~ to catch you up ~

O
h Man! I've missed blogging!
There is just something about
sharing, getting my thoughts
out and keeping in touch with
other friend's lives that I really

LOVE!

I wanted to write today to catch all ya all up on what is going on in our

little life here at her Household - 

so here goes...

God is doing amazing things in my heart! Yay! We have become involved in a

awesome church and all of us enjoy it so much! I've met some awesome women,

my kids love their kids' program and THEY all are truly part of an answered prayer.

This church happened to be a church I had drove by a half a million times and a old schoolmate

from high school's family goes there - so that was encouraging that we would know somebody there.

Just goes to prove you never know when, where, who, how God

will work in your life. He is oh, SO good!

My body is healing nicely from my surgery I had.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughtful messages to me.

I started just this week going back to the gym. I was inspired by

this gal as well as several different messages I've been hearing at church - namely,

a message from this last Sunday, regarding complacency. I hadn't ever really thought

about the word but doing the Brave Girls Soul Restoration class I did at the first of the year

definitely put a whisper in my ear and then all the things God has been putting in my road (including a sister who humps herself to work out at 5am, comes back to the house and gets herself and daughter ready for school and work - I thought, Whoa - if she can do that, I can go spend a half hour to 45 minutes at the gym every morning. I'm a tad competitive so I like to see if I can wake up before

her...  lol!) I decided it was time. I'm only on my 3rd day - so far SO GOOD. The time for myself is turning out to be such a blessing! Then when I come home my boys are still asleep and I get even more mama time and couple that with a cup of coffee and my Bible... VERY happy girl. 

Can't go wrong with that!

I think we've come into the crash and burn episodes of our life here in the Melton house - one night Pauly falls off the bunk bed onto his head, the next night William face-plants right into the wooden drawers under the bunk bed only to give himself two beautiful black eyes.
To sum it up...
THEY'RE FREAKING ME OUT!
I feel like I need to wrap them all up in some bubble wrap!
We haven't had any trips to the doctor, thankfully, but you know... scares me.

We are all LOVING the fall crisp weather that has finally shown up!
My trees are turning colors and I've got my bulbs all ready for this weekend as I attempt
to develop my green thumb...

I've given myself a new challenge and that is a weekly-challenge and I've decided I need to go to a new neighbor every week and take them cookies, a gift, or just go introduce myself. So far, it has been such a blessing and I'm so glad we decided to do it. We tend to make it a family event so far and the kids love it and finally, I'm able to meet my neighbors. We don't live in a subdivision - we live in just a old-town neighborhood that has tons of rentals... I've been using this as my excuse for years now NOT to get to know my neighbors but I decided ... (and again, this was influenced from Paula Dunn) it's time to LOVE ON my neighbors - no matter how long they stick around. No matter who they are. No matter where they live. 

So this all sums it up... We are still enjoying, very much, my sister living here with us. Sweet Pea is in her first year of school (preschool) and the boys and I go pick her up everyday at noon. It's so fun to see her sweet lil face everyday - so happy I'm there. Makes my heart skip-a-beat. I just love that girl.

Now, I've got to get on some planning and plotting for decorations for a birthday party for a very special lady in my life (more info on that later). If you have any suggestions for websites or decorations that are fun, affordable, and totally girlly - let me know. I would love to for you to share your ideas with me! I will do a post soon on what I'm working on all ready.

You all GO and enjoy your week and soak up in God's goodness!!

~ the ultimate love letter ~

C
ould you imagine getting
a real tangible letter from
God? A letter, addressed
to you, with your name on
it. 

I bet it would glow.

Don't you think?

A real luminous glow because if he touched it,

it would probably be glowing right?

Then maybe you would start glowing, too... right?

I don't know, maybe.

Anyhow, if you were to get a letter from God -

what do you think it would say?

Well... here's a hint.

We all have letters from God.

Real.
Definite.
 Living Letters.

and this is what they say...

  

My Child,

You may not know me,

but I know everything about you.

Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.

Psalm 139:2

 

 

I am familiar with all your ways.

Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.

Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.

Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.

Acts 17:28

 

I knew you even before you were conceived.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.

Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,

for all your days are written in my book.

Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth

and where you would live.

Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13

 

And brought you forth on the day you were born.

Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented

by those who don’t know me.

John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,

but am the complete expression of love.

1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child

and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.

Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless

as the sand on the seashore.

Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.

Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you

with all my heart and all my soul.

Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.

Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,

you will find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you

the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.

Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you

than you could possibly imagine.

Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you

in all your troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,

I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,

I have carried you close to my heart.

Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away

every tear from your eyes.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain

you have suffered on this earth.

Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you

even as I love my son, Jesus.

John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.

John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.

Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,

not against you.

Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression

of my love for you.

1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved

that I might gain your love.

Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,

you receive me.

1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you

from my love again.

Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party

heaven has ever seen.

Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,

and will always be Father.

Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…

Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.

Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

Almighty God

Thank you, Farmgirl Paints for sharing this beautiful compilation with us that your mother sent to you.
It is most precious and lovely - I adore it so.
My prayers are with you and your family as you make your way to your new home.

Love to y'all and have a blessed weekend,

~ NieNie ~

Please tell me, why
haven't I discovered
the amazingly talented
Stephanie Nielson's

blog until now?

What was the reason?

I mean... who hasn't seen this?



I know, right?

I've seen it a million trillion!

I never acted on it or anything - obviously.

I just thought, Wow! What a cute idea this "NieNie" had

with the whole vintage typewriter thingy majigor.

She rocks.

Then...

Yesterday, I was watching my little new "30th Birthday theme song" video...

Whole Wide World by Mindy Glendhill

and I saw the gal in the video with all of the burns hugging her children

and I had remembered seeing her interview

on Oprah quite a while back.

I had seen her several other times on other gal's blogs when they had been to Blogging conventions

and such...

I remember feeling so heartbroken for her -

I would close my eyes for a split second,

say a little prayer for her and her day with her kids and family...

and I remember, about a  month ago or so, trying to figure out who she really was

when I was reading

Jeanne Oliver -

and I thought hmmm.... I wonder which blog is hers?...

Well - yesterday I did some googling and finally made the connection.

Stephanie Nielson the heroic wife, mother, beautiful woman who survived a terrible plane crash

along with her husband is...

the amazing, talented writer of the

NieNie Dialogues.

I spent a large part of my day yesterday

between making my sissy's birthday feast and chasing kids -

reading these said 

"Dialogues".

Let me just say... it was time WELL spent.

I cried, I laughed, I ooohed and aaahhhed over her amazing ideas, thoughts and parenting insights.

I am so thankful to have made the connection.

So, as I attempt to take on my 30th birthday year and start to work on my

"35 things to do before I'm 35" list...

at the top of my list will be the following:

1. Wake up each morning happy and thankful that I am alive.

2. Cherish every single second with my family I can get.

3. Love and Respect my husband till death do we part.

4. & dance. Always... dance.

 Reading NieNie reminded me of these things and I feel so silly that it has taken me this long to discover

who NieNie really is....

but I am oh SO thankful that I have and I believe...

the timing was and is - 

 in the hands of

My Maker.

Happy Tuesday y'all

and go read you some

NieNie! 

Here it is...

I knew this was my "theme song"
the second I heard it. It gave me
goosebumps, made my heart leap
for joy, literally made me want to

jump up and DO something.

I have claimed DO as my word. If you've been reading this blog - it's been my word for a while.

I love it.

This song suggestion was given to me by a dear Brave Girl friend. We took Soul Restoration together.

I'm so excited to have this song as my "theme song" for turning 30!

Dawn, you're a genius.

and maybe...

after you listen to this amazing song...

YOU will want it as your "theme song" too!

So yes, Dawn my dear, YOU are the winner of the $20 Starbucks card so please send me

your mailing address when you have a moment.

To all of you who gave me song suggestions...

here is a

BIG HUG!

As for my 35 things to do before I'm 35 list...

I didn't get to it.

Isn't that terrible?  Oh well, I'm not going to be too hard on myself - I've had a lot on my plate lately.

I will work on it tonight and get it on here soon! I have a lot of fun ideas and I can't wait to share.

So you all

have a fabulous Monday!

AND

to my baby sis...

Happy 25th Birthday!!

~ 30th Birthday Theme Song + A Giveaway = Happy Birthday Girl! ~

Happy Birthday to
ME! I'm 30!!!!!!!!
I can't hardly even
believe it!!! I have

decided that I want to recruit your help... 

and I'm recruiting you for all your amazing music ideas!

I am going to pick a Theme Song for this here my 30th Birthday!

It should be fun, inspirational, exciting, happy and high energy!

Do you have one?

A great 30th Birthday Theme Song for me?

Now, I have a very broad taste of music -
So be super creative and appropriate

for the whole "turning 30" of-it-all.

Please,

 I would love for you all to have a lot of fun with this!

 I'm going to pick a song from all of your amazing comments you leave me

(maybe leave me a Youtube Link to your song-choice for me)

and the person whose song that I pick with the best "Sami Jo 30th Birthday Theme Song"

for me -

will

WIN!!!

A $20 Starbucks Gift Card!

So think, think, think,

about what you believe would be a perfect 

"30th Birthday Theme Song",

leave me a comment,

and

I'll checking them all out,

and by this next Monday,

I will have picked the winner!!

So excited to see what you all think up for lil ole me!!!

Also, in the mean time...

I'm going to make up a list of

33 things to do before I turn 33!

Have you seen those?

Here is an example by Meg Duerksen

that she made for herself for her 35th Birthday

and she put it on her blog Whatever

Good idea, right?

So excited to discover this next decade and have you all with me along the way!

Wishing you a

bright and beautiful day full of

Balloon,

Cake & Ice Cream

Dreams,

Love you all!!

~ local gal/ fellow Brave girl trying out for Biggest Loser ~

I have a fellow Brave Girl whose heart's desire is to be on Biggest Loser. Her name is Kim and she is adorable and fun. She works behind the scenes at the Brave Girls Club and if you took Soul Restoration you might of seen her on a few of the videos. Super cute gal. She has made a great little video expressing her interest in being picked for the Biggest Loser and if you have a second, please go to You Tube and watch her video and leave her a comment of encouragement. 

I can SO relate to Kim and if she is chosen I will most definitely be one of her biggest fans! 

Yay Kim! You are so brave, beautiful and unique. I know that if they choose you - You will be amazing!

Sending you much love. ♥

a big thank you & a winner!

Oh. My. Goodness
that Blog Hop was
loads of fun! I adored
reading everyone's blogs
and seeing such amazing

artwork!

You Brave Girls are such a blessing to me.

It was so fun!

Thanks again to Judy for doing all the organizing -

Girl! You rock!

Now for the giveaway winner!

Drummmmmm Rolllll!

The winner is

Lisa from Schnauz Scraps!

Congratulations, Lisa!!!

Please email me your mailing address and I'll get your packaged mailed.

As for you all - I wanted to leave you with something that actually Lisa reminded me of and that is...

The Starfish Story

by Loren Eiseley

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

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

So - for me, this means wherever you are,

whoever you are,

YOU

can make a difference for somebody.

And even though you might think that what you are doing is so small and minuscule -

chances are, it means a lot to the person that is receiving the blessing.

God Bless you all and have a fabulous week!!

~ Brave Girls Club Soul Restoration and a Giveaway! ~

Have you ever had someone
share information with you, and
you found that information to be

extremely sacred and valuable?

The information was so genuine and splendid
that you were giddy to share it with everyone you love.

The information was compiled so very beautifully...

 From beginning.

To end.

You pictured the person that was sharing the information with you -
thinking through the curriculum,

mulling it over and over.

You know that they must of slaved over
every.
 precious.
 detail.

Meditating over it.

Praying over it.

Fine-tuning each and every tool
so that it may speak so perfectly to your heart,

your sisters' hearts,

(my sisters Jodi (left) and Casi (right))

and their sisters' hearts.

You got a sense of peace and trust from the person
that was
teaching and sharing with you

You knew they had been where you are.

Clueless.

Lost.

Frustrated.
Hurt
Worried.
Overwhelmed.

You collected the information in the

deepest part of your being.

Your heart soaked it up.

You're so very grateful to this person
because you know,
that you've just been given

a precious gift...
valuable knowledge...
divine empowerment...



There was a rush of emotions ranging from:

Excitement
Energized
Fear
Doubt
Encouraged
Confidence



Change was inevitable

and

Healing DID take place.


The precious information, combined with your faith, your beliefs, your goals, your dreams,

 a little bit of sunshine, mod podge, glitter and paint -



all of these ingredients melded together and you found, your precious soul opened up and
was able to receive sweet messages of truths.

For me,
I found all of this and more in the
Brave Girls Club
Soul Restoration.
 By:
 Melody Ross - Artist, Product Designer and Writer.
Together with her sister,
Kathy Wilkins,
they founded the Brave Girls Club.

So.

This is me being giddy about the valuable information I learned
 and
I'm sharing it with someone I love...

psssst! ... that's you.

Soul Restoration Part 1 - Finding Your Truth (6 weeks)
April 5, 2011
 Session: $99 - Register HERE.
and
Soul Restoration Part 2 - Living Your Truth (6 weeks)
For graduates of Soul Restoration 1 - June 7, 2011
Session: $99 - Register HERE.

And if you are one of my Brave Girl sisters visiting through the
Brave Girls Club/ Soul Restoration Blog Hop -

I love you, too!

I've been also so immensely blessed by the Brave Girls Club Online Community.
I have adored getting to know a lot of you
and if we haven't been introduced  -
Hi! I'm Sami Jo!

Wife to Ben, Stay-at-home mama to Paul and William,
Daughter, Sister, Mother Blogger (as my husband calls me), and
I praise God everyday for my life and his many blessings.

So Brave Girls go find me on the Brave Girls site and let's be friends!!!

All of you please take a moment to enjoy my little blog.
You can go HERE to see how God led me to even know about Brave Girls/Soul Restoration and
then HERE to read the poem I wrote while going through the Soul Restoration healing process.

Now, for those who stuck around through this extremely long but fabulous post -
a surprise giveaway!

 I will be giving away this cheerful pennant bunting for you to hang up maybe in your crafting corner, kitchen, laundry room - wherever your heart's desires.

Any place where you'll look at it and it's playful colors and shapes will put a smile on that
Brave Girl face of yours.

AND

my ultimate favorite, I will also be including in this giveaway, one large pencil starfish.


Simply leave me a comment at the end of this post.
Please, in your comment share with me where you will hang this colorful bunting if you're the winner
and also leave me one of your favorite Truths, Quotes or Verses.
Lastly, make sure that I have a way to contact you if you're the giveaway winner.

You can sign up for the giveaway until Sunday night at 11:59pm MT -
I will announce the winner on Monday, March 7th!
Only one entry per person, please.

If you are following the Soul Restoration Blog hop you came from
Stephanie - My Creative Wish
Awesome title, huh!

and now, you're headed to
Rebecca - Flyover Pilgrim 
As the title says, it is truly - Art. Life. Beauty.

Also,
if you just joined us and want to start from the beginning -
start with this lovely gal who organized it all
Judy - Be Present - Be Real

I am so happy you stopped by and please know,
 the door is always open
for you 
here at
herHousehold.

By wisdom a house is built,
by knowledge it's rooms are filled with
rare and beautiful treasures.
Proverbs 24:3-4

Another Beach Cottage Giveaway!

Heads Up! Just wanted to let you know you can go over to A Beach Cottage and sign up for a $150 Beach Cottage Christmas Amazon Gift Card!!! So many fun things there!!! Go sign up!

~ blessed me ~

I have a couple of friends that started a
Mama Stocking Swap
 this year -
 Misty and Nikke.

These gals - I tell ya, are SO SMART!

This is right up my alley and I LOVE the idea of making another mama smile and focusing on something other than the stresses of dishes, laundry and whiny kiddos.

Did I say whiny?

My children?

NO!

 (yes, he is "stuck" an inch from the floor - he screamed and screamed and then he stepped down...Silly boy)

Anyhow, so I was given a gal's name and I've been strategically planning a nice little bundle of fun for her which I mailed today!

(Today was the deadline - I'm a procrastinator BIG TIME!)

I wanted to let you in on the fun and you can see what I enclosed in her stocking.

1. Stocking - handmade by Moi. It is the first stocking I had ever made. When I was making it I definitely made some errors but I think it turned out pretty darn cute and I'm excited to try another one soon.

2. I made her 2 pennant garlands - her favorite colors are in the purple and aqua families - she also likes silver so hopefully she won't think these are completely juvenile and will
see my vision for pure bunting happiness.

3. I made her 2 paper pinwheels - she is actually a paper-crafting genius.
shhhh... I snuck over to her blog and saw that she is working on opening her own Etsy store and wow! Amazing!

4. and a paper wreath - this little wreath was so fun to make - again I learned some things and I'll hopefully try this again and hang a few in my house -
Adore.

5. She collects teacups - so this was a teacup and saucer that we actually found in my mama's basement - I wonder if she has a matching friend for him.

6. A little devotional book encouraging specifically to mamas.

7. A Jetty Rae cd - Hello! Gotta share the love for Jetty!

8. A pencil starfish.
{sigh} 
I lof starfish.

9. a journal - I just love all the words in the different fonts and the colors made me happy :)

10. and then a mosaic glass nightlight that is in her favorite colors. 
 shhhhhhh... don't tell her but I had to plug it in to see how it looked!

11. One of her most precious Christmas memories is singing Christmas Carol's with her Oma (German for grandmother). Since, her Oma has passed and she finds herself missing her a lot especially during Christmas - So, I jumped on Ebay and found a German/American songbook to send her. 
Maybe she'll be able to flip through this book and recognize
some of the songs her grandmother would sing with her.

 I just loved the design on the back page.

 ... and the previous owner had wrote in it so there were a few notes...

 ... and little personal messages...

 ... I wrapped it up gently... so. very. gently.

 Well there you have it - my goodies for my Mama Stocking Swap... 

I stayed up last night wrapping it up with lots of love and prayers for her and her family. 

 This morning I went to the Post Office and got it on it's way.

It really blessed me to do this for her.

 

The stocking I made was actually too small for any of the things I had for her to fit in it - so I just included it in with the gifts. I thought that was funny though - it was supposed to be a "Stocking Swap"

 and NOTHING would actually fit in my stocking...

I'm definitely a first-timer in the stocking making department. Lol.

So tell me...  what kind of

giving

 have you been blessed by this 

Christmas Season?