I am sitting writing down my goals for the upcoming year. I am excited about a new year and excited about that feeling of "starting with a clean slate". Aren't you?
Of course, it seems that the same old stand-by goals are there every year:
Quiet time with the Lord every morning.
Be a better parent.
Be a better wife.
Lose weight.
Excercise every day.
Make wiser choices.
But this year, I also want to:
Focus on better seeing the needs of those around me.
Take a class of some sort.
Make new healthy friendships.
NOT overcommit myself this year.
What are your goals???
Love,
Melissa
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Chris and Melissa Christmas 2007
Who woulda' thunk it??? Merry Christmas!! Love to all friends and family!
Chris and Melissa
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas # 2 and Christmas Eve
Chris' family came up yesterday for family Christmas #2. I have attached photos and have also attached photos of our family today on Christmas Eve before our Christmas Eve Service.
Blessings to all and a MERRY CHRISTmas!
Chris, Melissa, Jacob, Abby and Emma
Blessings to all and a MERRY CHRISTmas!
Chris, Melissa, Jacob, Abby and Emma
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas #1 - Saturday, December 22
My family came for Christmas today at my house and it was so much fun. The kids and I got spoiled badly! My sister got me a camera that I absolutely LOVE and the kids got tons of clothes from the BIG CITY.....
This is a picture of all the grandkids and myself acting like complete goofballls. Don't ya' love it!
Love to all and Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
DISTRICT TRAINER OF THE YEAR 2007
Chris was in Cleveland, Ohio last week for his National Sales Meeting and won District Trainer of the Year for 2007. I am very proud of him. His hard work and dedication to his job has finally paid off a little for him.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
4-H Posters
Well, aside from working the entire weekend and trying to finish decorating, we also had to get cookies baked for Cookie Swap tomorrow at school and also make 4-H posters tonight. Exactly the pressure every mom needs the week before Christmas, right? To all my mom friends - hang in there, we can do this. We can get all the shopping done, entertain and be a good mom and wife, right? If we let it, Christmas becomes such craziness without any focus on Christ. Boy, am I trying to focus on Christ. Because I need Him right now, don't we all?
The stress of Christmas should be the greatest reminder of all that we need Jesus and praise God He sent his Son to earth to help us get through it all!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
FINALLY, I got the lights on the tree. Of course, only every other set I plugged in actually worked. But, the lights are on, and look exactly like the tree I grew up with in the early 70's before my mom realized white lights were the way to go. I LOVE the BIG fat retro colored lights and how they were never hung exactly right. I just wish I had time to string popcorn with the kids so it could look like the trees I remember as a kid. With all the things going on in the Brown House right now with my job and finances, it was relaxing (that's a lie, but sounds good) to put up the lights and remember Christmas when I was a little girl. All that really mattered to me as a child, now that I look back, was the anticipation, the traditions, the knowing we would spend time with family and all the goodies my mom would bake (literally for weeks). I honestly believe that no matter all the things your children say they want or "have to have", they still crave and love what we all did as children - the magic of it all. I am making every effort (just like I do every year) to help them concentrate on the real reason we are celebrating CHRISTmas. They will get it one day, just like I did. The presents are nice, but the atmosphere that surrounds the whole event is the best. Let's all slow down this coming week and remember that it isn't about how much we spend or what our kids GET. It is all about the Christ-child and the amazing love God had for us to send Him to us here on earth so that we could know God. What an incredible thing to ponder on - we are given the opportunity to actually KNOW the God who created us. That astounds me.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Can't figure out a title.....
Please hear this monologue by Shane Claiborne. What a true heart for the Lord and true direction for all of us. I am not giving praise to Shane, but praise to the Lord who speaks through him.
Trying to live mission minded and Christ-like,
Melissa
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhKDBLklin8
Trying to live mission minded and Christ-like,
Melissa
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhKDBLklin8
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Upcoming Bible Study for 2008
For those of you that are in our Wednesday night study of Daniel by Beth Moore, I wanted to introduce you to the new study we will be starting in January. It is going to be so refreshing and exciting. If you are a lover of Israel and the Jewish people, I believe that you will thoroughly enjoy this study. It is a study on the Psalms of the Ascent, a tradition still held by the Jewish people. We will begin the first Wednesday night of January (when school is back in session) and will be meeting from 5:45 to 7:15. Please invite anyone you know who might be interested and also let me know if you are attending so that I can purchase a book for you.
See below.
LifeWay: Biblical Solutions for Life - Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth Moore: "Stepping Up by Beth Moore"
See below.
LifeWay: Biblical Solutions for Life - Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth Moore: "Stepping Up by Beth Moore"
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Are you an Emergent Christian?
Emerging church
Emergents favor the sharing of experiences and interactions such as testimonies, prayer, group recitation, sharing meals and other communal practices, which they believe are personal and sincere over propositional, evangelistic preaching (preferring to guide persons to a full understanding of Christian faith through friendship and mercy). Exegetical teaching in the Emerging Church tends to uses modern & postmodern scholarship to view the Bible and its stories through a lense which (hopefully) more closely resembles the original intent of the authors and finds significance/meaning in the convergence with today's social and personal stories. Emerging church participants are thus true to the social constructs of their local narratives and the intent of scripture.
The movement's participants claim they are creating a safe environment for those with opinions ordinarily rejected within modern conservative evangelicalism/fundamentalism. Non-critical, interfaith dialog is favored over dogmatically-driven evangelism in the movement. Emergents do not engage in apologetics or confrontational evangelism in the traditional sense, preferring to allow persons the freedom to discover their faith through conversation and witness.
Missional Living:
Participants in this movement assert that the incarnation of Christ informs their theology, believing that as God entered the world in human form, adherents enter (individually and communally) into the context around them, aiming to transform that culture through local involvement in it. This holistic involvement may take many forms, including social activism, hospitality, and acts of kindness. Emergents call this beneficent involvement in culture "missional living." Missional living is thought to make emergents part of the culture rather than outsiders who call people to come out from among the culture; and this approach leads emergents to their focus on temporal and social issues, as opposed to the Evangelical emphasis on eternal salvation. The hope of the emerging church movement's "gospel" is to enhance the lives of others regardless of their lifestyles or beliefs. Therefore, social action, community involvement, and sacrificial hospitality are more emphasized in the movement than preaching and teaching.
Creative spirituality
This can involve everything from expressive, neocharismatic style of worship and the use of contemporary and films to more ancient liturgical customs and eclectic expressions of spirituality, with the goal of making the church gathering genuinely reflective of the local community's tastes.
Emergents favor the sharing of experiences and interactions such as testimonies, prayer, group recitation, sharing meals and other communal practices, which they believe are personal and sincere over propositional, evangelistic preaching (preferring to guide persons to a full understanding of Christian faith through friendship and mercy). Exegetical teaching in the Emerging Church tends to uses modern & postmodern scholarship to view the Bible and its stories through a lense which (hopefully) more closely resembles the original intent of the authors and finds significance/meaning in the convergence with today's social and personal stories. Emerging church participants are thus true to the social constructs of their local narratives and the intent of scripture.
The movement's participants claim they are creating a safe environment for those with opinions ordinarily rejected within modern conservative evangelicalism/fundamentalism. Non-critical, interfaith dialog is favored over dogmatically-driven evangelism in the movement. Emergents do not engage in apologetics or confrontational evangelism in the traditional sense, preferring to allow persons the freedom to discover their faith through conversation and witness.
Missional Living:
Participants in this movement assert that the incarnation of Christ informs their theology, believing that as God entered the world in human form, adherents enter (individually and communally) into the context around them, aiming to transform that culture through local involvement in it. This holistic involvement may take many forms, including social activism, hospitality, and acts of kindness. Emergents call this beneficent involvement in culture "missional living." Missional living is thought to make emergents part of the culture rather than outsiders who call people to come out from among the culture; and this approach leads emergents to their focus on temporal and social issues, as opposed to the Evangelical emphasis on eternal salvation. The hope of the emerging church movement's "gospel" is to enhance the lives of others regardless of their lifestyles or beliefs. Therefore, social action, community involvement, and sacrificial hospitality are more emphasized in the movement than preaching and teaching.
Creative spirituality
This can involve everything from expressive, neocharismatic style of worship and the use of contemporary and films to more ancient liturgical customs and eclectic expressions of spirituality, with the goal of making the church gathering genuinely reflective of the local community's tastes.
Melissa's Horrible, No Good, Terrible, Very Bad Day
This day was the sentiquential BAD DAY!
(1. Sentiquential - The most ultimate of the ultimate. Quintessential amplified by more numbers than you can count on your two little hands. More ultimate-ness for one person to handle. If overloaded with a sentiquential thing, the brain could very well melt and boil. (bib. Urban Language Dictionary)).
One of those days when it starts off "okay" (a little bad, but okay) and just quickly descends straight to the pit of hell from there. One of those days, where people say "you have to laugh or you would cry" (and by the way I am still trying to find the laugh....).
Essentially everything that could strike did strike - (i.e. finances, marriage, health, my families difficulties, etc.). The strange thing is that my sister had the same type of day. Obviously the moon and stars were misaligned (I quote my sister).
So, I am going to send the kids to bed early, finish a book (and pray for a good ending) and go to bed. Tomorrow has to be better - RIGHT????? RIGHT????? HELLO?????
(1. Sentiquential - The most ultimate of the ultimate. Quintessential amplified by more numbers than you can count on your two little hands. More ultimate-ness for one person to handle. If overloaded with a sentiquential thing, the brain could very well melt and boil. (bib. Urban Language Dictionary)).
One of those days when it starts off "okay" (a little bad, but okay) and just quickly descends straight to the pit of hell from there. One of those days, where people say "you have to laugh or you would cry" (and by the way I am still trying to find the laugh....).
Essentially everything that could strike did strike - (i.e. finances, marriage, health, my families difficulties, etc.). The strange thing is that my sister had the same type of day. Obviously the moon and stars were misaligned (I quote my sister).
So, I am going to send the kids to bed early, finish a book (and pray for a good ending) and go to bed. Tomorrow has to be better - RIGHT????? RIGHT????? HELLO?????
Monday, November 26, 2007
TIRED
Wow! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families and a wonderful weekend at our church and with friends, but BOY are we tired......
Also, we are sick. We have some horrible crud that has kept Jacob, Abby and myself at home today. It looks like we are on the upswing and I am praying that everyone makes it to school tomorrow.
Looking forward to putting up the tree this weekend and just having some time to relax!
Also, we are sick. We have some horrible crud that has kept Jacob, Abby and myself at home today. It looks like we are on the upswing and I am praying that everyone makes it to school tomorrow.
Looking forward to putting up the tree this weekend and just having some time to relax!
P.S. This is a picture of us at Chris' mom's on Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
Absolutely amazing. Inspiring. Encouraging. Motivating. So much fun! GREAT concerts!
Just a few words to describe our past few days here at the Atlanta 2007 National Youth Workers' Conference. Personally, I have been so moved by the stories and lessons that have been told and taught, people I have met and the whole synergy of the thing. It has absolutely been one of the best landmark events of my life. I have heard speakers like Louie Giglio (if you EVER get the chance to hear him speak, I encourage you to), Doug Fields, Shane Claiborne, Andy Stanley and my absolute favorite, Phylllis Tickle, one of the most world renowned experts on Religious History in the U.S. - if not the most - the most brilliant person I have ever had the privilege to hear speak.
We saw bands like Third Day, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, FamilyForce 5 and Flatfoot 56 (Chris' favorite - old punk rock by a new young band).
We also met the cutest couple on the planet - Katie and Clint Davis from Sringtown, TX. He is a youth pastor and she is his adorable wife. I felt like we were instant friends and had known each other for such a long time. They are much younger and cooler than we are though! Clint has such a passion for his work as a youth pastor and his wife is a sweet, supportive, intelligent, strong young woman. It is so neat to meet people from other places who feel the same way you do.
Most importantly, we felt God speaking to us in different, but VERY significant ways. I received some clarity on which direction I should be headed regarding serving our church, but were also challenged in stepping up to the plate in regards to completely "owning" our faith and taking direct steps everyday towards our own spiritual growth individually, as a couple and as parents.
Thanks again for everyone who made it possible for us to be here (especially my sister who is probably missing half her hair by now!) Thank you Melanie!
Blessings to all and we cannot wait to talk to others about our experience.
Pictures below:
http://picture.vzw.com/pub/share/guestMessage.do?invite=DEYr4Qmj2Y7r2k98LLeo
Love,
Chris and Melissa
Just a few words to describe our past few days here at the Atlanta 2007 National Youth Workers' Conference. Personally, I have been so moved by the stories and lessons that have been told and taught, people I have met and the whole synergy of the thing. It has absolutely been one of the best landmark events of my life. I have heard speakers like Louie Giglio (if you EVER get the chance to hear him speak, I encourage you to), Doug Fields, Shane Claiborne, Andy Stanley and my absolute favorite, Phylllis Tickle, one of the most world renowned experts on Religious History in the U.S. - if not the most - the most brilliant person I have ever had the privilege to hear speak.
We saw bands like Third Day, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, FamilyForce 5 and Flatfoot 56 (Chris' favorite - old punk rock by a new young band).
We also met the cutest couple on the planet - Katie and Clint Davis from Sringtown, TX. He is a youth pastor and she is his adorable wife. I felt like we were instant friends and had known each other for such a long time. They are much younger and cooler than we are though! Clint has such a passion for his work as a youth pastor and his wife is a sweet, supportive, intelligent, strong young woman. It is so neat to meet people from other places who feel the same way you do.
Most importantly, we felt God speaking to us in different, but VERY significant ways. I received some clarity on which direction I should be headed regarding serving our church, but were also challenged in stepping up to the plate in regards to completely "owning" our faith and taking direct steps everyday towards our own spiritual growth individually, as a couple and as parents.
Thanks again for everyone who made it possible for us to be here (especially my sister who is probably missing half her hair by now!) Thank you Melanie!
Blessings to all and we cannot wait to talk to others about our experience.
Pictures below:
http://picture.vzw.com/pub/share/guestMessage.do?invite=DEYr4Qmj2Y7r2k98LLeo
Love,
Chris and Melissa
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
NYC 2007 in Atlanta
Chris and I are off Friday morning to the National Youth Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We are very excited to have the opportunity to go and also wanted to let people know that we received a total of $230.00 in donations towards Chris' registration fee. His fee was $250.00 (including late fee) - God is good! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SENT IN A DONATION! We are now in the process of farming out the kids for the weekend and all that jazz. Third Day is playing at the conference on Friday night and they are my absolute favorite band! Can't wait!
Hope all is well and blessings to all,
Melissa
P.S. We sold our Expedition in one week's time and bought a 2001 Saab for less than $5000.00 (yes, it needs some work!) We paid off all of our medical bills - which if you know our history was a lot! My kidney surgery this year and my back stuff and Chris' kidney stone and all of the kids past medical bills. We are very happy to not have any of that hanging over our head!
Hope all is well and blessings to all,
Melissa
P.S. We sold our Expedition in one week's time and bought a 2001 Saab for less than $5000.00 (yes, it needs some work!) We paid off all of our medical bills - which if you know our history was a lot! My kidney surgery this year and my back stuff and Chris' kidney stone and all of the kids past medical bills. We are very happy to not have any of that hanging over our head!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Christ's Call to Love Others
Sometimes it is just hard to love people. But Christ does not ask us to "try" and love other people. He commands us to.
I have had one of those days where in and of myself I cannot love another person. But guess what? I can love this person through the power of Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So, I will pray, ask forgiveness from the Lord and start another day tomorrow with the hopes of seeing everyone else through Christ's eyes.
I have had one of those days where in and of myself I cannot love another person. But guess what? I can love this person through the power of Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So, I will pray, ask forgiveness from the Lord and start another day tomorrow with the hopes of seeing everyone else through Christ's eyes.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
WOW - Busy, busy, busy
WOW I have been busy. I never thought I would be so busy not to be able to even think....but, yet I have been.
We sold our car (thanks to my internet friend, Jen) and have scaled down to a little get around town car. We are concentraing our efforts on being with the kids while they are still here and also figuring out where we are supposed to be giving our money and time for what really matters (hope that makes sense.)
When I was in high school I had to keep a "stream of consciousness" notebook. I had to write whatever I was thinking all the time. So I am going to revert to that for this post.......
Soccer seaseon is over. Basketball season is starting. Christmas. Money. Keep in touch with friends. Be a good mom. TRY to be a good wife. Think about my Dad and brother - figure out what to do to make sure they are taken care of. Talk more to my sister. Marcie and Meagan. Finish the upstairs of the house. Re-cover the furniture. Make a good breakfast for the kids. Get the car shipped off to California. Get my hair cut. Try not to be critical or pre-judge, for I have been there. Don't think about the worship team figuring out "Cry Out to Jesus" . Pay the bills. Turn the heat down to save money. Pray for Patty, pray for my children, pray, pray, pray.... etc., etc., etc...
There. That is my mind - scary, I know. Love, Melissa
P.S. - Head on over to http://www.prayersforthepeopleyoulove.com/ to read the latest devotion.
We sold our car (thanks to my internet friend, Jen) and have scaled down to a little get around town car. We are concentraing our efforts on being with the kids while they are still here and also figuring out where we are supposed to be giving our money and time for what really matters (hope that makes sense.)
When I was in high school I had to keep a "stream of consciousness" notebook. I had to write whatever I was thinking all the time. So I am going to revert to that for this post.......
Soccer seaseon is over. Basketball season is starting. Christmas. Money. Keep in touch with friends. Be a good mom. TRY to be a good wife. Think about my Dad and brother - figure out what to do to make sure they are taken care of. Talk more to my sister. Marcie and Meagan. Finish the upstairs of the house. Re-cover the furniture. Make a good breakfast for the kids. Get the car shipped off to California. Get my hair cut. Try not to be critical or pre-judge, for I have been there. Don't think about the worship team figuring out "Cry Out to Jesus" . Pay the bills. Turn the heat down to save money. Pray for Patty, pray for my children, pray, pray, pray.... etc., etc., etc...
There. That is my mind - scary, I know. Love, Melissa
P.S. - Head on over to http://www.prayersforthepeopleyoulove.com/ to read the latest devotion.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Life
This is our house the day AFTER Halloween because I didn't have a camera the night of Halloween, sad, but true. Anyways, MORE importantly,
This is an excerpt from a Beth Moore study I am doing and I wanted to share it because I have found it to be so true in my own life:
"Life is found by losing it for Christ's sake. A vessel is filled by pouring out. The key to receiving is giving. The key to living is dying to self. The greatest in the kingdom is the servant of all. God has been right ALL along. His upside-down path is the only way to true contentment and satisfaction. This world's claim of happiness is betrayed by an ever-increasing lust for more. Nothing EVER suffices. Nothing EVER will. Christ ALONE satisfies the human soul."
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
THANK YOU
for the two donations we have received for Chris to be able to go to the National Youth Conference in Atlanta!
Have a great day,
Melissa
Have a great day,
Melissa
Monday, October 29, 2007
This is going to be a very busy week, so I doubt I will get to post much.
The kids are going to be in a soccer tournament in Columbia, TN this weekend and we will leave Friday night and come back Sunday afternoon. They are very excited, especially Jacob because he will get to see his best friend while we are up there.
Also, because of my job change and also because of our barely being able to afford gas prices at the price they are at, we have made the decision to sell our Expedition and get something smaller. If you know of anyone who might be interested, PLEASE let us know. We have never had any trouble out of it. It needs new tires and a back headlight put in, but we are willing to do that before we sell it. It is a wonderful car for hauling kids around and I am really going to miss it, but the hubby thinks this is the way to go. Anyways, I am praying that everyone has a great week and stays safe. Love,
Melissa
The kids are going to be in a soccer tournament in Columbia, TN this weekend and we will leave Friday night and come back Sunday afternoon. They are very excited, especially Jacob because he will get to see his best friend while we are up there.
Also, because of my job change and also because of our barely being able to afford gas prices at the price they are at, we have made the decision to sell our Expedition and get something smaller. If you know of anyone who might be interested, PLEASE let us know. We have never had any trouble out of it. It needs new tires and a back headlight put in, but we are willing to do that before we sell it. It is a wonderful car for hauling kids around and I am really going to miss it, but the hubby thinks this is the way to go. Anyways, I am praying that everyone has a great week and stays safe. Love,
Melissa
Sunday, October 28, 2007
PLEASE LISTEN
This has been one of my favorite songs for awhile. I felt very led to post it tonight. Someone needs to hear it!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8ihacSM4
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Lost Hair Clips
I was racing around the house this morning (as usual) and needed a hair clip to put up my hair. Now-a-days it seems like I have to consistently go to work with my hair wet (Mom is always last in the shower) and so I just have to clip my hair up and run out the door. I hunted and hunted and hunted throughout my bathroom, bedroom, the girls' bathroom and bedrooms and could NOT find a hair clip to save my life. In my house they are like socks that dissappear in the dryer. I buy them and they always get lost or misplaced (no comment from my friends and family about that!)
The thought came to my mind that we are a lot like those hair clips. If we have given our lives to Christ, then God has bought us and owns us, just like I own those hair clips. Nevertheless, a lot of times some of us are lost from Him or we have gotten broken. Personally, I have been both! The good news is that God will always keep hunting for us and the other great news is that He can restore us when we are broken. What a great God we serve!
From a former prodigal with love and blessings to all,
Melissa (NO, I didn't ever find a hair clip. You don't even want to know what I look like today! :)
The thought came to my mind that we are a lot like those hair clips. If we have given our lives to Christ, then God has bought us and owns us, just like I own those hair clips. Nevertheless, a lot of times some of us are lost from Him or we have gotten broken. Personally, I have been both! The good news is that God will always keep hunting for us and the other great news is that He can restore us when we are broken. What a great God we serve!
From a former prodigal with love and blessings to all,
Melissa (NO, I didn't ever find a hair clip. You don't even want to know what I look like today! :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
National Youth Conference 2007 Atlanta
I am going to be attending a National Youth Conference in Atlanta on November 16th through the 19th with a few people from my church, including our Youth Pastor. Our church allocated a certain amount of money for this event and therefore only myself and two others were going to go. Chris would also like to attend, but the cost for him to go would be $225.00 plus hotel expenses for 2 nights (basically a total of about $450.00)
We originally thought Chris would be working in downtown Atlanta on those dates and that we would be able to expense at least 2 of my hotel nights and that he would have to be working at his job while I attended the conference.
Since then, his work dates have been changed until December and he would really like to attend the conference with me.
Chris and I have both very recently, since Fall Break, rededicated our lives and our marriage to Christ (even though we have both been Christians for a long time, there were still big areas of our lives that we had not let go of and given over to God). We both feel led to be involved in the Youth ministry in our church and have for some time now.
We are humbly asking that family and friends consider contributing to Chris being able to go with me to this conference and would appreciate any donation that anyone feels led to give. Lord willing, he will receive enough to go, but if not we are going to try and make up the difference. Any contribution should be sent to:
Winchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 176
Winchester, TN 37398
Notate on Check: Chris/Melissa Brown - Youth Conference 2007
Thanks to everyone for reading this VERY wordy and confusing blog and also thanks to anyone who might consider donating a small contribution. Have a great week and love to all,
Melissa
Psalm 40:1-16
We originally thought Chris would be working in downtown Atlanta on those dates and that we would be able to expense at least 2 of my hotel nights and that he would have to be working at his job while I attended the conference.
Since then, his work dates have been changed until December and he would really like to attend the conference with me.
Chris and I have both very recently, since Fall Break, rededicated our lives and our marriage to Christ (even though we have both been Christians for a long time, there were still big areas of our lives that we had not let go of and given over to God). We both feel led to be involved in the Youth ministry in our church and have for some time now.
We are humbly asking that family and friends consider contributing to Chris being able to go with me to this conference and would appreciate any donation that anyone feels led to give. Lord willing, he will receive enough to go, but if not we are going to try and make up the difference. Any contribution should be sent to:
Winchester Cumberland Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 176
Winchester, TN 37398
Notate on Check: Chris/Melissa Brown - Youth Conference 2007
Thanks to everyone for reading this VERY wordy and confusing blog and also thanks to anyone who might consider donating a small contribution. Have a great week and love to all,
Melissa
Psalm 40:1-16
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Fall Break
Okay, I don't even know how to begin really. Chris and I went to Destin, Florida last weekend with another couple and no children. It was a LOAD of fun! We dealt with something called the "Red Tide" (research it) while we were there and that was bad, but because we were with friends it didn't seem to matter so much. Also, someone caught a 844 pound Mako shark while we were there on Saturday. NICE..............
Both Abby and Emma made the basketball team and that was very exciting. The day after, Abby got to go to Gatlinburg with a friend and a few days later Emma got to go to my sister's house in Nashville. (I think Jacob just liked not having the girls around! :)
I am SO SORRY that I haven't posted in awhile. Life is busy and time is short, but I do know that I love you all and that I keep everyone in my prayers. I have been having a very hard time coping with the stresses of life lately and have felt myself slipping down a slippery slope lately and I am just so glad that God is such a loving and forgiving God!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Jeff - Great News!
My Dad went to see my brother today and he is doing great! He can talk by putting something over his tracheostomy hole. He looks good, and has a LOT of function in his arms. Still nothing in his legs, but WOW I don't doubt that there might be in the future. He has moved to another step-down unit and is feeling good. Thanks to everyone for their prayers!
Truth
You have probably seen this before, but it is a good read for everyone. Such truth!
Very interesting perspective by Jay Leno...
I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and
makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That's right, Jay Leno!!
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source,
right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy
with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry
just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so
unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and
heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see
more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the
way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the
world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the
hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may
be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to
extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest
will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping
and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy
that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain
for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we
hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval
rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of
recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the
book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from
terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending
you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show?
Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a
look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused
you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it
leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash
with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the
corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.
They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
"justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a
murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his
wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the
TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird
cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is
exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several
times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a
good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007
Very interesting perspective by Jay Leno...
I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and
makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That's right, Jay Leno!!
Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll
data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source,
right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy
with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry
just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so
unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week?
Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and
heating in the winter?
Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see
more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each state?
Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the
way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the
world is just not good enough.
Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and
provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the
hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may
be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to
extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest
will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping
and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers
own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy
that are the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world
has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain
for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we
hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here
I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no
plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval
rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of
recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the
book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from
terrorist attacks?
The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending
you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show?
Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a
look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused
you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general''
discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it
leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash
with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the
corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.
They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
"justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a
murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his
wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the
TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird
cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is
exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several
times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding,
severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and
with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a
good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno
2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Life moves fast......
I can't believe that my brother has been in the hospital for 4 months already! Just doesn't seem that long.
The good news is that they started him on a liquid diet today! This is huge progress as far as I am concerned and they are also in the process of completely weaning him off of his tracheostomy.
We have a busy week ahead and then we are leaving for the weekend (Chris and I only) and the kids are staying in Chattanooga. I need the break!
Hope all is doing well and love and blessings to all!
Melissa
The good news is that they started him on a liquid diet today! This is huge progress as far as I am concerned and they are also in the process of completely weaning him off of his tracheostomy.
We have a busy week ahead and then we are leaving for the weekend (Chris and I only) and the kids are staying in Chattanooga. I need the break!
Hope all is doing well and love and blessings to all!
Melissa
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Jeff
My brother is doing really well. I haven't seen him, but my sister-in-law and father have told me that they are weaning him off of his tracheostomy tube and that he is in a good mood. This is incredible news considering what we had originally been told about his prognosis. Please keep praying for him and for his long-term outcome.
Love,
Melissa
Love,
Melissa
Monday, October 1, 2007
First Day on the New Job
Well, my first day at Trinity Episcopal went well. I got to meet a few new people and the job seems like it is going to be fun. I am going to be working there in the mornings and also typing from home in the evenings. I also went to see my brother on Saturday and he seems to be doing well. Taking it day by day as far as he goes. We still don't really know the long-term prognosis/outcome.
The kids are doing great. We are extremely busy during this season of life and I STILL haven't gotten the kids rooms painted. I have to get that done soon or we may have a mutiny on our hands! :)
Well, just wanted to touch base and let everyone know how things are going. Wish us luck financially with my job change.....
Love,
Melissa
The kids are doing great. We are extremely busy during this season of life and I STILL haven't gotten the kids rooms painted. I have to get that done soon or we may have a mutiny on our hands! :)
Well, just wanted to touch base and let everyone know how things are going. Wish us luck financially with my job change.....
Love,
Melissa
Friday, September 28, 2007
IT'S FRIDAY!!!!
Wow what a week! I know I say that every week, but really it seems like this week has been very busy with activities. The good thing is that even though I have been busy, I have also been very introspective. My Walk to Emmaus opened my eyes to lots of baggage I have been carrying around from my childhood and also from some past experiences in my life. The good thing is that I have dumped a lot of it off at the cross this week. :)
My brother is really doing well and Chris and I are going down Sunday to see him. He is actually having a lot more gross motor movement this week and all of the swelling is really down.
Oh - be prepared! I am running the fruit sale for my son's middle school band this Fall (i.e. had a momentary loss of consciousness at a Band Booster meeting) . Just know that Jacob is going to be calling you begging for you to buy fruit. The sale is to raise money for his band to go to DisneyWorld in the Spring and compete in a National level band competition. Their school has never done this before so it is a really big deal. Be thinking of who you might give fruit to as a gift for Christmas!
Love to everyone and have a wonderful restful weekend!
Melissa
My brother is really doing well and Chris and I are going down Sunday to see him. He is actually having a lot more gross motor movement this week and all of the swelling is really down.
Oh - be prepared! I am running the fruit sale for my son's middle school band this Fall (i.e. had a momentary loss of consciousness at a Band Booster meeting) . Just know that Jacob is going to be calling you begging for you to buy fruit. The sale is to raise money for his band to go to DisneyWorld in the Spring and compete in a National level band competition. Their school has never done this before so it is a really big deal. Be thinking of who you might give fruit to as a gift for Christmas!
Love to everyone and have a wonderful restful weekend!
Melissa
Thursday, September 27, 2007
SOMETHING LIGHT........
Well "they" told me that the days right after Emmaus would be kind of strange and hard because of all the emotions you have experienced and all the truths that are revealed to you during your time alone with God. Well, that is the daggum truth! Anyways, I needed to post something lighthearted today and this is my friend Kay's nephew's video of his dog..........ENJOY!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cgW2IwekkIs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cgW2IwekkIs
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This picture of me completely describes how I feel today. Completely out of control and sliding into new unchartered waters of my life spiritually, emotionally and mentally! The funny thing is I love it!
i.e. Man in front of me is my talented nephew-in-law and Abby or Emma is beside me - I can't even tell......This was the greatest place I have ever been on earth. A natural water slide in Arizona that I could have played on with the kids all day. Heaven on earth for me!
Monday, September 24, 2007
My Walk
Wow - I am back and I don't even know where to begin. This was definitely one of those experiences that you tell people "you have have to experience it yourself". But, basically the entire weekend is about God's love and grace.
There were no cell phones, no phones at all. There were no clocks and no watches. You were completely taken out of the "world" and given the opportunity to focus on God and his love for you. It was also an opportunity to recognize and get rid of some baggage that you might be carrying around (whether or not you "thought" you had any or not). We all do, trust me. If we think we don't, we are lying to ourselves.
Anways, I have never laughed so hard in my life. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, and laughed again. There were so many neat little surprises during the weekend and I made SO many new friends. Friendships that are forever bound together in this experience. I would hightly recommend praying about going on a Walk To Emmaus in your future. It was an incredible experience!
And guess what? My house was cleaned from top to bottom when I got home. Now that is testament to a changed life in Chris :)
I know that my life is forever changed! Thanks to all who wrote me notes and cards - you will never know how much they meant to me - really, you will never know!
There were no cell phones, no phones at all. There were no clocks and no watches. You were completely taken out of the "world" and given the opportunity to focus on God and his love for you. It was also an opportunity to recognize and get rid of some baggage that you might be carrying around (whether or not you "thought" you had any or not). We all do, trust me. If we think we don't, we are lying to ourselves.
Anways, I have never laughed so hard in my life. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more, and laughed again. There were so many neat little surprises during the weekend and I made SO many new friends. Friendships that are forever bound together in this experience. I would hightly recommend praying about going on a Walk To Emmaus in your future. It was an incredible experience!
And guess what? My house was cleaned from top to bottom when I got home. Now that is testament to a changed life in Chris :)
I know that my life is forever changed! Thanks to all who wrote me notes and cards - you will never know how much they meant to me - really, you will never know!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Update On Jeff
Chris went to see my brother yesterday afternoon and he is making really good progress. He was moving both arms a LOT, gripping his hands, moving his neck from side to side and was in very good spirits. Best visit so far...........
Be praying for me. I leave for my Walk to Emmaus tomorrow afternoon. Actually, be praying for Chris - he has NEVER had the kids by himself this long and also had this many things to do have to do (i.e. homework, soccer practices, spend-the-nights, soccer games, AND housework). This should be great! (evil laugh............).
Love,
Melissa
Be praying for me. I leave for my Walk to Emmaus tomorrow afternoon. Actually, be praying for Chris - he has NEVER had the kids by himself this long and also had this many things to do have to do (i.e. homework, soccer practices, spend-the-nights, soccer games, AND housework). This should be great! (evil laugh............).
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Democracy?
Very scary when you can't ask a question anymore in our country.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iqAVvlyVbag
What do you think?????
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iqAVvlyVbag
What do you think?????
Monday, September 17, 2007
FINALLY - FROM CHRIS
What an amazing time I had this past weekend! I have never been part of anything like this before. Going into the weekend, I did not know what to expect and I will say I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. The three days I shared with these men will be forever etched in my mind. I have never seen the Holy Spirit work in so many different lives in one place in all my life. It was a spiritual journey shrouded in God's grace. I can't wait for Melissa to take her walk so that we can begin this journey together.
Thank you all for the agape letters that I received on Sunday!
Chris
Thank you all for the agape letters that I received on Sunday!
Chris
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Chris is back.........
I am just now getting around to posting because we have been so busy with school stuff and church stuff and soccer stuff and just STUFF.
Chris got back late Sunday afternoon from Walk to Emmaus and NO he had not been brainwashed, converted to a secret religion nor had he joined a cult. :) But, he did have a miraculous weekend and he is going to share that with you here on my blog later in the week. I leave for my Walk in about 2 weeks and I am excited and nervous at the same time. Not sure I know anyone going.
I have made the decision to cut back my hours at work which means actually leaving the account I work on now and just typing a few hours a day. I will also hopefully be working at the Episcopal Church here in town about 20 hours a week. The getting up at 5:00 am every morning was really getting to me and with Chris out of town so much and the kids involved in so much, I just felt like I was being torn in half with obligations and work. Anyways, that is news from the homefront. Wish us luck with finances since it will cut back on money coming into the house - nothing new for the Browns!!! Love to all, Melissa
If you treat a man as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become the bigger and better man. - Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Chris got back late Sunday afternoon from Walk to Emmaus and NO he had not been brainwashed, converted to a secret religion nor had he joined a cult. :) But, he did have a miraculous weekend and he is going to share that with you here on my blog later in the week. I leave for my Walk in about 2 weeks and I am excited and nervous at the same time. Not sure I know anyone going.
I have made the decision to cut back my hours at work which means actually leaving the account I work on now and just typing a few hours a day. I will also hopefully be working at the Episcopal Church here in town about 20 hours a week. The getting up at 5:00 am every morning was really getting to me and with Chris out of town so much and the kids involved in so much, I just felt like I was being torn in half with obligations and work. Anyways, that is news from the homefront. Wish us luck with finances since it will cut back on money coming into the house - nothing new for the Browns!!! Love to all, Melissa
If you treat a man as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become the bigger and better man. - Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
PLEASE DON'T SAY "BOY" OR "GIRL"
I had to think long and hard about whether to post this or not, but anyone who knows me, knows that I normally say what I think (to my great misfortune most of the time.)
I was recently at a PTO meeting at my son's Middle School and we were in the process of picking out types of shirts to sell for the upcoming Homecoming as a fundraiser. I held up one particular shirt (gray - that same horrible gray we all had to wear in the 70's for gym) and I said "I think boys would probably really buy this one". (We were going to have them screen-printed with the school emblem on front.)
Melissa side-note: At this point, does anyone have a problem with anything I have said during this meeting? I was raised in a conservative home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, went to a conservative elementary and middle school, a liberal private high school, attended a liberal public university and basically have one of the most very diverse educations of any person I know. I don't consider myself judgmental (I make a point not to be because I love the Lord), but I also know right from wrong and have common sense - thank you Momma and Daddy!
At this point, a woman in the meeting spoke up and said "Please don't say boy or girl, Please..........Let's not do that." (emphasis here on "Let's not do that" - hushed tone.)
Needless to say, my jaw dropped to the floor (figuratively, not literally - I AM a Southern Girl you know). I wanted to say "EXCUSE ME?", but in my nice Southern-raised, always scared of getting spanked during Church, God-fearing, Lynrd Skynrd listening, John Lennon lyric-loving, cannot-believe you just said that (but I'm not going to act like I am shocked because I am Southern) voice said "I'm sorry, I mean children, or, um... I mean students".
WHAT IN THE WORLD? Did God not create humans, male and female created He them? Honestly, I actually adapted to polital correctness during the 90's and never even realized it or basically didn't even care I guess, but my goodness, now I can't even call a child a boy or a girl anymore! I can't even recognize the fact that they basically like different things? God help us!
Okay, it is late, I am tired and obviously I am ranting. I never thought I would see the day this was happening and I was starting to sound like my parents. Next thing you know, I will think everything is a McCarthy conspiracy!
Melissa
I was recently at a PTO meeting at my son's Middle School and we were in the process of picking out types of shirts to sell for the upcoming Homecoming as a fundraiser. I held up one particular shirt (gray - that same horrible gray we all had to wear in the 70's for gym) and I said "I think boys would probably really buy this one". (We were going to have them screen-printed with the school emblem on front.)
Melissa side-note: At this point, does anyone have a problem with anything I have said during this meeting? I was raised in a conservative home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, went to a conservative elementary and middle school, a liberal private high school, attended a liberal public university and basically have one of the most very diverse educations of any person I know. I don't consider myself judgmental (I make a point not to be because I love the Lord), but I also know right from wrong and have common sense - thank you Momma and Daddy!
At this point, a woman in the meeting spoke up and said "Please don't say boy or girl, Please..........Let's not do that." (emphasis here on "Let's not do that" - hushed tone.)
Needless to say, my jaw dropped to the floor (figuratively, not literally - I AM a Southern Girl you know). I wanted to say "EXCUSE ME?", but in my nice Southern-raised, always scared of getting spanked during Church, God-fearing, Lynrd Skynrd listening, John Lennon lyric-loving, cannot-believe you just said that (but I'm not going to act like I am shocked because I am Southern) voice said "I'm sorry, I mean children, or, um... I mean students".
WHAT IN THE WORLD? Did God not create humans, male and female created He them? Honestly, I actually adapted to polital correctness during the 90's and never even realized it or basically didn't even care I guess, but my goodness, now I can't even call a child a boy or a girl anymore! I can't even recognize the fact that they basically like different things? God help us!
Okay, it is late, I am tired and obviously I am ranting. I never thought I would see the day this was happening and I was starting to sound like my parents. Next thing you know, I will think everything is a McCarthy conspiracy!
Melissa
IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
Sent from one of my best friends in Nashville (who I have eaten with at Rotier's and unashamedly drank a beer with at 9:00 in the morning in honor of the team, something I shouldn't be proud of, but strangely am), this article actually made me smell the air of Knoxville and the crowd singing Rocky Top. I almost teared up...........you have to be a Vol to understand.
Bruce Newman for ESPN.com
The passion for Southern football begins at an early age. In Knoxville, when football season seems like it might never arrive, they can laugh about the fans who've almost sunk a boat in the Tennessee River. They can sing "Rocky Top." In Arkansas, they can let a "Pig Sooie" fly, like a maintenance drink for a boozehound. A few states over, a War Eagle or Rammer Jammer can keep a man (or woman) from going insane. That's a struggle we've been having for generations.
Why? Well, there are a thousand theories, many having to do with a lack of any other entertainment, but the one in Tony Barnhart's book about the obsession makes as much sense as any: Dominating at football offers a chance for Southerners to feel equal, a chance to avenge past defeats on the battlefield, which is admittedly bizarre, since no one else in the country ever thinks about the Civil War. In the book, former Georgia coach Vince Dooley describes beating Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1965. "I didn't just hear from Georgia people," he says, "but from people all over the South. To go up there and invade the North and come back a winner was the greatest thing for a lot of people. It was as if we had had a chance to go to Gettysburg again."
So these memories are important, a part of our martial DNA, though some memories are a bit hazier than others. My cousin ran out between the hedges in 2000 after Georgia beat Tennessee for the first time in nine years. He tore off his white dress shirt, ran right over to two players sitting on the Volunteers' bench and screamed, "Go back to Knoxville!" (The family's very proud.)
Here's another one I just heard: Two ol' boys were in Baton Rouge, all decked out in LSU gear, tailgating all day. Then, after hours of drinking peacefully next to each other, one guy suddenly jumped the other, quickly getting the upper hand, punching and kicking like a madman. Then he pulled out a knife, apparently to finish the job. Before they were pulled apart, the aggressor screamed at his defeated foe, "I can't believe you named your little girl Auburn!"
Every Southern football fan has a story like that, just like every group has a set of shared experiences. I've never rolled Toomer's Corner after a big War Eagle win, but the people who have will never forget it. New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts sure won't. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in the world of sports. But when she thinks back to her days as a student at Auburn, she can still see the ribbons of white hanging from the trees. She remembers stealing toilet paper from buildings and walking through the knee-deep sea of tissue. "It looks as close as a white Christmas as you can get in the South," she says.
Each school has its legends. There's the time a potential game-winning field goal was blown back by a sudden gust of wind, costing Mississippi State a victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, removing any doubt which team God himself pulls for (though Alabama fans might argue by quoting Ezekiel 20:29 ... look it up). There's Billy Cannon's punt return which, almost 50 years after he ran into the Louisiana fog, is still played on the radio in Baton Rouge. There's Spurrier reminding us all that you can't spell Citrus without "U" and "T". There's Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, and if you need an explanation, you've probably never eaten barbecue cooked at a gas station.
These are the stories told in January deer camps and in spring break condos and over graduation weekend grilled cheeseburgers at Rotiers in Nashville. They keep the dream of football alive until winter and spring give way to summer.
Bruce Newman for ESPN.com
The passion for Southern football begins at an early age. In Knoxville, when football season seems like it might never arrive, they can laugh about the fans who've almost sunk a boat in the Tennessee River. They can sing "Rocky Top." In Arkansas, they can let a "Pig Sooie" fly, like a maintenance drink for a boozehound. A few states over, a War Eagle or Rammer Jammer can keep a man (or woman) from going insane. That's a struggle we've been having for generations.
Why? Well, there are a thousand theories, many having to do with a lack of any other entertainment, but the one in Tony Barnhart's book about the obsession makes as much sense as any: Dominating at football offers a chance for Southerners to feel equal, a chance to avenge past defeats on the battlefield, which is admittedly bizarre, since no one else in the country ever thinks about the Civil War. In the book, former Georgia coach Vince Dooley describes beating Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1965. "I didn't just hear from Georgia people," he says, "but from people all over the South. To go up there and invade the North and come back a winner was the greatest thing for a lot of people. It was as if we had had a chance to go to Gettysburg again."
So these memories are important, a part of our martial DNA, though some memories are a bit hazier than others. My cousin ran out between the hedges in 2000 after Georgia beat Tennessee for the first time in nine years. He tore off his white dress shirt, ran right over to two players sitting on the Volunteers' bench and screamed, "Go back to Knoxville!" (The family's very proud.)
Here's another one I just heard: Two ol' boys were in Baton Rouge, all decked out in LSU gear, tailgating all day. Then, after hours of drinking peacefully next to each other, one guy suddenly jumped the other, quickly getting the upper hand, punching and kicking like a madman. Then he pulled out a knife, apparently to finish the job. Before they were pulled apart, the aggressor screamed at his defeated foe, "I can't believe you named your little girl Auburn!"
Every Southern football fan has a story like that, just like every group has a set of shared experiences. I've never rolled Toomer's Corner after a big War Eagle win, but the people who have will never forget it. New York Times sports columnist Selena Roberts sure won't. Today, she's one of the most respected voices in the world of sports. But when she thinks back to her days as a student at Auburn, she can still see the ribbons of white hanging from the trees. She remembers stealing toilet paper from buildings and walking through the knee-deep sea of tissue. "It looks as close as a white Christmas as you can get in the South," she says.
Each school has its legends. There's the time a potential game-winning field goal was blown back by a sudden gust of wind, costing Mississippi State a victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, removing any doubt which team God himself pulls for (though Alabama fans might argue by quoting Ezekiel 20:29 ... look it up). There's Billy Cannon's punt return which, almost 50 years after he ran into the Louisiana fog, is still played on the radio in Baton Rouge. There's Spurrier reminding us all that you can't spell Citrus without "U" and "T". There's Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, and if you need an explanation, you've probably never eaten barbecue cooked at a gas station.
These are the stories told in January deer camps and in spring break condos and over graduation weekend grilled cheeseburgers at Rotiers in Nashville. They keep the dream of football alive until winter and spring give way to summer.
Thankful........
Whew - what a week, but I made it through and Chris is off on his Walk to Emmaus.
Update - as of this morning, they are trying to completely wean my brother off of any need for mechanized air (he is off of a ventilator, but on a CPAP machine (wall air)). We are in the process of placement into a skilled nursing unit probably within the next week or so. I am just amazed at the turn-around he has made, but also know that the long-term outcome is not very favorable. I ask that you still keep him in your prayers as he comes to your mind.
Wishing everyone a great weekend and GO VOLS!!!!!!!
Melissa
Update - as of this morning, they are trying to completely wean my brother off of any need for mechanized air (he is off of a ventilator, but on a CPAP machine (wall air)). We are in the process of placement into a skilled nursing unit probably within the next week or so. I am just amazed at the turn-around he has made, but also know that the long-term outcome is not very favorable. I ask that you still keep him in your prayers as he comes to your mind.
Wishing everyone a great weekend and GO VOLS!!!!!!!
Melissa
Thursday, September 6, 2007
God is Good
Boy, the Lord has been really working on us lately. And I want to tell you that when you seek Him, he WILL show up. I was recently in a place of soul searching and "restlessness" with some issues in my life (mainly contentment in all areas) and I just got on my knees and said "Lord, show me. I want to know you. I want direction". Well, he has showed it to me alright.
He has also shown me areas of my life that have to be given over to him and he has also brought to my attention the areas of my life where I rebel against him and that the things I am unhappy with are mostly results of bad choices made outside of His will. But, he has also showed me that my life can be renewed and the past thrown into the sea of forgiveness.
He has brought me through the fire recently and refined me in ways that I am going to try to share within the next week or so. Those who know me know that I have made some VERY poor decisions out of a purely rebellious spirit and that I turned my back on the Lord during different periods of my life (high school, college, and also about 3 years ago). But the Lord drew me back to Him every time and He shows up every time I seek Him in my life. He is faithful. I can testify to that. Anways, sorry for the ramblings - just on my heart today.
Pray for Chris as he leaves for Walk to Emmaus today. Love to all - Melissa
He has also shown me areas of my life that have to be given over to him and he has also brought to my attention the areas of my life where I rebel against him and that the things I am unhappy with are mostly results of bad choices made outside of His will. But, he has also showed me that my life can be renewed and the past thrown into the sea of forgiveness.
He has brought me through the fire recently and refined me in ways that I am going to try to share within the next week or so. Those who know me know that I have made some VERY poor decisions out of a purely rebellious spirit and that I turned my back on the Lord during different periods of my life (high school, college, and also about 3 years ago). But the Lord drew me back to Him every time and He shows up every time I seek Him in my life. He is faithful. I can testify to that. Anways, sorry for the ramblings - just on my heart today.
Pray for Chris as he leaves for Walk to Emmaus today. Love to all - Melissa
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Monday, Monday
Hey guys! Saw my brother on Saturday and he is doing really great. They are trying to get him to breathe on his own and he was in a fairly good mood, considering.
We had a whirlwind, very busy weekend with traveling and work, but ended up FINALLY getting the drywall completed in the kids' rooms and now we just have to clean up all the drywall dust, prime and paint the walls, and then put down the trim (I am sure that will all go extremely smooth and timely - yeah, right!). I am figuring we should possibly be done by 2008. :)
Keep our family in prayer this week. You can always pray for me regarding stress - it seems to have become a normal way of life and also we are still mulling over some decisions regarding work. Chris is going to be leaving Thursday evening for his Walk to Emmaus. Please keep him specifically in your prayers. He will be gone until Sunday evening.
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day and hopefully I can come up with something interesting, creative or funny to post sometime this week. (Don't hold your breath! )
We had a whirlwind, very busy weekend with traveling and work, but ended up FINALLY getting the drywall completed in the kids' rooms and now we just have to clean up all the drywall dust, prime and paint the walls, and then put down the trim (I am sure that will all go extremely smooth and timely - yeah, right!). I am figuring we should possibly be done by 2008. :)
Keep our family in prayer this week. You can always pray for me regarding stress - it seems to have become a normal way of life and also we are still mulling over some decisions regarding work. Chris is going to be leaving Thursday evening for his Walk to Emmaus. Please keep him specifically in your prayers. He will be gone until Sunday evening.
I hope everyone had a great Labor Day and hopefully I can come up with something interesting, creative or funny to post sometime this week. (Don't hold your breath! )
Friday, August 31, 2007
Friday!!!!
I have never been so ready for a week to be over! We are heading out to Chattanooga today to visit my brother and my Dad - then taking the kids to my Dad's cabin tomorrow for all of us to work pulling weeds and clearing up some of the property. Coming back Saturday night, hopefully working around the house after church on Sunday and then I am working Monday morning. I am going to TRY and get some pictures this weekend if I can borrow a camera and hopefully post them on Monday.
If you get a chance, please vote your opinion on my poll (to the right). Let's see if we get it right! I bet we do.
If you think of us, please lift our family up in prayer regarding some important work decisions we are in the process of making and also for Chris' upcoming Walk to Emmaus next weekend.
God has been so gracious to us!
Melissa
If you get a chance, please vote your opinion on my poll (to the right). Let's see if we get it right! I bet we do.
If you think of us, please lift our family up in prayer regarding some important work decisions we are in the process of making and also for Chris' upcoming Walk to Emmaus next weekend.
God has been so gracious to us!
Melissa
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Quotes for the Day
In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters or principle, stand like a rock
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
Both quotes by Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826).
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
Both quotes by Thomas Jefferson, (1743-1826).
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Miss South Carolina Speaks Out
Okay, okay - I apologize. I just couldn't help it. And NO it is not the original video. It is a spoof. (You will not understand this unless you have seen the actual Ms. Teen South Carolina's goof-up on TV).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUE1Cu04Jzo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emefeedia%2Ecom%2Fentry%2F3382314%2F
Also if you vote in the poll over to the right I will NOT be able to see who you picked - only the percentage. It is completely anonymous. I am just curious to see who people within my sphere of contacts think will be nominated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUE1Cu04Jzo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emefeedia%2Ecom%2Fentry%2F3382314%2F
Also if you vote in the poll over to the right I will NOT be able to see who you picked - only the percentage. It is completely anonymous. I am just curious to see who people within my sphere of contacts think will be nominated.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Paradoxical Commandments
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001
Our Utter Dependence on God
I was asking a dear friend to pray for me regarding a stronghold in my life. She quickly brought to my attention that sometimes strongholds are not removed in order to make us realize our utter dependence on God. Not what I wanted to hear - but true all the same!!
Question: "What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?"
Answer: So that Paul would not forget, God allowed him to be inflicted with a constant reminder of his weakness. Countless explanations concerning the nature of his thorn in the flesh have been offered. They range from incessant temptation, dogged opponents, chronic maladies (such as eye problems (Galatians 4:15), malaria, migraine headaches, and epilepsy), to a disability in speech. No one can say for sure what his was, but it probably was a physical affliction (for the work of Satan in this, cf. 1 Corinthians 5:5; 10:10).It is understandable that Paul would consider this thorn a hindrance to wider or more effective ministry (Galatians 5:14-16) and that he would repeatedly petition God for its removal (2 Corinthians 12:8). But he learned from this experience the lesson that dominates this letter: divine power is best displayed against the backdrop of human weakness (2 Corinthians 4:7) so that God alone is praised (2 Corinthians 10:17). Rather than removing the problem God gave him grace and strength in it and through it.
From: Gotquestions.com
Monday, August 27, 2007
Jeff
My brother has been moved to a step-down unit as of this evening. He is doing extraordinarily well! Once again, thanks for your prayers. Love,
Melissa
P.S. Happy Birthday to my sister Melanie who turned 29 today!
P.S.S. - If you click on Comments below each post you can let me know what you think or how you feel or just THAT SOMEONE IS READING MY BLOG! :) Please leave comments with your thoughts or ideas of something I can blog about the next day!
Melissa
P.S. Happy Birthday to my sister Melanie who turned 29 today!
P.S.S. - If you click on Comments below each post you can let me know what you think or how you feel or just THAT SOMEONE IS READING MY BLOG! :) Please leave comments with your thoughts or ideas of something I can blog about the next day!
We Have Everything We Need
Some of you may get tired of me posting Scripture, but I just do what I feel the Lord is leading me to do.
As I have grown during the past few months in God's Word, I have noticed that Scripture really speaks to me in some ways now that it never has before. This passage of Scripture is one of those that really spoke to me this morning.
I know that I have spent a good deal of my life thinking that as soon as I get myself straightened out (emotionally, mentally, physically, you name it), then I can be like all those other women who are such good leaders or servants of Christ or seem to just "have it all together". Not so - the Bible tells me so! God has already given me (AND YOU) everything we need to for this life and for godliness. All we have to do is add to what He has given us by studying his Word. We also need to dump all the baggage, let go of the past, confess our sins and GET ON WITH IT. Let's get out of the pit and out of the mire and go be what God wants us to be. Who cares what we have done in the past (God doesn't if we have confessed it to him!) and who cares what other people think of us! Let's study God's Word, pray for direction and go out and serve others in the way we feel God leading us too. :) Love and blessings to all and have a wonderful week!
I Peter 2: 1-11
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As I have grown during the past few months in God's Word, I have noticed that Scripture really speaks to me in some ways now that it never has before. This passage of Scripture is one of those that really spoke to me this morning.
I know that I have spent a good deal of my life thinking that as soon as I get myself straightened out (emotionally, mentally, physically, you name it), then I can be like all those other women who are such good leaders or servants of Christ or seem to just "have it all together". Not so - the Bible tells me so! God has already given me (AND YOU) everything we need to for this life and for godliness. All we have to do is add to what He has given us by studying his Word. We also need to dump all the baggage, let go of the past, confess our sins and GET ON WITH IT. Let's get out of the pit and out of the mire and go be what God wants us to be. Who cares what we have done in the past (God doesn't if we have confessed it to him!) and who cares what other people think of us! Let's study God's Word, pray for direction and go out and serve others in the way we feel God leading us too. :) Love and blessings to all and have a wonderful week!
I Peter 2: 1-11
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Sunday Fun
The kids had so much fun today. They were singing "Our God is an Awesome God" when I took this picture. So sweet!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Hang in there
This is an audio clip from Beth Moore that I thought someone might find encoouraging today.
http://swn.edgeboss.net/download/swn/saved/oneplace/mp3/2411424/qwb20070823.mp3?siteid=register
http://swn.edgeboss.net/download/swn/saved/oneplace/mp3/2411424/qwb20070823.mp3?siteid=register
TGIF!
Even though I have to work tomorrow, I am definitely glad it is FRIDAY! Quick update:My brother is doing wonderful (saw him last night). I don't want to go into a huge amount of detail - but the Lord has answered your many prayers and the amount of recovery he has made in just one week is amazing. Thanks to everyone who has lifted him up in prayer.
I have a 7th grader in full blows of puberty - Pray for me and my household!!! :)
We are getting ready to crank up on all our Fall activities, i.e. soccer, basketball try-outs, full fledge homework and tests, youth group, teaching Sunday school, etc. and although I am excited, I am already tired just thinking about it!
Have a great weekend!
Love and Blessings,
P.S. This is a picture of Jacob at Horseshoe Bend in Arizona last Summer. I can't even begin to describe to you how beautiful this is in person. Absolutely will take your breath away. I wish I were there now.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wonderful News
Chris went be to see my brother last night while he was in Chattanooga and the nurse said that they took him off of dialysis at 11:00 a.m. yesterday and that his kidneys appeared to be functioning on their own. They will know by 11:00 a.m. today whether or not they are functioning for sure. They are trying to wean him off the ventilator and he is in good spirits. The nurse who was working with him yesterday told Chris that she had Jeff when he first came in the hospital in June and that she couldn't believe the complete full circle he had made - she thought he wouldn't have made it.
I know without a doubt that this is completely the power of prayer and the awesome power of God!
Love,
Melissa
I know without a doubt that this is completely the power of prayer and the awesome power of God!
Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
WOW!
Check out this video. This child is 9 years old and was asked by the Manchester United Football Team to move to Britain to train and join their team. He is originally from Australia. A parent sent in the video to the Manc. United and based on the video alone they asked him to join. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG47FDenyXw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG47FDenyXw
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Update on Jeff
Jeff was taken completely off of blood pressure medication yesterday and is still on low ventilator settings. He is making good, but slow progress. It will be awhile before they are able to tell if his kidneys will be able to function on their own again. But, for right now the dialysis is definitely working and he is following commands and in fairly good spirits. God is good.
Melissa
Melissa
Inviting God To Change You
Sometimes as Christians and just as humans, we have the tendency to think that we don't need to change and that we have it all together in our lives and our Christian walk. My devotion this morning was on being teachable, the way God wants us to be.
None of us have it all together. None of us are sinless. We should all be in the process of asking God to change us to be more like him. Let us all go before the Lord today and ask him where we need to change. Whether it be pride, feelings of self-doubt, addiction, etc., the Lord will give you the strength to change by just going before his Throne in humility and asking Him to help change you to be more like Christ.
TEACHABLE
by Gail Rodgers
The little boy was like a sponge, eager to learn with no pretense yet of having it all together. He was completely teachable. I once heard that the true characteristic of humility is to have a teachable spirit. It makes sense.
It's interesting that, as adults, it's easy to be teachable in the presence of some. Yet at other times we feel being teachable will create a vulnerability that we just don't want to face. So, we put on the pretense of having it all together. Having a teachable spirit means having a spirit that is open to change. We know God's desire is to transform us ... by renewing our thoughts... so we can live in line with His will for us. (Romans 12:2) We want to live in victory in our Christian lives yet at the same time we resist changing our thinking. We deeply desire to walk in the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit but at times, we wonder why our lives feel powerless as Christians. All the while we hang on to the familiar ruts that run through our thoughts and we resist changing.
"Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 18: 3, 4). "Like this child." Trusting. Teachable. And yes, changeable. God desires to bring us to wholeness and we all want that. Why then do we hang on so tightly to the familiar, common thinking patterns that run in our minds and are contrary to God's word? This is where defeat can enter. Check your thoughts. Ask God to reveal where your thinking needs transforming. Let His Spirit change you and lead you out of defeat.
Do you choose to hold your anxiety in your own hands when God asks you to cast it on to Him and leave it at the foot of the cross? Pour them out to Him in prayer.
Do you nurse thoughts that feed your feelings of inadequacy when God asks you to allow Him to be your strength where you are weak? Ask for His strength.
Do you hold tightly to your pretense that you are better than "them" when God asks you to show love? Invite Him to love through you.
Are you entertaining doubt in God and dulling your faith? Read the stories of the Old Testament and see the power of God in the lives of ordinary people.
Do you neglect fellowship with other believers because you don't like the way they do things? Make an effort to get to church with expectation in your heart to meet God there.
This is the pathway out of defeat. This is the invitation to let the Spirit change you.
None of us have it all together. None of us are sinless. We should all be in the process of asking God to change us to be more like him. Let us all go before the Lord today and ask him where we need to change. Whether it be pride, feelings of self-doubt, addiction, etc., the Lord will give you the strength to change by just going before his Throne in humility and asking Him to help change you to be more like Christ.
TEACHABLE
by Gail Rodgers
The little boy was like a sponge, eager to learn with no pretense yet of having it all together. He was completely teachable. I once heard that the true characteristic of humility is to have a teachable spirit. It makes sense.
It's interesting that, as adults, it's easy to be teachable in the presence of some. Yet at other times we feel being teachable will create a vulnerability that we just don't want to face. So, we put on the pretense of having it all together. Having a teachable spirit means having a spirit that is open to change. We know God's desire is to transform us ... by renewing our thoughts... so we can live in line with His will for us. (Romans 12:2) We want to live in victory in our Christian lives yet at the same time we resist changing our thinking. We deeply desire to walk in the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit but at times, we wonder why our lives feel powerless as Christians. All the while we hang on to the familiar ruts that run through our thoughts and we resist changing.
"Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 18: 3, 4). "Like this child." Trusting. Teachable. And yes, changeable. God desires to bring us to wholeness and we all want that. Why then do we hang on so tightly to the familiar, common thinking patterns that run in our minds and are contrary to God's word? This is where defeat can enter. Check your thoughts. Ask God to reveal where your thinking needs transforming. Let His Spirit change you and lead you out of defeat.
Do you choose to hold your anxiety in your own hands when God asks you to cast it on to Him and leave it at the foot of the cross? Pour them out to Him in prayer.
Do you nurse thoughts that feed your feelings of inadequacy when God asks you to allow Him to be your strength where you are weak? Ask for His strength.
Do you hold tightly to your pretense that you are better than "them" when God asks you to show love? Invite Him to love through you.
Are you entertaining doubt in God and dulling your faith? Read the stories of the Old Testament and see the power of God in the lives of ordinary people.
Do you neglect fellowship with other believers because you don't like the way they do things? Make an effort to get to church with expectation in your heart to meet God there.
This is the pathway out of defeat. This is the invitation to let the Spirit change you.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Still stable
My brother is still in stable condition and the dialysis appears to be working. He is almost completely weaned off of the blood pressure medication and he is currently on the lowest ventilator settings possible. Miracles do happen. Keep him in your prayers.
I had a wonderful visit with my sister, Dad, and nieces this weekend. After everything that happened last week, it was good to be able to relax and spend some time with them.
Hope everyone has a great week!
Melissa
I had a wonderful visit with my sister, Dad, and nieces this weekend. After everything that happened last week, it was good to be able to relax and spend some time with them.
Hope everyone has a great week!
Melissa
Friday, August 17, 2007
Good News
I am very hesitant to post this, but I just talked to Jeff's nurse and his dialysis seems to be working according to his recent lab values! He also is down from 100% ventilator to 35% ventilator settings. His blood pressure is still a big issue, but things are looking better. I know that this could just be another "up" before a "down" but I wanted to let those of you know who are praying that he isn't as critical as he was yesterday.
Friday - 5:26 a.m.
As of this morning, they THINK based on his first laboratory values, that they might see a trend towards fluid being pulled off. One lab is good, the other is not great, but they will know more in 6 hours. His vitals are fine. The only problem now is that he has become very dependent on the Dopamin. They are wanting to wean him off of it today, but everytime the nurse tried to last night, his blood pressure dropped extremely fast and dropped very low. Just a quick post before I work.
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Longest Day Ever
Here is what happened today:
When we got to the hospital he was in kidney failure (4:30 a.m.). He is on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up and another medication to keep his heart rate up. He had told the night shift nurse, myself and my father (who is not bearing up at all during this) that he did not want to go on the ventilator and he did not want dialysis. They put him on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up until we could all get there. The nurses changed shifts at 7 am and we had to wait for the doctor's to make their rounds and also to talk to the new attending doctor on duty. He brought us in and explained that our option was to stop treatment based on what my brother had said or to go ahead with dialysis anyways despite my brothers' wishes. We said we wanted our brothers' wishes to be upheld and then we made a BUNCH of very HARD decisions regarding a DNR - codes, CPR, shocking, antibiotics, Dopamin turned off, etc. The doctor went in to explain to my brother that he would be kept on the ventilator, but no other treatment would be given (IVs, feeding tube feedings, etc.) based on his wishes and my brother at this point changed his mind and asked them to start dialysis if there was any chance it would save him. A complete change of events. So when we left, they were inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter, an ATR (?) and starting a type of dialysis that might start his kidneys working again (50-50% chance). I went ahead and brought the kids back home. The emotional drama and the lack of no sleep is just too much right now.
IF the treatment works, they will know by tomorrow, but honestly I will be AMAZED if it does. He is swollen up SO large, that he is barely recognizable. At that point if his kidneys are not receptive, we will most likely have to go through all of this again. He is on 100% oxygen (full ventilator settings) and his lungs are failing as well. PLEASE be in prayer for my brother's salvation and also for my father. It was horrendous to go through this and I don't think he can go through it again emotionally.
Philippians 4 verses 6-7:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we got to the hospital he was in kidney failure (4:30 a.m.). He is on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up and another medication to keep his heart rate up. He had told the night shift nurse, myself and my father (who is not bearing up at all during this) that he did not want to go on the ventilator and he did not want dialysis. They put him on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up until we could all get there. The nurses changed shifts at 7 am and we had to wait for the doctor's to make their rounds and also to talk to the new attending doctor on duty. He brought us in and explained that our option was to stop treatment based on what my brother had said or to go ahead with dialysis anyways despite my brothers' wishes. We said we wanted our brothers' wishes to be upheld and then we made a BUNCH of very HARD decisions regarding a DNR - codes, CPR, shocking, antibiotics, Dopamin turned off, etc. The doctor went in to explain to my brother that he would be kept on the ventilator, but no other treatment would be given (IVs, feeding tube feedings, etc.) based on his wishes and my brother at this point changed his mind and asked them to start dialysis if there was any chance it would save him. A complete change of events. So when we left, they were inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter, an ATR (?) and starting a type of dialysis that might start his kidneys working again (50-50% chance). I went ahead and brought the kids back home. The emotional drama and the lack of no sleep is just too much right now.
IF the treatment works, they will know by tomorrow, but honestly I will be AMAZED if it does. He is swollen up SO large, that he is barely recognizable. At that point if his kidneys are not receptive, we will most likely have to go through all of this again. He is on 100% oxygen (full ventilator settings) and his lungs are failing as well. PLEASE be in prayer for my brother's salvation and also for my father. It was horrendous to go through this and I don't think he can go through it again emotionally.
Philippians 4 verses 6-7:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Jeff
Just received a call from my brother's nurse saying that they were transferring him up to Trauma Intensive Care Unit because his blood pressure was down to 71 today. He is grossly swollen and his kidneys are not working. They are wanting to put him on dialysis tomorrow. It is not looking good at all. He is in the process tonight of telling nurses what he wants and they are writing it down. I will have to go down tomorrow and read what he has written, try to talk to him and then sign papers indicating what he wants done. Please be in prayer for our family. This is a very hard place to be in. Love,
Melissa
Melissa
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Prayer for Jeff
Please pray for my brother today. He is going to have a procedure called "cardioversion" at 1:00 p.m. today. They will shock his heart to try to get it back in rhythm. The kids and I will be going down this afternoon after the procedure to visit with him.
Also, Chris and I are going to be going to an event called "Walk To Emmaus" in September. We are really looking forward to it. If you would like to read about it, you can go to the website upperroom.com to read about it. We are asking our friends and families to pray for us during these weeks leading up to our Walk and that we will learn and grow during the weekends that we attend.
I just had a few minutes to post and I hope this post finds everyone doing well. FYI - I am going to try to post in the next few days about our experience last week drywalling our upstairs. Let's just say it was full of excitement (arguments) and a great learning experience (we had NO idea what we were getting into!) :)
Love,
Melissa
Also, Chris and I are going to be going to an event called "Walk To Emmaus" in September. We are really looking forward to it. If you would like to read about it, you can go to the website upperroom.com to read about it. We are asking our friends and families to pray for us during these weeks leading up to our Walk and that we will learn and grow during the weekends that we attend.
I just had a few minutes to post and I hope this post finds everyone doing well. FYI - I am going to try to post in the next few days about our experience last week drywalling our upstairs. Let's just say it was full of excitement (arguments) and a great learning experience (we had NO idea what we were getting into!) :)
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Update
My brother, Jeff, is pretty much still in the same condition. He has movement in his arms (gross motor movement - no fine motor skills) and can wiggle his toes. That looks like all he will regain. It is also looking like he will be on the ventilator (tracheostomy) from here on out. He had some respiratory difficulties Sunday morning and had to have some blood and also had to go back on higher settings on his ventilator. He told me when I went to see him yesterday that he had almost died. I asked the nurse and she said "yes" it was a very close one. Please keep praying not only for his healing, but especially for his salvation. Blessings to all - Melissa
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:9-15
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:9-15
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Happy 4th!
Update - my brother will likely get to go into a "step-down" unit today or tomorrow. The next step is finding a facility that will accept ventilator patient's to care for him until we see exactly what type of recovery he is going to have.
We were going down to see him this afternoon, but the kids are sick and we are going to go sit in the doctor's office instead. I was looking forward to getting down there, but God is in control. If they feel better, we will try and go down to Chris' mom's for the 4th and come back in the evening.
I wish everyone a wonderful 4th of July! Thank goodness for our men in the service who insure our freedom!
Love,
Melissa
We were going down to see him this afternoon, but the kids are sick and we are going to go sit in the doctor's office instead. I was looking forward to getting down there, but God is in control. If they feel better, we will try and go down to Chris' mom's for the 4th and come back in the evening.
I wish everyone a wonderful 4th of July! Thank goodness for our men in the service who insure our freedom!
Love,
Melissa
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Jeff
I saw my brother yesterday afternoon and was actually able to communicate a little with him by reading lips. He has a tracheostomy tube now and that has given him some relief as far as breathing goes. He still has a fever, a blood infection and pneumonia, but he is on antibiotics and hopefully that will clear up soon. He has had a little movement (gross motor movement) in his arms, but obviously still none in his legs and the movement in his arms is not really all that great. He is still considered quadriplegic.
Please keep praying for him and also for guidance as far as all the decisions that our family needs to make regarding his future care. I am going this afternoon to pick the girls up from camp and then will be spending the weekend in Chattanooga. Love to all!
Melissa
Please keep praying for him and also for guidance as far as all the decisions that our family needs to make regarding his future care. I am going this afternoon to pick the girls up from camp and then will be spending the weekend in Chattanooga. Love to all!
Melissa
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pictures from Camp
Here are some pictures of the girls at camp. Please keep praying for my brother - he has had a tracheostomy put in and hopefully that will give him a little more comfort and relief. He was my faithful blog reader.........
Monday, June 4, 2007
I NEED A CAMERA!
I still haven't gotten my camera back from Canon and I think I am going to have to break down and buy a new one. I hate not being able to post pictures and that is why I haven't been blogging very much lately.
Jacob is away at church camp in Burns, TN for the week. He was very excited because he was getting to go with his best friend, Mason. The girls are staying with my sister in Goodlettsville for the week and they are excited because they get to swim in her pool every day. Mom is excited because I FINALLY get to finish up some projects around the house (hopefully). It is still very hot and dry here in Franklin County. We are on water restrictions indefinitely and are praying for rain! Hope this blog finds everyone doing well and enjoying their summer! Love,
Melissa
Jacob is away at church camp in Burns, TN for the week. He was very excited because he was getting to go with his best friend, Mason. The girls are staying with my sister in Goodlettsville for the week and they are excited because they get to swim in her pool every day. Mom is excited because I FINALLY get to finish up some projects around the house (hopefully). It is still very hot and dry here in Franklin County. We are on water restrictions indefinitely and are praying for rain! Hope this blog finds everyone doing well and enjoying their summer! Love,
Melissa
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Well, school is finally over and now we are trying to get into some sort of rhythm of summer activities. The kids have church camp, soccer camp, skateboard camp and Vacation Bible School on the agenda for the next 8 weeks. Personally, I have some summer reading that I want to get done and also some painting throughout the house to get done.
I was reading Experiencing the Heart of Jesus this morning (great devotional) and the verses that really stood out to me were Matthew 14:24-32. This is the story where the disciples are out on a fishing boat during the midst of a very bad storm. Jesus has been to a mountain to pray, when suddenly the disciples see him walking on the water towards them. Peter doesn't quite believe what he is seeing and asks Jesus to allow him to walk on water if it really is Him (Jesus). Jesus tells Peter to "Come". Peter steps out in faith and walks on water, UNTIL HE TAKES HIS EYES OFF JESUS, and then guess what? He begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out His Hand and grabs Peter and says "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? ". For the past few weeks I have been focusing on the boistrous winds and the fierceness of the storm and taking my eyes off Jesus also. And boy when I do that, I really sink.........fast.
But, Praise the Lord that he ALWAYS reaches out and grabs us if we trust in Him. We can always start over, trust in Him and enjoy the blessings that He wants to bestow on us!
Wishing everyone a good week, and hopefully I will have time to post a little more now that school is out.
I was reading Experiencing the Heart of Jesus this morning (great devotional) and the verses that really stood out to me were Matthew 14:24-32. This is the story where the disciples are out on a fishing boat during the midst of a very bad storm. Jesus has been to a mountain to pray, when suddenly the disciples see him walking on the water towards them. Peter doesn't quite believe what he is seeing and asks Jesus to allow him to walk on water if it really is Him (Jesus). Jesus tells Peter to "Come". Peter steps out in faith and walks on water, UNTIL HE TAKES HIS EYES OFF JESUS, and then guess what? He begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out His Hand and grabs Peter and says "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? ". For the past few weeks I have been focusing on the boistrous winds and the fierceness of the storm and taking my eyes off Jesus also. And boy when I do that, I really sink.........fast.
But, Praise the Lord that he ALWAYS reaches out and grabs us if we trust in Him. We can always start over, trust in Him and enjoy the blessings that He wants to bestow on us!
Wishing everyone a good week, and hopefully I will have time to post a little more now that school is out.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Thought for the Day
Monday, May 14, 2007
AND LAST BUT NOT AT ALL LEAST - SHE'S 9!!!
Today is Emma's 9th birthday!
We went to Chris' mother's house on Mother's Day and Emma had cake and got presents from Chris' family. She asked only for money - that 's our Emma! She is putting what she received into her savings account and now officially has more in her savings than we do! Actually, that isn't very surprising is it?????
To my most caring, scholastic, detail-oriented, quiet and attentive child - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I love you very much! Mommy.
Friday, May 11, 2007
The State Capitol
Abby and I went on a field trip yesterday to the Tennessee State Capitol. How strange is it that we lived up there for 8 years and I never went - not even one time. It was really VERY interesting. We have two dead people buried in the walls of our State Capitol - the only capitol buiding to be able to boast that! Leave it to Tennessee! We also have a president buried on the grounds of our State Capitol (James K. Polk and wife, Sarah) - the only state that can say that also! Really sort of strange isn't it? :) Click below to read an interesting article about the ghosts that are said to haunt the building........
I would love to post some pictures of our trip - IF I HAD MY CAMERA!!! I am starting to believe that Canon is holding it hostage, never to be returned.........Instead we had to use a disposable camera yesterday on our trip. Darnit.........
Well, I just wanted to wish everyone a fun-filled weekend and remember to do something thoughtful or kind for all those Mothers out there that ya' know. Trust me, they deserve it!!
Love to all - Melissa
Monday, May 7, 2007
May 7, 2007
A lady went to a beauty shop to have her hair cut and her nails painted and trimmed. As the lady began towork, theybegan to have a good conversation. They talked aboutso many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the beautician said : "I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked Sheryl who has MS.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize thatGod doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be somany sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
Then Sheryl thought for a moment, but didn't respond because she didn't want to start an argument. The beautician just finished her job and the customer left the shop.Just after she left the beauty shop, she saw a woman in the streetwith long, stringy, dirty hair and not groomed at all. She looked dirty andunkempt.
Then Sheryl turned back and entered the beauty shopagain and she said to the beautician: "You know what? Beauticians do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised beautician.
"I am here, and I am a beautician. And I just worked on you!" "No!" Sheryl exclaimed.
"Beauticians don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and be very unkempt, like that woman outside."
"Ah, but beauticians DO exist! What happens is, people do notcome to me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed Sheryl. "That 's the point! God, too, DOES exist. What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.
"Why do you say that?" asked Sheryl who has MS.
"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize thatGod doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be somany sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
Then Sheryl thought for a moment, but didn't respond because she didn't want to start an argument. The beautician just finished her job and the customer left the shop.Just after she left the beauty shop, she saw a woman in the streetwith long, stringy, dirty hair and not groomed at all. She looked dirty andunkempt.
Then Sheryl turned back and entered the beauty shopagain and she said to the beautician: "You know what? Beauticians do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised beautician.
"I am here, and I am a beautician. And I just worked on you!" "No!" Sheryl exclaimed.
"Beauticians don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and be very unkempt, like that woman outside."
"Ah, but beauticians DO exist! What happens is, people do notcome to me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed Sheryl. "That 's the point! God, too, DOES exist. What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
NEEDED A LAUGH
I am sure you have all seen this before, but I needed a good laugh today and this usually does the trick:
TO KEEP A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY:
At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
Insist that your email address is: Xena-Warrior-Princess@companyname.com
Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
Encourage your colleagues to join you in a little synchronized chair dancing.
Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "IN".
Develop an unnatural fear of staplers.
Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
In the memo field of all your checks, write 'for sexual favors.'
Reply to everything someone says with, "That's what you think."
Finish all your sentences with "In accordance with the prophecy."
Adjust the tint on your monitor so that the brightness level lights up the entire work area. Insist to others that you like it that way.
Dont use any punctuation.
As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
Sing along at the opera.
Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Wear them one day after your boss does. (This is especially effective if your boss is of the opposite gender.)
Send e-mail to the rest of the company to tell them what you're doing. For example, "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom, in Stall #3."
Put mosquito netting around your cubicle. Play a tape of jungle sounds all day.
Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
Call the psychic hotline and don't say anything...
When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I Won!" "I Won!" "3rd time this week!!!"
When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run for your lives, they're loose!"
Tell your boss, "It's not the voices in my head that bother me, its the voices in your head that do."
Tell your children over dinner: "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."
Every time you see a broom, yell "Honey, your mother is here!"
TO KEEP A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY:
At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
Insist that your email address is: Xena-Warrior-Princess@companyname.com
Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
Encourage your colleagues to join you in a little synchronized chair dancing.
Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "IN".
Develop an unnatural fear of staplers.
Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
In the memo field of all your checks, write 'for sexual favors.'
Reply to everything someone says with, "That's what you think."
Finish all your sentences with "In accordance with the prophecy."
Adjust the tint on your monitor so that the brightness level lights up the entire work area. Insist to others that you like it that way.
Dont use any punctuation.
As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
Sing along at the opera.
Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Wear them one day after your boss does. (This is especially effective if your boss is of the opposite gender.)
Send e-mail to the rest of the company to tell them what you're doing. For example, "If anyone needs me, I'll be in the bathroom, in Stall #3."
Put mosquito netting around your cubicle. Play a tape of jungle sounds all day.
Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
Call the psychic hotline and don't say anything...
When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I Won!" "I Won!" "3rd time this week!!!"
When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run for your lives, they're loose!"
Tell your boss, "It's not the voices in my head that bother me, its the voices in your head that do."
Tell your children over dinner: "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."
Every time you see a broom, yell "Honey, your mother is here!"
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
FACING THE GIANTS
We watched "Facing the Giants" last night. If you haven't seen it, it is well worth your time (especially if you feel like you are facing giants in your own life.....)
Okay, my friend Randy sent me this and I had to share. I really hope you can view it. Let me know if you can't.
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2722319
Have a good Tuesday everyone! Love, M
Okay, my friend Randy sent me this and I had to share. I really hope you can view it. Let me know if you can't.
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2722319
Have a good Tuesday everyone! Love, M
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