Niki Carbajal
Niki enjoys chronicling her random thoughts about God in a humorous and transparent way at PlantedontheRock.blogspotcom. She is also the co-editor and a regular contributor at SecurelyTransparent.blogspot.com where women are able to share and reveal HIS stories through their lives. Niki is married to Mario and they have five children. Their oldest son is serving in the U.S. Army and is stationed in Alaska. Niki will be leaning heavily on the Lord as her son leaves the safety of the U.S. to serve in Afghanistan. That leaning on the Lord becomes even greater as they home educate their four younger children and navigate the path of phonics, geography, mounds of laundry, stacks of dishes, and never-ending questions of "why?". Niki's current prayer is "Lord, open my eyes to see". To see . . . His grace, those in need, the lost, His blessings, and . . .
Homepage: http://www.plantedontherock.blogspot.com
Posts by Niki Carbajal
Sit Down Martha!
Feb 16th
My recently turned three-year-old is decidedly a big boy. He no longer wants sippy cups (less to wash!) or help with his hair and clothes. He wants to be a big kid like his siblings. He has even started enjoying Bible story time before bed. Because of his enthusiasm for story-time with the other kids, we have put aside our Bible geared for older kiddos and have pulled out the My First Bible Stories. He loves to talk about the pictures (especially the snakes and fiery furnace) and listens as we read. It is such a blessing to hear the older kids More >
Love Actually
Feb 2nd
February! It's the month of love. Spring flowers began to peek up through the ground. Diamond dynasties and card companies create in our heads visions of ginormous rocks on a band, heart-shaped chocolates, and sappy but heart-felt sentiments from our loved ones. Our expectations of a over-the-top romantic Valentine's Day increase with each passing day.As a teenager, Valentine's Day was the best day all year. Boys could buy their sweethearts a single rose and have it secretly delivered during the middle of Algebra II or Chemistry. All the girls would gush excitedly while secretly hoping their own beau would have More >
Whispers in the Dark
Jan 16th
It's 2:30 a.m. I awake with a woman heavy on my heart, filling my oh-so-sleepy mind. A woman I've met only once but know about through a friend. Her struggles and challenges are known to me through specific prayer requests and I committed to pray for her.Honestly? When I am asked to pray for someone, I do. Unfortunately, I don't necessarily pray fervently without ceasing. My prayers sometimes are all over the place like a four year old boy with sugar overload. I try to sit quietly and journal my prayers as an attempt to be more intentional about my More >
Texas True?
Jan 11th
I had the pleasure of chatting with a new friend while watching my daughter's basketball practice. We clicked right away. She was generally interested and listened without over talking and hogging the conversation. We talked of our dear, sweet husbands and darling children. She asked about our decision to home school vs. private vs. public. I asked her about her move from Kentucky and if she liked Texas. It was really nice!After 45 minutes of surface talk I asked her to tell me about the day she became a Christian. What was it like for her and how had God More >
Broken and New
Dec 14th
My favorite platter crashes to the ground and smashes into a zillion tiny pieces. My daughter's attempt at a "fancy" tea party has come to a sad end. Her face crumpled into the same zillion pieces and she begins to sob. I'm so sorry, mom. It was an accident. I didn't mean it. I just wanted to decorate the tea party fancy!. I swallow my disappointment and begin to pick up the pieces. Sweep up my frustrations into a little heap. I can't bear to dump those slivers of colored pottery in the garbage. I vow to use them in More >
I Just Wanna Win!
Dec 6th
I watched across the table as my daughter became frustrated at losing game after game of Bingo. Her mouth drew into a firm line, lips pressed together. Her eyes were almost frantic as she waited for the number-letter combination to be called. As another player excitedly shouts "Bingo!" she slams her fists on the table and begins to cry. I, as discreetly as possible, escort her into another room intending to take her down a notch. What silliness to get so upset about a silly ol' bingo game!As I march her away from the table, the Holy Spirit begins to More >
Hug Me Not
Nov 22nd
Her bright smile and exuberant personality rushed toward me with arms outstretched. I braced myself for the inevitable hug. I am hugged every time she sees me coming and going. I am hugged before and after a prayer. I am hugged at the beginning and the end of meetings. Her hugs surround me.The problem you ask?I am NOT a hugger. I do not have a strong desire for physical touch. My first thought is not to squeeze someone in love. Nor is it my second thought. It's not that my parents didn't lovingly embrace me as a child or that my More >
Thankfully Thankful
Nov 13th
November brings on a refreshing attitude of thankfulness. People recognize the Lord in the smallest of places, among the spectacular and the everyday. It's exciting to see exclamations of thankfulness over parents, spouses, children, veterans, and even the Internet. Some are super sweet and others bring a tear to the eye. Regardless of the actual object of thankfulness, our Provider, the Lord, is the origin of all things given. He alone desires our praise and thanksgiving.Skip Thanksgiving? My kids think it would be OK!I'm not sure of the atmosphere of your home but in mine, my children anxiously await the More >
