God is in the details

Imagine, your husband leaves early one morning for a business trip. You go about your day with your regular routine, and all is well. Then you have an idea. I will try something new to break up the monotony of our day. Instead of having the kids play in the back yard, I will take them out front so they can ride their trike and Flintstones car in the driveway. So you move your vehicle, hall the 'vehicles' out and the kids are ready to go. They try to ride around to only find the driveway is so steep, they are flying downward towards the street.

You think, OK... we can let the kids ride the trike/car around the block. Trying to keep things fun because Daddy isn't coming home anytime soon. So you go inside to lock things up and decide - I don't need my cell phone. We won't be gone long. I don't need my bulky key chain. I'll just take our extra key. You close the door (with doorknob locked)... you begin to lock the deadbolt... and it hits you... the key you hold in your hand. is. only. for. THE. bolt-lock. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now you are officially locked out, without a phone, with your 2 kids.

That was our Sunday. (smile with gritted teeth)

Does anyone remember, way back in the olden days when we had phone numbers memorized?? Those were the good ole days. We have been in this house for 3 months now and we have met our neighbors in the vague hello, but nothing major. The majority of our neighbors are young marrieds without kids - our schedules are WAY different and we rarely see each other. They are out when we are in, vice versa.

When I locked the door, one of our neighbors was outside AND I had just finished talking to them. Now I had the privilege of walking across the street to say (like a helpless dame) "I've locked the door and I don't have a key and my husband is 6 states away and my phone is inside too. (smiling awkwardly while waiting for the offer to help as my kids are roaming all over their nicely manicured lawn/flower bed that they were watering.) They offer help with the 'don't feel stupid' comment. Sorry - too late - I'm wearing the stupid sign already!

The guy is trying to help me but there was really nothing they could do, other than break a window. He offers me his phone and for a brief moment I wanted to vomit. Whose phone number do I know!!!!?????? I mean really? I almost called myself because that is the only number I really know. Since we've been in Alabama my husband has had 2 numbers and mine was his first number. Now he has a new number and I always try the wrong number, when going by memory.

Thank GOD I did remember his number. I call him, he calls someone with a key, they 'hope' this is a key to our home and we wait. This all was in about 1 hours time. I tell the neighbor thank you and take the kids into the back yard. What a great idea - we should have done this when we first ventured out! sigh As the back yard gate closes behind me I feel the urge to sob. (The helpless poor me why is this happening to me with snot sob!) As I begin to let the river of tears flow, I think about my kids and the opportunity to build their faith.

Last week my Beth Moore Bible Study (Believing God) was on 'I believe I am who God says I am' so the topics were fresh on my mind. I told HC and JB 'I believe God will help us'. HC said 'Yes Momma, God WILL help us.' I said, 'We are His special children and He takes care of us.' She smiles. Meanwhile, I am thinking {God, you HAVE to show up for us!! I am alone! I have no one to depend on BUT You! You cannot leave me out here with two kids.} Cue the hunger pangs for the kids and the weepy 'I want my blanket! I'm thirsty.' cries. The comforts of being inside your home. One more hour passes and I decided to peek in the front and see if anyone was outside and found the guy with the key. He tried the key AND! IT! WORKED!!!!!! Our neighbors were out and celebrated with us. I have never felt more alone AND thankful in all my life!!!

God is good! God IS in the little details of our lives. God helps you when you are having a stupid moment! :) I sure am glad for that!

When Dad's away..

I shared my ideas for making it through the week sans Dad at Multi-Tasking Moms today. You may have ideas I could use on future trips. Take a look and let me know what you do!

Introducing.. a few blogs you should visit!

I thought I would let you know about 3 of my, real life, friends who recently joined the blog world. I have waited to share them with you so that they could find their blog rhythm. They are great ladies who are full of fun and faith. They each have a unique style and I think you may enjoy visiting them as much as I do. I know they would appreciate your visit, if you decide to peek in on their blogs and give them a little bloggy love !


Kristy is a SAHM of 2 and she Home Schools, just like me! Ok, not just like me! haha She is SUPER organized and finishes every detail. She is the leader of our local Home School group and has been Home Schooling her girls for some time. She is a treasure of information and full of the Word too! I am so thankful that our paths crossed this summer. She has been (and still is) an unexpected blessing to our family.

Ole Miss Mom is a SAHM of 3 and boy is she on the move. I have never seen anyone more energetic after having a baby in my life. She is fun, to say the least. Her older 2 kiddos and mine are the same age and have become great friends. They were some of the first people we met when we moved to Alabama 2 years ago. It is great having a friend who can relate to the woes of your day but who keeps her head on straight too. She is as proud to be a Mommy and Wife as I am. Yes we have bad days but that is what they are - bad days (not the end of the world). Oops, enough about that! You will enjoy her blog!

The Journey is another SAHM friend we made 2 years ago. She co-led our play-date group and that group of ladies/kids were a life saver to me!!!! She is beginning the Home School journey and we have really enjoyed starting this adventure together. She is a great friend and such a humble and gracious example of Christ. She is a mother of one son, and he is a bundle of excitement. He keeps her on her toes, just like JB does to us! haha

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Robert M. McDowell
30 years old from Deer Park, Texas
2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
April 01, 2007


Sgt. Robert M. McDowell was a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Originally from Deer Park, Texas, he joined the Army in February 1998 and completed training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

In June 1998 he was assigned to Fort Hood where he served until being reassigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment at Katterbach Kaserne in Germany in January 2003. While a member of 1st Infantry Division, he served as an AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter repairman.

McDowell was assigned to Fort Drum in March 2006 after completing military police reclassification training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He was deployed to Bosnia from February to September 1999.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Army Aviator Badge.

Sgt. McDowell was killed when and IED struck his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. He is survived by his wife and son, of Evans Mills, N.Y., and a daughter, Madison McDowell, of New Mexico.

Also killed in the attack were Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick and Sgt. William G. Bowling. You can find more information about them at this site.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your blog, you can go here.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Mary at Not Before 7 is the gracious host of Tiny Talk Tuesday. I hope you will visit her site and see what all the little ones are saying today. My tiny talkers are HC - my 4 year old daughter and JB -my 2.5 year old son.

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The other morning JB climbed into bed with me and laid down. He then said, 'My feet aren't far away.' Needless to say I was confused. So I asked what he meant. He said, 'Wook, wook at you feet. My feet aren't far away.' He was saying his feet do not reach as far as mine did. He really cracks me up! I was amazed that he had that much understanding, at 2.5 years old, as well as that he noticed where his feet were vs. mine.

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The other day JB was telling me about eating Peanut Butter Toast.

JB said, 'My peanut butter toast went down, down, down, down to my poop.'

I asked where should his poop go and he said 'In my diaper.' He knows the answer is 'in the potty' but he didn't say so. I was curious at this new development, he normally says 'In the potty.'

So I asked, "Doesn't your poop go into the potty?"

He said, 'No, it goes in my diaper. I can't poop on potty 'cause I will fall in the potty.'

Hmm.. Maybe we are on to something. Maybe he is afraid of the big potty. That explains his defiant refusal to use said potty.
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Daddy: Where are your clothes boy?
JB: I'm nuggad (naked). I not wear my clothes. (He was only wearing his diaper.) This should explain all the recent photos I have of JB in his diaper only.
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HC: Yummy! I sure do like these rotten (Ahem... Au Gratin) potatoes.

Thanks for helping me with my siggy Leigh Ann. It is perfect. You are a talented and fun friend! :)

I can't get enough!

A fun time at lunch!
Look at this form! Can I tell you that when my JB throws the football (aka 'hutball') it spins like a spiral. When I throw it the ball looks like it is tumbling in the air. JB has technique at 2.5!

My HC tries to get in on the sports action. She is such a trooper AND such a girl! I love her desire to join in on the fun no matter what! Here she is catching the ball. So much for keeping her eye on the ball.

Mathetes Award

Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) is to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. Each one of these women are true disciples by the words they write and the message they share. I am blessed to be allowed to visit each one of them through their blogs. I know they are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the spirit of this award, the rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "Disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1) this post as the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ..."

Ginger, a precious friend, has honored me this award. Here are her kind words to me:

"Melodye - If there ever was a sweet spirited woman of God Melodye just shines like a beacon in this area. She is so full of God's goodness and her gentle ways make you smile time and time again. Just reading about her love of God, her love for her husband, and her love of her two children will inspire any wife and/or mother. She is a true inspiration to young moms everywhere. Keep up the great job, Mel! Even on the tough days you radiate pure joy."

I now have the task and honor of passing this award on to five other deserving bloggers.

Happi is one that quickly comes to my mind when I think of the word disciple. She is such a humble and kind lady. She often shares how God is showing her things, through her sons, as well as the way God directs her path. Happi's name, whether real or her pseudo name, is fitting as far as I can tell. Happi is full of energy and fun. She seems to be someone who cares for others and shines with the love of God. Thank you Happi for having such a welcoming and refreshing blog to visit.

Amanda is definitely living her life of faith for all to see. She asks some of the tough questions and she always gets me thinking! Her path right now seems a little unclear to her but I know God is in the middle of it all!! We often see the mysteries of life as confusing, but those are usually the sweetest God memories later on down the road. Amanda is so real and genuine. She doesn't claim to know everything but she isn't scared to put the difficult question out there. She is boldly stepping out into the unknown waiting for the whisper of where to go next. Thank you Amanda for being so authentic and, at times, for being a crazy silly nut! :)

Alycia is a treasured jewel I've recently found. Her role as a military wife and Home School mom is one that definitely leads her seeking her Father God. She has such a precious factor about her. I am sure that her blog and her prayers are truly a sweet aroma to our Lord. Her kindness and gentleness are so evident. I do not know her very well but the little I do know of her is lovely.

Mary is someone I find uplifting. She shares her life stories and she usually finds a God moment hiding within each story she shares. I wish I would recognize my God moments more often. I am afraid I do not slow down enough to take them in. She often shares Scriptures and the insight God gives her is really encouraging. Mary I thank you for the Word you have shared and I pray you will continue to share these nuggets of wisdom with us all!

Tracey is a Pastor's Wife and someone who is easy to relate to! She has an abundance of wisdom to share and she often does so with humor. God laughs too you know! Tracey is another one who can find God in the every day moments of our lives. She is a mom on the go these days, so her posts have been few. But when she does share, it is worth the wait. Thanks for the insight and the fun Tracey.

Now ladies, it is your turn to pass this award on to deserving bloggers. Thanks again Ginger, you are truly a worthy recipient of this award and I am humbled by your kind words.

Post #222. This may not mean anything to anyone else but it does to me! Blessings.

Saying goodbye is hard to do!

Goodbye #1 ranking. Goodbye. It has been a nice ride but tonight we must part ways. May the next #1 team lose miserably after this honor is bestowed upon them. May my Tigers continue the remaining season with win after win. May my Tigers continue to stand strong. LSU. My dear LSU. You fought hard, but Hester was injured one play too soon. Three overtimes and injury upon injury held us back from another 'W'! The sting of an 'L' on the record is too much to bear, but we must..... we must go on!! We must fight each game as though we ARE #1.

Even with a loss, my heart still screams.... LSU, LSU. Tiiiigers. Fight Fight FIGHT!!!!

Praise Report

Here is an update for those of you who remember John L., the 5 year old who had surgery last week and then a fever. He is doing well!! His liver enzymes were high pre-surgery and the doctors were concerned that there may be another serious problem on top of the existing problem. They found that his enzymes are going back to normal now. They believe the high enzymes were from a few meds he was taking. That was a huge concern for the family.

I saw the little guy yesterday afternoon (he had surgery last Friday) and he looked fine. He looked and seemed normal in every way. He had his first bowel movement (which he wasn't supposed to have a solid one again from the report I heard) and his mom was ecstatic! He is going back to school next week. I am so surprised by his recovery. He really is a tough little guy! His mom is understandably thrilled that he is not in pain anymore and that he is back to having a little more normal in his life.

Thank you to all who prayed for him!! It was definitely appreciated.

Another praise - HC only had 2 incidents with her rash. Both incidents were after her naps but that was it. They looked like hives the second time she had them. We still don't know what (if anything) triggered them but she is doing fine as well!! Thank you all for your prayers!