Well, another holiday has come and gone. And as I always do,
ate wayyy too much. I hope your day was as great as mine!
The house was full of family, food, laughter, kiddos and sale
papers (which were empty of anything I had to get up this
morning to go get).
We did something different this year and I wanted to share
it with you. I've always wanted us to go around and tell
what we were thankful for. There are normally so many of
us I've just never done it.

Well, this year we did a Thankful Tree! I was planning to
just have it there for the kids to do but my Aunt's got into
it and made each of their grown kids join in. Along with my
Grandmother and my parents. It really turned cute. Now,
I have a keepsake from everyone. Like my Grandmother's
list in her handwritting with her name signed to it.

I love my nephew's he summed it all up in one big word "everything"!
The top pick on most of the kids list was "food". I blamed on the fact
they were eagerly awaiting a taste of all the wonderful smells coming
through the house.



So tonight we will take the Thankful Tree down and put up the
Christmas Tree. It's time to "Deck the Halls".
Blessing to you Sweet Friends!! May your Thankful Tree
overflow again next year!!

Oh, not on this day

Well, as most of you have heard me talk of how Thanksgiving
is my most favorite holiday ever....well, someone else heard
me talking about it too. As a matter a fact he was standing
next to my bed this morning to be the first person to great
me on MY favorite holiday of the year. Yeap the sneaky
rat himself, satan. So I've decided to make another
thankful list...to shut him up from the crap he's trying to
lay on me today...

I'm thankful that my God is "bigger than the boogie man".
I'm thankful that all I had to do this morning was close my
eyes back and talk with my Creator whom I was created in
the likeness of.
I'm thankful that in a few hours that the house will be full
of kids laughter. We are going to make a Thankful Tree
today...so I should have pictures up of it soon.

If satan showed up that early this morning then...
It's going to be a good day Ladies! A good day indeed!
Many Happy Warm Blessings to you today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This little guy has the right idea...

Praise the Lord and pass the turkey!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! There is something special
about it that warms my heart. Our Thanksgiving day isn't as
crowded with people as it use to be. Be it some of our loved ones
are spending it with Jesus or that ones have houses to juggle
between. Still it's not that...it's the reason of the holiday I love.
It's always been an extra time that I sit still and reflect back on
all God's goodness in my life.
I could keep an ongoing list of things I'm thankful for and we
would be here all day talking about them. I will name a few...
I'm thankful for being raised in a Christian home.
I'm thankful for the gift of salvation my Savior provided.
I'm thankful for God's provision.
I'm thankful for my parents, sisters and my nephew and niece.
I'm thankful for family.
I'm thankful for friends. The kind that feel like family.
I'm thankful for a second chance on life.
I'm thankful for the tough times too.

I'm thankful that God has crossed our paths!
You have all been a special treasure give to me from above.
Thinking of you all this Thanksgiving....
May your day be a beautiful reminder of all He has done
in your life.

Planting seeds...

Hey! I've been beaming from ear to ear since last night.
Why?? Well, Ladies we have a new sister in Christ!
Some of you have heard me talk about our Fall Festival we
had at church in October. Well, we put in a lot of hard work,
countless hours and much much prayer. We have had four
families visit our church as a result of the event. Now, we
are in a very small rural church and this is a big number for
us. Well, some have been in and out since but most are
still coming. There is this one particular lady that's been
coming with her two young girls ever since. On Sunday
night our youth group lead the service, which I love by
the way because it's the only time there is any praise and
worship music....that's a whole other post for some time
later. Anyway, they did this skit by a group called
Lighthouse. If I were computer savy and had time to
figure it out I would put up the video. This lady was
sitting on the opposite end of the aisle as me and my
sister. I caught her out of the corner of my eye and
got my sister attention to glance too. It was the coolest
sight because she was leaning forward just amazed at what
she was watching. Later on that night the preacher's
wife, who is also an amazing friend that God has
brought my way, called and said I need you to help me
pray for this lady tonight because she was talking to me
after church. So that was Sunday night...well last
night (Monday) I get another phone call from the
preacher's wife...Amanda, and she asked me what I
was doing. I replied eating why? To which she says
could you come go somewhere with me. I say sure...
where are we going? The lady called her last night
and said she wanted to get baptized! Amanda is like...
what?!!? did I miss something yesterday? The lady
was like...well I asked Christ to come into my heart
and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders
and everything is just different. Well me on the
phone is soooo pumped up!!! Amanda swings into
the drive way and we are off to deliever a Bible to
our new sister in Christ!! We had a nice visit with
her and an amazing prayer time. Please help us
pray for her she has had such an amazingly hard
time. Her life has been turned upside down in the
last few years. Pray for us as a church to come
along side her and love and disciple her.
I've been thinking of a song today....not sure I
think it's Casting Crowns that sings a song called
If We Are the Body...and it says if we are the
Body why aren't our arms reaching....
Oh, how true of us today....I'm so bad about not
doing His work and missing oppurtunities He
sets before me sometimes.
I have a friend that I work with who is attending
our Bible study right now....Please help me pray....
I want her to be our next sister in Christ.....

The things I love most...

I ran across this Meme over at Sharon's and
thought I would give it a try. I'm suppose to
list 5 things I love. So, I thought
I would do it count down style...

#5 I love learning new things. For example,
I love discovering new things with the kids I
work with. To research things of nature that's
hindering them and designing a program that
teach's them a new skill or way to communicate.
In the same sense...I love discovering new
things about God and His Word and Will.

#4 I love ballcaps! The first thing I do when I
walk in the door from work is put on my cap.
I carry them in my car a lot and most days put
it on before I even leave work. When I'm taking
photos my cap is on and turned around backwards.
When I was young my dad would tell me "turn that
cap around you look like a punk". Haha...I'd do it
then just because it bothered him.

#3 Photography! I had a photography class my
Senior year of college and it was amazing! I
discovered my favorite Photographer then.
Ansel Adams. The photo below is the first one of
his I fell in love with.

#2 I love nature!! I love being outdoors.

I love being in the woods around our place.

If you remember a former post of

mine you'll recall the family ties it has.

Most important it makes me feel so close to my

Creator.

#1 I love these Kiddos! Of course,

my niece and nephew. Bman and Emmy G.

and the little Girl to come....I love you guys

the most!!

Well folks...it's Official! I'm a college student again!! I can't believe it!

I went today and filled out my admission papers and paid the

admission fee. The first check of many yet to write.

So, here is what the future should look like...

I am planning to continue out the school year working where I am now.

Along with taking two classes this Spring, these classes will start in Jan.

I hope to quit work at the end of the school year and just go to school

next Summer. Like I said in my last post, I have to make straight A's

in order to get through this stage of classes. Then I hope to pass all

three of the big test (GRE, Praxis I and Praxis II) by the end of the

Summer and all my paper work done so that I can be admitted into

the Graduate program this Fall. In the program I'll be doing student

teaching during the day and taking classes in the evening. One good

thing is you get paid in the school system while you student teach!!

Whew! It all sounds just that easy...hahaha!

All the way down to the campus this morning my stomach was tied

in knots. A good nervous but nervous none the less. I know that

this is what God is asking me to do. I have to be honest...I know I

can learn the things I need to know but I'm sooooo nervous at the

thought of being in charge of a classroom. There is also the fear

of not getting a job in the end. I've watched so many women lately

struggle to find a job in teaching. I know God is in control and He

wouldn't ask me to do something unless He had it all planned out.

You may have to remind me of that later =)

Okay, I guess it's time to put it all in practice and go get some

more studying done.....

Love you!

Study hall

First of all I hope you enjoy my study down time music!
In the spirit of my study break I thought I'd share this
email I received today....


How to Fail tests with dignity!

Well, on a serious note..

I finally spoke with someone at the school today! I've felt so scattered in

all the things I knew I needed to do to get back into school. I just didn't

know all the steps to take and when to take them. Well, my conversation

today did just that. Ms. Greer gave me a step by step "plan" and I'm

ready to go! I will go tomorrow and enroll once more to the university.

Like I told the lady on the phone today... I know I have a lot of work to

do...but I'm ready. My eye has been set on the goal for a long time

and now it's time to get moving. I know what needs to be done and I'm

ready to roll up my sleeves and get busy!!

Last nights prayers and God's answer today from this phone conversation

has brought some major peace to my heart and mind today!!

When the school bell rings again I don't know what this will mean

as far as Blogland goes....

I know you all understand. The last few weeks have been tough

and my discipline was not too hot. However, the classes I'm having

to take in order to get into the graduate program requires me to

only make A's!!!!! Girls, I'm not a good student so this is going to

be a huge challenge!! So, my plans are to not go anywhere I just

may not be here as much....but I'm here.

I love you all!! Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Always know that you are forever in my thoughts and prayers.

Thoughts...

Last Saturday I decided to take a few photos of the Fall trees
around the house. I picked them up at lunch today and looked
at them while eating my Hotpocket...The first photo reminded
me of how sad I was at first because the leaves didn't have
much color and they just looked dead. Then God took my
thoughts on a bit of a journey....thought I would share....

The leaves all looked dull and dead. However, if you keep moving
and looking then you'll find an angle...

A place where the sun is in just the right spot that...

At that particular place and moment the leaves glow with splendor just

like the One that created them....

He reminded me if I keep moving and looking through His view of things...

His angle is from above so totally different than the view we see. If we

just keep looking we'll soon see as the Son shines through...

The deadness of life will disappear and the Splendor of the One
who created us will shine through....

He makes everything glow with life....eternal life.

What would we miss?

Interrupting this "blogging" break for a moment to share
something that totally impacted my world this week.
"For such a time as this..." Of all times we could have
done the Daniel Bible study it was now! After the election
I felt as most of you I'm sure did. Low and behold what
is the next nights homework?? Week 6! God was quick
to show me that Daniel lived in one if not the most
corrupt cultures but he faithfully served God in those
times. Even in the midst of ungodly leadership Daniel
remained faithful in a corrupt world.

Ok, the other thing...she asks....
"What kind of things would Daniel and his friends have
missed had they chosen instead to blend in?"
WOW! So then I turned the question around to
myself....Melanie what would you have missed out on?
God's provision. Healing. College. A world called Autism.
Right now in the midst of the journey- what will the
outcome look like...I don't know but what I do know is
that whatever it is...I don't want to miss it!!

What would you have missed out on?