Meli's world

In the past few months, a lot has changed. The biggest has been me finally tackling my weight and being successful at losing 30 pounds so far. I have been eating healthy and even tried cross fit as my workout. It was intense and there were things I'd never thought I'd do but everyday I pushed myself a little more and pushed my body to new limits. My least favorite thing to do and probably the most painful; the one thing that pushed my lungs and legs to the point of puking, was running. So I found the verse Hebrews 12:1 and used my spiritual race as a reminder of how much to physically push myself to persevere and to "run" as well. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,  the pioneer and perfecter of faith" - Hebrews 12:1-2 However, this week as this verse ...

This past week I was fortunate enough to take a family vacation to Colombia. My parents homeland. A nation I had not visited since 2004. It was a privilege to be able to see family and relatives I missed and I was able to go with my parents, husband, kids and my sister, husband and nephews. Though we were staying in Cali, the city. We were able to spend a few days in a town called Darien up in the mountains with a splendid view of Lake Calima. This was my view. With plenty of land. Two guest houses. An outdoor kitchen and patio. A pool on the edge and chickens down below. It was a perfect kick off to the vacation for some relaxation and family time. Except, everything at this height scared me. The kids running around. Horse playing. Being kids. -- frightened me. There were hills and cliffs and edges. And a sidewalk without railings that separated the two guest houses. Plus the pool that seemed almost like an infinity pool that was very close to a cliff.  I feel like I spent t...

I find so many of the lessons God teaches me come through parenting. The week before last, I encountered one of those situations as a mom that made me feel like Momma bear ready to protect her cubs at all cost. My son Emmanuel, has been dealing with a difficult kid all year long. I found that it seemed like no matter what, it was difficult for my son to get along with this boy. He told me stories of this boy being rude, calling others names, and making fun of anything my son did including him getting new glasses. Our response as parent, was always for Emmanuel to choose kindness and respond with an encouragement for the kid to remind him he could do better. Emmanuel was slowly losing his patience.  And I couldn't understand why they budded heads so much when they were once friends in 1st grade. I didn't address any of these stories with my son's teacher until the day he came home telling me the other boy kicked him. That same day an email went out to my son's te...

If I am going to be honest, when I started this blog I wanted to name it Meli's Messes, because when it comes to marriage, and motherhood, I feel I have made a lot of messes of it all. I struggle with feeling inadequate and like a complete failure at times. I am not sure what triggers this when I thought of myself as "confident" and the fact my truth is rooted in God's word (for the most part). Perhaps it is the pictures we paint on social media of perfection. Perhaps its our brains are oversaturated with looking at images of other Moms who seem to do it all. Work 60 hours a week, meal prep cooking gourmet healthy meals for the family, working out 5 hours a day even becoming body builders, or running a home based business, all while being able to homeschool or be present at every school event, and looking completely wonderful with their blowdried hair looking like they came out of a salon or stepped out of a Tresemme commercial. Their nails are done...

Today, my husband of 12 years turns 30! and to think that I have known him since he was 16 leaves me a bit emotional. I am very blessed to call him mine and be the one who gets the privilege of being his wife. But if you happen to call him family, friend, or co worker, you are pretty blessed too. This guy exudes so much of what I hope to be one day..... loving, selfless, generous, humble and easy going....... Here are a couple of the reasons I love him. I am bypassing the traditional birthday card this year and going all out with this blog..... Babe, 1) You Seek Jesus first! - nothing is more important to you then seeking God, His kingdom, and His direction for your life! “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 ” 2) You serve! This has always been something that attracts me to you. you are so willing to help anyone in need and give up your time to do for others.... anyone needs help you are there! Mann...

Hello!!! Its been a while....again!!! I seemed to be the losing the passion to write that I had back in 2014. And I had to ask myself why? Why is it that 3 years ago when I started my sole mission was to encourage others in their walk or point them through Christ using my experiences and testimony..... And now I sometimes believe the lies that say I have to live this perfect life before I can share with anyone. The lie that tells me my experiences do not matter or that I am not in a higher position then anyone to be speaking into their lives. The lie that tells me I am not a good mother or wife or even Christian so what I say does not matter...... and what lies they are!!! I took a spiritual gifts test a couple weeks ago as part of a connect group at my church, and my top response was exhortation. This is what it means::: And it hit me. I was convicted immediately..... my blog mission and vision was always to do exactly that. And yet lately I had decided I either d...

Hello! I haven't been writing much and I surely miss it. But God definitely gives us seasons. The past season was a busy one. Busy at work, at church and the kids school and soccer. This season, we decided to stop letting busyness consume us, take it back a bit and only be fully committed to a few things. I found that in my busyness trying to do for others, for God, for my family.... I was feeling drained. Mentally, emotionally and physically. My health was suffering and I even gained weight despite new workout routines. I was taking on too much. and I was afraid to admit it. I was afraid to say I couldn't do it all. I finally broke a couple weeks ago after a women's conference at our church titled "Simply Jesus". It was God speaking to me letting me know all I need is Jesus. Alone time with Him, seeking Him, pursuing Him.  A reminder to Abide and Remain in HIM. The vine. God spoke to me that day and I was reminded to see myself in HIS truth. Since tha...

  If any of you read my 2016 wrap up blog, then you would know the word "Go" is the word from God for 2017 for me personally. And I have been meditating on this verse: Mark 16:15 that reminds me we are instructed to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation". And that has been something I have thought about a lot, because as much as I love Jesus, as much as I write and no matter how much I love teaching, I know I need growth in the area of evangelizing and telling people the good news. A couple days ago on my lunch break, I went outside to about one of the five new picnic tables around our property, A picnic table in the middle of the parking lot is where I sat to blog on my phone. The blog was going to be about a lesson I am learning as I parent Emeli, but instead this is what I got. A man who walked past me in the lot, came back around and asked if I minded him sitting with me. Of course I answered "no". And once he sat ...

The sun rises on 2017, as the sun set on 2016! And a new year is always time to reflect on what has been. At the beginning of 2016, God gave me the word MORE. Which I thought was so vague. Yet looking back, I see God makes no mistakes. And the word more was going to describe and encompass so many areas of my life. First it started with more GROWTH. More seeking God's direction for my life. We started the year off in a church wide study entitled free and even joined Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes. This series along with these classes convinced us there was more to living than being slaves to debt and that God has called us to have freedom to be generous givers. This was just the beginning of the journey this mentality would send us. There was also more serving....in the kids ministry. Yup, Saturday nights remained our night to teach, to lead and to give God our time to sow into kids lives while their parents get their time with Jesus. It has been ama...