What Is Family?

What is family? Was I asking myself this question because of the eminent holiday season, a time in which so many of us find ourselves gathered together with our family members? And for some it can be a time in which it is “for better or for worst”. For many of us it is not TV’s Cosby family, the typical Hallmark family or even the Blue Bloods’, Regan family. This fictional cop family clearly demonstrates what their family is all about. Each show ends with the family having dinner together on a Sunday at the home of the patriarch.  This act of praying and breaking bread together is a reminder of what family is all about.

Too often we get caught up in what was said and not said, or what we think should have been done or not done by a family member. We lose sleep over it… we stop talking to one another and can’t even remember the last time we uttered a civil word to each other... because of what? over what? And now the holidays are here and just because it is Thanksgiving or Christmas we are all of a sudden suppose to be this big happy family? Well, as anyone who has ever experienced a ‘dust up’ over the holidays knows, that the “suppose” to be, holiday family doesn’t work.

What does work is supporting each other, listening to each other, sharing with genuine truth and honesty, not having the fear of being judged; knowing that in a spirit of love you can be told that you were wrong. Each one of us who is a part of a family unit knows the areas in which we need to work on to strengthen our family and ourselves. May we strive to pray and break bread together and always have the ability to cry together and to laugh together like only a family can do. Not just as ‘Seen On TV’, but also in the real world.

Trish

To Families everywhere have a Wonderful Christmas!
And may it be filled with Love, Joy and Peace
Throughout the New Year!

Trish Nicholas Photography @ www.wix.com/TrishN/Trish-Nicholas-Photography

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In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 NIV

http://feedingamerica.org/

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http://www.rescue.org/

http://www.stjude.org/

Hilton Head Island, SC

I am sitting in a beach chair on Hilton Head Island trying to get some R&R but the concerns about the care of my mother when we return home will not leave my mind. The harder I try to place these thoughts in a holding pattern in my brain the more they keep spinning right back to the front of my thoughts. I try to focus my eyes on LJN and our grandsons playing in the ocean, hopefully this scene will pull my thoughts back to Hilton Head Island… wrong, my thoughts turn back to my Mother who is staying with our oldest daughter until we return.

Many families are faced with how to care for an aging parent and in my case it comes down to just my sister and I. I live approximately fifteen miles from mom and my sister lives nearly three thousand miles away. Our Dad passed away nine years ago.

As the days and nights slipped by on beautiful Hilton Head Island the tug of war with my thoughts continued to rage. One night I awoke into the wee hours of the morning and finally concluded that my concerns with caring for my mom had nothing to do with the type of mother daughter relationship that we had or in my case the lack thereof; or whether or not I was the daughter who she felt she could confide in more. I realized my struggle was all about how can I care for my mother in my current state of health? I love and respect my mother and truly want what is best for her. Having pinpointed my internal struggle, I said to the Lord I still don’t know what to do… I trust you Lord for the answer.

Three days after returning from Hilton Head Island, a trip that will forever be in our hearts and minds… LJN and I picked up my mom and brought her to our home.

Trish

“A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be your friend”. Quote From a plaque in my daughter’s Mother In-law’s guest bedroom.

“If I never had a problem I’d never know that God could solve them” – Through It All, Andrae Crouch

“….Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” – Ephesians 4:23

Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

“When all goes well and I feel strong; oh, help me, Lord to see that I must place my confidence in you and not in me.” – Anon

Photos by Trish & LJN

Through My Viewfinder: www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*

My Memorial Day…

How we spend our Memorial Day varies from family to family and from place to place. Many of us living close to the Jersey shore traditionally head to the shore, leaving many areas feeling like a ghost town. Yesterday I was an observer to a Memorial Day family tradition that LJN had experienced as a child. As I watched LJN and other family members tidy up the grave plaque, place flowers and plant flowers at the graves of family members, I realized I was witnessing a very familiar practice on this day.

I listen to the exchange between the siblings, each having a different memory or recollection and for some having no knowledge about “such things” when it came to Aunt so and so and the occasional reply of… oh, I didn’t know that. As I stood there listening to all of these memories I thought about the many soldiers buried in cemeteries across this land who died in service to our country. I visualized those families at their graves, some holding back the tears in their eyes, others gently wiping away a tear and others recalling family memories that could put a smile on your face as they too exchanged memories about their son or daughter, father or mother, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle, cousin or grandchild. It is in these recalled memories on this day and other holidays when they are deeply missed that we, for a few fleeting moments, feel the warmth and touch of their presence once again.

I would like to say thank you to all of the men and women serving in our military today and to those who once served long ago, I lift my voice in praise for your service to our country and especially to the families whose loved ones paid the greatest sacrifice of all… death in service to our nation.

Trish

I Weep for Those Who Are Not My Own
I weep as any Father, Husband, Mother, Wife, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt, Grandparent or Friend would at the loss of their loved one.
I weep for those who are not my own…
These soldiers Men and Women are all a part of us. The list is very long and growing longer each day.
I weep for those who are not my own…
Our voices on ending this conflict are varied, but our tears and aching hearts are clearly the same all over.
I weep for those who are not my own…
Let our cry be heard from the North to the South from the East to the West.
Weep No More, Weep No More, And Weep No More!
PLEASE STOP THIS WAR!

Inspired when watching This Week with George Stephanopoulos- ‘This Week’ Remembers Those We Have Lost …

2/07
Trish Nicholas

Support Our Troops

"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." - Joseph Drake

***To Miss Carrie who has been deployed for seven months, my prayers are with you and your fellow soldiers that you all may return safely home to your families… GO NAVY!

Photos by Trish & LJN

Support Our Troops-Photographer Unknown

Through the Viewfinder www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*

GO ARMY!

GO AIRFORCE!

GO MARINES!

***FYI A brand new Photography Website is coming in June!

Thank You!

Thank you, Clee, Cheryl, Ira, Juls and Niki; for calling on your Brother, Sister-in-law, Uncle and Auntie when you needed our help. It is a blessing to know that another family member will call upon you in a time of a severe crisis as we all found ourselves in with Craig. We thank you for the deep love and respect that you bestowed upon us with each phone call that we received from all of you… the Lord knows how much we can bear. And we can say how good it felt to be needed in every critical phase and decision with your son and brother and our nephew… Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. -2 Corinthians 1:3-4



I must say that I feel very blessed to be a member of this family AND what an awesome family it is. Clee, I thank you for sharing the letter that Craig wrote to the family. I truly believe that he was calling the family to participate in a more cohesive manner. Yes we are many, Yes we all have been blessed with many talents, gifts and abilities, Yes we are all not saved and living for Christ and Yes some of us have allowed hurts from the past to separate us from one another… the time has come for us to all work together. We must never forget the strong foundation that Dad and Mom Nicholas established; it is strong and can become stronger if we only allow it to. Let all of us begin to stand on that foundation and move in a mighty way throughout the family and the world….so that all honor and praise be given unto our Lord and Savior… I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. - Psalms 100:1, 2, 4



Thank you family…

Trish

















He’s been faithful, faithful to me;
Looking back, His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I’ve questioned, even failed to believe,
He’s been faithful, faithful to me. -Cymbala





Photos by Trish @ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com/

**Hawaii Photos - Courtesty of Niki

**All Things Are Possible Album Photo By Jackie Jackson

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make know your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1




Our Tribute To



Steven Craig...




A Family Farewell...













Balloon Prayers Released...








He Enjoyed The Ocean Sea






The Breeze And The Sand...

In my home or at the beach, at the mall or in the streets. Constant my light is gonna shine. Far away or close to home, you are still on the throne. I am yours and you are truly mine. *From the song No Compromise by Steven Craig Jackson.

You do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears
for a little time and then vanishes away.
James 4:14

No Reservations, No Regrets…

I woke up this morning thanking the Lord for allowing me to see another day. I gave LJN a body hug before getting out of bed. I tried to focus in on today’s to do list, but I could only think about my niece and the conversation that we had yesterday. I knew that once again she had to gear herself up to go back to work. Thank you for flying with us today... I can see her flashing that warm beautiful smile of hers to each departing passenger. Her heart has been so heavy after each visit with her brother and she expressed that it has become increasing difficult for her to return to work. My niece is truly blessed to work for an airline that has been generous and very supportive during difficult family crises.

You see she is going to loose her oldest brother who has at times been a father to her in the days when their dad was absent, he has been the piano player for her and the rest of her siblings and the person that she talked to almost every day. In my conversation with her yesterday through her words and her tears she said Auntie I can say that I have no reservations, no regrets and will cherish each day, every minuet and all the hours that I spent with him… it is well with my soul.

Let it be well with all of us, make peace with any person be it an enemy, a friend or a family member. Don’t hold a grudge for it will only hurt you, learn to forgive that person who you feel has hurt you, seek that persons forgiveness, kiss and make up for tomorrow is not promised to us… do it now.

Trish

Photos by Trish @ Through the Viewfinder

http://www.tljnicholas.com/

*Photo Collage - Courtesy of LJN archives

Thank you Lord for providing me with your natural beauty this morning!

“Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other.” —Colossians 3:13