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My story, my testimony. (Everything & More)
Lets just set it off now. My name’s Nicholas Joseph Says, I was born July, 12th 1987 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My Mother is Stephanie and my Father is Joseph.
My mother is remarried to a wonderful man, Keith. My dad is in the process of his 3rd divorce. I have 3 siblings. 2 from my mom, Nathan (13) and Noah (10.) 1 from my father, Riley (10)
I can’t say I had a rough childhood, my parents kept their arguments and my father’s cheating and deception pretty low key. All I really remember was their divorce when I was 4. They worked it out well, they got along after, the only reason for their marriage was my birth. They never argued about custody it was set plain and simple.
My father got me every weekend unless there was an event or gathering going on. He was there every Friday night at the door at 5pm to pick me up, rain or shine.My mother remarried my step father keith when I was 7, they have now been married for 15 years. There was never an abundance of things in my childhood, but I always had everything I needed, if I wanted a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure I may not have gotten it that day but never fail I always had it.
I know many who have not the best relationships with their parents or step parents, I can’t say that for myself. My step dad Keith and I bonded a lot, he was my hockey coach from elementary school up until my freshman year of high school.
My mother and I shared a love for photography. She has 16 years in the field, more experience and knowledge than school will ever teach you. She is my best friend, I go to her for anything and everything, she is my inspiration for making something out of nothing. I love her more than my meager words may ever express.
My father and I were more so friends than anything always, he never took a real ‘fatherly’ role, which in ways I resent, but I love the times we shared. I started skateboarding when I was 10 and by the time I was 12 he was out skating with me at skateparks on weekends and snowboarding with me in the winter and latter he joined me in racing motocross. That relationship fell through as he met his most recent soon to be ex wife. Not only was I growing up but I had taken a very big interest in music at 15. 4 friends and I started a band called “It Might Be An Avalanche.”
That’s the quick summary, now into the stuff not many know. I started doing meth at 13 and started drinking at 14, by the beginning of my freshmen year I myself was drinking almost a handle of Bacardi a day, putting almost $150 up my nose every other day. I never really liked smoking pot, too laid back for me. I have done heroin and ecstasy more than a hand full of times. In this time my cousin and I were on a constant binge and when the band started they were in on it too.
We lived for the next bottle, the next 8ball. It consumed my life.
As well as my cousin/older brother that lived with my family and I from me being 13 to 18. We had our uncle who had recently been released from prison shot down by police and it lead to a very deep depression on my end.
I kept drinking and shoving the powder up my nose even more than before. I had found out my girlfriend of a year had been sleeping around as well, in that I discovered triple c’s to add to my fucked up cocktail.I was 16 1/2 when I overdosed on cocaine, triple c’s and a liter of vodka.
My heart had stopped for 13 minutes, and I had my first Holy experience but was too spiritually blind to take anything from it. Only change was I stopped with the powders and pills, have been clean since, kept drinking though, just slowed it down.
As for band life, it went on, we toured with Chiodos, Folly, A Skylit Drive, Catherine, Dance Gavin Dance, Mozart Season and Greeley Estates in our 3 year run at it. Which is what lead me to Sacramento and my career in music.
I had met and moved in with what would become my girlfriend of two years in the suburbs of Sacto, Rocklin. In this time I worked at The Underground Cafe (no longer around) promoting and also working for Ethos Entertainment (Managing Dance Gavin Dance in the early times) Still my life here was filled with parties, can’t think of a sober night. Just the crew and I every night in my living room with beers in hands having a good time and living not knowing what tomorrow brings.
My relationship with that girl came to an end as well as my run at The Underground Cafe.This was September 2007, we broke up, it was ugly. I had been left with no true home to go to, I was sleeping in my car until mid December mostly. I had friends whom I would crash with every once in awhile. I fell into a deep depression. Had no desire to do anything, had no money, no job, no home. When a very good friend (Craig Owens) and I ran into each other at a show at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, he recommended me to Eric the owner of the Artery Foundation, here things turned around.
I slept in the office and did nothing but work, while with Artery I managed, Alesana and A Four Letter Lie. Through this I started writing half ass reviews on the local scene and got a call from a small website ChristianHardcore.com, which at this time still did not believe, took the opportunity none the less.I continued working both jobs, and met another girl Izzi, we moved in together. Everything went well until October 2008 when she slept with a good friend of mine. End of that. two months later my room mates mother was murdered by her husband in her sleep.
It was at this time I started truly soul searching, last April I went to a church which I love while on a trip to L.A interviewing for me job at Alternative Press.
When I entered I felt God in the room and I was overcame with joy, since that day I have invested countless hours, minutes, days, weeks to him and learning his word. In June I finally moved to L.A to start attending this church full time,
I got involved with every class possible. In july I set off on Warped tour in the AltPress bus and continued searching and learning.
One random day July 14th, 2 days after my birthday Aaron and I were sitting in the Invisible Children tent during his signing, shortly after he asked if him and I could pray together. He asked me if I had received the gift of the holy spirit yet, I had said I don’t know. That night in the Underoath bus him and Spencer prayed over me and I was completely overwhelmed with feelings of joy and love. I felt God’s spirit enter me in full. I broke into tears and couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. So July 14th is the day that God truly entered my life.
Since then I have lead adult small groups, lead prayer during service, played with and lead a worship team, ministered to youth.
I have had so many great things put in my path and just finally am I truly appreciating them. I have an amazing career, I have the most outstanding support system, I have an amazing fiance, amazing friends who I can go to for anything at anytime. My life gets better and better and will continue as long as I trust in him. I am weak and he is my strength, he guides me every day.
I wake up every day and tell him, “God, do with me what you will today, today is your day.” every morning.
So to wrap this up, I’m excited to say I know my Lord, My Savior and that I have a personal and intimate relationship with them. There is no other name by which I am saved, so I trust in You, I will not be afraid.
“Your love is extravagant, your friendship is so intimate. I find I’m moving to the rhythms of Your grace. Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place. Your love is extravagant. Spread wide in the arms of Christ, is a love that covers sin. No greater love have I ever known, You consider me Your friend, capture my heart again.”I love you Nicholas, i’m proud to call you my best friend even though you forgot to mention your amazing best friend. ;)
