The World According to Alisha @worldaccordingtoalisha - Tumblr Blog

Living in the Middle

Living in the Middle Living life in the middle is a pain sometimes. Before you jump to conclusions, I am not talking about being wishy-washy or luke-warm. I’m talking about approaching everyday life with balance, because when you swing to one extreme or the other, it causes issues. When I look at the current state of our world and especially our country, there are so many examples of the…

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#Balance #perspective

One Year Later

One year ago, my husband and I were welcoming our baby girl into the world. That day was filled with uncertainty as her entrance was not at all what our plan was. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can check out “Part 1” of her story here. 2020. This year has been one of the hardest but most rewarding years I think I have ever experienced. Between going through the fun of…

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#2020 #Baby #first birthday #Miracle #parenthood #thankful #Update

A Letter to Christians in the Midst of a Pandemic

My heart is tired.

Our world as we once knew it has been flipped on its head. It hasn’t just been due to the pandemic. My current window of the world, Facebook, has been rife with lies and hate. The saddest part to me is that most of it is coming from those who claim to follow Christ.

What kind of message does that send to the world? That we who are claiming to follow a God who IS LOVE…

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#Christians #love #no fear #Pandemic #truth #truth will set you free

Our Little Christmas Present: The Story of Natasha

New blog post! I know it's been a while, but I finally have a new one. Our Little Christmas Present: The Story of Natasha

Sweet baby Natasha. So much has happened in the first six days of her life. She took forever (it seemed) to arrive, but her arrival has been a whirlwind. In the midst of that whirlwind, though, I have seen God’s hand, every step of the way.

We began the process of induction on Monday. As with every other time we had checked, there was no progression, so they needed to help that process along.…

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#Baby #Christmas Eve #Miracle #Motherhood #NICU

If you spend enough time with me, you will find out very quickly that I really like my house plants. Since I can’t afford having a pet at the moment, I have plants. I really like the ones that have flowers, but even the ones that don’t, I still enjoy the beauty they bring to my apartment. Recently, I finally bought my favorite kind of flower: a tropical Hibiscus. I knew when I got it, it would…

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Do you know about Mary?

Hello there! I know it’s been a while since I have said hello to the world. Life’s been a bit busy the last few months and a lot has happened. Amongst the craziness of life, though, I’ve been thinking. Dangerous pastime, I know, but I’ve been doing it nonetheless. I’ve been thinking recently about Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the virgin everyone talks about around Christmas time. There are…

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Do you know about Mary?

I’ve been thinking recently about Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the virgin everyone talks about around Christmas time. There are songs about her, people argue about the validity of such songs, they lift her up on a pedestal, and some even put her next to Jesus on the deity scale. But the truth is she was human, just like me and you.

I find it funny how God works sometimes. I’ve been pondering Mary for the last few weeks, likely thanks to the song “Mary Did You Know”. Our church just did a Christmas illustrated sermon about the Christmas story from Mary’s perspective. It was talked about how what seemed like a great miracle, likely would have made her earthly life very difficult. She had this great miracle placed inside her, that she would carry and deliver to the world, but she also had to face a fiancé who would likely think she had been promiscuous and just wanted to cover it up. Her family and friends would more than likely raise questions and in that day, she could have easily been stoned for adulatory. She had courage and great faith to be able to say “let it be done to me according to your word”. And she said that as a teenager! I don’t know about you, but if I was approached 10-12 years ago and told everything that she was told then, I would freak out.

The other thing I’ve been pondering lately is the argument I’ve heard in recent years against the song “Mary Did You Know?”, that she did in fact KNOW all of the things that would happen because of her son and what He would do. Not to defend the song as absolute truth/fact, but I doubt even if I was told everything the angel told her, even now that I’m older, that it would all sink in at once. I’m sure there were times when she wondered if she made it all up. I know there were times when she made special notes of the amazing things that happened. The Bible says she treasured the things the shepherds shared of their encounter with the angels. Those little confirmations.

I have little doubt that she had a peace about trusting the messenger of the Lord that day. Even with the immediate problems she could have known about when she made the decision to say yes, she still went forward with it. It wasn’t because she knew how everything would unfold in the end, but because she trusted Him. She was human, like me, but what set her apart was the faith to trust Him with her life.

I want to be like that. To have the faith to look at what God is asking of me and say, “let it be done to me according to your word”, and trust Him no matter where that leads me.

#mary #Christmas #godswill #faith

This past week (my second on the job) was pretty incredible! Everyday I walked in to find a new surprise on my desk. Thank you so much @revmattpurkey @jeanniempurkey @mhpurkey #adminprofessionalsweek

#adminprofessionalsweek

No Longer Silent

This is a blog that has been working its way into fruition for a while now. I cannot continue to remain silent any longer. I will preface this post by saying that if you cannot handle anything political, or hate it when someone has a differing opinion than your own, you may want to stop reading. Okay, now that is out of the way. I have to say, this current election has me pensive. I don’t like my choices one bit. However, I was saddened to hear that a certain candidate had to shut down his rally last night because of safety concerns. Not just for himself, but also concerns of the safety of his supporters. Now before you start putting me in the category of one of his supporters, hear me out.

We live in a country where we legally have the freedom of speech. This means, technically, we can say whatever we want. Obviously, we still have to deal with the consequences of our choices in what we are saying. We also have the legal right to PEACEFULLY protest (mainly the government, but still, it is a legal right). That said, certain politicians can say just about whatever they want. Do you have to like it? No. So how should the consequences be shown? Just don’t support them. Leave them alone to say whatever they want to say, and eventually people will hear the idiocy coming from their mouths. Sure you can protest, say their idiocy is wrong, and we should keep said person from office, but has that really gotten us anywhere? Especially when throwing violence and the threat of violence in the mix. What happened to simply picking someone to support and convincing others why their candidate is more qualified than the other?

Yes, I am asking a lot of questions, but maybe that’s what we need right now. Our country is so divided. I am living in a day and age where a group of people say violence isn’t the answer, and yet they are in favor of jeopardizing people’s safety with riots because there is a politician in town whom they don’t agree with. We have truly lost our minds. Our society looks at skin and immediately draws a conclusion. It doesn’t matter if it is white, brown, yellow or pink with purple polka-dots. We cannot be in the same room half the time without finding some major conflict with each other.

9/11/2001 was a pretty big day here in the US. We united because we were attacked as a nation. It also changed some perceptions of the outside world. Now we are the exact opposite. We fight with other, in our own neighborhoods.

“Should we have gun control?”

“Should the minimum wage be raised?”

“Should the men in Oregon be forcibly removed from the government building?”

“Should gay marriage be legalized?”

“Should Trump be the GOP nominee?”

“Should… should… should.” These “should” questions are all we ever hear anymore. We are battered by constant wave after wave of agendas. I, for one, am tired of having to swallow pills I never asked for. You should, too, and here’s why. We don’t do well when we are alone. If we isolate ourselves from one another, we will definitely fall. Abraham Lincoln once said “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. Believe it or not, he was quoting the BIBLE (Mark 3:25), and Jesus even went so far as to say “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation (or destruction)” (Matthew 12:25). Over the many culture related classes I took in college, I saw many differences from one culture to the next. But, at the same time, while there are typically different rituals, there are a lot of similarities between cultures and subcultures. This concept was kind of always apparent to me, but it didn’t really hit me until I saw the similarities between hearing culture and the Deaf culture in America. Everyone wants to paint us all as being on one side of the pendulum or the other. There is never any middle ground shown. And yet we have people in history who were able to bridge the gap between cultures and bring unity and peace in less than favorable conditions. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mother Teresa. Oskar Shindler.

Instead of helping one another with their burdens, we are so self consumed that only our opinion matters and whatever collateral damage will happen as long as we get our way. Calling for the destruction or downfall of another is not what will make a difference. Choosing to be others-driven is what will make a change for the better. So before you join people to cause harm to others for their own agenda, take a moment to think about your neighbor, the restaurant server, or even the person running for office. They are all still human.

I may be one of a handful of others, but I am determined to make my world a better place.

#divided #rally postponed #protests #America #election 2016 #worldchangers

No Longer Silent

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While it isn't in the center, this was a great grouping at 30yards😊

Spent some time with my bow today. 😊🏹 #beautifulweather #archery (at Shawnee Mission Park)

#archery #beautifulweather

My Letter to the President

A lot can happen in a month or two. I know it’s been a bit since I posted anything, but I’ve been feverishly working on a few things.

Let’s see, there was the job search, followed by doing research regarding enlistment in the military, as well as trying to determine whether I think I would fit well in the military (the jury is still out on that, by the way). While I have put that decision on a momentary hold, I became inspired to do something I have never done: write a letter to the President. As it turned out, the completed product sounded a lot more like what I had originally in mind for this blog, so I thought I would share it with you. Mind you, this letter is pretty long (the printed and sent version was 4 pages), but I hope that you can take the time to read it. Please comment what you think and share this, because I really believe this is a relevant topic which may inspire others. Thank you!!!

_______________________________________________________________________

The Letter:

Mr. President: My name is Alisha. I felt compelled to introduce myself and to write to you about a current problem that I believe many of my peers are facing. I would also like to use this opportunity to exercise my First Amendment rights to petition my government “for a redress of grievances”. So, without further ado, I will begin.

I am 25 years-old. I just recently finished the first half of my schooling, which admittedly took longer than I really wanted it to. I can now say that I have an Associates in Paralegal Studies and a Certificate in American Sign Language studies. I will start working on my Bachelors in Leadership studies in the Fall. Up to this point, I have worked several food service jobs, like fast food and serving, to pay for my schooling as I took classes. This means both of my degrees are completely paid for, without loans. I have lived with my parents all the way through as well, which means I don’t have the expenses many my age have.

Being the ambitious young person that I am, I figured my next goal would be to move out and get a job outside of food service. I have always found administrative work fairly easy and I thought that with my paralegal degree and the experience I have gained in volunteering my admin skills over the last few years would help me get an entry level job. Here is where the problem has come in.

I began my search for full time employment, using the job search tools available for every job searcher. Every single job I found which claimed to be “entry level”, either wanted someone with 3-5 years of experience and a bachelors degree, or they were the jobs that a person who never went to college would be qualified for.

I then expanded my search to companies themselves, in order to see what jobs they had available near me. Yet again, any administrative or paralegal type jobs that I could find (which were not easy to find), wanted 3-5 years of experience, and in most cases required me to relocate away from family and friends . There have been very few that I have found that I was “qualified” for. I have applied to several in hopes that I can actually become an independent adult.

This leads me to the issue I see right now. Despite what the official statistics say on the unemployment rate and the current job market, it is hard to find a job. Especially if you are not in a technical field, and without experience. I know that I am not the only college student or recently graduated young person having this issue. Yes, there are internships. However, many times a person has to choose between gaining experience or being able to pay for college outright, in addition to other living expenses.

The way I see it right now is that many companies would rather save money and hire an experienced professional than to train a new graduate. Companies have to pay for so many things as part of their overhead, I can understand why they want to reduce spending. Healthcare plans for their employees, unemployment taxes, taxes and fees for Workman’s Comp, Medicare, social security taxes, property tax and payroll taxes; these are just a few examples of what they have to worry about paying for. Many law firms have to pay out to professionals to help out with cases. They also, like doctors, have to worry about malpractice suits. So many of theses expenses and/or taxes are mandated by law.

Then there are the industries who have been so heavily regulated that the employees are unable to truly do their jobs. My dad has been a truck driver for longer than I have been alive. It used to be there was some good money in the trucking industry. Now, hours of service regulations make him responsible for things that are outside of his control. Things like traffic, weather, and receiving hours for pick up and deliveries are just a few extraneous circumstances he has to take into consideration. Many work days are shortened due to a lack of parking available to truckers. It is a common occurrence for my dad stop driving for the day with hours left on the clock, because he would have nowhere to be able to legally park once he hit his driving time limit. Not to mention all the Eco-regulations put on drivers in individual states, including no idling policies and required modifications to their trucks to “reduce emissions” . This majorly cuts into any profits that could be made.

All that to say, companies are tightening up their budgets. Fortunately for me, I do still have a job as a server, but I am still determined to find something more stable. I cannot say that for every person in my generation, though. Many are not as determined, and they settle, or they give up entirely.

Many people my age are joining the military right now. This isn’t necessarily because they want to either. They feel they have no choice. I will admit, I never saw myself looking into the armed forces, but in my search it has come into my scope of things to look at. I am not saying that serving our country is not an honorable and noble act, because it most certainly is. We as a country would not have what we do, had there not been people who fought for it and protected it. However, I feel like many people my age are being drafted in a round about way. They are being lured in because there is something offered that they can’t obtain in the civilian job market. They are offered free dental, health, school, and job experience (which may or may not translate to a civilian job after they get out. This is assuming they make it back home). However, not everyone is a good fit for the military.

People my age are demanding they get a raise as a fast food worker. People my age are dying every day because of gang violence. People my age are committing suicide. Some people my age are even taking others with them. The Bible says, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint…” (Proverbs 29:18 WMB), and some translations even say “perish”. I am watching my generation die around me, because they have no hope or vision from the leadership around them.

This leads me to my final point. I believe the biggest issue we have in our country for both the job market and the violence is that we have too many regulations, taxes and mandates on both corporations and people, with the idea of “protecting” us and our ideals. My generation has been forgotten and ignored. We as an American culture are so self-absorbed that when we look at another human being, we don’t see the signs of issues. This is the State of our Union. The people are what it is supposed to be about, but that is the element that is being forgotten.

Our government has grown way past its boundaries set up by the Constitution. We the people (young/old, any race, and any gender) have been over regulated and over mandated. My favorite President, President Ronald Reagan once said: “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives”. He also stated that, “government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.” That is where people actually caring about other people comes into play. I believe this will solve many issues we face in our country today, not more government and more executive orders.

For so long, people have looked to the “big brother” government for help and it has grown too large to control. Can you imagine what would happen if the government stepped back and let the people who care about other people take care of things? Actually that probably sounds like a terrible idea, because that is what the “helpful” government has done for so long. That, plus out of control spending has led to being in so much debt to China and other nations.

That is all I have for now, at least in the context of this letter. There may be more to come. Before I end my message, though, I think you should know this about me. I have always loved history and civics. I was fascinated when I was introduced to the Constitution and what it meant for our country and its government. I am a voter; I vote in every election I can, because I know I can make a difference. I am also very passionate about the US Constitution, as I am sure you can tell, if you have read up to this point. There are others, like me, who are also passionate. While I doubt I will hear anything back from you, I sincerely hope that you take what I have mentioned to heart. I will also continue to pray for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Alisha Nichols

#presidential letter #president #barack obama #state of the union #young people

My Letter to the President

A lot can happen in a month or two. I know it’s been a bit since I posted anything, but I’ve been feverishly working on a few things. Let’s see, there was the job search, followed by doing research regarding enlistment in the military, as well as trying to determine whether I think I would fit well in the military (the jury is still out on that, by the way). While I have put that decision on a…

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#barack obama #jobs #president #presidential letter #US constitution #young people

A Shuk, Latkes, and a Menorah

Tonight I had the opportunity to experience something I have always wanted to in the past. I was invited this past Sunday to a Hanukkah Celebration. It was such an incredible experience filled with dancing, food and getting a glimpse into another culture. My mom and I went to the very beginning of it, which was called a Shuk, or a marketplace. There were different booths with all sorts of…

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A Shuk, Latkes, and a Menorah

My mom and I went to the very beginning of it, which was called a Shuk, or a marketplace. There were different booths with all sorts of different things. After perusing them, we decided to sit down and people watch. We watched how they interacted and fellowshipped with one another. It was an interesting thing to observe.

Eventually, it was time to eat. What celebration would be complete without food, right? In the context of Hanukkah, the food provided was fried food. In the story of the holiday, they only had enough oil to burn in the temple for one day, but it lasted for 8 days. So the food follows the celebration of the oil - fried foods. Latkes (potato pancakes), donuts and other similar things. I loved being able to partake of the food and see the culture in front of me.

I felt like I was beginning to see a picture of the New Testament church. That was an incredible feeling by itself. Seeing my Bible come alive was indescribable. Then it was time to begin the lighting portion of the celebration. Tonight was the third night of Hanukkah. As we watched, as a community, they sang a song in Hebrew.

Then started a concert of a lady from Israel. She sang many songs in Hebrew and there was an atmosphere of celebration. They began dancing while she sang. Then my mom and I were added to the dance. While terrifying, it was so exhilarating.

Then there was a sermon related to Hanukkah. In my church, my pastor often mentions that we will get paper cuts because we use the Bible. The man who spoke tonight literally went from one end of the Bible to the other and tied it all together in context. And the coolest thing was, I was able to see the Bible from the Jewish perspective.

It was an incredible experience I will never forget. I saw my Bible come alive in a new way. It would have never happened had I decided to stay home. I am so glad my mom and I were able to go, and I hope to have another opportunity in the near future to do it again.

My advice to you reading this, is don’t be afraid to step out to see something different. I learned an Israeli dance tonight and I had a blast. I was able to experience a part of a celebratory culture. In our American culture, we are way too serious. We have holidays, but many only celebrate and and fun with the alcohol involved. There is no point to them. They really have become excuses to drink. So many other cultures have holidays and festivals they partake in and have for a long time. They have fun as a community and unified.

After tonight, my heart is full, and I can’t wait to do it again!

Sincerely,

Alisha

P.S. Chanukah Sameach! (Happy Hanukkah!)

Thankfulness and Contentment

Today is a day that many people in the United States celebrate thankfulness with friends and family. Or at least that is what we often tell ourselves. However, many undermine that goal by immediately trying to find the best deals on getting more stuff. Now I have been seeing many posts on my Facebook feed showing what people are thankful for in the past few weeks leading up to today. Will I see more of those after today? Maybe, but most likely, most of us will simply move on to the next thing. The next thing could be shopping, trampling over each other for the best deals, or planning the next vacation trip. Maybe it’s a return to “everyday” life. Whatever it may be, wouldn’t it be better to find the things to be thankful for rather than constantly looking for the next big thing or chasing after what we think we want? Let’s look at a couple things. The word “thankful” means “glad that something has happened or not happened, that something or someone exists, and also expressing thanks”. I’m sure their is a lot of things that can apply to in our “everyday” lives. Another word worth looking at is “content” is “to be satisfied; not needing more”. How many times do we look at what we have and say “I need to get a new ____,” or “I want what ____ has”. We are discontent as a society. We are so focused on what we want individually and convince ourselves that we need this or that. So why do we pick one day out of the year to say “I’m thankful for _____”, and then turn around the next day (or the day of, even) and wait in line to get that next big thing or a snatch up a hot item before it’s gone. I think it’s something we all should take some time to ponder. There was a wise man many years ago, named Paul, who said this: “12 I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. 13 I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13) So, as we take time with Family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s remember to extend it out throughout the rest of the year. And to also be content with what we have, and the people we get to spend time with every day. Who knows, if we take the time to find something worth thanks (be it something that did or didn’t happen, or for the people we spend our lives with) maybe we will find ourselves to be more content people every day of the year. Happy Thanksgiving! Sincerely, Alisha

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