North Point's iBand from North Point Web on Vimeo.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
iBand at Northpoint in Atlanta
I tweeted the link to this yesterday, but I just had to post it here. This is so freaking cool! I love that the church is doing things like this. Jesus deserves to be honored by the creativity he has blessed us with.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Chester A Sycks
Last Saturday my grandfather passed away. Upon hearing (a few days before) that this event was imminent, I felt like I should sit down and write something somewhat lighthearted so that the family could focus for a few moments on all the things we will remember about him. A day or so later my cousin, Eric, with some assistance from his editor (a.k.a. his wife, Katherine), posted a very eloquent, PG-rated piece describing some of my grandfather’s eccentric behaviors and sharing a few of the stories most remembered by the grandchildren. You can check that out here. As soon as I read it I thought, “That’s perfect. I have nothing to add to this.” So I didn’t write.
After arriving in Ohio on Sunday evening the urge to write returned and was cultivated through the services and conversations during the hours that followed. I was struck deeply by the legacy of my grandfather and grandmother and how they lived it out in front of us daily for decades. My grandfather was very quiet and always busy. Not too busy or shy to talk to you or help his fellow man, but he had an incredible work ethic. With the exception of the last couple of years when Alzheimer’s had stolen most of his personality from him, he was always doing something. I cannot remember seeing him sit down for an extended period of time to watch TV, rest or just waste time doing something trivial. Everything he did had a purpose and he was on the go from the time his feet hit the floor until he went to bed at night. I also don’t remember him complaining about anything. He just seemed to be able to roll with it, fix it or just be unaffected by it and took care of his business.
It was also a very moving experience to participate in unfolding and draping the American flag over his coffin as the services ended. What an honor it was to honor his service. I have no idea what kind of soldier he was or what the circumstances were that resulted in his serving during WW II, but I was so proud of him in that moment and proud to be included in his lineage.
I shared a few meaningful moments with my grandmother this weekend as well. The first was Sunday evening as we were leaving to go to our hotel. Despite being just one day removed from losing her husband of more than 50 years and all that she must have been thinking about in anticipation of services the next day, she insisted on taking communion before she went to bed. There was no pomp and circumstance or panoramic paintings of the last supper that floated down from the heavens, but she did it. She remembered her Savior, her comforter and the reason she has had hope for her entire life. Hope in an eternal future, not in a failing body that is temporarily subjected to a fallen world.
She demonstrated this to me again during my grandfather’s service. I had the privilege of escorting her to the front of the chapel and sitting with her during the service. We sang a few hymns. I held the hymnal between us so she could see the words; she didn’t need the hymnal. Despite her own health issues, age and sometimes faulty memory she sang every word to every verse, from memory. She also sang along with the special music that was performed by the Associate Pastor at her church. She didn’t care that it was supposed to be a solo, a time of quiet reflection. She sang and I think found comfort in being able to offer praise to her Heavenly Father in the midst her pain. I just can’t describe how this affected me.
As everyone was filing out of the chapel, my grandmother stopped for a few final moments with my grandfather. She was still in love with him. She didn’t just tolerate him or learn to live with him as a friend. She was in love with him. After all the years of marriage and parenting and joys and challenges, she caressed his hands and face as though they were newlyweds. It was awesome and awful at the same time. What an amazing demonstration of commitment and hard work in a marriage; how crushing it must be to lose the partner that has been right next to you for a half century.
I was in Ohio for about 36 hours. An incredible range of emotion and reflection was compacted into that time. I’m still processing some of it, but one thing is for sure: God has blessed me with an incredible heritage and a great responsibility and opportunity to pass it on.
We’ll miss you Grandpa. Your great-grandchildren will know about you. More importantly, they will know your Savior and, one day, receive Him as their own.
After arriving in Ohio on Sunday evening the urge to write returned and was cultivated through the services and conversations during the hours that followed. I was struck deeply by the legacy of my grandfather and grandmother and how they lived it out in front of us daily for decades. My grandfather was very quiet and always busy. Not too busy or shy to talk to you or help his fellow man, but he had an incredible work ethic. With the exception of the last couple of years when Alzheimer’s had stolen most of his personality from him, he was always doing something. I cannot remember seeing him sit down for an extended period of time to watch TV, rest or just waste time doing something trivial. Everything he did had a purpose and he was on the go from the time his feet hit the floor until he went to bed at night. I also don’t remember him complaining about anything. He just seemed to be able to roll with it, fix it or just be unaffected by it and took care of his business.
It was also a very moving experience to participate in unfolding and draping the American flag over his coffin as the services ended. What an honor it was to honor his service. I have no idea what kind of soldier he was or what the circumstances were that resulted in his serving during WW II, but I was so proud of him in that moment and proud to be included in his lineage.
I shared a few meaningful moments with my grandmother this weekend as well. The first was Sunday evening as we were leaving to go to our hotel. Despite being just one day removed from losing her husband of more than 50 years and all that she must have been thinking about in anticipation of services the next day, she insisted on taking communion before she went to bed. There was no pomp and circumstance or panoramic paintings of the last supper that floated down from the heavens, but she did it. She remembered her Savior, her comforter and the reason she has had hope for her entire life. Hope in an eternal future, not in a failing body that is temporarily subjected to a fallen world.
She demonstrated this to me again during my grandfather’s service. I had the privilege of escorting her to the front of the chapel and sitting with her during the service. We sang a few hymns. I held the hymnal between us so she could see the words; she didn’t need the hymnal. Despite her own health issues, age and sometimes faulty memory she sang every word to every verse, from memory. She also sang along with the special music that was performed by the Associate Pastor at her church. She didn’t care that it was supposed to be a solo, a time of quiet reflection. She sang and I think found comfort in being able to offer praise to her Heavenly Father in the midst her pain. I just can’t describe how this affected me.
As everyone was filing out of the chapel, my grandmother stopped for a few final moments with my grandfather. She was still in love with him. She didn’t just tolerate him or learn to live with him as a friend. She was in love with him. After all the years of marriage and parenting and joys and challenges, she caressed his hands and face as though they were newlyweds. It was awesome and awful at the same time. What an amazing demonstration of commitment and hard work in a marriage; how crushing it must be to lose the partner that has been right next to you for a half century.
I was in Ohio for about 36 hours. An incredible range of emotion and reflection was compacted into that time. I’m still processing some of it, but one thing is for sure: God has blessed me with an incredible heritage and a great responsibility and opportunity to pass it on.
We’ll miss you Grandpa. Your great-grandchildren will know about you. More importantly, they will know your Savior and, one day, receive Him as their own.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Happy Halloween!
Batman, IronMan, and Raggedy Ann
...but two!
Erin enjoyed a ride in the stroller
We definitely had nothing to fear with Super Heroes and ninjas to guide us through the streets!
Raggedy Iron Man...checking out her goods....
Sunday, October 3, 2010
September Birthdays
Erin Renee Nuzum
Born September 19, 2010
8 lbs 8 oz 21 inches
Very proud brothers...
Big Sister...not too sure...
Ella Grace Nuzum
2 years old September 29, 2010
The last two weeks have seemed like a dream, but we are so thankful and so blessed to have celebrated the birthdays of both our beautiful girls!!! I promise a longer post and more details when I've had enough sleep to be able to string a few more words together ;-)
Friday, September 3, 2010
New School Year!
Monday was a big day for us, and one I had been praying about for awhile...our first day of a new school year. As I've been preparing for the last month or so, I've had this idea of exactly the way it would be. Our new curriculum for each of the boys would to be perfectly planned out and ready to go in color coded binders, with daily, thought out activities for Ella. Yearly goals for our family and each child would be planned, prayed over, discussed, and recorded. All our co-op activities, field trips, & park days would be planned out for the year & placed in my calendar with a detailed list of supplies needed. Chores would be revisited and updated, printed out on a fun chart with pictures for the "non-readers", and meals planned a month in advance with grocery lists would be ready to go. Ella would be potty trained and moved into her new "big girl" room with the nursery ready to welcome our newest addition (who would have a name by now). Oh, and Christmas gifts for all would be bought and wrapped....and being 8 months pregnant would never have felt so wonderful!
Then I woke up...
...Monday morning...at 4:30. I was in desperate need of a perspective overhaul, which was impressed very clearly onto my heart Sunday morning through Pastor Steven's message, and confirmed early Monday morning as I sat with Bible, notes, and coffee in hand. (Oh and I was also going to be "caffeine free" by now too - Ha!) Pastor titled his message "Your excuses are stupid". (I love the way he gets right to the point.) He preached out of Luke 14 when Jesus told the parable of the great banquet. The entire message is worth listening to and I promise it will change you. But what changed me was the reminder that even "good" things can take the place of God in my life if I'm not careful. In the parable, there are three men who give excuses for why they cannot come to the master's feast. Each of them had different excuses that dealt with either possessions, responsibilities, or relationships. What really spoke to me was the fact that these weren't necessarily "bad" things. Everything that is good in our lives is a result of His blessing & grace. We are given responsibilities and callings on our life, whether it be in our family, in our career, our community, our schools, or in our homeschool. Our relationships: marriages, children, family, friends, coworkers, can all be blessings..."good" things. But we cannot let these "good" things become "God" things. Beyond anything else, our relationship with the Lord must be be our passion...our 1st priority...our greatest desire. I was definitely losing sight of that in my preparation for the new school year, which was leading only to feelings of inadequacy, failure, and frustration.
So I made a plan...to stop making plans. Not like I was before anyway. My new goal is to "not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." (or to the picture in my mind of what my family, house, school, or daily schedule "should" look like). But to "be transformed (daily) by the renewing of my mind...so that I may know what God's good, pleasing, and perfect will is" for my family..for each day...and each moment. (Romans 12:2). I want to be more concerned with the condition of my heart and the hearts of my husband and kids, and less concerned with the condition of my to-do list. I want to be a good steward of all He has given me, yet at the same time leave room for him to work in and through our lives. Because whatever I have "planned" will never be as good as what He has planned for me.
So I closed my planner and we spent the rest of Monday morning at the kitchen table. Donnie joined us for waffles and prayed over each of us and our school year before he left for work. Then the kids were given all their new school supplies (and a few surprises) and we spent some time decorating their new school binders.
Joshua drew a picture of a knight and decorated his notebook with stickers of castles, dragons, and swords. One of the verses that guides our family & homeschool is Prov 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" So, I thought it was interesting that Joshua had written "charge to training" on the front of his binder. When I asked him about it he said that the knight he drew was in "training". Perfect.
Our oldest also has some difficulty standing by while his little brother attempts anything on his own. So it wasn't long before he stepped in to "help" Caleb with his art work.
Ella worked on her own project for awhile. But soon got distracted by the new lunch boxes and thermoses I had bought them. She was especially interested in her brothers'...of course.
And just as she was testing her hypothesis that OJ tastes much better in a Buzz Lightyear thermos compared to Star Wars...she was caught.
And so went the rest of the day/week. Not perfect...but exactly what it was supposed to be.
...still in their jammies and a bit disheveled (with the exception of our sexy school principal of course).
Not picture perfect... but exactly as it should be. Clay in the potter's hand, waiting to be made into instruments for noble purposes, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2Tim 2: 21. I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for our year!
Then I woke up...
...Monday morning...at 4:30. I was in desperate need of a perspective overhaul, which was impressed very clearly onto my heart Sunday morning through Pastor Steven's message, and confirmed early Monday morning as I sat with Bible, notes, and coffee in hand. (Oh and I was also going to be "caffeine free" by now too - Ha!) Pastor titled his message "Your excuses are stupid". (I love the way he gets right to the point.) He preached out of Luke 14 when Jesus told the parable of the great banquet. The entire message is worth listening to and I promise it will change you. But what changed me was the reminder that even "good" things can take the place of God in my life if I'm not careful. In the parable, there are three men who give excuses for why they cannot come to the master's feast. Each of them had different excuses that dealt with either possessions, responsibilities, or relationships. What really spoke to me was the fact that these weren't necessarily "bad" things. Everything that is good in our lives is a result of His blessing & grace. We are given responsibilities and callings on our life, whether it be in our family, in our career, our community, our schools, or in our homeschool. Our relationships: marriages, children, family, friends, coworkers, can all be blessings..."good" things. But we cannot let these "good" things become "God" things. Beyond anything else, our relationship with the Lord must be be our passion...our 1st priority...our greatest desire. I was definitely losing sight of that in my preparation for the new school year, which was leading only to feelings of inadequacy, failure, and frustration.
So I made a plan...to stop making plans. Not like I was before anyway. My new goal is to "not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." (or to the picture in my mind of what my family, house, school, or daily schedule "should" look like). But to "be transformed (daily) by the renewing of my mind...so that I may know what God's good, pleasing, and perfect will is" for my family..for each day...and each moment. (Romans 12:2). I want to be more concerned with the condition of my heart and the hearts of my husband and kids, and less concerned with the condition of my to-do list. I want to be a good steward of all He has given me, yet at the same time leave room for him to work in and through our lives. Because whatever I have "planned" will never be as good as what He has planned for me.
So I closed my planner and we spent the rest of Monday morning at the kitchen table. Donnie joined us for waffles and prayed over each of us and our school year before he left for work. Then the kids were given all their new school supplies (and a few surprises) and we spent some time decorating their new school binders.
Joshua drew a picture of a knight and decorated his notebook with stickers of castles, dragons, and swords. One of the verses that guides our family & homeschool is Prov 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" So, I thought it was interesting that Joshua had written "charge to training" on the front of his binder. When I asked him about it he said that the knight he drew was in "training". Perfect.
Our oldest also has some difficulty standing by while his little brother attempts anything on his own. So it wasn't long before he stepped in to "help" Caleb with his art work.
Ella worked on her own project for awhile. But soon got distracted by the new lunch boxes and thermoses I had bought them. She was especially interested in her brothers'...of course.
And just as she was testing her hypothesis that OJ tastes much better in a Buzz Lightyear thermos compared to Star Wars...she was caught.And so went the rest of the day/week. Not perfect...but exactly what it was supposed to be.My treasures, my blessings, my responsibilities, my calling....
...still in their jammies and a bit disheveled (with the exception of our sexy school principal of course).Not picture perfect... but exactly as it should be. Clay in the potter's hand, waiting to be made into instruments for noble purposes, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2Tim 2: 21. I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for our year!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Best Group Ever
They definitely lived up to their name last night! Our small group from church surprised us with a baby shower; complete with delicious food (as always), fun games, and beautiful gifts for baby girl. Surprisingly (after having three), I had never played the "guess what baby food is in the jar" or "guess what kind of candy bar is melted in the diaper" game. We are the only ones in our group with kids, so it was hilarious watching them all gag as they smelled the baby food and peered into the diapers.
Compare for yourself: Parents of three (soon to be four)...
Haven't yet experienced the joys of parenthood...
I cannot WAIT to make this one change a diaper!...
We are so unbelievably blessed to have such a wonderful group of people in our life. So thank you guys! For honoring us and investing your time, your love, your friendship, and your prayers in the life of our family...we love you!
Compare for yourself: Parents of three (soon to be four)...Haven't yet experienced the joys of parenthood...
I cannot WAIT to make this one change a diaper!...
We are so unbelievably blessed to have such a wonderful group of people in our life. So thank you guys! For honoring us and investing your time, your love, your friendship, and your prayers in the life of our family...we love you!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
4 years old
Caleb James Nuzum. Four years old. Wow. As I sit here trying to find words to describe him, before I even type one, I begin to giggle to myself. But if you know him, you know that IS him. He makes you laugh...a lot...all the time. I asked Joshua at lunch today how he would describe his brother. He didn't hesitate with his answer, "He's hilarious!"
Determined would be the next word that comes to mind. Earlier this week I was reading the story of Caleb and Joshua again, when Caleb boldly challenged the Israelites to hold fast to their faith that God would deliver them into the promised land. "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it," he told them. (Sounds like a familiar phrase from another Caleb we know..."I can do it!") And because of his faith, he and Joshua were the only ones that would survive to step foot into God's promise. "Doggedly determined" is what his name means and I think that's a pretty accurate description of Caleb James.
In the next chapter the Lord says, "...because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly...." I confess that as I sat there early in the morning, coffee in hand, with the house still quiet, I stopped reading midsentence and laughed out loud after the "different spirit" part. That's our Caleb, I thought. He has a different spirit. I really can't think of a better way to put it! But that scripture also sums up beautifully our prayer for his life. That he would be a servant of the Lord, that he would give his life wholeheartedly to Christ, and walk in bold, audacious faith, the path that is laid before him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!! You give joy, laughter, life, and a "different spirit" to our family! WE LOVE YOU!
Determined would be the next word that comes to mind. Earlier this week I was reading the story of Caleb and Joshua again, when Caleb boldly challenged the Israelites to hold fast to their faith that God would deliver them into the promised land. "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it," he told them. (Sounds like a familiar phrase from another Caleb we know..."I can do it!") And because of his faith, he and Joshua were the only ones that would survive to step foot into God's promise. "Doggedly determined" is what his name means and I think that's a pretty accurate description of Caleb James.
In the next chapter the Lord says, "...because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly...." I confess that as I sat there early in the morning, coffee in hand, with the house still quiet, I stopped reading midsentence and laughed out loud after the "different spirit" part. That's our Caleb, I thought. He has a different spirit. I really can't think of a better way to put it! But that scripture also sums up beautifully our prayer for his life. That he would be a servant of the Lord, that he would give his life wholeheartedly to Christ, and walk in bold, audacious faith, the path that is laid before him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!! You give joy, laughter, life, and a "different spirit" to our family! WE LOVE YOU!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Boys Only
Here's how I spent most of my Saturday:
First: breakfast, of course.
Next: a little checkers.
Next: Caleb's first interaction with Pastor Steven. Such a blessing to have a Pastor that honors you no matter what your age.
Next: we gathered with a few hundred Elevators and honored 4 teen moms from CIS Safe Journey as we gave them a newly renovated (i.e. pimped out Elevation style - complete with an orange front door) 4 apartment duplex to live in at Jackson Park Ministries. It was so great to be able to show the boys where their quarters and dollars that they give are being spent. I love my church!
And finally: a fine meal of PB&J and lemonade at McAlister's
These guys are amazing. I love who they are becoming and day by day realizing more of what God is already doing in them. I am so amazingly blessed.
First: breakfast, of course.
Next: a little checkers.
Next: Caleb's first interaction with Pastor Steven. Such a blessing to have a Pastor that honors you no matter what your age.
Next: we gathered with a few hundred Elevators and honored 4 teen moms from CIS Safe Journey as we gave them a newly renovated (i.e. pimped out Elevation style - complete with an orange front door) 4 apartment duplex to live in at Jackson Park Ministries. It was so great to be able to show the boys where their quarters and dollars that they give are being spent. I love my church!
And finally: a fine meal of PB&J and lemonade at McAlister's
These guys are amazing. I love who they are becoming and day by day realizing more of what God is already doing in them. I am so amazingly blessed.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Camping Trip 2010
This is how you rough it when you're 8 months pregnant and it's 100 degrees outside.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Disney
Well the month of June was jam packed with trips & activities for the Nuzums (not exactly sure what we were thinking), but we'll start our update with the Disney trip. At the first of the month we took a quick drive to Texas to see Donnie's sister, Nicole, graduate high school. "Quick" as in 4 days in the car and 1 day there. Crazy! But we wouldn't have missed it! After a few days at home we decided to continue the graduation celebration in Orlando with Nicole and D's other sister, Kelly. So we met them in Florida and spent 4 days at Disney. Although it was ridiculously hot, we had a great time and were so thankful to get to spend that time with Kelly & Nicole. Here are some of our favorite photos, but if you're interested in all 700, they are here. :) 
Did I mention it was hot? We were hardly ever able to pry that fan out of Joshua's hands the entire time. He still owes Aunt Kelly....
Ella's favorite place was the "Honey I shrunk the kids" play area. She spent the entire time playing in the water...imagine that!
Shopping was her other favorite activity...
One of the boys favorite things to do was getting their faces painted. Joshua: Darth Maul Caleb: Super hero. Joshua was very proud of his "evil" look. Caleb attempted it....
And of course the all time favorite: the characters....
What would a Disney trip be without having to wear ponchos at least one day?....
Wrapping up the last day at Disney with a nap on Main Street waiting for the fireworks and parade to start....
Disney World was amazing, but having two aunts there to spoil you the entire time made it even better!! We love you Aunt Koko and Aunt Kelly!....
Bye bye Disney....
...see ya real soon!
Did I mention it was hot? We were hardly ever able to pry that fan out of Joshua's hands the entire time. He still owes Aunt Kelly....Ella's favorite place was the "Honey I shrunk the kids" play area. She spent the entire time playing in the water...imagine that!Shopping was her other favorite activity...One of the boys favorite things to do was getting their faces painted. Joshua: Darth Maul Caleb: Super hero. Joshua was very proud of his "evil" look. Caleb attempted it....
And of course the all time favorite: the characters....What would a Disney trip be without having to wear ponchos at least one day?....Wrapping up the last day at Disney with a nap on Main Street waiting for the fireworks and parade to start....Disney World was amazing, but having two aunts there to spoil you the entire time made it even better!! We love you Aunt Koko and Aunt Kelly!.... Bye bye Disney.... ...see ya real soon!
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