TEXAS BORN, SEMI-VIRGINIAN RAISED, MIDWESTERN AT HEART, AND EAST COASTIE CYNIC.
RESCUED BY A HUMBLE SERVANT IN ETERNITY AND HUMBLE MAN ON EARTH.
IMPERFECT BELIEVER + WIFE + COUNSELOR + WRITER + PHOTOGRAPHER + ENTREPRENEUR.
I’m Nicole; beholder of all things good, bad, mundane, exciting, ordinary.
Welcome.
I have this thing where I love deeply while being deeply loved. Meet me here so I can tell you more… you’ll find passion and hopefully will quickly meet this big heart of mine that feels so tiny next to an immeasurable God. He fills my heart with hope when my mind argues with doubt.
Luckily and thankfully, I’m a survivor of anxiety, depression, and life through faith, family, ministry, and marriage. My husband is my whole world; he sprinkles me (and others) with kindness and forgiveness when I forget how to. He rescues me time and time again when life around and amidst us is heavy and bottomless; reminding me that beholding is unveiling the good that is buried among the ache of a fallen world that God has ransomed.
And so yes, I’m Nicole and I am disciplined to behold it all. 
No but really… this is the other part of me. I was born to Robert and Mary- the main characters in the greatest love story ever written. 29 year later, I tried to write my own love story when I married the love of my life (Trey) after years and years of countless prayers and trust and only eleven months of dating; I’ve learned that devotion, commitment, and humility to another person are the greatest gifts one could give, which is why I’ve decided to let God write our love story instead of taking the credit for it! Somewhere in the pages he found room for our 80 pound dog, Sasha bear.
I’m a former Youth Director and now hold a Masters degree in Counseling. I use the knowledge and education to advocate for those who need it most, friends and family included but youth driven and justice-seeking inspired.
In the words of my oldest niece, I have a “incredible determination to be who {I am} and do what {I} love,” so here I am. Writing: here and business owning there: Beholding You Photography
I started this blog when I was 23 years old and entering what I then referred to as my quarter-life crisis but now identify as my first real bout through depression and anxiety. And I buried myself in anger and doubt tumbling through stale, impatient, curiosity as a young adult in need of inspiration and God’s love.
I started writing as therapy forcing myself to behold the good and in the process developed a passion for this place– to use it as a means of healing and hope through joy, sorrow, heartache, happiness, triumphs, and life. So I became steadfast and disciplined to seek His promises…
“Behold I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you…” (Genesis 28:15)
and He was faithful in His promise.
“Behold, I will do a new thing..” (Isaiah 43:19)
and He did.
“And Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)
and he is.
BEHOLD what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1
