A Tour of Our Local Grocery Store

I heart Publix! There's just something about this store - it is always so clean and the staff is very friendly! Not to mention the bargains, so when I heard our home school group was going on a tour of the place - I was happy to sign us up! Here we are as we waited for the fun to begin. Lots of fun stacking cans!
Then it was time to begin the tour. Our tour guide was Boston Charles! He was a great guide. He made the time fly by!
We split our group into 2 groups. Here's our group beginning the tour.
Charles was calling for one of our students over the intercom. I was so glad we got the fun guide!
And the moment finally came - the opportunity for us to see what lies behind the double doors! Woohoo! (Even though I worked in a grocery store while I was in high school, I still thought it was fun to see the back of the store.)
Here he was showing us how they stack the goods on crates and lift them on the shelf.
He demonstrated this cool gadget! He even beeped the horn for us.
We peeked in several coolers and freezers. He was thorough.
The kids all signed in/out for work. I'm afraid he didn't expect them to be so hands on! :) They enjoyed the chance to press the buttons. Hopefully they didn't sign anyone in or out.
Then one of the butchers brought out a live lobster for us to see. The kids loved it!
Here's one of the Publix crew stocking the bakery and we found out that the dolly is called a float.
They were given hair nets when we passed by the bakery.
JB was not interested in the hair net. But the cookie was a welcome gift.
We toured the upstairs loft - where the offices are and then....
black out! I missed getting a shot of the view but.... it was neat to be up there when the power shut off. The emergency generators had a few lights on before we knew it. What a fun time. After the tour ended we picked up a few groceries and we were on our way home. We found out a tornado had hit down the road when the power shut down on us. We safely arrived home and took a nap while waiting for our electricity to turn on. It was an adventurous time in the end! I love field trip days!

Melodye is....thinking

What a whacky fun world facebook can be. I'm finding it to be a great way to keep in touch with friends and family who live hours away; and those who live minutes away for that matter. Sadly, life with kids offers little 'me' time and spending time with friends (without kids along for the ride) requires lots of schedule juggling. I say 'sadly' but I do not mean I do not enjoy my kids! I'm thrilled to wear the Mommy hat! Before we had HC we wondered if we could ever become pregnant, so my role as Mommy is truly cherished! That being said.... I do miss friends/family in my life these days! There just isn't enough time in the day, so thank God for facebook!

Anyway, let's move this along shall we? Tonight I realized that I think I am experiencing some sort of winter-itis. I don't know the official name because I am not accustomed to winter weather. Sure, I am fully aware that my friends in the Dakota's cannot relate to my version of winter - I think my winter = their spring. But none the less in the world of Melodye this winter has been the most consistently cold winter I've had the pleasure of experiencing in years. Truly! So that is the reason behind my winter blues maybe?

We need to get outside. The 4 walls of this house are squeezing my guts out as we speak! To top things off we (the kids and I) are recovering from a cold. I know.. wah! wah! Well, lately I've been thinking and for me that isn't necessarily a good thing. Thinking is good in and of itself but when it is a constant noise within your head it can make a person loopy! I think I am feeling loopy.

So tonight, on this evening of February 24th at 10:10 pm I am officially saying 'SHUT UP' to my mind! There has been much time to think, as we've been couped up in this winter cage. No more thinking! And if I happen to catch myself thinking and you are near... if you hear me say "Shhh.. or hush" or something to that end... don't take it personally. I'm just talking to my busy mind. I'm ready to get the kids outdoors again and live. Enough time sitting and hiding from the wind/rain/cold temps! Now it is time for spring - I am declaring it spring today!

I'm renewing my mind this very moment and I put a stop to the noise of thoughts. I'm ready to get out and live life again! Too much time spent thinking leads to many unnecessary rabbit chases. Usually unproductive ones at that.

Everyone Needs A Little!

I recently purchased the Kari Jobe CD and I am loving it. I just felt the urge to share the words of one of my new faves from this CD. Notice the language "ONE of my new faves". :) I likey this CD. I actually bought the last CD in our local Lifeway, I was so glad there was one saved just for me. :)

"Everyone Needs A Little"

Come all ye weary and ye broken. Come to the table of the Lord.
Come sing the song of the forgiven. Come lay your burden on the Word.

Come and find peace, everyone needs a little
Rest, everyone needs a little, Joy and a song to sing
in the darkest night. Life, even when it gets you down....
Hope will turn it all around, But love is the greatest of these.
Everyone needs a little.

Sing all ye saints and ye sinners. Call upon the mercy of the Lord.
Come sing the song of the redemption. Sing about the hope that is to come.

He will lift you up. He will lift you up higher than sorrow.
He will lift you up and cover your soul with healing.

It's such an upbeat and catchy song. I just wanted to share.
We all need a little peace, rest, joy, life, hope and LOVE! Everyone needs a little!

The Word

Be strong and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

Joshua 1:6-8

A Moment of Truth

No matter how many times I've been at the doorway of faith - I find faith challenging. Yes I know God is in control. Yes I know. Yes. I know. But it is so hard to take my hands off and trust that it truly is all His. To let it become what He so desires rather than what I desire.

A new walk of faith always brings me to a moment of decision. To let go again and trust, or to hang on for dear life and work my plan instead. The decision to let go always causes my heart to race and the feeling of being overwhelmed consumes me. The knowing within that all will be well while I CHOOSE to let go, on purpose, and surrender the reigns over to Him is strong but so is the urge to hang on. To free fall into the hope rather than holding on with all I have within me. To trust that this time we WILL follow His lead rather than purpose to follow Him while we really follow our own lead. To trust that we will have self-control and wait on His timing rather than run full speed ahead as a bulldozer. All the past mistakes flash before my eyes as I hope we will hear His voice clearly and not attach His voice to our agenda. To rest and follow and not run with anxiety. I'm trying to let go and take this new free fall. I really am - I'm just trying to convince my hands to let go of the reigns and go for another ride of my life. Let go hands! LET GO and let's SOAR!

Where are all the Gentlemen?

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. It began as any other ordinary day but one small encounter impacted me and remained on my mind the entire day. I took the kids to eat Moe's - don't you love the way they welcome you every single time you walk through the door. No matter how impersonal the welcome is... I feel welcome. :) Anyway, after we finished eating I was picking up our trash and getting ready to strategically walk my two with me to the trash so I could dump the garbage. As I stood up, an elderly GENTLEMAN (he was an employee or the owner?) passed by and graciously said "Oh, just leave that on the table and I will get that for you." I looked at him in shock and thought, "Really? Oh, I feel bad to leave our mess for him." He looked again and said "Let me get that for you please." Then he proceeded to chat kindly with my kids.

We packed up in the van after we thanked the GENTLEMAN repeatedly and I told JB about being a gentleman. The next thing I know I'm thinking of the 100's of incidents with me trying to do any number of things with HC and JB, when he was 9 months old and she was 2 years old. Knowing how stressed I was trying to juggle things and keep the kids near while women and men surrounded me... NO ONE offered to help me. For example, being in the mall food court and carrying a 9 month old and a high chair to the table so we could eat while a 2 year old slowly followed me. No help and many witnesses. Here I am with older children who are able to stay close, although they hop deliberately from one colored tile to the next and this makes tray balancing a bit tricky if you step before they've hopped, and someone helped me.

I don't mean to get on a soap box but it really meant so much for someone to reach out and care. The simple act of courtesy. It is a lost art. I think that is one of the main things that attracted me to my husband - he was quick to reach out and offer help whenever he saw the need. It isn't a damsel in distress kind of thing but a real life thing. Where you see someone, with hands full, struggling to open the door and he offers help. Even if it isn't convenient to do so. He gets that from his dad!

I also think being married to someone who's been in the restaurant business for 90% of our time together and knowing his heart on service made this moment particularly poignant. During these hard times, it would seem that businesses would not act as though we are all a proverbial number but treat us like valued friends. I know when life is soaring and people are spending like there is no tomorrow a customer is often a number. Just one of the many, but it seems many are struggling in this economy and it would suit many businesses to return to the standard of being a neighbor.

I left Moe's yesterday feeling seen and cared for by a stranger. A simple act that took seconds off his day, he probably didn't think of it again, but for me it made me feel valued. That was a high return on that small act. I don't need people jumping up left and right to offer help to me but... since someone did it made me realize that I cannot remember the last time someone bothered to lend a helping hand. My friends do and that has been enough, it just made me wonder if being a gentleman has become a lost art. Will the remaining gentlemen retire for good soon or are there any young men roaming about with the art of consideration? We could all use the reminder of being neighborly wherever we are. I believe we are losing the ladies too! I am becoming more aware of when I can lend a hand too now.

There's a Party in My Cabana

Girls just wanna have fun ya know! :) My HC found out that Daddy gave me a Mani/Pedi for Valentine's Day and the tears began flowing! "I want to go!! Can I go Mom?" I told her I was going with friends and she could not go. The waterworks were heartbreaking. I told her I would paint her nails for her if she wanted me to. She was eager to have her turn. We did a little rainbow number on HC and she was well pleased! We used hot pink, light pink, purple, orange and blue. The orange and blue are very light and mainly look like sparkles. Such a happy girl! See, whether you are 5 or >5 painted nails = a happy girl!
Happy times indeed! We sure did miss you Missy - but we totally understand! It was so nice being pampered. Aren't our hubbies the BEST!?! It was so nice to talk to one another without constantly being interrupted by children. Our babies were safely off with their Daddy's - having fun I know!
We all left feeling refreshed and pleased with our spruced up toes - a little "Party in My Cabana". Gosh... this just makes me want to walk on the beach a little bit!
My "Mauve Maniac" friend rockin' those fly toes!
And the "Susie Pink" (can't remember the official name of this color) was a great choice too! I'm thinking this was a fun gift and I hope this will not be the last of our girly adventures. I've never had so much fun having my nails done - the time just flew by!
Happy Valentine's Day Steve! I loved my gift - it was the perfect fit!!

Post Office Tour

Today we had another fun day - a tour of the Post Office. Kristy read a book to us first - about the various methods of mail delivery over the years. Pretty large crowd huh?

Posing with their mail in hand.
More posing. They brought letters to mail on this special day.
Here we are in the back of the post office. Getting the inside scoop of how mail is sorted.
They were able to see inside this mail carrier.
And then they posed by a mail man on his way to deliver his pile of mail. They had a great time.
Then it was time to mail their letter.
One last pose with their coloring books in hand.
What a fun time.
After a group lunch we met friends at the park. The high was in the 60's!! Beautiful weather!

Goldilocks and The Three Bears

Today we had the pleasure of watching a play. The play had a little modern twist to it, they began the story with Goldilocks having trouble keeping her hands to herself at home. She played in Mommy's jewelry and broke it. She touched Dad's guitar and broke it. She dug in a bird's nest and took the baby bird from the Mommy. She took acorns from a squirrel. She ended in the Three Bear's home and you know the rest of the story. What a way to drive the message home.... "KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF!" The kids loved it and it had a bit of humor for the Mom's too. SO much fun. Here's HC posing with Baby Bear: Here she is with Goldilocks. JB was glad to watch the play but not interested in posing with anyone. :)
JB was willing, although far from thrilled, to pose in front of the family portrait of the 3 Bears.
Here they are sitting with one of our home school buddies (above and below).
More home school friends! I love home school field trips!!!
Group shot.

We had such a fun filled day. Looking forward to our field trip tomorrow!! More fun is on it's way! WooHOO!!