Melton Family Christmas 2011

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A little sampling of our Christmas fun... I made these books for my sister's Christmas presents... and it just seems easier to post the book than trying to blog EVERYTHING!

Epic Band takes over blog

Happy Birthday Jenny!  From the PJ's!!

Seventeen

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Lights

One of our favorite Advent Activities is going to Disney's Hollywood Studios to see the Christmas Lights.  We've really enjoyed having our Disney passes and were pretty excited that the kids wanted to have them as their Christmas present again for the third year running!  This year, the Warren's came with us, which was really great for all of us, especially all these guys...

They've been buddies for a long time!  Debbie's first chemotherapy treatment got pushed back 4 days, so we "helped her" take advantage of a few extra days of feeling well by going with us to Orlando.

We started our day at Epcot... and had a relaxing afternoon sitting outside the pastry shop in France.  

Photo by Carlita, famous photographer.

We took the water trolley over to the Studios in the afternoon... waiting to get on.

Everyone loves Levi!  Especially Uncle Ryan!

Beautiful lights!

And a little Florida Snow.  You know, made out of soap.

Debbie and Glenn

No, this girl NEVER stops dancing.  Anytime.  Anywhere.  She's shaking it down.

I have no idea where she gets it from.

We all really loved spending the day together.  We laughed a lot and cried only a little and actually had a nice reprieve from cancer.  It was just a nice, relaxing day.

Had to get a picture of Carly with her Mama's.  We always say there's a good chance Carly got her Drama Queen genes from Debbie!  Debbie's mom is forever telling me that Carly is EXACTLY how Debbie was when she was little... These girls keep me busy, that's for sure!  

Beautiful, fun day!

I can't speak.

Other than people who are related to me, I have two best friends in Tampa.  Don't we look happy?  Does it look like we are having a really fun time at a wedding?

What really happened on this day (you know, in addition to the wedding) is that I sat in a doctor's office with the girl in the middle, while a doctor told her and her husband and mother, that she for sure has breast cancer.  Sat there while plans were discussed, medical pathways pursued, and new terminology was scribbled down and committed to memory.  Disgusting words like chemotherapy, radiation, and mastectomy were "toyed" with.  Felt first hand how very stupid it feels to say, "It's going to be ok".

And it's going to be.  Of course.  God's in control.  But I'll be honest, there are MANY moments when my hands go cold, my heart trembles, and I spontaneously combust into tears and fear.  For my friend.  For the girl who is as dramatic as Carly.  For the person who has always made everything funny (yes, even breast cancer!)  For the mother of four boys.  For the mother of some of the only boys who get and understand and accept Ben for being Ben.  For one of the first people I met when I moved to Tampa 16 years ago.  For someone who, for sure, doesn't have time for this.  For the person who has made me view God in a completely different perspective.

Most days I can't even speak it.

I'm thankful though.  For Hope.  Not just for a, relatively speaking, Good Prognosis.  But for the Truth that we don't endure this alone.  You know, it seems CRAZY to me that I'm telling Debbie "You aren't alone in this..." and by "this" I mean "breast cancer".  I can't imagine someone going through this without God, and the comfort that comes with knowing He has a Plan for everything.  Even Cancer.

I'm also pretty thankful for ANOTHER friend to endure it with... Diane (left in the pic) is right there with me, feeling it all the same, too.  We are working so hard together to organize and be supportive of Debbie and her family.  We spend a lot of time consoling each other, too.  We spend a lot of time trying to laugh together with Debbie, too.  Bonding.  Over cancer.

Sadly, it's an honor.  To walk this road with someone.  I sat behind her while she got her beautiful, long, black hair cut short.  I watched in the mirror and held a reassuring smile on my face the whole time.  The whole time thinking, "I can't believe this is happening.  I can't believe we have to do this!" My heart was trembling.  But I wouldn't change being there for her (emotionally and physically!) for the world.

This is where my heart and mind have been for the past month.  Consumed.  Praying.

We had another friend of ours start a face book page where you can look for updates.  www.facebook.com/teamdebbie so check often to see how things are going.  Here's the thing with Debbie... she's not a bit shy!  Her heart is out there and she's the real deal.  What you see is what you get. And she has some very real and poignant insights into her "situation".  PRAY!  Pray for her and her family.  Chemo starts on thursday.  I can't believe I just wrote that!!!!

And in the beginning process of all this... the only thing I could think to say to her (via text message) was to send her this verse, my favorite... Isaiah 43:1-3

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;    

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  

When you pass through the waters,    

I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,    

they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire,    

you will not be burned; 

the flames will not set you ablaze.  

For I am the LORD, your God, 

   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;   

I've written much about this HERE... it's still the way I feel about those verses, and exactly why they are my favorite.  We made them kind of the "Theme verses" for Debbie.  Team Debbie.  It is printed on the Orange Team Debbie bracelets we now sport.  

Now I will switch hats to my NURSING soap box: Monthly Self Breast Exam isn't an option.  Mammograms aren't either.  That is all.

Updates

I'm behind on posting.  So click below for updates, because I changed the dates and unless you scroll WAY down, you might miss something, and I'd hate for that to happen to anyone.  How devastating! Ha.

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

Gulf Coast Christmas Concert

Carly's Bday

Christmas play

Women's Half Marathon

Tooth Fairy Correspondence

An Island Christmas

Every year, Ryan directs the music portion of the Children's Christmas production at our church.  This year he took over the drama part for the last month for our friend, Debbie.  He did a really great job, and more than that, he just loves the kids and really does enjoy working with them.  Our friend Diane was  a HUGE help to him as well, and really made the program go off without a hitch.  She's such a planner and anticipated every need.  What a gift.

ANYWAYS, the kids did FANTASTIC!  They were all so cute and excited and seemed to really enjoy themselves.  Carly was one of the principal "actors" and Ben had a solo, which he did CRAZY good with!  (video posted on FB, they never load right on blogger).  He sang out so loudly and clearly and we were kind of shocked!  Where did that come from?!?!!  Our boy is not as shy has he'd like everyone to think!!!

Carly and Qai finding the treasure map.

This is one of what we like to call her "Uncle Steve" Looks.  Ha!

Carly and Quincy singing a duet.

Ben and Calvin playing ball on stage, during the performance.  Yes, they were supposed to do this!!

My favorite part of the show... Ryan added in a song the kids learned in VBS that was SO PRETTY and there was a slide show playing behind them with all the missionary's our church supports and an update on them.  It was actually pretty moving and I just loved it.  The show was about giving and was centered around a missionary family that had just moved to this island, so it was perfect.  

Singing one last song!

Also memorable about this performance... after the show was over, the kids sat down on the stage and a few people got thanked (Ryan and Diane) and then Ryan said a very sweet thank you to Debbie for her hard work and inspiration, and all the kids stood up clapping and cheering.  It gave me chills:)

Gulf Coast Christmas Concert

Gulf Coast Youth Choirs Christmas Concert... Carly has loved being a part of the Children's Choir this year!  It's been fun to watch her grow musically, too.  The concert was actually at our church this year. We are so proud of all Carly's hard work!  She takes this VERY SERIOUSLY:)

The Children's Choir

4-6 Grades

We worked very hard to straighten that hair!

The Cadet Choir

1-3 Grades

Mannchor 

High School Boys

Jacob Warren

(this group is directed by Ryan's best friend, Rodney)

All the choirs combined for the finale

(there is also a high school girls choir, and a select choir of combined high school age kids)

Stationery card

Snowy Window Christmas Card

Click here to browse Shutterfly Christmas card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Carly's Birthday Celebration

Our girl loves to have her Birthday Dinner at the Olive Garden... she was pretty excited to have her little cousin Leah to help party!  Eli was there too (well, and their parents!) but somehow, he wasn't photographed.  Hmmmm.  

Opening some presents... Note the duck tape hair bow and bracelets...

Fun suitcase from Grandma in Michigan!  She's ready to travel, I think!

This is probably when she was telling us all the exciting stuff she was going to make with the huge box of duck tape Aunt Rochel and Uncle Edgar got her!  My children are easily entertained with tape.  They get this from me.  I love tape.

Contrary to Popular Belief, I did NOT make Carly pick Angry Birds Cupcakes.  Was I secretly gleeful when she chose them?  Yes.  

TEN

How does this happen?  Hard to believe it's been 10 years since Carly made her dramatic entrance into the world!  She hasn't changed her looks or personality one bit... she still has the same brilliant, quick smile and same giggle!  Same sweet, tender heart... same peace-loving, people-loving girl.  Still loves Blankie.  Still thinks she's a Girl.

Happy Birthday, Caroline Renae!!  

We thank God everyday for the love and fun drama to bring to our family!

St Petersburg Women's Half Marathon

One of the things I'm VERY thankful for, since breaking my foot in May, is being able to run again!  My mom tries to warn me that running is bad for your knees (in her defense, she just had a knee replacement!) and I shouldn't do it... and I always tell her that One Day I Won't Be Able To Run, but that day is not today.  Thankfully.  So, in continuing with my goal this year to run a half marathon (at least the distance) once a month, November's race was in St Pete!  I was very happy to have Rochel at the starting line with me... I never saw her again until the end, when she was relaxing on the grass with my kids, with a big old medal around her neck!  She did AWESOME and was super fast.  Me, not so fast.  But finished:)

Very pretty course... all around the water in St Pete and through the Downtown area.  Several people who work with me also ran, so that was fun too.  

I like to pray a lot when I run... mostly that I won't fall over.  Ha.  My heart was so heavy for my friend Debbie as she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, that I decided to pray the whole race for her and her family.  A different topic each mile.  (You are welcome for Mile 10, Debbie.) Anyways, I'm not sure that was my BEST idea, as I was fighting tears the whole time, but it was good for me.  

The Horrible Pier.  This was when I realized I was stressing about my time, and not enjoying the race.  I had a heart to heart with myself, and started to have FUN!  and take a lot of pictures...

My pink breast cancer bracelets... sent this pic to Debbie to remind her she is loved and someone was praying for her.  And fortunately for her, I'm VERY SLOW, so, lots of time spent out there for her!

This sign made me laugh...

Best part of the race, other than the finish line!  Running INSIDE Tropicana Field!!  We are such RAYS fan, I won't lie:  it's why I signed up for this race!

The wall where Evan Longoria got his last Regular Season Home Run.  Yup, fan.

Home plate.  Yes, I was a complete dork in there and sprinted from home plate to first base.  Dork.

Picture for Ryan, so he knew I was getting close.  Er.

My MOST FAVORITE PART:  Ryan jumped in and ran the last quarter of a mile with me.  He tried not to, but I insisted and it was really fun and he even crossed the finish with me, and I just loved that.  He enjoyed the first race I ran that he WASN'T running, he got to just cheer for me... and I was happy to cross with him, since he is ALWAYS finished before me when we run the same race!

Military personnel handing out the medals...

Booths at the finish...

Little Miss trying on all her parents medals after we got home... We have quite a few now!