MelissaStuff

Here is the testimony Joey wrote for our mission trip to Africa: Hi, my name is Joey. I want to tell you my story. I grew up in a small town just south of Dallas, Texas. My father left our family when I was five years old. For my two older brothers and me growing up was hard. We went to church prior to my parents getting a divorce, but I was really too young to understand what Jesus was all about. I experienced a lot of pain as a young child. Not only did I feel rejected, but I also had to deal with being abused. In fourth grade, I started using drugs to cope. My life was going downhill fast. By the time I became a teenager I had moved on to heavier drugs and started sleeping around. All my life, I went to church with my Mom but really never got involved or felt like I was a part of the group. No one ever reached out to get to know who I was as a person, and the decisions I was making definitely made me feel like an outsider. I had a lot of friends growing up that I thought were my fri...

So, I haven't written much about me and Joey's plans to go on a mission trip this summer. I grew up going on missions trips every summer as a teen, and Joey had never been - unless you count going with our tiny youth group to Missouri to do some work on some downtrodden homes back when we were engaged. We had talked many times about eventually making that a part of our family plans . I wanted our boys to not get caught up in the materialism they're surrounded by and truly know what it is to serve God wherever, however. As summer approached and we got ready to plan our annual vacation, we couldn't find anywhere that we wanted to go. Long story short, we decided to go on a mission trip instead. At the time we were planning to go with another couple. Joey lobbied for an African trip, but after looking at our combined talents, funds and desires we jointly decided to move towards the trip to Belize which involved construction and interaction with children. Shortly after, the...

I was challenged today - as I was reading another blog ( My Messy Thrilling Life )- to really consider what rules are MY rules and what rules I follow because someone else thought they made sense. Those of you that know me will probably be rolling your eyes right about now and wondering when I EVER follow rules. But that's not what I mean. I mean the seconds, minutes and hours that we waste worried about what someone else will think about a decision we have made. While I may not have much of a thing for rules in the first place, I have wasted many days of my life concerned about the fallout of certain decisions. I have avoided certain books because someone thought they were inappropriately "magical." I have made myself and my children miserable because I was worried about a random parent in the mall thinking poorly of my children or me. I have doubted myself because someone else stridently insisted they were right about a topic. I have closed down on who I am at times for...

I generally blog when the urge strikes. When a topic wells up inside of me and I know I need to share . . . and am pretty sure that none of my friends want me calling and talking about inane topics like gardening or dog breeders . But today I'm blogging because I have to blog . . . because my lovely friend Jen E. wrote a blog, mentioned me and even linked over here. Since she's wonderful and I'm sure there are others like me who love to read her blog, I'm assuming I may get some traffic - and they might be interested in something that isn't almost a week old. There's actually quite a bit going on in our little lives right now, but I'm not ready to share that yet because I don't have any definitive decisions. As soon as I get them - and I would love for that to be any day now - I will gladly share. Besides that my boys and I have been chugging along this summer finding a new rhythm and actually quite enjoying ourselves. I don't think I've been ou...

If you have ever been to youth camp as a teenager, you know it is an interesting experience. It's an even more interesting experience as an adult. Some of the things that once fascinated you, no longer seem to have much of a draw. The days of being excited about dirty lake water, staying up late when you're already exhausted and all the girls crushing on the same boy are gone. These days I wonder about the nutrition of the camp food, long for bedtime, and spend free time reading on my bed in my dorm (Sh! don't tell Grant.) But there are two things that don't change - having a time of intimate fellowship with God and the opportunity to discover new friendships. This week was full of both for me. If I had to encapsulate the entire week, it would have to be " oh how He loves us ." How many times have I said or sung, "Jesus loves me" . . . "Jesus loves the little children" . . . "For God so loved the world" and on and on, but I'm ...

Just for those of you that don't follow me on Twitter and aren't my friend on Facebook. Here are the twitters I sent while at youth camp over the last four days. You'll want to read from the bottom up . . . On our way home. This ride is a lot longer than the 1 on the way up. Do not associate w/ a brother who is guilty of . . . slander. Not even 2 eat w/ them. - 1 Cor. 5.11 Ew! Forgot how 'yummy' lake water is...water running off my suit is brown. People actually buy houses so they can play in this all the time? After 1 very muggy outdoor service, we have power back. But God is doing great things so what's a little sweat? Ugh! Nothing like having a 'discussion' w/ ur husband when ur in a different state and limited cell service...and still no power here. Power's out in the entire camp. Hope it gets fixed soon. Outdoor games in 90 degree heat w/ oversized balls, inner tubes & water serve no purpose but 2 wear out teenagers! Co...

I wanted to share a blog written by Angie Smith. She put into words something that I've felt often. Not about where I am, but about who I am in certain times and certain places . . . and why it's difficult to continue to be her in other times and other places. "Because in Kolkata, I was her, and here, I am me again. They didn't know anything about me except that I had hands and that I was there to help, and it was a breath of fresh air to be used by the Lord in this way. Everything that I have tied myself to in life became beautifully, naturally, and completely irrelevant. And I want to be her. Here." Click Here to Continue Reading

Wow! I won a house party and I'm getting a whole party package including $75 of FREE Domino's pizza. We'll be having a bunch of people over either Friday, June 19th or Saturday, June 20th. Woo-hoo!! Wait til Joey finds out!

I have fallen in love with a blog! It's crazy, but I can't get enough. I'm literally working my way backwards through the archives just to have something else to read about this place and the people in it. I know why. It's because I want to BE this woman. She lives on a ranch in Oklahoma with her down-to-earth, sexy husband (I already have that part) and her four kids (I'm working on that part). She cooks incredible food with normal ingredients. She homeschools her kids but it's a practical homeschooling that involves lots of them working out on the ranch with their father. I'm telling you I can't get enough. So I thought would share - www.thepioneerwoman.com P.S. If you have several hours to spare, look for Black Heels to Tractor Wheels , her real life romance story. Be forewarned, it's addictive AND it's not complete yet, but it will make you laugh and remember how much you love your husband!

. . . at least that I know of, but I did make a baby bumper for a girl! Because that's me. That's the way I do things. I know I won't feel like doing it if I do get pregnant, and I would love to have a girl after both of my boys. But if it doesn't work out that way, I'll be just fine with that and some other special baby will get to benefit from my industriousness. I just love this material! It's so pretty without being frilly or nauseatingly pink. And the brown was the perfect balance - soft and cuddly. Hopefully, I have enough material to make a quilt to go with it. That will be my next project, as soon as I can get to the store. I've been so busy over the past several weeks. Garage sales, house showings, MOPS events, tutoring, chasing children, cleaning . . . but it's been such a satisfying period of time. Such a time of growth and peace. It's crazy to me how God brings just what I need, just when I'm not looking for it. Like my husband - as s...