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Moving Forward

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

I started this blog long ago, on a platform that doesn’t even exist anymore, just to talk about my home renovation project. My mom read it. I mean, those were the only people reading blogs back in those days… just your own friends and family.

And then somehow my blog following grew, and I have no idea how or why, but at one point there were over 100k visitors to my blog every month. I was no Pioneer Woman (she probably hits that many visits every second), but it was definitely a larger audience than my mom.

Have I said that before? Seems I’ve said that before.

And it was FUN, that fifteen minutes of minor fame (I mean, I was no Pioneer Woman, but I WAS recognized in public, out of state, even, more than once… gosh ) and I found a calling, and thennnn….. I had the life sucked out of me and I quit.

I feel like I’ve said that before too.

And I’ve even written a few blogs about how I was coming back, and then I didn’t, and then, OK, NOW I’m coming back… oops, still no… OK wait. Now. I’m ready now. I MISS it. I miss writing things that made people laugh and then cry and then laugh again, and I even miss being recognized by the public, like the time a lady I met in Orlando, Florida had MY ACTUAL PANCAKE RECIPE SAVED ON HER PHONE.

For realz. Tell me that ain’t fun.

So I’m not even going to claim that THIS is finally my comeback. I mean, I’ve said that, and you’re tired of that. I just had a moment to write a few words, so here we are.

And the thing is, I have to come back, for all the reasons that have held me back from WANTING to come back… if that makes any sense.

I’ve been through some stuff, yo.

Stuff that this naive girl who was a Christian Ministry major back in college NEVER would have seen coming. I mean, I did everything right. All the things. All the things that I would have thought would have made me God’s favorite child, if he actually had favorites.

If you had told me THEN that down the road, I’d be divorced twice, working full time and raising three kids with two different last names all by myself… well, I would not have believed that, because I was supposed to be Betty Draper (well, minus the cigarettes and liquor and adultery and whatnot, but you know what I mean). And here we are.

I’ve spent the last several years being really ashamed, if I’m honest. I wanted to hide, rather than write a blog that might make everyone talk about what a loser, failure, and hypocrite I am. I have my own inner voice that likes to tell me that already, thanks.

But I keep seeing the signs plastered all over the universe that I’m supposed to tell the story. I’ve been through some stuff, after all.

But so have so many other people who are also feeling alone and ashamed because nobody tells stories like this. I’m supposed to tell the story of what I have been through, because there are others. I have no idea what you all will do with this, but that part isn’t up to me.

So here you go: the mistakes I’ve made, the excruciating lessons I’ve learned, and most importantly, how I’ve healed, coming right up.

And maybe, possibly, another pancake recipe or two.

Anything specific you want to know? Feel free to drop questions in the comments.

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Comments

  1. Mary says

    April 29, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    Thank you for “coming back”… I have been waiting. I must admit that I do NOT have your story.. I have been happily (mostly) married to the same high school sweetheart for 45 years… but GIRL… YOU have your story to tell and there are those out here that need to hear it…that its ok to not be perfect or have it all together..and that’s OK… God designed your story for such a time as this… HE never wastes a single lesson/opportunity.. None of your pain was in vain…. UNLESS you choose to hide it from those who need to hear it. YOU are an overcomer and there are many who will benefit from your “college of hard knocks”… SO Girl, speak up/out and let the whole world know… GOD IS ABLE TO USE whatever we will offer up to HIM>>. Prayers for you as you open yourself up, so others can grab ahold of your life-line of HOPE..

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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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ARCHIVES

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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