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 ...

  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 ...

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...

Once upon a time, there was a girl who started a journey to tackle all the "buts" and excuses she'd been making and finally lose weight. That journey started a year ago, and  now that she's finally reached her goal, she lived healthily ever after..... -The End. As a kid I loved reading stories that ended like that. But that's not what happened. A year ago, I had my mind made up to conquer my struggles and embark on a journey of healthy choices and exercise. I can say that I'm not where I envisioned.... I can't even say I succeeded at losing weight or on maintaning a healthy lifestyle. I was set, I was determined and somewhere along the way I lost all motivation. Most of you may remember the post I wrote on my 26th birthday last year where I finally pinpointed all the buts I'd been using to not tackle the weight issue. I have struggled with so much of this burden for so long. I go from being disciplined and ready to make a change planning meals a...

  I know it's been a while since I last wrote, so why not break the dry spell with what I've been going through and what I'm learning. School started about a month ago here in Florida. For my little one Emeli, that meant starting pre-k. I'm not sure what she envisioned it to be but she was super excited. She talked about it for weeks, we went shopping and she couldn't wait to start. The first week went ok. Then the next week, she hated the place. She was refusing to go. Crying about it at home. Didn't want to talk about school at all and just was making herself miserable and anxious about it. So we did what every parent would do and switched schools. She started there fine too. And it seemed to be a more hands on and playing curriculum than the other school. However a couple days into it, again she was refusing to go. Except this time we knew she loved it. She was coming home talking about her friends, all she did and how nice her teacher was. Thi...

  I tried to write this while we were in Trinidad last week and I was inspired by my surroundings. Mountains!!! Something we never see in Florida. It's funny cause just a couple of days before that I heard Usher blaring somewhere and I remembered what I considered my favorite song at one point ::: Moving mountains. You know the sappy love-break up R&B song???    About 5 years ago I could relate to everything that song was saying. A love gone wrong. The bad taking away the good. lyrics from Usher's "Moving Mountains" Trying and trying and nothing seeming to work. I really contemplated divorce at this point in my life. My husband and I had been married close to 6 years and had a baby boy. We were struggling to make it out of my parents house and everything seemed to be a fight. I don't know looking back I felt a lot of resentment for entering marriage so young with nothing, struggling to find an affordable place where we could feel ...

I think its awesome how God works with me in themes. I'll be going through stuff not knowing what's going on and He will point me in the right direction with just a song or a verse.  The past couple of weeks I have been consumed by a million little things. Colds, allergies, my husband, the kids, the volunteer hours, the budget, the bills, the appointments, my discipline and self control and failure to keep up with my eating, my exercising....and even things that I pick up from those that I love and I wish I could help. I didn't feel stressed or overwhelmed cause I rarely ever admit to it. But I haven't even felt like I could write.  However as I stopped at a red light yesterday, one of my favorite worship songs came on and at that red light that took two cycles to turn green on me, I had no choice but to be there soaking in the lyrics.  But the chorus really got me and it said::: "I'm running to your arms, the riches of your love will always be enough, not...

I always love posting pictures of my family on facebook. They're the greatest blessings I get to experience day in and day out here on earth. However its funny I was thinking to myself last night at Emmanuel's school trying to get them to pose for a picture how long it takes me to get one where everyone's eyes are open, looking at me and posing nicely. Yet somehow I always manage to find a picture that looks perfect to post. A little lightening here, add a filter, a border and voila! Picture perfect. The picture above was taken last night during Emmanuels school family night . I had to catch Emeli while she was sitting freezing since she refuses to take pictures lately. And the picture of my husband and son was taken right after a little back talk and attitude from Emmanuel after we splurged a little on books he wanted from the book fair. As we left and we got in the car I saw my picture and I loved what it captured. A nice night out being involved, close, and l...

Many of you who read my blogs are people who know me, or have known or met me at some point in their lives. Just because we talk, doesn't mean you know me, who I am, who I've been, or what I've been through. I'm sure most of you see me as this "religious" married mother.... Some of you may remember me as the girl that was barely in high school, or the boy crazy smart overachiever middle school girl, or some of you now know me as the church going woman I am today. But all of this is only bits and pieces of what has made me.... And what is still molding me and changing my life by His grace and power. I don't tell everyone I know my story, I am sure not everyone is interested. But I believe our personal stories can be of help to others and I have no reason to be ashamed of the mistakes I've made. I was raised "Catholic". Not a devout catholic, but I did get "baptized" by the sprinkling of the water as a baby, did my first commun...

  I never thought too much about the word hope until 2 nights ago. This is when I sat at my church while Australian-born world wide evangelist Nick Vujicic was speaking. This man has gone around the world bringing hope to millions of people in schools, business meetings, and churches. He who was born without legs or arms has traveled around the world, to tell people about the purpose of living. His depression and loneliness he dealt with as a teen, led him to question his purpose in life. This man went from living a life without limbs, to a life without limits.   Have you found your purpose? If you haven't, you haven't found what to live for. If you haven't found what to live for, then you're living for the sake of living. If you're living for the sake of living, you will find yourself searching for more. And nothing tangible will ever satisfy.   Even in dealing with the tragic passing of someone known worldwide like Robin Williams, who was a...