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I'm a little late on this. His birthday was last Friday. In my defense, we have been out of town.
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It is New Year's Eve. Want to know what I am doing tonight? I am staying home with my two kids (the hubby is at work). Want to know what I think about that? I am quite happy about it.
Any time there is a big "party" night, I can't help but to think about how much my life has changed in the past few years. The way my life is today is nothing like they way I had it planned out. My life is proof that our plans are not always God's plans.
Years ago I was a college student, living the college student life. I spent more time than I should have partying and staying up too late, but I was a college student, so what else did I have to worry about? I had my life planned out. I was getting my degree in accounting because that was a degree that I could use anywhere. As soon as I graduated I was getting away from my boring hometown. I had my mind made up that I probably wouldn't marry until I was well beyond thirty, because I had a life to live before I settled down. Once I did settle down, I knew that in our family both parents would work. I didn't want to be stuck in a house all day. Who would want to live that type of life? I also wouldn't have to learn to cook. Why learn to cook when the big city I was going to live in would have wonderful take out?
Then just a few months before I graduated from college, I met my husband. It wasn't a "he swept me off my feet" romance. No, I just felt myself wanting to be honest with him about everything, which wasn't like me. Every time we broke up (yeah, we had issues in the beginning) I just had to have him back in my life, which also wasn't like me. Then God found and changed both of us. By the next year we were married. So much for waiting for thirty.
Fast forward to today. I am still not thirty, and I am the stay at home mom that I vowed I would never become. I like to cook, although I am still learning when it comes to that department. I'm thankful that I have a husband who doesn't mind being my taste tester. I enjoy my life. I like being here for my kids everyday. I like making sure my family is fed and has clean clothes to wear. I like being able to spend quality time with them everyday. I like getting to witness all of the silly things they do and say, even if the silliness does come with whining sometimes.
So as I sit here on New Year's Eve, just my two kids and me, I am thankful that I am content to sit here on New Year's Eve, just my two kids and me. As many others are getting ready to bring in the New Year with a party, I will be at home folding clothes, playing with my new toys....I mean my kids' new toys, and making sure that my house is the home that my family deserves. My life is not anything like I planned for it to be, but my life is the way it is supposed to be, which is much better than I planned. I thank God that He made me realize that this type of life isn't so bad after all.
Happy New Year!
~Melissa
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I am enjoying time with family today and the rest of the weekend. Don't forget the reason we celebrate this holiday, our Lord Jesus coming to redeem us!
~Melissa
It's Christmas time again. Time for celebrating the birth of Christ, putting up Christmas lights, decorating the tree, spending time with family, and Santa bringing everyone gifts.....or maybe not. Well at least not the last part, not in our house.
Yep, we are those parents. When Jazlyn goes to school next year, her friends will tell her she's wrong, those friends' parents won't like us, and we will become those parents.
I don't believe our kids are missing out on anything by us not doing Santa. Jazlyn is just as excited about Christmas as any other kid. She is still getting gifts. She just knows that they are from us, not Santa.
Jazlyn has seen Santa and she knows the story of Saint Nick. She understands that the Santa she sees out during Christmas time is only pretend. She knows that he is just a man dressed up in a suit.
Let me share why we are choosing not to have our kids believe that Santa is bringing them presents every year. Our reasoning is that we don't want there to be any confusion later in life for them over whether Jesus is real. We don't want to tell our kids for years that Santa is bringing them presents, then have them find out that it isn't true, causing them to possibly question other things that they have been taught by us. I know some kids could understand without it being an issue, but this is still the decision that we have made for our family.
Let me say(type) that I have nothing against people that do Santa. Actually, I hardly know anyone who doesn't do Santa. Even though we might not do everything exactly the same, we can still be friends, right? I don't think that my family is any better than other families that do Santa. I'm only sharing my life.
We have already told Jazlyn that she shouldn't tell kids who do believe in Santa that he isn't real. So please don't come after us for being those parents.
Merry Christmas!
~Melissa
Last weekend we had our first annual "Celebrating the King" Christmas Banquet with our church family. We all got dressed up and enjoyed good fellowship and tasty food. When I say tasty, I mean tasty. Here are a few pics from our night. 
My silly boys.
Are you as unprepared for Christmas as I am?
~Melissa
Christmas music playing.
Jazlyn dancing.
Isaiah laughing.
Everyone happy.
Everyone healthy.
The.
Perfect.
Evening.
Before
After
Our Christmas tree is up and decorated, as you can see. Our living room is also now crowded, as you can see.
Every year we go to the Christmas tree farm (Is it called a farm?) and cut down our tree. This is something that we always did growing up and we will probably continue to do until we are just too old. We also always get snacks while we decorate the tree (my favorite part).
My favorite thing (besides the snacks) about having a real Christmas tree is the smell. Aahhhh, the sweet Christmas tree smell. Can you smell it? I guess not unless you have your own real tree. Well, if you don't have a real Christmas tree, you should get one.
Now does anyone want to come help me wrap presents?
~Melissa
Thanksgiving is the day that we are to give thanks. I am thankful that I live in a country where I am free to live my life as I please and that I can type whatever I want on this blog without fear for my life. Many on this earth do not have that option. I am also thankful for a great family who loves me no matter what. Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for God's unconditional love, kindness, and mercy.
Oh yeah, I am also thankful for the great turkey, ham, dressing, corn, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, and ice cream that I ate today.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Melissa
We are having lunch at my parent's house on Thanksgiving, so my Dad sent us an invitation. What, you don't do that for Thanksgiving? Yeah, I didn't think so. I thought it was pretty funny. Sharon is my mom's name. My dad is the "cook's helper." The scribbling is where I scribbled out their phone number. You know, so no crazies who might read this will start calling them. The "duo entertainment" is my nephew Colby and you already know who Jazlyn is.
Please remember to pray for those who might be alone on Thanksgiving or not have the means to provide a meal for their family. The holidays are hard for many people.
~Melissa
will you see holiday lights of a barn and a tractor.
Here are a few of my favorites from the "Galaxy of Lights."
Here is a pic of the cutest baby that was there.
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