Meli's world

  A couple months ago I prematurely announced on my facebook to family and friends that I have decided I want to be a teacher.... and I still do. Except with the thought of loans and school debt, and lots of praying, came the selling of our home. Selling our home allowed us to wipe 12 years of debt and also to look forward to going to school and obtaining a Bachelor's in Elementary education which is my goal and dream job. However, in these months we have been going through the process of selling not only our home but also getting rid of a lot of our possessions, moving, and still continuing kids ministry at church, I have had a lot of time to think, pray and reflect. And wait. I didn't sign up to start in the fall like I originally wanted since life has been hectic. But I'm thinking God wanted me to wait since my heart doesn't feel as confident anymore. I know the heart is deceitful above all things, but making a life decision like this this definitely h...

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...

That's it. The kids are off to bed. His uniform and shoes are all laid out. His transformers backpack is packed and his lunchbox is set out in the kitchen. His first day of first grade awaits him. And all I want to do is cry. When I was a kid, I hated school. It had a lot to do with not knowing any English as I started kindergarten and being placed in an E.S.O.L. Class with a teacher who only spoke Creole. I was sent to timeout all the time for not following directions. Directions I could not understand. After various doctor visits, plenty absences and even trips to the psychologist, they finally found out what was wrong. I hated school! Eventually, I got a new teacher, learned English and made friends yet somehow the damage was already done. I dreaded going there. I can still smell the expo markers and the BBQ sauce from the cafeteria. Perhaps that's why I graduated early and never went to college. Thankfully, our son has had a different experience. English is his firs...

In the times we live in today, its hard to believe how much technology has invaded our everyday lives. As a millennial, I have been able to enjoy pre-cell phone days to smart phone days where your phone does everything the yellow pages, phone book, atlas, encyclopedia, newspapers, and Nintendo did for us a couple of years ago. All in one! Its knowledge, and entertainment all at the reach of your fingertips. As a parent, we have the choice to make as to how much and when we will introduce this technology to our kids. I found it disheartening this past weekend as I read in the New York Daily news, (yes on my phone), that they are finding more and more kids as young as 4 addicted to i-Phones and i-pads. Kids who lack the motor skills to play with building blocks and play-doh and can only swipe their fingers across a touch screen. It also showed they spend up to as much 4 hours a day attached to a tablet or phone. I can't make this up. However, I don't find it hard to believe....