Detox time

Monday I'm starting a 3 week detox.  I've never done a detox quite like this.  Vitamins, supplements, powder, etc.
 I'm pretty sure it will be intense and I'm pretty sure I will be a huge beep the first 3 days.  Then, I BETTER experience this amazing energy that I keep hearing about!  
I've gained 25 lbs in the past 2 years.  Not sure exactly why.  Might be stress or hormones or could be my age.  Who knows.
Ready to get all that crap out of my system.  Until Monday - I am eating crap galore. 

My boy.

Oldest of 4. 
Age 17. 
Loves working out. 
Works at Salt Lick. 
Handsome. 
Can eat a ton of junk food in a short period of time.

Big day in the Melsa house!

My first born, Lane got his drivers license today AND started home school. He drove to the gym tonight by himself. I am so nervous I have diarrhea!

IF Gathering

This weekend I spent with 11 friends viewing a live stream of the IF Gathering.  It was perfect timing and much needed.  If you weren't able to view it - do it now.  You can live stream it until tomorrow night.  Just Google IF: Gathering. You won't regret it.

Youth Reach Houston

You know I have such a heart for this place. What they do for troubled teenage boys is amazing. They are raising these boys to be wonderful husbands and fathers. Pouring Christ's love into them. And they don't ask for a penny! 100% free. Total ministry. Amazing. They are looking for the following items to benefit their residents. If you have ANY of these things that you would like to give to YRH, I will be happy to deliver them for you next time I go to Houston. Just let me know and I can come pick it up! puzzles, basketballs, board games, right and left handed baseball gloves, fishing poles and tackle and/or gift card to academy, black diamons half-dome climbing helmets for the obstable course ($120), gift cards - walmart, target, academy, maytag washer & dryer ($1900), curriculum - experiencing god: student edition, financial peace: student edition, search for signifigance, microwave oven, stihl or echo gas-powered leaf blower, mechanic's tool set, tool cabinet, 16" or 24" stihl chainsaw, Time to purge?! ;)

bad blogger.

horrible blogger alert! ;-(
check me out on fb for current sneak peeks and personal updates - amy smith melsa
maybe someday i'll be a better blogger!  don't hold your breath.

Taylor Swift!!

Wednesday I took my daughter to see Taylor Swift in San Antonio. The last concert I went to was Sinead O'Connor when I was 16. And Sinead left after singing 2 songs b/c of "bad vibes". Taylor was amazing. I'm not even a huge Taylor Swift fan, but I was blown away by her talent. She is a performer and her concert is worth the money spent. This was a sweet, memorable night with Olivia.

She was singing to me ;)

nacho average mama?

So about every other week there will be a time when Cam will pass me in the house and give me a look.  A look that says "We on? You ready?!" and then before you know it it's on.  Full on wrestling.  or as my in-laws from TN say it - wrastling.   We've had wrestling battles for years now.   We have so much fun.  I mean, it's really serious, but it is FUN.  Up until about 6 months ago, I have always been able to take him down pretty easily.  Now that he is bigger than me it has become a lot harder.  Like now we work up a sweat.  Sometimes things will even get broken.  The other kids love to watch and root us on.  Luke just stands off to the side and smiles nervously.  
I asked the kids the other day if something happened to me what would be the one thing they remember about me and one of the things they all said was "how you wrestle cam".  I imagine most moms don't have this role, but I am so thankful I do.

My feel good list

A while back I made a list of what makes me feel good.  Things that bring me comfort, make me smile, bring contentment, peace.  I try to make sure I'm doing some of these things to nurture my life.  

Here's my list:

painting

yummy smelling candles

hot tea on the porch

the library

napping in a hammock

volunteer work

meditating

walking my neighborhood while reading a good book
strength training
being with my husband
organizing anything & everything
getting into my pj's (fleece!)
picnics at the park
kayaking
road trips by myself
showering after a hard workout
my legs freshly shaved
massages
getting pampered
antiquing
small towns

Now, go make your own feel good list.  And make sure and nurture your life by doing those things you love. 

circus!

I took the littles to the circus today in Cedar Park. I was really impressed! Definitely worth it.

Hunt did NOT like the clowns. 

She was hanging by her hair!  Ouch!

Sometimes Ryder needs a little help putting on a smile. 

my notebook/pen fetish

i love notebooks and pens.  they make me happy.  so, i got a cute notebook w/ a smooooooth pen and decided to keep track of what i accomplish each day.  here's an example from the other day:

yep, you read it right - i put on there - shower & shave.  one of my "happies" is shaved legs.  i love the feeling of smooth legs.  and, being that I have a mad schedule w/ lots of kids - I don't get the luxury of washing my hair every single day (not that i would even if i could), so I do see that as an accomplishment when it happens.  PLUS I just wanted to make my list as long as possible and fill up the page.  ;-)  
I have this notebook on my bedside table and fill it in before bed.  Makes me feel like my day was productive.  
Here's a quote I love:
"For one minute, close your eyes and imagine you're 80.  You 're wearing diapers, your kids are 60, you have to eat baby food, can't really walk and you wish that God would give you just one more chance at being 30 again.  Wish granted, don't just sit around and do nothing, create a life you can look back on and be proud of.  Not regret.  What you give you get to keep, what you fail to give you lose forever." John Wooden. 

The harm caused by guilt & selfishness.

"Don't fall into the habit of thinking too much about yourself.  When you put yourself in the center of all your thoughts, to the exclusion 

of everyone else, you are close to 

committing personality suicide."

"Guilt can actually plant the seeds of sickness in the soul, a sickness that proceeds to damage the mind and, in time, the body.  If a personal has fallen into a pattern of conduct that causes guilt feelings, such a behavior pattern should be discarded, and discarded quickly, if the individual wishes to remain in good health."

Project: Me

Today I started a very big, super important project:  me.  I automatically feel guilty and big time selfish saying that.  I know when you focus on yourself you can become miserable, but the big picture is that I want to be a better servant of Jesus, wife and mother in that order.  I want to open myself up to God and what God wants for me. I feel like I've lost myself over the past few years.  I've become very "cold" towards relationships and others and this has made me a very yucky person on the inside.  I've been on this treadmill of life that has worn my ass out and gotten me nowhere.  Just days passing.  I think I've just mainly felt overwhelmed w/ life. 

I want to be the best I can be.  The one God created me to be.  I want to feel my best and treat my body like the gift that it is. I want to nourish it the way it was designed to be nourished.  I want peace in my soul. In my head.  I want to put positive energy and time into things that truly matter to my life and my family's life. 

So, now onto the steps I need to take in order to accomplish this:

My Soul:

My day will start out w/ the Word.  Honestly this isn't the first thing I want to do in my day.  or the last.  I am not one who loves to read my Bible.  Blunt I know.  Forgive me Lord.  Hopefully in time I will desire and love the book, but as for now I am forcing myself.  God knows I love Him and I have other ways that I worship Him and allow Him to speak into my life.  I've started the One Year Bible with a friend.  Accountability is key.  I've never read through the Bible in a year.  I'm sure I've read all of the Bible, just never consistently and daily. 

I love church.  Haven't always, but I sure do love the church's we've found.  We go back and forth from ANC to Real Life.  Love both of them and their vision for the body of believers. 

We are in a Restore Group (home group) that allows us to connect with other believers in a more intimate way. It's like a support group. One that we have grown to allow into our ugliest struggles.  We haven't been very good about consistently going b/c of work, kids, etc.  But my goal is to make more of an effort to be there every time. 

I'm going to meditate more.  Spend a few minutes a day trying to quiet my mind.   It's amazing how much energy I gain when I do this. 

My Body: 

When it comes to my body, I don't care as much about how much I weigh - I care about how good and clean I feel.  

I want to have self control in this area.  I need to have self control.  I'm not sure if I'll 86 sugar or meat or dairy or gluten... I need to do something pretty easy because of my schedule.   I'm researching it now.   

Exercising is a major benefit to me personally.  I feel good when I exercise and feel like a achy slob when I don't.   This will be daily.  It might just be a walk around the block, but it will be something. 

I want to look into holistic/eastern medicine for my health care.  

My Work:

I am going to invest more time in growing in my photography.  There is some new editing software I want to learn, some different techniques I want to master.  

I want to photograph more weddings.  

I want to eventually hire an assistant.  

There are other smaller goals I want to accomplish in the year 2013.  That list is being compiled and will be shared as soon as I'm done.  

Wondering -  what are you doing to open yourself up to what He wants for your life?  What will you do to become a better YOU?

2012

All booked up for 2012!!!  Contact me for a session in 2013!