...and then some!

Today, as I was driving my oldest son to his doctor's appointment, I was listening to the radio, thinking about my life, and the circumstances of the world around me. On the Christian radio station I chose to listen to, the gentleman said, "Is He enough for you?" It provoked such strong emotions in me. I had to turn it off and think...pray. Do I truly believe that God is enough for me and my life? I didn't want to think pious thoughts and just assume, "Yes, He's enough for me." There's much more to the question. Do I daily live every moment confirming that He's enough??...more than enough??

Is He enough...

...when the economy is in bad shape?

...when someone I love hurts me real bad? Maybe even someone in my church or my family?

...when I fall on my face in failure?

...when my child dies in my arms?

...when my child commits a crime or an immoral act?

...when illness overtakes my body?

...when everything is great, when I think I did it on my own?

...when I lose my job?

...when things don't work out?

...when people don't understand why I do what I do?

...when I am made fun of for what I believe, choices I make or ideals I stand for?

...when I am old and alone?

...when the storm comes?
...when our children grow up and leave home?

...when I am afraid, but don't want anyone else to know, so I put on my "church" face?

...when my spouse and I age together with unknown challenges to face...ups and downs?

...when we think God is taking us in one direction and He shows us that it is time to change directions?

...when the phone calls come that we don't expect?
...when our children make their own choices?

...when we don't know what to do next...at all?

...when time moves faster than we can keep up with?

...when I am afraid?

...when I am exhausted?

...when I know I've done the right thing even though it's hard?

...when the pain comes and seems so bad?

Is God enough? Can He be enough?
I know my answer.
He is enough. He is enough for me and you. More than just enough.
He is enough...and then some!
Enough said!

Sweetness

This little girl tickles me.

She loves hairbows, eating grapes, dressing her baby dolls, dancing, wearing houseshoes, playing with and hugging her brothers, watching Cin-da-re-lly. wearing bracelets, taking bubble baths, singing about Jesus, picking out her shoes, going to "chuch," taking naps with mommy, reading books, having mommy kiss her 'stinky feet', laying on daddy's tummy, and telling on her brothers. She tickles me. She is sweetness. She is growing up...always my little girl.

Only because of the love...

I like to think that I do everything I do for my family for the right reasons...because it is the right thing to do, it needs to be done, someone has to do it, no one else will do it, it is necessary. But, after more thought, the joy in being the wife and mother of this incredible family is in the love behind everything I am blessed to be able to do for them.

I love being a wife and mother.

I love everything about it. I love keeping the children quiet when daddy is not feeling well so he can rest. I love washing the clothes. I love reading stories over and over and over. I love family movie night. I love teaching my children about the Lord. I love making my husband laugh. I love watching my boys playing the Wii so excitedly. I love proofreading Michael's homework. I love giving my baby girl a bath. I love shopping for my family. I love teaching my children to memorize scripture. I love to ask my children about their day and hearing about their ups and downs. I love seeing my family after a long day of work. I love talking with my boys about how to handle tough situations at school. I love giving goodnight hugs and kisses. I love cleaning up messes and wiping up spilled milk.

I love the fact that God allowed me to be a wife and mother...to them...I only do what I do because I love them so much! Family love...Fun love...Real love...it works here!

...Trusting God, Melisa

Jonah's First Lost Tooth

Jonah has been working on this tooth for quite a long time...and finally...

....after alot of wiggling and jiggling by Jonah...and daddy...

...it's out! Way to go, Jonah! Now, see...it wasn't so bad...now start working that next one!

You are an awesome kid!

When a Three-Year-Old Gets Quiet...WATCH OUT!!

Lipstick, lipgloss and white walls just don't mix...

...but amazingly...

...there was none on the carpet! YAY!

Nothing a little Spray Power couldn't clean! Whew...

Through the vicissitudes...

From Merriam-Websters Online dictionary, the definition of
vicissitude
is a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one's control.

While reading The Handwriting on the Wall: Secrets from the Prophecies of Daniel by David Jeremiah, as recommended by a church mentor and friend, I have come across many new ways of looking at things, but I have come to absolutely just love this word...vicissitudes...by reading this book.

And, if you need to, you can go here and hear this word pronounced - try saying that word 5 times fast!

The significance of this word became reality to me today in a life circumsance I am facing currently. By studying the life of Daniel, I have come to more fully appreciate the consistently-consistent consistency in his life (pardon the redundancy!) But, it has spoken volumes to me. So many times, I am left wondering, "How should I react to this situation," or "What should my response be in this challenge?" But, in reading today and studying the life of Daniel, I learned that the most important thing I can do is continue to be consistent.

To quote David Jeremiah:
"The exciting thing about Daniel is that he didn't change when the pressure is on. I believe that is one of the greatest characterisitics of godliness in people's lives; they can move through the vicissitudes of life, [did you see the word?] untouched by the circumstances, because of the consistency of their example and the godliness of their walk."
(The Handwriting on the Wall: Secrets From the Prophecies of Daniel by David Jeremiah. Word Publishing: Dallas, p. 117. )
In my own life experience, I have determined that people who are consistent day-in and day-out are needles in life's haystack, M&M's in the Chocolate Turtle Chex Mix, my car keys in a house full of various and sundry things when all I need is my car keys - when I find them they are valuable! They are hard to find, but when you do, add a sharpness, flavor and fulfill a primary need in life!

I am working toward a Daniel mentality...
consistency!

Family Time...God's Time

I want to take time to thank my ole' college buddy...(not old as in age, of course!)...that I have recently come back in contact with through Facebook for this one...I am always looking for new ideas to teach my children Biblical concepts, stories, values. And, recently, she had a great post describing how she made a timeline on the wall with her children that helped them keep their Bible stories in sequence and in their hearts as they learned them. I loved the concept...however realized quickly that I didn't have room in my small home for long pieces of paper to make the timelines with. So, I've thought and thought and decided to go to a school supply store and purchase an old-time flip chart instead to conserve space. And, it has been great! My kids have been so excited to be involved in the process of interacting with the Scriptures in a new way...not just being told, but being able to put them back on paper and being able to go back and look at it and remember...We have added several types of pages, including...

-Scripture memory pages (we are re-learning Psalm 23)...

-Chore charts...

-Bible story pages...

-The Bell Family Mission Statement page
(with a working page for drawing how we can continue improving it)...

-Reading goal achievement page (each child has set their own goal for reading books and once achieved will receive the reward they have chosen - with our assistance of course!)...
-Things we want to talk to God about (i.e. prayer requests)...
-Books of the Bible...

and much, much more.

All the kids love to look at the "Big Bell Family NoteBook" and it is evolving into quite the conversation piece in our home...we even have plans to use it for family meetings, problem solving, planning, and lots more.

And, for those of you who think this is a little warped or over the top...just remember...I already have my 2009 Christmas list made! I love lists!

Having fun with the Big Bell family Notebook...

Trusting God...Melisa

Baby, it's cold outside...

Today, the kids went outside to play in the snow. They had a blast running around, throwing snow balls, chasing each other, making footprints in the snow, sweeping the snow off the porch, trying to break the ice in the creek by throwing rocks in it, chasing Mysterious Cat #2 in the snow, and Abby loved to eat the snow - only the white snow of course! Isaac wore a grocery store bag over his cast to keep it from getting wet, but it didn't slow him down from playing with the rest of the kids.

25 Random Ideas to Share...

Recently, in another online format, I was tagged to list 25 random things about myself. It seems like an easy enough task, but after I was finished, I realized that most of the things I listed were things that most people who know me closely already knew. So, I thought tonight, I would revisit this thought...attempt 25 random things about myself that I may not share as often with those around me...hmmm...now, this may take some extra thought.

1.) I can't understand how to play rook. And, I have yet to be able to find anyone who can teach me.
2.) My favorite colors are brown and black.
3.) I not only love to read...I often will lay down with a book (and always a pen) in my hands and not even open it, just lay with it to fall asleep.
4.) We turned off our cable t.v. service for almost two years recently in an attempt to focus more on what direction God was telling us to go in our lives...we got our answers...amazing! Sort of a t.v. fast, I guess.
5.) I love to fly and would fly anywhere at anytime.
6.) I got married on my birthday...April 5th.
7.) I have a habit of saying to Michael frequently, "...if anything ever happens to me, make sure you do this..." or "...if anything happens to me, I just wanted you to know where I put that..." or "...why I did that..." or "...what I would prefer that you do in this situation..."
8.) I love to be early for appointments/scheduled events and am easily frustrated/impatient with those who are chronically late...just keeping it real!
9.) I think that sometimes those closest to me forget that I need encouragement too...I realize that one of my spiritual gifts is giving encouragement, but when I have strong desires to pursue God's calls in my life, I am drawn to those who believe that I, too, can do all things through Christ who gives me strength when He calls me.
10.) I do not like flowers. I enjoy other people's flowers, and I get a kick out of flower gardens with the best of them. But, my dear husband learned years ago not to buy me flowers...it doesn't speak my love language! And, I never have any in my yard...
11.) I am not your typical woman - I have very few pairs of shoes and only one purse - when it tears up - I'll buy another.
12.) I have glasses for distance vision...don't like them though.
13.) I love trimming my children's fingernails and I love going to the grocery store...weird, huh?
14.) I have insomnia...I don't sleep much at night...but can nap anytime during the day.
15.) I use blankets all year long when sitting on the couch - even in the summer.
16.) I am not afraid to drive in the snow...I get so tickled when the girls at work ask me if "...why are you hear early? Did your husband bring you?"
17.) I secretly want to be a great seamtress...can't sew a lick but own a sewing machine...tried this year to crochet real hard, but couldn't make the ends straight.
18.) I have already made my 2009 Christmas list and have it in my planner so I can start crossing off those I buy early.
19.) I was engaged to Michael for 3 months prior to our wedding day (and we dated 9 months before that.)
20.) I am a huge Andy Griffith fan...watch it every time I see it on and have tons of episodes on DVD.
21.) I rarely watch home video's - they put me in mind of the old MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) commercials that would show a person who had been killed in a drunk driving accident, in a home video, who was marching in the band, playing in the yard or blowing out birthday candles...I cried everytime I saw those commercials and I cry every time I watch home videos...they grow up to fast.
22.) I lived in California for a summer in college to do summer missions. For 12 weeks, I moved every week to a different area and led Vacation Bible School in 12 different communities. My partner was from Houston, Texas.
23.) I never ate a salad until I was 22 years old...now I love salads (no tomatoes of course) with ranch dressing.
24.) I am completely comfortable being by myself...I love a quiet house...when everyone is gone, I turn everything off and let the silence deafen me...it's great.
25.) I always wanted dolls when I was little, but I didn't play with them much. I would have rather been playing basketball, reading or sleeping in.

and...yes...there's much more to me than is on the surface.

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27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27 (NIV)