It's The Final Countdown...

Ok, ok, cheesy, I know but I love that song!! lol We are in the final week before my oldest daughter, Brianna, gets married. Nearly everything is ready, besides food of course, and we're working out all the final details. The wedding is going to be beautiful and, hopefully, fun. We were able to score some DJ equipment, if the guys ever calls me back again, to borrow free of charge so we can do all the silly "event" dances. Electric slide, chicken dance, etc. WATCH OUT!! lolol Maybe I'll share some video since I know there's going to be at least 1 video camera there and possibly more.

In other news, I've started my fourth quarter with Harrison College and it looks like it's gonna be a good one! Cost Accounting, Word Processing and Spreadsheets (or blah, blah, blah if your name is Jenn!!). It's a short quarter too... only 11 weeks instead of 12. Brings me closer and closer to graduation with each class!!


Well, that's all the update you're getting tonight... :) I'll try to do a wedding "PRE" blog this weekend with pictures of some of the items we've purchased for the ceremony and reception. That way, especially if your name is Jenn lol, you can attend vicariously through my blog. :)

In His Love,

Melissa

A Time For Change

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! Hope you're wearing your green!! I'm sitting here in my lovely green nightgown while I type away. lol We've had a lot going on recently, as most of you know. We had a death in the family last week and laid my uncle to rest on Saturday. Got to connect with a lot of old friends and relatives that we hadn't seen in years. Sad that weddings and funerals are what always bring us all together.

Speaking of weddings... the invitations will be going out next Monday - if I can get those two to take their butts somewhere and register!! They are dragging their feet on this yet pushing me to get the wedding stuff done. How fair is that? hahahaha

After the wedding, they will be moving in with the hubster and me, so we've been diligently working on cleaning out the spare bedroom that we've been using for storage for them. And their little alien? Has a heartbeat and little nubs for arms and legs!! Brianna had her first ultrasound last week and brought her pictures over to share with us. So exciting! As she progresses in her pregnancy, I am getting more excited about meeting my first grandchild. Whoa... that makes me sound old! Oh, well, I AM old. lol

Ciara is still dating Trey and today is their 2 month-iversary. :) They are so cute together and we really like him. Plus... he makes her do her homework!! Bahahahaha!

The biggest change around here recently though is in the house. I decided that we didn't need a formal dining room anymore because we only used it for storage. The problem with that being a storage room is that it's the first room you see when you walk into our house. Not good. So, we got a couple of inexpensive (and quite flimsy) bookshelves from BigLots and the hubster used brackets and anchors to stabilize them and bolt them to the wall for sturdiness. Then, I brought down our little short bookshelves and all of our books and turned the room into a library. I love it!! It's quite possibly my favorite room in the house now (next to my bath tub, of course!! lol) I still need to move my cedar chest down there - which might happen today - to finish it off, but here's a couple of pics to show you what I've done so far. I'm really pleased with it...

Now we just need to change out the light fixture to one that won't cause head injuries and we'll pretty much be done till we can afford to paint the entire downstairs. I'm no longer embarrassed when people walk in my front door and see this room!

Also, don't forget my Scentsy party this Saturday at 2pm here at my house. If you want to shop online, go here and click on "order from show" next to my name. I would love to see you all there!! We'll have refreshments and some "cash and carry" items for you to check out!!

Well, it's time for me to get some other housework done and later I'll be finishing up week 11 homework. Only one week of the quarter left!! Yeah!

In His Love,

Melissa

Saying Goodbye

Today I spent the morning with my mom planning a memorial luncheon for my Uncle Slim. We got enough food to feed a small army of friends and family and hopefully provide some loving comfort after the funeral.

Tomorrow we say goodbye.

My uncle was a character and I have so many fond memories of him. We all prayed that God would heal him of his cancer and He did... just not the way we would have liked. Of course, we all wanted him here just a little while longer. God had a bigger plan for Slim and I pray that we'll see him again on the other side of the clouds.

For those of you who are local, the public viewing is tomorrow morning at 11am at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Home in Pendleton. The funeral is at 1pm followed by the graveside service at Grovelawn Cemetery. The same cemetery my dad is buried in.

Funerals are hard on me. I've only been able to force myself to attend a few over the years. My dad, my father-in-law and my Uncle Jim about 19 years ago. These are the only ones I've been able to force myself to sit through. Usually I get as far as the lobby and I'm done. Completely overwhelmed with grief and anxiety. I pray that I can maintain my composure tomorrow and be a source of support for my other family members who will be there.  Please pray for my Aunt Rose that her transition from wife to widow will be gentle and she will be encircled by the love and comfort of Jesus.

In His Love,

Melissa

Wedding Mania

So, as most of you know, my daughter, Brianna, is getting married in April. We've been caught up in a whirlwind of wedding planning for the past few weeks. As of right now, we have the building, the dress, the maid of honor dress, the unity candle with bases, the guest book and pen, the flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow, the hot pink rose petals, the cake topper, the tablecloths, some decorative lighting, and I'm sure a few other things. I have printed all of the invitations and RSVP cards. I need to print the registry cards - gotta get those kids registered somewhere first!- and basic maps to the location. Then we need to purchase the zillions of stamps and address the envelopes and get them mailed.  There are so many details!! The funny part about all of this is how invested the hubster is. He keeps bringing up different aspects and sometimes it's something really important that none of us even considered before then. Such a good, good man! I absolutely adore my hubster.

In the next couple of weeks, my mom, MIL and I will be finalizing the purchases for the reception. The food and cakes are going to be FABULOUS!! I wish we knew someone who DJ's who was available very inexpensively, but we may just have to make our own mixed cds. How 80's is that? lol One of the coolest parts of the ceremony itself is that our longtime friend, Trent, is actually performing the ceremony. He's way cool! :)

I can't wait for the wedding day... it's going to be really nice to see friends and family members we haven't seen in a long time. Plus... the hubster's gonna dance with me!! He thinks I'm beautiful.

In His Love,

Melissa

Craziness!!

Well, the past two weeks have been a little crazy around here. We've been making wedding plans, baby plans and the newlyweds moving in here plans. We've dealt with migraines, fevers, colds and general illness amongst the three of us. And last night, we had the mother of all storms! Not far from our house, a house and pole barn were completely destroyed. There is debris all over the neighborhood - even found a turtle sandbox in my backyard this morning. Thunder, lightening, hail, 120mph winds. It was scary once I woke up and realized what was going on. Hubster and I were sleeping when his mom called and his brother's wife started texting asking if we were ok. My response? "Yeah, why?" lol Had no clue the storm was so bad. Then I was awake for hours waiting for it to pass and now I'm exhausted. Ciara slept through the whole thing and was fresh and ready for the day when I woke her for school this morning. That kid can sleep through almost anything!!

Please pray for my family in Indianapolis with flood damage. Water was running in through the basement walls and all of their windows. They got hit much harder than we did.

Now I'm going to spend the next few hours working on accounting homework since I blew it off for the past two weeks (we didn't have class last week so I didn't do the assignments) and it's all due tonight, plus a test. Ugh. I hate it when I procrastinate like this. Oh, well... here I go.

In His Love,

Mel

Valentine's Love...

Do you love chocolate? Then Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday for you! My hubster and I both love chocolate and today I tried a new recipe that I found on the side of the Nestle Toll House Cocoa container. Chewy Cocoa Brownies. Omigosh, these are so good! I went to CVS and purchased two individual heart-shaped pans for $1.00 each. I already had a tub of classic chocolate icing in the pantry, so we were set. I filled each pan and baked them for 18 minutes. After they cooled for about 5 minutes, I turned them out onto a pretty, white square plate and glazed them with melted chocolate icing and then topped with pink colored sugar sprinkles. Since we can't afford to do much for each other as far as gifts, these chewy, gooey, iced brownies are perfect for sharing a little extra love. The recipes for the brownies and the colored sugar are below. Enjoy!!

Chewy Cocoa Brownies
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) melted butter or margarine
2 Tbsp water
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Nestle Toll House Cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped nuts (Optional)
powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13 x 9 inch pan (or individual pans)

2. Combine granulated sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan.

Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Melted Chocolate Icing

Spoon a couple of tablespoons of chocolate icing into a microwave safe dish and microwave for 30 seconds.
Stir until completely smooth. Drizzle over brownies.

Colored Sugar Sprinkles
Place 2 tablespoons sugar into a small dish with a lid. Add 2 - 3 drops red food coloring. Place the lid on the container and make sure it seals. Shake until all sugar is colored and food coloring is absorbed. Sprinkle over glazed brownies.

I hope you all enjoy these brownies! My hubster and I sure did!!

In His Love,

Melissa

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