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Here We Go Again!

May The Snow Be With You! Yessssssss... it IS with us! When I went to bed last night, the forecast was 3-6 inches in our area. When I woke up this morning it had been revised to 5-10 inches. oh yay. At least I got my grocery shopping done yesterday and the house is full of yummy GOOD for me things. Krysti is home so I have somebody to play with, and I had NO plans for the weekend other than church tomorrow. It is supposed to continue snowing until 4:00 AM which means there's a good chance church will be cancelled. I couldn't believe that the last time it happened... another throw back to my Catholic days when church was NEVER cancelled no matter what! (the priests must say mass everyday - so they are there to do their thing whether anyone shows up or not) So, I'm just gonna kick back today and let come what may! I'm sure I'll get caught up with everyone today!

posted by Melli at 9:23 AM | 9 comment(s)

Friday's Fave Five

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game! Stop on by her place and play along! Everybody's got SOMETHING to be happy about each week!

1. Well, I knew that 5 pounds last week was too good to be true! LOL! Nobody loses 5 lbs. in a week! THIS week the scale made it up to me by taking back 1.2 of those five. This really wasn't a favorite thing... BUT my attitude about it IS! It's no big deal. I had a bad day LAST Friday and ate my face off! But the rest of the week went very well and I even got up to 57 minutes pedaling yesterday ... so I really can't complain. I'm sure next week it will be down again.

2. Sharp scissors! Not a big thing... unless you really need to cut something ... and yours are dull! Or knicked. Or rusty. Or... all of the above! I have 4 pairs of scissors in the house. 3 are good for nothing... the 4th I keep on my desk! One time my "good" scissors disappeared. I asked around and sure enough Derek had them. I told him he's NOT allowed to use my good scissors. He said "but the other pairs don't work!" I said "That's because I let you kids USE them!" I guess I don't share scissors well.

3. Ohhhh My Mathew's birthday over the weekend! That was a favorite thing! I had to laugh! Amanda is always the big "planner" of family events. She's a control freak and likes to make sure things go HER way! So, she checked with me to see if it would be okay to have our celebration of Mathew's birthday at MY house on Sunday. We could do it earlier in the day than if we celebrated Monday night. So I said sure... that sounded good to me! Because the Tuesday before we had celebrated Dennis birthday after work and it ran later than it should and everyone had to get up early the next day for school and work. She wanted to make sure Luz got to bed by 7:30 this time! So Sunday afternoon rolls around and Amanda texts and says she's stopping by Derek's at 4:00 and then she'll be over. I asked what time Mathew was coming. She didn't know but he had told her he was getting off work early for the occasion! So I texted Mathew. "What time are you going to get here?" He texts back... "I'll be there by 6:30." I said, "I thought you were getting off early for this." He said... "That is early Mom! I don't usually get OFF until after 6 on Sundays!" ROFL! The kids didn't leave here until almost 9:00! Poor Luz... I bet she was a tired one on Monday morning... And my other men as well! We had fun though!

4. Scrabble with Krysti! Yep! She's home again!

5. I just got a new supply of books in yesterday... good for reading while I pedal! It is of the utmost importance that the mind stays HAPPILY busy while the body exercises! :)

Labels: Friday Fave 5

posted by Melli at 3:01 AM | 19 comment(s)

Dr. John's Self-made Meme...

I swiped this one from Dr. John yesterday, having no idea that I would have nothing to say today and therefor needing it! I am really REALLY ready for winter to GO now! I'm tired of not wanting to go out everyday!

1. When was the last time you tried something new?
Well, I've been trying a LOT of new recipes lately... but that's really just a new mixture of old favorites... Oh! I know! I tried an "orange" flavored coffee! I don't usually care much for fruity flavored coffees, but I have tried blueberry and orange and for something "different" from time to time, they are both nice!

2. What is the last thing you bought online? Did it work?
Books. Yep! All the pages turned!

3. Are you a hoarder? If you aren’t, how close to being a hoarder are you?
I am not a hoarder. Dennis is a hoarder. The older we get, the more I see MY house becoming like his parents house. It is driving me CRAZY! Of course, the basement is full of "stuff" that my children are not hoarding at their OWN places... but they don't want to get rid of yet!

4. Would you ever allow This Old House to film your home remodel?
I'm sorry... but I would not allow Bob Villa and Norm to get anywhere near THIS old house!

5. How good are you at keeping secrets?
On a scale of 1-10 with ten being zipped lips, I am an 11!

6. Are you a grown-up? How do you know?
I will NEVER grow up! Why would I even WANT to? Where is the FUN in that? God doesn't even want me to grow up! He wants me to maintain a "child-like faith" ... that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

7. It’s fantasy tea-party time … you can invite any three people for cakes and sandwiches and scones and tea! Of course this is different from fantasy dinner party because it’s tea and is such it’ll need to be more refined and you’ll probably need to wear a frock So, tell us, who are you inviting to our very British fantasy tea party?
I am breaking all the rules and having a fantasy tea BANQUET! EVERYONE is invited! How could I possibly select only 3 of you? No way!

8. Do you freak out at the sight of a blemish?
When I get up in the morning and look in the mirror, my hair is standing on end, my eyes are bagging down to my chin, and I only have 12 teeth in my mouth. And I should FREAK over a blemish??? You have GOT to be kidding me! I just accept is part of my scaevity!

9. If you could go to the land of make-believe for one day, what would you most want to experience?
She can fly, she can fly, she can fly she can fly she can flyyyyyyyyyyy! And she would fly into Pigeon Falls!

10. What is your soda of choice these days? Could you give it up?
Fresca. And I almost have! I sometimes remember to open one by around 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon ... but then I forget to drink it. When you're drinking 64 oz. of water a day thirst really isn't much of an issue!

posted by Melli at 9:47 AM | 9 comment(s)

Changes... and Random Dozen #21

1. How good are you at delaying gratification?
I'm getting better... but honestly? I'm not very good! Once I decide I want something, I pretty much want it NOW! Sometimes I want it ... yesterday.

2. Maybe a marshmallow wouldn't be too difficult a temptation for you. What food (or anything else) would be most tempting?
Chocolate cake with vanilla icing is about the MOST tempting thing you can put in front of me.
But Cheese of ANY variety is a close 2nd.

3. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being saintly) how patient are you?
Oh this definitely depends upon who I have to be patient with and what I have to be patient about! There is just no one size fits all answer to this question! Sitting in a restaurant with the whole family waiting for our order to come, I could wait an hour with no problem ... sitting alone with Mom in the same restaurant I need that food delivered in 5 minutes! Sitting in an airport waiting for a plane to Jamaica, I'd be climbing the walls!!! LOL! I really run a range from about 2-8! I would never give myself a 10... EVER.

4. Have you ever waited for something in life only to be disappointed upon realization of the goal/object/etc.?
Many times actually. Usually the anticipation of an event is so much greater than the actual event, that it is often a let down! I have a FABULOUS imagination and it runs wild when I'm waiting for something good! And I never actually LEARN that in my heart. I know it in my head... but my heart still says that every event is going to be "perfect".

5. Are you a person who takes shortcuts?
Certainly! Why wouldn't I?

6. Which line is hardest to wait in?
The line for the ladies room! I've had 4 children you know... and I'm over 50!

7. Did you wait to discover the gender of your unborn child until its birth?
Always! I never wanted to know. I still don't want to know when someone is pregnant! There are so FEW true surprises in this life.... that is one that I just LOVE!

8. Are you more patient with children or the elderly?
FAR more patient with children.

9. Did you ever sneak a peek at a present?
When I was a child I always went peeking! I knew everything I was getting for Christmas a month before I got it! No surprises! I found out I didn't like that by about my 13th year. Then I quit looking. Now I don't want to EVER know what's in it until I open it!

10. What is the longest you've ever waited for anything?
I waited 50 years for a grandbaby! And she was worth every minute! Due to my daughter's scaevity I might wait another 50 years for my next one! But I hope not!

11. Who has more patience, you or your significant other?
In view of anticipation, he has waaaaay more patience than I have. In view of temper... I have more patience than he has. He has no passion. He doesn't get excited about anything. We've been married for over 23 years and I have never seen him get EXCITED about anything. It just doesn't happen.

12. Which of the following songs about waiting is your pick for the best? (OK, you may substitute another, if you like.)

A) Anticipation by Carly Simon
B) The Waiting by Tom Petty
C) Right Here Waiting for You by Richard Marx
D) Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James

I can't think of any others off the top of my head... so I guess I'll go with Richard Marx, Right Here Waiting For You.

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 21 comment(s)

Dancing with My Stars

I was looking back at some photos from the past year last night and found these that I just love of my daughter playing with her daughter! I just absolutely LOVE watching the two of them together. They are sO in love with each other and it just radiates from both of them! These were actually taken on my last birthday and they had come for dinner... we were up on our cul-de-sac so Luz could driver her pink Barbie car... and suddenly a little dance sprung from them!

posted by Melli at 8:59 AM | 14 comment(s)

Happy Birthday Dear Mathew!

posted by Melli at 5:00 AM | 16 comment(s)

Weekend Reflection... and more STUFF!

WOW! Wow wow wow! We have really had some lively comments ... and conversations via email the last two days! Almost made me wish I had answerable comments like some of you have so that you could ALL know everything that took place! It's been a FUN time on my end! I hope you guys enjoyed it too.

As it turns out, Quilly has actually BEEN to one of those hokey pokey healing things - that was later shown on television and totally misrepresnted the reality of what went on! This is why her comment was a little more hyper than some. I can totally understand that! But anyway... the "Miracle Services" or whatever they call them --- those are not the things I was interested in at all. I was really just wondering about the possibilities or thought on if God uses US (today) the SAME way he used people from back in biblical times. And how would we respond TODAY if God were to ask us to do something of this nature. I'll wrap it up with MY final thoughts on yesterday's questions...

This whole discussion really has not been about whether God can or DOES heal ... the question is really about your (or my) personal FAITH. How willing are you to "step out" if God asks you? It doesn't matter HOW he talks to you... I don't think we're expecting any burning bushes these days... but I think most of us who are Christian have had times in our lives when we are SURE the Lord is talking to us... He's communicating directly with us ... I know I have -- and I know from testimonies some of you have shared that you've experienced that too. But sometimes the things he asks us to do are relatively small. And they are such that if we chose to obey, no one would know we were doing God's bidding... and likewise if we chose to disobey, no one but God would know that either! Right? It's strictly between me and God. And sometimes I'm just NOT willing to step out... He KNOWS this! I can be very selfish sometimes! Other times He is much more persistent and then He wins! But how would I respond if I were asked to do something that would pretty much (in MY believing eyes) "prove" that He's there! IMAGINE it! Let's choose something that is NO WAY going to heal on it's own, we'll go straight to the Bible! Someone is blind. Born blind ... missing parts - no retinas! Can't be fixed! (i think retina transplants are possible today but i'm sure they weren't back in the day - i'm makin' stuff up here okay?) Whatever the problem is, it's medically impossible for it to be fixed! And then God calls. That little whisper in your head... you know the one. You can fix this. Huh? You can fix this. Is that you Lord? Yes... I want you to fix this. Now, if you're like me, you're going to argue with God! You're going to pull an Abraham and tell him that you CAN'T POSSIBLY do this ... for numerous reasons and you are pretty creative about them! Lord, there is no WAY I can fix this! YOU'RE the one with the power! YOU fix this! And that is exactly right and that is how we now know that this has nothing to do with healing and everything to do with testing your FAITH. And this might go on for months! You might actually think you've WON for a little while... But God is persistant when he has a desire. He got Noah to build that ARK didn't he? (talk about steppin' out...) Noah didn't want to. I'm sure more than once he thought God mUst be out of His mind! But he ended up doing it ... because after all, his faith WAS strong. Of course, God did more than whisper to him too. Now, Nessa said she would have NO problem with steppin' out! We shared several emails back and forth and in the end she decided that her people already think she's batty anyway - so why not!? She has a point! My people think I'm batty too! And if God told me to heal a Christian friend... I might jump in with two feet knowing that their own faith would back me up! But if God told me to heal a non-believer? I am really not SURE I could take that step! Can you see me telling Gattina... "by the grace of God in Heaven Gattina, you are HEALED!" And then it turns out that God just wanted to test my faith and no healing took place? Could THAT happen? Would he DO that? Or what if my FAITH wasn't STRONG enough??? I tried, but my FAITH just wasn't strong ENOUGH... there was a little lingering doubt. And there's Gattina standing there laughing! Hahahaha Melli! I'm still BLIND! Where is your God now??? What kind of witness would I BE? No, I don't think God would let THAT happen! If I muscled up the nerve to say it, surely He would make it happen! Right? I dunno.... Poor Jesus! Do you remember Him shaking his head at his apostles and telling them "you of little faith!" Here!

Mathew 17:14-20 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
And of course this wasn't the only time! Our dear Jesus was surely wondering what he had done when he chose those twelve! But I'll tell you this! That's where our hope lies! Because even when they had SO little faith... and that was after witnessing His miracles... for a few it was even after witnessing the transfiguration ... He forgave them. Of course... he sent them out to do it again! And so he does with us....

But as for my OWN reluctance in this whole thing? Dr. John hit the nail on the head with his late day comment! It matches my own feelings perfectly! It is NOT my FAITH that I question - it is my discernment.... I don't always trust that God is saying what He's SAYING! Or that I'm hearing what He's saying ... or that I'm understanding what He's MEANING! I need to be hit over the head with a brick AND a 2 by 4!!!

Thank you ALL for so much input and discussion on this topic! It has been GREAT!

Now... I promised you a MUCH easier question for today... and here it is! If you suddenly found yourself with a completely EMPTY room in your house, what would you do with it? A bedroom type room - not an open living room type room. THIS time I'm really looking for some ideas... I have a couple - and I'm praying on them... but I just wonder if there's something I'm NOT thinking of! So ... what would you do with a whole room full of empty?

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 17 comment(s)

Friday's Fave 5 ... and STUFF!

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game!

This past week has just been FABULOUS! Life is almost tooooo good! But I'm not gonna jinx it -- I'm just gonna enjoy it!

1. Funerals are certainly not pleasant things. They are normally so unpleasant that I don't normally 'do' them... but when I do it is to give support to someone I care greatly for. Such was the case when I attended the funeral for my Pastor's father, and I am glad that I went. He seemed genuinely happy to see me there, and so I felt like I was a blessing to him and Kathy both. It was a blessing to ME to be able to be some comfort to them. They are still and will continue to be in my prayers.

2. This product. It doesn't say it on the outside of the box - but the little orange packets inside advertise themselves as "A Little Magic In Little Foil Packets"... and for once this is TRUTH in advertising! It says it can go in or on anything - and I'm starting to believe it! Actually, so far I have only used it in a pot of chicken soup, and in two different recipes for beans and rice -- but I tell ya for sure... it IS a little bit of magic! Try it! You'll LIKE it! (no, I'm not a ppp)

3. Tuesday night's birthday dinner for Dennis! It's great having all the kids around the table. We need to get a bigger table though! We sat 10 at a table for six. My "other" kid, Jake was here with us. Jake used to be around a lot more when Mathew lived at home. It was great to see him too! He is welcome any time! But if one more kid gets married -- or even when their boyfriends or girlfriends come over... we just do not have room! How do you all solve this problem situation? I think all family meals should now be held in restaurants!!! LOL!

4. CAKE! Yes, indeed! I did allow myself a piece of Dennis's birthday cake! Sheeeeesh! If I'm MAKIN' it, I'm eatin' it! And it was no small piece either! But I worked it in to my calories for the day -- and I enjoyed EVERY bite!

5. Stepping on the scale at my weigh-in last night! WHOOOO HOOOO! Another 5 POUNDS down! THANK YOU LORD! Thank you! Thank you...

Labels: Friday Fave 5

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 21 comment(s)

Thursday Thinking...

Today is Thursday and the last thing I should be doing is playing on the computer! The maids come at some point and I should be getting the house ready... Yes, one really does have to clean BEFORE the maids come because the do NOT pick up. They CLEAN - and in tubs, toilets and floors. They dust. The sweep. They scrub. But I have to clean off surfaces so these things can be done. I have to pick up shoes that have fallen where they may, and make sure that the dishes are done so they can get to the sink! Piddly stuff! But it must get done... and it always does!

But I've got stuff on my mind today... and I want to ask you guys some questions. Please do answer in the comments unless you have a LOT to say about a subject and feel a post of your own coming into play. Then just lead me to it when it appears. Okay... here's the big one.

Question #1.
What do you think, feel, or know about Faith Healers? Do you believe that a person can truly and miraculously be healed? If you're a Christian, I know you believe Christ healed people. And even His apostles. Do you believe that God still gives that power to his disciples today? And I'm not speaking of God giving DOCTORS the power to medicinally heal, surgically heal, etc. I'm talking laying on of hands, or simply speaking words. We all pray for healing... but that's not what I'm talking about either. Have you ever witnessed or experienced faith healing? Or do you think it's all a hoax? Speak to me.

Ya know what? THIS question asks enough that I think I'll let it stand alone today. I'll give you my other question ... ummm... maybe on Saturday. (cuz tomorrow is Friday Faves, of course!)

And now... I'll go pick up! See ya~

posted by Melli at 10:32 AM | 12 comment(s)

A 2ND POST... Silly Haiku's!

posted by Melli at 4:03 PM | 11 comment(s)

Random Dozen #20

1. So I was thinking about how Jon Bon Jovi never seems to age much. His hair is smaller nowadays, but he still manages to look like a boy somehow. And then that made me think of the story of Dorian Gray. Question: If you physically lock in one age for yourself, which would you choose and why? Mmmm... that's hard. Just physically? I would choose when I was about 22! I was young and thin... But the last 30 years have taught me SO much that I wouldn't want to give up that knowledge! Can I go ahead in time to lock in? Give me a year or 18 months to lose some weight - and then I think I could maybe accept locking in. But honestly? I don't want to lock in! I LIKE change!

2. What is the best dish that you cook or bake (your piece de resistance?)
I really don't have a "best dish". My whole family sure was happy with last night's meatloaf though! It's gotten to the point where I have to cook TWO of them! And NO leftovers!

3. When you feel blue, what is one strategy you use to help yourself back to normal? Prayer... or read the Bible... or some devotions... something uplifting.

4. When was the last time you danced in public?
Hm. Dennis and I danced at one of his office Christmas parties about 10 years ago maybe. Might have been 15. Other than that, I boogie when I go to a concert! Dance with Luz if we're out where there's a band...

5. Do you consider yourself a realist or dreamer? Mostly I'm a realist... but occasionally I do get hung up dreaming. I think everyone dreams from time to time. I'm sort of like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.... I have a dream...

6. As a parent, what is one thing that you have done well?
LOVE my children. I think I'll leave it at that...

7. Which is your favorite character on the Andy Griffith show? LOL! Opie! Especially when he was reaaaaalllllly little! He was just the cutest little boy! And when Amanda was about 6 or 7, people used to say she looked just like him -- and she did! She LIKED that because she always wanted to BE a boy!

8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? On a scale of 1-10, sadly I would probably only give myself about a 3. I really ought to pick up one of his many biographies and learn a little more... I know he was interesting! So was Coretta Scott King.

9. Have you never been mellow? Have you never tried … to find a comfort from in side you? (Sorry, Jorge was singing that song just now, and it just seemed to be perfect timing as I was creating this week’s questions.) REAL question: What is your #1 driving pet peeve? Boy, I'm gonna get the DUNCE award today for sure! I'm sitting here wondering is she talking about "driving"... am I supposed to talk about tailgaters, or road hogs? Or am I supposed to talk about a pet peeve that is a driving force in my life? Can I just answer the MELLOW question???

10. Which color best represents your mood today? Care to elaborate? This morning I would have said orange -- that is the bright and beautiful color that usually defines me in all ways - physically and emotionally! But by 10:30 pm.... I'm probably soft yellow. Feeling a little mellow...

11. If your spouse were an animal, which would he/she be? He would be a cat! Some days maybe even a BIG CAT! A lion... but often times just a cat. Going out in the morning to stalk things and bring home the dead mouse for me to see. Then curl up in the easy chair to rest and watch tv while I cook it for him! :) And honestly? He can fall asleep ANYwhere! Yes... a cat!

12. What activity takes up the bulk of your time on an average day? Well BLOGGING of course! LOL! No... lately it's diet and exercise! Or it might be Bible studies! Dear me... dear me... Is this REALLY what my life has become??? Well, I could say housework... but that'd just be an out and out lie! Errands! I do a lot of driving! No, without a doubt I am on the computer more often than I'm not... but that includes blogging, bible studies, tracking my diet, email, and even a game or two! This is pitiful... just pitiful...

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 9 comment(s)

Happy Birthday ... and a Strange Scenario...

The Scenario Meme
(I stole this one from Thom yesterday!)

1. You see a strange car pull up to your neighbor’s house every day at lunch time. You accidental glance into the window of the house and notice that your ‘happily married neighbor’ is fooling around! What do you do? My neighbors live 3 acres away... it's hard to SEE in their windows! But IF I should accidentally see in their window, and catch one of them fooling around, it would depend on how good of friends we are how I would handle it. It would also probably depend which partner it was doing the fooling. (I might tell Dennis and have HIM talk to one of them.) But if I was very close with them I would talk to the cheater... let them know that I know, and that they should come clean with their spouse BEFORE I do. But this is ONLY if I am VERY close to them! If I barely know them, I am probably going to turn my head and know nothing unless asked.

2. You are at the mall and a mom with really annoying screaming little kids is walking in front of you. She goes to give her kids a quarter for the giant gum ball machine and she accidentally drops a $10 bill and doesn’t realize it. What do you do? I am going to pick up that $10 and give it back to her. And while she's putting it away I'm going to tell the screaming child how fortunate he/she is that I am not their mommy, because if I were they would be getting something -- but it wouldn't be a gumball!

3. You get an email from a candy company telling you that they will send you 6 pounds of delicious chocolate if you blog about their product. When you get the product and try it you realize that it is the worst chocolate that you have ever tasted. What do you do? I spit out the candy. I MAY send it back to them... or I may trash it. And then I would blog about it. HONESTLY!

4. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous and annoying things someone could do. Yet, what would you do if you were driving and listening to the radio when the announcer says that he will give $10,000 to the first person with your name that texts a message to him? Shoot... I really WOULD keep driving! As slow as I am at texting I wouldn't stand a CHANCE of being the first -- even if my name were Fziplem! Okay... if my name really WERE obscure, I would pull over and then send the text! But being's how I can NEVER acquire "Melli" as my username on ANYTHING, I'm sure I'd keep driving!

5. You’ve been invited to your boss’s house for a dinner party. It’s dark out and there is poor lighting when you get there. As soon as you get inside you realize that you have stepped in dog poop and you have tracked into your boss’s house. What do you do? I apologize (even though it's really not my fault - but still, I'm sorry it happened!) and then I ask where the restroom is so that I can go clean my shoe. And I MIGHT show up to work on Monday morning with a pooper scooper for the boss -- with a big red bow!

6. You are at a restaurant waiting for your food to arrive. You’ve waited nearly 30 minutes since the moment you placed your order when your food finally shows up. There is a hair on the top of the food. Do you send it back and wait another 30 minutes or do you deal? I really am a bit of a germaphobe. I am definitely sending the food back, and I am definitely leaving the restaurant -- but not without letting the manager know why. Kindly of course.

7. If you had the power to do so, what would be the one question that you would like to ask anyone who reads this? What a silly question! I believe I DO have the power to do so... you're reading... I can ask anything I want! Doesn't mean you have to answer it! Doesn't mean I have to ask it either. Just knowing I CAN is good enough for me. So... will I ask? Sure... when the Devil rides to work on a snow mobile! :)

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 15 comment(s)

Monday FUNNY!

posted by Melli at 10:23 AM | 10 comment(s)

Weekend Reflections - Sinking

posted by Melli at 12:38 PM | 9 comment(s)

Bowling...

There are NO RULES in the world of Alzheimer's!!!

Friday morning I got up and made Luz her bowl of Fruity Pebbles, and then made a cup of coffee and sat down to read some Friday Fave's. When I got up to get my 2nd cup of coffee, I found Mom in the kitchen having poured a little bowl of Fruity Pebbles (yes, I had NOT put them right away), which is not a problem in itself... however, I walked in right as she was pouring COFFEE into her Fruity Pebbles!!! Which she then sat down and ate! I sat down with my cup of coffee and asked her what she was eating there. She said "well, on one side is coffee." ??? This is NOT one of those divided bowls... it was just a regular cereal bowl! I said "oh yea? And what's on the other side?" She said "Juice." Hmmmm.... I asked if it was good and she said "yep!" Guess I'll have to try that next time! LOL! (or not)


But seriously... we DID go bowling yesterday! All the pictures are blurry as anything, but I'm using them anyway... cuz I feel like it! You can at least see what fun we had! Well, not me... yes, I had fun, but you can't SEE me - I'm actually surprised Luz didn't take any pictures of me! Also relieved! LOL! She would have zoooooomed in on my BUTT! Of course, Mom was hysterical as always... every time Luz told her "your up!" her mouth would drop open and she'd say ME? Oh! I didn't know I was playing! And of course, we had to tell her EACH time that hers is the PINK ball! (8 lb) She liked the pink ball -- but she didn't think it was hers! (She had a maroon ball when she bowled on a league.) I tried to have her use Luz's 6 lb ball -- but her fingers wouldn't fit in the holes! The last 4 frames of game 2 we could really tell her arm was getting tired. By the end of the 2nd game it got a "little" old - but even the people sitting next to us were laughing! I explained, and they found her darling! Not quite as darling as Luz - but darling, just the same! Of course, other people always find her more darling than I do!

Luz on the other hand was MY darling! And she was sooooo affectionate yesterday! She kept giving me hugs and telling me she LOVED me ... all day long! Oh, what a Nana DREAM! Good as gold she is! She doesn't know "lane courtesy"... of course she doesn't! But I'm teaching her! And she is verrrrrry good about remembering what I tell her! She does forget that food is NOT allowed down in the bowling area.... she would love to take it down there! LOL!

posted by Melli at 8:20 AM | 12 comment(s)

Friday's Fave 5

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday Fave Five in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. If you would like to play along just post your 5, link back to Susanne and visit her to see who else is playin'! And THANK YOU Susan for doing this!!!

1. Taking Luz to see ICE on Saturday was definitely a fave this week! She LOVED it and I LOVED sharing it with her! I so wish I could have shared things like this with my own kids when they were growing up -- but the money just wasn't there! I'm SO thankful to be able to share these things with this one anyway! Of course, the fact that she is a "single" certainly helps!

2. The Bible study part of this weight loss program I am on has been SUCH a blessing this week! This is probably the most "basic" Bible study I have EVER done, but perhaps because of it's simplicity... or maybe just because it spoke to my heart ... whatever the reason, this past week this study kept me SO close to my Lord! Every single day I was AWED by my relationship with Him. It just felt sooooooo good! I wish that every person on the planet could FEEL His presence and know Him like this JUST ONCE! And I pray this study keeps me THIS close to Him EVERY day!

3. Vanilla yogurt! I have rediscovered it. *smacks lips* A little on fruit... or in a cup with just a spoon or two of granola! Or just a wee little sprinkle of cinnamon! It really IS good stuff and satisfies many cravings! However... when chocolate is required... a slow melting Hershey dark chocolate kiss can do GREAT things ... at little cost! Calorically! 20 calories... per. I allow myself 2! And yes! I write them down!

4. Having Luz come home from school to my house yesterday, and spend the night because there's no school today and her mom & dad have to work. I do not for one minute take for granted the fact that I am able to BE the Nana I want to be! I am SO blessed that Amanda made the decision to move back to the east coast -- and indeed to Maryland - specifically so that she WOULD be near her family when she was at last blessed to start a family of her own. I may not always be so lucky as to have Luz in school right down the street from me... but if they have their way, she will always be just a short drive away! And I'm thankful that I can help my daughter by being here for her too!

5. Stepping on the scale at church last night and seeing that I had lost 3 pounds this week! THANK YOU LORD!!! Thank you!

Labels: Friday Fave 5

posted by Melli at 1:01 AM | 18 comment(s)

Best Friends...

These are my two new BEST friends! I was having trouble getting my 64 oz. of water/day in me... so I got this 64 oz. water bottle! I fill it in the morning, and make sure it's empty before bedtime! Hopefully a few HOURS before bedtime! Sleep is becoming an issue because my 2nd best friend calls me ... a LOT! I know from past experience that this will even itself out in the fairly near future. But until then I'm dependent upon my 3rd best friend to provide my energy! (that would be my bike!) Ugh! Tonight I have my aerobics and fitness Bible study. I'm kinda looking forward to weigh-in... (did I SAY that?) ... I think it's been a pretty good week! We shall SEE though! I have pedaled 5 days and I'm up to 40 minutes! I missed Saturday and Sunday. And I have stayed under my calorie limit except for Saturday and Sunday too. But I wasn't horribly over. So we shall SEE! The sliding scale at the top of my page will move if my weight has changed! I want to lose 140 lbs. (frankly, I'll be happy if I reach 100!) But 140 would put me at my ideal weight.

So, Luz has a half day of school today - and she's off tomorrow! Guess who's comin' to spend the night with Nana?! YAY! I don't know what we're gonna do - but we'll do SOMEthin! I probably won't be around a lot!

posted by Melli at 4:00 AM | 14 comment(s)

Random Dozen #19

1. When was the last time you craved a food--what was it, and did you cave?
Monday night at Bible study someone brought a CAKE! I did not cave but only because Jesus changed the words as they were coming out of my mouth! It was a MAJOR miracle I tell ya!

2. M & M's or Skittles? No question here! M&Ms!

3. Have you ever read the Bible completely through?
Only once. The first time I ever read it. I thought it was SUPPOSED to be read that way - a story... I was so confused... I got almost nothing out of it! I was young... I DO want to read it all, but I want to do it so that I get a GOOD understanding and come away with something of what God wants me to know from it!

4. How long does it take you to really wake up in the morning?
This one really depends on how fast I NEED to wake up. Some mornings I wake up and am on top of my game from the minute my feet hit the floor. That is NOT my preferred way to wake up... but it happens. MOST mornings I allow myself that drowsy time to leisurely sip my coffee and not think too hard until the 2nd cup!

5. Have you ever been on a cruise? If not, would you like to?
I have not, and I would LOVE to. I do have some concerns about ship cabins though... I am very claustrophobic...

6. Who is your favorite actress? Mary Poppins! Okay - Julie Andrews!

7. Greed is something that I will just never understand.

8. How much of a technology junkie are you?
Well, I love my computer - but I can't fix it if it breaks. I love my camera - but I don't use HALF of it's capabilities. I love my cell phone - but it is JUST a cell phone. I don't NEED to be able to access the internet from my phone. IT has a camera because I don't think they make them without cameras anymore... but I almost never use it because... I HAVE a camera! Aside from those 3 things, I can't really think of any other high-tech or latest tech items that I have. My stove still has spiral burners and does not clean itself! And my dishwasher only BARELY cleans the dishes! It cleans them if I wash them first! LOL! Hubby loves his tv - but we don't have a game system in our house! And if Luz wants to watch a DVD I have to put it in my computer because I don't know how to make the TV do the DVD thing! I'm thinkin' I'm NOT a tech junkie!

9. Do you enjoy selecting greeting cards for people, or is it more of a cultural "have to" for you? Depends. MOST people I love buying cards for, but I've really gotten out of the "habit" of it. I used to send cards for NO reason more than for ANY reason. There are a few dates during the year where cards are expected that I have at times found positively painful.

10. When was the last time you got a new style/haircut?
Sunday! But it wasn't *new*... it was back to old! I LOVE it!

11. What do you enjoy shopping for most?
Furniture! Or home decorations.

12. What's the last thing you think of before you leave the house?
Oops! I need my glasses!

Labels: Random Dozen

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 10 comment(s)

What's Over My Bed?

People DO think of weird things to wonder about.... LOL! Alice at I Was Born2Cree8 came up with this and since I actually have something cool... I decided to play! (otherwise I would have gone shopping, put something up, and THEN decided to play! LOL!!! Anyway... Alice is wondering WHAT is above our beds! Here's her official rules:

Just for the fun of it, I decided to throw a new game out for every one. Seems we haven’t played anything lately, or at least nothing I’ve heard of. So…

- Post a photo(s) of what is above your bed.
- Tell us about it.
- Of course, put a link back to I Was Born2Cree8.
- Let all your friends know to come play.
- Post these ‘rules’
- Post a comment on my post when you put your post up
so I can add links to every blog that is playing along.
… I think that about covers it.

SO... What IS above my bed?

posted by Melli at 3:33 PM | 8 comment(s)

Hair... and things...

Okay... so a week or so ago, I had this *brilliant* idea to have Krysti cut the big curl off the back of my neck! For yeeeeears I have wanted to try to grow my hair long again so I could put it in a ponytail in the summer time. Everytime it gets anywhere NEAR the back of my neck I can't stand it and I chop it all off again! Soooo I thought, I'll just have her cut the curl, that will pretty much put it all one length, except for my bangs. Then it can all grow out together. So she did. And I LOVED the way it FELT! Absolutely LOVED it! But... the look?

posted by Melli at 4:12 PM | 17 comment(s)

ICE Fun... but WHAT a Day!

Boy! Slow day in Blog Land today! I only got 4 comments? LOL! Y'all must have been as busy as I was! Granted most of my business was driving! National Harbor is about an hour from my house. But Luz's house is about 4o minutes ... in the other direction! So I picked her up, we went, and then I took her home and came home -- that was a LOT of driving!

The day didn't go exactly as I planned. (do they ever?) Luz was a little moody at first... not even really wanting to GO do this! I had been trying NOT to tell her a lot about it, because I really wanted her to be surprised. But I ended up having to tell her, because honestly the idea of going and walking through a cold COLD building to looke at ICE just wasn't appealing to her! LOL! So I ended up telling her about the castle and the slide and then she started getting excited. We stopped to eat before going... I didn't want any starving bodies. But the area that IS National Harbor is very VERY verrrrrrrry UPscale! There is NO McDonalds! But there is a place called Ketchup that I had been wanting to try. So we went there. Oh my gosh! It was sO totally even MORE upscale than I expected it to be! I mean c'mon -- KETCHUP? I was thinking hot dogs and hamburgers! No. We ended up just ordering appetizers because we only had about 40 minutes to eat and get over to ICE to pick up our 2:30 tickets. I tried to eat light - but it was almost impossible. Luz had ordered teeny tiny chicken tacos that I KNEW she wasn't going to like, but that was all she wanted - the problem being I knew I wasn't going to like them either - they had cilantro and I do NOT do cilantro! So Mom ended up eating them - I doubt she liked them either - but she'll eat anything you put in front of her. Luz & I shared my fruit and cheese plate and the crab dip came with FRIED bow tie pasta to dip in it. I didn't like THAT at all! I ended up wishing I had not tried Ketchups and had taken her to Grace's Mandarin instead! We ALL would have been happier!

We left there at 2:00 to walk (because there are only a couple of parking garages - you must WALK around National Harbor - which is fine when it's not 17F out -- but today was quite bitter!
And Mom moves sloooooow. And when it's cold and she should move faster, she moves slower! But we did make it in time for our tickets. And Luz DID enjoy the show! VERY much! She was amazed by it! But I have GOT to say that if I ever take her again... and I will... but it will NOT be the last weekend that it's open! It will NOT be on ANY weekend! Mom & I had gone the 2nd day it was open - which was a Thursday and it was empty! Next time I will take Luz on a day when school is IN session and I will leave Mom with somebody! The show was JAM PACKED wall to wall blue coats today! Such a totally BAD place to take an Alzheimer patient I just couldn't even believe I was actually there! EVERY person wearing identical coats and hoods and there was NO way Mom could keep track of ME. Luz couldn't even keep track of me! I lost Mom TWICE and Luz once!!! Talk about stress! And it was much easier finding Luz because she was the only person in the place that did NOT have to wear a blue coat! I had put her snow pants on her before we got there and so they let her go. But Mom had a blue coat and hood too... so finding HER once she went missing was not an easy task! And then! Ohhhhhhh and then... (we DID do this at the restaurant!) thankfully we were ALMOST done going through... when Luz said "Nana, I need to use the restroom" -- and there isn't one IN there! There are porta potties OUTSIDE (in 17F weather!) orrrrrrrrr... you walk back to a restaurant or one of the public restrooms in the parking garages. We could NOT use a porta potty with all the clothes Luz had to take off! NO WAY! And she did NOT think she could make it all the way back to a restaurant -- she didn't think she could make it out of the tent!!! I decided the closest restroom was in the garage I'd parked in, and that's where we went! And she made it! And then we got in the car and drove halfway home to McDonalds to get hot chocolate! And she had two cookies and mom had one -- and PROUD I am that I had NONE! Cuz a cookie is NOT cake and I can resist them! I also had coffee rather than hot chocolate. So that was our exciting day and below is a little slide show of some of the fun!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

posted by Melli at 10:03 PM | 13 comment(s)

All In a Day's Work...

We got more snow Thursday night. I woke up yesterday to "SURPRISE!" ... my phone was ringing and it was Amanda calling to tell me that she would be dropping Luz off in a minute! Luzi Loo had a two hour delayed opening at school. We had 2 or 3 inches I guess. So, I got up and quickly made coffee! Luz has gotten into this "new thing" - Last week when she was here we got out the crayons, and colored pencils and Nana's sticker basket, and we made pictures "together". One picture... we both work on it. She starts picking stickers to put on a blank paper, and then once she has 3 or 4 on there, we decide what the picture should be about. Then I draw some parts, and she draws some parts, and she colors it. THIS has become a favorite thing to do for her! I had forgotten all about it! LOL! But she reminded me this morning and sooooo two more pictures got made this morning! I really DO enjoy this with her! I get to see so much mORe of her creativity than I used to see. After that I turned on the television and let it babysit while I went out to clean off the car and see if I was going to be able to get out of the driveway. Fortunately I could with little effort. There were a few slick spots, but I made it! She wanted to ride the bus to school and I didn't have a CLUE what time that bus would arrive... so I just got us out there with PLENTY of time to spare! I guess we waited about 15 minutes...

So yesterday was the first day of my "Live It" -- no diets here - just a Live It! Hahaha! Corny, huh? So, since I have to keep track of virtually EVERYthing, I can tell you that I pedaled for 20 minutes at 15 mph - thus going 4.86 miles. I drank 64+ oz. water -- not nearly enough -- but I pee'd all day and half the night anyway! I'm watching what I eat - but until I get time to go do a grocery shopping, I'm just not set UP for dieting yet! I need fruit! I need vegies! I needed to get rid of that corned beef brisket we had for dinner! LOL! I can't think of ANYthing LESS dietish than a corned beef brisket! I did well with all the other two meals though! But honestly this IS a full time job! This program expects us to chart every morsel that goes into our bodies, all exercise - type and time, our SPIRITUAL exercises - morning prayer, diet Bible study, prayers for others, praise & worship, Monday night Bible study, devotions, evening prayers... LOL! I spend almost as much time tracking it as I do DOING it! Sheeesh! (and they only give you a line _______this long_________ to right all those spiritual exercises in! Crazy... it's just crazy. I'm sure it's valuable! I'm just glad I don't have a job!

Today Luz & I have our big date. Sadly, Dennis has to work so I have to take Mom with. I don't "mind"... but it's just so much easier to keep up with Luz and let her have her 5 year old fun when I don't have to worry about not getting too far ahead of Mom and losing her. But we'll be fine... we'll be fine. I hope Luz is "enchanted" by it all! Did you forget where we're going? *SMILE!* We're off to see ICE! I never dreamed when I went the 2nd day it was open that I wouldn't get back there until the day before it closes! LOL! Such is life!

Y'all have a GREAT day!

posted by Melli at 4:00 AM | 5 comment(s)