Thoughtful Thursday featuring Nichola Williams (aka NobleWife Nic)

So here it is!  The first in my series on inspirational women.  Our first guest is a lady that attends the same church as me and has inspired me even though we haven't talked often or spent much time together.  This is a classic example of how we can influence others without even saying a word to them!

I am pleased to feature Nichola Williams (aka Noble Wife) on my blog today.  It was great fun having a chat with her and I learnt a lot through our brief conversation!

Nichola describes herself as a wife and mum - an ordinary lady (nothing spectacular) but someone who God wants to use to impact others.

Let the questions begin!

How would you describe the current season of life you are in?
I would say that I am in a transition season.  I'm trying to find my feet as I move from being a stay at home mum to something else!  I have been at home with my children and my youngest has started reception, so for the first time in ten years, no-one is at home during the day!

What are you currently working on?
I am predominantly a housewife caring for my home and family.  This role is often misunderstood and is a lot To more work than people often think.  I am also active in the local community and church - I run an 8 week parenting course in Southwark, a weekly drop-in session for parents under 21 and I head the Sunday school in my local branch.  I am also in the process of publishing my first book!

What would you consider to be your greatest achievement so far?
My family - I have invested a lot into my family, by choosing not to pursue a career and managing on one income.  It hasn't been easy but worthwhile.  I feel proud when I see how balanced my children are.

What has been the greatest challenge you have overcome so far?
Myself - I have had to overcome my self doubt, procrastination, fear and sometimes laziness.  By far, my greatest challenge has been overcoming things that I do.  I have had to overcome incorrect prioritising and learn how to say no at times.  This is an ongoing challenge, but what has helped me to do this is to use the frustration of lack of progress in key areas in my life to motivate me to prioritise correctly.

Do you have a faith?  If so, how has it contributed to the way you approach life?
Yes I have a faith in Jesus.  I seek to follow His ways and teachings and this frames all I do. Jesus gives me daily strength which enables me to get up and keep going.  I approach life aware of the limited resources and my weakness but I know that Jesus can use these.  It's a comforting thought to know that in spite of my weaknesses, I can still be used by God.

What is your biggest dream/goal?
To change the way parenting and the family is viewed.  I would like society to understand the importance of family and God's original intention for family.  The state of our families directly affects the state of our society.

What or who inspires you?
Aside from Jesus, there are a few key people who have inspired me and influenced me:

• Pastor Sheron Ankrah has mentored me and taught me so much.  She has especially taught me how to pray. 
• Lisa Bevere's simple teachings have helped me to understand how women were created to be.
• Priscilla Shirer has inspired me to be a woman.
• My children have inspired me to climb higher and run faster.  I find that talking to children provides great inspiration.  They are ordinary people with extraordinary potential.

What would you describe as the key advice/principle you are currently applying in your life?

Step out.  Sometimes we want to make a whole plan with clear goals but often our knowledge is limited.  Sometime we need to step out regardless of the lack of information.  Proverbs 16:9 says "A man's heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps".  As step out on those things, God will direct where we go.

My thoughts inspired by Nichola

The interview really got me thinking about what the main priorities in my life are.  Society tells us that we should build a career at all costs to be successful, but I am beginning to realise that we often kill ourselves for our career when ultimately this is the area of life that we are most disposable!  We may not like to hear it but we can be easily replaced in our workplace - they may miss us but they'll get over it!  To our families - we are irreplaceable.  Maybe we need to make our life decisions with that in mind!

I would like to thank Nichola for taking the time to speak to me and share her thoughts.  Please take time to visit and subscribe to her blog by clicking her picture above. 

And don't forget to subscribe to my blog before you go! (see the link on the right on my blog page)

I'll close with an image I came across on someone else's blog:

Until next time,

Cece xxx

Thank you and a taste of what's to come!

Hello everyone!
This blog has been life changing for me in so many ways.  Firstly, it has been a great place for me to write down my thoughts and bear my soul through what has been one of the greatest challenges in my life so far.  Secondly, it has helped me to rediscover my love for writing.  All of the people who have been regularly reading my blog have been so supportive and I've been overwhelmed by how many of you have actually been interested in what I have to say!  I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for your prayers, comments, kind words and support.  May God bless each of you richly for what you have done!

I been away from work for nearly 4 months now and it has been an amazing time, not only as I have started to get my teeth into the role of motherhood, but also as God has begun to show me more about who I am and what He has place within me.  Gosh, this is starting to sound really mushy!  Anyway,  I started a new blog at the start of the year with the aim of writing about a wider variety of things and to be honest, this was completely unrealistic!  I have no idea as to how I planned to manage two blogs whilst running around after a toddler - so I will not be continuing with the other blog.  However, I will be continuing to write on this blog, but I will be writing about a wider range of topics.  I know that many you started reading this blog to follow my journey through infertility and adoption, but I hope that you will enjoy what I have to say about other subjects too.  So the blog will be changing a bit as I'll be experimenting with writing about different things.  Don't worry!  There will still be regular updates on Babygirl and my motherhood journey - I couldn't imagine not continuing to blog about such a key area in my life!

So over the next few months look out:

• More frequent posts
• A wider variety of topics
• Subscriber giveaways
• Product reviews
• and much more .....

I would also like you to become more involved with my blog.  You can do this by:

• Writing comments on my posts (I'm really interested in what you have to say!)
• Share my blog with others (the website is www.myjourney-ch.blogspot.co.uk)
• Subscribe or follow me by email (see the link on the right hand side on my blog)

I'm hoping to have lots of fun with my blog over the next few months and I hope you'll be willing to join me!  Oh, I have also set up a little store where you can see some of the books that have impacted my life and some books that I recommend.  Go to the main blog page to find the "store" link on the right hand side.


Until next time - stay blessed and keep trying new things!
Cece
xx

An update ..... finally!



Hey guys!
I know it has been a long time and I always seem to be starting my posts by apologising for my absence!  The month of May has begun which means that Babygirl has been living with us for 3 months.  DH, Babygirl and I have settled into life as a family of three.  It has been lovely and hectic all at the same time!

A quick recap of April:

Week 1 - we had Babygirl's baby dedication (equivalent of a christening in our church).  It was lovely to present our daughter to God, give thanks for an amazing blessing and introduce the newest member of our family to the extended family.

Week 2 - I met up with one of the people who influenced me significantly during my teenage years and helped in the earliest stages of my Christian walk.  I spent no more than one hour with her and she sent me onto an amazing journey of discovery with God which I am still travelling!  Meanwhile, she has headed back to New Zealand to carry on her work for God!

Week 3 - I had lots of brunches this week, went to a Spring party for adopted children with Babygirl and Babygirl also attended a birthday party.  She is already establishing herself as a social butterfly!

Week 4 - this is my busiest week.  I had a funeral, a brunch, two lunch dates and a road trip to St Albans.  Not surprising that I was shattered at the end of it!  Babygirl had a fantastic time!

The past few weeks have been much slower giving Babygirl and I time to recover.  In the meantime, I have had time to reflect on life and the road ahead.  This is the first time I have ever had such an extended time away from work and it has been really good for me.  It is the first time that I have been able to step off the treadmill of life and REALLY think about some of the bigger questions!  God has been speaking to me so much during this time.  I'm beginning to really understand the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God".

I'm going to go now but there is so much more that I have to say.  I will try to blog again soon, but in the meantime, I want to encourage each of you to take time to be still and see what God says.  I am learning that often God is speaking, it's just that our lives are too noisy to hear what He's saying!

Until next time,
Cece xx