Author: Melissa Robinson

I would like to start off by Thanking God for the opportunities he places before us daily that we do not see or want to see.  This is my 2nd Sabbatical and time off is worth every penny.   Never ever thought I would leave Texas but I finally made it out of Abilene and to my new home and a very loving husband.   I do love it here…not sure still about living in town but I will get use to it.

Resting has played a big part this time for me, I have never watched more TV in my life than I have over the last 30 days just laying around catching up on all the TV shows I have missed out on.  Normally, I go through spirts where I want to read and can’t get enough then I don’t want to read for months.  I was really not in the reading mood but picked up the power of humility and began reading and would find I had read several chapters before I would put it down.   After reading this book, the power of humility I would love to hand it out to certain people (not work family but others on the outside)…although I look back upon the reading and realize I needed that myself there were a few chapters that kinda hurt and sure makes you stop and think about how you need to change your way of life or way of thinking.  Our 6 days working for the Salvation Army has really opened our eyes and hearts to the work they do for our school aged children as well as the homeless.  We plan to continue to work for them as we can…we did have a great praise come out of it all…Abby’s dad (Sandy) finally got a job and he was pretty excited. We saw him on Friday (our last day) he was tired because he works the 11pm shift and got up to bring Abby to eat so that she gets a meal and he told us all about his new job.  I could tell he was relieved to finally get some decent income that will soon be coming to him and his family. One day after cleaning up to leave a donation of eggs was brought in and as they were deciding what needing to be done the refrigerators where completely full with no place for the over abundance of eggs…I walked to the kitchen to ask what I could do and they had decided to freeze the eggs, what how in the world do you freeze eggs…well you crack them and whip (like your going to scramble them) and put into a baggie in the freeze and they can be frozen for up to 6 months.  Jeff counted and I believe we had somewhere around 60 dozen eggs.  We stayed to get this done so that the workers could continue on with their day.  Donate or give to the Salvation Army everything they do is incredible for our homeless and children.

Relaxing at the pool for several hours daily with hardly anyone around made for a wonderful time to enjoy the beauty God places before us each and every day and quiet time to spend reflecting on all that He has done for us. God placed Jeff and his family in my life 4 years ago and what a true blessing they have been.  I struggled one day and cried most all day missing my kids more than anything, Jeff left me alone to paint and cry just needed to let it all go.  I am ready to see my kids thank goodness for face time although it is not quite the same but it will do.  Kaylee is doing great she has already been to orientation and gotten her schedule put together for fall semester, I am very proud of her. Dillon is working hard every day but is starting his vacation  this weekend by taking a week long cruise with friends.

Honestly, I am ready to get back to work, I have enjoyed my time off with Jeff and all that we were able to do together.  There are never enough words to say Thank you but  Thank you Kris and board for allowing each of us to take this wonderful opportunity to get back on track.

God Moments: a year in the word – devotional that I began reading. I took a picture of on day and texted it to Elaine it reminded me of the Operations team.  Salt & Grace is the title for that day…Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone – Colossians 4:9

Power of Humility has been very powerful reading and I suggest this book if you have not read it to do so

I called into the office to talk to Zack to make certain my phone set up and call was working correctly since we finally had everything all set up before going back to work. He quickly worked to fix my computer that was not recognizing my keyboard or mouse. 15 minutes tops and back to sabbatical.

Yesterday (Friday) we began volunteering at the Salvation Army packing lunches/snacks for the kids.  This is the first time for the Salvation Army in Cleveland to put this type of program on. We learned there are 40 different places that put this type of program on around us to make sure that every child is feed.  The families have to apply for a grant which puts their middle school aged child or younger in this program where they get at least one meal a day.  Over this week the Salvation Army had any where from 4 to 21 kids that show up…yesterday we severed only 2, Abbey and Jacob. Jeff and I later saw Jacob, Allie (his sister) and Crystal (mom) help setting up for the Duck Race, which had to be moved the Cleveland High School due to the rain we were excepting. Jeff and I took Jacob and Allie and we put out signs around the school showing were to park.  Once we returned  back to the school the kids helped their mom blow up balloons an placed them around the racing and vendor area.

On Father’s Day Kelsey, Jeff’s youngest, stopped by for a visit she is a very busy young lady so she stayed about an hour. That evening his son, Jared with is fiancée Asia stopped by and brought smoked ribs and cornbread muffins, while I put together backed potatoes and baked beans for supper with the kids.  Ribs were delicious!.

Took a road trip to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg one day to purchase pickles (the best bread n butter pickles ever)…we called Jared/Kelsey (2 of his kids) and Raylene (his mom) to see if they wanted anything.  We struck out in Pigeon Forge so had to drive to Gatlinburg for pickles…once again we struck out, I cannot believe it, they always have these pickles.  Oh, well, we take off back to Pigeon Forge to the Apple Barn to purchase apple butter, apple donuts and relish for the family….donut machine is broken….needless to say the trip was not successful but enjoyed getting out of the house for the day.

The house is coming along perfectly we have one room painted completely and the living room is almost finished. I don’t think there has not been a day go by that we have not been to some kind of store to spend money purchasing things we need to help us complete our new and improved home. I have torn almost all the beautiful wall paper off the kitchen walls soon sanding and painting in there will begin one day.

I love it here in my new home town waking up to actual trees (cannot see miles and miles of flat land no longer), green grass, mountains and it rains from time to time!  Jeff has been a true blessing in my life along with his family who have taken not only me but my kids into their lives as well.  Thank you God for placing this man and his family in our lives!

It’s been very busy since I left Texas for Tennessee.  On Wednesday after work, I said my goodbye’s and headed out made it to Bossier City, LA to stay the night and up by 7am for breakfast and hit the road for a very long 9 hour drive to Cleveland, TN…my new home.  We unloaded my car, which by the way, I looked like the Beverly Hillbillies coming to town.  Jeff had dinner ready and we relaxed the rest of the night.  The next morning we began putting things away, which is still not all done yet. We went to visit his mom and helped her with a few things that needed done.   Friday, I began reading the power of humility by R.T Kendal and reading from our Book of Mysteries from Kris. We have been to town Friday and Saturday just trying to get things we need, groceries, etc.  Each morning we wake Jeff and I get in separate rooms do our reading and praying then come together to get our day started.  Today we are working on straightening up the office finding a place for me to work.

Things sometimes do not work out just like you plan…we had planned to help with the Ronald McDonald House in Chattanooga but that fell thru so we began talking, praying and listening to what we wanted to do…We went to the  Salvation Army and signed up to work with them…not only for the our Sabbatical but from now on. Our hearts tell us working with the homeless children/families are where we need to be.  We have the Duck Race coming up and every Friday night at our greenway they put on a free night for the kids with music and activities in which we will help do where ever we are needing for this.  We have planned to help a family or child in need of food or clothing, this has really been heavy on our hearts.  Looking forward to seeing what God has in store of us with the Salvation Army from here on out.

On with my day…