AN ORINGINAL MASTERPIECE

I decided to change the name of my blog today. One of the reasons is because of how much my life is changing. A second reason is simply that my heart has been tugged at to use this idea of "AN ORIGINAL MASTERPIECE" this week as I speak to over 75 junior highers and parents at camp this week.

I am so guilty of this, even today I have been looking in a mirror and have issues with what I see. But see, God created us each for a reason... we are each original masterpieces. God has made us, formed us and has a purpose for us.

I've prayed to God for so long for my life to be a certain way. To have an amazing Christian man and family in my life and kept thinking will this ever happen... should I settle... whats going on God, what happened to this plan you tell me you have over and over again...

He has unveiled that to me and brought me into the life of a man who sees me as an original masterpiece but he could do that because thats how I saw myself as well.

Thank you Lord for making me, me. Thank you Lord for Mike, Nathan and Aliyah. Thank you for making me an original!

Marshmallows roasting on an open fire... while its a 101 degrees out. Yikes!

First Mike had to test out the Trike

And the little helmet

Then we could go home and start putting the pit together

Miss Aliyah putting tiles on the sides

Mr. Nathan Helping on his side

The first lighting of the fire pit!

Happy girl... may have something to do with the S'mores that are coming

Mike and I

Mike and the kiddos

Time to roast them to golden brown deliciousness

mmmm

needed to go... what better way to put the fire out, than with a super soaker... yet another reason I am in love with this man!

This past weekend Mike bought a fire pit for the back yard. We have been talking about one of these for almost a month now and decided to go for it. We found one we really liked and Mike and the kids put it together. Of course we had to christen the fire pit by building a fire in it, and if you are going to build a fire in it, you must also roast marshmallows in it!

This is from S'mores night on Saturday!

Thanks for getting a fire pit honey! I can't wait for it to cool down! :)

Brooke and Henry

Meet Henry

and Brooke

And the two of them together.

My dear friends Jen and Troy had twins on August 14th. I have had a bit of camera drama but here are some pictures from one of my visits to see them. Congrats to Jen and Troy who are absolutely amazing friends and people and now parents. I learn so much from your love for one another, from the ministry you do and from getting to spend time with you. I am overjoyed for the blessings God is pouring out on your family! Love- Auntie Mel

Mike and Melissa

Well I suppose I should update you on life! This one will be about Mike. I met an amazing man this summer. A man that I always hoped I would meet and have in my life, but a man that I was beginning to wonder if I would ever have in my life at all. After a rough day in this department I got to this point where I wasn't giving up, but I really was frustrated and had a "whatever"attitude about it all.

Then I met Mike Carr. I mean within hours of feeling like this. We talked all the time, we seemed to really get along but I still wasn't sure. We were at coffee and I think I knew he was the right guy for me but I just kept a slight wall up still. We closed the coffee shop down, we walked through a couple of stores and both had to get on our way. He called me later that night and asked me out for Friday Night. We went out that Friday and we have been inseparable ever since. God just made it very clear to me that the man sitting across the table from me, was a very special man in my life and to really see him for who he had been made to be! It's amazing how God has put us in each others lives. He is doing amazing things!

We have fallen in love with each other and in complete thankfulness and awe of God for putting us together. It's amazing how quickly your life can be changed.

Mom got to meet mike when she came out here for a visit. Well actually she met him in the Denver airport where they were both flying through at the same time on her way out here! Mike is an amazing man who loves God, his family, his friends and is very attentive to what is going on around him. He is funny, adventurous, sweet, genuine, intelligent, trustworthy, protective, strong, handsome, an amazing daddy, honest.... really this list can go on and on.

We are so excited to see what everyday brings! We have had some great adventures, dates, just normal days and laid back days already. We are very excited to see and meet my St. Louis people at the end of September, then the next week Mike and his kids and I and my friends Nicole and Duc and their kids are off for a cruise to Catalina Island and Mexico!

Here are a couple pictures of us! I'll put a state fair blog up soon. we just went this past weekend!

I hope you are all doing well!
Much love,
Mel