tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82886144309580865752024-03-13T13:36:46.438-04:00Another Day In ParadiseMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-9951431176775128822008-09-09T08:38:00.004-04:002008-09-09T09:05:00.794-04:00FreeToday will be my last post.<br /><br />I have no more commitments to fulfill on this blog.<br /><br />I'm kind of sad to let it go, but God has really released me.<br /><br />I feel totally at peace with my decision. I know it's because of Jesus.<br /><br />So, that being said, I will leave you with a few songs about the freedom we have in Jesus. I will not be deleting this blog page. It will be here to serve as a witness to the greatness and AWESOMENESS that is Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/63nTGwxWp0M&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/63nTGwxWp0M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRayKxgePQI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wRayKxgePQI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jD0SzV247Ek&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jD0SzV247Ek&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gQzrqmcwg8o&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gQzrqmcwg8o&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T2qm3eD4akM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T2qm3eD4akM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />My prayer is that this blog has been a testimony to the Powerful, Awesome, One and Only, Jesus Christ, the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, no one comes to the Father (God), except through Him.....John 14:6Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-66669549591673510142008-09-08T09:45:00.002-04:002008-09-08T09:51:08.708-04:00The Real Me... "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=9&chapter=16&verse=7&version=31&context=verse">1 Samuel 16:7</a><br /><br />I love this song. I feel like it describes what I want to say......<br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DcWQIsG9Rqw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DcWQIsG9Rqw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-65449054584261030492008-09-07T16:58:00.005-04:002008-09-07T17:46:09.717-04:00mJESUSeI'm such a people <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pleaser</span></span> that this is really hard for me. I crying as I'm typing this. This is about as raw as it gets.<br /><br />This will be my last week blogging.<br /><br />I love the sisterhood of friends I have made. Some I hope will stay my friends even though I've made this decision.<br /><br />I can't believe I'm crying. This seems so silly. This has become a huge part of my life. So much so, that I believe I must give it up.<br /><br />I want to love Jesus more than anything else.<br /><br />I don't.<br /><br />I love blogging more.<br /><br />I love food more. (I'm not giving that up, completely:)<br /><br />I love TV more. (I've already given up a lot of that.)<br /><br />I don't say this to brag or to dump or to say what's right for anyone else.<br /><br />I just know this is right for me.<br /><br />At church today, my husband preached a sermon that rocked my world. It made me realize just how insignificant this temporary life is in light of how MIGHTY and BIG and ETERNAL God is.<br /><br />Some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ya'll</span></span> probably didn't see this coming. Some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ya'll</span></span> probably couldn't care less. Some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ya'll</span></span> may try to talk me out of it.<br /><br />I've heard the reasons for keeping a blog.<br /><ul><li>You can use your blog to witness (that's great, but word of mouth and living out loud is more effective)</li><li>You can affirm and encourage other believers (I can do that over the phone and by email, too)</li><li>You're funny and I enjoy hearing about your kids (give me your email and I will keep you updated)</li></ul><p align="left">I want to reiterate, I'm not saying that every Christian needs to stop blogging because it is <strong><em>SINFUL</em></strong>. I'm saying that it's become something that's more important than Christ to me. And, as far as I'm concerned, I have an idol on my hands. </p><p align="left">God has called me to something higher. I wanted to serve the Lord with everything I have. Everything I am. Everything I'm not. Everything I hope to be.</p><p align="left">I may make some of you mad. I may make some of you feel bad. That's not what this is about. This is about me and Jesus. He is and always will be on THE THRONE, but I have taken Him off the throne of my heart. </p><p align="left">My kids have taken a backseat to blogging at times. I was talking to someone, the other night, who has become a dear friend to me in the past few months. She was telling me about this mom that had become obsessed with a certain celebrity and was checking his website and surfing the web all day and neglecting her kids--only getting up to give them food and then going right back to her obsession. That could so easily have been me. I woke up the morning after talking to her thinking to myself, "Melissa, you are that woman!" (I'm not that bad, but the potential is definitely there.) My kids and my sweet, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">committed</span> loving husband are infinitely more important than my blog. They are the reason I have stuff to blog about.</p><p align="left">So, with that said, I've probably got some of you reading this saying, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">oooh</span></span> she must be in one those cults that asks you to close off the outside world." I would say to those, I'm a Christ following, God-fearing, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">committed</span> mother and wife who has realized, for me, what needs to change in my life. My priorities are out of whack and I'm putting them back where they belong. </p><p align="left">If I don't receive a single comment on this post, that's okay. </p><p align="left">To God be the glory, forever and ever, AMEN. "Christ in [me], the hope of glory" (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Colossians</span></span> 1:27).</p><p></p><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dD-ZdMOx_HY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dD-ZdMOx_HY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-31562824440908655022008-09-05T07:44:00.003-04:002008-09-05T08:00:20.277-04:00Help Me ChooseWe are getting ready to start a new Ladies Bible Study at church and I would love your input. We just finished "To Live Is Christ" By <a href="http://www.lproof.org/"><strong>Beth Moore</strong> </a>and I am really eager to do another one of her studies. I brought home 2 different studies to preview and I'm having trouble deciding which one to pick. I need your help. Have you been through either of these studies? Even if you haven't, have you heard anything about them? I'm leaning towards one, but something you say could very well change that. I'm sure we will eventually go through both.<br /><br />The first study in on the book of <a href="http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=783482"><strong>Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy</strong></a><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SMEdNzOpCDI/AAAAAAAAAvg/ZegV4xUmMwk/s1600-h/Daniel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242503564163090482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SMEdNzOpCDI/AAAAAAAAAvg/ZegV4xUmMwk/s200/Daniel.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">The second study on called <a href="http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=797529"><strong>Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent</strong></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SMEdN-oWCrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/l-LrtlHIcBo/s1600-h/Stepping+Up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242503567223687858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SMEdN-oWCrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/l-LrtlHIcBo/s200/Stepping+Up.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="right"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SMEdN-oWCrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/l-LrtlHIcBo/s1600-h/Stepping+Up.jpg"></a> </p>I'm really looking forward to what you have to say! I appreciate your help.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-82149500512960005082008-09-03T10:14:00.006-04:002008-09-03T10:45:56.445-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SL6cfWnC3xI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/LTR_y466OTU/s1600-h/Cricut+Expressions.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241799078765059858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SL6cfWnC3xI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/LTR_y466OTU/s200/Cricut+Expressions.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Must have one of these.......Is this thing awesome or what? It does everything. Scrapbooking, vinyl lettering, school projects, etc......</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://thesecretisinthesauce.blogspot.com/"><strong>SITS</strong></a> is having a contest and they are giving one of these away. How cool is that? What better time to join the awesome commenting, blog support network? It's such an awesome way to meet cool people like these:</div><div></div><div><a href="http://ouisaforpresident.blogspot.com/">Shelley</a> at I'm Changing My Name to Ouisa</div><div><a href="http://lulaville.blogspot.com/">Lula</a> at Lulaville</div><div><a href="http://momofaredhead.blogspot.com/">Caroline</a> at Pocket Change</div><div><a href="http://mindlessjunque.blogspot.com/">Heather</a> at Mindless Junque</div><div><a href="http://therdiaries.blogspot.com/">Tiffany</a> at The R Family Diaries</div><div><a href="http://thisisthelife-dmn.blogspot.com/">Debbie</a> at This Is The Life</div><div><a href="http://heatherinlebanon.blogspot.com/">Heather</a> at This Is The Day</div><div><a href="http://lifeasacferswife.blogspot.com/">Kori</a> at Between A Whisper and A Roar</div><div><a href="http://fordydaysandnights.blogspot.com/">Susan</a> at Fordy Days and Nights</div><div></div><div>All amazing bloggers!!!!!! Go visit SITS and then go check these women out. There are many more and I do not mean to exlude anyone(See my blog bus). I just grabbed a few that I visit frequently.</div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-46125559872988706312008-09-03T05:00:00.000-04:002008-09-03T05:00:00.292-04:00Beach RunLabor Day was spent doing nothing but relaxing. We slept in. We didn't eat breakfast until 10 a.m. We let the kids nap and loaf around. Then we went to the beach. I. love. St. Augustine Beach. I was never much of a beachgoer as a teen. I lived a mile away from it, but never cared to go. This beach is different. It's flat. You can drive on it. It's huge!!!!! The water is like 1/2 a mile from where you park. Okay. I'm exagerrating, but it's far enough. There's plenty of room for the kids to just do......whatever they want. Which means.....I can do whatever I want. Love me some St. Auggie Beach. Here are some videos of the kids from Monday. That's all I got today!<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-D9hlsZq-IE"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-D9hlsZq-IE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AlbZjvJHqaU"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AlbZjvJHqaU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-35937652034838642262008-09-02T05:00:00.002-04:002008-09-02T05:00:00.952-04:00Let's Talk About MenI don't think I appreciate my hubby enough. There. I said it. I want to give a shout out to my man.<br /><br />Come on, ladies. You know we spend plenty of time griping to one another about the things they do that drive us to blog. I just thought it would be nice to brag on our guys for a change. Are you with me? If not, I hope you will reconsider.<br /><br />My husband is Mr. Handyman. He has, almost, single-handedly renovated our home. He continues to work on it, even after 3 years of improvements. He is at Lowe's (as I type) getting supplies to add additional storage to our bedroom. We sooooooo need it. I am so thankful that my hubby takes the time to take care of us.<br /><div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7Q41cYI/AAAAAAAAAuw/GEiS5DfA5g0/s1600-h/house+pics+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241222314660819330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7Q41cYI/AAAAAAAAAuw/GEiS5DfA5g0/s200/house+pics+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7aIw0CI/AAAAAAAAAu4/ro86gs-Lwsc/s1600-h/house+pics+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241222317143543842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7aIw0CI/AAAAAAAAAu4/ro86gs-Lwsc/s200/house+pics+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7sVB62I/AAAAAAAAAvA/jCNwG28dSKI/s1600-h/house+pics+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241222322026834786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7sVB62I/AAAAAAAAAvA/jCNwG28dSKI/s200/house+pics+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7p2rgiI/AAAAAAAAAvI/b8pK0LEtzk0/s1600-h/house+pics+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241222321362666018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLyP7p2rgiI/AAAAAAAAAvI/b8pK0LEtzk0/s200/house+pics+007.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>He is so smart and can be romantic, on occasion. For our 10th anniversary, since $$$ was tight, we decided to fore go gifts for one another. We did take a little trip to a <a href="http://melissabotley.blogspot.com/2008/04/off-to-golf.html"><strong>time-share</strong></a>. It was awesome. Even though we didn't buy gifts, he took the time to make little coupons and he put them in a tin jar (because tin is the 10 year anniversary metal??? It is. He verified). There are various coupons that I can redeem whenever I want, such as: Saturday morning sleep-in; put kids to bed; make supper; vacuum; girl's night out; and others. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What do you love most about your man? Don't be shy. This is the time to brag. Oh, and let him know what it is that you think is soooo great. I guarantee it will make his day.</div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-91446436122233101912008-09-01T08:24:00.002-04:002008-09-01T21:06:33.698-04:00Destined To Be Holy ~ Oswald ChambersThis devotion was taken from My Utmost For His Highest By Oswald Chambers<br /><br />I am continually brought back to this message. There's obviously some truth to it, if that's the case. My flesh continues to deny it's validity, but my spirit testifies to me over and over and over again that I need to pursue holiness above everything else. The conviction that results is sometimes painful, but soooooooooooooo necessary. Just a little thought from me....read on.<br /><br /><strong>Oswald Chambers:</strong><br /><a id="ctl00_cphPrimary_hlGatewayVerse" href="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?language=english&passage=" target="_blank"></a><br /><strong>. . it is written, ’Be holy, for I am holy’ —1 Peter 1:16</strong><strong><br /></strong><strong><br /></strong>We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to us to decrease. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God.<br /><br />Do I believe I need to be holy? Do I believe that God can come into me and make me holy? If through your preaching you convince me that I am unholy, I then resent your preaching. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it is designed to reveal my unholiness, but it also awakens an intense yearning and desire within me. God has only one intended destiny for mankind— holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity— He came to save us because He created us to be holy. Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer.<br /><br />Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means absolute purity of your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind— placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself. Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-34145479813774251892008-09-01T05:00:00.002-04:002008-09-01T21:06:47.784-04:00Monday Movie MomentOkay, I have a lot to blog about this week, but I have been slack in some of my other duties (<a href="http://lulaville.blogspot.com/"><strong>Lula</strong></a> can attest). Laundry is piling up and children are missing mommy time. It's Labor Day and we are headed to the beach, so the laundry part will have to wait. I just don't have time right now to sit and pour my heart out about maxi-pads, singing bird clocks, and Edward (oh Edward). That will have to wait until my kids are tightly tucked into bed. I'm trying to give you a small, very ambiguous preview of what's to come this week.<br /><br />Until then, I want to share a short montage of one of my all time favorite tragedies. No, it's not Romeo and Juliet. It's not Edward and Bella (I'm not done with this one and I don't want to know if it's a tragedy, so don't spoil it). It's Tristan and ............the women he loved in one of the best movies Brad Pitt (who I really don't think is all that) has ever done. I have to watch this movie at least once or twice a year. It moves me. I picked this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">featurette</span> because it was short. Just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Netflix</span> it if you haven't had the pleasure. You won't be sorry.......<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LVGEs8zeu1Q&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LVGEs8zeu1Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-3739985346766976822008-08-31T14:42:00.002-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.754-04:00Emmy Doodle's ExclamationsAt the breakfast table, almost every day, one of our children asks if we are going to church today. Our road to the church is a dirt road and it got washed out last week because of all the rain. We had to cancel church last Wednesday night since no one could drive on it. Well, this morning, Lauren asked, "Are we going to church today?" <br />Emmy quickly answers, "NO! We can't. Someone pooped at church."<br /><br />Thanks for the warning, Emmers. DO NOT GO IN THERE! <br /><br />BTW, we had church this morning. Very small crowd, though. Apparantly the rumor about the poop got out.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-978773325044745172008-08-29T05:00:00.001-04:002008-09-01T21:07:12.898-04:00And The Guest Blogger is.......Shelley from <a href="http://ouisaforpresident.blogspot.com/"><strong>I'm Changing My Name To <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ouisa</span></strong></a> is my guest blogger today. She is a very dear friend to me (I'm on the phone with her as I'm typing, Hi Shell!).<br /><br />This woman has the most infectious laugh I have ever heard in my life. She is a former member of the church where my husband pastors. She and her family just moved away from the <a href="http://providencebaptistchurch-palatka.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">church in a cow pasture</span></strong></a> (that's what we call it; and, I know, the blog is really outdated!) to live in a cow pasture. How's that for cruel irony? She can now tell you everything you never wanted to know about tractors, hay and cutting cows. Ask her about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sweetums</span> (did I get that right?). <br /><br />This is one of the most hilarious posts I have ever read from Shell. She is always funny, but this one hit close to home since we had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">similar</span> experience that I'll blog about next week. Enjoy the read and love her in comments......she will love you back, I promise.......<br /><br /><br /><strong>New Car Smell :) (My Title, since Michelle rarely titles) </strong><br /><br />Yesterday, I forgot the cardinal rule of being a mother of three.......Never trust them....don't turn your back on them.Okay, I used to drive a really nice vehicle. A beautiful Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The most beautiful shade of blue you could hope for. I kept that baby squeaky clean. No trash in the floor, no dust on the dashboard. Man, it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">smokin</span>'.Fast forward fourteen years and three kids later. It is just something that I have had to let go. A messy, nasty ride. The grocery getter. If I had a rocking chair tied to the top, I could win the best Redneck ride ever. So, yesterday, I lost it. I opened the back door of my mini=van and trash spilled out onto the ground.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAA</span>!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't stand it one more minute. I grabbed my 12 (excuse me, almost 13 year old) son and headed down to the friendly neighborhood car wash and vacuum place. Then spent a good twenty minutes sweating and fussing about all the twelve pounds of dried up french fries I found between the back seat the and wall of the car. YUCK...... I could have filled a recycle box with all the trash that came out of that back area. Stink? Oh, don't even get me started. I found a half eaten box of chicken nuggets in the bottom of the overflowing trash can. Apparently, they had gotten wet at some point and we were definitely trying to win a science award for growing cultures in the garbage.So, I'm all proud of this nice, clean van. I could just cry it looked so good. And then it happened, I think it was the heat that did it..........my son says, "Mom, look here, it's one of them fragrance machines". And because I was gagging over the smell of those rotten chicken nuggets, I said to myself, "Self, I bet the car would smell <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">soooooooooo</span> good. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ooooh</span>, they have a baby powder scented spray. Who doesn't love baby powder???? I'm no communist, I love the smell of a freshly diapered infant and the smell of their heads, is just wonderful. But I digress, I dug four of my hard earned quarters out of my pocket and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ching</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ching</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ching</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ching</span>, in they went. And this nozzle from H -E- double hockey sticks starts spraying this fragrance.Now the instructions are 4 quarters for 40 seconds of spray. AND that you should spray under the back of the front seats of the vehicle. I was ready to stop spraying at 3 seconds. But, in these hard economic times, I really couldn't justify wasting 37 seconds of sprayed fragrance, could I?<br /><br />The smell was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo</span> loud. We had to drive with the windows down. When I got out at home, my head was throbbing...It was a mistake and I was so sorry. BUT, not as sorry as I was today. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Yikesarama</span>. That is some strong stuff.<br /><br />Okay, I am chuckling as I read this because when my 6 year old daughter got in the car today, she wrinkled her pretty little nose and said, "Mom, did you spray bug spray in here or did you just toot?"<br /><br />Don't trust them.......and never turn your back on them.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-42771807706856129072008-08-28T05:00:00.006-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.755-04:00You Asked For It...Actually, I asked you, to ask me, but technically......well anywho....here are the answers to your somewhat probing questions......<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;"><a href="http://hottublizzy.blogspot.com/"><strong>Hot Tub Lizzy</strong> </a>(My Secret Agent Friend....:) asks</span>:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">What's your biggest pet peeve about being a pastor's wife?</span></strong><br /><br />I think one of the biggest pet peeves is the unrealistic expectations from people. My kids are unruly just like yours. My husband and I argue, just like everyone else. The Holy Bible doesn't sit as a center piece on our coffee table. We don't even have a coffee table.<br /><br />We have been very blessed with our church family. They accept us just the way we are. Flaws and all.<br /><br />Living in a glass fish bowl does get wearing, but it keeps us aware that, at any time, someone should be able to walk into our home and not find anything that would make them question our sincerity as believers in Christ. Jesus sees it all anyway.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Do you prefer hot drinks or cold?</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I love me some hot java, but really ice is a must in pretty much everything else. Even milk.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Silver or Gold</strong>?<br /></span><br />Both. Mostly gold. I may start selling off the stuff I don't wear anymore, though. Do you know how much gold is going for these days? Whooo. My mom took some old gold jewerly to a gold exchange and got $700!!!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Do you like plaid</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Girl, if you were to open up my closet right now, it would be like looking at one of those optical illusions. Plaid is so FETCH! </p><br /><br /><p>Yes....yes. I like plaid.<br /></p>-------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="color:#66cccc;">My kin sister by way of a redheaded child, <a href="http://www.momofaredhead.blogspot.com/"><strong>Caroline</strong></a>, was very curious</span>:<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>Please explain how it is that mothers taking care of children who are pooping and vomiting their guts out never get sick?</strong><br /><br /></span><br />I wasn't so fortunate. I puked my guts out last night. I had this question answered yesterday in a totally different way, but I guess I counted my chunks before they hurled.<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>* What is your favorite restaurant and your favorite thing to while dining there?</strong><br /></span><br /><br />My favorite restaurant would have to be anything Mexican! Chicken Enchiladas with refried beans and rice. Extra sour cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <span style="color:#33ff33;"><a href="http://qdoba.com/Default.aspx"><strong>Q-Doba</strong></a></span> is definitely in the top 5.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Great Question, Caroline!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>If the Vice President died, who would be left to be President?</strong><br /></span><br /><br />That would be, Who is the Speaker of the House, Alex. A bleak outlook in Nancy Pelossi. Yuck!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>If I were to vote for neither of the presidential candidates, would Huckabee win?</strong><br /></span><br /><br />Oh, I<em> <strong>so</strong></em> wish so, my dear. We can live in that dream together, 'kay?<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>What IS the hardest part of living the life in ministry?</strong><br /><br /></span>Finding workers. It's hard to do <strong><em>everything</em></strong> yourself and that's not the way God designed it to be. I can't just say, "Honey, I don't <em>feel</em> like going to church today. Let's just sleep in." I wish <strong>all</strong> believers had that same sense of responsibility.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>How many fingers am I holding up?</strong><br /></span><br />Thanks for the sign language, Caroline. I love you, too.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238580732658940130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLMta9FXeOI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/VNONX2bAzMo/s200/i_love_you.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">* <strong>If you drink coffee, do you add the cream and sugar first before pouring the coffee or after pouring</strong>?<br /></span><br />Sugar before.<br /><br />Cream after.<br /><br />No doubt, the <em>only</em> right way.<br /><br />My coffee can't be too dark(too strong) or too light(too weak), it must be just right. The only way to ensure perfect color is to add milk until it looks like a camel's coat.<br /><br />Sugar gets added before, because that never changes. 3 spoonfuls. Yes, I'm begging to go into some sort of diabetic coma, but it's a survival technique. Come live a day in Paradise and then see if you're still gasping in shock and shagrin. It's the only way I can type 154 words per minute. (I'm totally lying about that last remark, but my justification for how much sugar I use just doesn't really hold much water.)<br /></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><span style="color:#9999ff;">My dear friend, who doesn't laugh ever (today's opposite day :), <a href="http://www.ouisaforpresident.blogspot.com/"><strong>Shelley a.k.a. Gigglebox</strong> </a>asks:</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ffff;">Why is the sky called blue?</span></strong><br />God said so.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Do you see green the same way I do?</span></strong><br /><br />I was always told green is the true color of love :) or was that "lust"? Is that the way you see it? Nerd.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Why?</span></strong> To maintain my Proverbs 31 status, I must abstain from answering.....:D<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>What is up with all the word verifications I have to do just to leave a comment?</strong><br /><br /></span>It's to keep all those yucky people from trying to leave me yucky comments, like "You wanna join my blog cult? Click here."<br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://angiescircus.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffcc99;">Angie</span></a></strong><span style="color:#ffcc99;">, my favorite clown from the Circus asks</span>:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">What's your favorite childhood memory?</span> </strong><br /><br />That would have to be the Girls' trip to Georgia with my mom and my sis when I gave a foot concert on the dashboard singing the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack. (Another post entirely) <a href="http://melissabotley.blogspot.com/2008/06/do-you-know-this-piggy.html"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">My toes are very talented</span></strong></a>.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://taleofakansasgirl.blogspot.com/">Ronnica</a></strong>, a woman on a mission (seriously, check this girl out):<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>What's the biggest blessing you or your family has received from your congregation? </strong><br /><br /></span><br /><br />I don't think I could pin it down to one. We have been very blessed by our church family. Pastor Appreciation is a big deal is this church. They make us feel very loved. They also celebrate our Anniversary with the church every year.<br /><br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#cc33cc;">My wacky childhood friend, <strong><a href="http://matildacat8.blogspot.com/">Karen</a></strong>, is killin' me with this question</span>:<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>How come it was OK for Mrs.Majors to sit at her desk and eat fried chicken and mashed potatos all day long (all the while licking her fingers), but if we were caught chewing gum, we got detention??......</strong> </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLQ6iQf8qYI/AAAAAAAAAug/EXuEfjfSilc/s1600-h/Madea+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238876626757659010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLQ6iQf8qYI/AAAAAAAAAug/EXuEfjfSilc/s200/Madea+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />All I can say is.......do you see any resemblance??? Just darken the hair and add mashed potatoes and Voila! Mrs. Majors. "Chill'ren, spit that gum out befo I send yo butt down to Mr. Robinson's office."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------------<br /></p><p>My new friend, <strong><a href="http://lifeasacferswife.blogspot.com/">Kori</a></strong>, was quite curious. Please click her name and go see her beautiful family. She has been such a blessing to me.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Favorite color?</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Earth Tones (does that count?)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Favorite vacation spot</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br />Tallahassee( I know that sounds silly, but I love that town. More because of who lives there. My BFF)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Favorite Bible Verse</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br />Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom Christ has set up free. Stand firm then, and do not be burdened any longer by a yoke of slavery."<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Favorite candy</strong>?</span><br /><br />Hershey bar with almonds<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>pencils or pens</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br />Black Ink Pens<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">favorite smell?</span></strong><br /><br /><br />Roses<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>gum or mints</strong>?<br /></span><br /><br />Just wanna give a little shout out for Extra Berry Pearadise<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>ketchup or mustard</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br />Both<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>pepsi or coke</strong>?<br /></span><br /><br />Wild Cherry Pepsi<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://homeschoolinginlouisiana.blogspot.com/">Anissa</a></strong>, my little bumble bee with the cutest, dimpliest child I've ever seen asks:<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Why do the stars twinkle</strong>?</span><br /><br /><br />To quote Pumba from the Lion King "I always thought they were balls of gas burning millions of miles away." Timon: "Pumba, everything with you is gas."<br /></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://lulaville.blogspot.com/"><strong>Lula</strong></a>. How does one describe in words??? My Twin. Peak....read on....:<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go?</span> </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />To the time my grandfathers were alive.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Why?</span></strong> I never knew either of them.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>What fictional character would you spend an evening of passion with, if God allowed it?</strong><br /><strong>(You so know my answer to this one!)</strong><br /></span><br />A fictional version of my hubby. :) I know. I'm no fun.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Why don't others understand that Twin Peaks was a truly awesome show?</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Lula, this is a question that has plagued me for <s>centuries</s> years (I'm really not a vampire). I can hear the music playing in my head as I type and I'm shivering.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>If you could be a guest on any television talk show, whose couch would you sit on?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong></span><br />Okay, I know I will receive some flack for this, but Ellen. I totally love her show. Not so much recently, but just to dance across the coffee table.....<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Do pastors live in glass houses</strong>?</span> ('Cause small town doctors certainly do!)<br /><br />Oh yes. Quick story. When Eric and I were single and in ministry we used to eat supper sitting at the couch. Very informal. We would watch TV and we would prop our plates on the arms of the couch. To do this, we had to sit on opposite ends of the couch. We had a big picture window, which the couch was right up against. One night at church, one of the girls from our youth group came up to me and asked me if Eric and I had a fight. I told her no. "Why do you ask?" She informed me that when she drove by our house the day before, she saw us sitting on seperate ends of the couch and she thought we weren't speaking to one another. Glass house? Oh yeah.<br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /></p><p>Hi <strong><a href="http://theloalbos.blogspot.com/">Staci </a></strong>Here, i surfed over from the <a href="http://hottublizzy.blogspot.com/"><strong>Hot Tubb</strong></a>...<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Okay have you read</span> "</strong><a href="http://theshackbook.com/index.html"><strong>The Shack</strong></a><strong>"?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />No, I haven't. But I'm intrigued.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>If not have you heard of it?</strong><br /></span><br />Not until now.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>If you have heard of it do you plan on reading it</strong>?</span><br /><br />I would like to find out more about it. I will be researching it. That's for sure.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">And if you have heard of it what do you think of the </span></strong><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-05-28-the-shack_N.htm"><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">conterversy</span></strong></a><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong> surrounding the book?</strong><br /><strong></strong></span><br />Yikes. I just read some of it and I don't like the sounds of it. I will have to do some more research. I just read a little of one article so it will take me more time. Sounds like a future post, hey?<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://adelaineswindstorm.blogspot.com/">Adelaine</a></strong>, who must be totally stressed trying to rake her leaves (click to see what I mean) asks:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Who in your family has Celiac Disease?</span></strong><br /><br />This is still a mystery. I have done some research on both sides and haven't found anyone else with it. I know they say it's hereditary, but I may never know.....<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>Was your husband called to the ministry before or after you were married? And what were your feelings about his calling? </strong><br /></span><br />Before.<br /><br />I've been on board 100% the entire time. I consider myself his co-laborer in our ministry.<br /></p><p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br /></p><p><a href="http://deedeediary.blogspot.com/"><strong>Dee Dee</strong></a>, my BFF's mom and my spiritual <em>guru</em> (jk, but seriously, my mentor!!! I love you, Sara):<br /><strong></strong></p><p><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>I'd like to hear the answer to the question about Ms. Majors. And didn't she threaten to "cut your butt off"? </strong><br /><br /></span>I think she goes down as the worst teacher in history for that one. And I believe the term she used was "Yo butt!" (I can hear you laughing Sara, and I'm laughing because of it.)<br /><strong></strong></p><p><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>And did she ever teach you anything besides BAD MANNERS?</strong><br /><strong></strong></span><br />She taught me how to suck on my teeth after eating corn on the cob. It's very bad manners to have food stuck in your teeth, Sara.<br /><br /><strong></strong></p><p><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>2nd - What did you and Robin used to do that I never knew?</strong><br /><strong></strong></span><br />You dropped us off at a high school soccer game and we walked over the Glades Road bridge and went to a Chinese restaurant. We walked back to the game and you picked us up. (Our escapades always involved food. Nothing's changed.)<br /><br /><strong></strong></p><p><span style="color:#33ff33;"><strong>3rd - I'm with the blogger that wants to know WHY DO I HAVE TO TYPE WORD VERIFICATIONS just to comment on your blog when I have known you since you were in the 3rd grade?</strong><br /></span><br />How can I really know it's you.........hmmmmmmmmm?</p>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-83943552587064036142008-08-27T12:25:00.006-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.755-04:00Bunny HuggerMost of you don't know my husband from anyone, but a bunny hugger he is not. He can hunt deer with the best of 'em. He must be getting soft in his old age. He runs in the morning and made a furry discovery on his travels today. I took the kids to school this morning and went grocery shopping. I arrived home to find this on top of my REFRIGERATOR!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLWAkIjDfaI/AAAAAAAAAuo/2FnGNgb9u1U/s1600-h/Dead+Bunny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239235099773599138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLWAkIjDfaI/AAAAAAAAAuo/2FnGNgb9u1U/s200/Dead+Bunny.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">Can I just tell you how disturbing this is on so many levels? Notice the purple bin that was formerly used for toys and now has the carcass of a bunny. On top of the refrigerator. Where I am going to unload our food. That we eat. Anyone coming for dinner tonight? </p><p align="left">***Update on the bunny for the inquiring minds. The bunny has perished. My husband, in his best efforts, tried to rescue Thumper (that's what we'll call him). He fed it water through a syringe in an attempt to hydrate the little guy, but to no avail. He now rests in peace in our backyard. Thank you for your concern and no, my husband did not just put a dead bunny on top of our refrigerator. He thought it may have a chance to survive. He was well intentioned.</p>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-61820562678029506792008-08-26T07:43:00.003-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.756-04:00Keep 'em Comin'I am going to wait a few days to post the answers. <a href="http://melissabotley.blogspot.com/2008/08/ask-pastors-wife.html"><strong>Keep the questions coming</strong></a>. I finally got the bug last night. I had a pretty mild case, thank you Jesus. Emmy started puking again this morning. Michael and Lauren did make it to school today, thank you Jesus.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm hope the thing with Emmy is just a fluke. I feel so bad for her. Phenergan is our friend.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLPuG3tGL6I/AAAAAAAAAuY/jadMXMYy7qo/s1600-h/Madea+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238792593361743778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLPuG3tGL6I/AAAAAAAAAuY/jadMXMYy7qo/s200/Madea+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://matildacat8.blogspot.com/"><strong>Karen</strong></a>, I'm going to have to sit on that question for a while. I thought therapy had helped until you dredge up that Madea-on-crack teacher. Piece be steel.....<br /><br /><br /><br />My guest blogger day will be coming soon, too.<br /><br />Check back for the answers on Thursday....until then....Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-78736313242180708362008-08-25T09:28:00.006-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.756-04:00Ask The Pastor.........'s Wife<div align="justify">Okay, I once again am jumping on a bandwagon. The Q & A bandwagon. I would like to entertain your questions. Here's how this works.<br /></div><div align="justify">Leave a comment on this post. Ask me <strong><em>anything</em></strong> you'd like. I will let you know if it's something <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLK5eS5vF4I/AAAAAAAAAuA/jbaFFvnR_2E/s1600-h/Question+Mark+Key.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238453246706521986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLK5eS5vF4I/AAAAAAAAAuA/jbaFFvnR_2E/s200/Question+Mark+Key.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm not able or willing to answer. </div><br /><br />Keep in mind. I'm a pastor's wife. There are some things I'm not able to discuss to protect the privacy and anonymity of our church family. I doubt your questions will even go there, but the disclaimer is necessary, nonetheless.<br /><br /><br />Your questions can be theological, but I am not the one who went to Seminary. If you have a question for my hubby, I would be glad to include <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLK4OfAmgcI/AAAAAAAAAt4/vE16o-dYC94/s1600-h/Question+Mark+Cloud.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238451875567010242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLK4OfAmgcI/AAAAAAAAAt4/vE16o-dYC94/s200/Question+Mark+Cloud.jpg" border="0" /></a>those, too.<br /><br /><br />I will take anything from "What's your favorite food?" to "What's the hardest part about life in ministry?"<br /><br /><br />So, ask away. Don't leave me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hangin</span>'......<br /><br /><br /><br />***Update on the family. Michael started the bug, last evening. I'm praying that this is the end of it. He does not have it as serious as Emmy. He didn't even wake me up when he threw up last night. He kept the trash can by his bed and took care of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bid'niss</span>. What a big boy he is turning out to be. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and well wishes. I can't tell you how much it means. I love you, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bloggy</span> family.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-28034059538224075432008-08-24T12:40:00.008-04:002008-09-01T21:06:17.757-04:00Family Wellness (or lack thereof) Update****Attention <a href="http://www.lifeasacferswife.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color:#66ffff;">Kori</span></strong></a>, this is another puke post. Read with caution....:)<br /><br /><div><div><div><div>I had no idea what I was in for this weekend. I have never, in my life, dealt with so much puke!</div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGWbjuaJoI/AAAAAAAAAtg/d5r659x-te4/s1600-h/Sick+Bay+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238133241799124610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGWbjuaJoI/AAAAAAAAAtg/d5r659x-te4/s200/Sick+Bay+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lauren and Eric started to feel better yesterday. They just kind of laid around the house all day. The TV never went off. I caught up on New Moon and did laundry and dishes. I'm totally sleep deprived and it's actually working to my home's advantage. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Enter Emily. Saturday evening, around 10 p.m. or so, she comes out of her room complaining of a tummy ache. I really kind of dismissed her because she copies whatever her big sis is doing and she will use any excuse in the book to get out of bed. I asked her where it hurt. She pointed at her upper chest. Case closed. The faker.</div><br /><div>Boy was I wrong. The clock struck midnight and Emily quickly made the girl from the Exorcist look like Holly Hobby. She puked every five minutes for the next hour and a half. Dry heaves.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLLI-ux-LdI/AAAAAAAAAuI/P143a1xj4wQ/s1600-h/Sick+Bay+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238470296620379602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLLI-ux-LdI/AAAAAAAAAuI/P143a1xj4wQ/s200/Sick+Bay+001.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>She started to pace herself a little and slowed down to every 45 minutes until 7 a.m. when I finally buckled and yes, went back to the ER. </div><br /><div>George Clooney, where were you? I really needed to see you this morning.</div><br /><div>She was dehydrated and couldn't keep anything down. Sound familiar. Thanks for stating the obvious, Melissa. </div><br /><div>It's viral. Which translates, CONTAGIOUS. </div><br /><div>There isn't enough Lysol in the world to keep this house from catching this really nasty, big, fat, cockroach like bug. </div><br /><div>The doctor (who looked nothing like Dr. Carter or Dr. Kovach) gave her a shot of Phenergan and that stopped the vomiting......temporarily. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGXkFrJX-I/AAAAAAAAAtw/fdPKNbMfTdA/s1600-h/Music+notes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238134487862829026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGXkFrJX-I/AAAAAAAAAtw/fdPKNbMfTdA/s200/Music+notes.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sing it if you know it: </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">"Emmy had a shot in her leg of Phenergan, </div><br /><div align="justify">but puke kept running down her chinnagin, </div><br /><div align="justify">up went the suppository in her hiney-kin, </div><br /><div align="justify">Poor little Emily, Phenergan, begin again."<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">That was my sorry attempt at a remake of a nursery rhyme. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGWpJKOQXI/AAAAAAAAAto/NV-PikY8SAY/s1600-h/Sick+Bay+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238133475186196850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SLGWpJKOQXI/AAAAAAAAAto/NV-PikY8SAY/s200/Sick+Bay+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Thank goodness Lauren Nightingale lives in our home. She gladly brought Emily her Gatorade in a basket to her room and stroked her hair off her face. She has the gift of compassion and mercy just oozing out of her. I love her for that. Affirm. Affirm. Affirm. </div><br /><div><br /><br />So, is it just a matter of time? Will Michael and mommy escape the crud? Will we soon be shoving anti-vomit suppositories into our exit only areas? (Sorry, I'm being crude) Stay tuned. I'm sure you all are just dying to see how this one wraps up. </div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-90898626408831714172008-08-24T05:00:00.001-04:002008-08-24T05:00:00.761-04:00The Pathway to Rome~By Beth MooreThe following bible study is taken from "To Live Is Christ" By <span style="color:#ff99ff;"><strong><a href="http://www.lproof.org/">Beth Moore</a>:</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff99ff;"></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffcc99;">Romans 6:1-23</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc99;">We are Slaves to Righteousness:</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc99;"></span><br /><ol><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By reminding ourselves we are <strong>DEAD</strong> to sin (v. 11). ***Sin has no hold on you except that which you give it permission to have.</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By <strong><em>deliberately</em></strong> resisting the reign of sin (v. 12).</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By <strong><em>deliberately </em></strong>offering ourselves to God (v. 13; 12:1) ***Refuse Satan the right to have authority over you.</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By knowing our rights as those united with Christ (v. 14; Gal. 5:1). ***It is our right in Christ to be FREE!</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By not misapplying the doctrine of GRACE (v. 15). ***Salvation is a gift. Holiness is a pursuit.</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By realizing no substitute exists for <strong><em>whole-hearted</em></strong> obedience in our quest to be free from slavery to sin (v. 17). ***This one spoke directly to me!!!</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By facing the weakness of our natural selves (v. 19). </span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By acknowledging the ever-increasing nature of wickedness (v. 19).</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By never forgetting the <em>powerless</em> feeling of being out of control (v. 20). (Moms, can I get a HOLLA or Hallelujer?)</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By counting the cost of slavery to sin (v. 21). </span></li><li><span style="color:#ffcc99;">By recognizing the benefit of slavery to God (v. 22; Micah 7:8, 18-19).</span></li></ol><p><span style="color:#ffcc99;">***Do the right thing, until your heart feels the right thing.</span></p><p><span style="color:#ffcc99;">This was taken from a video session in the bible study I'm currently going through. I felt sick to my stomach while I was watching it because I knew God was dealing directly with me. I want to share this with you in the hopes that God will deal with you where you need dealing. If we are in Christ, we always need a little dealing with.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color:#ffcc99;"></span></strong> </p>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-22188540293948298762008-08-23T05:01:00.001-04:002008-08-23T05:01:00.638-04:00They Call Me The Poop Checker/Vomit CatcherYep. You read that right. That's what I have been doing for the past 24 hours. Checking for poop and catching vomit with my bare hands. Talents like this run deep. <br /><br />Lauren started out Wednesday with a bang. She came home from school not feeling well. She kept telling me she felt like throwing up, but it was just false alarms. Until.....we were in the car and I neglected to bring a bucket. Glorious uprising! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hellerrrr</span>? (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Madea</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ese</span> again) Why is it, mom's always try to catch the chunks as they are hurling outward? Do we really think we are accomplishing anything, but getting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">spewage</span> all over us as well as everything else? <br /><br />Well, by morning, we thought everything was better. Just a one time deal. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Negatory</span>, Junior Pig Pen. Thursday night, same thing. Friday morning I'm awakened by the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">retching</span> coming from <em><strong>our</strong></em> bathroom. Hubby is hugging the bowl and pretty much indicating I'm in for a very long Friday. <br /><br />Lauren then gets up and informs me she had an accident in her bed. I'm thinking, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Awww</span>, you wet your bed." No such luck. Think other end. Are you starting to get the title of this post? <br /><br />A bath, some Clorox Clean-up, and a load of laundry later, hubby starts yelping from the bedroom. I can't quite make out what he is trying to say in between pukes, but he starts clutching his stomach and writhing in pain. <br /><br />Google Search: Symptoms of Appendicitis<br /><br />Vomiting, Diarrhea, and pain in middle to right side of abdomen. Check. Check. Check. <br /><br />Inner <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dialogue</span>. "I have 3 children, 2 of which are still sleeping, 1 of which is pooing, and a husband with a possible appendectomy in his future......How does one go to the emergency room with all of the aforementioned?" <br /><br />I called a few people I knew to see if they would put themselves at risk and venture into our little sick bay, so I could take my husband to the ER. First house, no answer. Second house, mom and dad are gone and 18 year old is home without a car to get to me. Not to mention, her road is flooded! <br /><br />Beep. Beep. Beep. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hellerrrr</span>, 911? I think I need an ambulance to come get my husband. He can't walk or hold his head up and I think his appendix are about to burst." <br /><br />Ambulance is on the way. Eric is mumbling something about ".....that's too expensive." Second house call has called back and says she is on her way. There is some relief in sight....<br /><br />This all took place before 9:30 a.m. We arrived at the ER and they performed all kinds of tests. They ruled out appendicitis. They ruled out kidney stones. He was severely dehydrated for inability to keep anything down. <br /><br />We got out of the hospital about 1 p.m. <br /><br />I called our babysitter to check in on Lauren. <br /><br />She threw up and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">poopied</span> again. <br /><br />So, when I got home, I dropped Eric off and turned right around and took Lauren to her Pediatrician. It's Friday. You know what that means, moms? If I don't take her in today, she'll be worse by tomorrow and I'll wish I had taken her in......been there? She was also severely dehydrated. <br /><br />For some reason, when my family gets sick, they can't keep <strong><em>anything </em></strong>down. Fluids, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">meds</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nuttin</span>'. So the result, dehydration. <br /><br />The crisis has been averted for the moment. I'm thankful it wasn't more serious. <br /><br />Diagnosis? Viral Gastroenteritis. All that for the stomach flu.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-90364007714234239832008-08-22T05:00:00.009-04:002008-08-22T19:30:25.796-04:00Pipe Cleaners, Pasta Trains and Pelting Rain<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK3ivWjD3mI/AAAAAAAAAsc/-cZwFEGV52Y/s1600-h/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237091244836118114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK3ivWjD3mI/AAAAAAAAAsc/-cZwFEGV52Y/s200/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+004.jpg" border="0" /></a>Thank you <a href="http://www.parents.com/"><span style="color:#33ccff;"><strong>Parents</strong></span></a> magazine for coming in time! I got my magazine chock full of ideas to help me keep the kids occupied while the rain came down and the floods came up. They really had a lot of good ideas this month.<br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>First, we made pasta trains......aren't these adorable? I wanted to make sure I got photos before they were destroyed. That's why there is still glue showing....<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK6z2vEbI0I/AAAAAAAAAtE/M_RKPI738Ms/s1600-h/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237321169607795522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK6z2vEbI0I/AAAAAAAAAtE/M_RKPI738Ms/s200/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+005.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>Next, I just handed a bunch of pipe cleaners to the kids and let them do with them what they did. Here are the results:<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK4mGIxZ3xI/AAAAAAAAAs8/kxUXF7pNGGM/s1600-h/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237165303554236178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK4mGIxZ3xI/AAAAAAAAAs8/kxUXF7pNGGM/s200/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+009.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="center">Not quite sure what Lauren was going for, but she made a bunch of them!<br /></p><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK4mFwLeQPI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ZZcR2cX3NQs/s1600-h/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237165296952688882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK4mFwLeQPI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ZZcR2cX3NQs/s200/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+006.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /></div><p align="center">Michael made glasses. Genius isn't he?</p><div><br /></div><p align="center">There were quite a few more great ideas, but this was a "Memo To Mommy" that I thought was some very helpful advice. Credit goes to <a href="http://www.parents.com/"><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">Parents Magazine</span></strong> </a>for this one (paranthetical input, mine):</p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffcc00;">Memo To Mommy</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">You have a lot of lessons to teach your little one, </span></strong><strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">but he/she has a few words of wisdom for you too.</span></strong></p><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Stop freaking out about the mess!</span> </strong>There's always time to clean--but how often do we get to make mud pies? (yeah, but who has to clean the crevices where the mud likes to get? Me that's who....)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Love me</span>, </strong>even when I'm naughty. I'll only be this age once. (Oh Emily, they must know you.)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Be patient,</span> </strong>I do everything for a reason, but I don't know enough words yet to give you an explanation. (Even when I overload the toilet with toilet paper! There's got to be a logical reason for that!)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Let me do it.</span> </strong>I know you can do it faster and better, but sometimes experience is the best teacher. (Okay, here's where I need big help. Cracking eggs is not something I'm ready to allow.)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't expect too much of me.</span> </strong>I want to do what you ask and make you happy, but I'm still little. (What can I say to this? They give me those eyes and I melt.)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't try to reason with me when I'm having a tantrum.</span> </strong>Trust me--I can't hear you over my screaming. (Well then, how come when I threaten bodily harm, you quiet down?)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't keep asking me if I've been good.</span> </strong>I'm not even sure what that means, but if I was bad I'd never admit it! (Bullseye!)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Don't let me think that you're perfect.</span> </strong>I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes. (A perfect mom wouldn't let her kids smack her booty)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Set limits.</span> </strong>I can't actually eat a whole box of cookies--I just want to see if I'd get away with it. (Mommy is the only one allowed to eat the whole box. Do as I say, not as I do.....)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffcc66;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Keep your promises.</span> </strong>It's all about trust. When I'm a teenager, you'll understand why it's so important. (Even the kind of promises like, "I promise I'll make you lunch in a few minutes." Blog. Blog. Blog....."Mom, you promised. It's been a few minutes." Type. Type. ""Honey, you can't tell time. You don't know how long I meant by a few minutes.")</span></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-36370202938277741052008-08-21T13:41:00.002-04:002008-08-22T19:30:39.965-04:00Lauren's Lyrics....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK2qxRHXDRI/AAAAAAAAAsM/TQF6UovUp84/s1600-h/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237029705086340370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SK2qxRHXDRI/AAAAAAAAAsM/TQF6UovUp84/s200/Pipe+Cleaners+Pasta+Trains+and+Pelting+Rain+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Rain, Rain, go away.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Come again another day. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Little Lauren wants to pet the kittens.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So please rain go away.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-18660179183095591102008-08-21T05:00:00.012-04:002008-08-21T05:00:00.346-04:00You Had To Know....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236757376792875890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzFrKlU3I/AAAAAAAAArs/3lh6zeHNklw/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+026.jpg" border="0" />...I was going to post some first day of school pics. <em>Faye </em>could not keep us <em>away</em> from the first <em>day</em>. No <em>way</em>. I couldn't pass up that opportunity to be poetic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236755941764887090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyxyJRP8jI/AAAAAAAAArM/jefDj1RWezE/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+028.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div>So, we got 2 of our 3 children off to school yesterday. Now they're home today. How does that work? It's not funny. I know you're probably "tee-hee"ing on the other side of the screen at my tease of a break from the madness that makes my life blogworthy. <div><div><br /></div><div align="center">One day of school and BAM! We're all together again. </div><div><br /></div><div>They cancelled school because of this "rain" that they <em>think</em> will develop into a "severe" thunderstorm. I hope I'm not being too carefree about what this tropical thing will do, but I get a little ancy when I get all geared up for having some "me and Emmy" time and well, some "just me" time, and then......lock down. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Okay, enough whining. My kids had a great first day of school. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyyG234S7I/AAAAAAAAArU/RAMTUl86uEg/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236756297603894194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyyG234S7I/AAAAAAAAArU/RAMTUl86uEg/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Lauren was so cute as she hung up her backpack and sat in her seat. Her teacher had a story book at every seat and Lauren's favorite book, The 3 Little Pigs was at her's. Eric started reading it to her and she was just fine for us to be on our way. It was such a sweet good-bye. No crying. A little puking later in the day, but we just think her lunchable disagreed with her. She's fine now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyyxaTdicI/AAAAAAAAArk/wHyAVHFkqmA/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236757028669327810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyyxaTdicI/AAAAAAAAArk/wHyAVHFkqmA/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Michael has become old-hat at this now. He started 2nd grade and went right in and seem to do very well. He said his teacher is very nice and she does seem to be very well organized (my observation). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love that it is a Christian school where they will be taught God's word everyday and prayer is an integral part of everything they do. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to see what this year will bring!</div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzUhcR-SI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ydwH4JopZkw/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236757631880788258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzUhcR-SI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ydwH4JopZkw/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+031.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Lauren with her teacher, Mrs. Johnson<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzi7UJlPI/AAAAAAAAAr8/r57pETKbT3g/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236757879344174322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzi7UJlPI/AAAAAAAAAr8/r57pETKbT3g/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+034.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Lauren giving daddy good-bye kisses<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKy0PCOUGdI/AAAAAAAAAsE/nHEJ0RVFBwg/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236758637112990162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKy0PCOUGdI/AAAAAAAAAsE/nHEJ0RVFBwg/s200/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKyzUhcR-SI/AAAAAAAAAr0/ydwH4JopZkw/s1600-h/First+Day+of+School+08+baptism+031.jpg"></a></p><p align="center">Emmy, Me (oh my gosh, I have bedhead, okay? I'm over it.) and Lauren</p><p align="left">Aren't these just the most precious chillens you have ever seen. Bertiful! Hallelujer! (That's Madea-ese, in case you didn't know) </p><p align="left">If you don't know<a href="http://www.tylerperry.com/_Movies/"><span style="color:#ccccff;"> Madea and her family</span></a>, you must be introduced.</p><p align="left"></p></div></div></div></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-7924936977524517722008-08-20T05:14:00.005-04:002008-08-20T21:20:42.838-04:00LunacyI must have looked like a raving lunatic yesterday.<br /><br />What was I thinking? Obviously, I wasn't.<br /><br />Quite to my surprise, the library called in the afternoon. "Ma'am, New Moon has arrived and we will hold it for 3 days." I thanked them, hung up and squealed with unnecessary glee. After all, it's <em>just </em>a book. :)<br /><br />So, I pack all the kids into the van and decide to head on over to the library to pick up the latest in my obsessions that is Twilight. <br /><br />"Mom, can you check out a Magic Tree House book for me?" says Michael.<br /><br />"Mom, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">horsey</span> book for me?" Lauren adds.<br /><br />"I want one, too!" Emily says with a little bit of attitude, like I wasn't going to get her anything.<br /><br />"No, you can't have a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">horsey</span> book! That's <em>my</em> favorite," pipes up Lauren.<br /><br />You can see where this is going. <br /><br />Does this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">incessant</span> arguing over trivial things ever stop? <br /><br />I get some very random books quickly and go up to the checkout table. The librarian says, "Can I help you?" <br /><br />I wanted to say, "Don't you recognize me? I was just here yesterday to request a copy of New Moon?" <br /><br />What I did say was, "Yes, I believe you have a copy of New Moon behind the counter here for me."<br /><br />"Oh yes, these books are very popular with the young crowd," she says, very nicely.<br /><br />I wanted to say, "Uh huh, just scan it, lady. It's for me, okay. Yes, I have these 3 children and yes, I'm probably old enough to parent some of Twilight's readers, but lay off. It's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">therapeutic</span> after dealing with these 3 all day."<br /><br />What I did say was, "I know, it's crazy how good these books are! You should read them."<br /><br /><br />So, after leaving the library, I hadn't had quite enough drama, so I decided to head on over to the grocery store. I figured, with Faye on her way, I may want to stock up on some canned goods and such. Still praying, all the while, that the first day of school <em>will NOT</em> be cancelled due to weather. So far, so good.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but for some reason when I hit the grocer with all 3 of my children, it's <strong>go</strong> time. My kids start whining about every. little. thing. This one has to go potty. That one wants to stop at the bakery for the free cookie that has staining sprinkles. One doesn't want to sit in the germ infested cart shaped like a race car that is rather difficult to steer. <br /><br />So, like a good mom, I address the issues according to urgency. To the potty first. By the time we get <strong><em>back</em></strong> there (why this grocery store has placed the bathroom all the way at the back is beyond my comprehension), my 4 year old has about driven me mad with her whining about the cookie. So, I, no so gently, removed her from the cart that she didn't want to sit in in the first place, and take her kicking and screaming into the bathroom along with the child,who actually had to potty and the other child, who was actually being fairly well behaved at this point. You would have thought I was performing Chinese water torture on this child. I think she just needed a nap. The irrationality level at this point was so high, I don't know what else it could have been.<br /><br />By the time I left the bathroom, I was ready to nix the trip through the store. I'm sure my hair said it all. Sloppy, tousled mess. It's times like this, I'm praying I don't see anyone from my church because I definitely don't feel altogether chipper or ready to discuss Sunday's sermon. Nevertheless, my son, bless his heart, asks me if he can pass out gospel tracts. I'm serious. He loves to tell people about Jesus. Isn't it just like the Lord to put that silver lining on a very ominous dark thunder cloud?<br />So, what Christian mother could say no to that? Of course, I let him. As long as he didn't leave the aisle we were on at the time.<br /><br />A few aisles over, a man stops me, to tell me that he thinks it's great that I am teaching my children to do this. However, he then starts into a dissertation about why what I believe is in error and what the <strong><em>real</em></strong> meaning of the bible is.....Do I need to elaborate? Let's put it this way. I would usually only meet someone like this if I was at home talking to them through my door because they always come over when I'm still in my PJ's sans bra. You get my point? He starts in on me with this discussion and meanwhile I'm grabbing one child by the shirt, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ssshhing</span> another child and pursing my lips at another. I finally looked at him and said, "Sir, I'm not trying to be rude, but you can see I have 3 children here. This is really neither the time nor the place to discuss this. I'm very grounded in God's Word and I know what I believe. I need to get back to shopping. Be blessed." Well, wouldn't you know it, he didn't get the hint. He tracks me down again a couple of aisles over! Needless to say, I was firm, but pleasant.<br /><br />I finally made it out of the store alive with all three children still intact. I threatened to pull the car over and other empty rants. I'm thinking of installing one of those automatic privacy windows, like they have in limousines. It would just be safer for everyone.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-55174571310690517982008-08-19T05:00:00.001-04:002008-08-19T05:00:00.805-04:00Good Night Twilight<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKmWvsNqZuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4xjBnUL1q7c/s1600-h/Edward+and+Bella.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235881787861395170" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cL4pzFb_ioA/SKmWvsNqZuI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4xjBnUL1q7c/s200/Edward+and+Bella.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have finished a quarter of the ever popular Twilight series.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I must say, there aren't very many books that can hold my attention for very long. I won't usually read very long before I get distracted by other goings on around me. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This book was different. I started it last Monday evening and I finished it <em>early</em> this morning (Monday August 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>)....about 1 a.m. or so.... That's fast for me. </div><br /><div></div><div>I have never read an entire book in one day. </div><br /><div></div><div>I don't think I ever will. </div><br /><div></div><div>I'm really not a bookworm. </div><br /><div></div><div>I'm more of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">booksnacker</span>. </div><br /><div></div><div>I take a bite. </div><br /><div></div><div>Put it down. </div><br /><div></div><div>Graze a little more. </div><br /><div></div><div>Put it down. </div><br /><div></div><div>Forget that I'm reading it. </div><br /><div></div><div>Then I have to start over because I can't just pick back up where I left off. </div><div> </div><div>I usually never start over, though. I don't want to reread everything. So, most of the books I've "read" never get "read". </div><br /><div></div><div>Twilight was different. </div><br /><div></div><div>Maybe I'm different. </div><br /><div></div><div>My kids are getting older. I'm able to steal a few moments here and there. I can actually go to the bathroom and leave my kids unattended for a few minutes. </div><br /><div></div><div>I did read more before I had children. </div><br /><div></div><div>I was able to. </div><br /><div></div><div>No distractions. </div><br /><div></div><div>No diapers.</div><div> </div><div>No <a href="http://melissabotley.blogspot.com/2008/08/emmy-doodles-exclamations.html"><span style="color:#ffcc00;">"awnge" juice theivery or booty calls</span></a>. </div><br /><div></div><div>No messes, unless I made them. </div><br /><div></div><div>Maybe that's what I love about this book. It takes me back to that feeling of new love. Before it gets complicated with life. </div><div> </div><div>Don't get me wrong, Bella and Edward have complicated down to a tee. </div><div> </div><div>But it's different. </div><br /><div></div><div>Different than my complicated. </div><br /><div></div><div>I can escape into someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">else's</span> drama that is polar opposite of mine. </div><br /><div></div><div>That's it. That's what I love about this book. Thank you Stephanie Meyer. Thank you for not once mentioning my complicated life in your story of true love. Thank you for straying as far away as possible from the life that is mine. That's what will keep me coming back for more. </div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-61279556406528811722008-08-18T05:00:00.002-04:002008-08-18T11:54:30.856-04:00Emmy Doodle's Exclamations...I have just been so tickled over the past few days at some of the silly word chatter of my 3 year old. I just want to document this before I forget it......<br /><br />Lauren says, "Mom, tell Emily to leave me alone!"<br />Emily says, "But mom, I just want to smell her!"<br />Me, "Lauren, just let her smell you and then she will leave you alone."<br />Lauren had just taken a bath and smelled really sweet....<br />Emmy sniffs and says,"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MMMM</span>, she's smells good."<br /><br />Saturday morning I fix breakfast for Emmy and myself. I was, fortunately, the last person up. My hubby let me sleep in, bless his soul. I fixed myself and Emmy a glass of OJ and set them on the table. I walked back into the kitchen and got my bowl of cereal to bring to the table. By the time I got back out to the dining room, Emmy had finished her glass of OJ and dumped my entire glass into her glass and was drinking it! I looked at her with frustration and she <em>innocently</em> looked up and said, "Can I have your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">awnge</span> juice, mommy?"<br /><br />The other day Michael had a friend over to play and Emmy had to go potty. She comes running out into the living room, naked from the waist down! I said, "Emmy, you can't come running out here without clothes on. We have company." She proceeds to ask me, "Why, because he will see my booty?"<br /><br />On Thursday, Emmy locked herself in her room and then had to go pee. I didn't get to her in time, so I had a mess to clean up. I was just so thrilled to have to clean up pee, again! Emmy comes up behind me while I'm down on my hands and knees and pats me on the behind...and then giggles. "That's your booty mom. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hee</span>."<br /><br />Once of these days, Emmy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bam</span>, right to the moon!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288614430958086575.post-54418305920408947262008-08-17T05:00:00.005-04:002008-08-18T11:54:00.998-04:00FIVE PRACTICAL STEPS TO A POWERFUL DAILY PRAYER LIFE<p>(Excerpt from book, <a href="http://masterdesign.org/"><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">“Returning To Holiness”, by Dr. Gregory R. Frizzell</span></strong></a><span style="color:#33ccff;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">1.</span> <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Make an absolute commitment to consistently spend significant time alone with God in uninterrupted prayer</span></strong>.<br />Give God significant time on a daily basis.<br />2-3 minute devotions are by no means the pattern of Jesus<br />You must reject the modern idea that you can develop a deep prayer life “on the run.”<br />30 minutes to an hour is a good suggestion for a vibrant daily prayer life<br />Remember, the only way we learn to pray is to “show up for practice”<br />If you spend significant time alone with Jesus, He will utterly change your life!<br />1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”<br />Though we must be very committed to prayer, we should never approach it as a legalistic bondage<br /></p><span style="color:#33ff33;">2.</span> <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Approach your prayer time as a relationship with God rather than a ritual</span></strong>.<br />· True prayer is a relationship!<br />· It is a love relationship with YOUR GOD!<br />· Many are so busy serving God that we neglect time alone with Him.<br />· When you approach prayer as a relationship, you will also learn to hear God’s voice on a daily basis.<br />· True prayer begins with listening to God.<br />· As you learn to listen, you are then sure what you are asking is God’s will.<br />· Learning to hear God is the greatest secret of answered prayer! (1 John 5:14-15)<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">3.</span> <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">Make a commitment to a balanced prayer life by regularly practicing the four different types of prayer</span></strong>.<br />· A.C.T.S. (Affirmation or Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication or Intercession for others)<br />· It is essential that our prayer life be far more than a list of “needs and wants.”<br />· We must experience daily cleansing or we cannot maintain the power of the Holy Spirit.<br />· It is impossible to regularly experience all the types of prayer in only a 2-3 minute devotion.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">4.</span><strong> <span style="color:#33ff33;">In your daily petitions, focus more on issues of personal character and holiness than on temporal needs</span></strong>.<br />· God’s great priority is to conform you to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)<br />· Make the 9 fruit of the Holy Spirit your daily personal prayer petition (Galatians 5:22)<br />· As you daily ask God to fill you with each fruit, also ask Him to show you how you don’t reflect that characteristic.<br />· The beatitudes also provide excellent personal petitions (Matthew 5).<br />· If you claim such prayers for your own heart, God will revolutionize your life!<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">5.</span> <strong><span style="color:#33ff33;">In your daily intercession, focus more on issues of evangelism and missions than on temporal concerns</span></strong>.<br />· It is tragic that so much intercession is mainly focused on health and other temporal issues.<br />· God’s great priorities are the evangelization of the world and sweeping revival in the church (Matthew 28:18).<br />· God does incredible things when we focus our intercession on lost people, missions and revival!<br />· You may be wondering, “How can I focus my intercession on God’s great priorities?” Listed below are 5 powerful strategies.<br />1. Develop a prayer list of lost people and intercede for them daily.<br />2. Develop a prayer list of the key leaders and ministry strategies of your church. Pray for them regularly.<br />3. Compile a prayer list of key spiritual and government leaders. Pray for them regularly.<br />4. Regularly pray for vital mission strategies of your association, state and denomination. (You can get daily or weekly updates from your state and national denomination.)<br />5. Daily intercede for revival and spiritual awakening in your city and nation.<br /><br />*<strong>Please do not feel that a powerful prayer life is out of your reach. If you are willing, God will revolutionize your praying and thus your walk with Him.</strong><br /><br />*<strong>Don’t let anything keep you from walking in full cleansing and dynamic prayer. No matter how weak you have been, you can become a powerful, biblical intercessor. If God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)</strong>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10301661752836564102noreply@blogger.com5