Raleigh - Durham...A Real N.C. Girl's Perspective

Numbers 6: 24-26

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale

Having just celebrated my daughter’s 18^th birthday and with Thanksgiving Day almost here…I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on the precious gift I received on Thanksgiving Day in 1990. I originally wrote this post in October 2007, but I feel the need to share it again. I hope you enjoy it!

 With my daughter, Michelle's, 17th birthday just around the corner...I've been thinking a LOT about how quickly the years have flown by. I mean...SEVENTEEN YEARS has melted just like milk chocolate.

A few weeks ago...I was standing in the hall at Durham Regional Hospital...looking into the window of the Intensive Care Nursery. My nephew decided to be born long before his due date, and he needed a little extra attention. He is fine now...back home with his family and growing every day.

As I stood in the hall...looking into that window....I realized that I was looking at the exact spot where I had spent 10 LONG days in 1990...watching my newborn daughter struggling for her life and praying for a miracle. Michelle was born healthy, but she developed pneumonia immediately. Everyday...for six days...the doctors told me that my baby girl would not live through the night. EVERYDAY SHE LIVED WAS A GIFT!

On the sixth day, my mother-in-law brought her a little bear. This bear was special because he played a recording of the sounds of a mothers' womb. My mother-in-law thought it might comfort Michelle, since I had not been able to hold her...as most of her tiny body was covered by the machines that were keeping her alive.

When I first received the bear, I was listening to it and trying to figure out how I could place it close to Michelle. Just then, a new baby was brought into the ICN. His mother was a crack addict, and this little boy was born addicted to crack cocaine. He was screaming furiously, but he did not have a mother there to comfort him. For the first time in six days, I thought about someone other than my own child. This little boy was no less precious than my child, but he was alone and abandoned.

Listening to his screaming, I looked around for a nurse. Everyone was busy with another baby...and his screams seemed to fall on deaf ears. Wanting to comfort him, I moved closer and began to talk to him in a soft voice. Still...he screamed. Then, I remembered the bear. He had just left his mother's womb hours earlier...the sound of a womb would comfort him, I thought. As I held the bear close to his ears, he suddenly stopped screaming. He brought his tiny fist to his mouth and fell asleep within minutes.

Stunned...I waited for him to slip into a deep sleep...then, I rushed to Michelle with the bear. I placed the bear as close to her head as I could (with all of the equipment and oxygen tent in the way) and prayed. I asked God to hold her close for me and let her know that her mommy loved her so much. I asked Him to bring her comfort and ease her suffering. It broke my heart to watch her helpless body heaving...her chest rising and falling violently as she breathed 120 breaths per minute.

Within minutes of placing the bear beside Michelle, her breathing began to change. I thought I was imagining the improvement, so I just watched. I was NOT imagining anything. Her breathing was slowing down. I screamed for a nurse, and she rushed over. I told her to watch, and she was amazed. She called for the doctor, and he agreed. Michelle's breathing was slowing down for the first time in six days. 

After one hour of listening to the bear, she was breathing in rhythm to the heartbeat of the recording from a mothers' womb. By the end of that day, the doctor told me that my daughter was not going to die...that she would be going home within a few days. THAT was Thanksgiving Day...and I was SO VERY THANKFUL!

Four days later...I did take my beautiful daughter home...healthy and perfect. Shortly after arriving home, my neighbor rang our doorbell. She had made us a huge Thankgiving meal. Since we had been in the hospital on Thanksgiving Day, she wanted to make sure that we had a nice meal waiting for us when we came home.

Gathered around the table, and with more than ever for which to be thankful, we joined hands to give thanks. One by one, we gave thanks to God for our many blessings. When it was my oldest daughter, Avery's, turn... (she was three years old)...she said, "Dear God, thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (she held this out for even longer)ooooooooooooooooo much for healing Michelle's LASAGNE!"

That was the first time I had laughed in weeks.

YES, GOD...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEALING MICHELLE'S LASAGNE! AMEN

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale

If I were to ask you to identify the ‘whiner(s)’ in your office, you would probably not hesitate. I’m fairly certain that someone would immediately ‘pop’ into your mind. I’ll go one step further and suggest that…IF I were to interview everyone in your office…I’d hear the same name(s) repeated over and over.

‘Whiners’ are easy to recognize…mostly because they just will not stop complaining. They ALWAYS have something to say…and it is ALWAYS negative. Another distinguishing ‘whiner’ trait is the ability to ALWAYS find someone to blame for the ‘problems’ in their life. ‘Whiners’ are also excellent detectives…naturally gifted to find even the most elusive reason (excuse) to be miserable when everyone else is perfectly content.

Just like a pesky fly that appears out of nowhere the moment you try to enjoy a delicious sandwich…’whiners’ arrive on the scene when you are trying to have a good time. They ‘buzz’ around your head until they are fully satisfied that you are every bit as miserable as they. Then, they ‘fly’ away to find another unsuspecting, happy victim.

Do you see a STORM or GOD’S MAGNIFICENT PAINTING?

Now that you have at least one ‘whiner’ in mind, I would like to ask you to think of a person who is exactly the opposite…a WINNER!

I want you to think of someone who:

ALWAYS has something positive and encouraging to say…

ALWAYS finds a reason to be thankful, even in the midst of troubles…

ALWAYS accepts responsibility for the consequences of their own choices/actions…

ALWAYS celebrates other people’s victories…

ALWAYS finds a way to overcome the obstacles of life…

ALWAYS lights up the room with their smile…

Did SOMEONE come to your mind?

NOW…which ONE are YOU?

***Photo courtesy of freefoto.com***

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale

If you are looking for a fun-yet-different family event to jumpstart the holiday season, I’ve got just the thing for you. On December 5^th, come enjoy the fourth annual Tower Lighting on the American Tobacco Campus.

One of Durham’s most recognizable landmarks, the 134 year-old Lucky Strike Tower, will be decorated with thousands of feet of lights and garland. Although this celebration is a relatively new one, the organizers hope that it will become a much-anticipated, family tradition for Durham residents and visitors.

Attendees to this holiday ‘LIGHT’ event will enjoy Christmas music by local churches and schools…including a performance by a special brass ensemble from Durham School of the Arts. The first 500 people on the lawn will receive a FREE light wand, and the evening will end with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Mark your calendars today!

Come help us

LIGHT UP DURHAM!

Other interesting articles about Durham, NC:

Who knows why Durham, NC is called ‘Bull Durham’? (I KNOW, and I’m TELLING!)

Durham County, North Carolina – 2008 Third Quarter Residential Real Estate Sales Report -- Your Real Estate Questions Answered (Part One)

Durham County, North Carolina – 2008 Third Quarter Residential Real Estate Sales Report -- Your Real Estate Questions Answered (Part Two)

BusinessWeek Reports: Durham, NC is the 3rd BEST CITY in the USA for riding out the recession!

Historic Trinity Park -- Durham, NC -- Buy a little history with your NEW HOME! ( Priced from the low 200's )

An afternoon stroll down HISTORIC MAIN STREET in DOWNTOWN DURHAM, North Carolina (Original photos by Elizabeth Nieves)

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale

Almost every single day, I encounter someone in this business who is struggling…many just barely hanging on…and others who have already given up.

Today...that someone may be you.

IF you are reading this, and you need a reminder that THERE IS HOPE…this post is for YOU! These scriptures are the ones that I turn to when I am going through a difficult time. They encourage me, comfort me, strengthen me and direct me to the source of ALL HOPE…Jesus Christ. Tonight, I pray that they will speak to your heart…as they have spoken to mine so many times before.

Nahum 1:7

 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

2 Corinthians 4:8

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.

Psalm 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

**Photo courtesy of freefoto.com**

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale

Sometime between 3 and 3:30 am on Saturday morning, at least one tornado struck Eastern North Carolina. The worst damage occurred in Kenly, NC...between Johnston and Wilson Counties. According to residents, the town looks like a war zone…with ten homes completely destroyed. There have also been two confirmed deaths.

CLICK HERE for Photo Slideshow:

As I was reading the news reports, I discovered a story within the story that touched me profoundly. I feel compelled to share this story with you…to remember this child who was taken too soon and to pray for this family who has lost everything.

One of the victims of this storm was an eleven year-old boy named Joshua Wiggins. Joshua came to live with his grandparents in 2005, after his mother was murdered.  When the storm passed, a neighbor who heard the tornado ripping through the home came outside to investigate. He found Joshua’s grandmother an eighth of a mile down the road where she was thrown. Joshua’s grandfather was crawling out of a ditch. Young Joshua’s broken body was discovered in the ruins of the home.

Please pray for this family who has not only lost every material possession they owned…but also a daughter and now a beloved grandson. Most of us cannot begin to comprehend the pain they are suffering…but we can pray for them.

Will you please join with me in this prayer for strength for this family?

Dear Heavenly Father,

My mind and my heart are burdened for these grandparents who have lost not only their home and worldly possessions…but who have also lost their daughter and grandson. I do not know them, Father…but You know them intimately. You know the overwhelming pain that they are experiencing right now, and You alone can relieve their suffering. I humbly ask that You bring comfort to their grieving hearts…that You fill them with Your peace…peace that passes ALL human understanding. I pray for Your healing love and mercy to embrace them…to hold them steady through this storm. Oh Father, I pray that You will move the hearts of Your people to come to their rescue…to physically help them through these difficult days. I pray for strength…renewal…and the healing of their hearts. I pray these things in Your Son Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

‘Healing Rain’, by Michael W. Smith always gives me strength when I am going through a difficult time. My hope is that this family will experience God’s healing rain as we stand together in prayer tonight.

**Photo courtesy of freefoto.com**

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR®

The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Search Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and ALL Triangle Homes for Sale