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Sticks and Stones, Sweet Songs, and Gripping Stories.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized


Having awakened around 2-something this morning with a few things troubling my mind, I got up and read my Bible, in that spot on my red couch where I always go to find my comfort and strength and maybe some wisdom now and then.

Last night, it didn’t help to ease the worrisome thoughts racing through my head, so I googled a few quotes and wanted to list them here in case anyone else needs a little encouragement to keep persevering at overcoming obstacles.
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My favorite:

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has. Out of pain and problems have come the sweetest songs, and the most gripping stories… Billy Graham

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Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds… Albert Einstein

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Adversity creates heros… Picabo Street

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Don’t be distracted by critisism. Remember — the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you… Zig Ziglar

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The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it…Epicurus

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I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed… Booker T. Washington

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The likelihood of one individual being right increases in direct ratio to the intensity with which others try to prove him wrong… Heaven Can Wait

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Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yes, each struggle, each defeat, sharpens your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better or quit. Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward. Turn away from them, avoid them, and you throw away your future… Og Mandino

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Obstacles are like wild animals. They are cowards but they will bluff you if they can. If they see you are afraid of them…they are liable to spring upon you; but if you look them squarely in the eye, they will slink out of sight… Orison Swett Marden

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Obstacles often are not personal attacks; they are muscle builders… Anne Wilson Shaef

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These last two years have been one ginormous obstacle after another, as my loyal blog readers are familiar. And its been the best set of circumstances that ever happened to me.

Before the trials I endured, I never really had to fight a battle before. Never really had an enemy. I was overprotected and sort of pampered and had thin skin and no backbone and collapsed in a puddle of tears at the least little inconvenience in my day. I’ve learned that I AM strong enough to DO THIS…

But I’m still not all that tough. Hateful words still really hurt, even from the viciously mean shrew who has taken it upon herself to stalk my blog and spew hateful, hurtful words in the comments.

Little does she know she’s really building my muscles. Unbeknownst to her, She’s only One. More. Obstacle.

Enjoy those bites you took out of me, Ms. Mediocre… You’re helping me write a more gripping story, and its going to end really well in spite of your best efforts.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. My Overflowing Cup says

    July 16, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    Love the Quotes!!!! <br />Your awesome Roomie!!!<br />Lisa

    Reply
  2. Joseph says

    July 18, 2011 at 1:45 am

    You are strong and able. Loving the Melissa I see emerging.

    Reply
  3. Melissa from the Blue House says

    July 18, 2011 at 5:14 am

    Thank you both. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    July 20, 2011 at 2:42 am

    You go girl!<br />LKS

    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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