Melissy asked that I share this with you all…
How can I express how my heart sings as I think of the friends I have made, who have loved me and comforted me as I go through this shock? Through your words and even, I am embarrassed to say, your wallets, have reached out to me and showed me that I am not alone while I feel so fragile and if I allow, for one moment, this situation to overwhelm me, to shatter me into a million tiny pieces.
How can I say thank you enough and make sure that each and every one of you can hear me?
I am working on so many deadlines, that I have to compartmentalize my days and I have not had a chance to thank each and every one of you personally for your support as I should. With the sudden unemployment, a forced move looming, and the clock ticking, I have traded one type of stress for another, yet life goes on. I WILL get to you all. Please be patient with me.
I know I am not the only person experiencing this trauma and my heart breaks for others who find themselves in the same boat.
I have to go through all my stuff and sort what is necessary from the disposable and am finding that part of this that is very cathartic.
I am being forced to look at things through a new set of eyes. For me, I am realizing that sometimes God removes us from things that are detrimental to us, at others, He shakes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to walk in faith and step out into the unknown.
God has never taken me, after I have fallen on my backside and not placed me gently back on my feet.
I hold fast to that and I realize that God works through people and we have to allow them to help, which is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have worked so hard for so many years to NOT depend on people, that this is a new experience for me.Beauty from ashes.
Even those of you who are not believers, you too are a huge part of this miracle in this time of my life.
When I believe that mankind has truly lost their collective minds, you have been here, to listen, to cry and good night, have a full blown belly laugh at the commentary.
THAT is what you have done for me.
This Porch has been a home to me for many years, an online haven, when I was overwhelmed, I could come here and glean a little sanity and dear heavens, humor in some of the gravest of situations. I have always rather felt like the ‘tard of the bunch, particularly after the lightning strike several years ago, as I lost the ability to express myself as well in my writing as I used to, but oh how I love reading your words.
Y’all help more than you can ever know.
This picture is my happy place, a peaceful, fun time and the last time I was able to relax and I recall it in my mind to just remember to give thanks for the day and all the wonderful people I have met here.This is what I picture as I think of all y’all have done for me to restore my faith in mankind. All is not lost and I hold that dearly in my heart.
Thank you, my fellow travelers in this thing we call life.
I love you all.
— Melissa in Texas
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30 Comments!
Git yer payants back on, gurl! Yer gonna give some of the older fellers a heart attack!
Glad you’re keeping your chin up. :)
LOL!
That was my swimsuit cover up! The sun was setting and it was STILL over 100 degrees!
I took that picture…while we were in the Bahama’s last week shoe shopping :)
^BAHAHAHAHAAAAAA^
Beautiful inside and out.
That’s a beautiful picture the subject & the view :) We should be able to do a bit this Friday.
What a wonderful letter!
and by the way, OSHA may be calling to check where your safety harness, lanyard and tie off were on that deck!
Thanks Melissa.
Say, ain’t you the one that fell off the ladder? Pretty brave sitting up there looking so cool.
BAHAHHAAAA!
I fell off a barstool while I was baking.
You can’t see the white knuckles as I was hanging onto the rail, but it was simply a gorgeous view from my perch and I could not pass up the opportunity!
Outstanding seems an odd thing to say to some pretty bird on’er perch. Nevertheless, a beautiful letter and surely a shared blessing for all who have come to know you.
Now I see that that storm on the horizon behind you in that pic in a different light.
What? No I never noticed it before, why do you ask?
Uh, yes, nice rails. ..
I’ve fallen off of barstools on two different continents and four different countries but never while baking.
Staying Focused.
When I first saw tht pic Melissa I was a-feared you were going to fall off considerin’ some of your other mishaps. (cough lightning)
LOL@Lloyd!
Pay no attention to Wollf.
I am encouraged by your mention of God.
I want you to be encouraged by so many of us who are praying for you.
When we face a bump or two in the road of life, so many are quick to ask, “Where’s God now?”
He’s the same place he’s always been.
And Open 24/7/365.
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Rick, you seriously made me Snort!
I went through a job loss and foreclosure in 2010. All groovy now. Kinda grew into my dad’s shoes. All cash now!
oh……love ya
Caution: splinters
(and then you find out who your real friends are)
Glad to hear you’re persevering, Melissa.
Thanks for the inspiring thanks, too.
You must be somewhere out west. That sure isn’t the piney woods of East Texas (where I’m at.)
Real nice view.. ahem..
We have all fallen at times. But with the help of friends we always managed to get back up. We first learned that as babies but sometimes we forget.
Thats why we are friends, why we are here on the porch. To always be here for each other. Sometimes we forget. And then we remember and it’s beautiful.
Friends, what more could you ask for in life. We were always there each other. Always will be. A special bond that can not be broken by those that do not understand. We all know that.
I will not be reading any other post tonight, for now, I’m sitting on the porch with very special friends. I do not see how any other post could top your update. I’m sure we are all a bit happier hearing from you.
Take care Melissa and thank you for the update.
Your friend always,
I don’t know how I ended up at this site, but I’m glad it found me.
Having been further down and deeper under than most can ever imagine, I find myself humbled by the class, dignity, spirit and characther of my fellow Texan.
You thank us, MiT? Hardly, ma’am.
We, and I, thank you.
What small measure of support you’ve found here from is but a small measure of what you’ve brought to the porch, lo, these many years.
May you continue for many more.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
You must be somewhere out west. That sure isn’t the piney woods of East Texas
WAAAY too hilly for the Piney Woods!
In this pic, I am actually overlooking one of the canyons at Canyon Lake. This was the last enjoyable 3 day weekend I had, over a year ago in July 2011.
A co-worker and I blew the crap out of some of the eeeevil cedar trees with several ummm… hole punchers, which I took along to allow her to try out so she could decide which was best for her, swam in a pool right next to where we were shooting and just had a wonderful time!
Like I said… my happy place. If I HAVE to be hot, I MUST be able to cool off quickly ;)
I want you to be encouraged by so many of us who are praying for you.
I can FEEL the prayer.
How can one explain the peace and calm in the midst of a raging storm, threatening to toss your entire world about?
There are other things going on that I am reluctant to speak of, but you have all been such an incredible comfort to me and for that I am so very truly grateful!
Once, for no particular reason, I wondered what it would be like to meet God face to face. I figured I would just stand there in awe, jaw almost to the ground, unable to utter a sound. I was then when I imagined God looking back at me saying, “I know. That’s what *I* thought when I created *you*.”
Your potential is limitless Melissa consider Who gave it to you. You are already equipped to handle this. God has, in the last 40 days now removed a part of my life that was doing me incredible harm. For more years than I care to admit it has held me back. Now that the chains are off, I eagerly await His next move.
I love you!
Darlin,
I recall a couple other pics from that Hill Country mini-vaca. One in particular, without the white gauze cover-up, with one of the good ol’ Springfield’s locked and loaded…..Heh!
I had fun photoshopping the light and shadows to get a good balance on this one. It is still my most favorite pic of you.
Thank you too, dear ‘Lissa. I know that God is with you….as are D and I, and the continually changing and growing mass of critters that assemble at our house every day.
You are absolutely right, this here porch is a haven from a swiftly tilting planet full of simians who have seemingly gone batshit *CRAZY*!!!
I leave y’all with a quote from C.S. Lewis:
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
Prayers and wishes for a quick and successful change of status into a great and satisfying new home and job.
Wish I could’ve helped out with a bit of monetary relief but I’m conserving resources for my own possible layoff in September.
Never seen it this slow here. Hope we can get something greenlit soon…
Oh TUA, I am so sorry to hear this!
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The uncertainty is just awful, I know.
That being said… I am gonna keep my sense of humor if it kills me ;)
Dang, might get to feelin like a Morman husband soon……………. oh well…