That was my daughter, Julie, to me today! I’m forever trying to teach her what I’m learning from our friend. What I love about Ceri, is that he gives me a new mindset, like my calendar from God explained:

“In order to effectively fulfill your mission, you need to embrace NEW MINDSETS and outlooks that will help you to personally change.” – Mottos for Success

This message from Ceri in his ‘Breakfast and the Bible’ group chat has helped me tremendously:

“This morning, I will share from Joshua 1:8-9, and it says,

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This particular verse is extremely powerful because there are just a few things that stood out to me with it. We should always remind ourselves about a few things that God tells us in this. One of the things that stood out to me most importantly in this verse is when he said, “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Sometimes we get into dark places. We go places, and we think we’re alone, but we’re never alone, and this is just one of those verses you can repeat to yourself. You can keep in the back of your mind and just walk with it and use it as a tool. Use it as a weapon. As a weapon against the enemy. Use it as a weapon against anxiety. Use it as a weapon against unsurety. That God reminds us that He is with us wherever we may go.”

So, no shame in my game! I have a bracelet that my daughters gave me that says, “Be strong and courageous for I am with you. Josh 1:9.” When the anxieties get high, I hold on to this bracelet (like a tool) reminding myself that God is with me, until I calm myself down. This life is rough! Then I look at everything from God’s perspective seeking His help as I calmly figure out the next steps to take. The crazy, emotional, fretful, and anxious Nik must go!

Honestly, Ceri is helping me to become more confident in myself personally (like I can succeed in this male-dominated car business!!), and most importantly, in my confidence in God (He must be the firm foundation of our lives!!!). I often use this tool to remind myself in the high and low moments that God’s invisible Presence is with me and it is seriously working.

God is incredibly always available to us no matter what is going on. It’s just for us to keep ourselves reminded of this important fact (at every moment!!!) to help us confidently, courageously, lovingly, and boldly take on our lives, seeking God’s guidance in every circumstance, every relationship, and every decision. Ok, my Julie?!? We got this, and God got us!!!

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91: 1-2

“So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – ISAIAH 41:10 (NIV)

My daughter, Ember, and I had our argument again today over who is God’s fav, but I’m claiming victory after I shared what was going on with me (HUGE SMILE). God asked me this question yesterday:

“Don’t you know that I give far more than you expect? Haven’t you noticed this spiritually, materially?”

YES!!!!! Honestly, for the appointment with God with the boys in the car today, it was Joshie’s turn to read, but he was eating his breakfast, so at a red light, I decided to read from our new Jesus Calling Devotional for Kids, and I started crying reading this:

“Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?

Where can I run from you?

If I go up to the skies, you are there.

If I lie down where the dead are, you are there.

If I rise with the sun in the east,

and settle in the west beyond the sea,

even there you would guide me.

With your right hand you would hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10

“There is no place where you cannot find Me (God). There is no problem that can keep Me away from you. You cannot run away from Me, and you cannot chase Me away from you.”

I told the boys how I’ve been telling my daughters all summer to fly away to university. I kept telling them, “Flew! Flew! Flew! Go away!” That I’m the momma eagle taking apart their nest so that they will fly without me. We get to New York, and waiting in line for Julie to move into her dorm room, a van pulls up saying, “FLY EAGLES FLY.” After repeating that to the girls all summer, I knew this was God’s sweet way of letting us both know that His invisible Presence was there with us. No coincidence!

Then, before they left, my sister, Kelly, asked me how I would make it without the girls helping me with my sons. THEY WERE A HUGE SUPPORT!!! Right after that, I made a phone call to my sister Nora, who surprisingly agreed to come and stay with us to help me pick up the boys and be with them in the afternoons. I called Kelly last night with this incredible story:

“I have three miracles to report:

Miracle 1 – I came home, and the kitchen was super clean (our house has been a complete disaster!)

Miracle 2 – Looking for the boys’ uniforms to wash for school, I asked Emmie where they were and discovered that Nora had already washed and dried them. The same uniforms that I would sometimes forget to wash and wake up rushing to get ready in the middle of the night.

Miracle 3 – When I came home, I met Nora in Joshie’s bedroom, patiently helping him with his homework. I said not to get him used to that, but she insisted on staying until almost 10 pm helping him. PRAISE THE LORD!!!”

God, You exceed my expectations! She even took them to the barber, and my guys are looking so fresh and handsome. On Sunday, when I was with the girls in New York, Joshie called me excitedly, “Mommy, she made us a complete breakfast!” This was after Emmie complained that I never even offered to make them breakfast all summer! ‘What kind of a mom do you think I am?” I ask them! You have a mother who doesn’t cook. Deal with it! TOUGH MOMMA! I’m now on the highest road with God! I’m going with this prayer:

God, at every moment, in every relationship, every decision, and every circumstance. How may I enter into it and glorify You? God, anything to please You, let me learn. Amen

With one phone call, He sent help!!! The idea of leaving work to pick up my sons brought such stress and anxiety and God lovingly said, ‘Nik, don’t worry, I got You!’ Thanks, my super angel, Nora! Told y’all, that God sent an entire team of angels to support me!!! God, I’m grateful for all your love, help, guidance, and support! May the world come to know You and Your unconditional love for each of us. Amen!

GOD MUST BE THE STRONG FOUNDATION FOR OUR LIVES!!!! I’ll forever be thanking my brother/angel, Kevin, who said, “Neeks, the only thing I can tell you is to make God your number priority and focus. And, Neeks, God, wants you to know you are secure in Him.” My advice to all of us!!! I now have alarms on my phone for noon and 5 pm as reminders for my appointments with Him. Trust me, WE NEED GOD. This life is too hard to do on our own.

That was a conversation question that my daughter, Ember, and I asked each other yesterday. She loved that I always see the bright side of everything, and I love that she, along with my son, Emmie, are my official critics. They both point out serious weaknesses going on with the momma. And I’m a believer in celebrating when we discover weaknesses within ourselves. Like, thank You, God, for helping me see more clearly into myself and where I can improve. Thanks to Ember who said one day something like me being the crazy lady was the usual, I was determined to bring back the wise, sane, calm, strong and fierce mom, even if I had to fake it until I made it. Thanks, boo!

I was thrilled that I also got to show her that life WILL knock you down sometimes. Things WILL happen that will hit the wind out of your sails. But, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I got a chance for her to see me running to God (not alcohol or drugs) for His help and guidance, and how He always comes through for me. In all my weaknesses, His strength beautifully comes shining through.

Another conversation question we asked each other yesterday was, “What are you grateful for in this period?” She was grateful for her car. She is our spoilt daughter who has earned our love and respect with her exceptional level of hard work and consistency, which has set the bar extremely high for our other kids. Keep going, my sweetie! I always tell her that no one gives you respect, and this daughter has earned ours.

I was grateful for this new level of closeness I now feel with God. Like yesterday I asked Ember for a razor to shave under my arms to wear a sleeveless shirt. She didn’t have one, so I went with what Julie said that New York City is pro body hair. Unbelievably, the very place I read early this morning on our family’s website said this:

But we don’t have to be all cleaned up for God!!! I’m so so so far from perfect, but I know I have God’s love and approval no matter how badly I make a mess of things. He doesn’t judge us and cut us off like other humans. Instead, he loves and accepts us exactly who and how we are (shaved or unshaven armpits (Wink! Wink!)! LOL!). He just makes us better.

God, very funny! No doubt this “shaved or unshaven armpits” was Him having some fun with me. It lined up too perfectly to be some ordinary coincidence. It was Him again revealing a glimmer of His invisible Presence with me! I even pointed out a lady with well shaven under arms to Ember on our way!!! God is intimately involved in our lives!!! (HUGE SMILE)

I loved also explaining my new concept about being married to her dad:
We’re like two circles in a Venn diagram. One circle represents our individual lives with individual dreams, goals, and aspirations. Marriage is where those two circles intersect. That intersection is where we agree to share a portion of our lives together. Your dad has his life he enjoys away from me, and I have my stuff I enjoy without him, but we still have that intersection area where we enjoy each other, our kids, and doing our family hustle thing together. When I’m with him, I enjoy him (mostly! LOL), and when I’m not with him, I enjoy my life doing me and being God’s girl in the world. I had to free your dad to live his life, to stop chasing him (not forcing anyone to do what they don’t want to do like Kevin taught me), and live my best life knowing God is with me in every moment. Sucking up to God’s infinite, deep and unconditional love for me! Nobody will ever love you better than God. HEEHAW!

Make sure you’re getting to know God a little bit better every day. Have alone times with Him reading or listening to anything spiritual.
I’m going back to Miami with new confidence after getting to hear from the President of Julie’s university, the first woman ever to hold that position. Her faith and passion for God and doing great work in the world on His behalf excited me to take on my many roles, all for God’s glory.

“The glory of God is a human being who is fully alive.” – Saint Irenaeus

“You got two daughters to university in New York in one year!” That was someone to me yesterday, and all I can say is that I give all the glory to God. In all my weaknesses, His strength comes shining through.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

He sent an entire team of angels to assist me, but today I want to start by thanking the best husband in the world. His dedication, love, loyalty, and hard work got our family to a great place. I have a new respect for him now! Like I always say, though, “We ain’t perfect, but we’re pretty close!” I pray that we all learn to go the extra mile in love, forgiveness, and support, accepting everyone for their strengths and weaknesses, especially in our homes. Nobody’s perfect! Our families are important to God.

At a beautiful lunch today with our daughter, Ember, I passed on many of the critical lessons I’ve learned from my brother, Kevin. Like:

Neeks, I want you to learn how to be a wise woman. Learning to check my emotions and involve God in my decisions. He always knows best!

Neeks, I want you to make God your top priority and focus.

Neeks, God wants you to know that you are secure in Him.

Neeks, you have to be like a chameleon. If your surroundings turn brown, you turn brown with it. If it turns green, you turn green. I told Ember that life is about constant recalibration and readjustments wherever you find yourself. With our eyes constantly fixed on God, there is no situation that we face that we can’t overcome with Him on our sides guiding and directing us. It’s just about being wise and going to God, praying about everything, and obeying Him, asking for His will to be done in our lives. Amen! No more getting crushed. Warrior style! It is about shaking off the disappointments with our eyes on God’s prize for our lives, no matter what shows up.

This was a beautiful trip to New York, dropping Julie off at her university. At a church service yesterday, I placed my hands on her shoulders as the priest prayed for the Holy Spirit to be with her and guide her. Honestly, you would think I picked this university for her the way they spoke so often of God. I feel this is precisely where God wants her, and His Presence will always be with her. Same with my daughter, Ember. She also feels she is at the university God picked for her. We’re still arguing over who is God’s fav, but I told her we have to agree to disagree on that one. Today, I ran a 5K in Central Park, feeling so loved by Him. A life guided by God cannot fail!

… Even the devil got tired of you and threw you out!” Can you believe my sweetie pie son, Joshie, said that to me recently! I responded, “The devil kicked me out because I was converting too many people over to God!” One minute I’m the best mom and next I’m the mom from hell! That’s life, but I keep telling my kids that I’m not their friend now, but one day I will be! Every time I see my daughter, Ember, on video call at her country club university , she gets prettier and prettier, as listening to the advice of the annoying mom is certainly paying off. Proud of you, my boo!

And sincerely, this is really the best life with God! Last night your girl was on a late night mission and my phone’s ringtone played, ‘I Want To Be Your Man.’ I called someone at 11 pm needing their urgent help and they were blown away how God woke them up to check their phone to see that she missed calls and texts from me. She said, “I sleep away from my phone! Very strange that I woke up to check it!” That’s the love I feel from God! He wakes people up from their sleep to help me!

And the love He shows me with all these glimmers of his Presence popping up everywhere. Like Julie and I had the hardest time finding parking today at the airport. She is my second daughter that I’m taking to university in New York, and a few cars away from where we found parking, there was a car with a New York tag that says, “Batch 2.” No coincidence, but God letting me know that as I’m taking my “2nd batch” to New York, His invisible Presence goes with us! HEEHAW!
Then, less than a minute after telling Julie that I want to get the new “Dior”perfume for her, a lady comes to sit across from us wearing a shirt that says “Dior” and wearing the exact white Nike shows as Julie! Again, this all lined up too perfectly to be an ordinary coincidence, but God AGAIN orchestrating this alignment, revealing His invisible Presence with us. (HUGE SMILE)

And this is the peace and joy you cannot buy! You guys should have seen me dancing when I saw that! The peace that passes all understanding knowing that GOD Himself is STANDING STRONG with you in every moment! Make sure you are getting to know Him a little bit better every day. We can show up every day thinking things will go better than we expect as we do our utmost best and leave the rest for God to handle in the spiritual realm on our behalf! He is great at tweaking situations on our behalf! (Wink! Wink!)

He wants to be your Man, too, where you are going through this life holding His hand, making Him the center of every move you make, including everything you say. Like on the way to the airport, Julie didn’t like me teaching her what God has been teaching me about learning to be silent more often. “Not every time momma or anyone else says something to you, you have to respond. You can choose to be silent.”Explaining this is my lesson from God. We get to the airport and at 50 minutes past the hour, I go to page 50 of our family’s website and God got in on our conversation:

“God had some more to say to me about the TALK LESS part last night when this showed up in my appointment with Him:
“Any words at all… you can say them to Me (God). But with others, GET TO LOVE SILENCE. I mean by that a silence of goodness. You will find me there, I shall hear all the words that you don’t say. You will keep them for Me, for My sake. You will ask Me for the strength, and these silences will be like cut flowers. I’ll offer them to Myself in a bouquet. Right now would you like to begin this silence with others, this silence that will speak so eloquently to My love? I ask you for this new way of pleasing Me. I need all your ways. How could I not want your entire being when I know that you are free.” – He and I

God said that when I’m ready, He will BEGIN teaching me some lessons in love, and this holding back of words has been a super hard one. It’s another way of showing respect to others by holding back some words. God said we can say anything to Him, but with others lets offer the unsaid, hurtful, belittling, and embarrassing words to God as a gift to Him.”

God lovingly corrects us! I just asked Julie if she would have appointments with God every morning, noon and 5 pm where we can learn more from Him reading or listening to anything spiritual. Will you join us? He woke up someone from their sleep to help me. It wasn’t until after midnight when she lovingly assisted me! God is great!!!

Your girl here has a lot going on, but God figures out all these wonderful ways to let me know that His Presence is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, with me. HEEHAW!!! Today I had to repossess a car from a customer, and God was with me every step.

As soon as I got up, all anxious with the thoughts of possibly losing a costly vehicle, I had an appointment with Him, and This verse was the very first thing that came up:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
_ do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
_ I will strengthen you and help you;
_ I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10_

I said, ‘OK, God, I will use this as an opportunity to trust You.’ Fast forward a few hours, I’m at work praying about the situation, asking God what direction to take, and His spirit took me to my text messages. Can you believe that weeks ago, this customer’s contact appeared, out of the blue, as one of my fav contacts under my daughters’ contacts? I wanted to remove it, but I just left it there for some reason. So, today when I’m asking God what to do, He took my attention to this fav contact, and again in my spirit, I felt him telling me to call him and not get a professional repo company involved. The customer surprisingly answered, and he told me where the car was and that I should come and pick it up. I rushed out with my faithful assistant, Martha!

We got to his address, and God had another glimmer of His Presence there waiting for me. Before calling this customer, I looked through the auction listings of cars available today. There weren’t too many that impressed me, but there were TWO white Dodge Avengers I was interested in buying. I got to his house, and he was blocking in a white Dodge Avenger. I know this may sound crazy, but this was God letting me know that His presence was there with me. It was no coincidence!

Then I needed to get something from the gas to take back to the vehicle, and a taxi showed up with my number lately from God “811.” This number showing up was another glimmer of God’s Presence which reminds me explicitly that I can have the peace that passes all understanding knowing that He is with me. I said, ‘God, thank You! I need your peace right now!!!”

So, the moral of the story can be beautifully summed up with this daily devotional (written as if God is speaking to us) that I randomly opened to before deciding to buy for my sons for our appointments with God every morning on the way to school:

“I am Bigger Than the World

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

As you go through this day, you will face problems and troubles. But you never have to face them alone. I am always with you. I am the best Friend that you will ever have. I walk beside you, to give you comfort and strength. I also walk ahead of you, so that I am ready to help you face whatever is coming. And I am within you, giving you a secret ability to think and act without fear.

There will be problems and hard times, but don’t let them get you down. I have already overcome all the problems of this world. In Me you can find Peace.” – Jesus Calling 365 Devotions For Kids

Wow, is that beautiful or what?!! There I was waking up stressing out about us possibly losing a very expensive vehicle, and God calmed me down right away saying, “Have no fear, I will help you.” These words have comforted me through many a challenges! God hasn’t disappointed me yet! Then he did go ahead of me by making that customer a fav contact from weeks ago. I promise you, I did not do that! Then God gave me the secret ability to think and act without fear – Nik, you call this customer yourself! You don’t need to hire a company to find the car.

I ended up talking to this customer about God. He told me he used to be very close to God but stepped away. I said, “Look where that has gotten you? Bad decision after bad decision (I met him in a very low state). Here is a smarter and wiser way: Involve God in every move you make. I showed him how God made him a fav under my daughters, and he was blown away. I said that’s God’s love for you and HE wants you back. In fact, He never left you, you left Him, and He wants you back walking with Him. God is like a shy person waiting on you to invite Him in to be a part of your life. I asked him to pray my fav prayer, “God, I want a closer walk with You. Amen.” I pray you do the same! I don’t know how people make it through life without God. I’m the God maniac here but yet life is still hard! LOL! WE NEED HIM!!!

I debated with Him under our tree yesterday as to whether or not to take my sons to work. I felt Him in my spirit saying, ‘TAKE THEM!!!’ Honestly, we had the best day together (HUGE SMILE)! It started with Emmie being upset at me, saying that I’m a terrible mom because I don’t cook for them. I told him I’m like Michelle Obama, Presidents’ wife, and I don’t cook! I explained how I may not cook, but I’m behind the scenes orchestrating the most delicious foods for them to enjoy. Julie would drive 30 minutes to buy okra to cook a Nigerian soup that they love with her dad helping her on video call. “The world doesn’t need my bad-tasting food!” I insisted. But the moral of the story is that people would try to fit you in a box that they want you in, but our times and energies are limited (life is short!), and I want us having constant conversations with God, asking Him what He would have us to do. The Lord is our Shepherd!

Then we had a situation with a car’s gas tank that refused to open, so we went to our angel/mechanic, Raul, and he opened it for us. We needed screws for our license plate frames that say “IN GOD WE TRUST” so we went to a hardware store, and that very morning in my appointment with God, He said to me, “The battle is not yours. It is God’s.” In comes a gentleman with a shirt confirming that message saying, “The Battle belongs to the Lord.” And on the back, it said, “THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YE SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE. – Exodus 14:14” No way this was some random coincidence! This very verse, let me tell ya, has seen me through so many storms as God lovingly tells me to do my utmost best and leave the rest with Him. GOD HAS NEVER FAILED ME!!!!!!!!!

Next, we fought over what to eat for lunch, and after two drive-thrus were not moving, we went to our fav Hoagie Hut. I go to the window to pay, and after telling you guys how God has been asking me to be patient, unbelievably, the sign at the counter to pay says something like, “This is not fast food. PLEASE BE PATIENT.” We left two other restaurants to come there to get that message from God!!! God is pretty talkative, and it’s so important that we learn His voice and direction for our lives. That’s my prayer for us! I’ve made many significant decisions because I was patient!

Later, I asked Emmie to help me send some documents to a bank so we could get paid for a deal. He said, “That’s not going to be my job. I don’t need to learn this.” Oh my goodness, I was so happy he said that. I responded, “You see your dad is too busy to help me buy cars, so I’m the one searching and buying cars. I’m taking them to the mechanic shop and tire shops. Our manager left, so you see mommy selling and financing the car and doing what I must to get paid from the banks. Every aspect of this business your mom has to do. When you grow up and need to feed your family, you must learn how to handle yourself in any and every situation, and as your mom, my job is to prepare you to cope with whatever life throws your way.”

Honestly, guys, listening to myself, I was like, wow, Nik, you are taking on your life like a real champion! A momma gotta do what a momma gotta do! And it’s all a testimony of God bringing out the best in me! All those battles that I’ve fought in the past were God’s way of increasing my faith in Him so that I could have the courage to take over every aspect of this business while hubby takes care of other vital issues. I got this, boo! The patience thing is working, too, baby! God uses all these experiences, the good, bad and ugly, to help us become all He has created us to be. That I could joyfully and bravely take my sons to work, knowing that even if my hubby is not with us and I must take on the mother and father role at the moment, the awareness of God’s Presence with me gives me such peace, joy, and courage.

A special thanks to Kevin, Jason, and Ceri, who genuinely have been angels in helping me stand strong for my family. I’m tapping into their male energy of calmness, toughness, courage, and strength while getting rid of some female emotions that take me down the wrong path. And to my better than best husband: thank you for a beautiful life and family and everything that you’ve done and continue to do for us! Forever grateful, guys!

That was me to my daughter, Julie, referring to my angel/brother, Kevin. Not only has he helped to keep my head together, but he has also helped me make some pretty significant decisions!!!!!!! I explained to her that not everything about life is black and white. Things are multi-dimensional, filled with many textures, layers, and colors that are inexplicable and mysterious. In each moment, there is so much going on that impacts eternity. Crazy, right?

Like Kevin is forever telling me to be patient. That patience led to this conversation with my husband today (I paraphrase here):

“Boo, do you realize our decisions today will affect not only our children but our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and on and on from generation to generation? I was listening to the radio today and a wife was saying the secret of her marriage that has lasted for over 29 years was communication and sacrifice. Honey, this sacrifice (splitting our family apart) you have made for our children and future generations coming after them, I thank you. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart with the deepest and sincerest love and devotion.

I saw Ember (our daughter) on a video call in the skybox of her university overlooking the football team, and I was just in awe. She looked so beautiful and happy. She is about to start her Wall Street internship, and we did that for her. Immediately Julie went to her university sendoff event, and she was also offered a Wall Street internship. I know this whole thing has been difficult, but it’s been a worthy sacrifice for our kids, and I’ll forever thank you for this. I bow to you. No matter what we must go through, this wife is sticking with you.”

On our way to school this morning, the boys and I called hubby, and he told them that he and Julie had planned a date to cook another African dish for them. I asked our sons, “Did I find you guys the best dad or what? Even from Nigeria he wants to make sure you guys are eating well.”

This marriage thing is not easy, though, and the crazy lady in me would have me think the wrong things, all mad and bitter, but God and Kevin have been teaching me to focus on the good in others and to go the extra mile and love and forgiveness. With the love, generosity, and support I receive from Kevin, I say I want to be that for others. Learning to be much kinder, gentler, and compassionate, learning to overlook and ignore, and loving unconditionally the way God loves us all. Nobody’s perfect!

Let’s keep giving our best, especially in our homes, so that future generations will be thanking us too for the decisions we make today. They watch us fight for our families so that they will do the same when their turn comes. Thanks, Kevin (and God for arranging you to come to my rescue!) for being my guard rails and helping me to get here! I pray God continues to bless you plenty, plenty for the love you show us!!! Enjoy the Audi! I’m enjoying doing the family hustle with you! Wink! Wink!

That was the crucial question my brother/angel, Kevin, asked yesterday! I said, “K, don’t worry about that. I tried calling, and they sent a text asking who it was, and after I said it was me, they never texted or called back, and that’s OK.” “It’s not OK,” Kevin insisted. I responded, “It’s very OK! They taught me an important lesson: people can come in and out of your life, but God loves us unconditionally and sticks with us no matter our mistakes and failings.

Fast forward to me going under my tree to talk to God, He wanted to get in on that conversation when this old post showed up:

“I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN HANDLE THE NICKSTER (ME!!!)…

… that’s why I cherish the ones who do!” That was me to my brother, Kevin. I’m still thanking him for keeping my head together last year…And having people like Kevin in life is what makes life sweeter. I’m not talking about superficial, fake relationships. I’m talking about people who are really for you and your success. They’re loving and loyal, and I’m blessed to have such. Hubs and I are celebrating this entire year because this will make 20 years since we met for the first time. 20 years putting up with me! That’s cause for celebrating!

The values such as patience, going overboard in love and forgiveness, seeing the best in others and not their faults (anyone can find dirt in others, be the one that finds the gold), integrity, loyalty, kindness, and just always reminded that nobody’s perfect (including myself), have led my life on a beautiful path with some pretty awesome people who love and support me. I won’t start listing them, but they know who they are!

THE MOST LOYAL AWARD GOES TO GOD, THOUGH. NO MATTER WHO LEAVES US, HE STAYS (Wink! Wink!):

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged.”

Let’s stay loyal to Him by making Him our PRIORITY, going to Him in every decision seeking to make Him happy. I promise you, God doesn’t disappoint! He gives us more than we can ever imagine, like the most extraordinary relationships!!!”

Anybody who doesn’t want to speak to me, no problem, I’m good! Even this husband I mentioned, who has stuck with me for the last 20 years, decides he doesn’t want to not be with me anymore, no problem. I’m his ride-or-die loyal to the end wife, but he may not feel the same. And that’s life! We must carry everyone with open hands!!! The ones who celebrate being with you, keep them close. The ones who celebrate when you leave, let them go! Life is too short, baby!

I loved a God wink first thing this morning. Yesterday, I sent Kevin a photo of his words to me that I’ve made my phone’s screensaver:

“Neeks, God wants you to know YOU ARE SECURE IN HIM.”

First thing this morning, I went to page 4 for an appointment with God and these words were there written as if God was speaking directly to me:

“I want you to realize how UTTERLY secure you are (Wink! Wink!)! Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand. Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today.” – Jesus Calling

No way this was a coincidence! It was God speaking directly to me!!! Not just secure, He said “UTTERLY secure.” So, what’s my business if someone doesn’t want to speak to me anymore? I wish them nothing but the best, and we keep it moving forward. Even our own father and mother may forsake us, but God wants us all to know WE ARE UTTERLY SECURE IN HIM!!! Amen!!! MAKE GETTING TO KNOW HIM YOUR TOP PRIORITY!!!!

I asked Kevin, Jason, and Ceri this morning in our WhatsApp group showing them a pic of the song ‘Highest In The Room’ playing by Travis Scott that I named our group after (they are really putting up with me guys!!!) The goal is to put together a book of ten chapters with some awesome advice of living our best lives with God. Today, for full transparency, I added my husband and a close friend to the conversation. But to explain what I mean by the highest in the room, I thought to write about someone who lived it, our great friend, Lucky Omoluwa, until God said He wanted His special angel back with Him.

Let me tell ya, I had the honor and privilege of watching Lucky in action. He lived life having direct communications with God Himself. This is what I imagine when I say highest in the room: Living life with one foot on earth and one foot in heaven having moment by moment conversations asking God what He would have us to do (or not do), say (or not say) and go (or not go) in every moment. Every conversation. Every circumstance. Every relationship. The things Lucky accomplished while here were nothing but extraordinary and I have no doubt that this was how he did them.

Take for example the school he built where my kids attended in Nigeria. The school has given us five fierce kids. No joke! Today I did a video call with my daughter, Ember, at her university in New York where she was sitting looking so pretty in the skybox overlooking the football team as one of the team managers. This super fierce daughter was trained in Lucky’s school where she got a strong foundation in not only academic excellence, but also in character training learning perseverance, responsibility, integrity, discipline and excellence as part of the core values. Even after his death, his legacy lives on in the hundreds of students still passing through those school doors. That’s the highest in the room I’m talking about. Even after death he continues to positively impact the world!

I write a lot about love and loyalty in these posts because Lucky demonstrated these values on an out of this world level. We travelled all over the world together and he was exceedingly generous and loving taking our family as if we were his family. Like who would pay for a family of six people to travel the world with them and pay the majority of the expenses? Lucky! They welcomed us to their home every Saturday in Nigeria, where I know God Himself sent me to his wife for training on how to be a wise and calm wife (still learning!). Before Kevin and I became so close, she was my guard rails helping me to stay cool when the crazy lady wanted to come out. She is my shining example of a person who has beautifully pointed me to God. Her and Lucky have been great influencers on my family. Not one moment around them was a waste of time. Even in death, I remain loyal to Lucky.

Bottom-line: What I really want us taking from Lucky is that God was his Man! The level of generosity, courage, love, loyalty, and excellence he demonstrated was that he was having continual conversations with God Himself using God’s wisdom, tact and guidance (Not that he got it right all the time, nobody’s perfect!) This is where I want us all!! Everything is between us and God and not between us and anyone else. Seeing Ember on that video call looking so happy and flourishing was my special reminder of how God exceeds our expectations when we stick with Him. May Lucky’s life remind us all that we’re not here for a long time (every moment is a gift!), but for a good time, hopefully accomplishing some great things on God’s behalf. Amen!

“I will seek to honor God, obey His word, and do His will.”- Courageous