• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Big Mama

the big mama blog

  • Home
  • Meet Melanie
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Books
    • *New* On The Bright Side
    • *New* Piper and Mabel
    • Church of the Small Things
    • Nobody’s Cuter Than You
    • The Antelope in the Living Room
    • Sparkly Green Earrings
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Melanie Podcast
You are here: Home / Blog

Big Boo Cast: Episode 285

Diary

On this episode I have some deep reflection on all of last year's preparations for Caroline's freshman dorm room, and I do this because I started the process of moving Caroline out of her dorm room this past weekend. Suffice it to say: LESSONS WERE LEARNED. We also talk about the ramp up to Alex's high school graduation weekend (when Sophie was editing she wondered if she should use "Sunrise, Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition seis de Mayo

Diary

If you follow me on Instagram then you know that my week has been consumed by our master bed and bath project. We started the week by discovering we had a water leak in our shower and it's just been good times from there. The good news is I've had plenty of time to look online for cute clothes while construction workers have taken over my house. Here are some things I found: 1. bl-nk Read More

Big Boo Cast: Episode 284

Diary

There has been a lot of life in the last week: My home improvement situation has leveled up in a couple of significant ways, and senior year festivities have overtaken Sophie's life in Birmingham. So for entirely different reasons, both of us have been feeling some feelings. You'll hear all about that. We also continue our discussion of The Dress Situation, and it's Sophie's turn for Five Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition it’s about to be May

Diary

Well, hold on everyone because it's gonna be May. via GIPHY And we all know May is the December equivalent for spring. So many things going on, so many celebrations, so many last minute school projects. Plus, it's the last month to enjoy before summer comes to kill us all with the heat. That's a lot of pressure for one month to hold. Fortunately, I found some cute things this week. 1. Read More

Big Boo Cast: Episode 283

Diary

It's been a week-o-special-events for both of us, and on this episode we're going to talk about all of them. You'll hear about Perry and me getting all dressed up for a wedding, Sophie's quick trip to see college friends, and Alex's performance in Into the Woods. Plus, I have some exciting new skin care strategies to share. We're also going to discuss TV (it's Sophie's favorite coping mechanism Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition I’m waiting for April showers

Diary

You may not be aware if you don't live in South Texas but we are in a bit of a drought. And every day this week it's been overcast and unbelievably humid and, well, just gross. If this is going to be our new weather pattern then I, at the very least, need it to amount to some measurable rainfall. It doesn't seem like too much to ask. All that say, the old "March winds and April showers" Read More

Big Boo Cast: Episode 282

Diary

We're all over the place this week, so if you would like to hear about what's on sale at Anthropologie along with the snake situation at the ranch along with a round-up of some recent TV shows along with a story about some leggings, this is the episode for you. We also talk about my latest additions to her skin care routine. And it's Sophie's turn for Five Favorites. Only somehow she ended up Read More

Fashion Friday: Edition but on a Thursday

Diary

I'm posting this early because tomorrow is Good Friday and Caroline is driving in from school and I just want to enjoy Easter weekend with both my real and marshmallow peeps. Except I don't like marshmallow peeps. Anyway, here are some cute things I found this week: 1. just hold on white eyelet midi dress A lot of you have emailed and messaged me asking about dresses for graduation Read More

Big Boo Cast: Episode 281

Diary

We both had lively weekends - Parents' Weekend for me, a John Mayer concert and daddy's birthday celebration for Sophie - and you're gonna get a recap of all of the above. We have some thoughts about concert couples and late-night fast food and the sweetness of being with family. We also revisit the topics of doom piles and radishes, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Hope y'all Read More

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 350
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Who is Melanie?

Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

Sign up here!

Which is your pleasure?

Categories

Events Books The Big Boo Cast Diary Fashion Friday

The Latest on Instagram

And just like that, her first year at Texas A&M is And just like that, her first year at Texas A&M is over. ⁣
⁣After we moved her out of the dorm last weekend, we looked around the empty dorm room and she said, “This has been the best year of my life”. And because moms know these things, I can attest to that. ⁣
⁣
I loved Texas A&M as a student, but I love it even more as an Aggie mom. What it has given my girl over the last year has been beyond anything I even prayed for. The way she has grown in her faith, the incredible friends she has made, the professors and advisors who have guided her, the experiences she’s had, the Aggies beating Alabama at Kyle Field…it’s all been Ephesians 3:20 in action…more than I could ask or imagine. ⁣
⁣
When she left home at the end of last summer it felt like an ending, but what it has actually been is the most beautiful beginning to the future God has written for her. And it’s a reminder to me that the best prayer we can pray as a mom is, “God, this one is yours. You are the author of her story and I trust you to write an amazing one”. ⁣
⁣
Thanks and Gig’em. 👍🏻❤️

(Photo by @doubllel)
In light of all our construction issues this week, In light of all our construction issues this week, I felt like it was time for a special edition of grown up story time because I remembered I actually wrote about the poor tile job in our shower years ago in Sparkly Green Earrings. ⁣
⁣
This is when it pays to have a written history to help myself  remember I shouldn’t have been surprised by anything that transpired this week.
A friend texted me this photo the other day. It wa A friend texted me this photo the other day. It was taken my last semester at Texas A&M and I’m with a group of friends at a Wes King concert at Wolf Pen Creek. (Shout out to those of you old enough to remember what a gift Wes King was to Christian music in the early 90s.) I had recently found my way back to God after a long hiatus and wasn’t entirely sure how I ended up at this concert with some new friends who wore Jesus t-shirts, but was so grateful to be there because I felt content and happy for the first time in years. ⁣
⁣
The point of this picture is that if you look on the left you will see a young Perry Shankle with glasses wearing a white t-shirt. And if you look on the far right you will see a young Melanie Marino with an aggressive side part. I don’t think we even spoke to each other at the concert that night. No one would have put us together because we were complete and total opposites. And I like to think God laughed knowing what was ahead. ⁣
⁣
A year later, we started dating. And three years from just about the day this photo was taken, we were engaged. And currently, we’ve been married almost 25 years and are cleaning out the attic together today which is the height of romance. What I’m saying is dream big, kids. You never know what is waiting right around the corner, right in front of you, that will change your life. ⁣
⁣
Side note: If you look closely you’ll see that my friend Jen and I are sitting on a blue striped comforter. Perry still sleeps with that exact comforter every single night so what I’m saying is that on that night back in 1994, he had no idea he was with his future wife and a blanket he would treasure, lo, all these years later. God is good. ⁣
⁣
Also, as for the attic clean out, he informed me last night that he did own two horses when we started dating. That’s why there is a saddle in our attic. I had no idea.
Big night out for Mom and Dad tonight. ⁣ ⁣ We Big night out for Mom and Dad tonight. ⁣
⁣
We went to the wedding of the daughter of some dear friends and it was at the same church and the same reception venue as ours was almost twenty-five years ago. ⁣
⁣
We agreed we barely remember anything about that day. It’s all a blur. But we agreed we like each other more now than we did all those years ago when we had no idea all that our life together would hold.  And that feels like a win because I was pretty crazy about him then. ⁣
⁣
Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Glass! Loved celebrating with you. 💕
Here’s a confession: I hate waiting. I don’t l Here’s a confession: I hate waiting. I don’t like sitting in the unknown. I’m not sure any of us do. ⁣
⁣
The truth is waiting makes me feel anxious as I worry about timelines and what ifs and when I’ll have answers. And it dawned on me today that waiting is really the crux of Good Friday. ⁣
⁣
I think one of the most powerful moments in the Bible is when Jesus is on the cross and with a loud cry breathes his last breath. Mark 15:38-39 says, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”⁣
⁣
Think about that. The sky has grown dark, the earth begins to shake and then as Jesus cries out with his last breath, we learn that what has been an impenetrable, thick curtain in the temple - there to separate us from the Holy of Holies - tears in two. It’s powerful enough that this centurion, a battle-tested leader in the Roman army, witnesses it and realizes Jesus is absolutely who He claimed to be. ⁣
⁣
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the moments that changed eternity and gave hope when all was lost. The ultimate victory of good over evil. But there was also waiting. ⁣
⁣
The centurion may have realized that Jesus was the son of God, but everyone had to wait to see what that meant. They didn’t know the stone would be rolled away. They didn’t know the crucifixion was just the beginning of a story of hope and redemption. All they knew on Friday was pain and loss and darkness. They had to wait for Sunday and they didn’t even know what they were waiting for…maybe just a small sign of hope. ⁣
⁣
Don’t we do that? Question if He’s good or if He will come through for us? Wonder how things will work out when all seems lost? Is He who He says He is and what does that mean for our life?⁣
⁣
Here’s what I know. Jesus is the wonder our heart is waiting for. He is our peace, redemption, and salvation. He breaks strongholds, takes away our fear and shame, redeems what has been broken and lost. He does more in our lives than we even know to ask for. We are never so broken that He can’t restore us. ⁣
⁣
All that we wait for, all that we hope for…HE IS.
My first Aggie parents’ weekend as an Aggie pare My first Aggie parents’ weekend as an Aggie parent. Loved every minute with my girl. 👍🏻💕

The Latest on Twitter

Jenny Isaminger@JennyDawnTX·

I got to interview one of my all time favorite authors on the podcast this week and when I listened to the finished episode I had a "I can't believe I got to do that!" moment. Thanks for joining us, @BigMama and thanks for getting my Mary Katherine Gallagher reference. 🙂 https://twitter.com/RealHoustonMoms/status/1522222777549443075

Reply on Twitter 1522223383643049986Retweet on Twitter 15222233836430499861Like on Twitter 15222233836430499862
TexAgs@TexAgs·

Hey… @d1baseball.

You up? https://twitter.com/TexAgs/status/1518348186275954688

Reply on Twitter 1518349161283923968Retweet on Twitter 151834916128392396826Like on Twitter 1518349161283923968462

Follow on Twitter

 



 

 

 

 

 



 

Footer

Stay Up to Date

Which is your pleasure?

  • About Me
  • Speaking
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 · Website by Wordpress Barista

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmartiTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

iTunes

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

lifewayMardelBAM

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers
Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

cokesbury-buttonfc-buttonlifewayMardelTyndale DirectBAMWalmart

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.

Book Retailers

Book RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook RetailersBook Retailers

Order Yours Today!

Select an online retailer below.