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Like any mother of a busy 2-and-a-half-year-old son, Nichole Nordeman is experiencing life through the eyes of a child. She and her husband, Errol, enjoy spending hours with their son watching "Thomas the Tank Engine," reading books and playing with puzzles. Not quite the glamorous life you might expect from an artist who has won eight Dove Awards.

When Nichole became a mother to Charlie in 2003, life as she knew it changed drastically. Like all new mothers, Nichole walked through a season of life where she felt incredibly vulnerable. "This newborn thing was the first time in a long time that I just felt like, 'I don't know if I can do this,'" recalls Nichole. She was at a place where she really didn't know what God was doing because she felt so ill-equipped to handle motherhood. But she didn't stay there. Looking back now, she realizes how being a mom has made her stronger. "There are days that I look at my little boy and want to suddenly strap a cape around my neck and leap from tall buildings, just to make the world better for him." One of the greatest surprises Nichole has experienced through motherhood is this sense of empowerment.

Another surprise for her has been rediscovering her identity. The industry of Christian music is somewhat surreal at times, focusing on the image of an artist, with photo shoots, magazine articles and written pieces to project a persona of the artist, but not necessarily the heart within, explains Nichole. As a mom, image, vanity and perception have become less important to Nichole. "It's really just about reintroducing myself to me and having to examine my heart so carefully as I know it's spilling over into who Charlie is becoming."

But like any other mom, finding time to examine her heart and nurture herself can be very hard. So she finds little "moments" to herself, sometimes as briefly as at stoplights while driving. And although Nichole would like to find ways to make this alone time and time spent with God more of a priority in her life, she is grateful that God meets her where she is—in any chaotic moments—to spend time with her.

So, how has motherhood affected Nichole's musical expression? In addition to her new perspective as a mom, Nichole has been reintroduced to the "joy of music," rather than just the "career of music." After being in the music industry for the past seven years, performing, recording and touring—which has been unbelievably rewarding for Nichole—the simplicity and the joy seemed to have gotten lost in the obligation of it all. "Being a mom has really enabled me to remember how much fun it is to go hear the band play at the mall," Nichole elaborates. "To listen through Charlie's ears and to watch through his eyes the first time he sees a timpani drum or a trumpet and realize anew how amazing it is that beautiful sound comes out of those instruments."

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