Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Finishing Touches
























































































































































It was a very uplifting Christmas Eve…All the family participated in bringing an ornament for
Mell's Memory Tree and I will cherish all of the ornaments until I get to go home with Mell !

I must say the family was very creative…from ski's for all the skiing trips Mell took them on….to Lighthouses and Moose for another trip…

How about the red striped swim suit, Joyce said Mell used to wear some just like them!

Mell's mom brought the angel with Mell #1 on it she has been putting this on her Christmas tree since Mell was a little boy.

The Little Red Cabin with the trees on the sides is from Helen and Paul …we stayed in their cabin the last summer we were in Alaska.

Our first grandbaby, Lexi she is so cute!

Footballs and Falcons! Airplanes and Lovebirds and butterflies…all of the ornaments hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of the family…we truly were blessed to have been a part in Mell's life and I am forever grateful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.


My son Robert shared a scripture out of Revelation for us, and how the accidental death of Mell
got him rethinking about his walk with God…His life has truly been changed!

Revelation 21

1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

This we have hope in…HIS WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE!...our real home is in heaven…this place is temporary!

He awaits his bride and that is His church…THAT IS Us who believe...Everything shall be made new! No more tears!…No more mourning or crying or Pain! Wow!

This is what keeps me going…I look forward to "Everything Made New"!

If you are not sure that heaven will be your eternal home…check out Mell's favorite book to give away…"You gotta read this book" Quote from Mell

go to: www.oneheartbeataway.org

you can give your address and receive your free copy! I KNOW MELL WANTS TO SEE YOU ALL IN HEAVEN!













































Sunday, December 19, 2010

Memory Ornaments



































































Already I have received many ornaments for my memory tree…The Star at the top of the tree is to remember how Mell shown bright….and the Snowman from my friend Debbie…who didn't know Mell but we say that her husband, Clyde, and Mell prayed us together, is to remind me of his gift of love to me….she said she wanted a snow angel…this was the closest she could find! I had to put this one on the tree because Avi thought it was hers!
A blown glass airplane from
my neighbor Lynn who did not know Mell but wanted to contribute…we met one day when I was
walking Avi and have become good friends.

The Alaska Bell is from out real-estate Lady Janice…what a blessing!

The Santa Airplane and the Moose and the bear came from Patty and Eric who bought our first
airplane we flew to Alaska…Patty and Eric said "In our hearts we know Mell would not want you
to be sad. So here are some happy reminders of the good times you & Mell had in Alaska!

Pauline who was in our small group at church sent the snowflake…she said"Mell like a snowflake
fallen and quickly gone, But also unique and beautiful, he was a precious perfect snowflake.
Gone but never forgotten, until we are together again in heaven!
and I add…Mell was one of a kind !

The brown cross is from Nancy and Russell from our small group …they shared that Mell's desire
was for his son and others to know the message of the cross…and just as Jesus laid his life down
for us all, Mell laid down his life for his son and the others on the plane.
Be reminded of Mell's presence with the Lord and the joy he is experiencing today and everyday!

Whoever gave me the white cross…?…"Believe says it all" Mell believed!

The next one is from Bill and Diane from our small group…they said " This would have been the first thing Mell would have stated to anyone so that they might share in the Lord's gift of salvation.
added by me….and you gotta read this book ! www.oneheartbeataway.org

Our friends Winnie and Leroy ….we met in Alaska…sent the angel….Mell has his new wings!


























Saturday, November 27, 2010

Greensboro Family Cemetery


















































































The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18

All I can say is the Lord was close to me today as I do not think I would ever be ready to
bury my sweet Mell's ashes. " The Lord Gives and the Lord takes away" "Blessed be the name
of the Lord" Job

I will continue to bless His name until the end…Nothing can separate me from His love…this
world may have temporarily separated me from Mell….but NOTHING can separate me from
the Love of God! and I hang on to that!

We had lots of support and love from all the family today…I am truly BLESSED…thanks to all…
and Thanks to Rebecca(5 yrs old) we now know what ellipsis is...

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Give Thanks








Florence Italy















Venice Italy










































Ragghianti Family Reunion
with some of my cousins
and Lucca Italy with my cousin Grazia
11/24/10


Regret, Remorse and Change...

Gen 32:3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”


Jacob was asking for favor....forgiveness...I believe he had regret over taking Esau’s blessing and wanted his brothers favor again.


I believe we must be sorry enough to be humble for a change.

be sorry enough to change.

Redeem what we can and release what you can’t change.


I have had to do some hard things..the hardest was to release Mell to be with the Lord...it has taken me weeks to write this.


I can’t change that he is in his eternal home...but I want everyone to be there with me and him!


Recently God has been dealing with me to change....to allow the Holy Spirit to be my comforter. I have been wrestling with Him that I need to comfort myself with my glass of wine. It is something we Italians love to do! Good Food and Good Wine!


He has said “ I will give you new wine”

Genesis 27:37
Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?

Pastor Kevin was asking “ What do you regret?” He went through a list of things....when he got to “it may be grieving the Holy Spirit”


(Earlier I had been reading a book called “The forgotten God” and in there it was talking about grieving the Holy Spirit. I began to think about “Grief” and the pain of it...it hurt me just thinking that I was hurting the Holy Spirit like the pain that I feel.)


Something inside of me just broke and I knew what the Lord was saying to me. I had grieved Him by not letting Him comfort me in my grief....This is BIG....because it has been three weeks now and I actually have PEACE in my pain....there is a calming in my spirit I cannot explain....My friends in the “Grief Share” group have even noticed it.


I believe that humility is one of the hardest things we learn in life here on earth.


We must humble ourselves before God...be sorry enough to Change.


What is it you regret? What is it you are wrestling with God about?


Repentance is “Sorry enough to change” Let God Bless you!


Give in to His Spirit...Jacob wrestled with God...Father God let him win...He blessed him...That is the kind of God we serve...a loving father...who wants to bless us...in my case He wants to be a comforter to me in my grief...Will I let Him?


What ever it is you are wrestling with...Will you let God bless you?

He leaves the choice up to you...


Give Him Thanks this Thanksgiving Day...for He is GOOD!



Jacob Wrestles With God

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[g] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”





Monday, November 22, 2010

Dirt Road


Here I am in Barrow County driving
a Transit bus(Flat nose) as they call it, down a dirt road.
I told Tammy this was the first time
I had driven a bus down a dirt road!
She couldn't believe it!

First Helicopter Flight








































































Mell's friend Ron took me up for my first Helicopter flight…it was Avi's first Flight! She loved it! A beautiful day around Stone Mountain and the fall colors were still bright!

Mell and I usually would do a fall color flight... so it was amazing and I felt like He was right there with me! I could never thank Ron enough…I really miss being up there with Mell …
I think flying makes me feel close to him somehow.

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Memory Tree



























This year I have decided to have an empty
Christmas tree…as my heart is empty without Mell.

I would like for all family and friends who want to
participate to bring a Christmas ornament in
memory of my sweet Mell. Something that may remind
you of him and what he meant to you.

The tree will remain empty and we will decorate
it Christmas eve at the family gathering.

I can't imagine Christmas without him…but its
gonna happen…and I just want all of us to remember him and what he meant to all of us.

You can write stories about him that I may not know about, if you like…and send them to me...I love this…it means soooo much to me…whatever you feel in your heart to do that will make it easier this Christmas without him for me and all of the family.

My love to all who loved Mell!

My address is 2379 Pine Stream Ct.
Lawerenceville, GA 30043