Christmas in November?

Even though it seems that Christmas started the day after Halloween this year, these cute boys are still celebrating the FALL and THANKSGIVING!


What is it about our culture that makes Christmas seem earlier every year? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and everything that goes along with it. But, for me, we won't be celebrating until December. I can't wait to start some new traditions with my family. Wait, maybe I can wait. Maybe that's why Christmas seems earlier...we just can't seem to wait! If you're Christmas tree is up, good for you. It just won't be up for a couple more weeks at the Melton casa. Also, we've noticed that Rockwall starts their decorations MUCH earlier than Tyler ever did.

In other news:
- God is good!
- We are closing on our house! Can I get a "WOOHOO!"?!? We should be signing our closing papers tomorrow. The whole ordeal was just awful, and, as I said on facebook, "Assertive Alissa emerged"! Once we got the broker involved, it was amazing that things actually started happening. He admitted that we were fair in the way we were trying to handle everything and basically told the buyers' realtor that she had to put a stop to what she was doing. It was an eye-opening experience of the greediness and shady way that many in this world handle business.
- God is good!
- Through the house-selling experience, I was reminded of how important our advocates are for us. Our realtor was just not advocating for what was best for us, but really what was best for the buyers and himself. He kept saying, "It's a buyers' market. You're going to have to give." We gave and gave and gave until we had enough! In reality, he was just afraid of the buyers walking and him not getting the sale. Aren't you glad that Jesus wasn't looking out for his own interests when he decided to advocate for us? I am so thankful that the PERFECT, faultless King of Kings is sitting at the right hand of God advocating for us right now through His Spirit. He knows what is best for us, and that is righteousness. Praise Him for clothing us with His own!
- God is good!
- Greg got a wonderful new job in Forney, which is just a little south of Rockwall. It really seems to meet our family's needs perfectly right now. We will probably never live in Forney, but it's not a bad drive, especially from the south side of Rockwall (Heath). He will start Tuesday, December 1st. His last day at his current job is tomorrow. Clay, his current boss, has been incredible to Greg through this process. I am thankful for his and his family's integrity and support during this entire process.
- God is good!
- We will be flying to California tomorrow, then to Maui on Sunday morning! I. CAN. NOT. WAIT! Looking forward to spending time with my sweet husband, my sweet boys and my sweet family. What a perfect Thanksgiving!
- God is good!
- The 10-year anniversary of A&M's bonfire collapse was at 2:42 am today, November 18th. I can't believe it's been 10 years. I really can remember it like it was yesterday. I was sleeping in my apartment when I got a 3am call from Kristi, the Phi Lamb president. (Phi Lamb is a Christian sorority that I was a part of my freshman and sophomore year.) I was the prayer committee chair that year, so she told me immediately that bonfire fell, many were hurt or killed, and that I needed to assemble a team to start praying. What an experience. I was on campus before sunrise...just sitting in silence and praying. The unthinkable had happened. I can't even explain the mood of campus that day and the many weeks that followed ... silent...slow...surreal. You were even afraid to laugh thinking it was inappropriate. There were many prayer services, and the gospel was shared! Hearts were soft and open to Christ and His comfort. They had still detected movement at the bottom of the stack into that night, indicating life. Then, it suddenly stopped. Little did I know that the precious person still buried was Miranda, a sweet, bonfire-obsessed girl that lived next door to me in Mosher Hall my freshman year. She was a really neat, fun person to be with. What a hard time that was for me and all of the Aggies and families dealing with such great loss. TWELVE Aggies died that morning. People say that the "Aggie Spirit" prevailed, which I don't disagree with. But, more than that, God's Spirit prevailed and many turned to HIM.

- God is good.