New Adventures and A New Year

First of all, I pray that this New Year brings nothing but, joy, love, adventure and happiness to all of you! I personally am not very sad to see 2009 come to an end. Although it has banged me around a bit, I am glad for the growth and learning I have experienced, but once again, not sad to see it go.

I am embarking on a project that I have been knocking around for about a year and am doing most of my research through contacts on Facebook. But the gist is this, I am going to be collecting information from women of all ages regarding the following (message as it appears on Facebook):

#1 - What is the biggest challenge you face as a woman at this time in your life? (this can be spiritually, mentally, physically, maritally).

#2 - Do you deal with past issues of regret or feelings of failure in any areas that hold you back from being the woman that you want to be?

I think that if we could all share, we might see that there is a underlying common thread between many of us and our feelings.I am just starting this journey so please be patient with me, but know that I value you input and please have any of your friends add me as a friend and participate in this also. Also, feel free to tag any of your FB friends on this note and share it with them. This is the beginning of some writing on women's issues that I feel prompted to start. I covet your prayers. Love to each and everyone of you!!!

I am absolutely OVERWHELMED with the responses I have received. Obviously, we all struggle, all have issues we deal with on a daily basis and ultimately I believe need to be able to open up about those issues and connect with each other. I do not know where the Lord is leading on this, but I do know that He is leading.....please be in prayer as I gather information and begin to write what the Lord puts upon my heart.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Merry CHRISTmas to all our family and friends

The kids are in bed (believe it or not), packages are wrapped, the baking is done and time has been spent with family and friends. We attended our Christmas Eve Service this evening and just like every year I was overcome with emotion that God, the Creator, chose to send his Son as a savior for us - Emmanuel - God with us. I pray that you all enjoy a wonderful Christmas and I pray that we all keep in mind those who have lost loved ones this year or who may be spending this Christmas alone. Love to all - Melissa

God With Us

God With Us

What, then, is the God I worship? ... You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present among us, the most beautiful and yet the most strong, ever enduring; and yet we cannot comprehend you." -St. Augustine

"All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us')." Isaiah 7:14

Football at Chris' mom's house on Thanksgiving weekend.

There’s an old saying that “We tend to judge others by their actions, and we judge ourselves by our intentions.” The truth is, we cannot rightly judge anyone else, because we do not know the contents of their heart. We should be content to judge only ourselves and seek to bring our own lives in alignment with God’s Word (1 Cor. 11:31).

This was part of a devotion I read today and boy is that the truth! I think we could all spend more time judging ourselves and our own hearts - I know I could (and should) and will.......

Praying everyone has a safe and happy weekend! Love - Melissa

Charity: Water

If you have time, please watch the video below and definitely donate some money to Charity: Water. You can text 85944 from your phone and $10 will be donated to help drill a well for a village in Sub-saharan Africa. The money will be added to your phone bill at the end of the month.

Drops Like Stars Tour

So I got to meet Rob Bell last night and most importantly got to hear him speak on his Drops Like Stars tour. AMAZING. Still trying to digest everything I heard him speak about. He spoke about suffering and the art of agony and how suffering is purposeful and necessary in our lives in order to fulfill who God is shaping us to be. He gives a whole new perspective on suffering and I encourage anyone who can go see him on this tour to do so. I know it was lifechanging for me. I have a whole new desire to use the suffering I have endured for the good of others and to really give some long hard thought as to what I am doing here during this very short span of time called "life".