The Olive Tree

Woohoo! I actually uploaded some of my newest art...see my Olive Tree blog!!!

LONG TIME NO BLOG!

My sweet niece, Maddie and her crazy friends. Bear is in there too.

Oh to be 10 again!!! My niece turned 10 a few weekends ago. 10!!! I remember when Jen told me she was pregnant. I was a niave 17 year old at the time. We've been through alot in just those 10 years. We've added precious family members and lost some irreplacable family members. I would have never sat down as that 17 year old and pictured the life the Lord had planned for me. I would have NEVER imagined what 10 years would bring. I count my blessings and pray for strength. I recount my favorite verses for motivation and pray for Jesus to come quickly. I am seeing what it truly means to "run the race," to "wait with expectation," and to "lean not on my own understanding." I so long to tell Maddie, not to mention, my sweet Toby (4 yrs. old) and Bear (7 months old) what it means to love God. To REALLY LOVE God...To celebrate each moment just because God gave it, to find contentment in all your circumstances and to truly be thankful. Please ladies, find a way to perfect this and reveal it to your sweet loved ones, and then, TELL ME HOW! Wouldn't that be the ultimate?!
I mean, look at them...

Daddy and Toby
Mommy and Bear

I am surely lucky. Man, they are funny! I really need to write down the stuff that comes out of Toby's mouth these days. I need a permanant video camera for sure. This weekend at Maddie's birthday party, the kids put on shows. Remember when you used to do that? You would plan it all out in the back room and then proudly march in the living area to show the grown-ups. When did I become a grown-up? What a funny thought! I guess that's where 10 years gets me - Happy Birthday Maddie!!!!

Toby's debut performance!

Toby had his very first program! He had to stand in front of people and sing songs WITH movements - the whole 9-yards! Knowing Toby as I do, I knew this was going to be interesting to say the least!!!!

Escuse the camera work. Very shaky! It was our first time. In this first clip - (Toby is wearing a brown polo with blue stripes) He literally covers his face and shakes his head! Bear makes his vocal debut in this clip as well.


Toby's Program from Melissa Hendrix on Vimeo.

In this clip - he just decides to turn his back on everyone! This is classic!


Toby's Program 2 from Melissa Hendrix on Vimeo.

That's what friends are for...

I am making a point to write a normal, non-depressing blog. Balance is healthy! And I count myself fortunate when I examine my life and the ladies I am honored to share it with. I must declare proudly (and somewhat arrogantly) that I have the BEST friends ever known to man.


It starts with my girls from childhood - Britt and Emily. I have had the pleasure of knowing Brittainy for, I'd say, over 20 years now. I remember blazing through the '80s in excellent nerd fashion with that girl. We have since gained a sense of style and full-blown families to boot. Britt has twins that Toby absolutely loves. She is one of the only other women that can make my Toby shake in his boots! She has that boy in check! More power to her! She'll need that firm hand this summer while he is terrorizing her house from 8 to 5! Love you girl!
Then, there's Emily. She expanded me and Britt's dynamic duo and brought some new excitement. Never a dull moment with that girl! She was a wild child through high school and we got into more trouble than I will EVER admit! You'll never get it out of me! Promise Em! Now it's hard to recognize that girl with all her "baggage" - I say that lovingly. Emily has 3 of the most beautiful kids! Man, when did we grow up? It's such fun! And we will have to continue to take trips to the zoo with all the kids! How stinkin' fun was that? What a ride?!

ALL the kids, plus some nephews

Then, we move on to the "college friends" - as Britt likes to refer to them. Dallas Baptist sure did produce some of the best woman! These are the women I am growing old with. We are breeding like the end is near and laughing like we don't care. Every moment with these women is a JOY. Angelique, Cathy and Kassie are my prayer warriers and my strength in hard times - and we have shared many a hard time. We also, however, are able to revert back to teenagedom in less than 60 seconds. It's a proven fact. They are my good balance of common sence, godly wisdom, and just plain fun. I was more of a guys girl before these women. Always thought girls involved entirely too much drama that I wasn't willing to take - then these ladies came along.


Above from L to R: Me, Kassie, Angelique and Cathy


Then there's the fab 10! Yes I said 10! With the 3 girls mentioned above, then throw in a few of our suitemates and some volleyball players and you have the most down to earth, loving, easy-going women I have ever met. Among the 10 of us, we have 14 kids! Yes 14! And I CAN name them all! Not in order of age though. It's humorous actually. No wonder we need girl time! I went from childhood with 2 close friends to adulthood with a whole slew of wonderful women lifting me up daily! I count my blessings for sure.

Above NOT pictured: Lana and Kassie

Not done yet! We can't finish up this blog without acknowledging God's impecable purpose in placing me at this church (where I am the Financial Secretary) in His perfect timing. I am surrounded - and I mean surrounded by wonderful women who are currently my crutches. I am struggling with each day after the loss of my mother, and in every weak moment I see the loving face of sweet Janelle or Melissa or Michelle or Krystal or Jennifer. The list is endless! I am in awe of the warriers I have struggling in prayer for me and crying sincere tears for me and with me. Sweet Janelle and Michelle get an earful on a daily basis and I will always look back on this hard time in my life and remember their sweet words of encouragement. I love these ladies and look forward to sharing many seasons with them.

Above pictured: Krystal, Lib (holding Bear), and Janelle

Above pictured: Krystal, Melissa and I

Out of the mouths of babes...

My 3 year old is nearing 4 years of age! His birthday is in June and he is getting so much wiser in his old age. Tonight he sang me a song that floored me...It goes like this:
What a mighty God we serve.
What a mighty God we serve.
Angels bow before Him.
Da na na adore Him. (He didn't remember this line too well)
What a mighty God we serve!
I can't say why this particular song has had such an impact on me other than the fact that I am struggling with the recent loss of my mother. I had previously written about how ill she was and on April 22, the Lord took her (at the young age of 57) to be with Him. Writing this seems so surreal. I am still picking up the phone to call her only to realize I can't. I am still laughing at jokes and thinking, I can't wait to tell mom that one. It just isn't real yet. People keep asking how I am and I in turn reply, I'm good. I keep saying that the Lord is sustaining me, and I assure you He is. BUT, when Toby sang this song to me in his innocent voice it hit me like a powerful sermon. We DO serve a MIGHTY God! The SAME God that healed the blind, that parted the sea, that walked on water, that brought Lazarus back to life...the very SAME God. I have read Isaiah 40 and Psalm 104 enough times to know we serve a BIG God. He holds the nations like a drop in a bucket. So WHY then is saying I am sad an understatement? I feel alone...like a part of me is missing. I guess it's all part of the mourning process and I hear how depressing I sound. I don't mean to put this out into the world to make everyone sad, or gain sympathy...honest. I just desire to deal with this, and quickly. Whatever can make this process more healthy or less painful...I want to try it. I've heard it said that writing things down is good for the heart, so hear it is. My mother was a WONDERFUL woman. She had a childlike mentality, and literally, wouldn't hurt a fly. She loved unconditionally and it was a good thing because I gave her heck when I was a teenager. She, along with my sister, have become my best friends and I knew her as well as I know myself. She knew me better than I know myself. She was a wonderful Nana! She loved Toby and desired to get to know Bear with all her heart. I thank God for allowing her to be present at his birth and now I thank God for giving her peace and healing her by taking her to be with Him. She is much happier and it DOES comfort me to know that if given the choice, she wouldn't choose to come back. She is healthy now in her beautiful heavenly body. And, I await the day I will meet her there. Until then, I am forever changed and forever humbled by this experience. People say to cherish your loved ones while you have them, and it goes in one ear and out the other. Well, I am getting busy cherishing.
God is still walking me through this season and I am learning. I am taking it all in and will be a better minister because of it. People in Africa deal with loss everyday. I feel so deeply for them and do not claim to relate to them. I can not wait, however, to minister to their innocent hearts stuck in a world wrought with despair.
Praise the Lord for hope in Him! Praise the Lord for 3 year old wisdom! Praise the Lord for life after death!

The men in my life...and Maddie!

Sweet Jeremy and Bear
Silly Nick, Tyler, and Toby
Me and my Maddie Paddie










The good Lord has only blessed Jeremy and I with 2 children of our own, but pictured above are my sister's precious children as well. Jennifer (my sister) has gifted our family with 2 amazing boys - Nick and Tyler, and the Oh SO talented Madelyn. The Hendrix family will not be attempting to add to our family of four, but when I watch Jennifer with her 3 children, I am overwhelmed with respect for women who take on 3 or more children of their own. What a gift! What a challenge! I start to sweat just thinking about it. My dear friend, Brittainy, whom I have known and loved for a good 20-something years now, just announced she is pregnant!!! Yeah! But, she already has twins and my mind panics with the thought. But, Brittiany never hesitates to load her car up with her twins, my Toby, Jen's 3 kids and her nephew to go to the store, to dance class, or to the Arburetum for goodness sakes!!! What a mad woman! She is amazing and I thank God for gifting women like Britt and Jen with the amazing talent of caring for their amazing children and doing it with excellence. My hat goes off to all of you mothers of many!!!!

Britt's twins, Kenna and Avery, with Toby

When it rains...

Well...I am beginning to eat my mommy words...the words I say to my son, Toby, at least once a day..."You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" (Can't coin this saying - my son actually learned it at Kids Day Out and taught it to me - he regrets that now.) Anyway - I am officially attempting to take that advice myself, yet at times - failing miserably.
My husband and I have entered a new season with God and the Almighty has yet to quit filling our cups...with blessings, YES, Always, But more so, with TRAGEDY! I am near throwing my hands to the sky and yelling, "My cup runneth over Lord, are you done yet?" I haven't done so yet, but I am tempted everyday!!! Please allow my drama here...

MY MOTHER...was diagnosed years back with Hepatitus C, which she got from a blood transfusion she received when birthing me, which has recently elevated to Cirhosis of the liver - both are uncurable and she has been on experimental chemo-like treatments to put the disease in remission since July in order to be put on a transplant list. We recently received the news that the treatments are not working and she has been completely taken off of any treatment for her condition. Where does that leave us? - at the mercy of God (no better place to be, I might add). The treatments took any quality of life she had left, and she doesn't even have the energy to walk to the bathroom, but that will hopefully return quickly now that she will no longer be on them. We are waiting with faded breath and I am so proud of her and her amazing spirit - she's definately teaching me a few things.
NOW FOR STEVE...My father-in-law had a sudden siezure one night in September while sitting down to eat his dinner like he did every other night. The ambulance came and he was rushed to the hospital, where he was put in an induced coma to stop his siezing. While there, they found a brain tumor which has now been operated on twice. We have become very used to hospital stays and I now know Presby Plano like the back of my hand. He has been in rehad and has progressed amazingly...his speach, his eyesight, and comprehension have been the main obstacles other than the continued siezures. We have a long road ahead of us, so there is no time for discouragement, but to stop and think about how life changed for our entire family one night during dinner in September is overwhelming. It seems surreal at times. We're living with Pam and Steve now, and I can't imagine how Pam would do it without the constant interaction with us and my 2 precious children. Steve is a champ though. He's trucking right along with this rehab deal and I can't say he's enthused about it. How frustrating it must be to relearn how to communicate with the people you love the most. We've gotten really good at Sharades though.
CASEY (pictured here in the very back)...My sister's ex-husband's sister - a sweet little girl born with a heart and lung deformaty of some sort (I never fully understood the details) passed away last week - the week of her 19th birthday. Her little body was tired and the Lord knew she wouldn't make it through a transplant and decided to take her. I was always amazed with Casey and how loving she was - since I am self-declared an awkward hugger. She would have scooped me up and held me in her lap if I had let her. Typing that makes me smile at how accurate those words sound. She really would have. I'll never forgive myself for squashing that sweet little girls hopes and dreams, when I declared as a stupid 17-year old, "We ALL know Santa is NOT real!" Well, needless to say, we ALL did NOT know that!!!! Sweet little Casey is now at the best party in the world (and in good company), but we miss her already.

The least of my worries is my own ailment. I am a month from having given birth to a beautiful baby boy and yet thought I was giving birth all over again last Thursday night when I made my husband take me to the ER. Come to find out, I have a kidney stone!!! Who even knew a 27 year old could get a kidney stone? Evidentally they are common after pregnancy. Needless to say - I am chugging 2 liters of water a day - that's harder than I thought it would be. Poor Jeremy. He's got his hands quite full.
So here we are in a difficult season and I find myself rushing to my quiet time to renew my strength. Recently, I was reminded that the Lord takes my right hand and wispers to me, "Do not fear. I will help you." (Is. 41:13) Praise the Lord!

Creative Side...

Welp - I am exploring an outlet for my creative side. I have invested in wooden crosses, canvas, paints, scrapbooking paper, modge podge, brushes, wood glue, beads...you name it. I am enjoying myself tons, but would like to make money eventually - of course. Isn't that everyone's goal - to make money doing something they love? I am struggling to think of a name for my make-shift business, build an inventory and create a website...so I have my hands full. It would help if I were technically inclined, but as it is, I struggled to attach these pictures to the blog myself. I've got a long road ahead of me and not enough time to devote to it. That's the problem with hobbies...never enough time. I keep telling my husband I need to quit work and then the money will just roll in. He does not, however, share in my confidence. So, I'll keep working away and post my success story later down the road.

Then there were 4...

Titus Bear Hendrix was welcomed into the world at 7:23 PM on February 1st! We officially have completed the Hendrix Family! It was my final pregnant experience, and I am still trying to decide if I cherrished every moment properly. One thing is sure though...I am cherrishing every moment now. I forgot how little a baby is and Bear is a wee 8 lb. 6 oz. baby boy... in comparison to his brother's 39 lbs. It's been 3 1/2 years since we've done the baby thing and we are relearning everything. Bear is a good teacher though and Toby is an amazing helper, so we are all set. I am trying to take in every bit of loving and quality time I can while I am on maternity leave. Hard to believe we've already been home together almost 3 weeks. It goes too fast and the thought of not being with them every minute of the day makes me ill. The Lord will work those kinks out though in time for April. I am confident of that.