.

Halloween Stuff...

posted by Melli at 9:08 AM | 7 comment(s)

Fall-ish...

posted by Melli at 9:43 AM | 9 comment(s)

Weekend Review...

posted by Melli at 10:34 AM | 7 comment(s)

Fall Festival Children's Message

We are having our Fall Festival at church today. We have a chili contest - mine is entered! And we have pumpkin painting and scarecrow making... and games and food and FUN! I was asked to give the children's message at church today and I was asked to make it something that would go with the Fall Festival. Last year Shawn did a really cute message with a pumpkin and scooping out the YUCK and carving the face, and ending with lighting the candle. (it's on-line, you can find it.) She offered that I could do that again - but I felt it was too soon. I'm sure if I remember it, others would too! So I thought I would do something with Candy Corn. I was sure I'd be able to find something on-line ... I mean it's CANDY CORN! 3 colors. Holy Trinity. Right??? I did not have much luck. I found one little poem that really didn't work for me... and one kind of bizarre teaching that REALLY didn't work for me. Oy vey! Soooooo.... I started researching what the colors of a candy corn DO stand for in Christianity. I knew what I WANTED them to stand for... Yellow to be the SON, White to be the Holy Spirit... but I wasn't sure how to make ORANGE stand for God the Father. As it turned out, it worked perfectly! Here is the basic outline I used...

White -- Holy Spirit - pure, smallest part so it can fit in our hearts...

Orange -- God the Father - Orange symbolizes strength, power and GLORY! It's the GREAT,BIG part that holds it (and us) all together.

Yellow - God the Son - the base (of Christianity) and the widest part - reminds me how WIDE He stretched His arms to show His love for us.

Of course, I am giving out little individual packs of candy corn for the children, and I wanted to attach something to them to REMIND them... so I prayed... and then I wrote... and this is what we (me and God) came up with...

posted by Melli at 6:00 AM | 5 comment(s)

Friday's Fave Five - The Health Issue

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 week I've been reflecting back to things that have changed about my health in the past few years. When I began my blog it was going to be all about my health and regaining it... since that time I have actually LOST all the pounds I started out to lose... unfortunately I only lost HALF of them before I gained them all back and had to re-lose them - so I'm still only not even half way there! None-the-less, I have gained a great deal in the HEALTH department of my life...

1.) I can not remember the last time I've had swollen feet. I can remember VERY WELL how swollen my feet ALWAYS were... and painful. I can remember waking up in the morning and looking at my feet to find that they were STILL swollen from the day before - though not as much as they were the night before. It is such a JOY to get up in the morning and see NORMAL feet at the end of my legs! To be able to HOP out of bed and walk right away without any pain!

2.) Also in the foot department - I have fallen arches... I have had them since I was a small child and they can be very painful even to NOT swollen feet. But THESE shoes...

have made ALL the difference in the world to my healthy feet! I used to not be able to walk more than half a mile (this was AFTER my feet were no longer swollen) because of pain... I'll be walking my 3rd 5k next weekend - and I am LOVIN' these shoes!!! Happy feet make such a huge difference to an overall healthy lifestyle...

3.) Breathing. How important is THAT to our daily existence? My daughter used to complain about my heavy breathing. As a matter of fact, I used to have a really hard time breathing... at night. I had a CPAP because I had sleep apnea... the machine helped me to KEEP breathing through the night. I have not used that CPAP in over 3 years now. Sometimes I forget I ever needed one! Life is GOOD!

4.) Agility. This is the MOST amazing part of my life! Six years ago one shoulder was completely locked up. The other shoulder was well on it's way. I could not raise either arm fully above my head. Washing and brushing my hair had become one of the most painful CHORES I had in my life... and not only THAT... (this is true confessions here... I have NEVER spilled this one before... not on my blog...) ... I was not even able to wipe my own BUTT! Dennis had designed me a tool to help me with that procedure. How SAD is that? So when I say agility... I'm not talking about turning cartwheels... I'm talking about taking care of one's own personal hygiene. After months of PAINFUL stretching, I can remember the day I was able to reach... without my tool ... to wipe myself! It was a JOYOUS day! (is this mOre information than you EVER wanted to know about me?) I don't care... because there are people out there that need to know that THESE problems CAN be overcome! And without a physical therapist...

5.) Overall movement and agility. Once the shoulders had been unlocked - and I had sworn they would NEVER be in that shape again - I realized that life could be a lot better if I could just move more. Do you know that "agility" comes strictly from stretching? You can be the thinnest person on the planet and still not be able to MOVE because... well... because you DON'T move. You don't push your body to move in directions that it's not used to moving. On the same note... I am still almost 100 pounds over-weight but because of STRETCHING faithfully I can climb in and out of pick-up trucks to run a car wash. I can sit on the floor with Luz AND get up without crawling over to a chair or a table to PULL myself up! I can LIVE my life with a little more gusto! I'm probably NOT ever going to turn a cartwheel again... I don't really have the desire to do that! But I had the desire to be able to move normally. I had NO desire to sit back and allow "age" take over and ROB me of my Joy! I still have a bad back... I still have bad knees... I reckon only surgery will ever fix them. But surgery is no longer in my immediate future and it's not even CLOSE to being necessary anymore. WHO would have thought that losing one THIRD of what I need to lose, and some simple stretching could make sO much difference in my life?

Of course, you knOw Who was my rock and my strength... and yes... all glory and honor and PRAISE to my Lord for being there for me and spiritually encouraging me... and hearing me cry! And helping me UP! THANK YOU Lord! Thank you...

posted by Melli at 9:00 AM | 20 comment(s)

Random Dozen - The Late Edition

1. Do you prefer to read the book or see the movie?
I definitely prefer to read the book. I'm not a movie person AT ALL. I'm not saying I haven't seen a few... I have -- but only about 5 in the past 10 years! I like books because my imagination shows me the story so much better than the movie EVER does... and I can read the book anytime, anywhere... I don't have to SIT in front of the television. (or worse - in a movie theater!) I can SIT on my bike and pedal while I read! Or I can read while I wait in a doctor's office...

2. What is your favorite holiday and why?
I don't know that I really have a favorite anymore. I love Easter because we are celebrating the resurrection of the living Christ -- but I don't love the Easter Bunny and all the HOOPLA that goes along with it. For HOOPLA, I probably actually love Christmas the most - because I am a giver and giving makes me happier than almost anything in the world... but these days I would much rather be giving to the poor and disadvantaged than to anyone in my well cared for family. I still DO... but my heart is not honestly IN it at Christmas time. I prefer to give to my family "as needed" or "desired" throughout the year.

3. Which do you like better - the mountains or the beach?
I love them both - but I am a BEACH girl!

4. If money were no consideration, what vehicle would you drive?
I'd be back in my SUV. I loved my SUV - but I did NOT love filling the gas tank, buying tires for it, or numerous other "maintenance" issues that are more expensive just because it's BIGGER. And let me say - my SUV was a Ford Expedition. I do not need or desire a Lexus or a Denali!

5. What is your favorite cold-weather beverage?
Probably Pumpkin Spice Latte. Or coffee, in general.

6. How do you communicate most often with your friends: phone, email, text, face-to-face, or Facebook?
Most often I am face-to-face and I prefer it that way. I no longer even HAVE a Facebook account. That little item caused more trouble than it was worth! I set it up because my children wanted me to, for the purpose of sharing photos with FAMILY. Then every "friend" on the planet found me and wanted to BE my friend. Well, my account was for FAMILY and so I would reject their requests. Feelings were hurt. Many of them don't read my blog anymore and don't accept that I might not use FB the way THEY do... what a MESS! I got rid of it!

7. How do you receive your mail? Mailbox on the porch, at the end of the driveway, down the street, or post office box?
My mailbox is at the end of my driveway.

8. Of the four basic personality types - sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic, and choleric - which is your strongest? Which is your least evident? (See definitions below.)
Oh boy... I see a bit of me in all of them... and definite NOT ME things in each of them as well... but I'm going to say I am probably Sanguine, though I am definitely NOT chronically late... and I'm not sure I'm life long friend material either... I guess we'll have to wait until my life is over to see if that has changed... I may have a few that I'll stick with until the end! Mostly I think God puts people in my life for a short time and then moves me on... I know He has his reasons... and maybe some of them will become life long acquaintances...

9. What do you miss the most about being 20?
My energy. Lack of wrinkles. Not much else!

10. How long from the time you get up, does it take you to get ready to walk out the door in the morning?
LOL!!! I am pleading the 5th! You DO understand that on the average day I have absolutely NO reason to even leave my house. I have to INVENT reasons to go out! Right??? On the days when I actually do NEED to be out of the house I can get up and be ready to walk out the door in about 15 minutes. If I have to take MOM we'll make that an hour and half. But on the average day... don't ask!

11. Who handles the car maintenance and pays the bills in your family?
Those are definitely jobs belonging to the MALE adult in my house! I am in charge of spending and giving... He is in charge of earning and paying. I will admit to taking my car through Jiffy Lube on occasion to keep it ... lubed. Other than that - Dennis has "a guy" we use to keep our vehicles maintained. Of course, back in the day HE maintained them himself... but that was before they all went computerized and all...

12. For those in the US, how many states have you visited? For those outside the US, how many provinces/other countries have you visited?
Let's see... Maryland, DC, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado... I think that's about it. Nineteen. How pitiful...

Personality type definitions courtesy Wikipedia:

Sanguine

The Sanguine temperament personality is fairly extroverted. People of a sanguine temperament tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be quite loud. They are usually quite creative and often daydream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean very sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with following tasks all the way through, are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when pursuing a new hobby, interest is lost quickly when it ceases to be engaging or fun. They are very much people persons. They are talkative and not shy. For some people, these are the ones you want to be friends with and usually they become life long friends.

Choleric

A person who is choleric is a doer. They have a lot of ambition, energy, and passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were cholerics. They like to be leaders and in charge of everything.

Melancholic

A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often very considerate and get rather worried when they could not be on time for events, melancholics can be highly creative in activities such as poetry and art - and can become occupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world. A melancholic is also often a perfectionist. They are often self-reliant and independent; one negative part of being a melancholic is sometimes they can get so involved in what they are doing they forget to think of others.

Phlegmatic

Phlegmatics tend to be self-content and kind. They can be very accepting and affectionate. They may be very receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are very consistent, relaxed, rational, curious, and observant, making them good administrators and diplomats.

posted by Melli at 10:31 AM | 13 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!

1. Walkin' Weather... how great it is to get out on a beautiful crisp day and just go for a nice walk. These opportunities don't come my way too often... and if you've ever lived in the DC area, you know summer is NO time to try it... but now? Now is perfect. The air is clear and cool and just all around PLEASANT! My goal this season is to actually be out IN it at least twice a week!

2. Bean Soup... I know - some of you GAG at the thought of it, but Dennis and I love it! I made a big ol' pot of homemade bean soup the other day ... and I am actually eating some for BREAKFAST even as I type! It is such a comfort food - and without a bit of FAT in it! I made this batch with one bag of "15 beans", and another bag of black-eyed peas... added some onions, carrots and celery and 2 cans of whole tomatoes... Yum Yum YUM!!!

3. Little Girl Giggles... I have been surprising Luz with a Halloween card in her mailbox every other day or so this month. She has thanked me a few times when she sees me. They all involve a joke. She LOVES jokes! (what kid doesn't?) So yesterday, by chance, two arrived in one day. She called me last night to thank me for them. I said "so you're enjoying them, huh?" She said "YES! They're HYSTERICAL!" ... followed by that giggle! Oh, HOW I love that giggle!!! Wait til she get's the one that sings to her ... shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your BOOty, shake your BOOty! LOL!

4. Vinegar... *evil grin*... I have a little custard cup of vinegar sitting on my kitchen counter. It is covered with clear plastic wrap with holes poked in the top. It is trapping fruit flies... by the dozens. Lord, forgive me that I am actually enjoying each day's discovery of the demise of the fruit fly! They are horrendous this year! (if you plan to try this, make sure you also clear your kitchen of ANY fruit left out... the vinegar must be the ONLY thing attracting them)

5. Modern Technology... medical and otherwise. If you read my request for prayers yesterday then you know that modern medical technology - especially exploratory equipment at the moment - and also world wide communication technology - both are giving me great comfort right now. Email, faxes, and FREE long distance will provide me with information it might have taken me 6 months to obtain not so long ago. And that could make all the difference in the world... it's amazing!

I hope you all have a joyous and blessed week ahead!

posted by Melli at 10:05 AM | 13 comment(s)

3 Prayer Requests

1. My son-in-law, Hector, had a biopsy this morning to insure that there is no lingering infection in his shoulder. He is scheduled for a shoulder replacement in mid November and this can not happen if there is any infection in there. He has also been told that the biopsy itself would aggravate his shoulder and that he will be a LOT more uncomfortable in this time between the biopsy and the surgery. Please pray that there is NOT any infection found, and that the doctors will be wrong about the increased pain intensity. And pray God's will surrounding the entire shoulder replacement.

2. My little girl in Guatemala - Lesli - I received a letter from her mom, Dora, this week asking me to pray for their family as she (the mom) is ill. There is much lacking in our communication, so I will simply quote what she told me... "I have something in my breasts, and my lungs hurt a lot." I have World Vision looking into it for me and they will let me know if she needs further funds for doctor's and what is going on with her... but please pray that this is NOT cancer or any other serious illness. Dora and her husband are both bread winners for this family and I know her income is depended on, but aside from that they have 4 children and my little Lesli is only 6 years old... and I don't know if she is the youngest. This mom needs her health! Always God's will - but I have certainly let him know my heart on this one!

3. My Krysti is a health issue as well. She is scheduled for a colonoscopy in early Nov. Please pray that THIS is nothing serious as well.

God's will in all things... but it never hurts to share our hearts! He can't answer what we don't pray for! (although He often does... we just don't recognize it...)

Thank you!

posted by Melli at 11:01 AM | 10 comment(s)

Random Dozen

1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced? Were the circumstances in which you made the faux pas embarrassing? By the way, that's not "foax pass." (I know you know that. Just jokin' with ya.) Honestly, I know that there were some... but I can not think of a single one right now. I must not have been too embarrassed though - because I would certainly remember being embarrassed!

2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends? (ex: "I've got ur notes. Get them 2 u 2morow.")
Honestly? I hate texting altogether... the chat-speak involved in it just makes it even worse. What ever happened to TALKING to people?

3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post. Yea, RIGHT! The only way you will EVER see a copy of MY senior picture is to find yourself a copy of my senior yearbook and look it up! I destroyed ALL copies of that horrendous affair!

4. So, apparently question #4 didn't want to play this week and ran away!

5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.
I remember never attending homecoming. Not even once.

6. Linda at Mocha with Linda wants to know: "Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?" I am a sunRISE girl... I like the quiet solitude that arrives with morning.

7. Lea at Cici's Corner asks, "What is something you have not done that you desire to do?" Travel sOMewhere outside the U.S.

8. Carol at Wanderings of an Elusive Mind ponders, "If you could come back [in another life] as an animal, which would it be?" Ack! WHY would I want to DO that? I have been a human and know the wonders of the human mind, the emotions of the human heart, the yearnings and gratitude of the human soul... and the JOY of the human spirit... WHY would I want to downgrade to ANY of God's other creatures??? WHY?

9. Joyce from The Other Side of the Pond is curious: "Where were you 10 years ago?" Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location. I was right here! Well... I was probably up at school teaching on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning... but other than that... I lived HERE. I was raising a 13 and two 11 year olds. I was MISSING a 23 year old... I was running around between soccer practices, baseball practices, and PTA meetings and events. I was driving an SUV and doing the whole Mommy thing!

10. When you are proven to be correct in any contentious discussion, do you gloat? You know... I'd love to believe I don't... but the fact is it PROBABLY makes a difference WHO I was contending with, and how heated the contention was. But I can honestly only thing of 2, possibly 3 people I would actually gloat to.

11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient "caramel?" LOL! ANYTHING with caramel is my favorite food! Caramel out-bests chocolate by about a million to one... but if they are together, that's a bonus! Turtles would probably do for a favorite... but just plain caramels will do just fine too!

12. From my 17 year-old daughter to you: "If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?" (She's so cute. And clever.)
The Holy Family!!! No doubt! I sO wish I grew up in Jesus household! Of course, I would have known all along He was someone SPECIAL! I'd have looked UP to my Big Brother! And I've always wondered WHAT HAPPENED to Joseph... I can't wait to find out... I have sO many questions about that family....

**Edit**... Oy Vey! On my first visit around I realized that #12 asked for FICTIONAL family... And the Holy Family is NOT that!!! Sooooo.... Let's go with Swiss Family Robinson! High adventure!!!

posted by Melli at 5:14 AM | 9 comment(s)

Daybook...

My friend Jerri plays this meme, (and actually gives it credit where it is due - which is to Peggy Hostetler ) and I stole it from her with no intention of really playing along... it's another one of those meme's with over 100 participants - but I just LIKE it and might "do" it from time to time... at my whim, on whatever day I please...

Outside my window... Jewl is protecting the birdfeeders and their bath as well. Probably our house and yard too.
I am thinking... about getting on my bike for the next hour.
I am thankful for... for a God who corrects me when I'm wrong... even if it hurts, and continues to love me to pieces.
From the kitchen... homemade lentil soup! Can't wait for dinner tonight!
I am wearing... my rubber ducky and bubbles pajama shorts, and a green BAGGY tshirt. They don't match. :)
I am going... out to buy balloons for Pastor! It is Pastor Appreciation Month at LCMS. Maybe in your church too?
I am reading... Apprenticeship With Jesus, by Gary W. Moon, Out Live Your Life, by Max Lucado, and The Six-Liter Club, by Harry Kraus. (And Jeremiah)
I am hoping... to get everything done I need to get done today, and wondering if I should attempt to get Mom dressed and out today... or just wait until Dennis gets home.
I am hearing... Kitty lap water from his dish.
Around the house... I want to get my Halloween decorations out.
One of my favorite things... the smell of autumn in the air.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Writing letters to my "adopted" children, actually getting the house decorated for the holiday, complete a rough outline for upcoming stewardship/outreach seminar.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

posted by Melli at 10:01 AM | 6 comment(s)

Holey Holey Holey...

posted by Melli at 9:46 AM | 6 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!

Sometimes it really IS the little things in life that make all the difference. This week I have finally gotten around to a some things I've been procrastinating on... and I do believe they qualify for my top 5!!!

1. It's almost a YEAR since my youngest son moved out of our house. His room has sat EXACTLY as he left it... in all it's grossly splendor... since that day. At first we wanted to make sure that he was really gone. Turns out he's probably got his living arrangements MORE together than any of the others had... the first time they moved out! After about 6 months I decided he probably WAS going to make it on his own... but since then I've just been avoiding the grossness. THIS week I decided to tackle it. I'm not DONE, mind you... but I've made a dent.

2. I bought outside lights for our walkway and the front of our house LAST SPRING! I finally put them up yesterday. See?


3. This is going to sound really REALLY bad. I've been putting off calling a VERY good friend of mine... in many ways she is still my BEST friend... she really has to be - she knows too much about me! But our lives have changed and we haven't run into each other around town... and we don't spend hours together at the pool all summer anymore - because all of our children are grown... and anyway... I've needed to call her to ask her something... and I've been putting it off because I KNEW when I did it would be a 3 hour conversation... and frankly... I don't DO phones! For real. I know... somebody's going to take my Girl Card. But I really HATE talking on the phone. But I finally sucked it up and called -- and we only talked 2 hours and 45 minutes cuz wouldn't ya know -- her SOAP was coming on! Next time I'm callin' her 15 minutes before that SOAP! LOL! It really was goooood to talk and get caught up... but I wish it could have been in person! I hate phones...

4. This one is not too bad. I've actually be WAITING for the cool weather to arrive - but I went out and raked up all the leaves and branches that have fallen since we've had all these storms! It felt so good to be outside working on a cool Autumn day! And it has smelled good outside the last few days too!

5. AND... for the first time in 8 weeks, I am READY to teach my Sunday School class BEFORE Saturday night! I got all my prep done and my required props together and I am GOOD to GO! Allelujia!

So... now those of you that have missed me the past few days know where I've been hiding out. Sometimes ya just gotta DO life!

Oh... and I lost 4.8 pounds this week... but I'm still not down to where the little slider up there has me... so sOOn ... very sOOn! It WILL move again! LOL! (I just refuse to move it UP - that's all!)

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

Autumn Around the House... and a MUFFED Target!

posted by Melli at 9:23 AM | 11 comment(s)

A Little Trip To Turkey

Labels: Grandbaby

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

2nd 5K! Hurray!

posted by Melli at 1:05 PM | 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!


1. Well, my church car wash has to be the first highlight of my week. But I saved this story for FFF because it was my favorite. Two of our adult men had walked up to the stoplight at the corner to wave signs and try to connect with people while they actually had time to READ the signs... and there is a fruit stand on that corner too. The lady who runs the stand came over to Chris and said she really wanted to bring her truck down to our car wash - but she just couldn't leave the stand. So Chris offered to take the truck for her -- and she TRUSTED him!!! She let a perfect stranger take her truck down to our car wash and bring it back. And then - when he wouldn't accept her donation (it was a free, no donations accepted car wash) she insisted he bring us back some peaches! I LOVE it!!!

2. Sunday, Amanda & Luz and I went to a Latino Festival - Luz was re-introduced to a bit of her "roots"... and the PARADE was my absolute FAVORITE! I love a parade anyway - always enjoyed the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on tv... and I enjoy a military parade as well... but THIS parade... OH! It was the most magnificent parade I have EVER seen up close and in person! The costumes were jussssst GORGEOUS! The whole day was fun - but the PARADE was AMAZING!

3. A stormy night and sleeping with the windows open! Oh YES!!! When the rain is sO hard that it wakes you up - no thunder or lightening - just HARD rain - it is sO worth being woken up FOR! Yes it is! And then I layed there and FOUGHT going back to sleep, just so I could listen to it... mmm mmmmm...

4. After two months of being on somewhat of a dietary sabbatical, our NEW weight loss Bible study started last night. I have gained a few pounds, but I am READY now and motivated to start losing again. So keep an eye on that little slider up there... it may take it a couple of weeks (i have to catch up to it!) - but it's going to start moving again!!!

5. As I was driving home after my Bible study class ... some of you may not be aware that the East Coast was having TORRENTIAL downpours yesterday and in our neighborhood, FLASH FLOOD warnings pretty much EVERYwhere -- we are a peninsula after all... so anyway... I'm driving home, and there is a LOT of standing water on the roads... ALL the roads - high or low... I come to the intersection at the end of my road, and it's in a lowish spot, and of course I have my brights on because we don't have any street lights... and I'm slowing down for the stop sign and what do I see? Hop, SPLASH!, Hop, SPLASH!, Hop, SPLASH! ... a little frog crossing the street!!! God was at it again... He always knows how to tickle me!

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