Overwhelmed

This blog post has been building up on my heart for a while. I write when I feel inspired. I can't write for the sake of writing something or because I haven't written in a while. I love to write. Some people express themselves verbally, I express myself when I write. Verbally I sound like a monkey, when I write I sound like a human. Not in all cases I can express myself too but writing has always been a part of me and always will be. I also have a sense of humour which I can't explain but I have a humour that comes across in my writing too so just go with the flow and pretend that you actually find it amusing.

I am overwhelmed. I think that's the best way to describe the reason behind my new blog post. I am overwhelmed in a good way, in a way that I am so incredibly thankful to God for amazing things that have happened and continue to happen in my life. No I am not engaged or even dating before you jump to conclusions as that seems to be the first thing people think most of the time. Although that is an advert too, it's only a few months now until my sister's wedding and I still have a spot open for a date, so any respectable young gentleman (just sounding professional in case my dad reads this) send them my way.

I am happy the way my life is, really happy in fact. Sometimes things happen though and if you are
not careful even when your life is on an uphill climb certain things happen that bring you down. There is good and bad in the world but you've got to cling to to the good and stay away from the bad but sometimes the bad comes and finds you. Even so whenever anything bad happens as I have said you have to focus on the good things and realise you have a lot of them and I have a lot to be thankful for.

One of the lessons I have learnt very recently is about me too. I always believe that even though people can be bad there is good in them too and it has been proven countless times in my life. People react according to how they are treated but if you treat people right you will find the good fruits of their personality. Recently I lost my faith in people a little bit and began to doubt if there was actually good inside only to find that there was. I don't want to do that again but I can't say I never will.

There is so much hate and people writing about people saying that people are this and people are that but God tells us to love. God tells us to love to the point of extending love to our enemy. Which is my favourite bible verse Matthew 5: 43-48. I can't say I have any enemies, I don't like the term and labeling people that. I don't like some things people do but that doesn't mean I don't like them as a whole. I think we all have the option of being better but the choice is ours to take it. I have a puppy love where I just love people and I am thankful God made me this way. I am thankful I can love easily even though at times it's been hurtful when people don't love you back but as I've grown in the years in my life I've realised that's it's not about people loving you back, it's about you loving them regardless.

Between the lessons I have learnt recently and the good things that have happened in my life I am overwhelmed. God has taught me some good lessons and made some amazing things happen in my life. From things in my job to my personal life it's been a wonderful time. I really go in to the detail saying "things" but it's not about people knowing what things I am talking about, God knows my life better than anyone and that's sufficient for me.

Going into the topic on certain "things" though, I will tell you now that I don't know when but I am going to start writing another book about my life experiences. I wrote my first book "Home Sweet Home" which I thought was going to be my major book but I wrote it when I was young and it was my first step in the book writing world and it's a fictional story with some of my life between the pages. Now I've come to the realisation that I have a story to tell, a different story. I don't know when I will write it but there is a story coming. Yes wait on the edge of your seat, no I don't intend for you to wait at all, whether one person reads my writing or one thousand I hope it helps or encourages someone in some way.

In summary: God's always good, I'm overwhelmed by the beauty in life and I'm going to write a book one day. In the meantime I hope you continue to keep reading my blog, I say this as if people read this but whether this is your first time (welcome by the way) or you've visited before, I'm thankful that my words get read.

God Bless you all.
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

What I've learnt in 25 years

It's about time I posted a new blog post. I'll never stop writing but with my busy life I haven't written as often but when I feel that moment of inspiration to write something, I come here to my blog and write it all down. After I've formed words, people read my words strung together in my blog posts. I really make my blog sound interesting don't I ;). I've written many posts on here and you're always welcome to browse through and share my blog if you want to.

I've learnt a lot in my life. I've recently turned a quarter of a century. I think the biggest thing about turning 25 for me was looking back on my life and all the things that got me to where I am today, the good and the bad. I'm very thankful for the life I have and God's been a great support and friend to me over the years. I love life with God. Through Him I've been blessed with amazing people in my life.

If I'm writing a blog post a lot of the time God's going to be a part of it because He's what has helped me and I never would force God on anyone or judge those that don't believe, you choose what you believe, God is who I believe. God's the reason we're all here and I love God and I am so thankful to Him for everything so He's in my posts. God's a VIP in my posts and in my life ;)!

In 25 years I've done a lot of things I've dreamed of doing. I've had dreams become a reality and I've had nightmares become a reality. I've had tough times which I didn't know when they would end.

Life isn't always sunshine and rainbows but there is a lot of sunshine and rainbows in life. I think when clouds come in your life, you've got to remember that clouds will clear, they always do. I can't say I've remained positive all my life but I try to, I try to look at the beauty of life rather than the darkness. Although sometimes darkness surrounds us and in those times God's been my light where I've followed His light to find my way out. I've tried my own way too which took much longer.

When you're in the dark and you're holding a flashlight, are you going to walk in pitch black and risk it or switch on your flashlight. The obvious answer would be to switch on your flashlight. In this instance the darkness is your problem you're facing, the flashlight is God who is always with you and when you switch on the light you're following God's path.

Now going back to my age, 25 years old, yes I'm ancient now, not quite. I'm at the age where some of my friends have got married, had children - a lot of which is happening all the time, my facebook is a constant stream of engagements, weddings and babies. I'm very happy for everyone :). I'm still looking to bribe someone to marry me before my younger sister gets married in November. So far any money I offer they still refuse to marry me, I must be a real catch ;). Actually I am happy with my life the way it is, I'm always open to meet someone but I know if it's God's plan it'll happen. This year my "little" sister gets married and I couldn't be happier for her :)! I don't know if you noticed the "little" part because although she's younger she's taller than me.

My sister, my dad, my mom's brother and my grandparents star in a huge part in my 25 years. My dad raised us both when my mom passed away when I was 9. I used to call my dad, my sister and I the three musketeers because although we wished my mom was with us we made it through. That's another thing I've learnt in 25 years that life isn't forever. I've lost many people in my life but their memory still lives on. I have wonderful memories of my late mom and late grandmother and many other family and friends. It's amazing how even though people are no longer with us, the way they touched our life remains with us forever. I wish they were here with me. One great lesson I learnt from my late mom and my late grandmother was to be kind to people and they were a great example of kindness. That's what God wants from us, You shall love your neighbour as yourself - Mark 12:31.

I love people, I love how everyone is unique. That's another thing I've learnt in 25 years is be yourself. You shouldn't have to change yourself for anyone and you should surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are. Life is too short to spend it running after someone who doesn't want you. God says we should love all people and we should but we can't make the people we love, love us. I don't like the saying love the people who treat you right, I think you should love regardless because we were created by God to love one another and if Jesus can love us when he was betrayed by man, beaten, nailed to a cross and still forgive us then I'm sure anything anyone has done to you in your life will never compare to what man did to Jesus and yet sometimes we can't forgive the smaller things. We need God's help with forgiveness it's not easy to forgive people who have hurt us. Forgive but still be careful because just because we've forgiven doesn't mean that they have changed but we have. Forgiving eachother as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive - Colossians 3:13.

Growing up in Zimbabwe the power and water cuts and food shortages taught me not to take anything for granted and it taught me to appreciate everything more. When we'd have all day or all week power cuts, I am really thankful I live in the Uk and the lights are always on with the exception of the five minute power cut I experienced once. I appreciate being able to go to the shops and everything you need being in the shop. I remember getting everyday things like milk and bread from a friend of a friend in Zimbabwe because the supermarkets were practically empty. I remember queuing for hours for things like milk, bread, sugar, flour and fuel. Imagine standing in a queue for a loaf of bread, I didn't have to imagine, I did it ;)! Zimbabwe is still a beautiful country with such friendly people even with the economy, I am still so happy I grew up there and I am glad I've learnt to appreciate what I have more. It has improved since I lived there, the economy is still not at its' best but the shelves are full now, there has been a lot of new places opening and tourists are even visiting. I'd still recommend it as a country worth visiting, it's a really beautiful country.

I could write forever on things I've learnt in 25 years because every day I'm learning something new but I wont write an endless blog post ;). My older blog posts are all part of the things I've learnt. I've learnt a lot from reading the bible and having a relationship with God. The best part of my 25 years has been God and hopefully He's going to help me live at least another 75 years so I can get a letter from the Royal Family here in the Uk on my hundredth birthday ;)! However long my life will be and we never know, anything can happen, I pray it continues to be a happy one and I know with God in my life it will be no matter what life throws at me.

With that I will love and leave you with this post to swallow,
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

A Midnight Poem

Here's a midnight poem from my heart to yours, 
May you discover your open doors, 
May your love run deep, 
May you have treasured friends to keep, 
May you have someone to catch your tears, 
May you conquer your fears, 
May God stand as your guide, 
Always by your side, 
May even when you have it tough, 
You know God's love is enough,
For your life I pray,
May God watch over you day by day,
May on your darkest night,
God be your light,
I want you to know,
That wherever you go,
God's created this life in which you star,
And God's never far.

~ Nicola Hill

Human Beings

We are people. Yes this is the start of a very intelligent blog post. I really aced that one. We are not aliens, we are human. H-u-m-a-n. It's not an excuse being human it's a fact. We fall under the same category as human beings.

What does it mean to be human? Maybe you can tell me. In an ever changing world with all kinds of people there is a way we as people would describe being human. Human beings are kind to one another. I am sure if other species could study us that's not the definition they will find.

Especially when human beings + social media mainly shows the hurt people feel from others. Whether it's from a break up, friends or colleagues or even strangers. Everybody hurts.

What we all have in common is that we all have feelings and feelings are what drives us. However feelings are not what drives God. God loves people who hate him.

I am not such a fan of social media at the moment because of the way people are written about. Not to say I haven't written things when I have been hurt too, I am not saying I am any better.

It reminds me how different we are compared to what God wants us to be. Mark 12: 30 - 31 says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'. There is no commandment greater than these."

It said love your neighbour. It never said except when they... It said love. We are asked to love. February isn't the month of love but all our lives is a time to love.

Human being - it doesn't matter how they are treated they love anyway. (A definition I would have liked to see).

Your heart can get crushed when you open your heart to others, it can can hurt but God heals all wounds and keeps you strong to keep loving. He gave us the ability to love.

It doesn't matter what people do to us; what matters is what we do to them.

A good verse on this and part of my favourite bible verse is: Matthew 5: 38-48.

Love to all,
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

Christ-mas

With Christmas around the corner, decorations put up and presents bought and Christmas day meals planned, the hype of Christmas is fresh in the air. It's Christmas music and Christmas food and Christmas parties. Plenty of Christmas. Another year, another Christmas. It's an exciting time of year.

By the title you might have guessed by now where I am going with this post. The word Christmas already tells you a lot. Christ-mas is the day which annually celebrates and remembers the birth of Jesus Christ. When everyone is brought together around Christmas, that's a good reminder of how we're all here to celebrate it because of Jesus in the first place. Without Him coming in to the world we wouldn't even be here today to celebrate because He was born and He saved all of us so that we can live. If He wasn't born, we wouldn't exist.

Imagine that. No Christmas lights, no tree, no presents, no Christmas meals, never mind that, one key point - no you. Non - existent.You can't even imagine not existing because you even have to exist to imagine. Wow one big emptiness. I wouldn't have this post. I wouldn't be here to write it. When you imagine all that just gone, you think wow what a lot we have in a Christmas season. What a happy time of year it is for most people. What a great gift life is. Whose birth on this day is remembered and who died and rose from the dead to save us so that we may have life? I'll give you a hint : Christ-mas. It's even in the word.

Jesus Christ is the answer. Not only the answer to my question but the answer to everything. He's the answer to life. How do we live life? We need Jesus. What is life? It's what we have been given by God. That's what Christmas is about, remembering why we are here because of Him. Jesus gave the best gift ever He made it possible for life to continue. I doubt anything you're going to find under the tree is going to be more valuable than that.

I love Christmas and everything that comes with it. Christmas is like a tornado and everything about it is spinning around and around with all the excitement but the center of the tornado which is called the eye of the tornado is the calmest part. So while the tornado of Christmas spreads around the world let's not forget the center where the calm of Jesus Christ is. Christmas is not only a massive holiday but also a remembrance of the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is the main celebration for Christ-mas.

This song just popped in to my head, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone, Because I know He holds my future and live is worth the living just because He lives." What a great blessing Jesus Christ is to all of us. I think that's a great remembrance and cause for celebration and gratitude every Christmas season and not only on Christmas but throughout our lives. However on Christmas Jesus should especially be remembered because if He isn't that's like going to a party and no one at the party thanking or recognising the host.

Let's honour the day our Saviour came into the world. That's a reason for presents and food and we can celebrate but in all that let's no forget why Christmas is here. It's not a holiday about us, it's about Jesus. Christmas is here because we are here and we are here because Jesus was born. The day He was born we get presents. He enabled us to buy presents to give to each other by blessing us in our lives.

Jesus is selfless not only did he save us all but on His day we give each other presents and He never asks for anything. God encourages us to give and it pleases Him when we do with the right heart. It's not wrong to give gifts on Christmas, giving to people because we love them is the way God wants us to give.

Wishing you all a lovely Christ-mas,
Until I write again,
God Bless,
Nicola Hill

Home Sweet Home by Nicola Hill - The book I wrote

Dear readers worldwide,

Welcome to my blog and this is a special post about my book. My first novel which I've recently self published for now on Amazon Kindle it's called Home Sweet Home. I still would like to have it published as a paper back novel one day and it still may need professional editing but for now I finally put it out there for people to read. I decided it's time to share my book.

My book was before my blog, I named this blog after my book. It's a hard post for me to write because I don't know if you've seen or read a part Home Sweet Home yet but this book has been a part of my life for a long time. Whether my novel is destined to be best a seller or not, I put so much in to the story. It's been a book I first got the idea for when I was fourteen years old. Over ten years now. I started it three times with three different titles and finally completed it the year after I finished high school in 2007 and I've had it ever since editing it over the years. That's why my book is set in 2007. I spent 2007 writing it from start to finish.

I was in my second year of high school and watching Men in Black one night when I thought, why are people from another planet usually made to be aliens or have special powers, why can't they be normal human beings. I remember the night I first got the idea for my book. I was so excited. I wanted to make a new planet where normal human beings came from. I actually had the name for the planet already which I used for my book - Techno. I made a planet that has advanced technology but I gave Techno a special reason for this as you'll read in my book.

There were a few times when I was writing my book in Zimbabwe and there would be a power cut and the laptop would go off before I'd have a chance to save. I wrote it on an a laptop that had a battery that didn't work properly so I needed to have electricity. As frustrating as it was, sometimes I just laughed at the craziness of it all. I would spend hours just sitting and writing. When I was sitting and writing I was oblivious to my surroundings. It was as if I would be in a different world. It was a really great feeling creating this whole new story and putting it all together. I got so excited when I got an idea to add to my book.

I remember someone telling me I have this writer personality about me where I can just be somewhere else, in my own world. I always trail off when I get new ideas in to the World of Imagination, that's where I go when I'm writing or getting ideas. I'm in the zone. A moment of inspiration. You shouldn't write when you don't feel like it and that's why I write when I feel this urge to put my ideas down. That's when I have my best work. Those are the times I would sit on the laptop and write a few pages or a new chapter of my book.

I have implemented parts of my own life in Home Sweet Home. There are many things that relate to my life but I don't want to write about them in this post because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. Apart from the houses in my book, the other places in Zimbabwe are real places. The schools and the areas all exist. Once you've read my book I might write a spoiler post about how the book relates to my own life. However it's not a story about me, it's a story about overcoming the past.

As a writer you write what you know and that's so true. I used a country I grew up in because there is no other place I know better. That's why there are parts of my life in the book because the more I can relate to my book, the more readers are going to. It's a fantasy book with people from another planet and a fantasy world of Techno but then you get taken to the real Zimbabwe. My home.

I had the time of my life creating this story. I have the time of my life every time I am writing something. I've enjoyed writing poetry and blog posts. Now I've finally decided to share a book I wrote . A book which I hope is one of many to come. If you look on Amazon Kindle you can read a sample of it. I have something better in store however.

Home Sweet Home will be on a free book promotion on Amazon Kindle. A free download of the whole book on Amazon Kindle. I am going to have a promotion this month and next month. My aim in publishing is to share what I've done and I'd like to share it with you. Feel free to share the link to my book too with your friend's cousin's aunt's grandmother. I'm happy to share it with anyone and I would appreciate any help. I could use some help and feedback.

I really would love to have my book published on paper too but for now it's only Amazon Kindle. I learnt that even if you don't have a kindle, on all smart phones/ ipads or anything that can get apps you can download the Kindle app which works just like a Kindle. At least then if you wanted to you could also download my book.

I thank God for my writing. Anything I do or have done, I owe it all to God. On our own I'm sure we can do well but with God we can do great in our lives. We can be better and we can do better. I may not get everything I want with my writing but I know that God will give me everything I need.

My next novel I will writing will be a Christian one.

The link to Home Sweet Home on Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Sweet-Nicola-Hill-ebook/dp/B00G3L3EI0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383658801&sr=8-1&keywords=home+sweet+home+nicola+hill

Or if you search "Home Sweet Home Nicola Hill" it will come up on any amazon website.

If you do read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can write a review on amazon or send me your thoughts. It'll be interesting to hear all the feedback.

This is a picture of my first Home Sweet Home in Harare, Zimbabwe. I'm not calling it my Home Sweet Home because of the house although it was my home too but also because of the memories my family and I shared there. Many happy memories.















Feel free to go through my blog too and read all my blog posts and if you have twitter you can follow me @nicolahill7

Thank you for reading this post, I hope you read my book.

Until I write again,
Look out for the free promotion and happy reading Home Sweet Home,
Nicola Hill

Falling In Love

Who would think, I put some thoughts in my head on a blog and people actually read it. I appreciate all the views I get on my blog. It's the one thing I like to do when I'm relaxed and my mind has all these ideas and then I think, I'm going to write about it. It can be scrambled thoughts that somehow when I write it down it makes sense. Well to me anyway. A lot of people have different things that are their thing and writing is my thing. It's my thing. It's what I like to do the most. That and eat. I'm half teasing, I do like writing and I like to eat but I like a lot of other things too.

This post is a continued topic on my blog. I've written on this topic before but I don't think you can ever cover everything on it. It's one of those never ending stories. Don't you worry though I'm not about to go on and on about it in this post though, this blog post will have an end. It will be a lasting topic that I will bring up when I feel inspired to write about it as I do now. There are lots of forms of love this is about falling in love.

I've been thinking a lot about my friends who are engaged and married and the constant news I hear of more couples taking the plunge. Recently my youngest sister has added to that news with her engagement. All this falling in love that's happening all around. That feeling of people knowing they want to spend the rest of their lives with each other. It's an amazing thing.

I think the key about love is that you don't need one person to complete you but it's great to find someone to spend your life with. In other words you have to be your own person before you can fall in love with someone. No one should want to change you, they should want to grow with you as you are.

Love is one of the coolest things in the world. Romance, love, relationships are what most people want. Everyone's time will come. At the rate things are going yours could even come tomorrow. Life however is not about falling in love. What I mean by that is falling in love is not a goal it's just something that can happen. The thing about falling in love is no one can make you fall in love, you just do. That's why it's called falling in love not forced to love.

I like all this falling in love that I'm seeing happening all around. I think it's a really exciting time for a lot of people. A lot of people are taking that next step to a future together. I can't believe quite a few are people my age now and younger, I must be getting old. It's funny one day you imagine people will get married and have kids and now it's happening. It's reality brought to life.

I'm very happy for all  the couples that have fallen in love. I love the love stories from people and I'm a sucker for romantic comedies and love music and all that crap. It's not really crap, it's beautiful. Love is beautiful. It's one of the most beautiful things in life. I can't really define falling in love because it's so special but I see the beauty in it.

I'm not planning to go out there and fall in love myself. This post isn't about me and you can't plan it for yourself. I just think falling in love is cool and I'm over the moon for those who have. You ever heard the song that goes "Love and marriage. Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage." I'm seeing this happen in most cases. 

For those who have fallen in love - awesome! If you're hoping to fall in love one day - it could happen. No seriously, have you not seen the rate of people getting married today. I think the wedding industry is the most probably the most profitable industry to be in at the moment. The odds are in your favour. Ok more seriously now as I said before falling in love is not a goal in life. You, you are your goal. Be you and if someone happens to fall in love with you that's great. 

I just thought I'd use this blog post to launch my wedding planner business, ok I'm joking unless you want a wedding in the middle of the jungle or something completely unusual then yes I could help you out. Wedding planner for me - no way but I want to congratulate those who have found someone and those who haven't, well your parents and friends still love you. That's a bit cheeky I know but alright my point is, love can happen.

So until I write again I shall love and leave you to be swept off your feet. Possibly in the time I've written this three more people have got engaged. I actually hope so, I think it's really cool that so many people have fallen in love.

Nicola Hill