Meli's world

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...

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...

Today, in honor of Father's day, I would like to dedicate this blog to my father, husband and all the wonderful men taking on the role of fatherhood. I think its so easy for the media and the culture to give men a bad rap as deadbeat dads, but never acknowledging the men that do step up, and not only have kids, but become their provider, their guidance, and their discipline. Growing up, I have always been so thankful for my father. He came to this country as a young man with nothing. No English, no money. Just his Visa and my great grandma's apartment in Chicago. He was never afraid of hard work though. He took all types of odd jobs and was always able to finally get my mom to move here from Colombia as well. They would later marry and start a family. I always looked at my dad as my hero. I couldn't be convinced that there was a harder working guy out there. Growing up, he worked 2 jobs, worked the overnight shift...sometimes 12 hours in a row and would still get ...