We went to Opryland Hotel for a night with mom and dad and saw this beautiful moving tree. Actually, her name was DaVine...clever, don't you think? She was lovely and actually put her chin on dad's bald head; I wasn't fast enough to get it on film. If you look closely, you can see her face on the second picture, she is upside down. We had a great time seeing the hotel and hanging out with Rodney's older brother, Richard. He was even cool enough to sing "Celebration" with us by Cool and the Gang. We were in the sound booth in Opry Mills Mall (kind of like Ontario Mills for those of you in CA). They put our microphones over the loud speakers so everyone could hear, it was like a dream come true for me, but Rodney and Richard weren't quite so happy about it. Unfortunately, Richard's daughter, Briana, did not come into the booth to sing with us, so I had to make sure that I embarressed her as much as possible. I told everyone over the loud speaker how she didn't want to come in to sing with us and if they wanted to meet her she was the one in the yellow shirt (it was awesome). Something about me and microphones, they just turn me into another person! I think I am like Elsie, I want to learn how to play the microphone too!
Well, Selah won't stop growing despite my best efforts. She is holding her head up a LOT and LAUGHED for the first time last week, at a stranger, of course. Since then, she has laughed at Opa (don't we all), but has yet to laugh for her beloved parents, who, might I add, feed her, cloth her, change her poopy diapers and love her more than life. Is it too much to ask for a little chuckle from your 3 month old? I mean really. Well, hopefully I will have more to report on that in the next month.
In other news, I have been cooking a LOT(quite well I might add). I wrote many of you for recipes and you were gracious enough to actually respond. I have set menus for the week, shopped for the ingredients and have made some delicious delectables. Hence, the picture of the cooking chicken...it tasted better than it looks, I promise. I also have been preparing to have guests over and want to make our place a little more welcoming. What could be more welcoming than a bed sheet on your table with a cut up scarf for placemats. Eat your heart out Divine Design. Hey, it was free and doesn't look half bad, I just hope my guests don't ask questions at what I put on the toilet paper roll. We live on a tight budget, emphasis on tight. It's been pretty fun rumaging through old clothes and boxes to see what I can use for things, I feel so resourceful. Rodney is getting a little irritated about not using detergent for laundry anymore, but I think he will get over it (just kidding, now that is just going too far, or is it).
I tried to get some cute pics of Selah in her pretty purple dress (that is size 6 months, mind you), but it was to no avail...well, one turned out ok. She has started talking really LOUD so I have been putting my hand over her mouth and patting it so she sounds very silly. Needless to say, it doesn't help. I can't tell if she is trying to sing or if she is just trying to tell me that she needs her cloth diaper changed. I think I will figure it out by the time she is thirteen.
The last picture I will put on is one that Rodney took on his hike (yes, I said hike). He and a friend went hiking up to Laurel Falls, a beautifully remote area 1.3 miles into the Great Smokey Mountains. However, they took more pictures of trees and water than I know what to do with. Apparently his friend is Ansel Adams; he knew how to use my camera better than I did.
The Coe life seems to be moving faster and faster, I wake up on Monday and I swear Friday comes along and hits me in the back of the head (I've gotta find a helmet). Our newest prayer request are nice chairs for cheap, so when we invite guests over they don't have to stand at our table. And I already asked Rodney if we could just cut the sofa in half and he said no. However, God did provide for us recently when Rodney realized that he was driving illegally. His birthday just passed which meant his license expired. With literally $23 in the bank we went to the bureau praying for favor. After I wrote the check for $16 I thanked God for being gracious and going before us like always.
"You are the God of the broken, the friend of the weak. You wash the feet of the weary, embrace the ones in need. I want to be like you, Jesus, to have this heart in me. You are the God of the humble, You are the Humble King."

We are so thankful to that Rodney is working at the Miracle because he gets in FREE to many of the
attractions in the area, which means mommy and Selah do too. Of course, we had to go to Dollywood and see
how Dolly was doing. The morning started off great, until Rodney decided to go get a coffe and
leave mom with all the stuff. The train came by, no Rodney. So, Selah and I pulled all of our belongings
onto the tram and went to the amusement park. Rodney joined us a little later, hence my happy photo.
Then I decided to take a serious picture next to a pretend memorial, later Rodney told me that
it was a REAL memorial. I felt kinda bad, but thought I could shed light on the fact that J.D.
Sumner is dead, many of you may still be in the dark. I am so sorry for your loss.
With Rodney's new job, we are just rolling in the dough, so he thought it would be a good idea to get a new car. That's right, folks! So, why did he pick and old one? Men, I will never understand them. Actually, that is just an old car 0f Dollys, she no longer needs them so she keeps them for others to see. I think it is very GREEN of her that she doesn't want to add them to the huge pile in the many garbage dumps of America.
Then we decided to go on a whirlwind tour of Europe (I told you we were rolling in the dough). It was really fast, but we got to see Italy (loved the spaghetti), Great Britain ( I practiced my accent), India (again, I know), and Ireland (so green). It was so fast that we were still in Dollywood by the time it was over so we decided that was enough for the day. Oh, but we had to get our little girl on at least one ride before we left. The calmest one we could find was the tride and true carosel. Selah doesn't look like she was having much fun, but she couldn't stop talking about it afterwards. Well, that is the summary of our trip. I will just add some fun pics to the side so you can see what else we have been doing. I hope you like our family portrait, it's not picture perfect, but neither are we.
One interesting thing that happened to us...when we got to Dollywood, I noticed that the tires on our stroller were completely flat (it was a jogger). I asked a lady if she could find someone to pump them for us...AND SHE DID. Talk about the kindness in the South. I think if I would have been at Disneyland, they would have laughed at me!
We have now found out that when you have a child, there is really nothing to do at an amusement park except go to the shows. I think next time we will have to give Selah to Oma and Opa and then trek over to see Dolly. Just in case you end up coming, Dollywood has a LOT of water rides, so be ready to get wet. What they do have that Rodney and I loved, was a craftsmen area. Men and women who are skilled in certain crafts like blown glass, leather, copper, ice cream (hey, that's a great skill) had demonstrations of how to make things in their craft. What an excellent way to teach kids and give them an opportunity to decide if that is something they want to try. I also got on the Dolly train, no not at the amusement park. She has a great foundation for kids 0-5 years of age who live in Sevierville, which I do. She gives one free book a month to every child who signs up and it is completely FREE! We are blown away at her generosity and the positive ways that Dolly gives back to her community. If you wanted to meet her, she will be in town April 11 (along with the rest of the world) to have her parade (Rodney will actually be in it). That's all for now!
"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits. The God of our salvation! Our God is the God of salvation; and to God, the Lord belong escapes from death." Psalm 68:19,20

Well, Selah found a new friend! It's herself, but she doesn't know it yet. It's pretty cute, she gets up close to the mirror and just starts smiling and laughing at this cute girl that she hopes will stick around. I am not sure if that means Rodney and I need to start working on another one or if I should just find some friends with kids! Someday she will have to find some new friends, but in the meantime this helps Mommy get a lot done around the house.
The other picture is of Mommy and Selah! I just love taking pics with my little girl and this was too stinkin cute not to post. It was pretty funny because Oma and I took her to her first Easter Egg hunt. Those things are crazy if you have never been. They actually have different areas for age groups so children don't trample each other, I am sure they found that out the hard way. We gathered up four eggs because she really couldn't care either way. Unfortunately, we got Mommy's least favorite candy, Maltballs (sick). I will post some other pictures on the side of Oma's great idea. Let's put the 3 month old by the very large air-filled chick and see if she sits up by herself. Well, needless to say, after she fell underneath the chick's rear end, Oma decided to help her sit up, it was quite funny.

Highlight Hoedown!

Well, my mother and I are at it again. 10 years ago I decided to use one of those boxed highlighting kits (you know, the ones with the caps). I was 18 and totally didn't have enough money to spend on a salon...so my mom graciously decided to help me. Well, I vaguely remember thinking, 10 minutes, that doesn't sound like long enough to color my hair and when I washed it, I looked like Marilyn Monroe...not too cool (unless you're into that sort of thing). SO, 10 years later I get the itch again and funny thing, I still don't have enough money to go to the salon...my mom graciously came over and pulled my hair out of the infamous cap for about an hour. We used the $7.50 hair color and prayed like you wouldn't believe. Now it is your turn to tell me if you think it worked. I think I look a little more like a hip mommy with a little lighter face. Hey, if I can't lose it on the hips right now, I want something to be excited about!

Life in Pigeon Forge TN,

Well Rodney, Selah and I are enjoying our new life in TN. Rodney has already started saying Ya'll and getting back to his roots. Speaking of roots, Selah is growing like a weed. She is only almost 3 months and she already weighs in at 13.5 pounds! I saw a 4 month old the other day and she was only 10 pounds, I think my daughter might be an amazon! Well, hopefully with her good looks that won't matter.
Rodney is working hard at the theater and having lots of fun doing it. He likes the people he works with and hopes that many people will come and see the show (that means you people who are reading this right now)!
Melanie is getting used to life as a mother (hence why I am making this blog). I want to keep in touch with all my friends and family and this way, I won't have to explain things 14 times to too many people, I can now say, check out my blog! That sounds so impersonal, I can't believe it.
I will be adding pictures and figuring this stuff out so be patient with me.