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8 Question Meme that is going around like crazy!

In the past week (or so) I've been tagged TWICE for this 8 Question Meme that's going around. Jerralea from Jerri's Journey tagged me while my computer was down... it took me until this week to find out about it! And then Barbara from Stray Thoughts tagged me LAST Thursday. So it's about time I get to these... do y'all remember back when I was really gOOd and jumped right ON a tag when I got it!? I still love them! I'm just a lot more pressed for time lately... and I still keep asking myself how THAT has come to pass! Okay! On to the eight 16 questions...

Questions from Jerralea ...

1. What was the first meal you ever prepared?
I honestly have NO clue! I have been cooking since ... I was BORN... I think. I do know that the first meal I ever prepared for DENNIS was steak, baked potato, and broccoli. He had never had broccoli before and was suuuuper impressed! You have NO idea how many vegetables I introduced him to. I could not believe that his family basically ate corn and lima beans -- that was IT. LOL! Mind you - he's still a meat and potatoes boy ... but he does always eat his veggies. And likes them.

8. Would you rather see a bestselling movie, or read the book?
Oh that an easy one! I don't watch movies -- and I LOVE to read! I'll take the book!

Questions from Barbara ...

1. What do you feel is the greatest benefit you receive from blogging? Meeting new friends!!! But that was something I NEVER expected to happen when I started blogging... I don't know why - because I had belonged to message boards before and met friends through that... blogging is like your own message board - with more decorating. But I also had a website and "guest book" LONG before I started blogging -- and I met friends through that too!

2. What was your childhood nickname? How did you get it? Are you still called that now? (Oops — I guess that’s three in one!) Melli actually IS my childhood nickname. My real name is Mary Clare - which I always hated up until recently - and suddenly I wonder why... But I could NEVER start using it now! I just AM Melli. There is conflict about how I got the name. My now deceased brother insisted that it was because he always (all his life) called me Jellybean! To him, I was Jellybean. Nobody else called me that. But he says they started saying Jelly-Melli... and then Melli stuck. The other sibs seem to remember that I was not able to say "Mary" when I was little and said "Mawy" ... which sounded a lot like Mewwy... or Melli. So who knows??? All I know is Melli is ME!

3. Miracle Whip or mayonnaise? Definitely MAYO.

4. What is your favorite season and why? Summer. I am a shorts and tank-top girl! However... I will say that the older I get, the less I like the heat. I am more affected by it now than I was when I was younger... Spring and Fall are starting to look better...

5. When you are sick, do you like a lot of attention and pampering, or do you like to be left alone? Leave. Me. Alone! I really cannot over emphasize that!

6. Share one pleasant childhood memory. Parcheesi tournaments with my sister!

7. Share a time a hymn ministered to you in a special way. A hymn? I'm not sure I've had a "hymn" minister to me... I have a LOT of contemporary PRAISE songs that minister to me. That's not to say I don't have a lot of hymns I love... I do! But I just haven't felt that have ministered to me... that I can remember anyway.

8. Describe your favorite coffee mug (or show us a photo of it). Why do you like it? I have a bit of a coffee mug fettish! I get a new favorite about every 6 months. I just shared the latest fave not too long ago - you can see it here. I just like the look of it... and it "feels" right too. A coffee mug HAS to "feel" right!

And now I'm supposed to tag 8 people, but we know I'm not doin' that! So then I'm supposed to give them 8 questions... so on the off chance that one of you might NOT have been tagged with this already and might actually be wishing that someone would give you 8 questions... (yea... right!) ... here they are... JUST for you!

1. If you could do ONE thing, anything... big or little... to make the world a better place, what would it be? And why?

2. If you had to survive a natural disaster, which kind would you choose?

3. What do you think is the MOST amazing thing about the human brain?

4. If Crayola asked you to name THIS COLOR, what would you call it? Please don't say orange. Be creative!

5. What is the longest you've ever procrastinated doing something and what is that something?

6. If Jesus were coming to your house for dinner tonight, would you be more concerned about what to feed Him, how clean the house is, or what you were going to wear?

7. What WOULD you feed Him?

8. If I gave you $5 to use to make a stranger smile, what would you do with it?

I might actually answer these myself one of these days! LOL! IF you happen to choose to answer them, let me know... I'd definitely like to read your answers!

posted by Melli at 12:40 AM | 8 comment(s)

Random Dozen... It's all Alien to ME!

1. Do you believe, somewhere deep inside, that blondes do indeed have more fun? That they are "dumber" than brunettes or redheads? Be honest! NO. Deep inside I believe that every NATURAL hair color is created equal! I'm not sure about the ones with pink, blue or green hair though...

2. Which animal would you most like to observe in its wild habitat?
Lions. I LOVE lions... Tigers are cool too... but I just LOVE lions - the male - with the big hair!

3. This week the U.N. announced that Dr. Mazlan Othman has been appointed the official "Alien Ambassador," should any extraterrestrials contact us. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever seen a UFO?
No... but I have a husband who would DEARLY love to!

4. Name your favorite Hitchcock film.
I do not have a favorite... I dislike them all equally.

5. Would you rather spend time at the library, the mall, a craft store or home?
Hmmm... you know ... to everything... turn turn turn, there is a season... turn turn turn... and a time to every purpose under heaven...

6. Which Disney princess is your favorite? (Or Disney character, if you are a guy)
Ariel isn't really a princess... but she's my favorite.

7. What kind of art is your favorite?
Pssshhh! You might as well ask a bear which brand of HONEY he likes best! ART is my LOVE on this planet! Painting, drawing, sculpture, poetry, music, lyrics, prose, weaving, yarn work, sewing, pottery, architecture, photography... water colors, oils, crayons... tempra! Jazz, country, gospel, blues, bluegrass, rock... wax, clay, tin, bronze, iron... mosaic tile... You NAME it... I LIKE it... no... I LOVE it! American, African, Asian, Egyptian ... ancient, modern, and anywhere inbetween!

8. How do you feel about viral videos, that is, videos made by amateurs that end up on Youtube receiving thousands of hits?
Am I really supposed to "feel" something about this? I rarely watch anything on You Tube. I have no feelings about it. But I guess if they're getting thousands of hits, SOMEbody feels good about them!

9. Where do you buy your jeans?
Wherever I happen to find a pair that fits me. The last ones came from Fashion Bug. I'm not opposed to Walmart. Sometimes it's JC Penney or Hecht's... I do NOT shop any name brands! I refuse to pay $100 (or more) for a pair of DENIM pants!

10. Tell me about your first automobile accident. LOL! I've had 3. On all 3 occasions someone backed into me... naturally, it was their fault! Oh... I did have a fender bender when I first got my SUV... *g* ... I backed into a telephone pole! Oh, I was sO mad at myself!

11. Have you ever been honest when you knew you would benefit more if you would be dishonest?
MANY times. I'm one of those people that always tells the cashier if they give me too much change back...

12. If you were appointed "Ambassador to Aliens," what would you show and tell first about life on Earth? What would be the most difficult thing to explain?
I don't know what I would show them first... but the most difficult thing to explain would be why we treat each other the way we do... because I don't have a good answer to that one myself...

posted by Melli at 4:01 AM | 15 comment(s)

Latino Festival!

On Sunday I attended early church service so that Amanda and Luz and I could leave right after Sunday School go up to DC to the Latino Festival. Amanda explained to Luz all the way up that this WHOLE festival was going to be about HER heritage. Luz was very excited! Sadly, I got verrrrrry few pictures of her excitement because I was so busy taking pictures of the exciting STUFF! (198 of them to be exact!)

The main thing was the parade ... and that is what drew me to want to go down to the festival to begin with! I saw some pictures from last year's festival and other than on tv I have never seen such a lively and BEAUTIFUL parade with sO many lavish costumes! Ohhhhhhh it was wOnderful! Just LOOK!

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

Wasn't it GREAT??? When it was done, the crowd all headed down past where we had been standing - so WE decided to go the other way! Sometimes... that is the RIGHT decision! This time proved to be so, for US. Because we walked down to the very end where the bandstand was and listened to the band - just for a few minutes. I LOVE Latino music - but Amanda? Eh... not so much! But just around the corner we spotted where the KID CRAFTS were. We knew they were going to have some - but we had NO idea where to find them - so wandering that direction first was really the RIGHT decision.

posted by Melli at 11:13 AM | 12 comment(s)

Busy BUSY Weekend!

My weekend started EARLY Saturday morning - got mom up at 6:15, made record time getting her dressed and we were out the door by 7:00 a.m! I had signs to plant! LOTs of signs! And cars to wash! And people to love! It was a GREAT day! Take a look!

Free picture slideshow generated with Smilebox

The car wash was an absolute SUCCESS and I think one of the greatest outreaches I have had the JOY of participating in! EVERYONE ... every single car owner was absolutely FLOORED by the fact that we would NOT accept a donation from them and that we were just GIVING to them and showing Jesus love to them, through us. We did not preach to a single one of them... we only answered questions IF they asked... but the one question they ALL asked was "WHY are you doing this?"... and all we had to say was "because Jesus loves you and he wants us to show you that you are loved." Very simple. VERY simple! No one got thumped - and a few even asked "what time are your services tomorrow?" .... I wasn't at the late service, so I don't know if any of them actually showed up... but we touched a lot of people... and one lady was already on the phone chattin' us up to a friend WHILE we were washing her car! I heard her -- yea! They're washing even my windows - inside and out - and they WON'T TAKE a donation!!! And one guy came by twice. After his car, he went home and told his mother and she had him bring HER car back! LOL!

And I have to tell you... we had a bunch of kids helping us - and they were NOT slackers -- not for one minute! We all worked hard - but I think those kids out worked us adults by a large margin! They never let up! If they weren't washing, they were down on the road waving those signs and bringin' people in! In ALL honesty ... without those KIDS we would not have HAD a car wash! They made signs, they waved signs, they washed, they dried, tops of truck and wheels alike -- they WORKED! And they laughed and they smiled and they had fun! And I rewarded them with pizza! They DESERVED it!!!

posted by Melli at 6:21 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!

I have had a bit of a hard week, and was feeling a little stressed about sharing five favorite things from it! But one particular thing has tickled me silly this week - and so I decided to base my five on SOUNDS. Of course, not the normal sounds of music, laughter - things we all associate with good times! But just "sounds" that God has given me a special love for. Here we go!

1. Quiet. This really is my favorite sound. I love to sit quietly and listen to the quiet... and often hear His voice at those times too. Whispering, so as not to interrupt my quiet. He's very careful about that...

2. Coffee trickling through the coffee maker into the pot... and that final little puff (or spit as some might call it) that says DONE! I'm DONE! (as a child one of my favorite sounds was the percolater perking the coffee! And I didn't even drink it back then!)

3. Rain. Which of you does not already know that rain is a favorite sound of mine? Add to it THUNDER! Or hail! Or oh! How about wind! A howling wind! Any weather related sound I think. Icicles falling off the trees in winter.

4. We live very near the Patuxent Naval Air Station. Most of the time we never even notice air traffic going in an out of there... I guess it has become a common place sound in today's world. But every now and then, we get one of two things. One is a verrrrry low flying, very LARGE aircraft, that just shakes the house! I'm sure that most of my neighbors find this critter QUITE disturbing... but I love him! The other is some kind of super HIGH flying (so high I can NEVER see it even on a crystal clear, not a cloud in the sky, day) jet. It's engines ROAR like ... I don't know what like! Like nothing I've ever heard before! Both of these aircraft send a little surge of excitement through my senses! I used to jump up and run outside to try to catch them before they got out of sight -- but I've learned that the one is never IN sight -- and the other moves way to quickly - even though it's a monster! I am really blessed when I happen to already BE outside and one goes over!

5. And the one that has tickled me silly!? Oh you're gonna LOVE this! It's ACORN season! And when I am in my room every now and then a few will fall off the tree over head and thunk thunk thunk thunk thunk down the roof and onto the ground! God has used those silly acorns to such His advantage this week to bring me back into a thankful moment - or simply to say "I love you".

What sounds do you just LOVE? What tickles your fancy?

posted by Melli at 9:37 AM | 16 comment(s)

Mom Stuff...

I've had several emails lately wondering how Mom is, and why I hardly ever mention her anymore, so I thought I would do just a little update... and it's probably a good idea for me to have a memory saver to look back at too! Because, of course, it is only in the looking back that we really see how much the changes are. Day by day they happen so slowly - most of the time - that we don 't even really realize how much more she has slipped - until we look back. So... just a few things...

1. Outings are only by wheelchair anymore. I do not do BIG grocery shopping with her along because I can't manage the chair AND a cart... so if we go to the grocery store it is only to pick up a few things. I now must have her hold on to the cart to keep her from getting lost. It is amazing how fast she will find a new body to follow! And even holding on, she will see someone pass us going in the other direction and let go and off she goes! I don't even have to be out of site to be out of mind! So she pushes the cart - and I pull from the front... and thus we get things accomplished from time to time. If the cart gets too easy to pull, I know she's gone AWOL! Walmart is a bit easier - they actually have a wheelchair with a basket on it. Doesn't hold much, but enough ... most of the time.

2. Food... Her appetite has changed a lot since her first UTI. She's not eating anywhere near the quantity she used to - but still, she eats well enough. I figure her smaller appetite is directly proportionate to her activity level - which has obviously dropped off. Confusion over food though has increased greatly. I have found that it is simpler to give her just one food and one utensil at a time. This works great at breakfast and lunch - but at dinner, she needs to have the exact same food on her plate as everyone else. As a matter of fact, if she finishes her mashed potatoes (or whatever) and Dennis still has some on his plate - she starts looking at his plate verrrrry suspiciously! You can SEE her thinking "why don't I have any of that?" ... even though she did, and simply ate it all first. But she will not SAY anything... she just eyes him and his plate! But more than one food is utterly confusing to her also... and if I should serve something in a separate bowl - like applesauce - or berries and yogurt... that just wreaks havoc! Applesauce gets scooped out with a fork and deposited on her hamburger or yogurt gets spread on green beans... or sometimes milk gets poured into applesauce... well... it just doesn't work anymore. And sandwiches of any kind are totally misunderstood and simply get taken apart to eat one layer at a time. (that started happening at least a year ago - but is just commonplace now.) And we fight to get even 16 oz. of fluid into her each day... 24 takes a major miracle! She is just ALWAYS dehydrated.

3. Personal hygiene... I won't go into all the details here... but she is in pull-ups all the time now. NOT because she is "incontinent"... she still knows when she needs to use the restroom. She can still get TO the restroom. But then things go haywire. Either she gets things pulled down but then forgets to SIT on the pot... or... she forgets to pull things down and sits on the pot. Most often though ... even OUT of the restroom... we are noticing that she is forgetting HOW TO SIT. When I'm the one taking care of her, I don't find it a BIT funny... but at night, when I'm listening to Dennis fight the same battle, I just sit here and laugh!!! Of course, his battle only happens in the restroom.... which by the way is REALLY fun if you happen to be in a PUBLIC restroom! But we will discuss trying to sit down, for instance, at the dinner table. It goes something like this...

Us: Okay Mom, come on over here and sit in the purple chair.

5 minutes later she arrives at the purple chair.

Us: Okay Mom, just have a seat in the purple chair.

She looks at the purple chair suspiciously and perhaps moves it an inch or so back or to the right.

Us: Mom? Sit down in the purple chair please.

She looks at the purple chair and hikes her pants legs up to her knees. And drops them again. And hikes them again... and drops them again... by which time she's forgotten what she was trying to do...

Us: Mom? Can you sit down in the chair please? Your dinner is here. (hoping that might encourage her!)

Mom: This chair?

Us: Yes Mom. The purple chair. Sit down in the purple chair.

And then she turns herself a not quite quarter turn, and starts to lower her butt... but there is nothing beneath it to catch it and so we stop her. Then we will take her arm or should to try to guide her, but her defense mechanism kicks in and she fights it!

Us: It's okay Mom... I just want to help you sit down here, so we can eat.

Mom: I knOw how to sit down!

And this may repeat itself 2 or 3 times before she will finally figure it out and sit on her own, orrrrrrrrr occasionally, one of us may actually force her down onto the chair. I'm not strong enough, but I'm sure one of these days Dennis is just going to pick her up and deposit her in the chair!

Now... you can imagine this same scenario going on in the restroom... and no... it really is not funny... but if we don't laugh... well, what's the alternative? I AM certain that any visitor in our house would be in stitches over the antics that we go through! I'm not so sure that a stranger witnessing the same antics would not be HORRIFIED! And it is for THAT reason that I really try to avoid EVER having to take her into a PUBLIC restroom ... ever... again!

Y'all have a great day! K?

posted by Melli at 7:42 AM | 13 comment(s)

Random Dozen ... Happy Fall!

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything? (I just came from my dad's ceremony wherein he was given a medal of honor by the French government for service in France in WWII. Pictures to follow.)
Some of my people have been honored for special work they've done... and my brother did receive a very prestigious medal while in the army - but I don't remember what it is... his wife could tell us in a heartbeat though! He didn't tell anyone he was getting it. Fortunately his CO new how he operates and made sure my sister-in-law was put in the know! She would have KILLED him if she couldn't have been there for that award!

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?
Well, that would have to be my very own baby girl! Amanda served her country - and that is where she met Hector - who was also serving his country! My brother, I already mentioned above, who I honestly feel was one of the most honorable men I've EVER known in my life... and my father, my grandfather, and so on and so on... also served. United States ARMY, one and all!

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.
Almost ANYTHING! I mean I spent 15 years with my living room decorated in Americana red, white, and blue! The first thing I see in the morning before I even hop out of bed is my flag flying in the front yard. But I guess the National Anthem probably ... oh, and Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA... that makes me cry... every time!

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality?
I am the youngest and I think it made a great deal of difference, but I'm not going to go into it.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.
My mother's love for Jesus.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?
I don't do skirts. (well rarely.) I like dresses. But I prefer shorts above everything! So I'll say pants... cuz shorts are pants... sorta.

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?
Usually once. To use the restroom. And I just lay down and go back to sleep. If I have a problem, I will pray. Just talking to God until I fall back asleep.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.
Me and "favorite movie" are diametrically opposed. No such beast exists. Oh wait! There are actually TWO! Both Disney - 1.) Jungle Book (I love Baloo!) and 2.) Little Mermaid... but I don't like the story - just the music. So really I guess it's just Jungle Book.

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?
Probably pumpkin.

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to?
I would say walks in the woods ... but that probably won't happen this year. The woods and wheel chairs don't get along so well...

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.
My Mathew showed up TOTALLY unexpected yesterday! I LOVE it when that happens!

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?
Parents and in-laws I simply will not discuss. Period. I can talk about my MIL as she is today because she is NO LONGER my MIL ... she is just a poor defenseless body without a brain. I try REALLY HARD to remember that every day!

posted by Melli at 6:36 AM | 11 comment(s)

Forgetful? Maybe...

So I sit here this morning... *sigh* ... afternoon by the time I'll hit "post"... ready to tell you all about the going on two WEEKS that I've missed being with you... only I can't remember what I've done, or what I wanted to share, or anything of relevance that has happened in the past 11 days! WHY? Well... obviously because I didn't BLOG it! And so there we have it... my short term memory is shot! Without my blog I am my mother-in-law! Alzheimer's ARE Us! Sheeeeesh....

Okay... I know we celebrated my TWINS - Krysti and Derek's... 21st Birthday! Sadly it was not the trip to VEGAS they had hoped for... cost-wise that probably would have dictated that they just go together and celebrate with each other -- and that wasn't in EITHER of their plans! So we just had a family celebration, and then they each celebrated with friends in their own way. It seems like a 21st birthday should really be something to remember... but I am thinking back TRYING to remember my own 21st... and considering I was a single, unwed Mom, totally wrapped up in BEING a mom, and not dating anyone at that time, I'm betting I probably baked my own cake and let Amanda blow out the candles! Maybe 21 isn't so special after all... ? Honestly, I don't remember ever looking forward to any except 16 - because then I could (technically) drive -- although I didn't have a car until I was 23... and 50! FIFTY was the best of the best and somehow I always new it would be! Hopefully by 50 my kids will ALL have their lives together and it will be their BEST year ever too! Actually I pray desperately that their BEST year will come long before that...

Other than that... I know I've done some more church outreach... and I'm preparing for our totally FREE, no donations accepted, car wash this weekend. I'm currently in sign-making mode! I'm planning some Burma Shave type signs for the last mile or so before the church on either side of the road! (waiting Pastor's approval on that!) LOL! And I've signed up for another 5K WALK/run... for breast cancer... the following Saturday. So I've been trying to get more walking in to prepare for that. OH!

I wanted to walk in the city - you know... on sidewalks! ... so I took Mom and the wheelchair down to Silver Spring last Tuesday and we walked and walked - well - I walked and walked and pushed and pushed! We walked the streets -- no comment Thom! -- and then we walked the mall there too for a little while. What a SAD mall it is... all run down... mostly closed... I'm suspecting it is the OLD mall and that something much better is nearby... as that area is not without resources! But anyway, when I got back to the car, I noticed we were parked next to an INDIAN restaurant -- Planet Bollywood -- and it was LUNCH time! Oh boy! I've been wanting to try Indian food and so in we went! I had NO idea what to expect -- and I certainly did not know WHAT I was ordering... but we went for the whole enchilada SAMOSA ... I had the Lamb Korma, and Mom had Butter Chicken - which has NOTHING to do with butter! But both dishes were heavenly! The main course came with a soup appetizer - but we ALSO ordered an appetizer sampler -- just because I wanted to TASTE as many things as I could! LOL! (the diet went SOUTH that day, let me tell ya!) And we ended the whole shootin' match with the most delectable little dessert - but it's not on the menu! It was two little round sweet cakes in verrrrrrrry creamy sauce with lemon zest... oh my gosh -- it was just a bite or two - but it was the PERFECT ending! If you have never tried Indian food, FEAR NOT! Try it the first chance you get! Most of what I got was NOT hot spicy... it was NOT low calorie... but it was not hot. Of course, you can GET hot if that's what you like! One thing on the appetizers was hot - it was still good - but a bit too spicy for me! That's okay - the rest was FABULOUS!

Alright... I really have stretched my brain way out of whack now... I've got stuff to do! See ya tomorrow!

posted by Melli at 11:52 AM | 6 comment(s)

I'm Baaaaaa-aaaaack! AGAIN!

HOWDY HI THERE Friends and Neighbors!!! WOW! Has it been FOREVER or what??? I picked up my stuff from Computer Guy this afternoon and it took a while - but they WERE able to recover ALL of my files! Allllllllllllllllllll my photo's ... and everything else too! WHOOOO HOOO! So, I'm back in business... UNfortunately, I am pressed for time this evening as I need to get my Bible study done before our meeting tonight, but I'll be back tomorrow and come around and visit then! (I MIGHT even be around later this evening if I'm not too tired.)

Thank you ALL for all your comments and emails and well wishes! I am fine ... and life is good! Details tomorrow!

posted by Melli at 4:02 PM | 7 comment(s)

NOT Funny!

Talk about testing my sense of humor... My new 500 GB external hard drive for storing all the STUFF they took off my old computer... it keeps crashing my laptop EVERY time I plug it in! OY! I am out the door to take my old hard drive, my new external hard drive AND my laptop up to my guy to see if he can make them all play nice together. He may need to keep all my friends... so I MAY be AWOL for a few days! Just lettin' ya know so no one worries! :)

posted by Melli at 10:54 AM | 11 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. Thank you Susanne for hosting this inspirational sharing game!

Is it REALLY FRIDAY already??? How did this happen? I feel like I must have missed something! Oh well... I've had a busy week - and some fun stuff ... and some not so fun stuff too...


1. Well, of course, last weekend was my birthday and Labor Day weekend - so there was all of that stuff that I've already reported! But for FFFer's 2 of my kids and my in-kid and my grandkid and I went to a Blues Festival for my birthday on Saturday... it was goooood fun! And then we came home and played trivial pursuit while we ate dinner. And had CAKE! Ice cream CAKE! Yum! I am still owed dinner out with another kid... probably next week. The birthday lingers... ahhhh....

2. Monday was just a gorgeous day to be OUTside and I took advantage of it. Krysti, Mom & I went to Stoney's on Broomes Island for lunch on the water. They have a floating dock that you can eat out on, but I get a little weird floating while I eat, so this time we just sat on one of the many decks and looked out over the water... it was just gorgeous and we were relaxed, and it was ever so pleasant...

Tuesday was a nightmare that will never be discussed on my blog OR off my blog either! It involved numerous screw-ups at a couple of doctors offices and a MAJOR MELLI MELTDOWN by the end of the day. Wednesday found everything solved and back in order. SOMEtimes a meltdown can be a gOOd thing. But I'm NOT counting it as one of my 5!!!

3. However... during the course of this dreadful day, I stopped for lunch (with Mom) at my favorite - Ruby Tuesday's - to comfort myself with their salad bar! Mom has another UTI, so her confusion level is ohhhhhh about 3 times that which it normally is, and I'm not exactly sure WHAT made me think it would be a good idea to take her into a sit down restaurant that day... but as she picked lettuce leaves out of her salad to use as a NAPKIN to wipe her fingers on ... I was mOst assuredly THANKFUL for the sense of humor God has given me!!! WHAT a blessing that is!

4. Thursday, Mom and I worked up at church in the morning... in the Compassion Trailer. The Compassion Trailer is sort of like a garage sale on wheels. It is actually owned and operated by the Lutheran Mission Society, and they float between 4 churches in our jurisdiction each month. The trailer is parked at our church the 2nd week of each month and is open to those who need help stretching their dollars on Th, F, S for 4 hours each day. There is very little that sells for more than a dollar... and much that sells for less than a dollar! We had a pregnant girl come in today with her little boy, and she left with 5 outfits for him, a set of sheets for his bed, and 4 stretchies for the new baby, a couple of onesies, and some bibs... for exactly $o.oo... She had nothing and all she had to do was fill out a paper and we were happy to GIVE her the needed items! I LOVE that!!!

5. Thursday night I attended my first EVER Revival!!! LOL! OUR Pastor had been invited to preach at Patuxent United Methodist Church's week long revival -- imagine our LUTHERAN pastor being invited to the Methodist church! It was VERY exciting! And our church was also invited to provide the music for the evening! So we brought along our best voices and our LIVELIEST songs... and our keyboard, and our drums, and ... PUMC is an itty bitty teeny tiny little building with an itty bitty altar too - and our smallest 3 person choir took up the ENTIRE THING! And we praised God at the top of our voices with those lovely people! It really was awesome!

posted by Melli at 9:10 AM | 15 comment(s)

Random Dozen

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.
Oh wow! So MANY to choose from! Hmmm... well, turkey is my sandwich meat of choice... I will go with roast turkey, piled high, with havarti cheese, tomato, avacado, spinach, and light mayo-sour cream spread -- on ciabatta - lightly toasted.

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?
Depends. Well... a movie only inspires me to sleep... but any of the others can be very inspiring. Just depends.

3. What is your favorite board game?
Scrabble is the favorite! I like any mentally challenging board game. I do NOT like roundy round roll the dice and move a number board games and I absolutely can not STAND monopoly. But I love Trivial Pursuit, Blokus, Othello, Backgammon, and many many others!

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?
I adore small children! They are the most wonderful people in the world!

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.
I would LIKE to say coffee creamer... but sadly it DOES happen sometimes. I can not think of ANY item that I never run out of. I seem to do a LOT of running out to the store to pick up what I'm out of!

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"
AB-SO-LUTE-LY. A heart that never loved is made of stone! Who wants that? And loving is what God put us here for...

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.
LOL! I was born and raised in and still live just outside of the nation's CAPITAL! Let's just PICK one~ ... ohhhhh how 'bout the Washington Monument!?

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?
Mmmm... wow. I think probably to be disappointed in yourself... only because of the regret factor. You can't control what another person does... but you always feel like you could have done things differently yourself.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?
10. Are you a crafty person?
Yes! Verrrrrrry crafty!

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?
See, I don't associate these two at all. To me a "picnic" is something you pack and take to the park, where a grill is NOT involved and therefor revolves around sandwiches and salads. Maybe some fruit. But a cookout is a whole 'nuther critter. That involves the grill - and a lot of people - and then my favorite would be a cheeseburger. But then there is just grilling -- which we do almost every night of the world -- and then my favorite is salmon.

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.
Listening to Blues Bands down in Rock Creek Park on Saturday. Then a verrrry liesurely lunch sitting outside beside the river on Monday... followed by a stroll along the boardwalk by the bay. Not one, I know... but I enjoyed them all!

posted by Melli at 7:36 AM | 10 comment(s)

Weekend News

Gooooood Monday Morning All! I had a great weekend! Of course, it's not over yet, because here in the U.S. we are celebrating Labor Day and thus have an extended weekend! (not that I don't have an extended weekend EVERY weekend... heck! I'm on permanent weekend!) Anyway... Saturday, for my birthday, we found a Blues Festival to go to! It was down in Rock Creek Park at the Carter Barron Amphitheater... and it was free! So we headed on down there - Me, Amanda, Hector, Luz, & Derek! Krysti opted to stay home but joined us later at Amanda's house for dinner and cake and a game of Trivial Pursuit! (which I LOVE but no one else is crazy about... so sad...) Here's some pics! (camera's weren't allowed in, but somehow mine managed to get by... I got a few shots before I got caught!) LOL!

posted by Melli at 10:23 AM | 9 comment(s)

Fifty-Three!

posted by Melli at 6:00 AM | 19 comment(s)

Friday's Fave Five

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


1. I missed last week's FFF because I was off at the Women Of Faith Conference. That is always such a GREAT time of PRAISING God and awesome fellowship with many friends all at once! I was blessed by this years conference as I seem to be every year. SOMEthing always touches me.

2. I taught my first Sunday School CHILDREN's class this week! I am co-teaching 2nd grade with a friend and the first week I let her do the teaching and I played the role of Aide just to get a handle on how this is all supposed to go! Michelle has taught SS before... so I yielded to experience! (I'm not stupid!) But this week was my turn and I prayed, and God answered... and it went REALLLLY well! I was very very happy that the children seemed to enjoy the class! I'm also thrilled that we only have 6 2nd graders... so it is a very cozy little group!

3. Monday night we celebrated 3 birthdays in my Bible Study - and one of them was MINE! My friend, Vicki, wrote THE most beautiful birthday prayer for me! Oh, it just touched me sO much! She is such a dear friend! And Janie - our newest member - and someone I used to work with at Curves - how great to be reacquainted in this place - brought white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies. OY VEY!!! This group is just such a blessing to me! (but not to my waistline! LOL!)

4. God answered a prayer this week in a way that made me hyper-aware of how quickly he takes us seriously when the desire of our heart matches up with the desire of His heart - even when what you both want MAY NOT be a good thing... at the onset. It also brought me face to face with how much He wants us to live our lives ONE DAY AT A TIME - give us THIS DAY our daily bread -- and be completely dependent upon HIM for it! I thank Him for this opportunity to watch Him at work. And I thank Him for loving me sO much!

posted by Melli at 10:10 AM | 18 comment(s)

Prayers Please...

posted by Melli at 9:41 PM | 13 comment(s)

Random Dozen

1. What insect are you most afraid of? Feel free to post a picture. I don't like bugs or spiders in general... but I don't really fear them. The one I am most apt to stay FAR away from though is this guy... 2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?
Wow... I wore a green shirt to church Sunday... *sigh*... I dunno... recycling our newspapers? We're actually fixin' to cancel the newspaper... I'm honestly not terribly green. My bedroom is very green though!

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.
I do not have one. Thanks for asking!

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?
I never have... I can't even imagine it. I am one of those people that likes to be EARLY EARLY EARLY for everything! I HATE to be late! I do KNOW someone who's missed a flight though...

5. What do you consider your best feature?
Well, this is just a no-brainer! My naturally curly red hair, of course! Although it was much prettier when I was MUCH younger.

6. What was the last concert you went to?
Hmmm... big name would be Trace Adkins... that was a couple of years ago. Does Steven Curtis Chapman at Women of Faith count? That was last weekend!

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.
LOL! When my cell phone went off during Pastor's sermon - it was my daughter's ringtone shouting out LET FREEEEDOM RIIIIIIIIIIING by Martina McBride... Oy... I leave my phone IN THE CAR now!

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?
I'm a singer... but you don't wanna HEAR me!

9. George Washington Carver said, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?
He must be tellin' me it's a WARM & Wonderful world I live in! It's about 93 and ssssssunnnny!

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?
I will more than likely finally go purchase a new stove... and unless God has something else FABULOUS planned for me, I hope that's it. I don't want any BAD news to remember... k?

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)
Okaaaay... well then ... I'll take the Liberty Bell -- every time!

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships?
Yea... as long as they're both happily married to SOMEone! And they keep it light. I do NOT believe that they can have deep meaningful, BEST FRIEND type relationships without somebody getting hurt... or taking it to the next level.

posted by Melli at 3:05 AM | 10 comment(s)