MellaMom's Xanga

Monday, May 25, 2009

Mon, 25 May 2009 00:45:45 GMT

OK. I'm not even going to try to give you a deep update....

Christian just turned 7, Nemo is 4 and will be going to school in August, and Zekie Wekie Pumpkin Pie is 3.

We've been in IL now for 8 months. I can't believe it. We actually moved out of the state of Arizona. I'd been wanting to leave AZ for quite some time but never really thought we actually would, much less, when we did but alas here I am in my office telling you this.

((adjusting to a more ergonomic position))

Ok. Better.

Speaking of egronomic...I just got these this weekend.

I am quite happy about them. They help hold your wrist in a more stable position as you cut. Nifty! I've wanted some for quite some time now.

Now, where was I?? Illinois...

Is flat out beautiful. The city I'm in is quite wooded. We have all sorts of woodland creatures around here. The Des Plains River runs through and I certainly know I'm not in Arizona any longer.

Brandon's working for Allstate and I'm still working for the same company I have been for the past few years, and I also work for my father in law at the store. I'm going to be at the store for a little while longer until we sell it but and I start back at cosmo school next month...go me.

We have found a church!! Wahoo!!! We really like it. We've been attending since January and have dug right in. Brandon plays with the praise team and is leading a community group bible study weekly. He's teaching VBS this summer as well. I'm on praise team and I'm teaching K-2 grade Sunday School. God is GOOD. I had fear leaving AZ where I believed for a while that leaving would mean that I was walking outside of or away where God had us or that I was abandoning what God had called me to do ..through finding our new church and seeing what God has done with us, I've learned a very important lesson, God is faithful and so very capable of doing IN you and WITH you what he wills. When God calls you to do something...he will provide avenues and open doors that I did not know previously existed. All I have to do is know and trust that he is faithful to continue whatever thing he has started in me and his faithfulness will carry me through season after season of my life. Hope I was able to get that out the way I feel in my heart about it.....anywho.. They have welcomed into their family with wide stretched arms and we are excited to grow and serve there. He's brought restoration to us. That is so comforting, he is truly omnipresent.

I've also been learning about relationships.....some things have happened that you could not have paid me to believe amongst some of my relationships. Devastating things.... that have shaken me to my core, led me to question my faith ( maybe faith should be elaborated... question my faith in people and the way I engage in relationships with them), and left me in a heap of tears of despair. What I've learned and what I know to be true is this: God is. He is everything I could have ever wanted or needed in my life and He is the only thing that's constant. He alone is worthy of all the trust I can give. He has my best interest at heart and His comfort can overshadow the deepest of pains. People are only human and therefore are subject to act non-perfect and in ways never before imaginable, that's the truth and while shocking at times, is manageable when looked at in the proper perspective. The blood of Jesus covers a multitude of sins. I'm grateful for the lessons learned and am now excited to build new relationships with this new knowledge especially being aware of the boundaries that do and should exist in interpersonal relationships. All in all, although the lesson was painful, I'm eternally grateful for that was wrought in my relationship in Christ through the trials and tribulation of my human interactions.

I'll be 27 soon. That's scary. I'm so much not the person I want to be and I feel like I am running out of time. Right now today, I hope I become the person( daughter of the King, wife, mother, sister, relative, friend
) that God is calling me to be before it's too late...before the kids are grown, before the other relationships are damaged beyond repair.... There is so much pressure, both real and imagined that I feel in this area of my life and I just want to believe what is true....and in that...it's only God. I'm finding it hard to keep my thoughts in balance when it comes to this. I just realized this paragraph probably only makes sense to me...so I'll stop there.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day...yeah!!!! I'll be working...but I go in an hour late and get out about an hour earlier so that's great! Have a few invites and I don't know as of yet which one if any we will be taking up.

Here's a not so detailed picture of the boys laying out on the grass in front of our house enjoying some brotherly time and conversation...I'll get some actual faces up soon.

Oh my word, it's 845 and I've been on longer than I had liked. And here is my little Zekie...

"Mommy can you hold me...hold on let me get my blanket...Ok NOW are are you ready to hold me?"

Parenting Calls!!!

It's been vivid....I'll be around.

Love you, mean it.

ME!!!!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Fri, 15 May 2009 15:55:33 GMT

Xanga. I've started to miss you recently. Facebook and Myspace have kept me away for quite some time. I miss the release that blogging brings. I miss the freedom I find in writing.

Expect me to return to you soon Xanga.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:21:27 GMT

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!

Too Funny, had to share!

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:18:16 GMT

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married -- for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered.

"Interesting," the newsman thought. He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She answered, proudly, explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on a preacher when in her 60's, and now in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer asked her, quite astonished why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

Congratulations

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:21:23 GMT

Are due for Christian!

He is getting straight A's!

My baby is an A Honor Roll recipient this 1st quarter!!!!

He has a much more challenging curriclum than he had in AZ. Needless to say, we are so proud of him!!

Good job baby boy!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:51:37 GMT

OK. Blog time.

To answer my own question.....

I was in the television room when the California #'s came in and I was literally speechless.

I don't know how long I sat there staring at the words, "Barack Obama elected 44th President of the United States."

My first thought I think was something along the lines of....OK America here we go, I really truly hope you got it right because as citizens of this country he is our President now. We all have to live with the choice that was made.

And then I cried.

I mean really cried. I went into the mascara smearing, nose dripping cry. I cried because of the uncertainty of where our country is headed. And thinking can this man REALLY deliver what he has proposed, and if so what does that mean for us, truly.

Now that the race is over, you would be a fool not to admit that there is a lot of work ahead for us as a nation.

I do not agree with everything that our new President stands for, unquestionably so, but he is now our President, no matter how anyone feels about it. I also believe that there is something to be learned that is SO important to vote, and there may be some things coming that will not sit right, but will be open for discussion and our input. Learn who your elected officals are and MAKE SURE your voice is heard. So when the leaders close doors and meet and decide the directions that our country is going.....they will do so with your words and your views in mind. Make as much noise as possible.

I know where my identity is, and where my hope and trust ultimately lies, it's not in a political affiliation, nor the color of my skin, or my ancestral lines....my hope is in Christ and I will prayerfully ask for His hand to be on our new leader(s) and our nation, and I trust that he will honor His word to care for us if we trust in Him and Him alone.... and I believe we all should.

I'm not going to sit here and not acknowledge the reality of what transpired last night. The historical impact is something that I am really truly proud of as an American. I am glad I witnessed last night. I cried for that too. To know what people actually gave their lives for for a freedom I personally enjoy has come full circle into something no one E.V.E.R. thought they would see, I was proud to see that legacy honored.

So yes, we have an enormously tough road ahead of us, and American has chosen the person to lead the way is Obama...and no matter who stepped in to take over McCain or Obama, both would have needed our prayerful support. With the really big changes and decisions that were made last night, our nation needs our prayerful support.

Love you, mean it!

America has spoken!

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:59:24 GMT

President Elect Barack Obama.

I don't have time for a more meaningful post right now.

But since last night was SO historical, let's start with this famous question...

Where were you/what were you doing when Barack Obama was announced the next President of the United States of America?

What was your reaction?

I'll be back later, I have work to do

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:06:13 GMT

Being as though today is an historic day, I feel like getting some things out of my head.

I heard someone say today: "Today is a great day in America, not only can a black man vote for the President of the United States of America, but he can vote for himself."

That really struck a chord with me..it actually took me by surprise...I remember being in History classes and learning what all has transpired in this country and I found myself overwhelmed and just really proud that I am an American and we've at least gotten to the point where we offer a man an opportunity because he is human regardless of his race. AND on the other side, there is SERIOUSLY a woman in the VP slot on the ticket....historical day indeed!! Now I don't identify myself solely or most importantly on my race and ancestral heritge, the most important identity I have is that of my faith in Christ. I haven't thought about it all election, but I can & will say today, that I think no matter of anyone's personal opinions/political affiliations, it should be recognized, that is really really really awesome, that a whole new generation sees someone who looks like they do on television doing something...POSITIVE! It's inspiring. Our country has come a long way! And it was really an honor to uphold what so many people fought for, and gave lives for, proudly stand in line and let my voice be heard and my vote count.

The 15th Amendment states:
The last of the Reconstruction Amendments, the 15th Amendment was designed to close the last loophole in the establishment of civil rights for newly-freed black slaves. It ensured that a person's race, color, or prior history as a slave could not be used to bar that person from voting. Though a noble idea, it had little practical effect for quite some time, as the Southern states found myriad ways to intimidate blacks to keep them from voting. The Congress passed the amendment on February 26, 1869, and it was ratified on February 3, 1870 (342 days).

Though ratification of the 15th Amendment was not a requirement for readmittance to the Congress of the Confederate states, one of the provisions of the Reconstruction Acts required that the states include a provision in their new constitutions that included a near-copy of the text of the 15th. All of the CSA states except Tennessee, which was immune from the Reconstruction Acts, eventually ratified the 15th Amendment.

So PLEASE, as an American, no matter your race, color, or views, do your civil duty, uphold the honor of those who have gone before us and VOTE!

May God truly bless America as we all hopefully prayerfully consider who we elect into office.

Ciao!

Halloween 2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:04:33 GMT

Commando, Robin, Police Officer, Zombie Witch

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:15:16 GMT

some more pics a day at the park!!!!!

Nice fall pic:

L.O.V.E this one!!!

Photography by Christian Jeremiah: