEcm4Xrg7Y97yx3VLR8/s1600-h/IMG_0421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCl-WOxGlKte8-nkjIqlyx5xhGdpgd4OZi7ibVb1S_8UpUr98DGPLhNJLik80Cys2X_SkNJ-JXI_URvg0De2nma7B1eqdZVvVzlbTdV-MMajCKeMB2GvbyGyPGEcm4Xrg7Y97yx3VLR8/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427810545792212258" /></a><br /><br />As a student at NCC, we are required to take a week off classes every spring and focus on ministry somewhere outside our classroom walls. In 2009, Brett and I signed up for the trip to Salt Lake City and came back changed. We went expecting to spend time with good friends, enjoy fellowship and perform a couple service projects, but in a nutshell, the trip was a shifting point for us in how we lived and carried out our professed faith in Christ. From where we stand now, we look back and credit this trip as being the event that changed the course of our spiritual lives. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Graduating! </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplAoSgMXPFaSGevlSQXdr7Uk_B0q6McyHa3r68_4UP1PsGpvpvhhTdoFLfLczErEx5V9I8B1lV9k2dbuB0E9urLW8lCg8uFc_UI_tXs2LASY8YmtfmhZ8dsnRl6BNcPHdefIh9oyUXgo/s1600-h/4532_1056056563234_1280438006_1148601_1867389_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplAoSgMXPFaSGevlSQXdr7Uk_B0q6McyHa3r68_4UP1PsGpvpvhhTdoFLfLczErEx5V9I8B1lV9k2dbuB0E9urLW8lCg8uFc_UI_tXs2LASY8YmtfmhZ8dsnRl6BNcPHdefIh9oyUXgo/s320/4532_1056056563234_1280438006_1148601_1867389_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427812708221598994" /></a><br /><br />On May 9, 2009, after 4 years of hard work, I (Nicole) could finally call myself a college graduate! I received a Bachelor's degree in Family Life Ministry and Counseling, and while the moment of knowing my college years had come to an end was bittersweet, I was reassured in knowing that the adventure God had laid out from that point forward was going to be incredibly exciting. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. New Job</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUITFMtr-jK2ytyaJjroxsQSHSNYFbyixM8P8sYv3N2uo7KQSVIEI1F4X-lHVmchiZ-KDiQou41fE8qUxDPZKe_4L4Rl0GLtrYjPqETvzXhEjHqdYcD0C0X5BdEjbIuZnMduFEx14qc2A/s1600-h/odm_logo.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUITFMtr-jK2ytyaJjroxsQSHSNYFbyixM8P8sYv3N2uo7KQSVIEI1F4X-lHVmchiZ-KDiQou41fE8qUxDPZKe_4L4Rl0GLtrYjPqETvzXhEjHqdYcD0C0X5BdEjbIuZnMduFEx14qc2A/s320/odm_logo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427818312332065698" /></a><br /><br />On July 7th, 2009 I started my new full-time job at Open Door Mission. I was hired as a Volunteer Associate, mainly to help coordinate and facilitate the work our volunteers do for/with us. With the hope of moving into a case-management position in the near future, I began working at one of the biggest homeless shelters in the Midwest. Let me tell you, the minute I began working at ODM, God began stretching me out of my comfort zone and challenging me to address so many heart issues I had tried to ignore. Words cannot describe how much of a blessing this job, this ministry, has been. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6. Anniversary Trip</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmskwYeOJJFSP8bCCFXMhmQkOvB5CpZjAzUVskNfhMACV8LIRaUIEKsgw_ZCydFSczpUeQmpaMywKmSC4STXH1G2OvQMjYl9H_7crdy0OGzXV9od64RE8jSmSxe1wL7g5zATmV6mSEMGA/s1600-h/IMG_0853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmskwYeOJJFSP8bCCFXMhmQkOvB5CpZjAzUVskNfhMACV8LIRaUIEKsgw_ZCydFSczpUeQmpaMywKmSC4STXH1G2OvQMjYl9H_7crdy0OGzXV9od64RE8jSmSxe1wL7g5zATmV6mSEMGA/s320/IMG_0853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427814961666463874" /></a><br /><br />In order to celebrate our first year of marriage and spend time away with each other before the new (and LAST) school year started for Brett, we booked a week long trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico. We definitely enjoyed the rest and relaxation and having no schedule whatsoever! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7. Transition, transition, transition...</span><br /><br />Since Labor Day weekend 2009, this has been the theme of our lives. We first found ourselves transitioning through a difficult season in the life of our church family at Kingsway. Our lead pastor resigned and the circumstances were not very pleasant. While we knew (and still know for that matter) that God was completely in control and worthy of trusting, our hearts were broken and the loss was great.<br /><br />After about a month and a half after that whole process began, we found ourselves facing a new transition as a couple, this time with our physical living location. We had felt unrest for quite some time about how isolated and comfortable we were and decided it was time for us to move. We had been living on our college campus in the married student housing units for over a year and felt it was time to get out into the "real" world and be the light and salt we had learned about in our classes. So, at the end of October, with a new roommate Michael in tow, we moved to a new apartment complex in Omaha and have already seen God work through us to make connections with our neighbors. <br /><br />Our most recent transition has been in regards to Brett's job at the church. Ever since returning from our Salt Lake City trip last May, there was a desire in Brett to do something other than children's ministry. He didn't know what and he didn't know why, but God had begun to mold and shape his heart on that trip to reach out to a different group of people, particularly the poor, homeless and marginalized. Through many tough conversations and serious prayer filled months, Brett was offered to fill the position of Worship/Outreach Ministry at Kingsway. <br /><br /><br />Well, that pretty much covers it. While highly condensed and abbreviated, this list contains the major things that have made this past year and a half so great, so challenging, so rewarding and so incredibly unbelievable.Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514106909131737173.post-66421733855210519682010-01-14T07:46:00.001-08:002010-01-14T08:11:49.383-08:00Get ReadyAfter taking some time to sit and be quiet, I (Nicole) have come to realize that the past year and half has been the most challenging, exciting, difficult, blessed, unbelievable, God-ordained time I've ever experienced. In fact, you could probably insert any number of descriptive words into that list, and we would be able to find some instance or situation we have encountered that fits perfectly. I don't have the time right now to write about all those events that have made up our last year and half of life, but more details will be coming in the near future, I promise (perhaps even this evening if you're lucky). So, with that introduction, I give you the Ricley blog. And if there is one thing I can tell you, just get ready. God has done and is doing so many amazing things in our life and we can't wait to share them with you.Mrs. Ricleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09898199659596148331noreply@blogger.com1