A cake, a canoe and life lessons!

So I've got some catching up to do on my blog. We had some down-time and I think I got pretty lazy :)

So much to talk about but, for now I will just talk about 2 things~

1) Life Lessons

2) I love living in Austin

#1 Life Lessons-

We had my nephews and my niece with us for Thanksgiving break. Each time we have them with us we have so much fun but we also take the opportunity to pour into them faith and a love for the Lord and compassion for others. 

This year we decided we would do this by baking and passing out some cakes to 2 very special groups of people we are involved with so, I had the kids help mix, bake, ice and package these cakes... all while talking about the importance of the Word of God calling us to take care of others less fortunate and just others in general.... One of the cakes I kept telling them was "a Very special cake"- I did not tell them why but, continued to talk about compassion etc. On thanksgiving day we packed up the cake and got in the car- we drove to a bridge on Howard and delivered the cake to some of our homeless friends and the kid went with us.. We know this community personally so, it was safe enough for the kids to experience. Im glad we took them with us to deliver the very special cake bc when we got back in the car my nephew said "now i see why it was such a special cake".

.. that made my day! I truly believe that the seeds we sow in their lives will be watered by the Lord :)

Here are some pics of "our very special cake"

and #2; I love living in Austin- there are so many amazing things to do.

While the kids were here we took them Canoeing on Lady Bird Lake (towne lake). It was so much fun, we definitely need to do that again soon. We packed a lunch, pulled over to eat lunch rowed around some more and then we got rained on :) but, we had an amazing time ..... I love making these memories with them..... I cant wait to share this type of thing with all of my other neices and nephews.

Here is a short video from our canoeing adventure:

Have a wonderfully blessed day!
-missa

Turkey Day

Happy Turkey Day 

Friends and Family!

We love  you and miss you all...

I hope this was the best Thanksgiving ever!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

A women, a heartbeat and a home

A women of God has so many amazing things about her. So many attributes that it is very hard to pick just a few and key in on them but here is where I felt I was being led when I talked at the last women's meeting. I felt as though I should share it, hopefully it will bless you and maybe even bring freedom to your life!

A Women of God

------------

Strength and Dignity are her clothing and her position is strong & secure; she rejoices over the future {and the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it!} (amplified bible)

(I love that scripture because it speaks of a security and a boldness that I so desire to be more of- she knows who her God is and what HE is capable of!)

• She is FREE (Gal 5:1) We have freedom in Christ and through Christ to be all that he has called us to be - to the best of our ability in him. That calling looks different for every women. Some may have a career, some may be stay-at-home moms, some may be worship leaders! Function in your calling in its entirety! Whatever it is, Do it with all you have in Christ. 
• She is CONFIDENT (Eph 3:20)  In all that Christ can do IN and THROUGH her! She knows that her life is a vessel and a tool for a higher purpose. She does not doubt her God and she trust him. She knows who's she is!
• She is a GOOD STEWARD (Pro 14:1) She understands that she sets the tone for her home and that she has been entrusted with children, ministry, others. Women set the tone for the outcome of her husbands day, childrens day, her day. She has the ability to tear down or build up (this needs more description so if your interested in it, let me know)
• She is not PERFECT There is no "perfect woman" but you can be the best of who you are called to be. Stop comparisons and inadequate feelings. Break the molds- Choose to be transformed not conformed.

So where does some one start? 

Enhance your relationship with the Lord. Pursue him. Lay the desire you have before him and let him transform you. (Rom 12:1)

On whatever level your obedience to the Lord is, thats the level you will live on!!!

See him for all he is and for all that you can become... for all that he created and desires you to be. Nothing about you is boring... nothing about you is mundane- everything about you is unique so,..... get lost in the Lord to find yourself!!

My prayer for you according to Eph 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father. from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that our of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooter and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints,  to grasp how wide and long an high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who  is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work with us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever Amen!

Remember, Don't be afraid to dream BIG because you are the heart beat of  your home!!!

Here is another favorite song of mine: I Surrender by Kim Walker 

(It's not the standard I surrender popular version- its a completely different song- oh man its good)

 

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

Zilker and the capital

We have lived in the Austin area for about 7 years and we hardly ever get the chance to go south and see all of the beauty that makes Austin so unique.We went today to Zilker and it was really a gorgeous day. We played at the park, had a picnic and took a ride on the train also. We ended the day with a walk through the capital.

Gosh- the weather is soo beautiful- take some time 

to get out and enjoy it!

Here are some pics from today!

Future Leaders!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

Fireworks, Jordin Sparks and a christmas tree

Hello Everyone,

Saturday was the night of the tree lighting ceremony at "The Domain" near 183 & Parmer. 

I usually do not like to go out to this type of thing bc of the traffic and also because by the time you get there people are annoyed by traffic- frustrated with each other- and flat out rude! It kinda defeats the purpose of going out but, we have the kids with us this week and we thought they would love it so; to the Domain we went. The night featured singer: Jordin Sparks, a firework display, and of course the lighting of the Christmas tree in front of Macy's....if you havent made it to "The Domain" for the tree lighting it is really nice - I would definitely recommend you go. You also want to go out there anytime during Christmas, the streets have lights hanging above them and everything is tastefully decorated for Christmas (go-especially if you have kids). The huge tree in front of Macy's is really pretty, it makes you excited for Christmas- It's very festive.....

The kids loved it and had a great time. 

As I said before, I LOVE this season!!!

Here is some video and a pic of the night!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

One among many

As I stated in the post "Heavens Angels" I will be helping speak tonight at the Womens meeting. While praying and asking the Lord what he would have me talk about I got to thinking about the amazing group of women I am surrounded by.

We have some amazing women leaders, servants, mothers, friends in our church and I just really felt so honored that the Lord would use me.... ("One among many") ... that he would use ME to speak to such greatness.

I wanted to share this video with you, its the video I made for tonights example: ENJOY!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

LOL! I love this video

This video cracks me up... Even though I've seen this repeatedly- it makes me belly laugh (are you picturing santa?) every time?
I love, love, love it! Sooooo funny!


Prov 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Hope you had a good laugh and that you have a wonderfully blessed day!
-missa

Tall tales and a brush with death

Last night I had a brush with death.....Brace yourself for this and if you are squimish (sp) - look away now!

I was working in the garden and bent down to grab a handful of dead leaves that I had raked and felt a little wiggle in my hand and saw some ittie-bittie eyes looking up at me > I swear this thing was staring at my jugular vein in my neck!

My heart drops and I throw this animal across the lawn along with the leaves.....

Out of curiosity I go check out what it was and.......

Say Hello to my little friend!

-OR-

Here is the version I told Scott!

I tell you what, my life flashed before my eyes today.... I saw the light....... I screamed for dear life...... There was this 6 foot long 2 ft wide snake that attacked me today, it also tried to bite (yes I said bite) my jugular vein in my neck after it slithered up my arm.... I told Scott the snake looked me in the eye, drew its head back, rattled its tail and jolted out at me! I was knocked off my feet and fell to the ground where we wrestled for about 23 minutes. (I know, I know it SOUNDS unrealistic ... but dont fret) Please read on, as we wrestle for dear life I catch my breath and with a swift kung-fu like blow from my hand I knocked it off of my neck and after securing my jugular was safe I saved my own life by hitting it with a shovel and with a huge BANG, it was out for the count!

I then kneeled down to his level and counted like a ref at a wrestling match...... "5" "4" "3" "2" "1"!

Snake- 0

Melissa- 1

Snake - 4 inches long (which would be 6 ft long full grown Im sure)

Melissa 5' 2"

As the conqueror I walk away with:

• A new appreciation and renewed outlook on life
• The sound of an imaginary crowd cheering and chanting my name
• The sound of the Rocky theme song in my mind
• and the sweet smell of victory in my nostrils 
• Not to mention... swelled with pride for winning the fight of my life and defeating the beast!

I dare a snake or any other threatening garden animal ever try to take my life again......bring it on beetles, bees, spiders and even rolly-pollies. Bring it on!

Oh the webs we weave...................................

but just so you know, there are real dangers lurking in my backyard and by the time Scott got home I had had the time to build the story up in my mind and maybe even actually believe it!

Looking back I realize it is not all "factual truth".

We may have only wrestled for 18 minutes not 23!!!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa 

Today I fell in Love

Today I fell in love, or did I just remember I've been in Love all along.
In love with God, the Father - my Savior Jesus.
In love with the tangible touch of the Holy Spirit.
In love with the fact that I walk in favor.
In love with the sound of him singing over me.
In love with his presence residing in me. 

In love with the way he flows through me.

The way I see his hand in motion in every minute of everyday and oh so evident in my surroundings. No, I am not surrounded my mountains or valleys. I can not go to the beach and scuba or snorkel (I love these things too) but, I can see him in the face of a single mother, homeless or elderly person and especially in a child's laugh.
I have seen, felt and mingled in the presence of his Love today and all I can say is.....
God's love takes my breath away!

Today, I opened the Word (in what I thought was routine) and ended up falling more in love with him!
Dive in- it's good!

Here is one of my fav's by Shawn McDonald;
Every time we go on a trip I find time to get alone with the Lord overlooking something gorgeous and here is the song I listen to:

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

scarves and gingerbread lattes

My favorite season of the year has official begun.

"The holiday season". I love the holiday season, not only for what it stands for, a time of giving thanks and the greatest gift of all - "Jesus". Just the feel of the season brings me so much joy.

The weather, the leaves changing, I LOVE this time of year!

Each time the holiday season rolls around I celebrate in 2 ways:

1- pulling all of my scarves out (everyone who knows me knows I LOVE and collect and wear scarves all season)

2- Getting a gingerbread latte from Starbucks. This is also how I end the season in jan :)

These two things (to me) mean that fall/winter is upon us.... it's time to brace ourselves for family, friends and the beauty of the season!!!

Happy gingerbread latte drinking!

-missa

Good news- yay

I just found out today that my life is about to get a whole lot easier!

Mardel is opening Monday the 24th in Georgetown!!! Yay!

No more driving to Waco for resources (nothing against Waco).We've prayed for a Mardel to come to Austin for years so please everyone go out and support it!

Life just got a little sweeter!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

Heavens Angels

I did this promo video for our women's meeting this Friday, it's a spoof on Charlie's Angels.

Hope you enjoy it!

Also, 

We are 3/4 finished with our back yard renovations. YAY!

There are so many pretty things to see in the back yard.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

It is a miracle

Today I witnessed a miracle and it was under my nose the entire time!

I have tried to clean a stain off of my refridgerator for a long time so I though I woud try this new product: Magic Erasers!
Afterall, the ladies in the commercials seem to be happy with them and they are not even having to scrub hard... so, I bought the ScotchBrite version of them and took them out in an emergency attempt to perform a miracle cleaning of my stove before company came over for dinner.
I was as happy as a commercial actress.... It cleaned my stove!!! With little to no effort! I witnessed a miracle today!
After seeing this genius product a work I went on a cleaning frenzy! I actually marveled when I saw the amazing ability of these sponges.
I dont know what they put in them, all I can say is..... I love this product!
If you hate to clean- this is the product for you, it actually amazes you to see what this thing can do!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

Another favorite

Anyone who knows me or has ever read my blog knows.... I LOVE music. Especially worship music, here is another one of my favorites; this girl is awesome!!!
Her name is Kim Waker he music can be found on ITunes. She sings a song called I surrender and it is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I could not find that one on Youtube so I will share with you my other favorite song by her...
Listen to it and at 4:04 she says this: " I dont have time to maintain these regrets when I think about... the way, He loves us"
Powerful stuff guys!

Hope you enjoyed!
-missa

Did I do that?

So, I learned a very valuable lesson this weekend.

LIFE REQUIRES MAINTANANCE!

We have such a hard time keeping up with our yard and usually by the time we have time to go out there and work on it, it is usually a full days work. So, when we have the free time to work on it- the ironic thing is we dont end up with any free time at all.

Free time is an illusion.... :)

Saturday we walked into the back yard to look at it and see what we could do to make the landscaping look better bc as you see in the picture below some of the brush we have is starting to swallow the house and the plants behind them.

We knew we had to be somewhere at 5pm so we only had till 4pm to accomplish this miracle.

After drawing a lay out and forming a 5 step plan we set out to home depot to buy the essentials; mulch, potting soil (for my pots) and 3 plants to replace the ones we were going to uproot.

So we come home ready to tackle the task and time passes, so did 4 pm and we are only 1/5 complete. Why have I not maintained this yard?? Why Why Why! 

I mean really, what is the point of grass? I would much rather have dirt and some silk flowers at this point. So the HOA may not like it but, oh well, but I would be so happy. I even asked Scott if we can put astro-turf out there and he said no (imagine that).........

But, since my cup is 1/2 full I will concentrate on the beauty it will have after the sacrifice. I will motivate myself by the fruits of my labor and the thought of coffee in the mornings outside with my bible, surrounded by flowers and plants.

Lesson learned...... everything in life requires maintainance otherwise, it robs you of your time.

ugh!

Tootles

-missa 

Movie night

The last week I have been such a slacker on my blog, it has been a bit busy but, I want to just let everyone know we are still alive:

Last night we had movie night at XYC and it was alot of fun! 

Have a wonderfully blessed day

-missa

What were you doing last night at midnight?

What were you doing last night at mid-night?

Well....we (actually Scott) were changing our flat tire on the side of the road :) 

But, on the upside we were able to go to Granbury to watch my nephew play his last football game of this season.

He is growing up so fast and is such a good-hearted kid.

Go #33!!!

I am such a proud Tia!!!

We also got to spend some time with Bubba and Cineca!

Hope you got out and voted today!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-missa

Everyday Heroes

I was thinking about this after watching a rerun of The Cosby Show... what ever happened to sitcoms that had Fathers that were of integrity, good influence and honorable.

I can't think of any male figures on TV that meet up to that standard. Then I thought about everyday heros of today. Who are they?

I know lots of men I would consider everyday heroes....my father-in-law, all HCC pastors, people who suffer persecution for the message of Christ, stay at home mothers, single mothers, ..... I know several but right at the top of the list is my husband..... I ADORE my husband.

He is a Godly man of such honor and character.

When I talk to the young girls at church about dating and what kind of characteristics to look for in a godly man.. I always encourage them to be open to who the Lord brings for them. But, if they do not have a dad or male figure to look up to; that Pastor Scott is the best standard to measure their potentials by...

He has actually been able to stand in the gap for many of the young ladies.

I could gush on and on but, I wont lest you vomit :)

My point is.....Scott is my #1 everyday hero!

We were hanging out saturday afternoon and I snuck this pic while while he wasnt looking and i think its pretty symbolic of why he is of such good leader:

He seeks the Lord always and loves God 1st!

Have a wonderfully blessed day, love on your everyday hero today (whoever he/she is)

-missa

sooo confused..........Did I sleep through November?

Scott and I decided to go out to a certain home supply store who's name I will not say, lets just call it "M-owes" on Nov 1st and I could not believe what I saw.....

Can you believe this? Its the first day of November! I did such a good job ignoring the Christmas ornaments for sale in August at a store I wont name lets just call  it "P-obby W-obby" but, when I saw this I thought "did I sleep through November or what?????"

Dont get me wrong, I absolutely love the Christmas season. I just find it so sad that we completely skip the month of November, once Halloween is over you can not escape Christmas products being sold everywhere and the start of Christmas music on the 2nd week of November. Maybe this is why Christmas is so stressful for so many families. 

What happen to the month of giving thanks! Are we that "me-centered" as a society that we skip of the GIVING and go straight to the GETTING.....

Can we stop and take some time for Giving-thanks. Not only on a designated day but year round.

Im sooo confused, please tell me I did not sleep though November....................

A friend sent me this cartoon and thought it was appropriate for this blog :)

Have a wonderfully blessed NOVEMBER day,

-missa