Goodbye 2011.... Hello 2012

Wow!!! I can't believe this year is over!!! I have to admit that I am sooo glad that 2012 is here... This year has been a very difficult one, but I'm looking forward to 2012. Between work, internship, life and other issues that I won't go into, its been a challenging 2011. I know that those challenges and issues made me stronger and a better person and for that I am VERY grateful. I know that the Lord carried me through those times and gave me His grace to handle everything that came my way. I'm looking forward to a year of healing, refreshment, excitement, and all things wonderful!! I'm gonna start this year out with a positive attitude and mindset. I'm gonna keep smiling!!! :-)

I have some exciting things to look forward to this year. I'm looking forward to graduating!! It has been a long 3 years but I'm thrilled to be finishing up my Masters. :-) Another exciting thing happening this year is that Henry and I will be celebrating 5 years of marriage!!! I can't believe that it will be five years already!!! I'm soo excited!! :-) I guess we don't qualify as newlyweds anymore... But I still feel like one. ;-) My love for Henry has grown sooo much over these almost 5 years. When we got married, u couldn't imagine loving him more than I already did on that day.... But my love for him has grown soo much more than what I could've ever imagined. I know that it will continue to grow and I look forward to it!!! :-)
 

I am also looking forward to starting a.family with Henry soon. We get that question all the time... "When are ya'll gonna start a family?" Well we both graduate this year with our Masters so we hope to start trying/planning for baby this year. No there's nothing "cooking" right now, but I'll be sure to let ya'll know when it happens!! ;-)

Well I gotta run....heading to church to thank the Lord for His goodness, mercy, love, etc. during this past year. I have sooo much to be grateful for!

I hope you all have a blessed new year full of many blessings, growth, lots of love and more. Happy New Year!!!! 

Be Blessed!!!

Melissa :-)

Almost there...

Hey ya'll! I know it's been a minute since I've written. Life is busy but good. :-) 

Well I'm almost 30!!! Just have a few more hours to go.... :-) I can't believe that time has gone by so fast!! Needless to say this has been a really crazy, busy time with work, my internship and life, but I am sooo excited about my big day tomorrow!! They say 30 is the new 20.... well if so then... BRING IT ON!!! I look forward to this next year of my life with great anticipation. I'll be able to cross off a few things from my life's To Do List, so I'm really excited about that. I'll share as time goes by. ;-) 

A lot of people say that I don't look 30... so that's a good thing. ;-) 


Hmmm... I just realized that I will have to come up with a new name for my blog.... Any suggestions?? :-) I guess I have til tomorrow to come up with something.... ;-)

I know this is a short post, but I still have to get ready for work tomorrow. So on that note I gotta go... see ya'll in my 30's!!!  :-)

#Tryintostaypositive

Hey everyone!
So as many of you know summer break is now officially over for me. It is back to work/school I go.... I am actually glad to be going back to school and work. I usually want an extra week or so of summer vacation and wish that summer break could be longer. But this time I feel a little differently than I did before. :-) There are a few things in the works that I am soooo looking forward to right now!!! I can't share just yet. But when the time comes I will do so. ;-) 

One of the reasons that I am glad to be going back to school is so that I can get this year finished! I know, I know... The year is just beginning and I'm already thinking about it being over. Well here is why.... This is my last year of grad school and I am doing my internship this year. This year is going to be mad busy and crazy. Not only am I doing my internship, but I am also taking courses and taking this HUGE test that I need to take in order to graduate. :-/ So needless to say I cannot wait to get through this year and get DONE with school!!!!

I know that there will be some crazy and hectic times ahead, but I have decided to think positively. I know it sounds so cliche when people say "think positive thoughts" but it really makes a difference when you do that. For instance, last Friday was a crazy day for me. From the minute I woke up my day was craptacular... but as the day went on I made the decision to stay positive. It was hard at first because I was upset, tired, frustrated, etc. Even though my surroundings did not change, my thinking did. And honestly... it really made a difference. I told myself that I will focus on the things that I can change, try to be a better person/teacher and keep it moving. When I changed my thinking, my outlook on my situation changed and I actually felt myself feeling less stressed and happier than I did that morning. So my goal this year is to think positively, maintain a positive attitude, encourage those around me and be grateful for all that I have. I am grateful that I have a job, that I'm able to go to school, and that I have an awesome hubby who supports me. (I love you baby!!! ) I want to encourage you all to maintain a positive attitude and "think positive thoughts". If you try it... you'll see that it really works!!! :-)

So on that note... I gotta get... Need to get ready for the big day tomorrow....

Be Blessed!!

Melissa :-)

Memory stones...

"Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?'" "Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord." 

Joshua 4:5b-6, 7a

In one of my devotions that I had not too long ago I read this particular passage of scripture.  While reading this I remembered that my Mom and I started a "memory stone" box when I was younger. The artifacts or "memory stones" were to remind us of all the things that God had done for us. Each "memory stone" has a testimony and represents prayers that we prayed that have been answered. Every time that we looked at or saw the "memory stones" it reminded us of God's faithfulness. Some of the "stones" represent promises that God made to us while others represent things that God "surprised" us with. Even though we didn't have a lot at times, God ALWAYS provided and met our needs. 

While I was in Oklahoma recently, I was able to look and reflect on the "memory stones" that mom and I collected over the years. It was nice to remember what the Lord has done for us over the years. This is how our "memory stone" display looks like.

McCaw family memory stone display

 One of the "memory stones" is a letter from Victory Christian School stating that I was accepted and that someone paid for half of my tuition for all FOUR years that I was going to attend high school. Another "stone" represents the missions trip that Mom and I took to Dominica. It was a wonderful trip and one of the first of several "missions" trips that we were able to take together. There are some cards with scriptures that have special meanings to us as well. There are other "stones" I could explain, but I think you get the idea. ;-)

I really like this idea and see this as a way to take the "thankful journal" (that I talked about in an earlier post) one step further. Instead of just writing down what I am thankful for, I would like to collect "memory stones" to remind myself of how faithful the Lord has been to me. I want to always be thankful for those prayers which the Lord has answered. I would like to continue this "tradition" with my children and family. I'm in the process now of collecting "stones" to put in my own display. I find that when I don't remember and reflect on the goodness of the Lord, I tend to complain and become ungrateful about the things that I am going through that might be tough at the moment. So I think this will be a good thing to start so that I can become more grateful and mindful of the prayers the Lord has answered and the needs that He has met. 

I would like to encourage you all to take the time to reflect on the goodness of God.  I'm sooo excited and am soo grateful for ALL the Lord has done for me/us and will continue to do. He is truly awesome!!!!

Be Blessed!!

Melissa :-)

Wedding Day Memories....

So as many of you all know... Henry and I just celebrated our 4th anniversary. :-) I must admit that it seems like we just got married yesterday. I can't believe how fast time has gone. I have to say that I love Henry more today than I did the day we got married. We have had some ups and downs these past 4 years. We've had more ups than downs, but through it all we have grown and become stronger. I can't imagine going through life with any other person. Henry is truly my best friend. He has my heart now and forever. I love you baby!! Forever and a day...

Here are some videos of our special day.  Enjoy!! :-)
 
Wedding highlight #1.




Wedding Highlight #2




Wedding Intro





Wedding Processional





Best man's toast.





Tine to dance!!!





Be Blessed!!!


Melissa :-)

Our Love Story

Hey everyone!
As many of you all know, Henry and I just celebrated our anniversary. :-) I can't believe that it's been 4 years already! WOW!!! Time has gone by so fast! It has been a great journey and I'm looking forward to 80+ years to go!!! I'm so grateful for Henry and that the Lord put us together.

Here is the video that our good friend Amy made for us. We showed this at our wedding reception. Its our "Love Story".

When God writes your love story, it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Enjoy!!!

Melissa :-)

Part 1: 




Part 2: 

I'm still here..... :-) Just some thoughts....

Hey Ya'll!!

I must admit it has been too long since I have really posted anything on my blog...It seems like every "free" minute I have gets claimed and used for something else...  Needless to say things have been sooo busy... But I am very excited about where I am in my goals and life right now.

I have just completed my second year of grad school (YAY!!!) and only have one more to go! I am soooooo excited. However, I know that this next year is going to be CRAZY!!! I know that the Lord will give me the strength I need to get through this year.

I'm also very excited about summer break!! I have 8.5 school days left and exactly 2 weeks left until SUMMER BREAK!!! YAY!! I am soo looking forward to this summer. I can't wait to relax and enjoy my break. I don't have to plan any special events so I get to use my free time to REST!!! I would like to do more things this summer...more relaxing things... like hobby things....  I think I will try to read more books this summer. I also picked up the habit of couponing. Now I don't walk around with a binder full of coupons, but I have been able to save some nice money by using them. So I think that I will continue that hobby and improve on it this summer. I also plan to exercise more consistently. I have been walking a lot lately and want to start running more also. I walked 2 miles today and did my crunches...so I'm pretty pleased about that. :-) My goal is to continue to exercise so that I can stay fit. I gotta maintain...especially since we want to start a family soon. ;-)

Well I know this was short and I was kinda all over the place in this post....but I wanted to post SOMETHING since it's been awhile... :-)

But yep... 4 months til 30!!! I'm excited!!!! :-)

Well I gotta get....have a blessed night ya'll!!! :-)

Melissa :-)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Smiling with mom

So today is my mom's birthday. I am so blessed to have her in my life. :-) I want to take this time to honor my mom.... Beth McCaw. :-)  Mom you are such an awesome woman. You are truly a woman of God and I look up to you.  You have been through so much but yet you still love those who have mistreated you. You truly love others as Jesus loves them. I am so glad to have been able to share my life with you. I appreciate all that you have been to me. I know that there were times when you had to discipline me, but I have truly become a better person for it. Thank you for loving me the way that you do. I am so blessed...I love that I not only call you my MOM but that I also call you my FRIEND... I LOVE YOU!!! :-) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hey everyone!

I know it's been a while since I have written. It's been very, VERY busy lately. However... I wanted to post a few videos for ya'll for Valentine's Day. I can say that I have been truly blessed with an AMAZING husband. He is one of the greatest gifts that I have ever received and I love him sooooo much!! :-)  I am posting a few songs that are fitting for Valentine's Day and that we love. 

The first video is by Anthony Hamilton called Can't Let Go. It's a beautiful song & I love the words.




This next song is by Ayeisha Woods. It was on her first major release and it's a nice one.





Here is another good wedding/love song. I LOVE IT!! :-)





Another fave...love it!! :-)





I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it...Enjoy!! :-)





I hope that you are having a wonderful Valentine's Day with the one you love.


Remember....
God is LOVE and LOVE is beautiful!!
 
Be Blessed!!!


Melissa :-)