http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye recent pleonast.com entries by user melissakaye en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=599413 A dear friend of mine sent this to me in an email today. I started to write down my favorite quotes & share them with you, but decided it was all too good not to share the entire video. Hope you enjoy! The Joy Movie 2008-11-14 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=593600 I've decided to become gold for various reasons, but primarily for the privacy of my family. I've spent all evening trying to "clean up" my friends list & delete those whom either haven't posted in awhile or haven't commented in awhile. Please let me know if I've accidentally removed you & you would like to remain on my list. 2008-10-31 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=584951 Without giving any details at this time, I'd ask that you all please fervently pray for my twin sister Kim as she is having some health problems. Count your many blessings! 2008-10-08 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=580903 We returned home nearly 2 weeks ago & were pleasantly surprised to find very minimal damage to our property. We had 1/2 of our fence knocked down, 1 gutter knocked off the side of the house & both of our trees were uprooted. Brian worked so hard & was able to get everything repaired with the exception of the gutter, which is not urgent. We were without power until Tuesday which we didn't mind at all. It is so nice to have access to electricity, but we enjoyed doing new things without power. I helped Brian in the yard; Brian helped me in the kitchen; Carson enjoyed playing outside ALL day long; we enjoyed family time on the couch at night listening to the radio with flashlights; & we met many of our neighbors we had not met before. We have a gas stove & were able to cook some decent meals. We did not get our cable or internet back until a week later which was okay too. We bought Carson a Barney DVD to give him atleast one show to watch since we couldn't get any car... 2008-09-28 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=575356 We are about to leave my sister & her family's house in Katy to go home and assess the damages in our area. We experienced 70-80 mph winds & rain here & lost electricity. They suffered some minor damage to the shed in their backyard & part of their fence, but no major damgage. We were able to go to worship services with them this morning. There was no electricity or working bathrooms there, but they still had quite a crowd. We had a short, but very encouraging service. Everyone had their flash lights out & participated...gave me chill bumps! We really don't know what to expect when we return home other than we will not have electricity. We hear that it could be up to 4 weeks before they are able to restore power. Brian will be out of work for an undetermined amount of time being that he works on Galveston island & his work flooded. I'm not sure about either of my jobs being that both of the areas I work in were flooded pretty badly as well. My sister here just... 2008-09-14 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=570752 Denny & Joyce rented a cabin in Marble Falls for all of us to meet up at Fri. thru Sun. We had so much fun, although it didn't last long enough! Our first morning there, Denny & Joyce prepared a feast for breakfast. We had sandwiches for lunch & hot dogs & hamburgers for dinner. We did not go hungry in the woods, that's for sure! Carson & Alyssa loved playing outside all day long gathering sticks for the bonfire that we found out we couldn't have due to a burn ban. We were still able to make s'mores & roast hot dogs on the grill & they were just as yummy! They also played in the creek for awhile (Alyssa swam while Carson threw rocks in the water most of the time!). Brian taught Carson how to fish & I helped him make his first catch. Alyssa did great all by herself, catching 3 fish! Brian caught 3 fish himself. The last one he caught was HUGE! We didn't bring an electric knife, so poor Derek & Brian had to fillet the fish using some cheap steak knives... 2008-09-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=558838 My parents just got back from vacation in Hawaii & bought all of the kids Hawaiian outfits to have their pictures taken in. Leave it to MY son to be the one that was the most uncooperative for pictures. He has always been so good at taking pictures, but he was in a bad mood that morning. The photographers did a great job at managing to get a few good shots, considering there were 5 children all 2 & under! Gran & Pawpaw, Katie, Carson, Kiley, Blake & Abby Gran & Pawpaw, Katie, Carson, Abby, Blake & Kiley I'm about to head out to my sisters house in Katy. Brian has been called in to work on Galveston island & must stay there until the storm has passed. We aren't expecting too much damage...maybe some street flooding, wind damage & power outages, but I'd rather not stay home by myself. I do hope & pray that the damage is minimal & no one is injured. I hate that Brian has to be at work, especially on the island, but he assures me that they wil... 2008-08-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=550497 This is a very lengthy post, but long overdue! I am going to take this opportunity to brag A LOT on my son. I always dreamed of having a little girl to dress up & do "girly" things with. I have to tell you though...I love my son more than I could ever have imagined possible! I am so thankful to have such a healthy, wonderful son that is so well behaved! He is the sweetest thing ever! Examples of Sweetness: *He sits on the pew at church between Brian & I & he will sometimes lock arms with each of us or reach over & grab each of our hands...makes me smile every time! :) *Sometimes I rest my arm on the back of the pew above his head & he will pull my hand down & wrap my arm around him like I'm hugging him. *If I lean over to get him a book out of his bag, he'll pat me on the back. Examples of Good Behavior: *He says his prayers at meal times now without me even having to tell him to. It is the cutest thing ever to see him fold his hands together & &qu... 2008-07-14 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=546527 Please pray for my best friend Rachel's grandfather. He has suffered from various health problems in the past & recently had heart surgery. Since his surgery, he has faced many difficulties that have lead to hospice being called in today. Rachel has been my best friend since first grade & her family is like my own. Her pawpaw is like a grandfather to me too. Her grandparents, as well as mine were always at every school event, sporting event, graduation, & wedding & we have shared many holidays together as well. This is a very difficult time for everyone & I would appreciate prayers on their behalf. Thank you so much! Also, please remember Keri & baby Julia in your prayers that all may go well with them. 2008-07-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/melissakaye?l=5&entryID=542252 Brian & I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday. He had to work all day, but we enjoyed a nice dinner together when he got home. Every year we play our wedding CD's & look at our wedding pictures together. We usually go to the place where we got married & take a walk or have a picnic there, but we haven't been able to do that yet. We had a trip planned at the beginning of the week, but Kim & Kiley had other plans for us. (She has pictures for you to see). We canceled our reservations & have a year to reschedule. This works out better for us anyways because the boat tour & kayaking we wanted to do were all booked up for that weekend. I am just so grateful to have such a wonderful, loving husband! Last year & this year alike have been extra special because we have Carson to help us celebrate now. My card to Brian sounded like a father's day card since I said so much about how wonderful of a father he is & my gift from Brian was a pair of earring... 2008-06-22