Tears & Smiles

As you all know tomorrow will be 3 months since Melisa has passed and I miss her everyday! The other day when I was riding down the road a sweet memory of Melisa came back to me.

I moved home 2 weeks before having my son, Cash in 2006. Melisa was so busy with the baby store, we didn't get to see each other much so one day I decided to drive to Starkville and surprise her. I checked with everyone to make sure she was working that day and Cash and I took a road trip. We got to the baby store around lunch time and I parked in the back. We walked up to the front and lucky when I was walking in the store she had her back turned. As we walked in she turned around to say "Hey, how are you today" and half way through the sentence, she realized it was me.. I think both of us were brought to tears and so happy to see each other. All see wanted to do was love on Cash... I know I stayed all day just talking and catching up. I will never forget the tears in her eyes and the smile on her face when she got to see us that day.

I miss her dearly and think about her everyday!

-Meghan Eldridge

A few things I remember...

I think of Melisa everyday! I have a picture of Boo, Aidan and Melisa on my dresser (Which was a Christmas card) and I have the earrings she gave me, hanging on the picture, from when they got back from Russia with Aidan. They are so pretty and of course she got me pink, my favorite color. I miss her dearly and tend to cry every time I think about her. I remember a few funny things about working at Rain or Shine with Melisa.
Pebbles, everyone remembers Pebbles.. That bird was so attached to Melisa and somehow when she opened the kids store, Pebbles got attached to me.. He would follow me around when I would clean the beds. I swear he was a dog at heart. Melisa would laugh every time she came in the store because Pebbles was usually right beside me or on me.. ha!
I remember when I was pregnant working at the tanning bed, She would always laugh at me because I ate so much.. When we would order sandwiches from down the street, she would be sure to say "she wants a WHOLE not a HALF sandwich, she's eating for TWO" :)
Melisa was like my second mom and I love her dearly! She was a wonderful person and I know God put her in my life to make me the woman I am today!

Love you Boo and Aidan,
Meghan Eldridge

When I think about Christmas and the Matthews family I always think about Mel's collection of Radko (sp??) ornaments...she has SO SO many and they are all so beautiful and magical feeling! I was able to help Aidan decorate their tree this year and it was so special to put all of Mel's ornaments on the tree.

-Kenley

Sweet Impression

I personally do not know Melisa very much. However, she has left sweet, long-lasting impression in my daughter's heart. Grace, my daughter, was in her Sunday School (SS) class when we first visited Starkville First United Methodist Church several years ago. Grace loved Melisa as her SS teacher; Melisa always welcomed her back even though Grace was only a visitor. Grace was sad when I broke the news about Melisa's passing. Yesterday Grace asked if she could come to the visitation. So, she and I went (and the rest of my family). Grace looked at Melisa for the last time and said, "Mommy, we will see her again in heaven". Yes, indeed. All of us who believes in Jesus will be reunited with Melisa one day ...

Sandra Woolfolk

Prayers are with you from Jumpertown United Methodist Church

Boo,

I just want to know you and Aiden are in our prayers at Jumpertown Methodist Chruch. We know you are very special to Bro. Jason and his family. Our church family is here for you. May God Bless you through this very hard time.

In His Name,
Amy Moore
Jumpertown Methodist

Melisa was one of our son's Sunday School teachers. He always enjoyed the days she taught; he said she was a good teacher. We've prayed for her during her battle with cancer. On Sunday, as we discussed her death and all that it means for her and for her family, Ben shared his thoughts on it. He said something like this... "I think it's neat that Mrs. Melisa died and went to heaven today because today is JOY Sunday." (On the the third Sunday in Advent we celebrate the Joy we have in Jesus.) He continued, "And we've been talking in church about how joy is deeper than happiness and how we can have joy even when we aren't happy... so it is neat that she gets to go to heaven on Joy Sunday." I've enjoyed getting to know Melisa and Boo through our VBS program, and so appreciate her giving to Ben and other kids through our children's ministry at FUMC. She had a special way with the kids. And so does Boo! We will continue to pray for you and Aiden.
Linda Griffith

God Bless This Angel!!

God Bless Melisa!!

Boo & Aidan, our prayers and love are with you!!

Will & Stephanie Arnett