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The Door’s Open…but Nobody’s Home.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

So far, in the past seven days, I’ve….

*Accidentally left something very important at home when I left for church. Hubby had gone to church on time and I was coming (oddly enough) late in my car, and was supposed to bring something very important with me and I forgot.

*Left to go to Hobby Lobby (no one else was home) and left the back door open. Not unlocked…..open. Standing there…..Wide. Open.

*Left to go to Hobby Lobby — the same trip when I left the back door open — and left a candle burning on the entry table. I was gone for, hmmmm, three hours with the back door open and a candle burning.

*Bounced a check because I forgot to make a deposit.

*Told my sister the same story four times. I know this because she said, “I’m stopping you right here. You’re about to tell me a story you’ve already told me at least four other times.” Nobody tells you the truth like your sister….

*Forgot to eat lunch. Forgot to return a library book. Forgot to return a movie. Forgot to turn on the crock pot and let a cold pot of spaghetti sauce sit on the counter all day, then when I cooked it, I burned it. Forgot to wash my hair. Forgot to send Annie’s lunch to school. Forgot to buy groceries. Ran out of toilet paper for the first time ever. And that’s serious business, because due to traumatic events in my childhood I’m usually completely OCD about making sure we never run out of toilet paper.

The scary thing is, those are only the blunders I know about. What else have I done that I didn’t even realize? Have I left a trail of destruction and mass casualties in my wake?

If I accidentally forget an obligation/forget to answer your email/or, say, burn a house down ……please forgive me and know that its not me because I’m not here.

Not that I ever really am…..in the BEST of circumstances I suffer from a debilitating learning disability…. A.D.D., you know….

I am more aware than ever of my shortcomings….my many failings…..the sheer stupiditiy of the things I do….I do something to remind myself of my own idiocy at least once a day. And its frightening.

Thankfully, the Lord is my Shepherd.

Shepherds lovingly care for their sheep….leading them to green pastures….making them lie down in safety, providing for their every need.

Sheep can’t survive without a shepherd.

Sheep, from what I hear, are slow, dumb animals.

They’re probably more vulnerable to predators because they don’t have the brain capacity to close the pasture gate.

Thankfully, God is the Good Shepherd who lovingly cares for the dumbest of sheep…..and thankfully, he doesn’t let the little lambs go hungry even when the momma sheep forgets to pack a sandwich or burns the spaghetti sauce.

The Shepherd loves his Sheep….He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart….He gently leads those who have young.

Thankfully, God has given me the best of the best of friends who would never let my children spend the night in a dark school building or go hungry, and would probably bring toilet paper if I asked.

I’m totally undeserving of them all.

A wise friend used to tell me that God wants to keep us at a point of need. He wants us to need Him, to be on our knees crying out to Him.

Which is about the only thing I don’t forget to do lately.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got a new CD this week called Girls of Grace, and I have almost worn out song #2 by Point of Grace. The lyrics are not new: I sang this song millions of time at Church camp and Bible studies through the years, but I had forgotten this chorus until I heard it on the radio the other day. Simple words, but true and powerful:

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

Thank God that He is who He is…..

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Comments

  1. Steph says

    May 10, 2009 at 5:21 am

    "girl u so funny" little asian girl voice:) seriously you make me laugh.<br /><br />continuing to pray for annie you and the fam and the docs. yall are on our prayer list at church.

    Reply
  2. Em says

    May 10, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Melissa, I totally "stole" this verse for my blog this morning. When I read it here, it struck me as so POWERFUL to me as a mama. So tender He is for us vulnerable mothers! He knows we need Him more! <br /><br />Still praying for you!

    Reply
  3. just-blooming-where-i'm-planted says

    May 11, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    Hey! I’m a stranger (but a fellow blogger!) and saw your link on Pioneer Woman. Okay…I feel really weird commenting…but I had to tell you that I LOVED this list….I feel so normal now! Thanks for being so funny and honest.

    Reply
  4. Matt and Meredith says

    May 19, 2009 at 5:57 am

    I LOVE that verse about God holding His lambs close to His heart. Before Merrae was born, I stumbled across this verse and had never heard it before. It became my verse for her. I have it hanging on her wall. Well, it was hanging on her wall in the apartment….I’m still getting everything up on walls in the new house. : ) Ha. That is such a great verse! And for what it’s worth, I feel

    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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