decisions...decisions

enough said! these verses popped out and helped...i wanted to share

peace for me:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

the next verse-i do a lot of this! He does take care of those birds like he promised!! I have to constantly remind myself that HE will take care of tomorrow, I don't need to stress so much about the plans I make today, worrying that they will be the right decisions for a year from now. It is a burden I'm happy to give to him (if I can ever remember!)

stress relief:
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Oh, you think you know!..But you have nooo idea!..

how RE-DONK-U-LOUS we can be! But, c'mon you know you're laughin hard, and you wish you could've been a part of that!!

ice ice baby...o shoooot from Melinda Gardner on Vimeo.

did you see that slap i got! can you tell...i had no idea what just hit me!-literally!!

or...were you focused on...my DOUBLE chin!! i was too!!

whew! and what about that wave! we landed that! straight rhythm yo!

(ps. did you see that dance action comin from molly! she audtioned with j-lo! nope-nope! didn't get the spot! weird-i know! i thought that bobble head and the elbows would make her a shoe-in...? go figure!)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

i don't know, but you've been told!...

somebody should probably tell me to drop those dance hands! (...maybe that's why Steve's always embarrassed when he's with me??! naaah!)

tootsie roll from Melinda Gardner on Vimeo.

i miss her

i'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me

i'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;

i'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day

as you have meant , old friend of mine, to me along the way

*edgar a. guest*

Well..let's keep it goin!...

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!...ramblings and confessions! I know I'm a little new to the blog world, so maybe this is an everyday occurrence?! But I say, "tag-you're next!" Let's all ramble and confess-why not!! Molly-you might have started it, but we'll keep it going!! So!...

1.
It's almost 1 am, and I'm still up! Why-because I'm having fun with this blog, and I can sleep in tomorrow!

2.
Tomorrow-I told myself, I would begin the de-clutter of the junk I need to throw out...hope I stick to it, instead of sticking to the bed all day!

3.
I miss my friends. I'm more than thankful for the new one's I've made, (they have added to my life more than I ever imagined) but..I miss the old ones. And, the things I'm most familiar with.

4.
I have decisions to make. This creates, :( and :)

5.
I'm relieved to know I won't be given more than I can handle! "Look at the birds of the air..." Matthew 6:26 (insert breath of relief here!)

6.
Realized ALOT lately that...my world exists where my family is.

7.
Can't wait to go to Disneyland with Molly, Ellie, and Audrey!! They do have great hugs, I just love it when I can get one from them!

8.
Love it when I get pictures of people sent to my cell! That sounds popular. I'm not. It's usually just Audreay and Ellie, because that's all I have in my phonebook!! ha! Hey Melinda- a-la-whos-sa-la-her! (loser!)

9.
Bought a mini-brownie delight to eat on my own!!! yay.

10.
Havin fun "ramblin"...can you tell!!!

11.

I need HELP with this blog site..it's needs more cute! And, what's up with the left side of the page-I've got nothin...?!!!

12.
Really appreciate family! I mean-the people that know me, and love me and I love them..not just the the family I was born into! Family is so much bigger than that...right!!

13.
Who's next!....probably no one! Because no one knows that I have a blog! Which in turn, no one will know to read this! ba-ha ha ha ha! Oh well!! It sure was fun though!!

14.
Oh, yeah! Molly...awesome.

In the beginning...

there was...

• The family: Grandma, Dad, Mom, and Jacob.

(don't feel bad about the patch...just a lil boo-boo, but she's a toughy!)

Grandma, she's the epitome of how a Grandma should be! Loving, listening, understanding, and accepting. When you're with her, you feel like you are her favorite! Sure the other kids are important but you're the apple of her eye..and she does it so well with all of us-equally loved! She is the glue that holds us together.

and den...

Dad, when I think of my Dad I think...smooth like a wave. He really just rolls with life and he's always "better than he deserves!" He is a real, true man of God, in my eyes! He is my hero and example! He is reliable, giving, loving, a leader yet humble...and jolly! I always think of my Dad laughing!

Mom, she is a God fearing woman. You know, one of those "Proverbs 31"women (she is to me anyway!). One that I think accepts her faults, never judges, and has really listened to God. She knows the importance of being close to Jesus and has really dove into the Bible to find how she is to let Jesus shine in her life (which she taught me, is not the same for everyone...and I think that's important!). Mom is kind, generous, loving, and doesn't know a stranger!

and den...

Jacob, well..he's my brother! What else is there to say!..some days ya love your siblings and some days..not so much! I'm so unbelievably proud of him! He has know idea the gusto he has inside of him. He is motivated and strong, and when he sets his mind to something, don't get in his way...or he'll talk you to death out of the way! And, I'd say he's funny too...but that's because I taught him everything he knows!!!

• The best friend, or as I like to call her-MY person!

(no-no, I'm not mean, she wanted this one for her debut on my blog!)

Here comes the moosh!..she is my greatest treasure and my answered prayer! I don't have a sister, but she has been all of that and more, from helping me with make-up to just lending an ear and offering a prayer! We have been friends since we met in the 6th grade! Wow-not too many people can say that, what a blessing!! I always say this but, I truly don't know what I'd do without her! She is the piece to my puzzle of life! I have had immeasurable memories with her and have learned to live, trust, and show up with a smile (and on-time..or as close as I can be to on-time!). And of course we have ALOT and I mean ALOT of laughs together...but, I've taught her how to be funny too!!

This is the meat and potatoes, there are many more important and very special people to me in my life...but we'll keep those for further posts!

Chapter One!...

If you know me, you know I'm a big negative nancy when it comes to this "my life is an open book on the internet," sorta thing (I like my privacy, and I've gotta admit, I feel a bit of a narcissist?!), until...one day, I got to thinking this would be a neat way to tell my story to my kids some day...right! (And I constantly looked at Molly's and thought it was a super idea!) I know I always loved, loved, loved, seeing pictures of or hearing stories about my parents when I was growing up! My dad, in pictures with the super tiny gym shorts (that I guess were cool then), not to mention the big afro puff! And my mom, with her long b-e-a-utiful locks of hair and catching smile! You know when you're ten years old you never could imagine those to be your parents..they are so different, young, and cool! Much like myself now-cool! Well, maybe not that cool, but I would love for my kids someday to see what kind of person I was, the places I went, and the people that were in my life, before them! So, I thought, why the heck not! What a great way to keep a journal! Then, I waited and waited for the perfect time to sit down and do this, hoping that the perfect words would come to mind, and before I knew it I was having alot of fun moments and I was just passing them by. So...I've decided to just sit down and start this blog and post as I go (you'll notice a few posts below, I was getting acquainted with blogging!)....I might go a little backwards, forwards, or sideways, but I'll get my story told! Hur we goooo!.....