Meli's world

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...

  About 3 months ago, I was put on blood pressure medication. It upset me. It bothered me and I didn't tell many people about it. I rather avoid the lectures on how I wouldn't have hypertension if I only lost weight. I get it. I'm trying. However, I was rather relieved to hear that I was considered a mild case and we would start getting it under control with only 5mg of Lisonopril for three months and then re-evaluate. Hearing that most women who have pre-eclampsia, which I did in my first pregnancy are more likely to develop it, also took away the guilt feeling. Whether hereditary or weight related, it did help motivate me to  make healthier decisions in my diet and to start walking and getting some exercise in. But as a busy mom and wife, the 3 months went faster then I thought and I didn't schedule my follow up on time. I ran out of my pills that Tuesday since the doctors office was closed on monday, Memorial day. Thinking I could wait, my appointment was ...

This past week some days were cloudy, dark, and rainy with just a few hours of sunshine in between. And sometimes that's exactly the state of mind we fall in to. Cloudy, rainy and barely sunny.  I wallowed in self pity about almost everything and my mood was deteriorating fast.... it was like my mind went from Sunny Florida days to thunderstorms rolling in almost immediately like a typical summer afternoon. I was frustrated with my cravings and lack of weight loss despite doing more then ever before. I was frustrated with what seems to be the kids never ending fighting and bickering.  I was feeling annoyed by my husband despite him being the sweet loving guy who comes home to help me with dinner..... I was lamenting that right now is not a good time to pursue education.... I was even listening to the voice that says I can't blog about what I'm learning. ...... I haven't learned it yet. For the past two weeks, I was more attentive to my feelings then the word of...

Finally today I can say I have a brand new windshield! This past Friday, when I was leaving work I noticed my windshield had two small cracks. I don't park under a tree and it wasn't obvious it had taken a hit by anything. It was two lines that you couldn't even feel and I had no idea how they got there. It didnt seem to have a point of impact. It just seemed to have cracked within the glass itself.   I immediately went home to check where we could replace it and how much it would cost because I was worried it would break even more. Of course because of the weekend, the estimates we got were extremely high and I didn't want my weekend to be interrupted by having to take it somewhere to be fixed. The weekend went by and the windshield made it through so we were determined to find a place to take it to monday. When Monday came and I shared the story with my awesome knowledgeable coworker she told me it should be covered under my insurance. Duh!!! Why didn...

I know.... what a dramatic title. But most of you who know me know one of my favorites is Christian hip hop. And in the words of Lecrae, this is something I've been thinking about a lot the past couple of weeks. "If I die tonight, I gon' know that I Gave this with my everything If I die tonight If I die tonight, you ain't gotta cry Cause I know that Heaven waits If I die tonight"- Lecrae I started trying to eat healthy and clean a couple of weeks back.  I figured I would start feeling better more energetic and this time around I'd finally conquer my weight. Except, I started feeling like I hadn't before. Tired. Out of breath. No energy. Headaches. Sweating and feeling hot almost daily.  At first, I thought it was just my allergies and the b-12 deficiency I've dealt with in the past. But it was worse. And soon, I felt I couldn't exercise or have the energy to meal plan at the end of the day I wanted to sleep. one day, I looked at my hands...

Even though I was reminded I havent blogged in 52 days, I had to write my end of year blog. Before I can even think, plan or imagine what 2016 can hold for me, I have to reflect and thank God for the wonderful year 2015 has been. At the beginning of the year, I felt God tell me the word for the year would be BRAVE, and all I could imagine was to face the year with Courage, without Fear. So the year started like most with my birthday..... turning 26 and feeling great about where I am in this point at my life. I could hang on to a million regrets about not having gone to college or having a "career", but I look at my husband, my kids and all that we have created and i know i am right where God wants me. Its been His grace and mercy that have provided and continue to sustain me. I can say I didnt blog as much as I did last year, or as much as I wanted to. But I did feel like I was investing and being present in the moment with everything i was given. I have gained so muc...

Emmanuel, Manny, Manolo.... You turned 7 yesterday and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital in your preemie clothes that we now have on a teddy bear. It seems you were always determined to do things your way, coming into this world 5 weeks before your due date. We were not expecting you so early! Yet instantly you gave me courage and made me brave enough to have the c section I never wanted. None of the fears mattered at the moment. Only having you here safely in my arms. When you were first given to me, and I placed my eyes on you, I discovered love. I was forever changed by seeing your face, feeling your tiny 5 pound body, and being your mother. It has been the biggest blessing and privilege God has given me. Everyday, my thoughts, my actions, involve you and your wellbeing.  I know most people thought we were too young, but dad and I were convinced we wanted children. I prayed everyday I’d ge...

As I sit here an write this on my lunch break at work, I realize its the first lunch break in a while where I'm not running errands. I started so strong in my lunchtime walks, and then things just started coming up and well they just were no longer my priority. I realize life gets so hectic and all I want to do is scream sometimes:::: ahhhhh!!! This was the same thing that was trying to keep me from making it to church last night. I rushed. Got the kids dressed and fed but after rushing around, several tantrums, I was exhausted and just didn't want to go. I didnt want to go to the thing I needed the most : God's presence... Worshipping Him and taking my mind of everything that stresses me, and just getting into His word hearing what He had to tell me. Thank God I have a husband who promised me he wouldn't let me skip church service anymore. I find that before I knew Jesus, I was always trying to do. To accomplish and boasts on my academic achievements or awards...

It's funny as I start writing this I'm listening to my favorite Christmas song on the radio.... "Heard the bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns. Yet I tell you I am not Christmas biggest fan. I know you're thinking why not? I am a Christian and for most this is one of the most celebrated holidays recognized as the birth of Jesus. But I'm not really sold on that idea... The older I get the more I learn and no one knows for sure when Jesus was born nor is it bible ordained to celebrate His birth. Its a noble thought but my problem with Christmas is the pressures to buy, the lies of Santa, the excessiveness and the depression it may bring. What to address first? Its a holiday revolving around the thought of giving. Sure we are to be cheerful givers.... But the pressures this holiday brings is more than I can handle. Not everyone can afford to give so much. It seems the only reason Christmas was created was to make people put money into reta...

That day in the car something changed. I heard God. I felt His love. I saw His forgiveness. I saw my sin. I saw how far I'd come and how much wrong I had done. I saw that I had made the idea of this perfect love my idol. And now that it failed me and it hadn't been perfect, I was ready to give up. I'd made Emerald my idol, and even in my idea of "love", I hadn't been able to love him wholly and pure. All that love wasn't even able for me to extend my forgiveness to him as he had to me in the past. That day had to be the day mercy came down and found me right there in my car. I can't quite explain it. It was like I had been given a new set of eyes. I could feel the hurt of betrayal yet I could feel His love fill my heart. I could see the mess I was in, but I could see the pieces He could put back together. I could decide to quit and have that be the end to my dream, but He showed me it could a new beginning. He wasn't only working in me, but ...

High school started with me trying to follow Christ and  be different. I was meeting new people and had the chance to change myself without any one knowing me. But I can say I still truly hadn't surrendered my pride, my needs or my heart to Jesus. The minute a cute guy told me he liked me I was back to wanting a relationship. It was a battle wanting to live a life free of sin and dealing with the real world and high school and all the temptations it had to offer. But I kept on going to church, learning more of the Bible.... And I kept on longing for a relationship, with respect and no cheating. I wanted love. A couple months into high school, I met my husband as most of you already know. He was so different. He was a senior and more mature than any guy I had dealt with. He was a great student. He was friendly, outgoing, respectful and didn’t have a “player” reputation. We became friends. We ate lunch together everyday and we had so much in common. He was a believer ...