The NorMel House

With another year past and the start of a new year approaching many of us make resolutions and renew our goals. What if this year was different? What if this year, instead of focusing on ourselves we focused on our Heavenly Father and our relationship with our Creator. This perfect Father loves us so much He sent His Son to save us and He sends His Spirit to guide us. Instead of filling your mind with routines and resolutions, fill your mind with His Word, your heart with His love and your life with His praise. Today’s #TuesdayTunes is a reminder of who our Father is "I've seen many searching for answers far and wide But I know we're all searching For answers only you provide 'Cause you know just what we need Before we say a word You're a Good, Good Father" Check out Good, Good Father by Chris Tomlin  https://youtu.be/CqybaIesbuA

#TuesdayTunes The true gift, a Saviour born to save us "Long awaited precious promise Son of God and son of man Heaven's glory in a manger Has come to us in Bethlehem Messiah, Messiah A baby born to save us all Messiah" https://youtu.be/D14wX0K9XJQ

This week's #TuesdayTunes is in keeping with the season! But what is the Christmas season really about? "Son of God and Son of man There before the world began Born to suffer, born to save Born to raise us from the grave Christ the everlasting Lord He shall reign forevermore  Noel, Noel Come and see what God has done Noel, Noel The story of amazing love! The light of the world, given for us" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vwu-t7QRaE&feature=youtu.be

#TuesdayTunes I see Your fingerprints The work of Your hands It's all in Your hands I see the evidence Leaving nothing to chance The world's in Your hands So I rest in Your promises Now I am sure of this I'm Yours https://youtu.be/w9B-81mZV5E

#TuesdayTunes Sometimes life can feel overwhelming but we can feel strength in our Savior. Ask the Spirit to lead you, call upon His Name and let your soul rest in His embrace. Oceans by Hillsong United. https://youtu.be/X1SuHByAgno

All is snow-white in the world again... deceitful like the step-mother though - with a layer of ice underneath! Careful driving everyone! #wintersback #snow #ice #beautiful #carefuldriving

I honestly love storms. They are such an amazing display of God's power, might and beauty. The way ice forms and looks is so incredibly beautiful. Man can try imitate, man can try to create but there is no one and nothing like our God. As beautiful as it is, it's also an awesome display of His power and grace. So blessed to have a warm home out of the storm and still be able to appreciate the beauty in it all. #blessed #ice #icestorm #beautiful #awesome #Godisgood #ChildofGod #GodsGrace #Godspoweramazesme #NoartistlikeTheArtist

In keeping with Pastor John's theme on Sunday afternoon at my church, about the Trinity, today's #TuesdayTunes is Sandra McCracken's Trinity song featuring All Sons & Daughters  https://youtu.be/dk28HVgQ0AE

Sometimes I think we need to change what we long for. If you long for that which God has spoken about Hope does not disappoint. #Godisgood #ChildofGod

#TuesdayTunes God is our life-line, the air we breath, our daily bread. Without Him we are lost. Check out Michael W. Smith's rendition of The Air I Breathe, which so beautifully captures this in song. https://youtu.be/mEDcKZB7r2A

"This is my father's world And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres This is my father's world The birds their carols raise The morning light, the lily white Declare their maker's praise This is my father's world I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas His hand the wonders wrought This is my father's world Oh, let me never forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet This is my father's world Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is king, let the heavens ring God reigns, let the earth be glad This is my father's world He shines in all that's fair In the rustling grass, I hear him pass He speaks to me everywhere In the rustling grass, I hear him pass He speaks to me everywhere" When you know that God has all things in His Hands, and that through Christ we are made children of God, it's so much easier to find this pe

Today's #TuesdayTunes is a song that reminds us of the hope we have in Christ Jesus:  The cross has spoken, I am forgiven The King of kings calls me His own Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever Jesus Christ, my living hope Check out Phil Wickham's "Living Hope" at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f2FXxDVO6w

The wind is blowing the snow outside nearly horizontal to the ground and I love it. I love winter and snow. I love the reminder of God's great power. It amazes me. You would think I'd get over being amazed by my 35th winter season but I'm not. It makes me smile every year. #Godisgood #Godisamazing #Godspowerisgreat #Hebringstheseasons #Heisincontrol #ChildofGod

Today`s #TuesdayTunes is `Scars` by I Am They. Emotional scars change us from the inside out and are one of the ways God changes us for good.  May the grace of God lead you to be “thankful for the scars”.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It1XzDf-pFo

What is in a name? So many things come to mind; you might think of someone you know with the same name or be given an impression without even meeting the person. Do you consider the meaning of a #name ? The importance of being named? I do. Knowing someone's name can make that person more "real" to you; especially the #stillborn or #miscarried people. They are people, just little babies. Tomorrow, had my Miya made it to term, she would have been 6. I think about her alot. I think about all #preborn babies alot. I didn't choose to #lose my #children so I look forward to seeing each beautiful one again someday. October is #Pregnancy and #Infant #Loss #Awareness month. So many women #grieve in silence, whether they had no choice or they made a choice they now regret. Show #love , #grace and #support for those who suffer this loss; losing a child is not, and should never be, an easy or chosen thing.

I'm not a morning person. Much better than I used to be but still,  I need that time. I hit snooze (only once because hearing anything more than once, that early, gets annoying.) Amidst cracking and popping sounds I stretch out each limb. Most days praying it all will hold when I attempt to stand up. Most mornings prayer really is the first thing going through my mind. 'Let this body work right today.' If I take my time, it gets there eventually. However, on occasion, I'm repeating that prayer from the floor, or back on the bed. I'm not complaining, it is what it is; we all have our own things to deal with in life. Still, it forces me to start my day in the right place: Prayer. Sometimes I'm humming or singing by the time the daytime kids show up, but more often I'm listening to someone else sing or speak of God. I like that time. Starting the day with God is a blessing. In a way that makes my "cross" a blessing. God promises to turn all thin

It's amazing to see the 3 year old mind at work. You try and teach them things; read the Bible and pray with them, sing songs and try teach them things like the alphabet, counting, colors and so much more. And then you hear them saying things or talking while playing or "teaching" their younger siblings and you realize what they've absorbed or mentally worked out or the conclusions they've drawn on their own. It amazes me, it makes me laugh, and sometimes even makes me cry. I've been going through the beginning of the Bible to try teach them and I'm so proud of my little daytime 3 year old! We just had a long conversation where we talked about God and she told me about the bad snake in the garden. Hearing what she said and the things she's understood may have got my eyes watering... or as she would say "my tears were coming!" Children are such a precious blessing and I pray I'll be a blessing to all my little daytime kiddos. I hope that e

I'm not sure what to say. I've been absent from here for a while; life has been so very busy. Lots of emotional moments and so much going on. Yet somehow I'm still not sure what to write about. A myriad of emotions and thoughts and my mind has changed so many times. Norm has been gone alot but I joined him on one of his trips and we had a mini vacation. We got back in time to start and have now finished taking the P.R.I.D.E. course through CAS. Daycare kids and schedules have changed. A neice was born and baptized. Schedule changed again. Xena came in heat and I'm sure Roxie will too soon. There's so much more to say, but I think I'll sign off for now... children dawdling over their lunch should probably be encouraged to finish. The Mel in NorMel House, anything but normal.

Today I made a little white Angel Baby Sack. Because there are all kinds of mothers. Good moms (like mine), bad moms, moms of moms, moms that have their arms full and moms that have emptyarms. This little white bedding is made in case a mom has to lay their little one to rest. Today I mourned the loss of so many more than my own little babies. I thought and prayed for the mother's who said good bye to their children before they were ready.  The little blue bed was for another little boy who was laid to rest this past week. We're never ready to lose our children. We're never ready to lose our moms either. I thought and prayed for those who lost their moms today too. But I don't know what that feels like. I do know what it feels like to bear a child, hold that child in your hands and then have to lay that child in the ground. And although I can't say or do anything to take away the incredible hurt that causes I can try provide something soft and beautiful to la

This past week another little child went to heaven. A woman held her little boy after being pregnant for nearly 20 weeks. Her and her husband held him, named him, cried over him. His siblings drew him pictures and made presents to put in his tiny little casket. This little child will be buried but never forgotten. My heart breaks with them. And I will continue to pray for them. We live in a broken world and death is a sad and horrible result of sin. There's nothing we can say or do to make that heartache any easier. But knowing that we'll see them again is comforting knowledge. God has our little ones safely in His Hands. He will keep them safe and we will see them again

Every year I struggle with the darkness of winter. My body and mind crave the sunshine and a break from the achy dampness that seems to last forever. But every year I come back to this. Every year I have these faithful reminders. Faithful in their yearly return; faithfully reminding me of the one in whom I put my faith. They get all they need from the same amazing Creator that gives us all life. I see these beautiful and bright displays of color and life and I know. Darkness will not last forever. There is hope. I am a #ChildofGod #beautycomes #NoartistlikeTheArtist #Nofilter #nature #beautyinnature #beautyincreation #AwesomeGod #Godisgood #blessed #flowers #rain #sunshine #color #life #creation #SADs #wildgardens #flower #springreturns

Today is a day for celebration. A day to contemplate and reflect on one of the most gracious and amazing blessings we've been given. A day to remember. A day to be thankful. Death has no victory. Death could not hold our Savior. The Bible doesn't end at the cross or the tomb. And yet, despite knowing this amazing gift, despite knowing how grateful and joyful I should be I just can't. Don't get me wrong, I want to. I want to be happy, I want to smile and share this great gift with others, but today I just don't have it. I don't have the strength to rise above and do what I know I should. There's too much pain. SO MUCH PAIN I just can't. I'm overwhelmed by the twitches and spasms, the ceaseless screaming in my ears, the feeling that my limbs are being torn apart at the joints, and the way every part of me feels so very heavy. You would think by now I would be used to dealing with the constant pains and be able to rise above but it seems the weathe

In the last 6 years this passage has gained so much more meaning to me. To give up your child for sinful and unworthy people! How great is our God, how deep and amazing is His love and grace. My mind cannot comprehend it. My heart doesn't understand it. I can only fall to my knees in humbled thankfulness. #howgreatisourGod #Ohsounworthy #amazinggrace #ChildofGod

Create in me a clean pure heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let my life be dedicated to You and put words of grace and love on my lips. Let my life be a light in the darkness that is our sinful world.  I go to church not because I'm a good person, but because I know I'm not. It's there I meet with other sinners who know their need for God's redeeming Grace. It's only through this Grace that I know I'm a Child of God. Church is not a place for pride or self-righteousness. It's the place for humility; for acknowledging sin and asking for the forgiveness we're so amazingly blessed with in Jesus Christ. Lord I pray, Grant Your Spirit this day Forgive me my sin,  time and again Through the blood of Your Son May Thy Will for my life be done. The Mel in the NorMel House 

Despite the fact that we are done with trying for children and I'd swear I'm ok with that somehow I still get a lump in my throat with most pregnancy announcements. I've cried the entire drive home from meeting/visiting my nephews and nieces for the first time at the hospital and I still find most baptisms incredibly hard to sit through without crying. I think the grief never completely goes away. Like the ocean it can come in waves that knock you down or it can glide in softly with the sunrise. I wish I had words to give you comfort, but the words are not my own The NorMel House to yours; I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth!

It's rather strange. I should be super excited about this, it means I'm more than halfway to my original goal. I started January 7 this year so its going at a decent pace I think, but oddly I'm feeling meh about it. I haven't been this low on the scale since before my first pregnancy (over 6 years ago!). #Sillyme, this should be awesome! #oddlyindifferent #thenormelhouseisanythingbutnormal #TheNorMelHouse #ketodiet #diet #weightloss #25lbs #prepregnanciesweight

One of my favorite passages. "For I know the plans I have for you..." No matter the situation, no matter the sorrow, troubles or distress I can be confident in my Heavenly Father's love and know He is in control. What an amazing comfort! #ChildofGod #HisgoodWill #inGodsHands Mel of The NorMel House

I'm tired Not just "I could use an extra hour" kind of tired, but exhausted. Yes, I'm an insomniac so I am used to being tired, but this is different. In the middle of a Fibroflare. Weather is killing the joints, body isn't adjusting to the diet, brain is on overtime with work and the chest infection (that's supposed to be cleared from antibiotics) is still making me cough whenever I try lay down. Bone deep tired. Social media definitely doesn't help. I keep seeing all these lovely posts of people going to warmer climates on vacations and the green eyed monster is sighing inside. It's also that time of year when SAD kicks in and makes it harder to stay happy. I know I'm not alone in that, many people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Thankfully the sun is at least shining today. We've had some pretty crazy weather here in Ontario lately and the kids have had SO MANY snow days! I wonder if they made a record this year lol.  I don&#

My thoughts are filled with sadness And my mind can't find a way It all just feels so heavy, Lord I don't know how to face the day. You've created us so intricate An amazing, complex design But my body is so broken Lord The pain has filled my mind I'm overwhelmed and weary I don't know what to do With heavy heart yet hopeful Lord, I can only turn to You. Mel in The NorMel House, feeling the struggle today

Day 26 Life goes on in The NorMel House. We Google ways to make Keto-friendly dinner and snack options but mostly just skip those starchy aspects of our meals we used to love. It's an interesting change and learning curve but while we may miss the juice (or in Nor's case the breads), we can't deny the results. He never actually weighed himself but thinks he's down about 10 lbs from his pre-holiday weight. Me? Glad you asked! I'm down a surprising (at least to me) 12 lbs. I don't mind the diet that much, it's more that I have a harder time finding replacement foods due to all my allergies and intolerances. It's alright though. Still have a hard time actually eating enough in a day but I'm getting better at that. It's really hard to eat 1500 Calories worth of food when you're not used to eating much! Lots of things going on, some of which I'll tell of at a later date. One thing I will say is that we've been on a big cleaning and purgi

Hmm We'll, I've made it to day 3. Wasn't sure if I'd even make it through 1 day so I'm counting this as a win. I haven't quit, or given up, just feeling rather crummy. Unfortunately I was sick most of the holidays with this awful cough/cold/Head flu bug that's been going around. On the plus side I got a TON of sleep (not that it seems to have kicked it or the exhaustion 🤯). Still sniffling, still croaky when I wake up and at bedtime, still super tired. However I think maybe the dietary changes may becoming the culprit... Yup. I said it. The D word. There's been many of those that have failed, however this is a little different. I want to make some lifestyle changes and start learning to make better choices. I did some research and had a long chat with a friend and decided I'm going to try the keto method. I'm pretty sure my head is seriously missing sugar and carbs already 🤦🏼‍♀️ but I really need to start getting healthy and happy. Life hasn&

Read Jeremiah 29 (see bottom of entry) I can't imagine living as a slave in a foreign country. Could you? I can't. I can't even begin to understand what that would be like. I've been blessed to live in a country that values freedom.  (Almost to the point where it's a fault.) I don't know what it's like to be whipped or forced to do hard labor or go without food. The Israelites did. They lived in Babylon under the harsh rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. I imagine the oppression would be depressing. You might even grasp for words of hope from any source, even false prophets. Jeremiah 29 tells us of the hope God gives amidst some very difficult and rough times for the Israelites. Despite being in a foreign land, despite being captives and slaves, God sends them hope and direction through the prophet Jeremiah, "...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile..." (Jer. 29:7a) Can you imagine being told that God brought