Nikki

Well, since this is the "about me" section, I guess I have to try and think of something to say. So, here goes...

I'm a 33 year old mother of two beautiful children, ages 13 and 4. I was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in Northern California and I moved to Bakersfield, with my mother, 2 weeks prior to my 18th birthday, the year after my father passed away. I've moved other places, since then. But, I've been back for about 11 years, and from the look of things, I'm going to be here for quite a while.

I first attended Valley Bible, about 2 years ago. I enjoy reading, writing, music, and singing. I enjoy singing. A LOT. Probably, more than I should. Just ask my sister’s neighbors, after suffering though an evening of listening to us, along with a few choice friends and family members bust out in song, while hopped up on coffee.

I have heard that they think we are having drunken parties. (whoops!)

Although I grew up in a Christian home, and my belief in God and Christ has always been strong, I haven't always lived the most "Christian life." In many ways I still don't...

Growing up, if I went to church, it was "****** *** *****" (I’m not going to openly specify which church this was, because I don’t want to speak ill of a group that someone else may attend) or nothing. That's where my parents went and that's where I was going to go. Period. I don't think I ever went to another church service until I was 16, when I snuck out to a Baptist service with my, then time, boyfriend. *L*

I really wasn't into Church, despite my faith in God's existence, because it seemed all doom and gloom to me. The thought of the afterlife terrified me, because I was completely convinced that once I kicked the bucket, I'd be riding that bucket straight into the fiery pits of hell for all eternity!

I don't want to lay blame on any one person, in particular, and it is not my place to judge anyone or their interpretations of God's word. However, for me, that fear came from the things I was told, growing up. There were too many contradictions between the bible and the teachings that I would hear. And, it wasn't until after my daughter was born, when I was 19, that I really started, searching through the bible, myself, for answers. And, even after I found them, it took quite a long time, to un-learn the things that I had been taught all my life..

One of the biggest things of all was Grace... This one was a real tough one for me. You can’t earn your way into heaven. Salvation isn’t a competition. If it was every single one of us would fall short. We get to go because Jesus loves us. If we believe in Jesus, and have accepted Him into our hearts, then we are His, forever.

I am so thankful, every single day, for this. Because, I need a lot of it, believe me. However, I like to think of myself as a work in progress. I'm learning everything all over again, with a new heart and it's baby steps, for now, I guess. Only God knows what my final outcome will look like, and that's okay, with me because I can't think of anyone better to design my future, than Him.