A Cup of Tea With Me

Becki thinks so! Thank you Becki for such a wonderful gesture. I feel honored!

I get to nominate 5 other blogs for this award. Let’s see if I can think of 5 of my blog friends who do not already have it.

Liz (LooneyBin4Sure): She is one of my first Blog Friends, who was not a friend before we started reading each others blogs. She is a great person. Her blog is always a good read.

Ang4Him: It was hard to pick which blog to link here, for Ang. She has some great ones. I love to read her stuff. Ang and I have been friends for a while, and I wonder what I would do without her friendship, sometimes.

Christina: Her blog for single moms is great. I just love that someone out there cares.

Becki: (Can I nominate the blogger who nominated me?) She is the most rocking blogger I know, I just love her.

Teri: I did not realize that Teri had nominated me, as well, until I went to her blog to get her URL to add here. I know, she nominated FFW, but ya know, it is all the same person. Thanks, TK. Teri is another amazing friend of mine.

Heather: Of course, I am going to nominate Heather. I know she has been nominated before, but Heather is a great friend of mine. Wonderful woman. That is one way to describe my friend Heather.

Tiffany: A new friend of mine, but a friend just the same. She is a great gal.

Katie: Another new friend. I have a lot of respect for Katie.

I know there are many more of you out there, who deserve to be mentioned. There are a lot of great blogs, and a lot of rockin’ bloggers out there. I just wish I could name you all!

Melly

It is that time again. I just love this meme. I think it is great that Becki combined two great ideas and gave us my favorite meme. So, without further ado, my list:

1. First and always, I am thankful to God. Our Creator and Savior (I really hope this is not the same wording I used last week. It is true, and He will always be first on my list, but I do not need to word it the same way).

2. I am thankful for His guidance. I know He will tell me when I am ready to move forward and that I need to wait on His timing. It is not easy. I struggle with this daily. I am so thankful that God is in control.

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This is the first time I am participating in Wordless Wednesday. I have thought about it for a long time. I normally do not share pictures on my blog or on the net.

This is my Uncle Bill, Mom, Aunt Belle and Aunt Kathy. This picture is missing my Uncle Hoot and Aunt Boots.

I recently had a nasty epidemic of mildew in my laundry. I had to rewash every article of clothing in my house. To get rid of the mildew, I washed everything in the hottest water that the color could take. Each load went through twice. The first time with Tide, bleach or vinegar (depending on the colorfastness of the load), and Borax. The second load was with Tide, Biz Bleach and Downey. In the dryer, I had to use the timed setting, not the automatic dry setting, as it was not drying my clothes completely, which is what brought on the mildew in the first place.To keep the mildew gone:

1) Nothing “sits” in the washer or dryer
2) I still use Tide and Downey in every load
3) If the load has any oder, depending on the load, I use Biz bleach, Borax, bleach or vinegar, or any combination of the above.
4) I use the timed setting on my dryer. The automatic setting is much more eco-friendly, but not if I have to redry the clothes on the timed setting, using double electricity.

I know it is probably not the easiest way, and you all may have better ways, but that is what works for me.

Works for Me Wednesday is hosted by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.

I needed to edit this post because the link to WFMW was broken. Sorry for the confusion.

I was able to sneak onto Mom’s computer and get this posted. Woo Hoo! My friend Becki, over at A Walk Though the Valley hosts this awesome MeMe, and I thought I was going to have to miss out on it this week. I have A LOT to be thankful for!

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Becki has started the Thankful Thursday 13. Well, lets be honest, Becki has been doing the Thankful Thursday 13 for some time, and I have not participated.

This week, I am participating, and I have it on my calender to do every Thursday, except for next Thursday, but you will see why in my list.

1. I am thankful that God forgives our sins. That He loves us, even when we are unlovable.

I sought the Lord
and He answered me
and delivered me
from all my fears
Psalm 34:4 (NASB)

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This week I am thankful for:I finally got around to finishing Faith Filled Wives. It seems to have taken me forever to finish it.

I am thankful to my beloved husband who has given me a web server to host Faith Filled Wives on. It may not have all the “bells and whistles” but the price is right.

I am thankful for my friends, Becki and Christina. They held my hand and did not let me give up on my calling.

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Sheryl over at Peanut Butter and Jelly Boats hosts Tuesday’s top Three. This weeks question is what top three things I’d want with me on a dessert island.

1. My Bible - I would need something to read, and I think I would get lots of reading time in.
2. Lots of bottled water - dehydration
3. My hubby

Dear Melissa, (early 1980’s)

I know you do not like to be called that, but one of these days you will shudder at the name “Missy.” So just listen to what I have to tell you, anyway.

I am you, all grown up. I wanted to tell you that you will make mistakes. You will feel awful about them. I need you to know that all the mistakes you have made and will make will develop the woman you become. Do not change anything, thinking it will make your life better in the future. You have a hard road ahead of you. There will be times when you want to give up. Do not. The rewards you will have later in life are worth all that you will go through now, to earn them.

I am the almost 37 year old you, who is mom to two wonderful boys. Wife to an amazing man. I have a life and a purpose. You will feel lost. You will feel helpless and hopeless.

I thought about writing you and telling you to stay away from this place or this thing. To not look into certain things, but beloved, those things will make you into me. I would not change me for anything. Every pain, every heartache, while hard when you are going through them, has shaped my heart, my life.

I do not want to give away too much, just know that you do have a purpose in this world, and it is not what you are thinking right now. Do not fret the mistakes. Remember, the best in your life is yet to come.

Love,
Melissa

Thank you, one more time, Iris, for reminding us to be thankful. God is good and He provides for us. We should remember that on more than just Thursdays, although, I am certain that everyone that participates in Thankful Thursday, is very thankful, all the time.

I am thankful that my depression is lifting. He can forgive us when we mess up, and He is always faithful. When we completely surrender to Him an issue that we were selfishly trying to handle ourselves, He blesses us with the immediate feeling of our burden being lessened. He will not instantly change things, that is where faith comes in. But you no longer feel the burden weighing you down.

I am thankful that I have friends. Life would be so lonely with out them. I have been working outside the house recently. Sad story involved there with a friend being ill, but it has allowed me to get back into the public. To talk with women I have not seen in a while, because I am a home body. I have gotten to reconnect with old friends and it has been great.

I am thankful for online friends. Old and new. I just love it, when God opens your eyes and shows you what treasures you have, right in front of your eyes, and you did not realize it until then. There is one friend of mine, in particular, over at MOF, that I had not even realized how much she had come to mean to me, until this week. It was such a wonderful feeling to realize it.

I am thankful that the transition of my stepping down at MOF will go smoothly. It is a blessing, and a sign from God, that I am doing the right thing.

I am thankful that I am submitting myself to my beloved’s will. It will not be easy. I have not worked outside the home, full time, in a long time. But when I think of all the opportunities I will have to meet new people. Who knows who God will put into my life? It is an exciting journey I am looking forward to! (more about this in another post on another blog to come when I have time to sit and write it)

I am thankful that my son has his driving permit. I am really torn on this, but in the end, I know he has to grow up. I know he has God leading him, guiding him. I know he is a good kid. I know he will make the right choices. Besides he cannot drive on his own until October, right? LOL!

I am thankful that I belong to such a great church and that my pastor is a toe-stepper most of the time. I really feel like I am getting blessed, when my toes are stepped on, and I know I need to grow.

I am thankful for my readers. Love you!