The State Fair!

We went to the State Fair again here in our home state of WV and had a great time! For once..the weather was picture perfect and we didn't roast like a hot dog on the 4th of July!  Ha!  Here are some pics of the day....

The reason I go to the fair (not really..but maybe a little..)...

                                                                 THE CALZONES!

noshing on breakfast

"Its good!"

Waiting for the pigs..

Pig racin'!

                                                                          Her hero :-)

The best 'selfie' I could get of us together!



This and that

So I noticed it had been like a whole month since I'd uploaded any pictures!  Unreal!  Course thats how it is when you get busy, stuff goes on around you, and its summertime!  I thought I'd just do a little 'mish-mash'..this and that pictures if you will..from what all we've been up to and doing lately...

My little hippy!

DIY tote bag I made for my mom

Anniversary flowers :-)

12 years together!

Monkey robe!

Homemade biscuits..mmmmm

Pioneer Woman's flank steak pizza..MMMMM

And the newest addition to our 'crew'..Buddy!

 

~~A little side note on Buddy for anyone interested..he was Damon's uncle's dog (Raymond) who is now in a nursing home.  Damon couldn't bear to send him to the pound..so we made some phone calls and came up with a dog house for him and the next day (today) he went and got him and brought him here.  We still have some things to do to set him up a more permanent home (aka kennel/dog-run) but at least his life was saved!~~

Life Happens...

I know..I know..I was suppost to be back from my little break I took a few weeks ago!  And believe you me..I had all intentions on being 'back'.

But then life happened around here.

Let me explain a little (while trying not to bore you to death in the process).  A couple weeks ago (the week I was going to be 'back') Damon's uncle that is in a nursing home started threatening suicide.  He wasn't serious about it..I personally think he was just looking at it as if he started complaining about where he was at..they'd let him go home.

Its sad.

We got several phone calls that week pertaining to the situation with him.  It was depressing to say the least.  He was fine and ok..but all that week..that went on.

Then Damon's mom started having problems with her heart.  She ended up having a heart attack..and is having a pacemaker put in this week.

With all of this going on..Damon got sick with a really bad cold and I got a UTI.  Understand, when I get a UTI, I feel like I'm loosing my mind.  Literally.  I get the shakes and am nervous, feeling like I'm going to die.

Yeah..real fun..right?

I went to the doctor and got some meds.  But then of course, since satan had been having a field day already with what all else had been going on..I started being tormented about taking medicine.  You know how it goes..side effects of medicine gets into your head..and next thing you know your feeling worse and worse.

Finally, with God's help, I got it out of my head and have been doing better since.  How people survive without God in their life, I'll never know.  I lean on Him in the good times, as well as the bad.

This past week had definately been the 'bad'. 

But its all just a part of life..it happens..we just gotta roll with it and lean on God to get us through.

The "why's" in life

Do you ever go through life and ask, "Why?", sometimes?   I know I do.  I know too, however, that some things we just aren't meant to understand while we are still here on earth.  Only God knows the why to each situation. 

The "why's" I've been asking myself here lately..or been thinking upon...

• Why do bad things/situations happen to good people?
• Why am I dealing with this stressful situation?
• Why do people have to make decisions that are so difficult?
• Why can't things just work out for the best?
• Why can't I just be happy?

Especially the last one, I feel that is one that is all me.  Meaning, only I can make myself happy.  Situations around me affect me, sure.  That's only human nature.  But at the end of the day, I control my thoughts.  If Satan attacks my mind, it is my responsibility to go to God in prayer about it. 

I don't have anyone to blame, but myself.

 

 



So as I've tried sorting through the why's in my life here lately, I've come to a realization....

I'm giving it all to God.

 

 

Sure, it's easier said than done but it's what has to be done.  It's not meant for me to rationalize over.  If your a prayer warrior reading this, I ask that you remember me and my family in your prayers.  We've had a semi-difficult week.  We're drained both physically and especially, mentally. 

 

Thank you!

Officially back!

Hey guys!  I'm back from my little blogging/media break..hope you have missed me!  Anyways..instead of catching up with a bulleted list or something of the sort..I thought it would be more fun if I shared some things I've been up to via vlog!!  :-) 

Back from Break! Part 1 from Melanie Green on Vimeo.

Review of "Thirty Days of Bible Study for Busy Mamas" by Pam Forster

I recently read a copy of "Thirty Days of Bible Study for Busy Mamas" and was thrilled with it!  The author here breaks down just one simple chaper of the bible (Colossians 3) into a bible study geared for 30 consecutive days.  Now, that being said, it is not hard at all! After all, this book is geared towards busy moms (or anyone who is busy).  At the end of each week, you get a 'catch up' day, which I found to be very helpful.  Each day the study consists of spending about 5 minutes (give or take) in God's word. 

Before reading this, I felt like I had hardly any time to read the Bible.  Being a mom is time consuming as we all know!  But with this particular book, it showed me that just taking a few minutes out of my day really wasn't all that hard to do.  And by the time your finished, you've spent approximately 150 minutes studying!  Thats better than zero!  I learned a lot of tips on how you can highlight in your Bible to make you remember things better and it also gave insight on sharing what you've read with your children, a double bonus!  I'd recommend this book to anyone, busy or not, just because I learned so many invaluable tools in helping me read the Bible in the future.

Review of "Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold" by Joyce Magnin

I recently read this book and have to say, it was such an enjoyable read!!  I loved the storyline of Harriet, her basset hound Humphrey, and their new life in Grass Valley, California living with her son Henry and wife Prudence.  Harriet embarks on an adventure of a lifetime, leasing a gold mine from a couple strangers she meets in town one day, all the while knowing really nothing about gold mining and the risks.  Her friend from back east, Martha, comes for a visit and the twists and turns of Harriet's adventure really takes off from there! 

This book definitely had me laughing most of the way through and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a 'light' read..that is..something that will leave you smiling once you put it down!  The author was very clear in her descriptions of the characters too.  I could just envision Harriet when she made many trips into town in her colorful sneakers as well as her vast collection of her beloved salt and pepper shakers!  All in all, this was just the kind of book I was looking to review and I can't wait to read more books by Joyce Magnin in the future!

I read this book in exchange for my review from Booksneeze and this is my personal opinion of this book.