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Happy Birthday to my Dad.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Birthday

Happy Birthday to my dad, brilliant scientist, crime solver extraordinaire, pillar of the church choir bass section, and the greatest dad in the whole world.


My sister and I always say we’re going to write a book of John’s Pearl’s of Wisdom… but until we get around to writing it all down, in honor of my dad’s birthday today:

  • Turn off the lights when you leave the room. I can still hear him ranting saying, “I just went upstairs and turned off four lights, two ceiling fans, one jam box, and one curling iron! It costs me a quarter every time you turn the curling iron on!” So for Pete’s sake, turn off your lights and your curling iron. Save your dad a quarter.

 

  • Get your oil changed every 3,000 miles. Buy your cars used, and drive them til the wheels fall off… but get your oil changed. That 1980 brown Ford truck my dad drove while I was in high school mortified me to no end then… and my daughters will probably feel the same way about my 2005 Honda Accord when I’m still driving it when they’re in high school. What can I say? I’m my dad’s daughter and I learned the lesson of the used car/oil change well. 


And last but not least, my favorite advice I ever got from my dad…

  • You can marry more money in five minutes than you can make in five lifetimes. I never learned this lesson, but it’s ok… You CAN live happily ever after without the trust fund, I’ve learned. But if it’s not too late for you, and you’re contemplating marrying someone of lesser means… just know that my dad told you so. 


Thanks, dad, for all this wisdom and so much more. I couldn’t have made it without you. 


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Comments

  1. Brian Stinecipher says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    I'm betting your dad is happy with you and your Accord. The way those Hondas are built, I'd wonder if the grandkids will be driving it. 😉

    Reply
  2. Betsy_barry says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    also: marry a Christian, tithe no matter what, don't EVER pay someone to do ANYTHING around your house that you can do yourself, and if someone is being rude and inconsiderate with their grocery cart right in the middle of the aisle, feel free to send that thing spinning!  

    Reply
  3. Betsy says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    also, READ THE MANUAL!!!  every word!  i would've known how to use the dang bag-phone had i only READ THE MANUAL!!!

    Reply
  4. Amy n love says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:42 pm

    Hahaha ya&#39;ll are hilsterious! Good advice from your dad, miss Melissa! I missed out on all that but am making up for it in spades with my kids. <br /><br />Start your retirement savings at 20. Do not have sec until you are well into your 30&#39;s. (kids just never listen tho.)<br />If you do not take the catbox out, he will commence to using your bed as his litter box. <br /><br />

    Reply
  5. Dixieroots says

    August 14, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    One of my favorites of his is, &quot;Have more than you show and say less than  you know&quot;.

    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
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
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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