I asked my 9 year old, "What do you think I should blog about?" She replied, "You should write about what you do!"  This took some time to ponder.

What do I "do"? 

I am a creator. I love to create on every level. I love creating delicious food, clothes, home decor, quilts, flower beds, vegetable gardens, ponds, bird feeders, crafts, vacations and (my personal favorite) memories. I love to think about how my 3 kids will remember their childhood. I do things to create a fun, loving home. I spend countless hours a year in advance planning their springbreak, summer, holidays and school breaks. I want to give them a love of travel, adventure, nature, their roots and family. I "do" housework, laundry, ironing, taxi driving, shopping, cooking, cleaning and organizing, but I would not characterize that as really what I do. 

I am a nurturer. I love to nurture anybody and anything. I love plants. I love the process of caring for them. I feel rewarded when they are healthy and happy. I get upset when they have diseases. I spend hours researching every little thing that is wrong with them. I grow vegetables not so that we can eat them and fill the freezer, but to see the most beautiful tomato or peach. I have been known to take a picture of the most perfect peach and not even want to eat it. I nurture birds. Everyday I feed them and give them fresh water. I make houses for them in the winter and put hair and ribbon out for their nests in the spring. I can hear the blue jays squawk or the sparrows chirp and know there is danger. I drop whatever I am doing and run outside to protect them. I have saved sparrows and ducks from hawks claws and nest from snakes because I ran out when I heard a certain call. I pick up injured birds on the road and nurture them to health. I love being a mom and wife because I get to nurture.  I spend every waking hour nurturing bumps, bruises, appetites and necessities, but my favorite...hearts. I care so deeply about their emotions. Are they happy? Are their emotional needs being met? Do they feel safe, secure, confident? What would I be doing if all their physical needs were met and they couldn't resolve a conflict in a healthy way?

I am spiritual. I love the Lord. I love his peace. I love the way he has re-fathered me by giving me a husband that mirrors God, the father, unconditionally and sacrificially.. loves. I love his creation in nature. I feel connected to him when I travel, camp, sit in my garden and watch the birds. I love his Holy Spirit. I love when he speaks to me as I journal or read the bible. His words and thoughts are so comforting and encouraging.

I am a teacher and trainer. I  spend countless hours everyday training my arrows to fly straight when they leave the quill. I train them to be efficient, organized, clean, skillful and disciplined. I train them to not procrastinate, be patient, flexible and to communicate. I work to help them understand themselves, their personality and birth order, in order for them to have a good self esteem and be able to interact with others. I train them with manners, skills, discipline, work ethic and emotional authenticity. The bible says to train your children in the way they should go and even though they may go away at times, they will eventually come back to it.

Emotional authenticity...I am authentic. That is what I am going to blog. That is who I am. I speak before thinking. I have an intense need to understand motives including my own. I am "unfiltered"...so I am told.

So, welcome to my blog where hopefully you can relate on some level whether it be mom, spouse, christian, parent, daughter, sister, diy, inventor, traveler, animal lover, bird watcher, gardener, volunteer, trainer, empty-nester and a imperfectly perfect human.

CONTACT INFO: 

Nicki Adkins
email: nicki@nickiadkins.com