Caring Cousins

Unlike my children, I didn't grow up with cousins my own age. I was the youngest child on my mom's side and my dad's side. But, now that I've grown up (that's debatable), it seems my cousins and I are somehow closer in age. Imagine that!

My cousin closest in age and my sister

Me, my sister, my cuz, and 2 of our cousins-in-laws

My cousins who were able to attend my cousin's funeral in Virginia

My mom with one of her cousins

My mom catching up with one her cousins after my cousin's burial in PA

Although it seemed like a big deal when I was growing up to not have a cousin my age to play with, as an adult I'm appreciative of my friendships with my cousins. It's funny, but even though 5 or 10 years separates me from some of my cousins, we are now enjoying our children together as we have children the same age! As a child, I never would have guessed!

My cousin and her family

With the recent death of one of my cousins, I'm just reminded of the blessing of cousins.

Thank you, God for cousins!

Different Kinds of Losses

Have you ever seen the Disney movie, "Pollyanna"? It's a brilliant optimistic movie that - unbeknownst to us - REALLY inspired our Pretty Little Princess!

We hadn't seen the movie in quite some time, but when our Pretty Little Princess saved up her money to buy a hamster, she named the Fancy Bear hamster, POLLYANNA!

This cute little hamster was a hit in Kindergarten for SHOW & TELL...

...But, last night we came home to an EMPTY CAGE! The Pretty Little Princess and Little Bear were crying and crying and praying and PRAYING...if only they could find dear Pollyanna. When they turned in for the night at 11 PM! after a desperate search, the Hubs and I discovered them in Little Bear's lower bunk...sleeping together in a single bed! They were so distraught!

The Hubs saw Pollyanna for a brief 15 seconds, but as we were praising Jehovah, that little Fancy Bear hamster made a dash....and we haven't seen her since!

I know this may seem trivial, but dear little Pollyanna means so much so our little Mellette family. Would you pray that she'll be soon - safe AND sound?!!? We'd be ever so grateful!

On a MUCH MORE SERIOUS NOTE...it's hard to believe, but one of my cousins - Jeff - went Home to Heaven this morning. It's hard to believe that I have 2 cousins in Heaven now! Jeff's mom and dad - my aunt & uncle are both battling serious illnesses...my aunt is actually in the hospital right now. Would you PLEASE PRAY for my Aunt Dot??? Pray that she'll be well enough to travel the 4 hours to attend her son's funeral! Please pray for strength and comfort for my aunt & uncle. Again, I'd be SO appreciative!

My cousin, Jeff, is pictured sitting on the left in the brown sweater. This picture was taken at his parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration in November. Never dreamed the next time I'd see him alive would be in Heaven! But, we're praising God for a healthy mind and body in Heaven for Jeff. God's ways are best. He is good and we praise Him for His sovereignty!

.....UPDATE!!!! As I was writing this....the Hubs came in our bedroom HOLDING POLLYANNA! That little stinker had found her way through the duct work!

This is the spot in the garage where my hubby heard scratching! That little Pollyanna traveled from UPSTAIRS down to the garage! She's something else!

She's fine and WHAT A COOL ANSWER TO PRAYER THIS WILL BE FOR OUR CHILDREN! I can't wait to see their faces when they wake up tomorrow morning!!!

Now, if God would answer our prayers like this concerning my Aunt Dot....

Please be praying for good health, comfort and strength...and a peaceful night for her, my uncle and Jeff's brothers, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephew.

Make A Wish

It was a unique way to spend a Mother's Day afternoon as we sat in the chilly windy outdoors waiting for the Make a Wish convoy to begin. My brother-in-law was driving my dad's tractor trailer in the convoy and he was carrying precious cargo...a Make A Wish teenager from our church. Here's some pics of our afternoon.

Just two days ago we were all wearing shorts! What happened to the spring temperatures? Brr!!!

The smart part of the bunch eating their lunch in the car

Eating our lunch in the frigid outdoors

A tough biker guy with his pooch in her pink sweater!

Brrr! It was so unseasonably COLD!!!

The fans

The Sonic character handing out coupons

Some clowns collecting for Make A Wish

The Trucks...

One of my favorite trucks...







Some local heroes...





And, here's the best pictures...
the pictures of OUR HEROES....

It's a Celebration!

Celebrating my husband's birthday is always a joy! In our family, the birthday babe gets to pick the restaurant or the menu for their birthday dinner. This year's choice for my hubby was Cracker Barrel.

Son and nephews

Some of the Crew

"I LOVE my Daddy!"

It was a special surprise for the birthday man when we invited a dear friend to join the celebration!

Little Bear's Philosophy on Teenagers

Little Bear and the Pretty Little Princess both earned "Gold cards" today at school. To earn a "Gold card" you have to do something extraordinary like being extra helpful or being quiet without being told, etc. I don't ever recall our children earning a "Gold card" on the same day, so their daddy and I decided we needed to take our precious ones out on a date.

Daddy took his Pretty Little Princess to Isaac's for their dinner date.

I let Little Bear pick where we would eat. I suggested Panera Bread, he suggested McDonald's, so we compromised and went to the ever classy...

His daddy taught him well, because even before we left the house, Little Bear opened the car door for me, and when we got to Pizza Hut, he opened the door there, too! He was grinning ear to ear when the waiter seated us. The waiter even asked why the big smiles, so I explained that we were on a "date".

I love this alone time with the kiddos. Three weeks ago when I went on a "Mommy date" with the Pretty Little Princess, I asked her who she plays with at school. Her reply was so typical..."I only play with the boys. I don't know why, but I only play with the boys." She's my little tomboy and yet she can be quite the prissy little princess, too. A great combination!

I always treasure our talks on our dates. Tonight was no exception. Little Bear noticed some teenagers walking outside of Pizza Hut, and thus his little "Philosophy of Teenagers" began.

He proceeded to tell me that he believes when the "teenagers were younger they had a heart for God, but when girls and boys become teenagers they sort of 'go away'." I asked him why he thought that and he said,

"Well, Mom. I often see teenagers being inappropriate - wearing inappropriate things, doing inappropriate things..."

"So, Gabriel...do you think that when teenagers get older that they come back to what they learned as a child?"

"YES!"

It's always interesting to get an 8-year-old's take on the world around him.

His daddy says I need to remember this conversation in about 6 years!!!!

God is Good - all the time

"God is good all the time. All the time, God is good."

One of my church friends had that quote on her Facebook page. Isn't that SO true?!!? No matter what we face, God is good. He is there for us to walk us through the good times and the difficult times.

"For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

These 2 verses are SO true! I have several friends who are going through such difficult times right now. It's not easy, as a bystander, to just "sit by" and not actually do something for my dear friends. But praying for them is actually DOING something effective. I'm reminding myself of this as I'm typing! Talking to our Lord - the King of the Universe - is HUGE!