Prayers

He was an amazing friend and father. He has a precious little girl who was the center of his world. This summer he married a sweet girl who he has known for about 20 years. Yesterday, there was an accident. He was apparently thrown from the tractor and broke his neck.
It is so hard to lose a loved one. I think about his widow, who found him. I think about his little girl who will never have her daddy again. And for his parents who are going to have to bury their son.
For those of us who are still here, we know we will see him again! His faith was evident through his life. There was a time when he struggled, his little boy died when he was only 4 months old. Through that trial, he was able to be there for others who have lost their baby unexpectedly. He told me a few months ago how mad he was at God when his son died.
It is impossible to understand why this happened. There are so many mean people in this world. Why would God let something so tragic happen to such a kind man. It is difficult to accept, but we know where he is now. We know that we will see him again.
Please keep his family and friends in your prayers. No matter how strong our faith is, this is a very difficult time.

The New Guy :)

I met a really nice guy through my ex-boyfriend this summer. My ex and I tried to keep our relationship pure and therefore always welcomed company so that we would not be alone together. This friend was over most nights for a good part of our relationship. After my ex and I decided that we were not compatible and definitely did not want to spend our lives together, his friend and I maintained our friendship. Over the last few months we have spent a lot of time together. Offering support and advice and just being someone to talk to about everything from dating to yard work.

As you can guess, we have started dating. It was a big surprise to us that we were attracted to each other, but apparently obvious to everyone else including my ex-boyfriend who took it upon himself to let me and his friend know that we had his "blessing/approval" to date.

My new man is 20. He turned 20 one week before I turned 24. Robbing the cradle? A little bit. I have had one other younger boyfriend, it was in high school. I was a senior and he a freshman. Oh yeah we got laughed at big time. KB is great though, I don't care how old he is.

He saw my fibromyalgia flare up during my relationship with his friend. He helps me with house work, yard work, and my pets. His first priority is God, he volunteers in the community working with kids. He is a hard worker and a great listener. He seems to know everything that is important to me.

Let me recap this week just to show you how amazing he is. Saturday night we went to see The Bee Movie (wait for the DVD). After that, we went to the new Wal-Mart just to walk around. Then over to a friends apartment for a while. Nothing terribly special except he took me to an animated kid movie and walked up and down every aisle in the non food part of Wal-Mart.

Sunday was a really good example of his sweetness. He called me Sunday morning and discovered that I was sick as a dog. He finished up working and brought me Gatorade. He also texted my roommate all day checking on me and came over around 4:30 to check on me. He then gave me control of the remote because I was the sick one. Oh yeah and he brought over two tickets to ASF's showing of Peter Pan next month because I said a week ago that I wanted to make sure I saw it before the play ended.

Tuesday was another revealing day. I was home sick and had to go to the doctor and get a shot in my butt. He left work at lunch and came over to the house to be with me because he remembered from me being sick while dating my ex that I hate being alone when I am sick.

Around 1:00 I went outside to give the dogs some scraps. As soon as I walked outside I heard Peaches meowing in pain. I looked over and she was underneath the electric fence I screamed for KB to come out and unplugged the fence then ran inside to get my shoes. He grabbed my purse and drove us to the vet's office. I was fine until they put us in a room, I totally lost it then. He was right there telling me she was gonna be ok and not to worry. (she is fine and is home now) The rest of the day he comforted me and told me every thing was going to be fine.

It was later that afternoon that we took the big step... Changed our status on facebook and myspace to "in a relationship" Yep, its on the two online social sites and my blog it is official. I am robbing the cradle. My boyfriend is 20 and wonderful! Oh I am a happy girl!

Cold Season

This is the 3rd Thanksgiving in a row that I have been sick for! Now I have been thinking that this is my body's way of keeping me from overeating during the holidays. Seriously though... I would rather walk an extra mile or do some post holiday sit-ups just to enjoy the food this year.
Kyle was sick last week, or maybe it was two weeks ago. I have determined that I have exactly what he had. It has been the same problems each day. Going on that theory I should be healthy by turkey day!
Saturday = Scratchy throat, sneezing
Sunday = Someone please shoot me! Head congestion & low fever
Monday = Not quite sick enough to stay home. Still coughing and sneezing "bless you" from all over the building.
Tuesday = Coughing disgusting stuff up
Wednesday = Getting better
Thursday = Hello Turkey and Dressing!

Love Today

There is nothing like a day off work. Except a day off work with no commitments. It is 1:20 so far I have filed the stack of papers that has been plaguing my desk for months. Isn't that GREAT! People describe me as an organized person... for some reason. I think I am more OCD than organized though. I can never seem to get a grip on paperwork though. Today they are all filed though! I need to go buy some more hanging file folders for a few files, but other than that, the paper work is done! YIPPIE.
Other items on the agenda for today were:
1.Unload the dishwasher
2.Three loads of laundry
3.Type minutes from last neighborhood association meeting
4.Vacuum
5.Dust
6.Clean my bedroom

I am currently sitting on my couch enjoying my day off. Chores can wait...

I CAN'T WORK TODAY!!! I have so much to do and it is already 2:30. I am just staring at the computer... like I have nothing at all to do.

Too Cold!

When I arrived at the office this morning, it was 61 degrees in my office! Now I don't know about you, but 61 is a little bit chilly to work in. Luckly for me, I wore a thermal shirt underneath my shirt. My torso is at least a little bit warmer than the rest of my body. Like my fingers for instance. Do you know that it hurts to type when your fingers are cold? Well, I'm here to tell you it does!
The good news is, the heating repair came and "fixed" it ... again. They also said that they have nothing but problems out of this system. Call me crazy, but it seems like the time to tell us that was before we bought it! In my opinion, I think we need to call new repair people! If these jokers can't keep it running PLEASE let's find someone who can!
It is now 66! Yippee Skippy! If you're reading this, I hope you are warmer than I am!

So Sorry

Ok, so last week I was a little testy. Rest assured that I was really convicted about my attitude. You see Sunday a week ago, I taught on having joy from God. I told my wonderful middle schoolers that they couldn't let things of this world rob them of the joy. I let circumstances last week rob me of my joy.
Any guesses what this weeks lesson was? Romans 5:1-10, in a nutshell we are to rejoice in our trials and suffering because they lead to perseverance and perseverance to character, and character to hope. Why do we have hope? Our hope is because of Christ's love for us. We can mess up, be mean, and well just be human, but if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior then our sins are covered by His blood. All we have to do is ask.
Is His grace and forgiveness a free pass? Certainly not! Asking God to forgive me for my nasty attitude last week and especially for my nasty words toward one of His children is the beginning. I also felt compelled to ask my friends and co-workers for their forgiveness and also thanked them for being there for me. Which leads me to the reason for this post. To ask my blogger friends to forgive me and to thank each and every one of you who offered your words of encouragement through comments last week.
Certainly there are people who will read this and wonder why in the world I am apologizing. After all, this is my blog a place to write and express myself, my feelings, and activities as well as my joys and concerns. As true as that is, I try to live by a statement I heard as a teenager. "Be careful of the life you lead, you may be the only Bible some people ever read"
Have a great day!

3WW #2

Welcome to Three Word Wednesday. Each week, Bone will post three (or more) random words. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write something using all of those words. It can be a few lines, a story, a poem, anything. Bone will also attempt to write something using the same words.
Leave a comment if you participate. Many fun and interesting people might visit your blog.
This week’s words are:
WEEKEND
UNEXPECTED
CARE

Last weekend I received and unexpected call from an exboyfriend. I stepped into the roll of friend without missing a beat. He needed that friend to listen to him. I didn't care that I was listening to him groan about his most recent ex girlfriend. He needed me and I was there as a friend. Then Tuesday she called and without missing a beat, he bumpped me out of the friend seat.
I'm tired of being the nice girl. I am sick to death of being taken for granted. Maybe I will start acting my age. I will be shallow, look out for only me, and spend ungodly amounts of money on clothes and makeup. Being mature, kind, and caring doesn't seem to be getting me anywhere. First he was gone as a boyfriend/mate and I was sad. Now, I open up as a friend and it hurts all over again.
Ok my rant is over. Those of you who know me, know that I will never give up on love or most anything else. I am, despite my life not being on the route that i would like, a very happy and content girl! Have a great week everyone!

Fibro Fit

Well for the last 5 months I have been fighting my fibromyalgia more so than normal. I have had a lot more fatigue and pain lately, and had to come home from work after only an hour today. I must admit that I am getting a little bit scared. From all of my research over the years, fibro is supposed to plateau and stay at that level. Just as in diagnosing the syndrome changes are considered permanent after 6 months. If that is true, my new level of pain on a scale from 1-10 is now a 6! My baseline pain/fatigue was my old 4. Basically when I started feeling bad, on a scale from 1-10 I described my pain as a 4. So eventually the 4 became my new 1. Now my level is a 6 (7 years ago that would have been a 10). I am in so much pain and can't seem to concentrate on anything. It is so frustrating!
I hate not being able to do the things that i want to do. I love to work, both in my job and with my house. Now I don't have the streghnth or stamina to do the things that I want to do. Oh well, my only option is to keep going. I can't keep letting it get me. I will be at work tomorrow for the whole day.

Credit Cards

I think it should be illeagal for credit card or any billing company to have due dates on days that they don't post payments. I am cutting up my Bank of America Visa credit card. I am sick of them making Sunday due dates yet not posting payments made (even through their on-line site)after 3:00pm on Friday. Several years ago their was a huge lawsuit against Fleet b/c they were doing the same thing and making a killing through late payment fees. Unfortunatly the companies got smart and now have language protecting them in their disclosures. Well I for one am sick of it, and the card is no longer being used. Take that BoA this $6,000 a year customer is taking her credit card business to Citi.

Roasted Corn, Corndogs, and cows

Any guesses where I spent the last week? I was at The Alabama National Fair! Oh Yeah! You read right I spent the whole week at the fair. Not only did I spend the entire week at the fair, I got paid to be there. Oh yeah I definitely went into the right career field. Granted by Saturday I had my fill of the fair, but it was a nice week out of the office none the less.
I really didn’t want to be at the fair at first. I just stuck it in the bottom of a stack of papers for a while. A few weeks ago (literally like 3 weeks ago) I was told we were going to have a booth at the fair. I reluctantly agreed only thinking of how much of my budget was about to be spent on this “inexpensive” way to be in the community. Grand total approximately $2,300.
We talked about our Kirby Club account for kids and CU Succeed for teens most of the week. I also mentioned our CD rates quite a few times, 4.98% APR for 7 months. I found out Friday that a couple I spoke with on Wednesday came in and opened a $25,000 7 month CD. Sure wish I got commission or something ;)
I wound up driving south on Friday because my Aunt had a heart attack last week. She is still in ICU, but overall I think the outlook is good. It was nice being home for a little while, but I don’t think I will ever move back home. It is such a long drive to get to anything down there! I walked a few miles with my mom Saturday morning then watched the Bama game. Later I went to my dad’s and we grilled out and watched the AU game.
So there was my week. Here’s to another great one!

	Duncan Hunter Score: 34	Agree Taxes Health Care Abortion Social Security Line-Item Veto Energy Marriage Death Penalty	Disagree Iraq Immigration Stem-Cell Research
-- Take the Quiz! --

Sisters

I got this in an e-mail. I tried to track down the source, but had no luck. It is a sweet story.

Sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

“Don't forget your Sisters,” she advised, swirling the tealeaves to the bottom of her glass. “They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.”

Remember that “Sisters” means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. “You'll need other women. Women always do.”

What a funny piece of advice! the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to all the women who help make your life meaningful. I just did.

This week has been long

You know what, that is an understatement. This week SUCKED! Plain and simple it has just sucked. Normally that isn't a word I use. I don't just throw it around casually but this week that I have lived through completely deserves it.
We are in between bosses at work. Which means that I am essentially responsible to 3 people instead of my old 1 person. I put in 13 hours Wednesday, 11 hours Thursday, and a normal day Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. I could have possibly used some comp time on Friday, but I have too much to do to not be at work. I opened my work e-mail this morning and there was a post on the Comala blog totally railing a post I wrote Friday. A post that I might add, I was very proud of writing. Now I am trying to think of a response before approving the post Monday morning. There is some sort of tropical disturbance in the gulf that is creating havoc in my poor body. And finally, Bama lost tonight.
Now me being the positive person I am I am trying to find something good about this week. Ok I have one, we have about 100 new members in Greenville. Our commercial is almost finished. I got a great massage Friday. My eye exam went well and my prescription is the same as last year. And... I'm single again. Ok how is that we left on a positive note.

Orange Beach

I love the beach! Tell me what you think Bone ^_^ I am a mean list maker!


The group @ dinner.

Mission Trip Update

I have decided not to go to Costa Rica next year. I have prayed about it and it just doesn't feel like the right time. Not to mention no one in my family wants to go with me. My little bro said "I'm not leaving the country!" There was no pursuading him to get on a plane.


Each of the last 3 years has been filled with so much change that I pause to think about where I will be in 10 months. I would have to use almost all of my built up vacation time, and then what would I do if Mr. Right came along and wanted to marry me? I wouldn't have any time left for a nice honeymoon.


Nope, not next year, but I will return one day!


Melanie and Melanie in 2004

3WW #1

Welcome to Three Word Wednesday. Each week, Bone will post three (or more) random words. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write something using all of those words. It can be a few lines, a story, a poem, anything. Bone will also attempt to write something using the same words.
Leave a comment if you participate. Many fun and interesting people might visit your blog.
This week’s words are:
Burning
Quietly
Taxi



Last week I received my yearly e-mail announcing the details of the Costa Rica Mission Trip. I sat quietly reading the e-mail and thinking about the wonderful times I have had on past trips. There is such a burning desire in my heart to go back to Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the only place on earth that I don't mind sweating. I can stay out all day working on the churches or with the children there. I love the people that I meet. Costa Rica is also the only place I have ever taken a taxi by myself. I would love to go back next year. I only have a few weeks left to decide. I am going to call my little bro this afternoon when he gets out of school and see if he would want to go next year. He will be 14 then and we get along pretty well when Momma and Daddy aren't around.

Money questions

Yesterday I got paid. Today I have around $30 in my acount. By the end of the day, I will put up my finacial breakdown of the last month. Yes that is right. My check register is going online. Right here on this very blog! People say show me your checkbook and I will show you your priorities. Well, I am having trouble figuring out my priorities. So, maybe you can assist me. Check back later this week and tell me if you think I am living a balanced life. In the mean time, read this article on one of my favorite websites. I don't go there unless I can handle a conviction

Monday Monday Monday

Here it is almost 4 and what have I accomplished since lunch? Not much of anything!

Work week

I get so little done in the afternoons. I wonder if it would be possible to work from like 6-2:30 with a break at 11:30 for lunch. That would be so much better. I hope I can do that one day. Oh well back to staring at something work related on my computer screen.

Crap! I just ate my last whopper and didn't even realize it :( that stinks!