A Life Built on Showing Up: Nikki’s Unshakable Commitment to Children and Communit

In a world where many people talk about helping others, Nikki is a woman who simply does it. She shows up on the hard days, the long days, the days when she is tired, scared, or unsure if she is enough. She shows up because she knows that if she doesn’t, no one else will. For nearly three decades, she and her husband have opened their home, their hearts, and their lives to children who needed safety, love, and someone who refuses to give up on them.

Nikki’s journey as a mother began with a son who entered the world early and determined. Born without the lower part of his left arm and arriving six weeks ahead of schedule after a complicated pregnancy, he faced challenges from the beginning. Yet Nikki never once viewed him as “special-needs.” Instead, she saw a boy created exactly as he was meant to be—capable, strong, and ready to prove everything possible. A therapist once told her, “He will do great because you are his mom,” a statement that has stayed with Nikki since her son was just six months old. Today, he continues to thrive, often accomplishing things even she wasn’t sure he would be able to do. 

For 27 years, Nikki’s home has been a safe haven for children from many backgrounds. Some arrived as family, some as friends, and others as complete strangers who quickly became part of the household. She has cared for children whose stories would break most adults, offering them stability, compassion, and the fierce love they had never been shown. “God gave me the gift of loving people,” Nikki says. Even when money was tight and life was overwhelming, she trusted that God would find a way.

Strength, for Nikki, has never been optional. As a single mom navigating foster care, raising her biological children, and caring for her aging parent, she has had no choice but to keep going. Her faith has been her anchor, and the support of friends—her chosen family—has lifted her through the hardest seasons. They love her and her children without question, proving that family is built through the heart, not just blood.

Her daily life is a reflection of unending devotion. Living on Kitsap Lake while her children attend school in North Kitsap means that some days she makes multiple trips back and forth. With teenagers involved in work and after-school activities, there are days she drives to Poulsbo five times before dinner. While others look at her in disbelief, Nikki simply sees this as what needs to be done. “Kids need someone to show up for them,” she explains. “And that person is me.”

Nikki’s own childhood prepared her in ways she never expected. Growing up with challenges of her own, she understands the emotional landscapes her foster children face. She doesn’t expect them to be the same, act the same, or heal the same. Instead, she meets each child exactly where they are and fights for what they need. Her advocacy has been relentless—whether battling school districts to keep her son in the environment where he thrives or navigating the complexities of foster care, where systems sometimes protect parents more than the children they’ve harmed. She has cried many tears through the process—grateful ones, when people step in to support her children, and heartbreaking ones, when decisions are out of her control. 

Balancing motherhood, foster care, part-time work, and caregiving leaves little room for rest. Nikki knows self-care is important, though it often becomes another item on a long list. She finds moments where she can—meeting a friend for coffee, stepping outside for fresh air, or taking one minute at a time. Like many mothers, she is still learning how to care for herself with the same dedication she gives to others.

Despite the exhaustion, Nikki finds joy in the progress her children make. Watching them grow, laugh, learn, and thrive makes every challenge worthwhile. Holidays, shared meals, weekend outings, and small everyday victories fill her home with the warmth she always hoped to give. 

Nikki also carries the weight of the hardest part of foster care: knowing she cannot protect every child forever. Her older foster daughters, now living outside her home, know they are still loved and always welcome. Letting go—when all she wants is to keep them safe—remains one of the most painful parts of the journey.

Looking ahead, Nikki hopes for time to rediscover herself. After more than 28 years of marriage and nearly the same amount of time spent caring for others, she dreams of visiting new places and reclaiming pieces of her identity that often get placed on hold. Yet, no matter where she goes, one thing remains certain: Nicci’s heart will always lead her back to helping others.

She may not consider herself rich, but she is undeniably blessed—with purpose, with people who love her, and with a life shaped by compassion. Nikki is the kind of woman who keeps going even when the outcome is uncertain. She leads with love, fights with resilience, and pours herself into the lives of others with a sincerity that is rare in this world.

Her message to others is simple yet powerful: “You are enough, and you can do it your own way.”

And in a world desperate for kindness, Nikki continues to be a reminder of what it looks like to show up—with heart, with faith, and with extraordinary courage.

They are fundraising for a new arm right now, and would love to raise the thou

sands of dollars they need to obtain this goal.