My life has become very busy since my last blog but I am loving every minute of it! I am VP of my district's education association, I teach all the 1st & 2nd grade math as well as all the 2nd grade science & social studies, I am still a member of the praise team & choir at church, and have now become a helper in children's choir and Awanas! If I am not busy with any of this, I am cheering on the love of my life at a football game or at home relaxing and playing with the other love of my life, Neela Kate!
My life gets very hectic at times, like most people, and I do get stressed but I also feel very blessed to be able to do so much. I am often asked how I do it all and my answer is this.....I don't think about how much I have to do....I just do it! (you know, like the Nike slogan??) I have learned from being a teacher that people can come up with an excuse for everything! I'm not by any means saying that you need to do as much as what I do but I do feel it is important to be involved in something you are passionate about.
I am passionate about my Savior, my family, and public education. This is why I am so involved in as much as I am. In Sunday School this morning, our lesson was on using your gifts God has given you in the church. I whole-heartedly agree with this! I want my daughter to see that Mommy and Daddy are involved as well as know why we are involved. I want her to grow up in church like I did and thrive on that christian fellowship!
This blog has been a little all over the place and for that I apologize. I do however hope that you are loving life right now and if you aren't, stop looking at the negative and focus on the positive things you can be happy about!
Love you all!
Natalie
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Encouragement
At this very moment, some of my family members, coworkers, and friends are struggling with painful issues and my heart hurts for them. I know that is is of no coincidence that God has taught me what he has this week both in church and in my daily devotions. In this blog, I want to share what I have learned in hopes that it will be encouragement for anyone who needs it. I am not perfect and will never pretend to be but I feel the way that God uses me to help people is to simply share my experiences....so here goes.
In Sunday school, our lesson was on forgiveness and I have needed it more than ever this week. I too struggle with people who I have felt betrayed by and it would be easy to just "not go near them" but I don't have that choice because we share a lot of the same "places" in our lives. I have to face them whether I want to or not and the only way to do that without crying everytime is to do my best to forgive just as Christ forgave me. It is not easy at all and I am still working on this with some people but I can't let myself give up and I refuse to become cold-hearted. It's just not who God wants me to be.
In my daily devotions, God has been talking to me about how he is always there and will never crush those who are already weak. This mornings devotion said this "God doesn't mistreat his children. When we hurt financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually, He cares. He sent His Son to prove just how much." The verse today was Isaiah 42:3 (The Message) "He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt." No matter how hurt you are right now, God is still there and He has been there throughout! I have to constantly remind myself that God knew before he even created me that I would go through the circumstances that I do right now. So how do I keep the faith? I have this verse embedded in my memory: 1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message) "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."
I don't want to sound like I am preaching a sermon but that verse gives me chill bumps! It reminds me of everything that Jesus went through so that we can be with him in Heaven and that any difficulty you face today is just a glimpse of what He went through for us! Satan will use whatever he can to pull us away from God and I am afraid he is succeeding with some people very close to me but I will tell you now....God loves you and wants you to turn to him in ALL circumstances! Another verse that I "keep handy" is Romans 5:3-4 which says "Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE."
Once again, let me say that I am not perfect nor do I have all the answers but I do serve a loving God who does! I am human. I get frustrated and angered. I get overwhelmed and painfully hurt. But I take comfort in knowing that God knew I would go through this and he is using every situation I am in to bring me closer to him. To anyone who reads this, I am begging you....Please Do Not Give Up! God has not left you and wants to give you all of the comfort and help you need!! Please just open your heart and ask him!
I will close by saying this.....I Love You!!
With all my love,
Natalie
In Sunday school, our lesson was on forgiveness and I have needed it more than ever this week. I too struggle with people who I have felt betrayed by and it would be easy to just "not go near them" but I don't have that choice because we share a lot of the same "places" in our lives. I have to face them whether I want to or not and the only way to do that without crying everytime is to do my best to forgive just as Christ forgave me. It is not easy at all and I am still working on this with some people but I can't let myself give up and I refuse to become cold-hearted. It's just not who God wants me to be.
In my daily devotions, God has been talking to me about how he is always there and will never crush those who are already weak. This mornings devotion said this "God doesn't mistreat his children. When we hurt financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually, He cares. He sent His Son to prove just how much." The verse today was Isaiah 42:3 (The Message) "He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt." No matter how hurt you are right now, God is still there and He has been there throughout! I have to constantly remind myself that God knew before he even created me that I would go through the circumstances that I do right now. So how do I keep the faith? I have this verse embedded in my memory: 1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message) "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."
I don't want to sound like I am preaching a sermon but that verse gives me chill bumps! It reminds me of everything that Jesus went through so that we can be with him in Heaven and that any difficulty you face today is just a glimpse of what He went through for us! Satan will use whatever he can to pull us away from God and I am afraid he is succeeding with some people very close to me but I will tell you now....God loves you and wants you to turn to him in ALL circumstances! Another verse that I "keep handy" is Romans 5:3-4 which says "Rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, HOPE."
Once again, let me say that I am not perfect nor do I have all the answers but I do serve a loving God who does! I am human. I get frustrated and angered. I get overwhelmed and painfully hurt. But I take comfort in knowing that God knew I would go through this and he is using every situation I am in to bring me closer to him. To anyone who reads this, I am begging you....Please Do Not Give Up! God has not left you and wants to give you all of the comfort and help you need!! Please just open your heart and ask him!
I will close by saying this.....I Love You!!
With all my love,
Natalie
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I am so blessed!
This blog is probably going to sound very "mushy gushy" to some of you but it just has to be said! I am so" head over heels in love" with my husband and our daughter, it is crazy! What is so crazy about it? Nick is just as invested in this family as I am! Two examples from today will explain what I am talking about.
First example:This morning, like most Sunday mornings, I had to be at church at 8:30 for praise team practice. Nick and Neela always get ready and come too so then we can all go to Sunday school. During practice, I look toward the back of the sanctuary and see Nick and Neela. Nick is holding her where she is facing him, they are dancing nose-to-nose, and he is singing to her. I couldn't take my eyes off of them. I honestly feel like I fell in-love all over again!
2nd example: In Sunday school, we were split up in to 4 groups and had to discuss things we liked. Then the last thing we had to do was complete this sentence "I really love ____________." I completed it with "when Nick is at home." Little did I know, Nick (who was in a completely different group) said "being at home with my family." Once again, I melted.
Now, I know a lot of you are thinking this is too sappy and I need to keep my comments to myself but I just can't! I'm not saying we are perfect or even have the perfect marriage/family! What I am saying is that it excites me to know that I am married to a man that is just as much in love with our family as I am. You just don't find that very often in today's society!
If I have offended anyone by writing this, I apologize because I do not mean to make it "in your face" or anything like that. I just feel that sometimes things need to be said.
Goodnight everyone!
Natalie
First example:This morning, like most Sunday mornings, I had to be at church at 8:30 for praise team practice. Nick and Neela always get ready and come too so then we can all go to Sunday school. During practice, I look toward the back of the sanctuary and see Nick and Neela. Nick is holding her where she is facing him, they are dancing nose-to-nose, and he is singing to her. I couldn't take my eyes off of them. I honestly feel like I fell in-love all over again!
2nd example: In Sunday school, we were split up in to 4 groups and had to discuss things we liked. Then the last thing we had to do was complete this sentence "I really love ____________." I completed it with "when Nick is at home." Little did I know, Nick (who was in a completely different group) said "being at home with my family." Once again, I melted.
Now, I know a lot of you are thinking this is too sappy and I need to keep my comments to myself but I just can't! I'm not saying we are perfect or even have the perfect marriage/family! What I am saying is that it excites me to know that I am married to a man that is just as much in love with our family as I am. You just don't find that very often in today's society!
If I have offended anyone by writing this, I apologize because I do not mean to make it "in your face" or anything like that. I just feel that sometimes things need to be said.
Goodnight everyone!
Natalie
Friday, July 22, 2011
Guatemala Mission Trip: Day 1
I rode on an airplane for the first time today! We left Little Rock National Airport at 9:51 and made it to Houston at 10:50 which was just in time to catch our flight to Guatemala City as they were doing the last boarding call. The flight from Little Rock to Houston was on a smaller plane with two seats on one side and one on the other. I traded seats with one of our team members so that I could sit by someone on “my first flight.” The flight to Guatemala was on a larger plane which made the take-off and landing a little less anxious. I am very proud to say that I made it through both flights without any anxiety problems whatsoever. I know it is all by God’s grace that this was possible! Unfortunately, the missionaries we were coming to stay with missed their flight this morning and so we sat in a little restaurant/café until they got here……9 hours later! Now that they are here, we are at a hotel for the night and will travel to Huehuetenango (where we will be staying the week) tomorrow. Now I’m going to get some sleep and prepare for a day of 6 hours on the road tomorrow! Love you all! Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming!
Natalie
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Mission Trip testimony
I am leaving for Guatemala on a mission trip in 6 days. For this trip, I have been asked to prepare a testimony to share. The testimony didn't have to be about when I was saved but about a time in my life that I had to rely on God the most. I know I have written a previous blog about my trials with becoming pregnant but this was the time in my life when I did have to rely on God the most. Also, what I talk about needs to be something the people in Guatemala can relate to and having children is just that. Below is my testimony for the trip. I would like open and honest feedback about it.
6 years ago, I was diagnosed with Panic & Anxiety Disorder. I was having panic attacks to the point of not being able to leave my own home. After 3 years of trying out different medications and going to therapy, we finally found the right medications for me. Those 3 years were some of the toughest years of my life. Why? Ever since I was a little girl, all I dreamed about was being a mother to children of my own. Yes, I was ecstatic to find the right combination of medicine to help with my panic attacks but one of those medications would be dangerous for me to be on and become pregnant. During those 3 years, I had many family members and close friends who became pregnant and gave birth to healthy babies. I was very happy for them but every time I found out about them, I would cry and it wasn’t a happy cry…it was a hurting cry. I had tried at different times getting off of this one particular medication but every time I tried, I couldn’t function without it. I had come to the decision that I would never be able to have a child of my own and seriously began looking into adoption. In the fall of 2008, I found another therapist to begin seeing. She opened my eyes to the root of my problem and a lot of healing took place. As a matter of fact, so much healing took place that I was able to get off that medication and became pregnant in the Spring of 2009. Even though I was excited to be pregnant, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was able to do so well now without the medicine than I was before. The realization I came to was that it was when I stopped focusing on my wants for my life and more on what God wants for my life. 1 Peter 4:12-13, it says “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” Once I realized that what I was going through was not because God wanted to keep me from experiencing joy, I was more at peace. God was trying to teach me to depend more on him and less on medication. Romans 5:3-4 says “we can rejoice when we run into problems and trials for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Today, I am proud to say that I do have a child of my own. On December 1, 2009, my dreams came true and I became a mother! Neela Kate Vaughn came into the world and blessed my life in more ways than I can explain. Every moment I look at her, I can’t help but praise God for allowing me to have such a beautiful gift in my life.
Once again, please feel free to tell me what you think.
Thanks!
Natalie
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Feeling stupid......
Have you ever had one of those moments where you find yourself thinking: "Why did I say all that? I probably sounded so stupid. What is wrong with me? Why can't I just be quiet?" Well I had one of those moments on the way home from praise band practice tonight. I didn't say anything bad or wrong, I just look back and think I should've just been quiet because talking so much made me look really stupid. Anyway, if you have ever had one of these moments, here are a few quotes that will make you laugh and help you to feel better about yourself.
(On September 17 1994 Alabama's Heather Whitestone was selected as Miss America 1995.)
Question: If you could live forever would you and why ?
Answer: 'I would not live forever because we should not live forever because If we were supposed to live forever then we would live forever but we cannot live forever which is why I would not live forever'
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
'Smoking kills. If you're killed you've lost a very important part of your life'
-- Brooke Shields during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign .
'Half this game is ninety percent mental.'
--Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark
Hope you enjoyed them!
Natalie
(On September 17 1994 Alabama's Heather Whitestone was selected as Miss America 1995.)
Question: If you could live forever would you and why ?
Answer: 'I would not live forever because we should not live forever because If we were supposed to live forever then we would live forever but we cannot live forever which is why I would not live forever'
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
'Smoking kills. If you're killed you've lost a very important part of your life'
-- Brooke Shields during an interview to become spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign .
'Half this game is ninety percent mental.'
--Philadelphia Phillies manager Danny Ozark
Hope you enjoyed them!
Natalie
Sunday, July 3, 2011
I'm baaaack!
It's been a while since my last blog, so I decided that I would update everyone (all 7 of my followers....lol!!) on what's been going on.
This summer has been busy to say the least! As soon as school was out, I had two days of traveling to Camden for workshops. The next weekend, I went to Little Rock for the AEA (Arkansas Education Association) Leadership Conference. I am going to be Vice-President of the Strong-Huttig Education Association this next year so it was very beneficial for me to go. That following Monday, the NV3 (that's the nickname I have given our family since we all have the initials NV) headed to Fayetteville. Nick had a coaches conference to attend and Neela and I went to catch up with family & friends who live in NWA as well as some mother/daughter shopping! Wednesday morning, we loaded up and came back to El Dorado only to unpack, do laundry, and pack again for our beach trip.
On Saturday, June 26th, we made the 9 hour trip to Gulf Shores, AL to cash in on our Christmas present from Becky & Bruce which was a week in a beach house! I absolutely loved this trip. Not only were we at the beach but Neela is old enough to play in the sand and water and she loved every minute of it! We got back from our trip yesterday, July 2nd, and still haven't completely unpacked. We are all 3 trying to regain our energy from the wonderful but exhausting vacation. I have included some pics. If you want to see more, there are plenty on my facebook page!!
What do I have in store for the rest of the summer? Well, I will tell you. Tuesday, July 5th, I travel to Lake DeGray Resort to spend two nights while Neela stays home with Daddy. No, I am not going on a "Mommy Vaca", I have been asked to be a part of the Strong School District's leadership team and we are having our meeting at the resort. I will return from there on Thursday and then Neela and I will head to White Hall to spend the night with my parents on Friday. Nick has a 7-on-7 tournament in Springdale and so Neela & I are jumping on the chance to spend time with Maw-Maw & Pops! Next week, I will travel to Camden 3 days for literacy workshops and then on July 22, I will hop on a plane to Guatemala!! Nick will be on contract with football by this time so Neela will be spending most of the week I am gone with her Maw-Maw & Pops.
I am very excited about going on a mission trip to Guatemala with some of my church family. We will be working in a medical clinic in the mornings and then doing a VBS type camp in the afternoons. We will have one fun day in Antigua before we return home but I am very excited about doing missions. This is my first time on an airplane as well as leaving the country. I know what you are thinking, "Are you crazy?" and my answer to you is "obviously!" I made a promise to myself that I would not let my anxiety and panic attacks keep me from doing God's work and no matter how hard Satan is trying to talk me out of this trip, I am going! When I get back from the trip, I will have a few days to recoup and then professional development starts for me on August 3rd!
So there you go. That is what I have been up to and will be up to until August 15th when school starts. It has been an extremely busy but absolutely wonderful summer for me. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Nick & Neela and have enjoyed watching Neela experience new things. I am going to do my best to blog while I am on my trip to Guatemala but not sure when I will have time to actually blog again before I leave. So until then, I hope everyone is having a great summer and I my next correspondence will be from Central America!!
Natalie
This summer has been busy to say the least! As soon as school was out, I had two days of traveling to Camden for workshops. The next weekend, I went to Little Rock for the AEA (Arkansas Education Association) Leadership Conference. I am going to be Vice-President of the Strong-Huttig Education Association this next year so it was very beneficial for me to go. That following Monday, the NV3 (that's the nickname I have given our family since we all have the initials NV) headed to Fayetteville. Nick had a coaches conference to attend and Neela and I went to catch up with family & friends who live in NWA as well as some mother/daughter shopping! Wednesday morning, we loaded up and came back to El Dorado only to unpack, do laundry, and pack again for our beach trip.
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| Neela & I with the cousins! |
On Saturday, June 26th, we made the 9 hour trip to Gulf Shores, AL to cash in on our Christmas present from Becky & Bruce which was a week in a beach house! I absolutely loved this trip. Not only were we at the beach but Neela is old enough to play in the sand and water and she loved every minute of it! We got back from our trip yesterday, July 2nd, and still haven't completely unpacked. We are all 3 trying to regain our energy from the wonderful but exhausting vacation. I have included some pics. If you want to see more, there are plenty on my facebook page!!
 |
| Ready for the beach! |
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| Total Diva! loving the beach! |
 |
| family pic! |
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| playing in the water with my girl |
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| The Bruce Holsted Clan |
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| Neela loves her Daddy |
What do I have in store for the rest of the summer? Well, I will tell you. Tuesday, July 5th, I travel to Lake DeGray Resort to spend two nights while Neela stays home with Daddy. No, I am not going on a "Mommy Vaca", I have been asked to be a part of the Strong School District's leadership team and we are having our meeting at the resort. I will return from there on Thursday and then Neela and I will head to White Hall to spend the night with my parents on Friday. Nick has a 7-on-7 tournament in Springdale and so Neela & I are jumping on the chance to spend time with Maw-Maw & Pops! Next week, I will travel to Camden 3 days for literacy workshops and then on July 22, I will hop on a plane to Guatemala!! Nick will be on contract with football by this time so Neela will be spending most of the week I am gone with her Maw-Maw & Pops.
I am very excited about going on a mission trip to Guatemala with some of my church family. We will be working in a medical clinic in the mornings and then doing a VBS type camp in the afternoons. We will have one fun day in Antigua before we return home but I am very excited about doing missions. This is my first time on an airplane as well as leaving the country. I know what you are thinking, "Are you crazy?" and my answer to you is "obviously!" I made a promise to myself that I would not let my anxiety and panic attacks keep me from doing God's work and no matter how hard Satan is trying to talk me out of this trip, I am going! When I get back from the trip, I will have a few days to recoup and then professional development starts for me on August 3rd!
So there you go. That is what I have been up to and will be up to until August 15th when school starts. It has been an extremely busy but absolutely wonderful summer for me. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Nick & Neela and have enjoyed watching Neela experience new things. I am going to do my best to blog while I am on my trip to Guatemala but not sure when I will have time to actually blog again before I leave. So until then, I hope everyone is having a great summer and I my next correspondence will be from Central America!!
Natalie
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