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HaPPy SuMMeR.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Katie

OK, Connie, yes. By bi-weekly I actually meant bi-monthly. Or something like that.

I’m sorry, OK? I’ve been a little preccupied with this whole ‘survival mode’ situation. Trying to keep my kids alive. Coping, un-medicated, with a mild case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yes, I really do have that (I know because I diagnosed myself)… and I earned it, by God.

The past few months have been a big terrible blur. I can’t remember what music I used to like. I can’t remember how to cook. I can’t remember the last time I read a book. I can’t remember what I did yesterday. I can’t remember why I had this blog in the first place? Why am I here?

Oh yeah, something about remodeling this dumb house? WHICH is now for sale, by the way. NOT quite the fairytale ending to the Blue House story I was hoping for, but here we are.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m very much thrilled with the path I’m on. I would never, let me repeat that, NEVER, go back. But transition is hard, and that’s where I am now… stuck in this big torturous transition. So thanks to my three friends and blog-readers who have stuck it out with me thus far! Its going to get better.

So what’s been going on with us? Well, I’ve tried to make this summer as entertaining for my little children as possible. And I don’t think they’ve suffered too terribly. We’ve gone to lots of movies, played with lots of friends, and blown lots of alimony spent too much money eating out. If there’s fun to be had, we’ve had it.

So Katie Beth just got baptized.

If you’re friends with me on Facebook you know this. She is my missionary child, for sure, and though I tried hard from the time she was little to train her in the way she should go, take her to BSF and to church choir and all that, this decision was all hers. She and Jesus got right last summer at Day Camp, and she made it her mission to get baptized. I was shocked that she wanted to, and at Green Acres Bapti-stadium in front of 172,000 people no less, she declared in the sweetest, shyest little voice that Jesus Christ is her savior. And I cried my eyes out.

Now Annie, she’s going to be a tougher nut to crack. And I did everything the same… took her to BSF, yada yada yada. She’s sweet and all that, but she does need some Jesus in her heart. There’s a song on one of my country music CDs, Brooks and Dunn I think, called Black and White or something like that, about two brothers who were raised the same way and one ended up being a preacher and the other one went to jail.

Could possibly be the future theme song for my two kids.

Katie also got her ears pierced a few weeks ago. And I got the pinched lips from my mother because she is not twelve years old and its just trashy to get little girls’ ears pierced or let them wear makeup or pantyhose before they are twelve. But she wanted to, and I just couldn’t think of one good reason why the heck not to. She’s almost a third-grader, she’s had a brutal year just like I have, and she wanted to. So we did it.

So what else is going on…

Well, I got a job! I’m the Director of Social Services at Truman W. Smith Children’s Care Center, which is a nursing home for very sick children. Its a fabulous, wonderful place… and a terrible, horrible place. The people who work there are saints, I tell ya, and I love working with people like that. I love being a Social Worker. Being grossly underpaid to do a disgusting, grueling job is my calling in life, seriously…. I can’t imagine doing anything different. I’m weird like that. I feel like I’m doing something good for people who through no fault of their own can’t do anything for themselves, and I like that.

Being rich is overrated anyway, so I hear.

I gotta tell you… going back to work full time was tough. For the first few weeks I would come home and collapse on the couch, falling asleep in my work clothes, too tired to cook or to brush my teeth. Well, not really on the teeth-brushing…I will always try to muster one last ounce of strength to brush my teeth. It was exhausting. I’ve been there two months now and I think I’m finally used to it. I finally have the energy to actually work all day then try to feed my children something for supper. They’re tired of nachos and Little Caesar’s Pizza.

This particular week was especially tough at TWS though. I won’t go into details, but one resident who has lived there most of his life got some really bad news this week. And everybody is crushed and devastated. Though I’ve only known this guy two months… he’s quite a hero and endures his sorry lot in life…. and its sad and makes you contemplate the unfairness of life. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Now for the good news. I have a contract on a house!

An adorable, fabulous, tiny little house which is…. guess what!… in this neighborhood.

And… the same color as this one, which is actually gray and not blue. I didn’t want to announce about the ‘new’ house on the blog just yet, because its not a done deal until I have the keys, of course, but … I’m hoping and praying it all falls into place. And knowing that I might buy that house is the only reason I haven’t shut down this whole dumb blog… because there may just be more stories of rats and remodeling yet to come.

See ya in another two months….

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Comments

  1. mgirl says

    July 17, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    Sorry, I was one of those readers who disappeared – but not b/c you didn&#39;t write! I kind of quit writing on mine, and so I didn&#39;t have my list of fav blogs to read in front of me. So thanks for posting a link on fb to remind me! You are a good writer. :)<br /><br />I have to admit that I was slightly saddened to hear you&#39;d gone back into social work, b/c all of my experiences have

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    July 18, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    You talk as if I have given you the option to come back! That option has not been given!!!!! So, I am glad to hear that you like the path you are on. Yes, God has given it to you as a blessing to me. Thank you LORD!

    Reply
  3. Melissa from the Blue House says

    July 19, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    Why thank you, &#39;Anonymous,&#39; for taking the time to stop by my blog, as well as to text AND email me messages to the same effect… multiple messages stating the same thing are ALWAYS appreciated (though in some silly court rooms it may be considered harassment…)<br />I don&#39;t recall inviting you to read the blog, but it seems that perhaps you missed the point and possibly read

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    July 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    Wow. Maybe you should stop allowing people to comment….RIDICULOUS!! <br /><br />Love you sweet girl and am thankful you are doing so good! As always, I&#39;m thinking and praying for you.<br /><br />Rikki

    Reply
  5. Connie says

    July 20, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    Well, dang. I am just now getting to read a blog post dedicated solely to me and it seems as though I missed out on some good old fashioned anonymous drama! <br /><br />O.k., maybe not solely dedicated to me but whatever. <br /><br />Mia was baptized last year! That is so cool about KB! <br /><br />So exciting about the job and the house! Can&#39;t wait to see how fabulous you make it. I

    Reply
  6. Cindy and crew says

    July 22, 2010 at 2:33 am

    Melissa-<br /><br />So happy to hear about KB&#39;s baptism! I also love the look on her face after getting her ears pierced – priceless.<br /><br />Cindy

    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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