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Five From Friday.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

I loved my day Friday.

1. I got to go to Dallas to a networking meeting. This marketing stuff is a fairly new addition to my job duties, and I’m LOVING getting out of the office and meeting new people all the time.

2. I got to see my old friend Lynn, or Joseph as he’s known now that he’s a grown-up. We met at the Argentina Bakery for empanadas which were MUY DELICIOUS-O ~ and I’m pretty sure that’s how they say it in Argentina, or somewhere south of the border ~ and then roamed around a book store for a couple of hours, catching up and laughing.

We sat by each other in computer class in high school where we played Slaps until my hands were red and bloodied, then went on to the same college, and its been more than 15 years since we’ve seen each other (ah, the magic of Facebook!), so we had a lot to catch up on and had the best time doing it. But somehow I let him slip away without ONE MORE GAME of Slaps… maybe next time.

3. I bought three books. Books are a weakness of mine, if you didn’t know. A used cookbook that I can’t WAIT to try out, and two other ‘how-to’ books so’s I can get better at something I want to be better at. I refrained from buying more novels though, what with my efforts at being a better steward of my time and money. And that took some massive self-discipline.

4. On the way home I stopped to see Olivia, my 85-year-old friend who sews nightgowns for the kids at Truman Smith. And we chatted for a couple of hours and I enjoyed it SO MUCH, I may just adopt her. She showed me all her fabric, all her books, her curtains, her laundry room, her pantry, a picture of her son Bubba along with stories of his love for Texas Tech, pretty much an item-by-item tour of the whole house, a long letter from her late husband Don, and a picture of the two of them together before her granddaughter’s wedding in about 1990 (they looked SO happy!), but my favorite part of our chat was when she told me two different times that the LORD is her strength and shield and ever present help in times of trouble. And that’s why I love sitting and chatting with little old ladies. She gave me two homemade lace-trimmed pillowcases for me, and a car load of gowns for the Truman kids.

5. Friday night, my dinner ended with a fortune cookie that said: Don’t waste time on what might have been. Its funny how my last three fortune cookies have been really appropriate words of wisdom for my life at that moment. No more wasting time… moving toward what’s ahead, and trusting the Lord to provide all in the right time. If He can be Olivia’s strength and shield, surely He can direct my paths too…

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Comments

  1. Joseph says

    August 7, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    Melissa: It was a blast to be with you Friday AND to help you get some books. I had forgotten how fun we have together. Thanks for trusting me with your personal story. So, a game of slaps is in order next time, which, hopefully won't be too far off.

    Reply
  2. Betsy says

    August 7, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    playing slaps in your short skirts. your computer teacher must've LOVED you!

    Reply
  3. MTaylor says

    August 8, 2011 at 12:46 am

    Yeah, that grandma. Wisdom does run in our family all right! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Theophanie says

    August 8, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Great post!<br />I found you via Mommy-Mondays.<br />That sounds like a great day! As I read through each event I thought about if it had been me… Lucky you to see two great friends, do new work, and eat fabulous food! I bet you deserved it. 🙂

    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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