Your Best

There will always be an individual out there whose worst is your best. In other words, there will always be someone who is better, smarter, richer, better looking and so on. It's important that you stay true to effort.

Effort is the measurement of your devotion to a certain task or individual. I have never met someone who desired an employee, spouse or friend who never gave effort at work, intimacy or relational fundamentals. I am writing this because I often see people comparing themselves to others.

God has given each of us certain gifts and talents. Some may be compelled in music, while others with athletics. When you compare yourself with others it's like measuring your greatness without a measuring cup. The measurement will always be inaccurate. There are not two individuals completely alike and instead of comparing qualities or talents with another person you should evaluate your own. The only thing your gifts, talents and efforts should measure up to is your potential.


When you compare your efforts with your potential you immediately become aware of the amount of effort you have offered. If you are measuring up short that's ok because all you have to do is apply yourself more by offering more effort. When you apply yourself more you will succeed in giving your best. Don't allow yourself to compare yourself to others, you weren't meant to measure up to their potential.

When you compare your abilities with another person's and see yourself "better or more talented" you are risking pride taking over in your mind. When you compare and see yourself measuring a little short you are inviting feelings or inferiority to overrule your self-esteem. Comparing is a dangerous game.

My Cup Runneth Over

Oh my gosh...what am I going to do with him? Today he turned the water off and on alone. Yesterday, he flushed the toilet. A week ago he climbed his safety gate and landed on his head when he came over it. Remember folks....he's only 10 months old! He isn't even walking yet! And please...do not leave me comments saying I need to keep a better eye on him....I RARELY TAKE MY EYES OFF OF HIM! But I'm sorry occaisonally I have to use the bathroom or switch laundry out. Does anyone know of a safety gadget that keeps the knobs still so he can't do this? I guess these videoes will be funny one day. Too bad that day isn't today.

WELCOME AUBREY!

My family has a new addition! My cousin Sheena gave birth by c-section to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Her name is Aubrey Kay and she is so cute. Check it out...

30

Today was Meredith's 30th birthday! YAY! My family went to O'Charley's for lunch to celebr8. It was really fun and as you can see Meredith looks great and was feeling great. Olivia looked too cute and unfortunately because Dalen was so out of control I didn't have time to get a picture of just her. But at least you see a little bit.

Chicks Dig Me

This shirt is compliments of my friend Ann. I think its so hilarious. Dalen was getting ready to go swimming here.

Dalen went swimming Sunday afternoon, before church. He was straight up chillin in his float. I felt it tip a few times and he was nodding off asleep. He is too much!

A WONDERFUL Weekend

This weekend was wonderful! Saturday I got up and took Meredith to the nail salon. This was really her 1st outing besides to the doctor or physical therapy. She wanted to get a pedicure because her physical therapist told her she could go to church sunday. Meredith above getting pedicure.
Once we finished that I stayed with Meredith and Livi while Jonathan went to the gym. Here is Livi doing what she does best.
The next day was Sunday. Here is her outfit. I mean, seriously! Hilarious!!!!
Dalen after church trying his very best to stay awake.
Me and Dalen outside of Meredith's house.

Point Please!?

As I have expressed often, I love to write. It is such a passion that one day I hope to share with many people. Excuse me while I vent about something that is so under my skin I feel as though it is eating away at me. I am trying to read more. I like to read and it takes a really good book to keep my focus. One thing that drives me insane is authors who have the incredible opportunity to have their thoughts published. Their thoughts are beautifully bound in paperback or hardback creatively designed covers and they say things or use titles without a point. IT DRIVES ME NUTS! I know why they do it though! They do it for a reaction. Ok folks..you got one from me, now could you drawl a point from that ridiculous statement? Probably not because there probably isn't one. So please....if you have this incredible opportunity others would die for use it and use it to make a point not to drawl a reaction.

Downy Baby

He thinks he is soooo funny.

This was when Dalen was really young. He wouldn't sleep for anything and I finally laid him on a pile of warm clothes fresh from the dryer and he was out.

Today I was getting stuff from the dryer to fold...yes, I was actually considering doing laundry. There wasn't an empty basket nearby (they are all buried under dirty clothes) and so I was taking half the load out. When I came back I found Dalen hanging half in and half out of the dryer, feet dangling in mid air. Here are a few pics once I got him grounded.

The pics looks quite hujmorous but its a little scarry to think of your 10 month old capable of climbing into your dryer in 2 minutes or less.

I'd like a side of toes please...

I have not been very good on my diet this week...at all. This morning I went to Hardees for a cinnamon and raisin biscuit. The line was pretty long and Dalen must have gotten bored....and hungry. I turned around only to find him munching on his TOES! WOW! Yep, that's my son.

Creative Outlets

I truly believe God hand-crafted every individual roaming the Earth. I believe that every person is therefore unique sharing qualities of common interest with others but I do not think there are mirror images of a person's individuality. That's why we are individuals (divided or separate from another).
I think God has given me so many desires and thoughts concerning His people and kingdom however, I feel I am lacking an outlet for these things. I LOVE to write. I mean absolutely love it! In my drawers at home you can find candy wrappers and napkins with my thoughts that I jot down for future opportunities for a book or Sunday School lesson. I just feel jittery all of the time. I literally feel like I have so much creativity and gifts to pour out but they are pent up inside of me due to a lack of outlets.
I don't say creativity to toot my own horn, but rather as an expression of praise that God has crafted me as an individual that is so relatable to so many different people. I can relate to young mothers, college students, single people (I was there not too long ago), married couples and so many more. I just wonder how I can relate when there doesn't seem to be an outlet connecting us physically. I know my heart is connected to other people's heart but how can your reach those that aren't physicallt there?
So today, I am praying for a creative outlet. It sounds so complicated but it's really a simple prayer. Lord, just open a door for me to be able to connect to someone that could benefit from the gifts you have instilled inside of me. Help me to be careful that your name is honored in doing so. Amen.

The Evil One

This title is referring to Dalen. Here are some more videos of him and Olivia!

I got your toes!

Sock thief!

Climbing in the kitchen chairs. Please notice at the end of the video he lays his head down on the floor he is so tired of hanging upside down. I REFUSED to help him this time.

Mother of 2

I watched Olivia and Dalen while Meredith had physical therapy and Jonathan went with her. Here are some pics of Dalen torturing her and of her pretty nursery.


bookcase
diaper stacker changer
crib and her name on the wall above it
3 amigos

Dalen laying on Olivia's boppy pillow b-c I was too busy to hold him while he ate.
Please look at her left foot. Dalen is pulling her sock off. He already pulled the right one off. Notice Olivia's right foot is blurry. It's because she was kicking it everywhere...I think she was trying to kick him! LOL! She isn't going to take anyone's crap.
Loving her.

Please notice how much energy Dalen has 24-7. I am not exaggerating he NEVER stops.

Summer Saturday

Wow! What a weekend! Friday I had the day off and we didn't stop all day. I drug Dalen to one end of town to another. He did pretty good and took a decent nap alongside of me. Friday night was my night to stay over with Olivia so I left Dalen and Mario behind. Saturday began quickly and I don't think once again we stopped once!!


Here is Dalen at about 8:30 a.m. He loves climbing through our kitchen chairs. Why? Don't ask me!! He pulls them on top of himself and cries like he has just been struck by lightening and the minute you turn your head he is back pulling them over again. That mountain in the background is our heaping pile of dirty laundry that we never finished.At about 11 a.m. we left the house for some Chik-Fil-A as we vebtured off to find a nice basket with a lid for Dalen's toys that are kept in our family room. (We never found one) The play area was empty and we decided to let Dalen play in the playground room. Mario took him down the sllide twice and he LOVED it....as you can see. Here they are climbing to the top. Dalen looked down at me and it was like he was shocked at how high up they were.
While Dalen and Mario played for a while I got an invite from Abby to go swimming with Fletcher and Winston. We accepted and Mario took off to see Batman. Dalen did great and had a blast. Here he is in the kiddy beach chairs. The boys played so nice and were very mindful Dalen was a lot smaller and younger than they were.
I promise I lathered sunscreen on him 3 times. It didn't work!!! Abby is my witness. After all the errand running and swimming he was out like a light.

At 5:00 we went to my paren's house. My dad grilled out and it was Meredith's first leave from her house. it was a fun time with family. Regretfully, I don't have pics from that event. Olivia was dressed in pink from head to toe and she looked so adorable. Meredith looks awesome! She is 40 lbs. lighter than what she was when she first got pregnant. She started physical therapy today and lasted 3 minutes on her ams and legs workout which is what they set her goal at. She is doing amazing.

BIG Boy Seat

Dalen is officially old enough to sit in a foward facing car seat! This is SUPER exciting for us and him. He is constantly trying to see out the front of the car and us. As you can see he is really happy about this adjustment. Looking right at me.
Taking his bottle.
Mario buckling him in for the 1st time.

My Tree Hugging, Baboon Butt Baby

Yesterday afternoon Mario and I visited with Meredith and Olivia so that Jonathan could go jogging. My parents took Dalen to dinner so that he wouldn't torture Olivia. Jonathan ended up staying at home and my mom came in shortly after dinner. My dad and Dalen were missing (not uncommon). Mom said he was playing outside. After a while I got call from my dad saying get out here quick! Dalen is climbing his first tree! This is what I found.


After climbing for a bit Dad put Dalen in the grass. Dalen HATES grass. He will do anything so that his knees won't touch. He was walking-crawling just like a baboon. His butt was straight up in the air and he was only letting his toes touch and his hands. As you can hear me and dad thought this was hilarious!

Randomness

Today I am so thankful for Dalen taking an hour nap! I got to take a bath while reading on in The Shack. After realizing my water was getting slightly chilly I realized how long Dalen had been sleeping and how far I had gotten in the book. I have an AWFUL habit of quitting books if they are as good as I want them to be, as fast as I want them to be. I felt that after reading several chapters this book has taken me absolutely nowhere. After pages and pages of describing a weather storm I just want to shake the author and say I GET THE POINT! IT'S COLD AND ICY! GET ON WITH IT!!! But ladies and gents, I will perservere through this slow going story! I will update you with what I think after a few more chapters! It better be worth it...my peaceful moments don't come often.

Same

Olivia yawning. Olivia sleeping.

Last night I had the opportunity to sit for 50 minutes and hear my father speak at a gathering of missionaries. I don't get to hear my dad speak that often and it's a shame. He has brilliant thoughts and a unique way of wording them. I am finally to the point in life where I appreciate my parents. Took a while, huh?

The topic was pretty difficult to define; for me anyway. My dad however, in one line, summed up the topic. The other time was spent elaborating on this statement. "A spirit filled family is a family who lives out behind closed doors what they live out behind the the pulpit." His topic was of course spirit filled families. Brilliant, simple and digestable.

At the close of his sharing, he began to share an encouragement to all of the individuals in the room. The words he spoke were the highlights of the miracle my family has witnessed first hand the last 14 days.

I'm not exaclty sure how many people read this blog. Maybe a few, maybe none at all. For the sake of the few, if there are a few, I must not forsake the possibility there may be a reader spiritually stagnent or in a state of faith trying circumstances. I would like to share a few thoughts or facts with you.

God Almighty, is the same as he was since the beginning of time. He still reigns in Glory yet, he is still present with man always. There is no disease he can't cure and there is no emergency that surprises him. Life is simple to God. There is not one single problem that he can't solve. He still performs miracles. The greatness of a miracle is the concrete evidence that God is indeed living and alive. The supernatural can not and will not ever be explained. When doctors shake their heads don't call them uneducated just call their response divine. Unbelievers may doubt unexplainable workings of the hand of God. Thats ok. His word says he is a worker of mysterious ways. When life hits hard, don't try to figure God out. You will fail. His ways are so supernaturally divine and above what our thoughts could comprehend. The mysterious workings of God are the mysteries we will never be able to solve. Pray without ceasing and request without doubting and watch your conversations with the Almighty avail much!

The Shack

I am so very excited! I have heard so much about the new book The Shack. I have heard pretty much the same reviews but I thought I might as well read it for myself and develop my own opinions. I have only read the foward thus far but look foward to discussing it with my girlfriends. Yes, I know I am a dork! Hey, I should start a book club!

PARTY!

Yesterday was my 24th birthday! I am getting old! I got to spend time with my sister and neice yesterday morning. I then ventured off to work. I didn't even remember my birthday until my mom reminded me on Sunday. No plans were made...or so I thought. My mom had Dalen and we went to her house to get him a little after 6. We pull up to their house only to find my closest friends there! It was great fun. I felt bad that Meredith couldn't make it but the doctor really doesn't want her leaving her house for a while. I knew she was there in her thoughts. Later I got to see the new apartment of Katie Dietz and Abby Fletcher. So trendy and cute! I loved it. We talked until 11:30 just sharing our interesting thoughts...another sign I am getting old. I love talking though and always appreciate the brilliant thoughts of Abby. Of course, we shared many laughs too. Thanks for a wonderful birthday!

I'm Going Bananas!

Yesterday, riding home my Chattanooga my Mom exclaims, "Tomorrow is the BIG day!" My heart sank and my mind began to race in sheer panice. All I could think is that we had some big family affair or store event I had totally forgotten to prepare for. I raised my eyebrows making it totally obvious I had no clue what she was talking about. After about 10 minutes of saying you have to know what tomorrow is and THINK! and many other mind joggers she throws her hands in the air and says YOUR BIRTHDAY SILLY! I really had TOTALLY forgotten. I mean TOTALLY. With a near death in the family, a 9 month old, a new website launch for the store, the semi-annual bridal show and too many other things to mention it was just the last thing on my mind. I am going bananas! Pictured above is Dalen and Olivia and Meredith. We visited her this morning and let Jonathan shower. After convincing Jonathan Dalen could have a little bit of his banana, Dalen literally choked to death in their living room. He threw up everywhere (hence he's only wearing a diaper) and after doing the finger swipe about 10 times and banging his back out of wack he was FINALLY ok. WOW! Almost two deaths in the same house in 2 weeks! It was totally my fault for not mashing the banana up. It scared us all. Dalen doesn't stay phased by anything for too long. He is fine and visiting at Gran's.
Ok, I know she is my neice but literally you can't deny this pic is the most beautiful baby pic you have seen in a while! Her lips are perfect! We have been rotating nights that our family stays over at Meredith's to take care of Uga (what I call her b-c her cheeks look like the Georgia bulldogs and yes, Meredith is ok with this nickname). I stayed Saturday night and she was pretty good. I love her so much.

Beautiful Lengths

If you picture me you probably picture me with REALLY long hair like above. I usually keep it really long. Recently, I got it chopped off! YAY! I copied my cousin Brittany's haircut and I am glad I did.
So, here I am. Short haired! Yes the right side looks longer and I want it that way. Y? because its my head and I like it that way. Hopefully, no further explanation is necessary!
I go to Salon V in Cleveland on Keith St. Victor does my hair and he IS the most amazing hair cutter around. Check him out.

August marks the 5 year anniversary of my mom being cancer free. I have donated hair to Locks of Love twice. This time I decided to give my hair to Beautiful Lengths, sponsored by Pantene Pro-V. I've been waiting a long time to get my hair done around this time just to kinda symbolize my greatfulness for my mom's life. I will mail my hair in to them in August. The hair is used for people with health related issues needing wigs. Some of which have cancer. I have light, fulfilled and great.

Did you hear Meredith is mooooving home?

Today I hurridly got Chik-fil-a through the drive thru. With my meal I was handed a paper hat with a cow head on it. Kinda reminded me of the king crowns from Burger King. After getting my food I got a call from Meredith happily announcing she was going home! When I got to work I put this hat on Dalen and sent a text saying Did you hear Meredith is mooooving home?

It made her laugh really hard.

Cousins

Last night my mom and dad finally left the hospital for a little bit. Jonathan was at home with Olivia because his mom wasn't feeling good and so me and Mario went to spend time with Meredith. Dalen was left with my cousin, Christy, who has three kids of her own. Her youngest son, John, is 15 months old. I got this picture through text of them 2 having a party in the bathtub. It's priceless. I love it.

The Waiting Room

The last week of my life has been spent waiting: waiting for visiting hours, a good report, a friend to call, or for my sister to wake up. Details of this traumatic experience in my family are irrelevant at this time. I will leave those for my sister to tell during times of testimony. Besides, it seems people can't seem to tell the truth without exaggerating a little and then all of the sudden you have some big long tale that holds little to no truth at all. Well, one thing's for sure...I know why a waiting room is called a waiting room...for those of you who are asking why...because all you do is WAIT! It's a very awful, testing place to be. My sister is alive! She is walking, talking, writing and fed Olivia a bottle last night! All of these things are what the doctors said she wouldn't do.
Meredith seeing Olivia for the first time after a week.
My family WAITING! You would think they would at least paint the walls some interesting color!

Mel holding Olivia while Meredith was still unresponsive.
The day after Meredith came to. She looks better than me!!!!
A picture text from Dalen.
Dalen visiting Olivia.

Bridal Show

Wow, things have been extrememly busy! The staff of A Moment In Time is working hard to prepare for the Premiere Bridal on July 13, 2008. We would love to meet you there! If you haven't registered and would like additional information visit

www.Chattanooga-BridalShow.com.

Don't forget to stop by the booth of A Moment In Time!

Ball

Dalen said ball for the first time a few weeks ago. he says it ALL the time now much clearer.

He's got the whole world in his hands

I occaisonly venture off to my Dad's office to a little work for him here and there. Today was one of those days. Of course, my little tagalong was right with me. My Dad was on an eternal phone call (everything seems eternal when a 9 month old is in the mix) and I introduced Dalen to some countries on the globe in the office. He took a liking to it pretty quick...enjoy.