Help!!! I need a meal plan!

I must admit part of my 9-2 job outside of home is monitoring meal plans for children, but when it comes to my own meal plan at home...well, it still ceases to exist. This evening I am sitting down with some of my cook books and going through and choosing "good" recipes. I'll write down what I need and go to the grocery tomorrow.

I know, I know, I KNOW that many of you have great, hard working meal plans that you are very devoted to every week...please share those with me...and all of my readers (the few of you that are there, hehe!). We REALLY would appreciate it. I love learning from all of you!

Link up any of your existing posts on meal plans or blog your meal plan that you've kept to yourself all this time...it'll be fun!!!!

Christmas with the S's!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend plenty of time with their families making wonderful memories!

Here are some snapshots from my first official Christmas with the S's!

Our First Christmas

Listening very well to the Christmas Story
First "family" Christmas

He will melt your heart!

Baby's first Christmas, and first baby doll!

Geez, how many pictures are you going to take? :D

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday.....was my 100th Post.

Yesterday was my 100th post, and at this point I'm really not concerned with that. My heart is very sad right now as my mother-in-law sits by her dying sister's bed at a hospital in Chattanooga.

Christmas time is my new Aunt Betty's favorite time of year. She was diagnosed this past Spring with ovarian cancer. She worked for a doctor who conducted an ultrasound and discovered the cancerous tumor.....it was large....and hidden.

Today she has several infections which have taken over her body, including having entered her bloodstream. Today the cancer is all over her body. Today she says, "It's almost over," as she witnesses to her lost brother-in-law. Today Charlie's eyes fill with tears as he realizes that the dying woman laying before him will soon wake up before Jesus. Today she would want women everywhere to know about this cancer.

Ovarian cancer....it's not nearly as advertised as breast cancer, but it's just as important that women know the signs.

Many symptoms for ovarian cancer are (according to MayoClinic.com):

• Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating (my mother-in-law heavily recalls my Aunt Betty, just a few months before being diagnosed, complaining of being bloated a lot).
• Urinary urgency
• Pelvic discomfort or pain

Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

• Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
• Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
• Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
• Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• A persistent lack of energy
• Low back pain
• Changes in menstruation

MayoClinic.com concludes that you should see your doctor if you have swelling, bloating, pain or pressure that lasts more than a few weeks.

Ovarian cancer is becoming well-known as the "silent killer". It is often not detected by an annual pelvic examination.

Please, look into this deadly cancer before it could be too late for you, or someone you love.

And please, pray for Aunt Betty's comfort...that she won't be in much pain. Also, pray for her two adult sons, grandchildren, and her husband....and then her eight siblings as the watch one of the youngest of the children pass on.

Christmas Meme!

I've been playing opossum since my Honeymoon, so I'll kick off my new re-commitment (hehe) to blogging with a Christmas Meme hosted by Charree at "Held in His Hands".

Come on, join in the fun!

Christmas Favorites!

Christmas Tree: Real or Fake?

Fake: I love it because the lights are already in it and once Christmas is over, the tree comes apart and goes in storage. No worries about where to dump it legally after Christmas.

I love real trees though, I grew up with them. Fakes are more convenient.

Ornament: I have two favorite ornaments this year.

The first one is one that my mother-in-love gave me. I love it because it describes what I enjoy.....baking.

This next one was a gift from a former employer, and friend for our wedding shower. They are painted chocolate covered strawberries dressed as a bride and groom! Too cute! As funny has it looks, they MUST be next to one another on the tree! MUST! :D


Christmas Song:

I love so many of the church Christmas hymns. I really can't choose my favorite there. I love "Carol of the Bells." I really love "Christmas Cannon" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Check out a video here!

Christmas Tradition:

Every Thanksgiving evening my family would put up the Christmas tree, and each of us kids would take our own box full of ornaments and put them on the tree. Every year my parents buy us each an ornament to go on the tree, often symbolizing what has happened that year in our lives. Next, our parents would put theirs on. Afterward the kids would draw names, spouses included, for the coming Christmas.

This year my family had to do it without me, although I did call and they passed the phone around so everyone could say "hello". I miss that very much but will look forward to starting a new tradition with my little family in the coming years.

Favorite Gift as a Child?

My all time favorite Christmas gift was my stuffed dog, Ruff, that I got when I was three. My sister and I both got one for Christmas, mine was brown and white, and hers was gray and white. I have slept with mine every single night, until just recently when I got married....at 23 years old.

He sits up in my closet now in mine and my husbands bedroom, so every time I open the closet door...I see him. *sigh*

Christmas Meal:

Christmas meal is usually spent in Kentucky at my grandmothers for dinner, and then supper at my aunt's. It very much like Thanksgiving meal.


Cookie:

I have many favorites! Every year my parents make batches of cookies and candies for my three siblings and I to enjoy with our families. My parents enjoying spending this time together and it's a real treat to get full to the brim, canisters from our parents. They are so good to us.


Place to be:

With family, of course!

Favorite Memory:

One year my brother went our in the woods when we lived in the hills of Kentucky and cut done a tree with a hammer and tiny, tiny....saw. The tree was so heavy and they had to pull it up big hills. They said they would pull the tree so far, then go back and get their bikes, then go back for the tree again....until they reached home. I love that!

Christmas Movie:

The Grinch! LOVE IT!

Everyday Unwrapped

In effort to remember the everyday wonderful things, not just the special things at Christmas time, Emily at Chatting at the Sky is hosting, "Everyday Unwrapped".

I had every intention of posting a big picture of sorts and being somewhat sappy, but I almost didn't do it because my in-laws will be here soon for supper. Then it hit me....it's moments like this, having family over, for no reason, to have a meal together. I love my family, my new family included. Thank you Lord for my in-laws, and time to be together.....smack in the middle of Christmas rush!

The photo above is me with my sweet Mother-in-Love!

Professional Wedding Photos!

A sweet prayer before the wedding. Dad was smiling
in this picture.

Jonathan and I chose to see each other BEFORE the wedding.
This is not a against scripture and made perfect sense, so we did it,
and it was all captured. :D
Dad escorting me in with my eyes closed.

Jonathan and his Dad were waiting on us.

Our dads shook hands and left the room
together, then I saw my Groom before me.

I think I was saying, "Do I look pretty?" And crying
at the same time.


Here comes the Bride!


Notice the only man looking at me was my Husband-to-be!
Jonathan's uncle performed the most
amazing communion. With tears in his eyes,
he spoke to us right from his heart.

We're married! Our smiles were huge!
We greeted guests as they left the wedding, including
our sweet uncles. We loved seeing our family and friends.

MORE to come later (if you're not tired of them :D )!

A Slow Fade

You think that communicating with that other man on the internet is innocent, after all, you'll never meet up in real life. The man at the gym keeps checking you out. It's just flirting across the room, no harm done. The guy you work at, well, he's married too so nothing will happen.

Are you sure? It begins in your heart, before you know it you're speaking with him on the phone or after the gym, or after work. Next thing you're meeting up with him, having coffee with him.....still no harm done. After all, not like you've kissed him.......


"Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns

Oh My Word: Will Stop an Online Shopper in Her Tracks!

Things I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful for:
-My hope and salvation in Jesus Christ (no matter what may happen in the World).
-My family and friends.
-A new job working with my mother-in-law .
-Wedding Showers, without them, we would have nothing for our home.
-My husband, Jonathan.
-A great church family and leadership for the past four years.
-A great network of blogging friends who love Jesus. Your blogs help keep me accountable as I see you living a life that honors God. What a joy it is to know that you ladies are there :D
-Soft throws to stay warm in.
-Memories of birthday parties at "Showbiz", now it's Chucky E Cheese.
-The Internet (and blogs :D )
-Pop (Soda) that burns my throat at the first drink.
-Reruns of Little House on the Prairie. This show can teach us so much about how some things
should be.
-Both sets of my parents helping make my wedding dreams come true.
-My "Granny" who put up with me the last four years and let me live with her. I've learned so much from her.
-Mrs U., she taught me as much about homemaking, family life, and a relationship with God that she could cram into the past four years.
-5 years of college education without being brainwashed (some of you will get my point :D ).
-The lessons God teaches me through other people.
-Sweet Tea
-Wonderful parents who worked hard, were always good natured people, and helped me make
wonderful childhood memories.
-Our landlord painting our apartment a beautiful light tan with clean white trimmings, beautiful.
-A soft bed to sleep in.
-Wonderful memories with my grandparents. Those gone on, and those still here.
-A washing machine and dryer, a vacuum and Orange Glo. The best parts of keeping a home.
-Chocolate
-Clean water to drink.
-Knowing God is in control, the government is not.
-"Hug Times" with my Granny.
-Sunshine on a cold day.
-My blogging friends. I consider anyone whose blog I adore, and those who read mine as my friend. I really call you my friend :D
-God's Word that is always available to safely read.
-America....where I can safely read my Bible and go to church.
-Great books that get me thinking, including: Stepping Heavenward, Lies Women Believe, and
The Excellent Wife
-Firecracker Chicken Wraps from Long Horns.
-Thanksgiving. There's no gifts to open, just fellowship to enjoy.

"Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
That fight for our love, and our passion,
As our eyes are open wide and on you.
Grant us the privilege of your world view,
And may your kingdom be, what wakes us up, and lays us down."

-TobyMac featuring Kirk Franklin, "Lose My Soul"

More Wedding Snapshots.....

I really miss blogging, but for now I figured I'd share some of my favorite wedding snapshots of my wedding day. These photos were taken by friends and family and I just LOVE them! I hope to be back blogging VERY soon!

Jonathan with my giggly bridesmaids.

Here we were riding over to the "photo shoot" with the photographer.

Great times!

I miss you all!

I'm Married!

4 Days!

Four days to go and I'll be Mrs. S! I can't believe it!

Today is my last day at work, PRAISE THE LORD! You'd better believe I'll be praying my way through the day. The past couple of months have been hard, and I'm so happy to be walking away. I'm just thankful the Lord was always there for me.

12 Days to Go!

In 12 days I will marry my best friend......

19 Days to Go!

I'm getting married in 19 days, EEEEE!!!!

What's in a Name?

I have always loved my name, Melissa Carol. I have especially loved how I got my name.

When I was born, Dad was a huge fan of Little House in the Prairie.

I got my first name, "Melissa" from this little girl:

Melissa Gilbert who played Laura Ingles

My middle name, Carol came from the character my dad described as a "beautiful lady":

Caroline, the mother, played by Karen Grassle

I think that the biggest reason I love my name, and not just because I LOVE the show, but because my dad picked it out for me. Especially for me. And I love that.

Where did your parents get your name from?

Neat Fact: I was born February 10th, 28 years to the day the real Laura Ingles passed away. We shared the same day.

Happy Birthday Austin!!

See this little kid? This is my nephew, Austin. Today he turns the Big 6! Look out!

Austin was two when I moved from Kentucky to Georgia. He never got to get quite as attached to me as did my other two nephews as they were older. However, usually after a couple of hours into my visits with him, he becomes my little boy and won't let me out of his sight! He is a sensitive child, and will always be my sister's "baby".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sweet Boy!

*By the way, Little Guys DO RULE!