Blustery Days...

It's been a long time. Too long. I have lacked the words to describe this journey God has taken me on. I have graduated from college and this has been one of the toughest transitions I have had to face. This was an entirely new tough path that I did not want to walk down. Leaving behind my friends who felt more like family and a simple little place that felt more like home was rather heart breaking. I was instantly removed from everything that made me feel normal and blessed all at the same time. My heart did not skip a beat at the simple things the days had to offer nor did my smile reach both ends of my cheeks. I had come to a place where make believe was too far behind and Never Land was too far out of reach. Try as I might, here was where I would stay. For a little awhile. I believe that God is present in every moment of our lives. Placing people and experiences to help us grow to who He wants us to become. I think that God wanted me to recognize that the things I may have wanted might not be able to be mine just yet. I have had to place many things at the Lords feet, understandably so. I didn't want to take a break from fulfilling the things I had set out to do... but God wanted me to stop and breath and listen. So I did. I stopped and I saw that regardless of the let downs, I had still had so many precious people who continued to believe in me. I took a deep breath and my heart suddenly felt full of new aspirations. I listened and I heard the knock of many doors waiting to be opened. A little note passed me by that said, "Pay attention to your dreams for they are your letters from God." Take great delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Also, take heart, for Jesus has overcome the world. You only get one life. One chance to light up the world before it is time for you to leave. God will keep you safe and He will give the  encouragement to fight on. Believe that nothing will ever pass you by if it is not meant to. Embrace new opportunities and turn your nervousness into excitement. Know that you are always looked after and you are greatly loved.

I think my spark is coming back. It's been a long time....good to see you.

Love always,
Niki Lee

Coffee.

Dear World, today you taught me that a cup of coffee goes a long way. Sometimes in the midst of the chaos running through your mind, it is much needed to settle into a quiet place, a comfy chair, and a shot of espresso. While you expected to be alone to determine your thoughts, oddly enough you end up sharing such a space with someone who is willing to listen and take hold of your heart as if it were their own. I call that a blessing. When it's hard to grasp the things that tumble through your head and keep you up at night....share it. Someone is listening because they want to and also that someone may know exactly what it's like to be you. And if not, the ears were made to listen just as the heart was made to feel. Life is confusing but it is also wonderful. There are just as many ups as to downs and when you feel like crying go ahead....that's why God made tears. It's hard to understand the reasons behind the choices that made you act out of character but to put it simply.... you're human. It's what we do. And as easy as it is to stumble and make mistakes, if you try you can choose to take new steps and leave new footprints. We all struggle and at the end of each day, someone if not all, is in a battle of big proportions and small. It is all relative. We are all more alike than we tend to think and I hope in all ways that your heart will love the people whom you have not yet met and the places you have yet to go. As far as the places you have been and the place you are at now, your signature of love has been written. Life will never be perfect and that's okay because it makes room for adventure. Remember that sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never knew you had. I love each of you for your smiles and your pain, for your hopes and your fears and every inch of creativity that embodies your soul. Simple or complex your beautiful on the inside and out. And for what it's worth the world wouldn't be half as interesting without you in it. Keep the faith.
Love ya,
Niki

Reflection

The leaves have chosen to fall bit by bit changing colors before they steep to the ground of the earth. Summer has waved goodbye, although rays of sunshine still sweep across my face. As seasons change, so do I. The air is tinted with a crispness that reminds my heart the holidays are near. People change as quickly as the leaves and just like seasons come and go, so do they. I look around and I see change. Everyday, all around in every nook and cranny things are changing. It is rather beautiful. As cozy as it feels to be comfortable and content, we are still changing day by day. I sometimes forget to remember where I was or what I was doing or how I was feeling a year ago today. Whatever details I could conjure up about those moments, what I know for sure is that I have changed. And the moments I have shared with others have changed too. Reflecting can take you back to a time and a place that brought you joy, happiness, hurt and pain. Where are you know? I hope that you are stronger, braver, happier and that if you ever felt troubled, your troubles have traveled far, far away. You see in a way change is what is normal. What is even better is that we are all changing together. As the story goes we have helped the progression of one another to allow our hearts to grow fonder, our knowledge to grow deeper, and our lives to be changed forever. As you are I appreciate you. Whatever you want to be I am excited for you. Who you become will be an awfully big adventure. I look forward to reading your story. As for me.....the reflections I see are maps to my imagination. People I have met, places I have seen and dreams waiting to come true. Don't forget your wishes...you get more than three.
With so much love,
Niki Lee

The world spins madly on...

That's life...that's what all the people say. It is very likely that you and I may interpret those two little words very differently. When things start to look up you sometimes find yourself practically prancing through life on your tip-toes but when the sunlight fades and the darkness arises you may be deeply troubled with the challenges you face. Today someone cried, someone fell in love, someone fell out of love, someone witnessed a miracle, someone was a miracle, someone recognized the day for it's goodness and someone was unbearably reminded by it's harshness. If you cried today I hope you get the chance to smile tomorrow. If you were immersed in a world of beauty that gave you goose bumps, I hope you share what you have seen. If you were touched by a distant thought or a faded memory, I hope your reflection of it created a new meaning in your mind. Today was shared with each and everyone of you and I find that to be perfectly amazing. You see, your day shapes my day and days to come as mine does to you. When your  happy I may not be happy but your happiness brings light into my troubles. If my heart is full I hope it beams to those who need some mending. I may not know your name and you may have only seen me pass you by ever so briefly....but you changed my day. In small ways and in all sizes in between, your presence leaves it's mark on the entire world. Share your smiles and your tears, your heartaches and fulfillment. Encourage those around you to dream and to dream BIG. There is such goodness all around yet it is so easily missed. Laugh a little or a lot and don't be shy to say I love you. I love you!!! See that was easy!!!! Don't be so hard on yourself. Frank Sinatra was right when he said, 

"But I won't let it, let it get me down cause this fine world keeps spinning round." Let's go for a ride....it will be bumpy and we might fall off but it will be unforgettable I can promise you that. Cheers to tomorrow..... Live for today. xoxo

love you always

niki 

To the man in the Moon

Dear Man in the Moon,
Without a doubt you've got the best view in the house. Even when we can't see you, you can always see us, spinning and turning in perfection. Your light guides us on summery nights and chilled winter evenings. You sit punctually observing the world at it's worst and at it's best. Surrounded by whispers of glittery dust you are never alone. History entails the depths within your view and shooting stars contain the deepest of hopes and placed among you are the dreams of our globe. Reflecting from the sun you partner to work simultaneously sharing the illumination of nations. You have heard stories never to be told and have witnessed the mysteries that may never be solved. Your presents provides safety and comfort because no matter where we may be, it is you we can always see. The sky changes in ways miraculous to the eye. Colors that would seem only to be real in a story book where the stars play "peek-a-boo". But it's all very real, not just a glimpse but true reality. I have heard it said, "When in doubt, look up." For many reasons faith reaches out its hand through the faintness of your face and we return home to the thought of your light. I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight.
always love,
Niki

Spark of Creation

Creation: The world and all things in it. To be born with imagination that allows your entire existence to ponder the unimaginable. To regard everything as it is but to make the decision if it is as it should be. I have only been here for a short while compared to forever, which is an awfully long time but every tick of the clock has taught me the precise things that I need to know. Patience, a mountain I have learned to climb slowly, gradually inching my way to the top. Instead of being in such a hurry, gratitude is found when life is taken a little more slowly, patiently. The truth is presented in the moments you are present in and as always the truth will set you free. Without worry and without cares you see people for who they are. You notice the stories their eyes have been trying to tell and for the first time in awhile you want more than ever to be apart of that never ending story. Home is where the heart is, nevertheless, people make a home. Wherever I go and wherever I end up if ending up is really where I will ever be, those around me will make my house a home and it will be made with each and every story, every journey, every beginning and every ending until it is finished. Too many pages to even grasp, this world will read the greatest tale that has ever been written. I look forward to seeing each of you dream wide awake, and grasp the things that are no longer impossible. Always love along the way....
Xoxo
Niki Lee

Cast and Crew. May 4, 2011

Happy. Contented from the inside out with anxious joy that lingers from your finger tips to your toes. I have spent the last two months and a little bit more with the most creatively beautiful people I have ever met. Talented yes, but each and every one of their hearts is full of much more than that. Our cheeks have been painted the perfect shade of pink and our lips have been defined with a hint of fuchsia. Bow ties are perfectly fitted around the necks of dreamy leading men and their hands are there to twirl us right and then left at the precise moment. Costumes are ready, dress up has been played. The lights are burning and although the house is still empty, the air still contains it's spark. Music plays from the space below it's 5,6,7,8 lets go. Places have been called and will be called again as the lights go dim and your heart begins to race. Soon there will be applause, loud and thunderous to say the least and every moment placed on the stage will never be forgotten. In this place and in this time, nerves set in and release butterflies into your soul. Warm faces touched by a whisper of the spotlight calm you down and you quickly realize you are sharing the stage and this entire experience with people you absolutely adore and love. Thank you all for being exactly as you are, old and new were a family that I know I will never live without. For your handprints have touched my heart forever and there it will stay.

Always,

Niki