Meet my family....

Since I will probably mention them from time to time as I write on this blog, I thought I would take a few moments to introduce the members of my family.

This is my wonderful husband, Dan. He is truly one of the most precious gifts God has given me. Dan loves God even more than he loves me, and that is what makes him such a blessing to me. He is presently a math and Bible teacher at a small Christian school, but for the first few years of our marriage he was a music teacher. He loves to sing and play french horn most of all, but does quite well on many different instruments, including piano, guitar, and bass. For over a year now, Dan has been speaking at a small Native American church, that does not have a full time pastor at the moment.

In the summer, Dan loves gardening, and spends just as much time as I do (if not more!) planting, watering, weeding, and picking. He also enjoys riding his bike – even on the bumpy dirt roads we live on! Lately, he has started doing some carpentry work, and has been enjoying learning that new skill. He is a wonderful father to our children and is careful to set aside time for them in the midst of his busy schedule.

Our oldest daughter Hannah is five years old. She is very conscientious and likes things to be neat and in order. She loves being a big sister and is especially enjoying having a baby in the house to hold. She is our little snuggler, and is always glad to cuddle up on the sofa for a few minutes. Hannah is having fun learning how to cook and also how to play the piano.

Sarah is our energetic four year old, with sparkly eyes and boundless energy! She is always on the go, but really, really enjoys doing puzzles and coloring, which surprises me, since those activities involve sitting still! She loves to be outside, but also enjoys helping in the kitchen, reading books, and helping with whatever I might be doing.

Daniel is 2 years old. After having two girls, it didn't take us long to figure out that boys were very different. As soon as he began to take notice of things around him, Daniel loved anything that had wheels – trucks, tractors, wagons, and especially the big combines we often see in the field. He already loves to be Daddy's little helper and will go outside with Dan anytime he can.

And this is Joshua, our very, very sweet little four month old. He's been a very calm and pleasant baby from the start, and you'll almost never hear him crying unless he's scared of something! He fits right into our busy little home, and loves watching everything that's going on around him.

- Melissa

Hello!

       Hello! I'm Melissa. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, and it's my prayer and desire that this would define who I am more than anything else. I'm also a wife and a homeschooling mom of four. I love being able to stay at home with our children and care for our home.

       I grew up knowing that more than anything else, I wanted to be a wife and mother. God has graciously granted that desire, and I am so grateful to be where He has me. I enjoy most of the things that I do as as a homemaker – of course there are those jobs that I don't enjoy as much as others – like cleaning and ironing! I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I guess, in general, I like to try new things, so if there's a way to make it or do it myself, I will usually give it a try! In my little bits of free time here and there, I crochet, read, play piano, and take walks with my husband. In this season of my life, though, most of my time is devoted to my children and my husband, and I am thankful to be able to give my time to them. My husband and I really enjoy having people over to our home, and we try to invite others over as often as we can.

         I grew up on a dairy farm in central Pennsylvania. It was a simple, but full life. I am the oldest of six children, with four younger brothers and one little sister. My mom stayed at home with all of us, homeschooling us through most of our years of school, and my dad worked hard and faithfully on the farm. I have many fond memories from my childhood of going on long walks with Mom to wherever my Dad was working in the fields, playing in the nearby creek, helping with farm chores, like milking and feeding calves, and playing outside (lots!) with my brothers. Our home was a pleasant one – not perfect – but good in so many ways. My parents both loved the Lord and were committed to training us to love and serve Him. I remember praying a very simple, childlike prayer, when I was four years old, and asking Jesus to come into my heart. I had dome something unkind to one of my younger brothers and I remember, quite vividly, knowing that I needed someone to help me – to change me.

         As I grew older, there was, indeed, much that needed to change and grow in my young heart. There were also hopes and dreams, that I believe God placed in my heart, that I would pray over and pursue. One of those dreams was to do some kind of mission work, and when I was 20, I had the privilege of spending a year in an orphanage in Ghana, Africa. It was a wonderful experience for me in many ways, and I learned a lot through it. There were also mistakes that I made, and God would use those to teach me and work in my heart in profound ways.

        As I said before, my greatest desire had always been to be a wife and a mother. When I was 23, I finally began dating the man who would later become my husband. Maybe sometime in the future I will share in more detail about how the Lord brought us together, but for now, I will stick to a shorter version! The wait for marriage had often seemed very long, and God had many lessons to teach me, and much work to do in my heart before I was ready to be a wife and a mother. Looking back now, I can see at least some of the reasons that God allowed me to wait longer than I wanted to! When I met Dan, it didn't take me very long to figure out that he was passionate about loving God and serving him, and that was the thing that drew me to Dan more than anything else. After a short time of dating and engagement, we were married on August 12, 2006. 

         

 Since then, God has blessed us with four children and has taken us on a journey together that has included four different homes. Our last move took us from a rural part of Pennsylvania to a VERY rural part of Montana, where we live now. My husband is a math and Bible teacher at a small Christian school. We are also involved with a small Native American church, where Dan fills in as a pastor, as the church goes through the process of prayerfully seeking a full time pastor.

Join me on my journey as I share my struggles and joys, the lessons God has for me, and the way he is working here!

-Melissa

On my heart......

        For the past few years, I have kept a blog for our family at danandmelissamarasco.blogspot.com. It is full of pictures, mostly of our sweet little ones.  It has become somewhat of a family journal and a way to share what we are doing with our extended family and friends, most of whom live far from us.
       Recently though, I've had the desire to share more than pictures. I'd like to use this blog to share what the Lord is doing in my life, lessons He is teaching me, and things that He has laid on my heart. I've never considered myself to be a gifted writer, but I usually find it easier to write my thoughts than to speak them.  I've asked my mom, Susie, who also enjoys writing, to join me.
      It is our prayer that you will be blessed and encouraged as we share what is on our hearts.

- Melissa