Last Thursday when I posted about the mansion and how amazing Heaven will be if man is able to create something so beautiful on this planet, I had no idea it would be my last time to post to California.

But, the last two days of our visit were so packed with last-minute plans that by the time we returned home each evening, I was too tired to think straight enough to write.

Saturday was spent in airports, and Sunday Olivia and I shared Easter morning with my mom and dad at their church in Brandenburg, Kentucky.

Driving back to Grayson, a three-hour trip, was probably the longest part of the journey, because I needed a nap in the biggest way!! Olivia slept the whole way home, so I listened to Joyce Meyer CDs which always keeps me awake and thinking.

It's almost surreal sitting here on the couch in our living room with Peppy back beside me and Snoopy sleeping on the other end of the couch, knowing that I'll be standing in front of my students in just a couple of hours.

Olivia has an away soccer game right after school, so this day is not going to be a short one either.

But I'm thankful as I sit here.

Thankful that I now know where Evan lives and have met his roommate and like him a lot.

Thankful that I was able to make some wonderful memories with Olivia and Evan together.

Thankful that when I got home, Tim had mowed our yard and had laundry going.

Thankful that Todd was home last night, and I was able to spend some time catching up on his life.

Thankful that there are only 24 more school days until summer break.

Thankful that through my blog I have become connected with so many of you.

I wish you knew how many of you I now pray for by name. I love you so much. When you post a comment, even a small "hello," it makes my day to know that in some way our lives on this planet are overlapping and that when we get to Heaven we will already be friends.

I want to share so much more about last week, about little moments when God showed up in California. So many times, I found myself looking above the crowds of people and thinking, "God, I know You're here in the midst of this crazy, crazy town; I know You're here."

I am still downloading pictures from the trip, and as soon as I have an evening without soccer I will take some time to upload them to Facebook and to share a few stories here on my blog.

I received an email from the Chicken Soup from the Soul publishers while I was gone, telling me that the Messages From Heaven book is now on the bestseller's list!!! I think that is such amazing evidence that this world is longing to know that God still speaks today!

I believe He longs to reveal Himself to each of you in very specific and special ways.

Don't miss His messages.

This morning in my reading, God was trying to speak to Samuel in the night but Samuel kept thinking that Eli was talking to him. The Bible says in I Samuel 3 that, "Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before."

Finally, Eli realized what was happening and told Samuel to go back to bed and if he heard the voice again to say, "Speak, your servant is listening."

Today, we don't hear of God speaking audibly very often; but there are so many other ways He can show His glory, send His love, and let us know He is with us.

I think it is important to let God know that you, His servant, are listening.

Don't be afraid to ask God to reveal Himself to you.

My prayer today is that each of you will take a minute to simply pray those words Samuel prayed, "Speak, your servant is listening."

I'd love to to hear how God shows Himself to you!

You can leave a comment or email me at tammynischan@yahoo.com.

I love you all so much, and I'm praying for you from Kentucky.