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Us These Days.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Annie+ Family Fun+ Katie

One of our ‘things’ we like to do is to take the camera and go play photo shoot.

 
Mostly because I can never have enough pictures of my kids, and also because I really want to learn how to take pictures with a real camera and get GOOD at it. It’s on my bucket list.
 
What with the start of school this week, I wanted to make it an annual thing to take them to the same spot and make them pose for a few pics so I can see how they change through the years. Last year’s pics are here.
 
I have to admit… I hate having my own picture taken, but I’m trying to get past it… I realized about two years ago that there were zero pictures of me, anywhere, zip, zilch, NOTHING for my kids to look back on when they’re grown and remember that I did, in fact, live with them. I was always the one behind the camera.
 
So now that I’m pregnant, I hate having my picture made times a billion because I’m all puffy and squishy, but again, I regret that two pregnancies came and went with NO PICTURES OF ME, and I really, really want to remember every moment of these happiest days of my life. 
 
So here it is: me, puffy, squishy, and 7 1/2 months pregnant, for posterity. Sigh. You’re welcome, future baby. You’re welcome.
 
 
Our pics were blurry, and we didn’t know why. We’re learning. Seems the aperture was too low or something, we found out today. Lesson learned.
 
I took this one… first week of fifth and first grade. 
 
My two adorable girls. 

I love this pic. It wasn’t planned; Annie just came up and threw her arms around me and Michael snapped it. The lighting? Awesome. But dang, it’s blurry! Boo!!

Me. Pregnant again. And desperately in need of a tan. As if ‘tan’ were possible with my total lack of pigmentation. But even with my puffy, squishy, mayonnaise-white self, I’m happy that I have pictures to remember this pregnancy, unlike my other two.

 
 

So that’s us these days.
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Comments

  1. Kimberly Minn says

    August 27, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    Absolutely beautiful family. I'm eager to meet your prince charming and little princess when she arrives. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Michael Taylor says

    August 28, 2012 at 12:52 am

    I just love us. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Melissa from the Blue House says

    August 28, 2012 at 1:31 am

    Thank you Kimberly! I'd love to see you soon. It's been forever!

    Reply
  4. Melissa from the Blue House says

    August 28, 2012 at 1:32 am

    I just can't get enough of us either. So glad God brought you to us.

    Reply
  5. Marlager says

    August 28, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    Melissa, I've known you for about 13 years now. I have never seen you look so beautiful, beaming with happiness and so alive! You look absolutely gorgeous pregnant with you and Michael's love child! It's obvious that God has touched your life with blessings from above! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Melissa from the Blue House says

    August 28, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    Oh Marla, that's so sweet!! You're right… God has blessed me SO much… never would have thought I'd be here, and I keep wondering what in the world I did to deserve all this!!

    Reply
  7. Carla says

    August 30, 2012 at 2:03 am

    Hi Melissa, I don't know you and you don't know me. I don't even know for sure how I found you, but one day while searching blogs, I came across yours. I subscribed and enjoy your posts immensely! I am a blessed mom of 5 children-2 adopted, 3 birth- and also 2 foster children at the moment. I love your passion for life, for your family, for healthy food and just so many other things.

    Reply
  8. Carla says

    September 4, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    HI Melissa, I don't know you nor do you know me. I don't even remember how I stumbled across your blog, but I sure have enjoyed it ever since I found you. I so enjoy your enthusiasm for life, and for your family. I appreciate your love for the Lord. I've never commented on your blog, but I just wanted to say that your pregnancy pictures have nothing "puffy" or "squishy&

    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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