My "CHRISTMAS CARD" to you!

Well, it is nearing the end of 2010...

Needless to say, it's been pretty crazy.

I've

cried

laughed

smiled

but mostly I've prayed.

Prayed for strength to get through this year.

Prayed for strength to be positive.

Prayed for physical strength.

Prayed for my family who have sacrificed so much to help me.

Prayed for those who have blessed my life.

I'm sorry for the times I've been:

afraid

scared

insecure

terrified

emotional

But thank you for the times you've helped me to:

laugh

giggle

smile

rejoice

I appreciate those who call me their handicapable friend, gimp and pegleg.

It helps to poke fun at my situation.

And you know me... I LOVE laughing...

I'm not going to lie, this year has been terrifyingly hard but, here's the list of my accomplishments:

Broke 3 bones in my back.

Broke 8 ribs.

Dislocated my hip.

Punctured and deflated my lung.

Heal from the above in 3 weeks.

Survive a surgery with complications.

(BTW I had 4 surgeries this year... well if you count that I'm getting my wisdom teeth out next week, that will make 5)

Only miss one Sunday of Church the entire year.

Decided I wasn't going to let a paralyzed foot stop me.

I went from my wheelchair to my walker to crutches to cane in 2 months.

Went from cane to nothing in a couple weeks.

Made my toes twitch.

Went back to school.

Got a job.

But, my biggest accomplishment is learning how to walk with a paralyzed foot.

Just kidding, now I can JOG on it!

(I look like a fool, but I can jog)

Oh no, wait...

my biggest accomplishment is being able to swallow a handful of pills with a sip of water.

Serious.

I'm so incredibly good at taking pills now.

(Before my accident, I had a hard time swallowing one, so this is a big step for me)

Granted, now I'm only to a nerve pain pill and aspirin if I really need it. But back when I took 10 a day... let's just say, I should have a good medal.

I've tried to stay positive and happy.

I've tried to work hard and not let my body tell me what I can't do.

This year has been rough, but I'm glad I went through it.

I've learned a lot, and I'm grateful for it.

I never knew how many people loved me and cared.

I never knew.

So, thank you.

Thank you for your prayers and your thoughts.

Please, keep them coming.

I'm not done fighting yet.

I love you all.

I pray for you everyday.

Let's hope 2011 is less "exciting"...

With more love than I can ever express,

Nichelle

{aka Chelle}

{aka Belle}

{aka Nino}

Things you should know about me...

(This post is also on my craft blog...)






(Hahaha! This post is inspired by Little Miss Momma... if you don't blog stalk her... you should.)

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME IF WE'RE GOING TO BE BFF'S!

I hate the sound of styrofoam. Eww. Gross.

Gives me the shivers.

I hate being the center of attention, but I'm not afraid to be.

I have a giagantor crush on these men:

Michael Buble

Jim Halpert

Jimmy Fallon

Gene Kelley

Patrick Dempsey

and "Manly" from Little House on the Prairie

I have different laughs.

One when I'm scared.

One when I'm happy.

One when I feel bad no one else is laughing at your joke.

I giggle when I'm uncomfortable.

I giggle when I'm hyper.

A 'medium' laugh when something is funny.

But then, when something REALLY tickles my funny bone...

My laugh is ridiculously loud.

I love animals, except cats, 'cause they (mostly) are icky & mean.

I love Billy Joel.

I'm destined to marry a massage therapist because my back is always in knots.

Pride and Prejudice.

I own 3 different DVD versions.

I own a hard copy and soft copy of the book.

I've read it at least 2 dozen times.

Most people think I'm out going, but I'm really shy.

I just force myself to be outgoing.

My pet peeve is when someone is picky about who they are nice to. If you want to be a nice person, be nice to everyone.

I love everyone. I love people.

Well, except for this one person, and his nickname is Voldemort.

I think people are mean to the color orange.

Oh, speaking of orange... If you ever say my hair is orange, in my mind I just punched you in the face.

My hair is RED.

I've started a food fight and a water fight at my

Church.

I don't get in trouble because people assume I'm innocent. (Ha)

My family knows better.

I refuse to watch scary movies.

When people get mad at me for listening to Christmas music early, I simply state I can't help it because I have Red Hair and Green Eyes and it's what I'm programmed to do.

I  LOVE, CHERISH ADORE my freckles.

I'm a sucker for a guy with a guitar around a campfire.

Sometimes, I cry when I watch a really cute commercial...

I've gotten a lot of torment for being a RED HEAD,

but it makes me who I am.

I LOVE new school supplies.

It's the only school supply shopping I get excited for.

I'm a worry-wart.

I didn't watch Nightmare Before Christmas until I was 20...

by choice.

I like bugs, and will stop you from killing one.

I'm obsessed with:

Disney Princesses

Picture Frames.

Reeses.

I think the most romantic place is in a giant field of tulips.

Apparently, I like talking about myself, because this list is getting kinda long...

 

What about you??!

Mucho LOVE and HAPPY Holidays!

-Nichelle

 

So.... Thanks.

So, I started blogging after my accident, to start to tell my story and journey about my recovery. And, I just wanted to say thanks to those who actually care enough to come and read my ramblings. Blogging has really been a good place for me to vent and open up. Which is kinda scary for me, because sometimes I don't really know who I'm opening up to... But, I think it's good for me. I've been hurt in the past, and it's healthy for me to find ways to become more of an open person again.

That's all. Short and sweet, but I truly mean it. I'm so very blessed to be such a cared about girl.

Love you.

I'm feeling like NOT being a bum today.

So, I've been kinda a bum. So, I'm sorry. I won't be little Miss Complain-y Pants.

This post is going to be short and sweet.

Quote of the Day:

If the grass is greener on the other side, maybe that’s because you’re not taking good care of your grass.

Scripture of the Day: Ether 12:4
4. Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.


Song of the Day: Heart of Life-John Mayer


Poem of the Day: The Oak Tree by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr .

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark


But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak


The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway


But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me


Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew

FAVIE DAY

So... I just got really depressed, and I needed to knock myself out of it. So I came here.

Earlier today, I was thinking about how many "favorites" happened today. It's nice how those little "tender mercies" come into your life. Now that I'm feeling pretty down, it may be good to remind myself of how I was blessed today. So... Here ya go my friends.

I wore my FAVIE shirt.

I actually got a lot of complements...

that's kinda FAVIE.

(Oh yeah, as you kinda can tell in the pic... I curled my hair. Curly hair is FAVIE. Especially in the winter, cause my hair goes pretty frizzy... that's not so FAVIE.)

I went to my FAVIE JOB.

This is what I did today. I made PAPER PENGUINS.

Yes. I know. My job rocks.

P.S. Aren't they cute?! I'm quite proud.

GIMME PAPER, GLUE and SCISSORS and I'm good to go!

Went to an IWA Meeting. (IWA is pretty much the ultimate FAVIE.)

(This pic is not from today... but these girls are amazing, I love our presidency. Sigh, heart, heart, heart heart.)

We started planning the next IWA dance.

LOVE.

Our theme is OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR.

FAVIE. FAVIE!! FAVIE!!!

Me and some awesome friends planned our "HONKEN" date.

It's pretty much the coolest thing ever. Don't worry about it, just know it's a FAVIE.

Alrighty, I'll tell ya. HONKEN is our little name for Honey Chicken. You see, we eat Honey Chicken when  we (my 3 friends and I) have good boy stories to tell.

It's pretty much the coolest form of Girl Talk known in existence.

BTW: Honken girls are my most FAVIE girls.

FIREHOUSE PIZZERIA. Favie food.

My Bestie, took me to Firehouse for my "Birthday Dinner" today. (My birthday was is July... lol)

YUMMY IN MY TUMMY.

THIS REALLY HAPPENED.

You tie your straw wrapper in a knot and pull tight. If the knot doesn't stay that means someone is thinking about you. (Kinda silly... but still FAVIE.)

This hardly happens to me... BUT IT HAPPENED ON FAVIE DAY!

IWA Christmas Devotional.

Number A) IWA=FAVIE

Number B) Christmas=FAVIE

Number C) Devotionals/Inspiration=FAVIE.

'nuff said.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

After IWA my bestie took me for a ride to see Christmas Lights.

Don't I have AWESOME FRIENDS.

Lucky Gal=Me.

FRIENDS...

They are FAVIE.

This song was played on my way to school, in my bestie's car and on my way home.

Even though it's FREEZIN' outside, whenever I hear this song, it warms me from the inside out...

FAVIE!

I feel a little better now.

BUT:

I'm still overwhelmed about school.

I'm still scared because my foot isn't getting better.

I'm scared of being depressed.

I'm scared of this time of year... A year ago was the worst thing I've ever been through... (I'm not talking about the accident)

I keep having memories of "him"...

and I just want him to go away. He's done enough damage.

I'm scared I'm going to be alone forever.

I'm tired so maybe I'm being irrational.

But, right now...

I'm just plain ol' bummed.

But, like Annie always says,

THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW.

I'm really okay.

Or I WILL BE.

It's the little things that are holding me up right now.

So, thanks friends, for being there.

Thanks for listening.

And thanks for the quiet strength of so many of you.

If you wanna help me out, I'll accept flowers. ;) Just kidding... But seriously...

No. I just need a SMILE.

or a HUG.

so...

What's been a FAVIE of yours recently?

What are some of your TENDER MERCIES?

I'd love to feel inspired and uplifted...

Even a joke would be FABULOUS.

Thanks friends.