Meet my best friend! But wait she's more than just my best friend!

  Ladies and gentleman this post has been months in the making trying to think of how I truly want to put all the wording and how to describe my best friend and how special she truly is. I'm going to start out with a verse that really lives up to its meaning especially in Kendra and I's friendship and sisterhood! 

Proverbs 27:17New International Version (NIV)

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

   Let's go back all the way back to my freshman year. Woah four years ago. Okay so it was at the beginning of winter and this girl she said her name was Kendra and she said I should try basketball cheer because she thought I'd love it. Well at first I was extremely scared like seriously I'm the quietest girl you've ever met but not anymore! I went to that cheer meeting and I decided to do Cheer! 

-Flashback to freshman year WOAH!-

  It was amazing,during that cheer season Kendra took me under her wing, now usually a senior doesn't hang out with a freshman but she wasn't just any ordinary girl we hung out. She dragged me to the Christmas dance my freshman year and we went and got our hair done and she did my makeup and it was so much fun! I'm so glad we met and became friends and that she practically drag me to the dance. 

- Kendra&I at the Christmas dance 2011

   Honestly when Kendra and I talk about how we became friends we say what I just said. Then she graduated which I cried as she walked across that stage to get her diploma, oh but I cried even more at graduation party because I had to say goodbye as she was leaving for college. That was so hard for me, now if you don't know me I'm an emotional person so I cry kind of a lot but don't worry I've gotten better! As I gave her a hug before I left  her party I didn't want let go, I didn't want to have to let go! But no worries we hung out before she left and then the true goodbye was picture day for sophomore year and I gave her hug trying to push the tears away because I truly was happy for her I was just scared we'd drift apart.. But oh contrary we are so so close even today! 

  So sophomore year came around and we did a lot of Skype FaceTime calls and a lot of texting! Also she came and watched me cheer with another one of our best friends Lauren Jackson! It was great to see them come cheer me on!

    Then near the end of sophomore year Kendra came home to stay and go to college in town and we ended up hanging out over spring break and just watching a terrible movie it was so terrible that it was funny! Then junior year we hung out a lot she did my hair for the Christmas dance, it was so pretty I loved how she curled it and did my makeup I was real fidgety and then I couldn't stop laughing so it was really hard for her to put it on my face but I finally calmed down per se and she could put the make up on my face!  Junior year she was really busy and so I was I with school and sports and homework and the ACT! Then spring break came and she told me some news that was pretty shocking. But you know what, I never left her side and I'm never going to she is more than my best friend she has become my sister. Best friends and sisters never leave eachother when things get tough you stick together forever!When she told everyone, yes I stood by her. No matter what decisions she makes for the rest of her life I'll stay by her and back her up 110%! Okay so prom came around about a month later and Lauren and her helped me get ready for prom it was an absolute blast having them get me ready for prom! 

  So this past August some of her closest friends came together and threw her a baby shower for her and sweet baby Peyton 

-Kendra&I at her&sweet Peyton's baby shower 

   We loved on her so much showing her that we are here for her and Peyton for the long hall!

But i didn't do it because I know it'd look good I did because she's my sister,my best friend. I stand behind her and her choices and she now is the best Momma to Peyton and it makes me so happy to see her show love to her sweet daughter! Seeing her begin motherhood was such a sweet moment when I got to meet Peyton for the first time it was such an amazing experience watching her do what only a mom can do, loving her daughter and just seeing her love on Peyton and even in feeding her the bottle. I was just in awe of seeing a mothers love, it was so so precious. 

   Kendra I am so blessed with you in my life our friendship and for being my sister! I'm so proud of all of your accomplishments and your being strong and never giving up! Your such an amazing mom to Peyton it's so sweet to see you mother her! You are amazing,shining star,bright light,beautiful,gorgeous ,funny,strong,courageous,beautiful,caring,sweet,best momma ever, fabulous,daughter of the most high King,loved by so many, sister,daughter,friend, loved,loving, a rock.You are amazing I love you Kendra Michelle Brown thank you for being my best friend and sister! You've helped me so much and been there for me and I'm so happy that I get to be on this journey with you and Peyton! I'm so blessed to do life with you, I was even more blessed when you said that Peyton would love her aunt Kayla that literally brought her to tears because you know that meant the world to me that you'd pick little ole me to be her adopted aunt! I love you and miss Peyton Michelle so much! I don't know who I'd be if you hadn't come into my life 4 years ago! You are loved and so special to me and to everyone else in your life! I love you bunches Kendra! So blessed by her and our friendship she's so amazing!

This woman that I just talked about she is my best friend and more than that my sister! Love you bunches Kendra! Can't wait to see where our friendship and sisterhood goes and to the heights it goes! I'm going to end with the verse I started this post with. Love you xoxo 

Proverbs 27:17New International Version (NIV)

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

Speak Love&Lets all be Brave

These two things have something in common... The same author, her name is Annie F. Downs and goodness can she write and she has a huge heart for The Lord and she is absolutely funny, I spent a lot of time laughing in this book and a lot of crying not because it was bad but because it touched my heart so much!

   In speak love you hear Annie talk about how your words matter and how what you say is very powerful. Also that God loves us and He speaks love to us! Now if you want to know more y'all should go pick up Annie F. Downs book speak love at your local store! You won't regret it!

Okay one lets get to Let's all be brave oh my gosh, such an amazing book I am now more brace because I read this book, I let it and God speak to me in a way I had never felt before. You've known your whole life that your never alone but sometimes it just feels like that but reading this book and putting scripture to it, it meant a whole different thing. In Isaiah 41:10 " So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I really like how the message it puts- it gives me chills, here it is " don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I am your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Hearing this and just speaking this over and telling myself that I'm not alone that God is always there for me! If you want to know more about how to let's all be brave. You should pick it up at your local store or order it online. Y'all should seriously read it!

  Y'all will love reading Annie F. Downs books you feel like your actually sitting at a coffee shop with her! 

Be brave my friends! 

Xoxo 

I was a Preemie & this is my NICU Story

Hello my name is Micaela Ryann Ziegler and I am 18 years old. I live in a little township within Kalamazoo County and I survived being a preemie and this is my story.

Almost 18 and a half years ago I was born, May 1st 1996 changed my parents lives forever. Little did they know that there little girl was going to make an appearance that day to be born none the less a preemie born at 26.4 weeks and to spend 84 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bronson Hospital. Now let's get to the nitty gritty details.

May 1,1996 at 1:35 p.m. A baby girl was born at 1 lb. o.7 oz. 13 3/8 in. As I was being whisked away my mom got a quick glance and then I was whisked right away my mom didn't get to really see me until that evening. I was hooked up to a breathing tube, venalator, IV's oxygen and pulseoux. Still that day of May 1 I almost lost my left leg because of a really bad blood clot. 

This picture was from the day I was born.

Then fast forward to Mothers Day it was my Moms first Mother's Day and she couldn't even haver her baby girl home with her and I almost died that day because my heart almost stopped. Then I almost died two other times because of water getting in one of my tubes and the other time I turned completely blue. 

Then slowly but surely I began to gain strength to where I was pulling out my breathing tubes apparently I was trying to tell the doctor I didn't need help anymore! 

Finally it came to the day I could come home so we thought.. I had been having problems with my eyes and I had, had many eye surgeries and low and behold the eye doctor whisked me right away and I went into surgery on the day I was supposed to come home. 

It finally came to the day where I actually did come home and my parents couldn't have been more happy to bring me home  the days were going on and I grew and grew and became a very active little girl you wouldn't have even thought I was in a fight for my life. 

Low and behold I started preschool and I did great in my classss. But today I am happy to say that I am a Senior in High School and I cheer on the varsity team and I throw shot put and disc for our track team! I survived being a preemie and the NICU.

From 1 lb 9.7 oz to 154.7 lbs. 

I live life with so much joy and happiness! I can do anything I put my mind to with hard work and determination!

Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

This is My NICU Story! 

Good luck to those running the 5k today for the Bronson Children's Hospital NICU. Thank you so much to those of you that are it means a lot to the families that your doing this to raise money for the NICU &families! It means a lot to me that people would do that for us NICU families,especially with us being a NICU family 18 and a half years ago! 

•college is approaching soon•

   Most people don't know where they want to go to college or they have this high fetched idea that there gonna go to some great college or university. I'm that one in a million person who knows where they want to go to college, what they want to major in and that they know they still want to play a sport in college. 

  I know that Grace College is the college for me it has all what I'm looking for in a college, with there academics (elementary education) and there athletic program (cheer program). I see myself growing great friendships in college and I can see myself growing spiritually so much! Now alls I have to do is one apply and get accepted and two tryout for there cheer team and hopefully make it. The verse that makes it even better is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

So alls I have to do is do great when I get ready for this tryout! 

  For one some of you may say, you seem really quite Micaela and I don't see you as a cheerleader. Well think again cheerleading has brought me out of my shell and made me less shy if that's how you want to put it. It's made me go for things, you can do something if you put your mind to it, work hard, and determination!  I love cheering and I really do see myself cheering in college! I can't wait to get accepted and get on the cheer team especially if and when it's Gods plan for my life! Soon I'll be a Lancer but until then I'll be a future Lancer! 

WAKE 2014

  In this blog post I'm going to tell you about camp, this year VOX summercamp things changed and changed for the better!
 We got there Monday morning, we got time to unpack and make our beds and everything, well its hard to do that when you lose your luggage. I knew right then it was going to be a great week because the devil was trying to do something in me to were I wouldn't get fed, or get what I came for. But no worries someone found my luggage so I had my Bible and journal for night one at summercamp. It may have been night one but Pastor Will didn't mess around he went straight to the Word. Which I really liked that, his messages in different ways were like boom boom boom to me.They were such effective messages that I was changed when I left that chapel every single time. But the week went on and Pastor Will kept talking about influence and how we can be an influence in our generation and that was one of the many things that happened that week. This quote that Pastor Will said really stuck with me all week at camp and it says this  "for those who know there God will do great exploits and do great things!"
  I always knew prayer was important and that week man I went up another notch with God in prayer it was the most amazing feeling ever. There were nights in pre service prayer that I didn't want it to end because God's presence was so thick, but that presence was still there even when we went into worship! It was absolutely beautiful seeing God change peoples lives including mine! Each night just got better and better and Friday night.. Oh Friday night we had a dance party, yes you read it right a dance party but this dance party was for Jesus! Oh it was so amazing!
  I could try and describe what it feels like to be in God's presence but its just so sweet and tangible that you never want to leave it. As the days went on I could just feel something stirring up in me and in my heart that something good and something big was going to happen and it did.  I learned that day to be bold, not timid. It's a thing I've dealt with and it feels great to be bold and confident. One thing I remember thinking is I'd rather have 1 true and real  friend than 100 fake friends who pretend to be my friends but leave me when I really need them.

  I grew as much as I learned this year at camp and I can't thank everyone enough the Pastors and all the volunteers that made WAKE 2014 happen. Thank you all so much for your endless hard work and countless hours. To help students like me get it and grow in our faith!

It was a life changing week for everyone, no one went home the way we came into camp!

Have a wonderful weekend!

•Thank you for all the support!•

  Good news! God is good all the time and all the time God is good! Within 2 days two couples have helped me raise the money for camp and I am eternally grateful for there help! Thank you all so much for the prayers! This really shows me that God wants me to go to camp this year! He is so faithful and amazing and just such a doer of His word! Psalms 37:4 "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires."(Psalms 37:4 NLT)! Thank you all for your prayers and your support they are much appreciated! 

Hope you all have a blessed day! 

~Micaela  

Support Micaela to go to Summercamp

Hello my name is Micaela Ziegler, 

I would love to go to Summercamp this summer through my church and this is where you come in. I need help raising money I need $384 by July 6th and I'm really believing God for this money for camp. I strongly believe in the power of prayer. I also truly believe that God will meet you where you are at and will give you the desires of your heart! My verse for this is Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires."Let me explain to you why I want to go to camp. Camp is a week full of God, friends fun, and just amazing encounters with God. I had the opportunity to go last year and my life radically changed and I got so much out of the worship sessions, the messages and everything. I'd really LOVE to experience that again! Through every message I sat through I got something out of it and God really showed up that week! I grew deeper with God through that week also I made lasting Godly friendships that will last a lifetime! I would really love and appreciate your help with raising this money, any amount is fine if you want to help, give what you feel led to give! It'd mean the world to me. you can make checks payable to Micaela Ziegler and you can send cash as well to the following address:

MIcaela Ziegler
3422 West Wembley Lane,
Kalamazoo, Mi 49009

Thank you for all your support! 

Micaela Ziegler

Have a great day!

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