Mela Kamin – What I Say in between Songs

What do you choose to surround yourself with? I choose LOVE. When I look around my home, I see lots of family pictures, art that makes me smile, quotes that inspire me and scripture that feeds my soul.
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When I saw that Sandy was hosting a Home is … Beautiful Art and Photography party, I had to join in! If you know me, then you know I LOVE photos. I love looking at them and taking them. I’ve learned a lot being the wife of a professional photographer … not enough that I could do his job, but enough that I get some pretty good shots myself sometimes. Having a professional in the family means that I get SPOI-LED with fabulous shots of our kids.
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Now, we just need the time to decide which ones we love and get them printed & framed. I noticed we don’t have many recent photos on the walls.
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I also noticed as I went around the house, that we have A LOT on the walls. I didn’t even go upstairs! This is just a smattering of our lives on the main level and downstairs.
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This was a wonderful exercise to do. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I really looked at those pictures and paintings. You get so used to your surroundings at home that sometimes the pictures just blend into the daily scenery. I’m grateful to have taken some moments to really see my family, relive memories, smile back at the pictures and pray for these blessings.
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This is a chalkboard frame that you see as you enter our home. I change out the verse every now and then. This one is my favorite verse – Isaiah 43:1 – a hug from God.
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Greg & I love Kinkade paintings. We have three (the others are a Victorian Christmas scene and San Francisco). This one hangs in our living room. Greg surprised me with it for my birthday/Mother’s Day many years ago.
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This hangs in the hall as you walk into our kitchen. I like these little collages of their early childhood. It’s fun to be able to display a bunch of photos that show their personalities.
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This year’s school pictures in a beautiful frame Greg’s cousin gave us … 3 spots – perfect.
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These photos line the stairway. Again – more personality and great shots Greg took.
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This is one of the newest additions – this I PRAY canvas I created with my youngest’s picture and lyrics from my song. I LOVE IT and want to do some more like that. Below that is a trio of our oldest when she was just 4, being extra cute for Greg at the studio.
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Here’s a photo wall in our family room.
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Here is a Jack Vettriano painting we have in our dining room. Greg picked it out.
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These framed prints are stencil art I created using PhotoShop. I love how they turned out and Greg framed them for me for Mother’s Day. He knows me so well – photos and art always make me happy.
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This one’s downstairs … I captured my oldest boy playing with the sprinkler when he was about 4 – I think it’s sweet.
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This is on a wall downstairs where we have some instruments and where our old keyboard used to be. When I made the transition to singer/songwriter, I knew I wanted this Martin Luther quote in our home. It reminds me of the importance of God’s Word and the gift of music He gave to us.
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I have this in my craft room.
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These are little canvases my oldest two created a LONG time ago. I have them hanging with this Learn to Fly metal art – they are also in my craft room.
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And, last but not least – this trio is in my laundry room. I love the photo of my oldest holding my youngest. And the chalkboards hold our KAMIN oath: Kindness first, Always love, Make others smile, Invite others to know Jesus, Never give up. The other reminds us, before we leave the door, that we make a choice WHOM we serve. I pray we make the choice to follow & serve Jesus in each of our actions – big or small.
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Well, there’s a look into what we surround ourselves with here at the Kamin house. Thanks, Sandy for hosting! Hop over to Sandy’s to see her lovely home and the others who have linked up.

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Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed . . .”

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Seriously? That must be other kids. I think my children will rise up and call me STRESSED.
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Lately, I’ve hung back, not saying much here because honestly, I was feeling irritated, frustrated, exhausted and yes, even angry – with circumstances, troubles in friends’ lives, the status quo, the magnitude of everything I have to do and the mounting list of what I want to do.
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Doesn’t sound like deep, uplifting content, does it?
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Well, I’m usually tempted to gloss over the problems and put on the mask of my “brand” – happy, joyful, carefree, filled with love, patience and other fruit of the spirit.
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I don’t want to use this journal as a place to dump what’s dirty in my life, but I don’t want it to be a reflection I don’t recognize either.
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Let me be clear – I know I’m blessed, even when I’m stressing. I realize how tiny & pointless my stresses are. Perspective lets me know I’ve got it SO good. But, that doesn’t minimize how BIG my struggles seem sometimes. The weight of everyday disappointments and my perception of others’ expectations is HEAVY.
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Things bother me, I have issues, I snap at my kids, I moan and groan in lumbering sighs every time I look around at what needs to be done.
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Truthfully, I waste time reading blogs and using Twitter & Facebook – trying to do “what’s right” – building my brand, upsizing my digital footprint, making connections. I have no problem with social media and the tools, but I didn’t have a good handle on my life before those arrived on the scene. Now, they took the place of other necessary activities and the possibility of me having free time.
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Free time is a thing of the past – I feel like I need to be using every minute to be visible or I’m a failure – ME, ME, ME – Hey, look at me! It’s self-imposed chaos and has turned into a prideful activity.
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• I read A LOT, but it’s usually not the Bible.
• I pray, but it’s often rushed and lacks a silence and depth I long for.
• I spend time with my kids, but it’s usually shuffling them from place to place and managing my ability to get “work” done with them around.

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I’m not shutting out the world – I’m usually shutting them out of mine.
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I need to say NO, so that I can free myself up to be able to say YES when God asks something of me. My stresses are red flags that tell me I’m disconnected from Him and those He’s put in my life.
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Blessings are God-made – Stresses are man-made.
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So, if you don’t hear from me for a while, it’s not because I don’t have anything to say – it might just be because I’m listening more.
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Shutting up is Biblical. Look it up.
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I’d be interested to hear what you think. Would you be called blessed or stressed?

I’m one blessed woman. Though what I’m about to show you is evidence of a celebration, it could be an average day here. You see, my husband is one of those rare men who cooks, cleans, gives me time to nap, get away or do what I like to do. He also works a full-time job, several part-time and freelance positions and volunteers frequently at church and school.
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I know – and you thought they didn’t exist.
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Oh and he’s smart, funny, handsome, well-liked and respected too. Yep. I somehow managed to marry the Holy Grail of husbands. I got to see him in top form this weekend … my birthday was yesterday and today is Mother’s Day.
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I get extra attention for two days and I love it. Yesterday, I even managed a short nap before my husband took me out for dinner & a movie.
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It’s the only two days a year where I don’t feel enormously guilty asking for something – usually not a gift, but for time. Sometimes I ask for time away – maybe to get a massage, go out with girlfriends; other times I ask for time for my kind of activities – writing, reading, sewing, crafting. And, other times, I want us all to be together – cuddling up and watching a movie on the sofa, or playing a family game.
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I don’t always get those things and often my day is still spent referring the fights, squabbles and bickering that comes with having a 10-year old, 7-year old and 5-year old.
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Speaking of . . . yesterday, as my kids jumped into bed with their homemade cards, cinnamon rolls and grapes, I asked them for peace. I asked them to be extra considerate of each other and nice so I wouldn’t have to raise my voice.
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It lasted for a few glorious minutes.
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Oh well – such is life with three spirited children.
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Still, I feel blessed to have a husband who tries so hard to make me happy – to see me smile and laugh. He goes out of his way on a daily basis to make me feel special and valued. That’s a gift that truly keeps on giving. We get busy in our activities and sometimes feel disconnected as we run in opposite directions for work, ministry and kids’ stuff – but when it counts, he’s there, going above and beyond for me, our kids, our family, neighbors and friends. The way he interacts with others and the way in which he loves our kids, shows his love for me.
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Sometimes I wish he’d just stop and sit down – my love language is quality time. He’s an acts of service guy, so sometimes he spends his time cooking and cleaning – and I know it’s more for him than me, but I can’t complain. I know how fortunate I am to have a husband who not only pitches in to help, but often takes on more than his share of the load.
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Mother’s Day is a reminder of what a fantastic partner I have. My mothering wouldn’t be half of what it is without him. He gives me the time to recharge when I need it and that gives me the energy I need and helps me be more patient (though I have a long way to go). He shoulders a lot of responsibility with our kids, which allows me to be gone and have complete confidence that the kids will be well taken care of. When a woman feels valued and content, that happiness trickles down to her children. His effort makes me a better Mom.
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He is amazing and I am unusually blessed.
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