Bedlam Came a Little Early...

I never thought I would live to see the day, but I did. An OSU flag flew at my parents' house. Now I know what you are thinking....have they lost their minds? Gone crazy? Luckily the answer is "NO"! We were actually celebrating Drew and Kristen's upcoming wedding with and OSU themed party. I will tell you that my dad wore an OU shirt all weekend just to make sure everyone knew he had not become a POKE! While I don't want to wear orange any time soon, the weekend was a complete blast! Lots of fun, sun and patio chats! Jeff and I made new friends and I got to catch up with old ones too. The weekend was a great reminder that what really matters in life are people! And no matter where life takes you, there are a few people that will always be apart of your life.

I am so happy and excited to see KB and Drew get married on October 1st! But more importantly I am excited to continue our friendship and experience all of life's big and not so big moments together!

Here's to a happy wedding day to you Mr. and Mrs. Speakes!

Cheaper Than Therapy...

A few years ago, I began running for all the wrong reasons. Along the way I found my inner strength and a new BEST FRIEND! (KB has been stuck with me since we were 4) Two full marathons and six half marathons later, I still enjoy a run. I joined a running club in Tulsa and met this out going, fun loving girl! Susie has become family. I love hers and she loves mine. Lita, her mom, jokes that I'm her "Gringa"! (I hope that is the right word)

                                                                   KB, Me and Susie!



Running not only helps me stay in shape physically, but mentally as well. My coach is 30 years older than me, but can out run me any day of the week! I love it! I wish Coach Judy would move to OKC! Susie, KB and I have also made running an excuse to travel. We have been to San Diego, Napa and Vegas together! People think I'm crazy for running, but it is cheaper than therapy. On our runs, we gripe, complain, gossip and help each other through the best and not so good of times. Now that I live in OKC, I miss my running buddies, but once again running brought a positive turn in my life. I have reconnected with a friend from high school and my "big sis" from OU! It has been so much fun! We are training for the OKC Memorial Half Marathon on May 1st!

                  

                                                              KB, Coach Judy and Me!



I always want to be faster, but I'm soon learning it isn't about the speed, but the will power to complete the race!

So here is to my 7th half marathon...everyone say 13 prayers on May 1st!!!

Favorite Quotes

I love quotes! They stir up many good thoughts for me! Here are a few of my favorites and a couple I borrowed from friends...

"Remember Who You Are"-Vic Clouse

"Let's hang half a hundred on them and go home!"-Barry Switzer

"Many things in life will catch your eye, few will catch your heart-pursue those."

"Well behaved women rarely make history" (Brandi Koskie's fave)

"If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger"-Steel Magnolias

"If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly" Vic Clouse

"Friends are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life"-Anon

"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker"-(Shawna Simpson's fave)

"In dreams and in love there are NO impossibilities."-Jane Arany (Amanda Kelly's fave)

"Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your sunshine!" (Devin Summerfield's fave)

" Many people hear, but few listen" (Jordan Formby's fave)

"Happy wife, happy life!" (Adam Thornton's fave...hope my husband is listening/0

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not carry you" (Jessica Tinney's fave)

"But you match..."

A few weeks before Sparky and I got engaged, we were talking to Mackenzie about where we lived.  I reminded her that I lived in Tulsa and Sparky lived in OKC. She looked really confused at us and said, "but you match!" We realized that Sparky and I began dating when she was about 18 months old and in her mind we had ALWAYS been together. It was so sweet. Of course Sparky thought I put her up to it, but I didn't. She is just one smart little girl! IT did work in my favor though. I told him if a 3 year old could see that we should be together, then we did! Well it worked! Sparky purposed on May 10th and we were married on Aug. 28th! Today we have been married 7 months. It has gone by so fast! Each day is so much fun and definitely a learning experience. I can't wait to see what life brings us next!

So here's to my great husband! I love you!

Mackenzie, Me and Sparky

Secret Millionaire

Sparky(my husband who refuses to be named in my blog) and I always joke about how we would spend (notice I didn't say SAVE) a million dollars. This money of course, would come from winning the lottery . (teaching is NOT going to make us rich) As we rattle off our list of luxuries we would buy, giving to a church and charity comes up, but usually as an after our "toys". Tonight as I watch, Secret Millionaire on ABC, my selfishness became very apparent to me. Now I'm not gonna lie, I would FOR SURE splurge, but I also feel like giving money to help others would be very rewarding. I am also reminded that giving money is not the ONLY way to help others. I have been meaning to find an organization to volunteer for and there is no time like the present!

So here's to paying it forward!

P.S. The show Secret Millionaire is really good.

Starfish Story

I read this story during my high school graduation speech. I still enjoy it today. I think of it often and I feel like the little boy as I teach everyday!

The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley


One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”
I made a difference for that one.”

ABC's of ME

ABC's of Me


- Available: for my husband, Grady, niece, family and friends
- Age: 30
- Annoyance:dirty finger nails
- Animal: Grady Lee

B
- Birthday: October 31
- Best Friends: Lauren, KB, Kim, Melissa, Susie, Luthey, Meredith, Tiger,
- Body Part on opposite sex: Smile
- Best feeling in the world: happiness...
- Best weather: sunshine and a slight cool breeze
- Been in Love: yes
- Been on stage: yes
- Believe in Magic: yes
- Believe in Miracles: of course
- Believe in Santa: Well, he comes every year, so yeah!

C
- Cake or pie: cake-well both really
- Country to visit: Italy
- Cheese: melted

D
- Day or Night: Night
- Dance in the rain: yes, and splash in the puddles

E
- Eggs: scrambled
- Eyes: brown
- Ever failed a class: almost

F
- Full name: Melanie Kay Weaver
- First thoughts waking up: I need to get up and get to boot camp.
- Food: Mexican

G
- Greatest Fear: losing my parents
- Goals: to be happy
- Get along with your parents: yes I do
- Good luck charm: my silky blanket, ladybugs, a pen that was my Gran's

H
- Hair Color: dark black
- Height: 5'6"
- Happy: happier than I could have expected
- Holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, St. Pat's, Fourth of July...I like to celebrate
- How do you want to die: happy

I
- Ice Cream: frozen yougurt twist from Braum's
- Instrument: haven't played since high school...so my ipod
J
- Jewelry: wedding ring, pearl ring from my Gran, ruby bracelet from my mom and dad
- Job: 4th grade teacher
K
- Kids: 27 and they go home at 3:50!
- Kickboxing or karate: Kick boxing
- Keep a journal?: my blog!

L
- Longest Car Ride: Atlanta on a band trip, 24 hrs...
- Love: comes in all shapes and sizes...I see it everyday in many forms!
- Letter: M
- Laughed so hard you cried: all the time
M
- Milk flavor: Chocolate
- Movies: Beaches, Love and Basketball, Steel Magnolia's
- Motion sickness?: Oh yes.
- McD’s or BK: McD's

N
- Number of Siblings: One brother, Matt, sister in law Anne, brother in law Tim
- Number of Piercings: 2
- Number: 15
O
- One wish: to be a great mom or atleast half as good as mine!

P
- Perfect Pizza: green peppers, pineapple and Canadian Bacon
- Pepsi or Coke: don't drink pop
Q
- Quail: matt and dad shoot 'em

R
- Reason to cry: memories, Hallmark Commericals, LifeTime Movies
- Reality T.V.: Yes!
- Radio Station: Sports Animal
- Roll your tongue in a circle?:no
- Ring size?: 7 - 8

S
- Song: Angel Eyes
- Shoe size: 9 1/2
- Salad Dressing: Lite Italian
- Sushi: cooked...yes!
- Skipped school: only a few times
- Slept outside: no way!
- Shower daily?: yes...twice
- Sing well?: Nope...was asked to lip sing before
- In the shower?: sing in the shower? yes...as loud as possible
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Both
-Time for bed: Usually somewhere between 10 and midnight
-Thunderstorms: Love them, when I'm sleeping and my dad is in the house
U
- Unpredictable: Every now and then

V
- Vacation spot: There are soooo many.

W
- Weaknesses: dessert
- Who makes you laugh the most: Mackenzie, Jeff and Grady
- Worst feeling: loss, failure
- Want to be a model?: only a model person
- Worst Weather?: when it's so cold outside it hurts and by this I mean below freezing

X
- X-Rays: not unless I have to
- Ex's: must have them to teach you what you want and deserve
Y
- Year it is now: 2011
- Yellow: sunshine, wreath on my door, color that makes me happy!
Z
- Zoo animal: Monkeys, elephants, flamingos