Rejoicing in my domestic side....

I love to cook and bake.

I also love to share the love with others so, when I cook I usually pack up a container for one of the elderly ladies at our church or I pack some up for some of our friends who stay under the bridge (I dont like to say homeless because our friends have homes. Though my friends homes may not look like yours -> it is home to them) anyways, I love to share love through sweet treats and home cooked meals. I'll share with anyone who will let me.

Last night I made some Red Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese icing- so yummy! I am watching what I eat and making better choices about my intake etc so, I made sure to plan my day of eating to make room for atleast one cupcake. I do not have much of a sweet tooth so, I usually have no problem passing on sweets but, these particular cupcakes are sooooo good.

(excuse the photos, I took them with my b-berry which has a CRAP camera)

They were BLOOD red..

I bought some black and white polka dot cupcake paper thingys because I thought the black red and white would look cute BUT.... the red batter dyed the white dots pink!!! Oh well. They still looked cute!

I wrapped a special package of them for a friend and

dropped them off at their house.

Since having some time off of work I have really had time to experiment with some new recipes and home cooked meals every night and I love it!!! My whole life I waited to have a husband to cook for. Yes, I embrace my domestic side- I enjoy having dinner ready for him when he comes home and I pride myself on taking care of my hubby (he takes good care of me to). I couldn't wait to have a family to cook for and to sit with at the dinner table each night so, when we get a chance to be home in the evenings together we definitely take advantage of it.

Lately I have tested lots of yummy recipes, cooking and baking is very therapeutic for me. I really really really enjoy my time in the kitchen. I turn on my music, sing and bake!

I have several recipe sites that I frequent, I read food blogs and I am a closet kitchen gadget junkie (someday I hope to be the proud owner of a beautiful Kitchen Aid mixer)... last week I finally bought a new crock pot and replaced my cake plate that broke 2 years ago (thanks to the 20% off coupon to Bed, BAth and Beyond) and I was so excited about it. It really made my day to stroll through the cooking isles and dream....... Seriously, it was like a field trip to me.... :)

Growing up I remember my grandmother was ALWAYS in the kitchen making an amazing meal that we as a family would all come in and help with and then we would all sit and enjoy it together the focus was never the food but always the family and the fun time we would have together.

I hope to always continue the tradition of a close knit family.... through great memories of travel together and amazing meals at the table enjoying and embracing the amazing life God has blessed us with!

Another tune to enjoy! This one always makes me happy!!

Today I want to encourage you to take time to sit at the table as a family... turn off the tv and the phone and make memories that will last long after the dishes are put away!!

-Missa

Blink (Heartbreak)

There are some things I see or hear about in my life that really impact me. Sometimes I have a real hard time shaking them off- I can honestly say that my heart breaks for people when they are in pain and I really have to talk to the Lord about it. Some things that I have seen and heard that others have gone through change me and the way I think and feel about my life. But more importantly changes the way I treat others, it's hard to be a selfish person when you've seen others go through the worst things imaginable. I dont even have to know a person, just hearing that they are going through a hard time and it's enough to break my heart and hurt for what others are facing.

Last week while I was at the hospital waiting to hear the status of my mom's surgery outcome I was reading my twitter page and there was a prayer request that showed up for a girl. And of course I stopped what I was doing and prayed a quick prayer and then for the rest of the day I could not shake the thoughts of this "girl." I noticed it said "girl" and not woman or lady so I knew this person had to be young. I investigated a bit and found out that it was an 8 yr old girl who was in the last stages of cancer and in all honesty the last moments of life. I sat and cried for this family and talk to the Lord about it and prayed for them and checked often for updates on how she was doing... she passed away on Tuesday at 11:38am.

8 yrs old!!! Who knows what she endured physically, emotionally and mentally, I have been so heavy hearted about the whole thing and it truely breaks my heart that a family (a little girl) would have to endure such pain and suffering. I later found out that this little girl has made quit and impact on those around her, she is still making an impact. I also found out that the family were believers and before this little sweetheart passed she asked for a bottle of anointing oil so that she could anoint her mommy's head.

I have been praying for the family all week in the after math of their loss and asking God to bring peace and comfort to the family!

3 things I love:

-> my hubby (duh)

-> Art

-> Music

This sweet girl was an artist and some of her artwork is available in print so, if you love art or would like to show your support you can purchase prints here:

http://www.anneneilsonfineart.com/ellie-potvin-prints

Before I left to my moms I have heard this song over and over again and I loved it... each time it comes on i turn it up and sing along (loudly I might add)... it's a small cry of my heart that the Lord would teach me to number my days.... Life is soooo short and just as the Word tells us, we do not know what tomorrow will bring...... life is like a vapor! I never want to take any of it for granted.... Life is a gift of God!

This song has taken on a new meaning now....

I want to encourage you to make the most of everyday... stop complaining..... do something for someone who needs help...get outside of your comfort zone.... love on those who seem unloveable... don't judge the poor and the needy and don't take your family for granted....make today count in eternity!!!

-luv ya,

Missa

Fat Wednesday and Silly Fun

Last night at XYC we had what we call "Fat Wednesday!"

We hold Fat Wednesday on a Wed night every other month.

On Fat Wednesday nights we have a meal and just play games together.

Last night was nothing but silly fun!

We love our youth!

Hope you take some time today with the ones you love and have some SILLY fun!!!

-missa

Life Changing Advice

Have you ever had anyone give you life changing advice?

A little over a week after the whole “May 25th ordeal” a very dear friend of mine took me out to lunch to just hang out and talk.

It was a life saver for me and on that day in the middle of lots of words and tears she said, “then you need to pray for the Lord to show you a new normal.”

Now, what she said was a response to me saying that I didn’t think that anything would ever be normal again! The words this dear friend spoke resonated in my spirit even still today.

She explained it to me this way: she said that when someone goes through a life changing moment in life be it good or bad it changes a person...... and that is o.k.! And once a person has been impacted on a very intimate level it is very hard to go back to what life was before the incident because, you as a person are not the same, things are no longer “normal” so she encouraged me to give myself permission to allow myself to change, allow myself to be different, allow myself to have a new normal.

The words “NEW NORMAL” have rang in my spirit since then and I have been praying and seeking the Lord to find out what my new normal is.....

Some of the things I have rediscovered about myself is that I love to read.... I always have!!! I read bio-graphies, auto-biographies, I read to learn more to help me in my walk with God, and I read just for leisure- I read poetry and short stories in fact, I read just about anything (NO ROMANCE NOVELS though) I just love to read *period*!

Reading is something I like to do for myself to escape, relax and unwind - I have tons of books. In fact I am saving for a Kindle or for a B&N Nook (E-Readers) so that my books can become portable and continue to read and do this for myself, it is a healthy thing for me in my life. Before now I have always put the things that I like to do on the back burner for all of the things that I “HAVE” to do - no more, in my new normal there will be balance!

Dont get me wrong, I will not be disobedient should the Lord lead me to do something but, I will not be controlling and obligate myself to things just because they need to be done and I feel like no one is going to do them so I might as well do them myself!!

No more, and no more over commitment!

I have even made it a new habit, in my new normal to get back to an old habit and sit and read with a cup of coffee BEFORE i get my day started.

I am so excited about this new revelation in my life, I feel so much excitement and freedom to be happy and healthy in life, family, ministry ..... really all areas of life..... I'm leaning and I'm trusting in the Lord to determine my uniquely new path!

And when the Lord tells you to change, don't get stuck in a rut - when he is trying to bring change --- for pete's sake, CHANGE!

I've never been here before and I must say I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!

My new normal also includes some additional loves :: painting, an old retired love till now (you can see one of my paintings at the bottom left of the screen), cooking meals for my hubby and working out on a regular basis, I'm hoping it also includes lots of travel.......

soooo exciting! As the Lord continues to show me more of my new normal I will share it with you.

- hope you have a wonderful day and that at some point today you find some time to do something special to make your day better!

-Missa

Rock-n-Word

Remember, I love music! All kinds of music (except nasty rap) and I must warn you this is a bit out of the norm of what I would usually post but today as I was driving to work (my volunteer position with my hubby at his office). I listened to this song a few times and this portion of the lyrics were screaming at me this morning:

In the dark

I can feel you in my sleep

In your arms I feel you breathe into me

Forever hold this heart that I will give to you

Forever I will live for you

It’s not always an easy thing to serve God when times get hard and you feel like you are drowning sometimes its tempting to give up but, when you make the decision and get determined to fix your focus on his power at work through you... you can’t help but surrender to Him because you start to remember that in reality it has very little to do with you anyways! So through the muck, I encourage you to Focus on him and you will realize that it is only through him that anything good can come out of your situation... as you focus and surrender you start to see all that he has for you (present and future), and that he alone will breathe life into your situation... He will fill with life, those places that feel dead....He sheds light on darkness when it seems like everything is pointless and He gives hope in where discouragement seems to have taken root and don't forget to open yourself up to receive His mercy and grace when anger tries to reside in your heart.

Apart from Him you are nothing.................................

Awake And Alive lyrics

V1

I’m at war with the world and they

Try to pull me into the dark

I struggle to find my faith

As I’m slippin’ from your arms

It’s getting harder to stay awake

And my strength is fading fast

You breathe into me at last

Chorus

I’m awake I’m alive

Now I know what I believe inside

Now it’s my time

I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life

here, right now

I’ll stand my ground and never back down

I know what I believe inside

I’m awake and I’m alive

V2

I’m at war with the world cause I

Ain’t never gonna sell my soul

I’ve already made up my mind

No matter what I can’t be bought or sold

When my faith is getting weak

And I feel like giving in

You breathe into me again

Bridge

Waking up waking up

In the dark

I can feel you in my sleep

In your arms I feel you breathe into me

Forever hold this heart that I will give to you

Forever I will live for you

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

-Missa

Our Happily Ever After......

I have not been able to bring myself to post a new blog bc of the sweetness of the previous blog that Scott wrote. But, after many tears, many questions, long conversations between me and scottie-my-hottie (not to mention the many long talks with God) I had a revelation (maybe I will share it someday but not feeling I should now) I'll shorten it by saying it hit me: "Life must go on"..... Faith is something that requires action/motion... I, we have got to keep pressing toward the holy calling on our lives.

Prior to the adoption Scott and I were scheduled to take 2 weeks together post-adoption with baby boy for family time and though things did not quit work out the way we had hoped we were still determined to take 2 weeks off as "a family". So we did! Scott and I spent a lot of time talking, crying, praying, reading, relaxing and helping each other through this ordeal.

And of course, in the healing process it is always good to squeeze in some fun so, we asked ourselves the question: "what is something we have always wanted to do together but we've not been able to yet?". One thing we both had in common was the desire to take a trip to go Deep Sea Fishing. So, we searched online, found a place on the coast, packed a bag, loaded the car and hit the road.

I've said it a million times before, and here is a million and one, "I adore my hubby, as long as I have him in my life I have everything I need to be happy. He is my family, he is my friend, he is my life, he is my home."

Here are some pics and videos from our trip. We had so much fun! My favorite memories are the ones of Scott and I traveling and experiencing life and our happily ever after!!

We went deep sea fishing!!

The boat took us 30 miles off the coast...

I love being on the open water... someday Scott and I

are going to have our own boat.

This was my first time deep sea fishing and

our first time going together.

We caught 4 Red Snapper!

No luck with the Kingfish or Shark

( i wanted to catch a shark, how awesome

would that have been for my first time)

Scott had the largest catch (snapper) on the boat for the day...

THE END.......................

Dinner anyone?? We're having Red Snapper!

It was so much fun.... I would definitely LOVE to go again

sometime once the weather is a little cooler.

I hope you take sometime today with your loved ones

to pursue your happily ever after...

-missa