Thursday, August 28, 2008

We did our presentation at church last night about our mission trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation this past June. It was so very important to me to impress upon people the need of the people there and I pray that I was able to do so. There were some technical difficulties and we were not able to show the slideshow presentation I had put together, but I am hopeful that we will have a chance to show it some other time. Chris and I are planning on returning next year with the children and serving for at least a week at Pine Ridge and I am actually tossing around the idea of going on another mission trip next year as well, possibly overseas. I feel more and more led to give my life away serving others. For, I have realized that that is where life is actually the fullest!

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Back from Camping


The boys are back from camping and they had a great time. Chris said it was very strange to sleep in a cave 156 feet underground in the pitch-black darkness. I am sure! Not sure about the picture above, but it was on the camera when they got home. Who knows....

I feel much better - just very sore throat and tight incision site, but I guess that means it is healing so that's a good thing. I am going to lie back down and rest and hopefully start the week off well with not a lot of pain and no drugs. Thanks for everyone that brought meals and sent cards!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Flowers from my dear friend Jen


I came home this afternoon to the sweetest surprise from my friend Jen in California! She sent a note wishing me well on my surgery. Aren't they gorgeous? Thanks Jen! You are a dear friend.

The Power of Prayer

Wow, I am living testimony to the power of prayer! I can literally feel myself being prayed for this week. I have total peace about my surgery tomorrow and God has really spoken to me this week also about several things that I need to hand over to Him. When we let Him, God truly does a powerful work in our life. The hard part is that before we are blessed, we have to completely submit to Him and His will for our life and also humble ourselves before Him. I have been talking with a friend of mine about being in the "wilderness" lately, i.e. feeling like everything that can happen has happened to us lately. She gave me such a word of wisdom - God leads us into the wilderness sometimes to mature us and also to speak to us. We have to be willing to go there and be patient while He completes a good work in us! I keep telling myself everday that God is for us and never against us and where I am at right now is just exactly where he wants me to be!

I have been meaning to post some pictures of this past weekend. We celebrated my father's 78th birthday at Miss Mary Bobo's in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Oh my! All I have to say is GO! Best food I have ever put in my mouth - ever! Now I know why Food Network has been there. Make sure and get reservations first though because it is very hard to get in. Then we toured the Jack Daniels Distillery. It was so much fun, especially dealing with Abby my "would-be" prohibitionist. I think she thought she was going to go straight to hell just for being there (she has a little to learn about God's grace and a little less to learn about legalism.) It was a load of fun! We had a really great time as a family. Thank you Melanie for planning the day.

FYI - Just as Chris, the kids and I were about to head out Saturday morning to meet everyone in Lynchburg we had a water pipe break in our kitchen and our kitchen was flooded for about 20 minutes solid before water could get turned off at the water mane out front. That was an adventure for sure. We have it capped off now and fans have been running for several days. More reason to re-do the kitchen as soon as we can!

I will be thinking of everyone and praying for you all as I recover tomorrow and Friday. Love to everyone! Melissa

Miss Mary Bobo


Tuesday, August 19, 2008

South Wins 26-14


First Game Day!

Tonight is Jacob's first "real" middle school game. He had a jamboree game last weekend, but this is the first one that counts for the season. He is excited. I am hoping that he will be able to see through his hair to tackle his man!Posted by Picasa

Monday, August 18, 2008

Getting Nervous

Okay, I admit I am getting a little nervous about my surgery on Thursday. For those who don't know, I am having my thyroid gland removed on Thursday. I will stay at least one night in the hospital (and hopefully that is it!) and then be home hopefully sometime Friday afternoon/evening. I plan to be back to work on Monday. Please pray for Chris and the kids - that they won't be nervous about this and that Chris will be able to get them around to all of their activities. :)

Also, Chris found out this morning that his company has started lay-offs and "reorganizations". We are really seeking God's guidance and provision about this and are hopeful that Chris' job won't be affected.

God is good all the time and he knows the plans He has for our family and yours. I pray that we all are able to discern God's will for our lives and that we can hold fast to our faith and rest confidently in God's unchanging love for us.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Pine Ridge Reservation Needs Your Prayers

The link below leads to a news report of what is currently happening at Pine Ridge Reservation (the reservation our family went to serve on in June). Please keep the people of Pine Ridge Reservation in your prayers. Link below:

http://www.blackhillsfox.com/NewsStories.aspx?StoryID=11942&CatID=1

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Once again....

Chris is gone and I have a million things to do. We have practices and homework (yes, already!) and dinner to cook and so on and so on. I wish I had a robot!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Focus on the Fall

I am VERY excited about school starting back and all the stuff that goes along with it - ballgames, new church classes, the kids being gone all day - did I say that?

We have finally gotten semi-organized for the Fall! Believe it or not, I am only going to focus on one volunteer project this Fall and that is helping with our new 6th grade ministry at church. It should be exciting. I love the age of these children - they are so much fun. I am going to try not to overcommit to anything this year and just keep up with the evergrowing faster pace of my children and their activities. It is becoming more evident to me that these days are going to go by very quickly and I sure hope I can enjoy them while they are here!

Challenge: Pray for your kids today. Pray for their safety, salvation and and that they will sense the presence of God in their lives.

Monday, August 11, 2008

First Day of School


Well, they are off to their first day of school and to be honest, I will have to admit that I am glad. Glad to be back on a routine and glad not to hear "I'm bored" for awhile!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Hanging with Old Friends


We went on the boat Sunday with Beth and Herschel and the kids. It was a LOT of fun, but can I just say HOT! Mason and Garrett stayed with us overnight and here is a pic of them at a friends' house the next day......too busy right now to blog much, but I have some stuff swirling around in this crazy brain of mine to put on here next week when the kids are back in school!!!!!