is celebrating her birthday today!
8-19
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Melissa
I say this with all eight of my children, but it is so true! Someday as their children grow up the light will go on and they will say........ "I remember my mother saying this!"..... and it is this: "Close my eyes and I can remember as if it were yesterday that they were born. Today is the day I think of Melissa joining our family. I went into the hospital on August 18th and it took me a long time to remember her birthday was the 19th. Early on the 19th Melissa Ann Zinn entered this world to change the lives of our family forever!
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| My first born daughter |
Melissa changed the dynamics of our family when she joined our two sons, James & Scott.
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| JAMES, SCOTT & MELISSA Melissa loved her brothers and they loved her |
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| Melissa's 1st birthday |
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| Enjoying some summer fun at Aunt MiMi's home (yes, I am pregnant with Marnie!) |
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| Marnie joined our family just 18 months later and together they were the best of friends! |
together they created much excitement in our home
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| Oh how I love "MISSY"! |
Words cannot express all that my heart feels but I will try to share a few things.....
At Melissa kindergarden parent teacher conference the teacher told me that Melissa was definitely a leader in the class. She would do her work then go about helping others.
When I met with Melissa's 5th grade teacher he told me that Melissa was just an average student but she had GREAT DETERMINATION and with that she could do anything in life.
Melissa was such a good big sister. She cared for her younger siblings and was often their mother when I was gone or working. She worked hard and would take her paychecks to do things for her younger siblings. I would often pray that she would be abundantly blessed for the sacrifices she made in behalf of her brothers and sisters.
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| always there to support those siblings that were growing up |
Hard working she was! Melissa went to college and during that time she met and married her "eternal companion" Ryan Lough. Her education was interrupted to become a mother and what a fantastic mother she was. Kayla Lough joined their family then Trevor joined their eternal circle.
After a few years, Melissa felt the need to finish her education. It was not easy with two young children, a husband who was bishop and working part time but somehow some way she did it.
Go back to my earlier thoughts from her teachers in kindergarden and 5th grade!
Shortly before Melissa's last year of nursing school she found out another sweet spirit was to join their family. Most people would have quit or postponed the last year, BUT NOT MELISSA!
I was not there but my heart knew how hard it was for her. All I could do was pray for the sustaining hand of the Lord to be with her and their family and he was. We went to their home in May and had a double celebration.......
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| Savannah's blessing |
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| Melissa's graduation from nursing school |
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| Melissa receiving her nursing pen |
Melissa loves the Lord, loves her family and yes, loves life with determination and fortitude!
She has "just enough ATTITUDE" that has sustained her in life to be able to accomplish all that she has. She continues to go to school to after she received her RN and will receive her bachelors degree this May. She has applied for graduate school and will, no doubt receive her masters.
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| This past May Melissa ran a marathon in Indianapolis MELISSA is a wife a bishop's wife a mother a student at UV and in her "SPARE" time she runs! remember what that teacher said: "she has determination and can do anything she wants to do in life she has proven that well and no doubt will continue to prove that teacher RIGHT |
Along with that DETERMINATION comes a LITTLE ATTITUDE!
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| it was there as a small child.... |
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| and it is there now we LOVE it |
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| for her determination and attitude has made her strong as she adapted the phrase: I CAN DO HARD THINGS It is said "decisions determine destiny" I look forward, as Melissa's mother to watch her destiny unfold in her life. |
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA |
EIGHT "plus"is enough to fill my heart with love"
3 comments:
Hi!
I was one of Melissa's mission companions. Melissa was my companion when my mother passed away. It was one of the most difficult times in my life. With her usual abundance of compassion, she helped guide and sustain me. I remember droning on and on about things and she would patiently let me. Heavenly Father knew that I would need her when he put us together!
I hope she has the happiest of birthdays!!
Thanks for such a nice post. Trevor was sitting next to me looking at the pictures and pointing to a picture of you he said, "Is that you mom?" I said, "no, that is Grandma Barb." He then said, "Wow, I thought that was you, mom." I said, "who does that baby look like?" He said, "Savannah".
Marit;
I still have the letter you wrote me on your mission telling me how Melissa helped you! I hope you come back and read this.......
I have learned along life's way that Heavenly Father NEVER leaves us alone and when times are challenging or difficult there is someone in our life to help us along I am just glad it was Melissa :)
I hope yo are well
We are the sum of the experiences we are given in life.
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