continued story from yesterday

Hello all so yesterday I mentioned that something good happened, here is the story:

Each year since our first year of marriage we have had a tradition in our family (scott and I) on our birthdays we don't just have a birthDAY, we have a birth WEEK! Yep, you guessed it right we celebrate our birthdays for an entire week!! A tradition that we will someday carry on and do with our children.

We do not give each other big gifts but all week long but we do nice things for each other and give little gifts on each day of the birth week and also that week everything is all about that person. We go where they want to go and do what they want to do... all of our meals are even the persons favorites. When we first begin doing this the thought behind it was this: one day was not enough to honor the person you love most so ...... that is why we love our birth week we get to focus on each other and spoil each other rotten all week and then have a huge celebration on the day of the actual b-day.

Scott's birth week is coming up and I have already begin to prepare for it but yesterday since we were having a pretty crappy day I decided what would make me happy is if he got to open one of his b-day gifts early and he of course, being the servant he is, agreed!

I asked him to pick a number from 1-4 and that is the gift he gets to open. He chose #3 - check out this little video, it made my cruddy day a thousand times better......

I love birthdays. Even if we cheated a bit this year, it is going to be a great birthday week for Scott on Sunday Feb 14th-Feb 21st! Im excited.

Have a wonderfully blessed day,

-Melissa

The great move of 2010

This has been an extremely stressful week for me. We are in the process of moving my mom from her home in the panhandle to a town near Ft. Worth and we have hit every obstacle you can think of:

1) the help that I originally planned was not able to make it (and they had the moving tow)

2) Planning a move like this last minute cost a small fortune, not to mention

3) the snow and ice hit West Texas on the one day of the month that we planned the move and delayed our flight(s) yes I said that with an (s)!

So, 2 delayed flights later and what will be 24 hours late (we lost a day waiting), lots of phone calls and time on hold with the airlines - we will be on our way to move - even with one less day we will accomplish the move within a few hours and hit the road to return on the same day we arrive. Am I frustrated???? ummmm slightly :) Will I be okay??? Definitely!!!!! I'm already feeling better :)

Boy will I be glad when all is said and done and everyone is rested and safely home where they belong :)

On a good note as we waited to hear about our flight Scott got a much needed nap in and I was able to catch up on some work.

AND one other awesome thing happened..... I will share it with you tomorrow!

Have a great night everyone.

-Missa

Lists lists lists

I'm drowning in lists :)

I am very much a list person and I thought with the great invention of the Blackberry it would help me to do away with all my lists but..... that is not the case. I'm not sure if my b-berry helps with stress or adds to it since it has made a way for 24 hour access to me through my b-berry!

Basically.... to some extent it has taken over my life :) Just recently I realized that I have lists, lots of lists everywhere and I had to ask myself why I am not using my phone like I used to for organizing. After thinking about it long and hard I realized this, I do not use it for organizing anymore because it is just one more "alarm or alert" that goes off among the many other ones. This dilemma has made me revert back to lists. haha!

I have also realized that as I work through the things on my list I feel so empowered as I cross them off one by one. I feel like I am accomplishing BIG things! I have a list pad by the door, in my car, in my purse and by my bed so that one is always available at my jotting pleasure.

Anyways, are you a list person like me?

Before I walk out the door I make my list of what I need to accomplish today - I am actually thinking about going old school and reverting back to an actual planner that you would write on with a pen! Do they still sell those anywhere?

Shocking right!? haha

Have a beautiful day today as you work on crossing things off your list.

-Missa

Gorillapod! Woohoo!

Now that we have come through a very busy season in ministry I find that I am having some extra time for the things I love for instance:

I am working at a great pace on my schooling

and

I am really diving into photography. I'm learning some new tricks on my camera and I am really looking forward to charging my camera battery - popping in the memory card and seeing what I can photograph on a regular basis.

Taking pictures is a VERY relaxing thing to me, I love to express myself through my photos. I love love love love my camera!

In my quest to improve my photography skills I was looking for a small tripod that I could easily carry and came across this product:

It is called a Gorillapod and it is awesome! This product allows you to take shots when there is no one to hold the camera..... I am so excited since Scott and I love to take pics together of all the fun stuff we do together. I have balanced my camera on everything (I've even prayerfully balanced my camera between the limbs of trees :)

The legs of this item will wrap around almost anything... It is the coolest thing and I have really wanted one for a LONG TIME but, its one of those things you wont buy for yourself.... but I have been checking online often to try to find it for a price that I could feel okay about spending!

Recently I was blessed with an REI gift card for christmas so today I was out and about and I decided to stop at REI to see what I "needed" I had the card with me so I pulled in to REI (I love REI) and I looked around to dream of all the fun things we could do with all the fun stuff from that store.

Then it dawned on me .... hey, a gorillapod is something that an outdoorsy kinda person would use for hiking and biking and things like that so... I wondered over to the camera bags and (drum roll please).... they sell Gorillapods! OMG- I was soooo excited! Talk about making my day! The best part is that once I bought it with my gift card it only cost me .26 cents! AWESOME! I got something I have REALLY wanted for a long time! What a blessing!

The one I bought is for my small camera since it is the one I use for my Vlogs (coming again soon) but, I really want to get one for my DSLR too... but, I am very grateful for the one I have.

No more dangerous "no hands on the wheel" videos on my Vlogs!

What an amazing product!

Today just reminded me of why I love REI so much!

Have a great day everyone!

-Missa

Well happy mornin'

Good morning.

I must say, I am at my personal best in the mornings. My morning routine is anything but routine. I believe that the way you start your morning will set the tone for your whole day. If you wake up with an attitude that today sucks -> Hey….. guess what? You have already limited yourself to having that kind of day and not to mention you have already limited what you will allow God to do in your day as well. Think about it: New day – New mercy – fresh start!

If you ask my husband he would say, I play for an hour and I dance and goof WAY BEFORE I get anything accomplished.

I guess if I am totally honest with myself I would have to agree. I just love to start my dat off right and with JOY. If I have time after goofing and having fun I sometimes will drink a cup of coffee – regardless of the mornings activities there are 3 sure things that I must do:

1) Cuddling with my hubby

2) turn on some good music

3) dance

Yep, these things bring me joy (especially #1) As I’ve said several times throughout my blogs – I LOVE MUSIC. I believe music to be a very powerful tool that reaches our emotions like nothing else. I love to turn on some good praise music (positive words) or any kind of up beat happy music and I sing and dance around as I get ready. You see guys all of the goofiness on my Vlogs was not acting, I truly am a silly girl.

One thing that I am sure of and it is this: I am at my very best in the mornings!

Think about it, what is there to stress about it God has already planned your day- our steps are ordered right? All you gotta do is take some time to align your will with his will for you. Each day is a clean slate with endless God opportunities and possibilities. What could happen? Who will I meet? Who will call? Who can I call? What is God going to do today? Mornings are definitely as his Word says, a time of new mercy!

So today I challenge you to take today for what it is: A FRESH START with endless possibilities.

Turn on some music, sing and dance then go out into the world living in Macro.

Lamentation 3:22-24 (new mercy)

Psalm 37:23 (steps are ordered)

Eph 3:19-20 (more than we ask or imagine)

-Missa

Gettin' Smart!

So as many as you know, I re-enrolled in school in November to continue the pursuit of my bachelors in Christian Counseling and I must say, this go round I am really enjoying my time in studies! Last time I attended school I loved the material but I was in a constant overload mode with my schedule, my personal life and my studies so... it was a HUGE burden and guilt trip and the feelings of defeat were endless ..... it seemed no matter how early I woke up or late I went to bed I never had time for my studies!

This time around I am really enjoying it and I am proud to say I have time to study and do everything else - I am actually turning in my assignments 2-3 weeks early!! (Go Me!) I have 4 classes left to being at the 1/2 way mark to my degree! That is one of my BIG mile markers I am going to celebrate when I get there - to me, it is a very big achievement!

At this moment, I am in a class called prophetic books about the prophets and I am really loving it! This class gives me a lot to chew on and to mediate on, it is challenging me as a leader and I love it! I know as a leader there is always room for improvement.
Going back to school was such a big decision and at first I thought, "Oh man, I can not commit to that failure again." but, I really felt the Lord tugging on my heart about it and since he orchestrated it - I was obedient and it has not been a burden at all! I am so happy that I did it and I look forward to my time in my daily studies. Last night I couldn't wait to crawl in bed unwind and dive into this ->Scott and I are in a very different season of ministry right now so, it could not have been at a better time! God is always right! He is always faithful and he is always trust worthy!

Have a wonderful day today!
Missa

Life in Macro

Macro "Close-up"!

Macro photography is just that, when you get a really good close up. Lots of people love Macro photography, myself included. I love that you can take a picture of something in macro and have it magnified so that you can see the fine details all of the tiny things that may go unnoticed by the natural eye. Macro allows you to see the beauty that may have escaped your attention..... I love to take pictures in Macro and though they may look nice on the LCD screen on my camera the best part is when I load them on my computer and see them on a larger scale - The images comes alive! I can see grains of sand... veins in flowers.... water droplets.... fine, fine details. It's awesome! I often find myself saying "I didn't know that was there."

Now as cheesy as this may sound I love Macro for this reason: It exposes me to the beauty that I would otherwise miss - it shows me so many fine details that I could never notice in the rush of life - it reveals more that surface beauty.

I was thinking about this last night as I lay in bed reviewing some photos I had taken - and I said to the Lord: "Lord, let me live my life in Macro" what I mean is I desire a focus permanently set to bring out the best of Life and to continually see beauty in everything and everyone.

To a point that when problem or a struggle surface I step back and I take a magnified look at it. To see what is truly going on and that I focus in so much on God that through the problem I see behind it to the very promises of God! It is a great way to live; looking for opportunities to see beauty! So today I challenge you to see beauty! Take time to compliment someone, thank someone,compliment yourself. Stop and admire a bed of flowers, watch the trees lose their leaves (I personally love to sit and watch leaves drop). Just take the time to stop and see beauty in Life. Magnify it. Key in on the wonder of it all.

Of course naturally if Macro magnifies the good surely it will do the same for the "no so pretty" stuff :) But, I will accept that as well being that it will help me stay accountable to what I need to change within myself so I pray "Lord help me to keep watch over myself as your word says, help me to keep myself in check" And as I take a look at myself in Macro I see areas that need change. For instance, thanks to the genes of my father I need a dye job badly! I'm seeing a few too many signs of "wisdom" for my comfort so that is on my list of things to take care of soon. But deeper than that I see some things on the inside that I'm working on, mainly doubt and fear.

Doubt is such a faith killer! Lately I have been battling doubt... not to a point of doubting God or doubting my calling but just one area particularly. You see I know that I heard the Lord on something and it has yet to come to pass so it seems like the enemy keeps telling me "Did God REALLY say that" and then if I'm not careful -> I find myself saying "hmmm, did he or was that wishful thinking" then thats when the fear kicks in.. "what if things don't work out and you put yourself out there and get your heart broken you know, people can be mean?" So, see people I'm normal, I have my issues too. One thing we all have in common though is that fact that we have a Father God who cares about us and though I may not have all the answers I know he does and I can fix my focus on that! He is all that I am not and like his word tells me, his ear is inclined to the cry of the righteous - in him there is no shadow of turning and with him all things are possible! I'll put that in my macro lens and stay focused on it!

So either way, I can trust God and today after work I'm gonna grab my camera - find a park and focus on the beauty of life. I might even take some pictures!

Choose to live your life in Macro, focusing and magnifying beauty!

-missa

Father knows best!

Hello Everyone,

I have been thinking about these 3 scriptures alot lately, so I thought I would share what has been on my heart.

I have literally been sitting in silence to meditate on these words and let them transform the way I think about waiting on God.

I am a motivated and driven person- I'm the type that sets my sight on something and I go for it - I think that this is a great quality about myself but, it is also a down fall. I have realized that there are times in my walk with God that it is extremely important to take time to sit and wait! Wait on God! Wait on the green light from him to move. Sit and listen! Sit and refresh! Even more importantly sit and receive from the Lord. Receive direction and receive life! There are some things that happen with God that you miss if you are in a rush or if you have taken the reigns of your life upon yourself.

A life of surrender to God is not always easy nor is it ideal according to what "we" our flesh, our will would want, right? I mean how different my life would be if "I" made the blueprint or if "I" was the director of it all. Sure it may be fun to do what I want or have a life all about "me" for a bit but, it would get old. I mean, what would it all be for? My glory? My name? My purpose, my popularity? My desires? Just me? You see, deep within me there is a place that only God can feel (fill). A deeper purpose a desire to do more, be more..... ETERNITY! Eternal things within me that only HE can fill! Sure doing it my way would be momentarily pleasurable but, it would not be long before all of my own plans and my own striving for success and happiness would leave me feeling empty - temporal things would soon prove to be what they in fact are; TEMPORARY, earthly.... non-eternal things! So today as I wait on the Lord .... I sit back and wait for direction! Boy is it hard sometimes but each time he shows himself so true and faithful and so worth the wait.

Though I am tempted to take the reigns of my own life and have a life of my own achievements- I will refuse and instead no matter how hard, I will wait on his hand to move, I will simply surrender to the will of my Father God.

After all, he TRULY knows best!

Lamentation 3:22-25

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Have a great day trusting God with the reigns of your life!

-Melissa

Hello Blog World happy 2010

Hello Everyone, I know I have been M.I.A from my blog for a while now but, I'm back!

Happy 2010 to all my friends and family!

I am so excited for this new year as we have had so many amazing things happening already but before I get into any of the new stuff I would like to take a moment to reflect on something from 09'. Adopt-A-Block Outreach. AAB was such a huge part of our lives for the 3 years we headed it up I wanted to let everyone know that we had our last AAB on Dec 12th and we ended it with a BIG Christmas outreach for the kids. The Lord was with us through the duration of AAB and he met us at every step even to the very last time we locked the doors on Saturday!

Here are some pictures from the outreach. We had such an amazing time! Thanks to the wonderful community and all of the faithful volunteers our 3 year run was life changing for me and my life will never be the same.

Praying a special blessing for you in 2010!

-Missa