Meli's world

This past weekend, we decided to take the kids to watch Peanuts. I grew up reading Charlie Brown comics in the Sunday paper and loved all the TV Holiday specials so much. I thought it would be a great day for our kids to gain appreciation for these old classic characters. And Emeli thinks Snoopy is just the cutest dog ever, so they were just as thrilled. We, as parents, are very selective with what movies we support at the box office and what  we allow our kids to watch, but with a "G" rating and good reviews it sounded like something that would really just be innocent fun cartoons. We didn't know what to expect as far as the story line, but as someone who lives in a cartoon world in my own head, I was pleasantly surprised there were no villains. Besides a red airplane that Snoopy daydreams and writes about. The main story line was Charlie Brown's "inadequacy". He always felt he was just ackward, with no real talent, or anything to make him stand ou...

Today is the end of a season for our family. For the past 4 years my husband has had a second job to help cover expenses and to continue to provide for our family. Today I can happily say its his last day! He took on this job 4 years ago.. (when this picture was taken and we were expecting Emeli) and it has been a great blessing and income for our family as we  prepared for the new addition, to buy a home and just tackle all the expenses that come as homeowners and parents. We haven't gotten rich yet and we can still plan for those unexpected expenses but its no longer a necessity. Our focus as a family has shifted into having more time for one another, investing in the kids real family time, in friendships, and in continuing to serve in the Kids ministry at our church. We have realized there are things far more important than making money and time is something it can't buy. I have to say it scares me a bit to let go of the extra income, but I know I will love my husband ...

Mi amor, 10 years ago today we got ready in our black and white attire and headed to court with our dads.... to get married! I  remember walking together in that court room, bashful, nervous, and without really comprehending the commitment we were making. I remember thinking if we could make it for the next ten years, we could make it for life. I knew then the road would be hard, unknown, doubtful, and full of obstacles, but I didn't know then it was possible to love you more now. I loved you then. I was crazy head over heels, no logical thinking-in love with you. You made me smile, laugh, study, work, not wear make up, laugh at everything, not worry about what anybody had to say. We grew up together...from school, studying, skipping, graduating, learning how to drive, getting jobs, and becoming adults. We had plans, we made mistakes, we overcame, we set goals, we made two beautiful Em & Ems and have grown closer together than I could...

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...

Last night we decided to make it a movie night since I was sick all day. We always like to pick family movies that we can enjoy with the kids. We ended up watching "Mom's Night Out". The movie was all about a stay at home who had 3 kids, and always felt overwhelmed with everything. These kids' misbehavior was definitely exaggerated for the movie. She was a clean fanatic who was also trying to run a blog. She seemed a bit OCD trying to have everything in order and under control all the time and there was so much in her that I could relate to! As a mom, there were so many expectations I held in my mind before I actually had kids. I still have expectations in my head on a daily basis. All ones that I'm learning to let go of. In my mind, the kids will be great, we will have a nice family meal, do school work and still have family time or reading time. In my mind everyone will say yes mom and get things done. In my mind, I won't burn the rice. The kids will eat ...

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....