Much-needed long weekend

May has come and gone in a flash.  Could feel that way because I've been on the go all month. Working 6 days a week  + Mom 24/7.

First weekend: In Austin, TX for The Little Gym annual conference
Second weekend: T-ball. Work. Mother's Day weekend. Normal "running around" and family busy-ness
Third weekend: T-ball in morning (we were on for snacks so it was homemade "baseball" rice krispie treats), then drive to Pennsylvania for younger brother's wedding. Spend the next 2 days doing wedding/family stuff.
Fourth weekend: Memorial Day. Work followed by picnic, followed by church, hiking, pool. Followed by complete house cleaning, another picnic and more pool.

Busy. The life that I prefer. The house does suffer for it. I actually completely lost my mind the other night and started screaming at my husband. By the grace of God he didn't have me commited or threaten divorce. For a change, he actually screamed back. Took me by surprise, I'm not gonna lie. For the 10 years we've known each other, this has only happened 1 other time. I deserved to be put in my place.

And just to show me that God still is very much present....the Bible study the day after our fight was on Ephesians and how a husband and wife should treat each other. Okay, I'm listening. Message received.

I chose to be busy because that's the life I live and love. On to the next work week. And this week I promise to approach it with a little less yelling. :)

Busy Summer Up Ahead

I totally get it now when parents say, "I just don't know how I'm going to keep track of my summer plans."

I get it now because I have 3 kids all at different stages of life and I'm a full-time working mom. My school-age son is off school from June 14 through August 26. My middle son can attend his daycare all through the summer but wants to do some camps. My almost one-year old will be at daycare all summer but that fills me with a little bit of guilt. So I'm trying to decide if I have this all figured out yet. And the answer is a simple "no".

We have 1 week of summer vacation planned. I have volunteered to help out at Neelsville Presbyterian's Vacation Bible School for a week. I also want to help out with a local outreach project for a non-profit for which I am on the Board of Directors. (Learn more about Breezy Acres Ministry) And then factor in my full-time work schedule at The Little Gym, camp arrangements, visits to see family, and spontaneous day-cations, including the pool. It's time to consider a nanny.

If anyone has this juggling act figured out, would you please get in touch with me and share your invaluable advice?

~Melissa

Book me on the next flight to Africa

I'm reading a book titled "The Hole in our Gospel" and now I feel the need to go to Africa. Call me naive or blissfully unaware, but I truly didn't know that 26,500 kids die every day in Africa. To read that number simply tore my heart open. I am brokenhearted by this statistic.

Then, the very next day after I started reading this book, I attended a conference for my company. And at The Little Gym's annual reunion (that's what we call it because we're like one big happy family!), I learned that we were soon beginning a philanthropic partnership with Soles 4 Souls. Their mission is to donate used shoes to people all over the world in the effort of preventing disease and helping to end the cycle of poverty. The greatest need is in Africa.

So someone's trying to get my attention to the needs in Africa. Or perhaps I am being called to be a voice for poverty and human equality. I don't know. But it's got me thinking.

I hope that you might take a few minutes to consider how you might be able to get involved too.

http://www.soles4souls.org/