Love

Are you ever going to blog again? I miss seeing your blog posts... Are you giving up blogging? I've had several of these comments in the last few weeks. I so appreciate the fact that people actually miss my blog entries and the answer is no. Life is just too busy and insane right now. I really haven't felt God nudging me to write anything specific, so I haven't. This doesn't mean that God isn't working in my life...oh my, the things He continues to show me each day are amazing...I just haven't found the desire or the discipline, perhaps, to write very often. I'll add that to my list of things to pray about.

For now, I would just encourage each of you to love one another. Love is the greatest commandment. Love eachother, and love yourself. Don't let judgment, disappointment or the pain that life can throw at you get in the way of loving. Our life here is only but a vapor, easy come and easy go. If my life is over tomorrow, I want people to know that I loved them and I love God.

I will do my best to write again soon!

Blessings,
Melissa

New Music

I added some new music to my playlist...I LOVE the music of Glee...and I like the show, but sometimes have a hard time with the content. Anyway, the music is amazing. These are a few of my favorites.

The Plan

Well, I'm back for yet another Meal Plan Monday...life if crazy these days, but then again it ALWAYS is!!

Here's what we'll be eating this week...I am on NO DAIRY now, so this should be interesting...

Monday: Chicken enchiladas or black bean/corn wraps

Tuesday: Grilled chicken, grilled veggies, baked potatoes

Wednesday: Asian Tuna Salad sandwiches

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Danny's "cooking"

Saturday: sandwiches/leftovers for lunch, eating dinner with our Kyrie Foundation peeps

Sunday: BLT sandwiches

I started reading the book "Crazy Love" today...I will post if God gives me something to talk about! :)

Blessings,
Melissa

Meal Plan Monday

Well, we survived "Birthday Palooza 2010", and I hope life will be a little more normal this week...whatever that is! Spring has definitely settled in and it will just be insane from here until the end of the school year.

My meal planning is going to interesting...my doctor wants me to try a non-dairy diet...she wants me to COMPLETELY eliminate dairy...ok, we'll see how this goes.

This week, I'll just be weaning myself off of dairy...

Monday: Green Chili Enchiladas & rice (already prepared, we will warm this up when we get home from a softball game in Kingman!)

Tuesday: Tuna Burgers & Roasted Red Potatoes

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Grabbing something on the way to a softball game in Mulvane

Friday: Date Night???

Saturday: leftovers for lunch, Chicken on the Grill, baked potatoes and salad for dinner

Sunday: Mitchell's Baptism/Confirmation party for lunch, ???? for dinner

Full Circle

"I think you've come full circle, Melissa."

This is what one of my dearest, truest friends said to me this morning. She was referring to a tough time in my life, a time that I really didn't think I'd recover from. She walked through the storm with me, along with several other close friends and God, of course. And now, the clouds are gone and we are basking in the SON together. The storms seem to have passed. The me I thought I had lost is reemerging. I've learned so much. I'm so thankful for the last year. I'm so thankful for the loss of my eyesight that caused me to see life so much more clearly. I'm so thankful for the loss of my safety net that truly bound me and kept me from experiencing life to the fullest. I'm so thankful for miscommunication that caused me to reevaluate how I deal with people in my life and how I prioritize...always putting God first. I couldn't be filled with more gratitude...God has allowed me to be fully aware of who and what is important in life. God allowed me to fall broken at His feet...and now He alone is building me up in Him.

In my bible study (Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place) last week, Beth Moore talked about how God sometimes allows us to walk through a storm, through the fire, if you will. He does this in order to refine us, and to fulfill His purpose for our lives. She pointed out that even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked for God to take the cup from Him. He asked that if it be the will of His Father, that He not have to go through the pain and agony that would befall Him. He asked, His father refused. Well, my first reaction is...THAT'S JUST MEAN! If God loves me like He says He does, then why wouldn't He offer me every protection. He must love others more than He loves me. He must only be true to others.

Then the Truth comes through, loud and clear. God loves us enough to know when His intervention would cause us more harm than good. He knows what our purpose is on this planet. He knows what we need to learn in order to fulfill that purpose. He knows what has to happen in order for our piece of the puzzle to fit perfectly. He knew when He created Jesus that He would be crucified. He knew He would suffer and die. It was all part of the plan. It broke His mighty heart that it had to happen that way. Jesus was, after all, His Son. It hurt. However, He loved me enough to let Jesus suffer and die, in order to give me eternal salvation. It was the way it had to be.

God could save us from every heartache. He is big enough. However, He loved me enough to allow me to walk through the last year. He knew that every thing I experienced would ultimately draw me closer to Him. He knew that I would bring Him glory when I came around full circle. He walked every step of it with me. He was there to dust me off when I stumbled. He never once left me and sometimes I know that He carried me. He knew I'd be better off in the end. He knew what I would learn. He loves me enough to painfully watch my pain, but to stand back and let it happen. As a parent, I can relate fully. There are times I have to stand back and let my children fall in order for them to learn.

God is looking at the end game. He is looking at us through eternal eyes. He wants me, you, us...He wants us with Him for eternity. He will do anything or nothing, in order to get us to that place. God is merciful and full of grace. It hurts Him to watch us suffer. He always offers an escape from the poor choices we make. He will never turn His back on us. And when we come full circle and we turn our gaze on Him...well, no moment was ever sweeter.

I'm so thankful that He loves me so much.

If you are going through a tough time right now. Be patient, put your heart in His hands and let Him carry you. He has a plan, and He's never wrong.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Many Blessings,
Melissa

Following Him...Remembering Her

Today marks three years since Kyrie Thome was held in her mother's arms and slipped off to Heaven. She was taken away by an aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. She had suffered long enough. Her parents graciously chose to let her go rather than to put her through more invasive treatments that would mean more pain for her without well-defined results. Such an act of mercy...to let go when it's the hardest thing to do. Jordan and Lacie are amazing people.

In the last three years, Kyrie's little life has been the catalyst for GIANT miraculous occurrences. I have witnessed so many wonderful things that happened as a direct result of her life. Perfect strangers have become fast and life-long friends, children have been called to "do good", families have reconnected, people have come together to raise funds for research, awareness that was nowhere to be found is now springing up, people care because they want to and not because they have to, faith in the providence of God has been tested and proved, relationship both earthly and divine have deepened, hearts have begun to heal, lives have been inspired, people have been called to ministry...and the list goes on. She changed the world. Like the flutter of a butterflies wings, she had an affect and it still ripples outward. This little girl was so loved and wanted here on earth. She is so loved and wanted in Heaven. I stand amazed at what God has worked out for good through her all to brief existence on this planet. I truly believe that her tiny fingerprints are still on every good deed that her life and her earthly death inspired. Her influence will be eternal through all of us who refuse to let it go...all of us who are determined to continue her goodness.

If you've never taken the time to learn about Kyrie and her family. Please go here and do so. I promise this little girl and God will change your lives in miraculous ways. You can also watch the tribute video below that her aunt Megan produced in her memory.

I vow to remember each day that this life was precious and it was taken by something that can strike any family at any time. I will not stop fighting until a cure is found. We are well on our way, but we need to do this together. Please join us.

Special thanks to Kyrie's family for allowing me to share pictures of their special girl. I am so thankful God brought you and your beautiful family into my life.

Many blessings,

Melissa

Menu...Not Sa Much...Plan Monday

First of all, Happy Easter!! Yesterday was an amazing celebration of our Risen Lord! I was so excited to praise Him for all He has done. A really good day.

Our plan this week is once again to just get by with meals! Mason has his last two flag football games, Danny is working late one night, and Friday night we will be setting up for the Kyrie Foundation Kropganza! So, the plan is to eat leftovers tonight, Taco Tuesday, something easy like sandwiches on Wednesday, leftovers on Thursday and grab something easy Friday night on the way to Wichita. We will be at the crop all day on Saturday and Sunday I will be doing the shopping for next week... It's life and we just are going to keep on rolling with it. So far, no one in my household has starved. Even though Mason is on an eating RAMPAGE lately. He informed me on Saturday that kids are supposed to have 6 meals a day, and at 5 pm on Saturday, he had only had 3... Go ahead, call SRS!

Hope you all have a blessed week!
Melissa