Monday, June 29, 2009

Email I Sent to our Many Prayer Warriors Today....

Dear Friends and Family,

I cannot believe that today marks 7 months of living without our sweet-smiling Nick. I have tried to think of how to put into words how much we miss him, but honestly words seem meaningless when I think of the ache we still carry in our hearts daily. I often pull his precious and somewhat well-known hat out of the top drawer of my desk and just hold it close to my face hoping that just a hint of his presence will somehow soak into my senses.

I just don't know how I would face each new day without the hope of Heaven. I truly don't. I've tried to sit and imagine life without a Creator and without a bigger purpose than this often pain-filled planet, and it takes my breath away to even think about such a cold, sad, depressing existence.

I think I've talked Tim into heading to the North American Christian Convention for the rest of this week......he needs some restoration, fellowship, inspiration, and time away from the everyday routine here at home. So if you are planning to attend (it is in Louisville), keep your eye open for Tim. He'll be around somewhere, and I am so thankful. Nick was Tim's football-loving, kindred-spirited son, and life is just so different here with ESPN and NFL Network rarely ever on. I don't know how to fill that void for Tim honestly except to just pray for him and trust that somehow God will redeem Tim's great loss.....which I know God can and will do in His time.

I don't write nearly as often as I use to. It's not because we don't need your prayers or because I have forgotten all of you. It's really more about the fact that I know that all of you have ups and downs in your own lives, and I never want to overplay ours as if our pain and grief somehow should surpass your life joys and struggles. I have turned to blogging as an almost-daily outlet for my heart. In this way I know that people can "choose" to check in on us and not have their inbox invaded so frequently!

I did want to send a note for a couple of reasons, though.

First, I wanted to let you all know that Nickapalooza is NEXT SATURDAY, July 11th, (7-11-09), at the Carter County Fairgrounds in Grayson, KY. Wristbands are $11 at the gate as well as at Farmer's Hardware in Grayson. I hope that some of you can make it! We now have 12 bands performing and are so excited and thankful! You can also contact Melissa Brooks at melissabrooks10@hotmail.com for more information or if you would like to set up a booth of any kind as a fundraiser for a church or organization.

Second, I wanted to share with you that Basket of Hope is off and running! We have delivered 4 baskets so far and are thankful that because of your gifts to Nick's foundation as well as the generosity of Mike Furrey's foundation, we have been able to open the first branch of Basket of Hope in the state of Kentucky!!!

Third, the only things still needed for the Nick Nooks is the graphics display for the top of each nook!!! As soon as these come in and are mounted, we will be delivering the nooks to area hospitals and doctor's offices!!

Fourth, we have mailed out eight Adrienne's Angel Memory Boxes so far and have several more to deliver. We are reminded way too frequently that we are not the only parents who are grieving the loss of a child.

Fifth, we were able to support Relay for Life this year with gifts of nearly $1500 from the foundation because of your outpouring of love!

Sixth, after our trip to India we have had time to pray and process all that we saw and learned and have determined that one of the goals of Nick's foundation is to take the lead in raising the funds necessary for building a kitchen and dining hall that can serve 100 children at a time (as well as storage area for food) for the orphanage in Damoh, India, which is going to be named Joshua's Place in memory of Nick's favorite memory verse! The total funds needed for this building project is $60,000. While this sounds overwhelming in light of our economy, I feel that God gave me the following simple equation while lying in bed one morning several weeks ago:

If 2,000 people can each sacrifice $30, the building project can totally be completed!!!! That doesn't seem so overwhelming! I just love the way God uses a little to make a lot! He is the Master of taking what we may consider insufficient (like the little boy's fish and loaves and bread) and making it more than sufficient (like when He used that small amount of food to feed thousands!)

If you are interested in joining forces with us in this venture, please go to Nick's foundation website www.nicholasyancynischanfoundation.blogspot.com for more details. Be sure to give us your name or whoever's name you would like placed on the plaque which we will be having made to hang in the dining hall in India. We have already been given over $400 for this project and have several hundred other dollars committed! I do believe that God can build this building using all of us as His tools! I can't think of anything that would make Nick happier than to know that children who have no home of their own will have a safe and pleasant place to eat their meals each day.

I send this email letter with all the love and passion of any letter I ever wrote during Nick's long and courageous fight with cancer.

I am still heartbroken that our prayers were not answered in the way we desperately desired. However, I cling to the truth that God loves Nick more than we ever could have and because of His great love for Nick, I have to believe that Nick is GREAT! That makes me smile.

I love you all so much and still thank you for your love and prayers for our family.

Erich is in Africa for the summer and loving it! He is working as a nurse in a clinic in Nairoibi and will be home around August 3rd.
Evan is working at Morehead State University as a summer camp counselor and comes home every weekend.
Todd has been busy with church activities and work in the college cafeteria.
Olivia has kept us hopping with softball games, basketball practice, and sleepovers.

This road of grief teaches me something new just about everyday.

For today, my thought on grief is this: A smile mixed with tears is a gift from God.

Thankful for the hope of Heaven and for all of you!

Tammy
www.nicholasyancynischanfoundation.blogspot.com
www.tammynischan.blogspot.com
JOSHUA 1:9
PHIL. 4:4

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

INDIA ORPHANAGE PROJECT 2000!!!!!


Only God can take this pile of bricks and create an orphanage in Damoh, India!


With the generous gift of a Christian lady in Florida, the funds have been made available to build dormitories to hold 400 to 500 orphans.

Now, Nick's foundation is joining the work by reaching out to all of you with this humble request!!!


If 2,000 people commit to giving $30, Mid-India Christian Mission will have the resources needed to build a kitchen, food storage area, and dining hall capable of holding 100 children at a time!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are asking that you join us in this venture by praying about how you can help, clicking on the donate button to the right, making a donation, and then emailing us at tammynischan@yahoo.com so that we will know that you want your funds directed to this building campaign!! Your name will then be added to a plaque that will hang in the orphanage dining hall.

Or send your donation to:

NYN Foundation
India Orphanage Project 2000
PO Box 411
Grayson, KY 41143


I will be adding a chart to Nick's site so that you can monitor the campaign drive's progress.

Please know that your gifts go directly into the NYN Foundation account and that every penny is used to further the ministries of this foundation.

Nick's life deserves nothing less than to continue to be a shining light to a hurting world.




FOR MORE INFORMATION AND MORE PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT TAMMY'S BLOG AT

www.tammynischan.blogspot.com

Thank you for joining us in prayer for this project.

Serving Him with every ounce of our being,

Tim and Tammy Nischan and the board of the
NYN FOUNDATION

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Nickapalooza!!!!!!!!!!!




Saturday, July 11th, starting at 1 p.m.,
join us for an
all-day Christian music festival
in
Grayson, KY!!!!








10 bands will be performing!!



We will have bounce houses, face painting, corn hole tournaments, volleyball, t-shirts, concessions, and lots of praise and worship!




We hope you can join us!

Just $11 for an all-day wristband!

Contact Melissa Brooks at melissabrooks10@hotmail.com to order tickets!!!

Please pray that this day of outreach bring
s lots of kids closer to the Lord!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Nick's Nooks....Almost Ready to Deliver!!


You can read the full story on my blog-

www.tammynischan.blogspot.com

But I wanted to share just a photo or two of our Nick's Nook progress last week!

Thanks to all of Nick and Olivia's buddies (as well as to Trish, Jenna, and Melissa) who helped stain these bookshelves that will go in doctor's offices and hospital waiting rooms across the country!



We hope that the children's books contained on these shelves will help pass the time for kids who are waiting for their appointments and make the waiting time easier for the parents!



We also hope that the story of Nick's faith, courage, and spirit will help those who are discouraged to find the hope that comes through Jesus and Jesus alone!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Planning our fist annual Nickapalooza...

Saturday, July 11th, we will be having our first annual summer Christian concert event (NICKAPALOOZA) right here in Eastern Kentucky at the Carter County Fairgrounds!!!

This day (7/11!) will be full of Christian bands, fellowship, food, and fun!

Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for this day of glorifying God while providing a positive experience for our youth.

Nick loved music!

We know that he will be right there with us praising and worshiping!!!!

Entrance fee for an all-day ticket is only $11! If you would like to order tickets now, please post a comment here with your email address and we will contact you in the next week!

Thank you for helping us continue Nick's legacy by sharing this special day with us!