It's been a stormy day, so I'm puttin' up my hands...

It has been a roller coaster of a day. I have been on a Level Orange Stress Level lately. I am *sure* my husband has done SOMETHING right over the last 2 months... But I couldn't tell you what it was. I have been so frustrated with him. But although he does need to change the way he does some things, I'm sure I could be more forgiving, too. But I haven't. And today I got so fed up (I was cleaning all morning after getting up with Abbie-as always- and trying to work, plus getting ready to tutor my 5th and 7th grader and needing to run errands AND get the baby ready for a nap... And my husband was still in bed... at nearly noon). And I did something saved for the most frantic of moments... I threatened my husband... with my wedding ring.
The day proceeded to be full of whining from my 2 year old, lots of questions as to what we were doing and why we were doing it (Why? is her new favorite word- isn't that great?), and demands for suckers.
I got a credit card bill with an outrageous finance charge and got to wait 30 minutes to speak to the lovely representative from the CC company (I should thank God that she was as patient with me as she was, probably b/c I told her I recognized that it wasn't her fault she worked for a corrupt and moronic corporation :)) There was nothing I could do about the CC charge, and it just got me to thinking about all the OTHER bills I wish we did not have right now.
It's just been one of those days... and I really didn't think a good, God-filled song would help me much. But it did. Because as every last ounce of energy was about to leave my body, I typed in the address for YouTube and retrieved Casting Crown's "Praise You in This Storm".
I like to think that I really never stop counting my blessings and thanking God for them. But I DO forget to simply let it all go, to give it to God... to just raise my hands and praise Him. These lyrics remind me to do that, to just give it all to God: "I lift my eyes unto the hills... Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth" and these: "As the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain 'I'm with you'...You are who You are, no matter where I am"
It doesn't matter what we're going through... even on those days where you literally feel like your whole world: your marriage, your money, you home, and your life could fall apart... God is there. Even if it's just a whisper that we hear of Him, he IS there. He may seem far away to us, but He's as close as always. And the best stress relief we can give ourselves is just to simply throw up our hands and praise Him in the storm.

Hope you've had a great day. And if you haven't, I hope you'll raise your hands and praise His Name anyway.

In His Love,
Melissa

Wow, slack much on blogging, Melissa?

So I have to admit that, since discovering the amazingness that is FaceBook, I have slacked on blogging.
But I am determined to make it up to every single one of my 12 fans out there... LOL.
I do have a new blog, strictly dedicated to my New Years Resolution, that most of you have already discovered. If not, just go to www.my2010resolutions.blogspot.com :D
As for the blonde and the red head, we had a great Christmas. Abbie got a trampoline, a Disney princess table and chair set (that she can WRITE on!!! lol!), and many other amazing things that I won't type out. She loves all of them. My awesome family trecked their brave butts out here in one of the biggest blizzards Texas has ever seen on Christmas Eve, and we were able to enjoy an awesome evening together. We spent Christmas day with Jeremy's family and we are all exhausted, but happy because we got so much family time in. And we still have one more trip to East Texas to make within the next couple of weeks (thank you, God, for getting me out of that trip on the 23rd or 24th of December; I AM eternally grateful).
It was a crazy Mary Kay Christmas and I'm gearing up for an AWESOME 2010. Abbie will go back to preschool in a couple of weeks and I still have 30 hours of classes to finish. So by the end of January, we'll be back in the grind: juggling school work, Mary Kay, and a full time mommy job.
I know I blogged a few months back about the changes we were making (having Abbie home with me instead of in daycare, etc) and I'm happy to report that I love it. Being home with Abbie and still being able to "work" and go to school is the most amazing blessing in the world. Our relationship has grown so much over the last few months and I am so glad that Jeremy and I made the decisions we did last summer.
I have to go to bed; otherwise I will regret it during church tomorrow morning (does it surprise anyone that I do not have clothes picked out yet? ;) ). Good night, bloggers; Thanks for reading! :D