Thank You

To all of those who have served and do serve, thank you, and may God bless you and your families.

Melanie

If I Were A...

I've been tagged by my daughter, Katie, to answer these questions...

If I were a...

Month: October. The heat and humidity of summer are going away.

Time of Day: In the evening after supper when the family is relaxing. :)

Season: Fall. I love the leaves, pumpkins, scarecrows, etc. I'm also looking forward to Winter.

Planet: Earth! Where all my friends and family live! :)

Direction: I'm pretty content here in the Mid-Atlantic, but if I had to choose another place to go it would be northwest. I've always wanted to see places like Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Tree: Definitely pine!!! I love the smell of pine. I think they're beautiful covered with snow. It also reminds me of a beautiful Christmas tree.

Animal: Cute, furry, purring kitten!

Musical instrument: Piano - the only instrument I can play. I love the sound.

Fruit: Orange. Orange juice is my morning 'coffee'. :)

Food: Anything Italian.

Color: Blue. It's such a calm, peaceful color. :)

Book: The Bible, of course. But, I also like the historical books about the westward pioneers.

Song: Amazing Grace

Flower: Lilac. I think it has such a beautiful fragrance.

Facial Expression: Smile, of course!! :)

Have a great week!

Melanie

Yummy Strawberries!

Our strawberries are finally ready!
We picked some today and thought we'd show them to you.
They are so tasty. :)






Here's Lilly. Notice the strawberry juice on her face?
You know Katie had something to do with that.



This is one of our blueberry bushes.
As you can see, the berries aren't ripe yet,
but it won't be long!



Hope you're all having a good week. :)

Take care,
Melanie

This 'n That

Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

We had a luncheon yesterday for the graduates in our church. We had a nice time. Each of the graduates got up and told us about what they were planning to do in the future. Their parents said a few words too. Of course, some tears were shed. I can only imagine how hard it will be for the parents to see their children go off to college in the fall. I could not help but think about Katie being that age in about five years. I really don't want to think about that. I want to just enjoy the time we have together now. :)

The weather here has been very chilly today. Right now it's 55 degrees outside, with a gentle rain falling. I have the windows open, and am just enjoying the quietness of it. Just last Friday, the temperature was about 85 degrees, and we had the A/C on. I like the cooler weather better. :)

I also found a great website the other day that you may be interested in. It's called CoverMeModest. They sell a panel that you can wear under low-cut shirts, dresses, etc. They come in different colors and styles. I thought the pictures of them looked very nice. I haven't bought one, but I'm going to keep it in mind if I come across something I like, but may be too low-cut to wear by itself.

Well, I'd better run. I think I'm going to make some BLTs for supper. We haven't had those in a long time, but they sound pretty good.

Hope you all have a great week. :)

Melanie

Pretty Peony

I am so happy our peony bush is blooming! This is one of my favorite flowers. If you're looking for something that is beautiful to look at AND beautiful to smell, then a peony is for you!! :)

Melanie

Happy Mother's Day

This is a picture of what Katie painted for me for Mother's Day in 2008. She is so precious to me, and I am blessed and privileged to be her mom.

I hope all you moms out there will have a wonderful day tomorrow!!

Melanie

I've Been Tagged!!

My dear blogging friend, Lisa, has tagged me for this game. I'll answer five questions five times.

Where were you five years ago?

1. In the same house I am now.

2. Married for 14 years, with a 7 year old daughter.

3. Mom had triple bypass heart surgery

4. My husband was diagnosed with a tarlov cyst. LONG story short. He ended up having it removed, and then couldn't stop leaking spinal fluid. He was in and out of hospitals for two and a half years. I hope I never have to see Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore ever again!! He deals with pain on a daily basis, but at least his spine isn't leaking anymore.

5. My Oreo was a teeny, tiny kitten. Not so much now!!!!!

Where would you like to be five years from now?

1. Where God wants me to be.

2. Spiritually healthier.

3. Physically healthier.

4. Financially healthier. Katie will be 17, so college will be coming soon!!

5. A better wife and mom.

What is on your list to do today?

1. My job (school secretary). Will help out with Cinco de Mayo, and watch the kids bust open the pinatas they made!

2. After work, run a couple errands (library, post office)

3. General housework (cooking supper, cleaning, pay some bills-YAY for online bill pay!)

4. Treadmill

5. Relax!!!

What five snacks do you enjoy?

1. yogurt

2. oranges, apples, bananas

3. chips

4. granola bars

5. cheese and crackers

What would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Pay tithes and offerings first!!

2. Give to ministry friends we know

3. Give to friends and family

4. Pay off all debt, save for the future.

5. Thank God for it!! Be thankful that Katie wouldn't have any financial worries.

These are the five I have tagged! I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say!! If you don't want to participate, I understand, and I will still love you!! Truly!! :)

1. Renee'

2. Sandie

3. Bevy

4. Debbie

5. Katie

If any of my other friends would like to play, please do!! I'd love to get to know all of you better!

Have a wonderful day! :)

Melanie

My First Blog Award

I've received my first blog award! This Beautiful Blogger award came from Sandie at Chatty Crone.

Sandie is so sweet and she posts the funniest things! I've enjoyed getting to know her better through our e-mail chats. :)

Here are the rules:

1. Say something nice about the person who gave you the award.

2. Copy and paste the picture.

3. Share ten things about yourself that people don't already know.

4. Pass the award on to ten other bloggers.

Well, here goes!

1. For the most part, I am a very quiet person. I like to listen and observe. I learn so much that way!

2. My favorite color is blue.

3. My husband says I am an excellent proofreader. Spelling was always my favorite subject. I have a little more trouble when it comes to punctuation and sentence structure.

4. I love music. I still have an autographed Carman ticket from when our church youth group went to his concert in Beckley, WV, in 1987!

5. I can say my ABCs backwards really fast!! When my grandma would visit, she would bunk with me. Lying there in the dark, she taught me how to do that. I have such sweet memories of her, she was very precious to me. I was nine years old when she passed away.

6. I love Italian food. Olive Garden is my favorite restaurant.

7. I am not a fancy person. My 'dream house' would be a little log cabin in the mountains, surrounded by pine trees, with a view of a beautiful lake!

8. I enjoy singing and playing the piano. My parents have an eight-track of me singing when I was two years old! My mom taught me how to play the piano. I also love to read. I have a book with me almost all the time.

9. I am terrified of spiders. I can handle the little ones, but that's about it. When I'm in the garage in the summer, I take a can of bug spray with me.

10. I have super sensitive hearing. I enjoy a good fireworks display, but I will be the one with my hands over my ears!! :)

These are the ten people I have chosen to receive this award! They are all followers of my blog, and I think they're just wonderful! Please do not feel like you have to participate. I'm sure a lot of you more seasoned bloggers have already done this a time or two. I just thought it was fun! :)

1. Katie (my daughter) at Katie's Journal

2. Lisa at Bombastic Bandicoot

3. Marcia at Blessed Mom's Simple Home

4. Angela at West Virginia Treasures

5. Bevy at Treasured Up and Pondered

6. Trish at Homemade Quilts by Granny

7. Trish at At Home Where My Heart Is

8. Sherry at The Journey Back

9. Debbie at Debbiedoos loves livin' in the Carolinas

10. Betty at A Corgi in Southern California

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. :)

Melanie