Happy New Year

I can’t believe it’s almost 2020. Time has flown by. The New Year can often be filled with many emotions, topping that list can be fear.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of what we already know.

Fear of what is to come.

Maybe you’ve had the best year yet or maybe you are like I can’t wait for this year to be over. This has been a very challenging year for me so I’m excited and expectant for the new year.

Maybe you have been on a mountaintop….or maybe you’ve been in the valley for what seems to be forever. Either way a new year is coming and that means fresh start.

I want to encourage you today, with all the people and things around us changing…..our one true constant is God! He never changes and He is always with us.

Prayer For The New Year

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the many blessings you’ve given us.

I thank you for all the good things and even the hard things that’s happened in our lives this year because they’ve drawn us closer to You.

I thank you that in a world full of chaos, You are our constant. You are our peace.

Thank you that you make ALL things new. That we get a fresh start again this 2020.

Lord let it be a year of victory, of God encounters, a year of healing and freedom, a year of restoration and reconciliations.

Nothing is too big for You Lord!

We ask that You lead us each and every step, let us be in sync with You and desire You above all else.

We ask for your wisdom and discernment and for your strength and courage to walk out the plans you have for us.

Help us to press forward and endure, and not looking back.

We ask that you would open doors that need to be opened and shut doors that need to be shut.

God help us to pursue the dreams and desires you’ve put in our hearts, like Ephesians 3:20 says.

We pray for a mighty hedge of protection around our families and friends. We declare what the enemy meant to harm and destroy God you will work for our good. That NO weapon formed against us will prosper, Amen!

Your Word says You are our Provider, so we ask for your provision for us. Cover us with your favor. Bless us Lord to be a blessing.

Let your light shine in us and may we make a difference in this world for you Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

New Year!

New Beginnings!

New You!

Sweet friends, now is the time for increase. Now is time to grow in the Lord. He has a great plan and purpose for your life. He has new adventures just waiting for you to discovered. “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

What Are You Speaking?

Happy Saturday y’all! Coming close to the end of another year, can you believe it?

What are you speaking?

God is who He says He is! Who do you say He is?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

God can do what He says He can do! What do you say He can do?

Romans 9:5 God will do what he said he would do…..

Ephesians 3:20 God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

You are who God says you are!What do you say you are?

John 1:12 But to all who have received him–those who believe in his name–he has given the right to become God’s children.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 5:17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away–look, what is new has come.

His Word says “I can do all things through Christ…” What do you say you can do?

My friend, God’s Word is alive and active and on the inside of you. That very same power that raised Christ from the dead resides IN YOU.

Just think about that for a moment….

Are you speaking and believing Gods Word?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Or are you just believing the lies of the enemy?

It’s time to push back and get in agreement with the Word of God and live your best life now sweet friend!

Have a blessed and wonderful day!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, y’all!🤗

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. It has been a wonderful day with the family.

I’m so thankful for each one you, my blogger family friends. You all have encouraged and touched my heart I’m so many ways. I love and value each one of you so much.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; The lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace❤️

Love and hugs,

Nicole❤️

Are You Willing To Be Uncomfortable?

If your struggling with something and God hasn’t delivered you yet, maybe you may have to be willing to be uncomfortable for a while?

So often that’s exactly what we don’t want, we want God to rescue us immediately. We don’t want to feel pain, go through change, feel uncomfortable, or discipline.

But “You can suffer the pain of change or the pain of staying the same.” Joyce Meyer

My son, My daughter, it’s time. It’s time to get dressed and ready for battle. I have recruited YOU, My chosen one, to fight the good fight! You are My mighty warrior! I have not called you to a life of comfort. I have called you to combat and adventure!! Put on every piece of My armor. Your battles won will become the blessing of ALL generations.

Have a blessed day!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Avoid Cross Contamination in Your Kitchen This Christmas

One of my biggest fears when eating somewhere else is do they know how to prepare my food. They may have all gluten free foods but do they know how to prepare it? Or has it been cross contaminated?

That’s happened to me before at the beginning of my journey. when someone said “Oh yea, we will check everything and make sure and prepare it all properly.” I know they meant that with all their hearts too but when we got there it was like a gluten fest, LOL. Bread, dressing, Mac and cheese, etc. etc. My heart sank, I couldn’t eat anything.

When I had to explain why I couldn’t eat it, they said ” We read the labels and none it had gluten on it so we thought that was fine.”

Label reading 101

What is gluten? Wheat, barley, rye, and oats.

“Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn), rye, barley and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. Gluten can be found in many types of foods, even ones that would not be expected.” Celiac Disease Foundation

It may not say the word gluten specifically. There are other words that hide gluten.

• Barley
• Breading, bread stuffing
• Brewer’s yeast
• Bulgur
• Durum (type of wheat)
• Graham flour
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein 
• Kamut (type of wheat)
• Malt, malt extract, malt syrup, malt flavoring
• Malt vinegar
• Malted milk
• Matzo, matzo meal
• Modified wheat starch
• Oatmeal, oat bran, oat flour, whole oats
• Rye bread and flour
• Semolina
• Spelt (type of wheat also known as farro, faro, or dinkel)
• Triticale
• Wheat bran
• Wheat flour
• Wheat germ
• Wheat starch

And there are more hidden names of “The Evil One” 🤣

So you gotta research, research, and research some more.

One thing you can do is look for the allergy warning on the products. That’s super helpful now but it’s not always there so you can’t depend on that.

Here are just a few tips for that Celiac or gluten allergy person in your life.

1. Always wash your hands, workspace, countertops before preparing anything gluten free.

2. Separate utensils when serving and preparing gluten free foods.

3. Use separate toasters when preparing bread.

Mine is labeled all over in red permanent marker “Gluten free” “Gluten free princess” and “No gluten allowed.”

4. Separate colanders when serving gluten free foods.

5. Use separate cutting boards and knives.

6. You can color code items to let others know if it’s gluten free or use labels for gluten free or gluten “filled”.

About 6 years ago at Christmas I got the flu and then my youngest got it as well. This is an example of our labeling 🤣🤣

7. Use squeeze bottles for condiments, that way you avoid people double dipping.

*Butter and mayonnaise are bigs ones that people don’t always think of.

8. If you cook gluten filled items as well, do the gluten free foods first.

Hope these tips help you and have a wonderful gluten free Christmas!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

You Are The God Who Sees Me

“I Am the God who sees you!”

God says:

“I see whats going on in your life precious one…

That thing that no one knows about.

I see how you keep on pressing on, when it looks as if nothing will change.

I see your pain.

I see your tears.

I see the struggles that go on behind closed doors.

I see the prayers you’ve prayed.

I say NOW is the time to lean into Me, and remember I have overcome the world. Nothing is to big for Me!

Now is the time to give it ALL to Me.

Now is the time for healing.

Now is the time for forgiveness.

Now is the time for FREEDOM.

Precious one, I am close to the brokenhearted.

I long to bring healing to the broken places of your life and your past.

To the physical abuse you suffered from childhood…

A broken relationship…

A marriage that needs healing…

Sexual abuse that no one knows about….

The unborn child you’ve longed for…

An abortion you had because you thought it was the only answer…

The cruel words spoken over you, the words that you believed….

The things you’ve done to yourself…

Sweet friend, if your in dark pit and can’t see your way out…Call out to God and He WILL answer you.

He will rescue you.

He will protect you.

You are His Beloved, and despite what happened or what you’ve done GOD LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY.

You are not your past mistakes, you have been remade.

YOU are loved.

YOU are chosen.

YOU are forgiven.

YOU are redeemed.

YOU are equipped.

YOU are blessed and highly favored.

And…YOU have purpose!

He is the God who sees you!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Our Christmas Traditions & The Greatest Gift Of All

Hey y’all! Hope you are doing well. As the holidays quickly approach, was wondering what your holiday traditions are and I’d thought I’d share some of ours.

I do love Christmas time, actually I’m a Christmas junky. My ringtone on my phone is the Elf theme song….ALLLLL year long🤣🙈

“Best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” My philosophy all year long🤣

And YESSSS! Elf is my favorite movie.

We have quite a few traditions, I can’t wait to hear y’alls.

I usually decorate my house November 1st, yep I’m THAT person! 🤣 Well, everything but my tree and the outside.

When it’s finally time to decorate the tree 🎄 we can only do it with White Fudge covered Oreo’s. It started many years ago. I bought them one year when the girls were little and we ate them while we decorated the tree. The next year rolled around and they were like “Mom, where are the cookies?” So I had to run out and find them before we could decorate the tree…..and so a tradition was born.

When I was diagnosed with Celiacs I had to make my own with gluten free with Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme and vanilla almond bark. Easy peasy and delish😋

Another one is every year we make cookies for Santa. We’ve had lots of little ones and friends join us many years. Last year we did it at our daughter and son in laws house. It was so much fun! We usually have a contest as well. My hubby likes to try and make the ugliest one. Meanwhile I’m trying to create a Pinterest picture of some designer cookie, lol knowing full well it will be an epic fail🤣

Another Hopkins family tradition is every Christmas we go to Kingwood Church to see Scrooge. It’s so amazing, like a broadway play. So many talented people at Kingwood and usually 1 or more of our daughters and son in law are in it every year as well.

The next one is on Christmas Eve we always eat yummy finger foods. Sausage ball-regular and gluten free, peanut butter balls, cheese and crackers with summer sausage, pigs in a blanket regular and gluten free, chips and rotel cheese dip, little quiche, corn dip…I’m sure I’m forgetting something. So much food 🐷 and as always, there’s last minute gift wrapping.

Even though the girls are 28, 26, and 23 my husband makes them sleep downstairs on Christmas Eve and no one can come up until he says so LOL. Now 2 are married and their husbands go along with it🤣

For breakfast I make homemade quiche (the day before) and cinnamon rolls. Oh and you can’t forget the Barnie’s Santa’s White Christmas coffee, it’s Ahhhmazing if you’ve never tried it. Treat yo self!😋

We still leave cookies and milk out for Santa and he loves them, even the gluten free ones😉 My husband also still leaves a Santa note to them which are always hilarious and something they look forward to reading.

I still do Santa gifts🙈 and have often done a scavenger hunt.

We watch A Christmas Story every year. Well, I mean it’s on 24 hours so you kinda can’t help it.

The last several years I’ve done an Elf party. It’s always so much fun.

Last years Elf party.Me and my girls😍😍😍First Elf party The first Elf party 🎉

When the girls were little we use to go to Callaway Gardens for the Christmas lights but we lived closer. Now we at least try and go look at lights somewhere over the holiday.

Another one we did when girls were little was we made a happy birthday Jesus cake. They loved doing that. Have you done that before?

And lastly, for the last 3-4 years I’ve started The Secret Christmas Elves, and we collect donations to go and pay out as many kids layaways at Walmart as we can and a gift card to at least one single mom. This tradition is super special to me and close to my heart because there are so many struggling families and 1 person may not be able to make a big dent in helping but when you come together and join forces we can do so much good and help so many! Making some little kid smile on Christmas Day and some parent who has worked hard and just needed a blessing…..it just warms my heart💗💗💗

So what are some of your family traditions?

As our kids grow up and get married, I’m reminded that some of our traditions will be passed on and some will go away, and then there will be new ones made as our family grows and I’m perfectly fine with that.

The best thing though is whatever day you celebrate on, it’s all about JESUS and being with our friends and loved ones.

So often the true meaning has gotten lost in hustle and bustle of the holidays. Parties, baking, gifts, and shopping…it’s all great. Who am I kidding I love me some shopping 🤣 but it’s not about all that. It’s about the greatest gift of all. JESUS. God gave his only son to save us.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6-7

The gift of Jesus brings the greatest joy to our lives and we need to share this gift so the whole world will know the love of our Savior. He gives us JOY, HOPE and everlasting love….and it’s all for you!

Jesus is the reason for the season!

God bless each one you. May you enjoy your friends and family so much this holiday season. Please share your traditions and I hope you make lots of new memories this year.

May you overflow with JOY unspeakable and remember that it’s all about JESUS! Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Mighty God, and Wonderful Counselor.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year sweet friends!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗