The Heart of CMOM Productions

What is CMOM Productions?  Since this blog began, I've been learning the ropes and finding my niche.  My blogging description has always been:

CMOM Productions is all about my thoughts, experiences, and other randomness in my life that are currently in production. From my struggles and triumphs as a wife and mom of 2 boys, to my own personal goals and dreams, and everything frontwards, backwards, sideways, and in between! Welcome to my blog, my name is Melinda Marie.  

While it's not set in stone, Mondays are geared towards writing about experiences in this life.  Do I write for a fan base?  Ummm, no.  Many of my readers are considered friends (such as fellow bloggers)  and family, not fans.  On Monday, CMOM Productions is more of an outlet for my reflective focus.

When Friday rolls around I showcase another side to my personality.  My crafty sense is revealed via Stampin' Out The Work Week.  I'm a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, but I'm more than that (actually Stampin' Up is much more than stamps too).  "I'm a Craft-a-holic" should be stamped on my sleeve.  Don't be surprised if you find out that glitter and acid free adhesive flow through my veins.

CMOM Productions is more than just a blog name to me.  It's my family.  In fact, our initials (in age order) are C M O M.  From our crafting, to our crazy adventures, to our everyday life, our productions are what makes this blog.  My family is the heart of CMOM Productions.

It is with great joy that I share our latest moments...  
On Sunday, August, 17, 2011, my two boys asked Jesus into their hearts!

When another explanation of communion was requested after church, I didn't expect that my boys would understand it all at that moment.  After communicating our remembrance and reflection of Jesus' suffering and acceptance of it and God's gift to us, some of the most precious words were spoken.  My youngest, with the joy shown only by a child, piped up with the words "I want Jesus in my heart forever!"  My oldest son responded with the same, while his eyes showed that he was deeply pondering the sacrifice by Jesus.  His thoughtfulness was not hesitation though, but of understanding.  The reality of what our Savior did for us seemed to sit on his heart.  Knowledge of Easter's miracle quickly followed his statement.  While my boys have heard this story from the time they were babies, the amazement in their expressions is nothing short of heart warming.  After both boys explained their understanding of what being a Christian meant, both said a special prayer.

My heart is filled with such joy and gratefulness.  A mother's prayers for her children are unending.  Yet, God answered two very special prayers of mine that began as soon as I knew I was expecting each child.

"Tonight I'll count my blessings,
I'm thankful for each one.
Then close my eyes and go to sleep,
Until tomorrow comes."
-From "Thank You, God" by Holly Bea

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Today Is Not Monday

Wow!  It's not Monday!  The plan was to blog yesterday, but life had it's own ideas.  Beyond the thunderstorms that flashed, boomed, and shook homes, we had a few unexpected items on our to do list.  It involved stripped beds, pillow cases, and couch covers.  We cleaned carpets and used up a can of lysol.  All of this was a result of our oldest son coming down with a case of pink eye!

We had a nice visit with some of our East coast family this past weekend.  It wasn't nearly long enough, but we enjoyed every bit of our time with Grampa & P.  We celebrated my father-in-law & M's birthdays during their stay with us.  The boys had a hard time saying goodbye.

M's birthday is today!  My sweet baby boy is 5 years old!  Time goes by so quickly.  When I think back to the day M was born, I remember anxiety, excitement, and anticipation.  M's birth was scheduled, due to the complications of my previous labor and delivery, so it didn't hold the same amount of surprise as my first.  However, it was the day that my family became complete.  My husband and oldest son were the only ones (besides hospital staff) to hold M before I did.  While I was being stitched up and recovering from surgery, they bonded with M.  I felt so blessed and grateful to hold that little man in my arms for the first time.  I cannot believe how quickly 5 years goes by.  Happy 5th birthday M!  I love you!

It's been a whirlwind in our lives lately.  Birthdays, holidays, illness, end of the school year activities, and the list goes on and on.  As Summer vacation is fast approaching, I've decided to make some blog changes.  From June 1, 2010 through September 2010, I will be blogging once a week on Mondays.  My Monday and Wednesday blog schedule should return to normal in October.  Much like my previous "Holiday Blog hours,"  there may be unpredictable blog posts scattered amongst the Summer days.  Possibly even a craft induced post.

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Thank you to all of our veterans and the families who support them!  *  Happy Birthday to my father-in-law (yesterday)!  Happy Birthday to Diane tomorrow!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY TO M!!!

Mark My Time: The Right Balance

Our school's PTO runs a reading program for the students in which they receive a reward for every 200 minutes read.  Keeping track of minutes is important for achieving these goals and I insist on making sure my son's time is calculated accurately.  While browsing at one of my favorite stores, yes a book store, this year, I found one of the best Christmas gifts for my oldest son, O.  My husband and I purchased, wrapped, and placed under the tree, a special bookmark that marks the reading time of our eager reader. 

Believe it or not, O was excited when he tore the paper to reveal his new blue and white bookmark.  You know you've been raising a reader when your child is full of joy over books and bookmarks.  This fancy contraption has 3 modes:  clock, count down, and count up.  Clearly, the clock mode is just that, a clock.  With the count down mode, you can set a certain amount of hours and/or minutes that need to be read and an alarm will go off when you have completed the time.  An orange start/stop button can be pushed if you need to take a break for any reason.  When in the count up mode, the timer counts your minutes as you read, and the start/stop button is used just as it is in the count down mode.  Needless to say, good use has been made of O's new gift since it was opened on Christmas morning.

Time is precious in this life.  While our minutes are counting up, and down for that matter, we can spend our time in so many ways.  As the clock keeps ticking and the years go by, we can accomplish an abundant amount of simple and large tasks, love tremendously, volunteer, forgive, work, vacation, enjoy hobbies, smile, laugh, and so much more.  Our time is valuable, priceless, and treasured. 

I often struggle with making the best use of my time.  Volunteering and helping others is something I'm drawn to do.  You may have heard this already, but I have a hard time saying "no."  Maybe I have a target on my head, or more likely my heart, but I feel dedicated to serving others.  Ummm no!  That doesn't mean I'll be waiting on you hand and foot!  Seriously!  No matter how little time I have for myself, I am called to consistently do for others.  When I have to give something up, it's rare that I will step down from my self imposed, although I'm not sure how much of it really comes from myself, responsibility.  Although it frustrates my husband to see me do so at times, I would rather give up some of my own time.  Over the past year however, I have made a commitment to taking more time for myself.  Which is one of the reasons I started to blog.

Blogging is many things for me, two of those things being: a creative outlet and a connection to others.  Since I've began, I have struggled with the right balance for a blogging schedule and taken time off for vacations, sick days, and family.  As 2010 is now upon us, I am once again altering my blogging days to search for a bit more balance.  If I continue to juggle the amount of balls that I have accumulated, I'm liable to drop the entire load.  Attempting to ignore that self-imposed guilt, do be quiet please, I made the decision to drop Friday and only blog on Monday & Wednesday. 

My WIP, aka work in progress, is desperate for more attention and is pushing the self-imposed guilt out of the way like a playground bully.  Writing tools are calling out to me and begging to be held, and not left idle and alone.  Characters in my story are tossing bottled notes into the ocean of my mind, hoping that they will be discovered in my notebook.    Apparently, all three agree that Friday is the most relaxing and creative day of the week to ignore responsibility and wade into the murky unknown waters of that ocean in my mind.  Personally, I think they just want to learn to surf!  I mean really, who could blame them?  It does look like a fun adventure.  Who knows, maybe they'll find the time and ability to ride a big wave into a long weekend of writing.  As long as everyone keeps their balance.