10 Things Tuesday - Relationship Addition

We're approaching Thanksgiving and I am excited to host it here at my house this year. It looks like we're just having two extras - my sister in-law and her husband, but we've left an open invitation for friends in case they can't leave town due to bad weather.

Yes, we have snow! Lots of it. In fact, over the past 24 hours we've been on blizzard warning. High winds plus lots of snow = very poor visibility. My back porch (which is covered) was covered in snow this morning. Crazy. The school district did not declare a snow day, so I just declared one on my own. I am not going to risk driving in those conditions!

Well, now that I've given the weather report, lets get on with the thanks-giving! This is my special tribute to all the people in my life that I am thankful for.

1. My husband - He is my best friend, an incredible dad, a comedian, a Pastor, a gifted musician, and more! I love him so much and if you want to read more about why, just go to this post.
2. Anyone who knows me knows I just adore each of my children! They all have such unique personalities. I am so blessed to be the mother of five wonderful children who make me laugh, challenge me to be a better mom, and keep me on my toes (and my knees) all the time! Just because today is his 4th birthday, I'd like to give special thanks for my youngest, CD. He's so fun and I'm glad I have this year and next with him still at home. :)
   
3. My mom - She is always there for me, even when things aren't going the best for her. She's such a good listener and I still go to her when I need sound advice. The older I get, the deeper our friendship grows. I appreciate all that she sacrificed for me growing up even in the most difficult of times.
4. I couldn't imagine not mentioning my dad, even though he passed away this last September. I have so many great memories with him growing up, and into my adult years. I spent the last week of his life with him and it was some of the sweetest time ever. He will be greatly missed this Thanksgiving.
5. My sister - Even though we are 3 years apart, we are the best of friends. I know I can always count on her through thick and thin. We are mountains apart now, but there is nothing we wouldn't do for each other. I love you sis!
   
6. My in-laws - I could not have been blessed with better in-laws. My Mother-in-law is the reason I wanted to have a big family. The first time I saw all of the siblings interacting I knew I wanted lots of kids. Everyone accepted me as one of the family right off the bat. Family get-togethers are always an adventure!
7. My friends the Phifers - They are such a big part of our lives. I am so blessed to have such committed friends. They were there for us when 4 out of 5 of our children were born. I love their two children and couldn't imagine life without them around! My friend Andrea is the first person I call if ever I need, oh, anything! She is so faithful to me and I love her dearly.
   
8. My friend Michelle - She is so loving and generous. Very sensitive to the needs of those around her. When I have need for prayer, I know she's going to answer the call. I love her family too. Every time I hang out with them I laugh. They are such fun people!
9. The teachers that my children have had since they reached school age - We have been so blessed with good teachers! I love how they have partnered with us to make sure our children get the education that they deserve.
   
10. Our church family - I am so thankful that we are in a church of people who genuinely care about us. The staff is wonderful and my husband really loves working there. The friendliness that I feel every time I walk through the doors on Sunday carries through the week. I know that if ever we have a need, our church family would step up to meet it.
    

These are just some of the current relationships that bless my life. I am so thankful for all my friends and family, near and far. And let's not forget my blogger friends! There are so many moms out there that I don't hesitate to ask for advice when I'm struggling. Thanks for being there when I need you most! :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

May you find yourselves as blessed as I am by the friends and family in your lives.
~Melissa

In Loving Memory

In loving memory of my dad:
August 18, 1936 - September 9, 2010

No words can describe how much I miss him.
I will carry his love in my heart, always.

To the Bestest Dad Ever...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my dear husband and the father of our five wonderful children who absolutely adore him!

He's only been a dad for almost 9 years, but I've loved him for over 16. (Our 16th anniversary is coming up next month.)

For all the wrestling, game playing, disciplining, reading, fort building, library going, pancake making, hot dog grilling and other incredible dad things you do...

WE LOVE YOU!

Enjoy your day! (And your new grill!)

Company Girl Coffee 5.8.09

Come on in, friends! Today I want to spotlight a friend of mine, Andrea. She's another Company Girl that lives in my town and I lean on her in so many ways as one of my closest and dearest friends. We have a blog together where we share our thoughts, dreams, and even our day to day tasks. I love that I can depend on her whenever I need advice or even if I just need to talk something through. She not only inspires me but challenges me to be a better person in every way.

Let me tell you a few things I admire about Andrea...

She's a devoted wife. No matter what he may be going through, she supports her husband. She loves him not only with her actions, but with her words. She does her best not to speak harshly to him or about him.

She is a wonderful mom. Whenever I'm stumped, I call her up for advice. She's a great sounding board and often helps me look at my situation in a new light when it comes to my kids. She motivates me to try new projects and fun things with my kids. Just yesterday she was telling me about her "summer plan" that she was creating so her kids won't get bored this summer. :)

She strives to create a peaceful atmosphere in her home. It's not always spotless, but it's cared for. This week she started her Spring cleaning and that nudged me to get the ball rolling too! She is also creative with her decorations and furniture. She has never complained about the amount of space she has, or not having the things she wants. If she wants or needs something, she'll search for it on Freecycle or Craig's list. She's so thrifty!

She's hard working. She took a job at her son's school to help with the household income. She also works childcare for a Bible study once a week. She's very aware of what their budget is and tries to help however she can. As I said before, she's very thrifty and hunts for the best bargains.

Did I mention creative? Check out her blog and what she accomplished over spring break! She knits and her things are beautiful! She made me a hat for my birthday that I almost wish I could wear during the summer, it's so nice! :) She even bought ME some knitting needles and yarn when I said I wanted to try to take up knitting. (It's a work in progress...)

Most of all, she's an incredible friend. I wish that I could say I've never let her down, but there have been moments where I just plain dropped the ball. She has always been so quick to forgive me when I come to her though. I love her for that. Her friendship means the world to me.

I am very pleased to spotlight Andrea this week and brag about her over coffee. She is such a positive influence in my life. If you that haven't met her yet, stop by her blog Life With You sometime and say hello. :)You'll be glad you did!

Love you Andrea!

Have a great weekend all!
-Melissa

In Loving Memory

I just received the sad news that a member of our church passed away last night. I didn't know her very well, but I have been praying for her and her family since we started at Mirabeau Chapel in October. You see, Teresa was diagnosed with fatal cancer not too long ago and was told she only had a short time left to live. Thankfully, she lasted long enough to see her Grandchild born, and spend one last Christmas with her family.

I dedicate this post in loving memory of Teresa. Even though I didn't have the privilege of knowing her as well as some, I admired her. God has used her story to touch the lives of many around her, including myself. Her faith and her trust in God through the most difficult time in her life have been a testimony to me that no matter how hard times get, we can depend on God. He is our Rock, our Strength, and our Hope.

I pray that the God of Comfort will stretch out His loving arms and envelope all those who mourn her passing. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Romans 12:15:b ...mourn with those who mourn

Happy Birthday Grandma!

This is a little late, (due to some unavoidable events this week) but I wanted to say a special Happy Birthday to my 95 year old Grandma! I admire her greatly for her strength and determination. She is 95, but still going strong. She lives on her own, still cooks for herself, knits, sews, and gardens. Those are only a few of the things that I love about her. The more I learn about her, the more I want to be like her.

She's a faithful wife... She stood by my grandfather through thick and thin over the many years they were married. Right up to his death she loved him, and she continues to cherish him in her heart today.

Faithful mother/grandmother/great grandmother... She would do anything for each of her four children and her many grandchildren/great grandchildren. (Mine included) She has taught all of us how important it is that we stick together as a family and take care of one another.

Hardworking...From her days on the farm with my grandfather, to their property on the Oregon Coast, to the plot of land she lives on now, she knows the value of being a hard working woman.

If there is an example of a woman who lives life abundantly, it is my grandmother. I love you grandma! Happy Belated Birthday!

10 Things Tuesday

Boy am I glad for 10 things Tuesday. It really comes at the perfect time, after Mondays! I have a really hard time staying motivated on Mondays. I'm sure I'm not alone. It used to be that before I got married, my sister was my main encourager. When I would have a bad day, she would refer to a favorite book of mine, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Even now, I feel better just talking to her when I'm discouraged about something. So in keeping with Mrs. Brownstone's theme today, I will be listing 10 ways I am thankful for my sister. Even though you live across the mountains from me sister, I am so thankful that you are always in my heart.

1. You love me unconditionally. Nothing I say or do could keep you from loving me, even if you don't agree with it.
2. You take time to gab with me on the phone, even if we don't have anything to talk about!
3. You make time in your busy schedule to travel over the mountains to come and see me so that I don't have to spend 6 hours in a van with 5 small children!
4. You are a great teacher, and you love those kids you teach. I know they know it, and you are impacting their lives in an incredible way.
5. You help me out by saving your daughter's clothes and passing them on to your nieces.
6. Speaking of nieces, you love each of your nieces and nephews deeply and individually, even though there are a lot of them! They know that they are loved by you and look forward to your visits.
7. You came up with the saying "Always remember the magic of a smile and a happy thought." Whenever I think of you, I smile.
8. You know the importance of sometimes just vegging out, watching mindless television!
9. You make an AWESOME brunch!
10. You are everything I could ever ask for in a sister. Not only am I glad that we are sisters, I am grateful to call you friend.

I love you sis! Can't wait to see you in two weeks!

Happy Father's Day!

I wanted to take a minute and talk about the dads in my life. First of all, there's the one that's been there since I was born. He is not a man of many words, but when he speaks to me across the miles into the telephone, I feel loved. He cares about his grandkids, and what's going on in our lives, and I love that about him. I sometimes wish that we lived closer, but I think that being across the mountains from each other makes our relationship special. I love you dad!

14 years ago, I was blessed with another type of dad in my life. My step-dad. He is gentle, and kind, and loves to hear how my family is doing. Since I was an adult when he walked into my life, I was pretty hard on him at first. But he was patient with me and earned my trust. He has done nothing but shown love to me, and I love him back. Thank you Hal. I am blessed to have you in my life. (Remind me to get a picture of you with my kids next time we see you!)

Around the same time that Hal came into my life, I got married. The third dad that has been a big part of my life is my father in law. I consider myself lucky! I love my in-laws! Doug is quiet, but funny. And wise. He is a great father to his children and his step children. I really enjoy the time I get to spend with him. I am so glad that he is a part of my life. Thank you Doug, for loving our family. We love you too!

I saved the best for last. Words can't express how much I love the father of my children. We have been married for almost 14 years now. For almost half of those years, he has been a father. He loves them in so many ways. He plays with them, teaches them, disciplines them, and encourages them. He is my pillar of strength, and makes me feel loved both as a mother, and his wife. Thank you for always being there by my side in this adventure called parenting. We all love you very much!

Daddy with his 1st born and forever baby girl!

Daddy and 2nd born (1st son), yawning together.

Daddy and 3rd born (2nd son) chillin' together.

Daddy with his two baby girls at the hospital.

Daddy with his last born. (3rd son) Whew! Having five kids really wears you out!

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; -Psalm 127:4-5a

Happy Mother's Day!

Ten things I love about my mom: (Not in any specific order)

1. She loves me unconditionally
2. She is always there to listen
3. She is supportive of my decisions (even when they make no sense and come back to bite me in the butt!)
4. She goes out of her way to come and visit me
5. She helps me financially when I am in a pinch
6. She gives helpful advice
7. When she hugs me she takes an extra squeeze before letting go
8. She lets me cry on her shoulder our into the phone when I need to
9. She is an active grandma : )
10. She has shown me how to be a loving mother.

Thanks for being such a great mom! I love you!

Ten things I love about being a mom:

1. Hugs and kisses
2. Prayers at bedtime
3. Reading together and story time by the fire
4. Tickles and giggles
5. Making owies better with kisses and band aids
6. Watching my children discover new things
7. Little yellow flowers picked just for me
8. Singing songs together
9. Watching each child develop their own personality
10. Spending one on one time with each of my children
11. Catching my children being good and praising them for it
12. Watching my children being loving towards each other and growing closer as friends

Ok...so I couldn't choose just ten. The list could go on and on. I am so thankful for my five blessings from heaven. I love being a mom! Happy mother's day to me!