My name is Nina, pronounced with a long i. I’m 62 years old and married to an extremely patient man who has graced me daily for 40 years. We have 2 adult sons and 1 tiny chihuahua with a huge personality.
I’m both hearing and visually impaired which as a child left me with just way too many insecurities. By the time I was a young adult, I had packed enough baggage to fill the luggage compartment of a Grey Hound Bus. It wasn’t until I got into the Word of God that I understood in my heart I need not be ashamed of my disabilities.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 opened my eyes to see I wasn’t to hide my disabilities in a closet and shut the door on them as if they didn’t exist. I wasn’t to turn my back on them and never speak of them. It’s one thing to wear hearing aids, but with the loss of my left eye and lack of peripheral vision someone could be standing right next to me and I wouldn’t even know they were there. If I want to have a voice in this world I’ve learned I have to be honest and express what I need from people, especially those in my little sphere of influence.
My physical disabilities keep me dependent upon God in the ordinary, every day of life and give me opportunities to boast in His goodness and faithfulness. His grace has always been enough.
I don’t want to live life afraid of what others might think of me or of being left out because I can’t hear like most normal people.
And what is normal, anyway? Sometimes I think it’s highly over-rated.
This blog is about breaking silence…finding peace…sharing grace. If you’re looking for a step-by-step “how-to” I’m afraid this isn’t it. This is just me, being real and journaling the ways I look to God in the every day of life through the lens of His Word.
I was born with hereditary, degenerative hearing loss which means my hearing gets worse with every year God gives me breath. It’s now severe in the areas where real speech takes place. My grandfather was deaf, as is my mother. One day, I may be, too. Although I’ve never learned sign language, God has given me the ability to read lips. Not perfectly, but good enough.
As a child, I lost my left eye in a backyard accident. I wear a prosthesis. In all my years of living, I’ve only met one other woman who wore a prosthetic eye, but I know there are others out there. I know there are women who struggle with the same insecurities as me and they aren’t even hearing or visually impaired. I know there are women who encounter the same challenges and battle the same fears as I do.
I know because I’ve met them.
We’re not alone. Ever.
Sometimes life is hard and sometimes life isn’t fair, but I know there’s a God in heaven who cares. He sees. He understands and when life is lived in the fullness of His grace, life is lived well……even with all the weaknesses, the frailties, and way too many insecurities.
Somehow the grace of God covers it all.
gracedtolive 
Wow, thank you for doing this blog. You are such a great blessing. I will love reading what God has placed on your heart. I am right there with you, walking by faith and living by grace. God Bless you sweet friend.
Sweet blessings to you, too, Rhonda. I love being on the same team with you, doing grace together!
You are such an amazing woman of God. I am in tear just reading your blog but most of all know that you are a blessing to your husband, Wayne.
Thank you, Brenda. I appreciate your encouragement and I’m glad to know God has touched your heart through my sharing. You’ll never know how blessed I am to be Wayne’s wife. God gave me an incredible husband!
Ms Nina, I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. Visit my page to read what you have to do to collect it.
Ms. Karen! You are so sweet. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me. You are the first blogger I followed and the first I connected with when I began my blog one year ago because we shared a similar theme…you and your “Rosegardens And Thorns” and me with “my thorn…God’s glory” theme. More importantly, though, is we share our faith in God to get us through the struggles and trials of life. I’ll be posting my One Lovely Blog Award very soon. Hugs to you across the miles and oceans…
There’s no one who deserves it more. Your blog truly captures what inspirational blogging is really about. Wish you more reader attention and more great awards.
My Aunt has a prosthetic eye since she was 6. She my age now.
Meredith…thank you for sharing that with me. I’ve been blogging for a year now and you’re the only one so far who has shared they knew anyone with a prosthetic eye. My ocularist told me once that those who have lost an eye are kind of a rare breed. The personality of those who wear them has everything to do with how they live with them. Most are very self-conscious and don’t talk about it openly. I completely understand this because I once felt this way. It’s easy to feel all alone when you think no one understands what you’re dealing with. I just know God has called me to be His spokesperson…to bring some understanding and some healing and hope to anyone who needs it. Thanks again for sharing.
Your goal and reason for blogging is the same as mine; a way of sharing my life.
I’m so glad I’ve connected with you, Meredith. Sweet blessings…Nina
Hi, thanks so much for liking my about page and for stopping by my blog at: http://lovelyseasonscomeandgo.wordpress.com. Come again. Your blog is so amazing! Betty
You’re welcome, Betty. Happy writing!
Dear Nina!
And to think you are practically on my back doorstep! A friend shared your book “Reflections On the Psalms” with me and oh the joy of reading it!! My heart is filled with thoughts shared in your book due to your deep longing for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I plan to buy several copies for my daughters and friends. God bless you, with love and caring, Sharon
Oh Sharon! How happy I am to hear from you. I’m so glad you were touched by the words I shared in Reflections On The Psalms. God was so good to give me the courage to bare my heart. I do need Him…desperately…every day. I have copies at my house, if you’d like to purchase them. Like you said, we’re practically neighbors! Sweet blessing to you.