MY MELLY IS COMING!!

Today is actually Wed., but I am writing my Thankful Thursday post now as I have soo much to do between today and tomorrow that I have to do this with the time provided, haha. And with my sweet grandson slumbering beside me, the time seems right. For all the other thankful hearts that are participating in this opportunity to praise God for all their blessings click HERE. I am soo thankful to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this event.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

In this life we have so many things both large and small that we could be thankful for it is hard sometimes to narrow it down. This week, this day, my heart is so full of happiness and joy it is hard to contain. My Melly is coming tomorrow!!!

For those of you who do not know the story I will try to briefly catch you up as to why this is so significant to me, and for those of you who DO know the story, I'm sorry for the repeat. I had 3 wonderful sons that I loved beyond measure and yet my heart had still longed for a daughter, and had ever since I was old enough to understand I was capable of having children. 23 years ago the Lord granted me the desire of my heart and my beautiful daughter, Melody Joy was born. She and I are as close as any mother/daughter are capable of being and my love and enjoyment of her has known no limits. As she grew into young adulthood our relationship changed to include a friendship that is truly kindred. I saw many years ahead with us sharing our lives as she became a young wife and God willing someday a young mother. I looked forward to all the usual things I am sure most of you would understand. Helping her decorate and set up her home, (another love of mine)shopping and lunches out with just her and I, watching her children grow and play and just being there to play the role of Grandma, holidays and birthdays to celebrate together etc., and on and on. When she decided to live at home during her college years, I thanked God for this added time knowing the day would come of course would she would move on. But never in all my plans or dreams did I ever see my only daughter moving 1000 miles away from me. Melody married the man of her dreams a year ago last June and moved to New Mexico to join her dairy farmer husband and begin a very different life from the one she grew up knowing. So the life with the daughter I had dreamed of has become very different indeed. We do manage to talk to each other almost every day, though there are times of course when it just doesn't happen. I haven't even seen a lot of things she has done with her new home as I haven't been there since last Thanksgiving. She misses most of the family birthdays, and several of the holidays as well. There are no lunches out and shopping and time alone with her has become almost non existent. She has friends I have never met, and clothes I have never seen her in. Which I know part of these things would have happened rather she moved far away, or simply down the street, but I struggle with them all. When she does come to California her time is in great demand. Her brothers and her daddy miss her desperately too, and want to occupy her time as well. She left behind MANY friends who count the days till she visits and who squabble over the time she has available to see her. Melody feels stressed I know on her visits to California trying to keep everybody happy, and often times leaves so tired I am sure she looks forward to getting home just to relax. I try as hard as I can not to add to her stress by demanding she spend more time with me. I do get the lions share of it I know, but it is still hard. Part of me wants her all to myself, and would love to hide the fact that she is even here. But I don't of course.

The Lord has taught me much during this season in my life. A new dependency on Him, and new directions and purposes for my life. I decided today I would dwell on all the reasons I am thankful that things are just as they are and my daughter lives as far aways as she does. At first it took some time, haha, but I did manage to come up with more than I thought I would. I will share a couple of these...first I am so grateful that she is happy and loved and cherished by her husband, and more importantly right where the Lord wants her to be. I am grateful she has grown into a strong and independent young woman living her life to serve her God and taking good care of her responsibilities as a wife and the woman of her home. I am grateful that we can talk on the phone everyday and have the Internet as well to keep connected. Years ago long distance bills and snail mail would have made this so much more difficult. I am thankful she is able for now to visit as much as she does, and that her husband is quick to share her. I could go on but this is getting lengthy (as usual, sorry I do tend to run on) and I hear the baby stirring.

1Chronicles 29:13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

I am including a couple of pictures of her, and her wedding picture slide show that I put together last spring for those of you who have not seen it. Be sure and click on the full screen for the full affect, and it is lengthy (though so worth the time) so be prepared. You can hit the escape button on your computer at any time to exit. Most of you probably already know this, but it was new to me not that long ago, so I thought I'd share just in case. ENJOY your week-end... I know I will....MY MELLY IS COMING!!!







Mike and Mel on their first anniversary..celebrating with dinner out AND in the city, haha


Mel on her last visit home right before she left


Seems like she always has her sunglasses on top of her head in a pic, haha


Mel's 23 birthday party in New Mexico I stole from her facebook


Mel and her beloved dog Baxter

Make a Smilebox slideshow