Family

I've been preparing for this pageant so much latley that I've forgotten to blog! I'm so ready for August 8th to get here and I am so lucky to have such a great support group rooting for me.

My platform Operation: Save A Smile will be donating 264 toothbrushes next week to various organization. God is so good and has a way of providing when it seems there is little to be-had. I truly believe that putting the faith in Christ with your ambitions, your dreams, your fears... ANYTHING... will result in nothing but good. I thank him so much for his undying grace for me.

My dad just celebrated his 58th birthday last weekend. It's hard to believe that 60 is that close for him! But I enjoyed celebrating his brithday and getting the whole family together. I have enjoyed staying with my parents this summer. Isn't it funny how you want nothing but to get out of the house... but when you do.. you realize there is no place like home and you long to be there sometimes. I'm so blessed to have that feeling now... and a family that I love coming home to. Gathering for my dad's birthday with myself, my dad, mom, sister and my brother-in-law (happy one year to them BTW!). It made me realize how my family has grown with the addition of Patrick, but also the bonds between my parents and my sister and I. As time goes on, these bonds strengthen in ways I can't explain. I always used to call my sister my friend. She is my best friend. She can always give me the honest truth about any situation... but she always knows how to put in such a perspective that it is exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. You can't put a price tag on the value of Family and the love you have for them.

My senior year of college (OMG) is just a couple weeks away. I can't explain what I'm thinking when I say those words... it doesn't seem possible. It will be a year of a lot of things! Growth, Happiness, Stress of boards, Savoring the last moments before I enter into the "big girl world", goodbyes, hellos and life. I look back on my college journey and think wow... What a road has God carried me on! But I'm here... I'm right where my heart wanted to be... and now I know it is where it should be. It is beautiful when your life catches up with your soul :). Amber and I will be adding a roomate on: Alex! And we are moving to a three bedroom apartment! I can't to see all the girls from school again and hopefully see more old friends this fall!

I have so many "families" in my life right now and I'm grateful! My immediate family, my friend family, my school family and my pageant family. God has blessed me in so many ways through every relationship... I have a family in Christ through him. Isn't it nice when you realize this... you are never alone, no matter how much you think you are... the Lord is always right there and provides you will some great back up. It's amazing what "being still" will do for your concious.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa

Tested.

Tested. That's how I feel. Have you ever had (which I'm sure you have) moments in your life where you feel like what seems like everyone is pointing you in the face and saying "No, You Can't." It's defeating and exactly what I feel like.

There's not words you can say to push that finger out of your face and say "Yes, I will make it through." The only words are words of hope from our Savior. That can save you from such a moment of defeat.

But isn't faith in the Lord, the hardest lesson to learn. It is so easy to give once you just surrender to him and give it... but if you are as stubborn as me... it is a mighty long and bumpy road to finally surrendering everything to him. But that's the beautiful thing... He's always there waiting on you.. not matter how long it takes. God is a forever God... not a "when I feel like it" God. How blessed am I to deserve such love? I think God can be a forever God... because of everything he has gone through tough stuff. He's learned what it means to be hurt and ridiculed.

People always says "If there was a God, there wouldn't be pain in the world." Wouldn't be pain? God made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me... and that would be his very own Son to die for the sins of man... my petty stupid sins. Imagine sacrificing your own child at the expense of someone else's mistakes. That's pain. And Jesus himself.. being tortued at the expense of you and me... That is agony. So if they had to endure such monsterous amounts of agony... why do people expect to live perfectly.. in such a pain free world. It just amazes me.

Although I say I have been tested.. yeah.. i'd rather not be.. but Lord I am thankful for my trials I have been through. I get through them... and that is good enough for me. Love of the Lord, my family and everyone.. gets me through.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Melissa