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15 Things I’m in Love With.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Annie+ Family Fun+ Katie+ tumor

So last night for supper, we had fried chicken and fresh purple hull peas. 

And by ‘fresh,’ I mean… they were picked yesterday. And Oh. My. Stars. It was my favorite kind of meal… straight out of my childhood; just like momma fixed it.

And then the thunder started rolling and we sat on the swing on our covered patio and listened to the thunder and felt the misty rain on our bare feet with our tummies full of good home cookin’, and I thought, life. is. so. perfect. right. now.

Wanna know why? Besides the peas and chicken and the thunderstorm, of course…

1. Annie had an MRI at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas Monday.

 

 

I’ve written twenty-six blog posts about that dumb white marble in her head and they all point to one theme: God has got this. God’s had it since the beginning. We got a good report from her neurosurgeon, and I’m ecstatic. Oh… and we don’t have to go back for two years. Praise. Ye. The. Lord.
2. FaceTime with my kids. Which in Annie’s case should be called MirrorTime. It’s great fun to make silly faces at each other.

3. Getting stitches out, painlessly, tearlessly. Katie is tough, and bad to the bone. 



4. Annie’s cozy blanket. It has magical sleeping properties. She *CaNNoT* force herself out from under this thing in the mornings.

5. My Bacon-Seared, Cajun Spiced Pot Roast. It’s better than your mom’s. It’s not better than *MY mom’s, though. Just so we’re clear. #mightbedisowned


6. Cherry tomatoes from our very own backyard. There’s NO COMPARISON between fresh tomatoes and store bought. SO. TRUE. I never liked tomatoes before, but I made this Caprese Salad with them and it was better than bacon and Oreos.

7. My friend Em’s Chocolate Cobbler. You can’t tell it from this picture, but it has chocolaty fudge sauce that bubbles up underneath and it is pure heaven with homemade vanilla ice cream. Do yourself a favor and cook this for the one you love ASAP.

8. Surprise roses

9. …in my 1930’s art deco-ish red glass vase. Love my 1930’s red glass collection even though most of it is still packed from the move…


10. Love notes from my children. This one made my heart melt… I carried it with me in my pocket this week. She left it where I’d find it as I was getting ready for work. Which brings me to #11… 


11. One of my last few remaining drives to Gladewater… because I resigned from my job this week. There are big, fun, new, exciting opportunities in the works that are right up my alley and I can’t WAIT to share, but most importantly… it will involve more time with the ones I love the most, who need me at home. 

12. We got to go to Six Flags this week. I think my girls were the most stylish, super fly chicks in the whole place. It was a blast, even though I didn’t get to ride anything… being knocked up and all.

13. Leaving Children’s Medical Center not to come back for two. whole. years. Thank you, God… 
14. Hair bows by the THOUSANDS. Coming soon to {several} boutiques near you. But that’s not the {only} big opportunity… there’s more… *Annie face*

15. Packing up my office. What a great, amazing feeling. I’ll miss a few people terribly, but… there are new opportunities ahead that I’m just downright giddy about.


Life is good. Thank you, Lord.

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Comments

  1. Michael Taylor says

    July 11, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    Love your "Life is Good" posts! They're my favorite. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Kerry @ Made For Real says

    July 13, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    Even though I don't know you well, I'm so happy for all your good news and happy things to come! Blessings to you and your sweet family. (did you find out girl or boy ?)

    Reply
  3. Kerry @ Made For Real says

    July 13, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    And the salad and chocolate goodness look delish 🙂

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    July 17, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Melissa, of course I am saddend that you are leaving TWS, but of course I am happy for you and your new adventure. The only thing I ask is that you keep putting God first…cause we all know ..with God all things are possible. I am so happy to hear about your little one and as you said..God has had this one from the beginning. God bless you on your new adventure and thanks for what you did

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
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Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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