Worth

So…it’s been way too long since I’ve had a coffee date with a friend withOUT having to chase a little girl around the confines of a Starbucks.

I am, in fact, dying for some girl time and a good cup of coffee, but I guess that will have to wait a bit longer. Tonight, I’ll have to settle for a mug of java and writing to you all from my couch. At least the girl is in bed, and I am semi-able to tune out the Packer game. 😉

It’s been kind of a funky weekend.

We thought we had plans to go

look at a couple cars yesterday morning, but those changed so we ended up having nothing to do. Around 11, Tobin asked if I wanted to go to St. Charles for lunch, and I immediately jumped at the chance. (There are some of the coolest places to eat there…and, truthfully, I was dying to do something.)

So we hopped in the car and drove 30 minutes…only to find this.

People everywhere, not a parking spot to be found…or a free t

able at a restaurant, for that matter.

We turned around, went through the McDonald’s drive-thru (for Tobin and Mae…I ate a Clif bar ;)) and went home.

Fail.

Thankfully there was a bit of redemption to the day.

We had hired two babysitters to come watch Mae that night so we could go to an event that our church organizes called What’s For Dinner? Basically, couples are randomly assigned to groups throughout the year and take turns having dinner with different people. We had a lot of fun…and it was great to get to know some new people. And, as a bonus, Maelie loved her babysitters, and they loved her…so all was good.

Still… definitely a non-normal Saturday.

And today, I’ve just been tired and blah.

It started out okay. I had praise team this morning, but Maelie wanted nothing to do with sitting in church, so once again Tobin spent the service in the nursery with her. And I spent the service feeling guilty. To be honest, those kind of mornings are pretty rough.

So we came home, fed the girl some lunch, played with her a bit, and put her down for her afternoon nap which, thankfully, she took. And it was long.

I puttered around waiting for a friend to stop over to borrow something, and then I decided I just needed to clear my head so I cranked up my iPod and went for a run.

At least it got me thinking….

And as a d isclaimer, th

is is not a pity party. It’s where I am, but if you want, you can go now. I’ll still love you.

:)

It got me thinking about the word Worth.

What is my value to others? Should I have value to others

? Is that what’s important?

This morning I made a passing comment to a friend that sometimes I felt frustrated that I’m just Mel. I’m not reallly, really good at any one thing. I sing, I play guitar and piano, I write, I’m a wife, I’m a mommy…and while I try to do those things well, I don’t always feel like I do.

I spend far too much of my time worrying about what others think of me.

I’m human.

I want my friends to value me and have a place in their lives for me. I want to know that I actually add something to the lives of those around me.

I don’t want to spend my life just being, though there is definitely a time and a place for that.

I guess I just want to feel like I’m worth something.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Hang on with me, k? 😉

I was tossing these ideas around in my head as I jogged around Carpenter Park,and my thoughts went back to 1 Corinthians 13, the Love

chapter. Which, of course, I had to read. :)

It was humbling to consider these words.

Especially in light of my overly-human characteristics, my desire to be better at things than I am…and sometimes, to be more than the person God created me to be.

There are days when I’d love for someone to think, Wow, she can really sing; or Yikes, she can rock a guitar; or What a great mom.

In the end, though…it’s about love.

I could be all of those things, but if I don’t have love, I am nothing.

Worthless.

I’m not sure I have much to add after that…it definitely gave me something to think about as I search for where I find my worth, my value.

Of all the things I want to be remembered for, I’d most like to be known for Love.

I have a long way to go.

God, help me to Love.

Sig

A Reminder

A short but sweet thought tonight.

We hired a b

abysitter tonight.

(Two, actually.) We had plans and these girls came highly recommended, so they

came over and spent four hours with Maelie. (Well, two of them she was sleeping, but still.)

As I was driving them ho me tonight,

they kept saying, “Your daughter is amazing.”

That made my heart smile.

But inside, I thought, I know.

I know how amazing she is, but sometimes I forget to look at the little things that make her just that.

Like…

her cheesy, scrunchy-face smile,

her still-slightly-off-balance toddle as she runs toward me,

watching her chase the dogs, giggling as loudly as possible, (it’s WAY too cute ;))

her sweet personality and love for everyone,

her desire to be close to us all the time,

the way she grins and squeals when she sees us first thing in the morning,

the way she’s growing and changing and learning,

the beautiful creation of God that she is,

and so,

so much more.

It was a good reminder to me tonight.

I am so thankful for my girl and all she is.

Sig

Grocery Store…Um…Fun?

Anyone who knows me well knows that I detest grocery shopping.

I’d rather clean toilets…really.

There are many factors that weigh into this,

no less including too many choices, sticker shock, and randomly weird experiences that abound anytime I attempt to actually complete this chore.

Tonight I needed to go. I had put it off for a few days, but we were just about out of food so off I went. At 9 p.m. because there are less people and I can get done faster.

😉

While I was sprinting walking the aisles, I was feeling convicted about my less-that-cheerful attitude about the quality time I was spending in Woodman’s. (It’s cheap…that’s the only reason I shop there.)

So I decided to look for things that could potentially make my outing a little more fun.

Like…

You know, I actually left the store with a smile on my face.

(And it’s a good thing, too, because I ran into a friend on my way out!)

Maybe there can be joy in grocery shopping. Well, sometimes. :)

Sig

Little Blessings (Pt. 10)

I know

I counted my blessings a few days ago.

Today, I need to… some days are just like that, huh

?

:) The weather… goodness, it feels like summer.

I’ ll take it!

:) Maelie is doing great after her big tumble on Monday…no concussion or anything other th

an a tiny cut and a bump on the head.

Praise God!

:) Friends to go to the park with.

:) Flip flops.

:) A good Bible study this morning with some

good reminders.

:) Friends and sisters in Christ who sharpen me

and encourage me.

:) A new writing opportunity…can’ t wai

t to tell you more about it soon!

:) Music.

:) Giggling with my girl.

:) Being finished with blogging before 10 p.m.

Sig

Andre & Mae

This picture is really precious for a lot of reasons.

Mostly…because it’ s taken Andre thi

s long to love Maelie.

I can’t describe how much it makes me smile to see these two playing together.

:)

Sig

Biting My Tongue

So…yeah. I actually wrote a pretty good post for tonight.

I’ m happy with the things I said.

But I’ m not happy about how I said the

m.

A few months ago I wrote a post about how I wanted the things

I write to glorify my Father.

And I’m still processing whether the things that came out in what I wrote tonight were s aid in

a w

ay that gives Him the glory.

Not so sure about that one.

So, tonight, I’m going to sit here and think about what it means to bite my tongue (figuratively ;)) when it comes to the blog.

Bummer…I know you were all hopin’ for some deep thoughts from Mel.

We’ll get there.

And if you’re really dying for some deep thoughts, pop back over to the post I linked.

It was good for me to read it again; maybe it will make you think, too.

:)

G’nite!

Sig

I Love Random

So…I am always random. Today, more than other days.

Bear with me, k? (You know you love reading the crazy things that shoot through my brain anyway, right?) 😉

This is my very favorite time of year.

I love, love, love seeing the leaves change colors. While that is just beginning here, we saw some re ally

beautiful colors in Wisconsin this weekend. I also love jeans-and-sweater weather. Perfect.

We were talking about movies tonight at my weekly work out with friends, and I mentioned that I’d like to take hip hop lessons.

I really don’t know why…but I think it would be fun to learn how to dance.

Maelie and I have moved on from Little House on the Prairie to my other TV addiction, Road to Avonlea. Probably my favorite show ever. And I will actually loan it out if any of you ever want to watch it. It’s fun. :)

Speaking of the Mae…she fell on her head today.

Seriously. It was a 3-4 foot fall off of some playground equipment.

She cried. I freaked out.

Thankfully, after lots of phone calls and questions, she seems to be ok. We’ re watching her for signs of a concussion.

And praying. I’d love it if you prayed, too.

I think it broke my mommy heart to see my little girl hurting.

I desperately need to repaint our front room.

I’m kinda thinking of doing a multi-color, random design with blue and lime green and orange. It’s the room our piano is in and definitely needs to be livened up a bit. We shall see what I come up with.

Tomorrow I am going to (hopefully) chat with a local newspaper editor about heading a different direction with my writing. I’ll stick with my blog (not sure I could ever give it up!) but have some other opportunities, too.

I’m anxious. But excited, too. I really,

really want to write.

I’ve been sitting at the computer for half an hour…and realized I never showered when I got home from working out.

That’s kinda gross, huh

? Guess I better end this and hit the shower.

Love you all.

Sig

Little Blessings (Pt. 9)

:) A good weekend with family.

:) Dancing. I am not good, but

I danced anyway.

Yay for me!

:) Watching two people commit their love

to each other forever.

Congrats, Mike and Annie!

:) Getting to sit in some pretty stinkin’ comfy, cushy chairs during the wedding. (Yes…in not on… they got married in the Legislative room at the Capitol building.

You know those chairs all those important people sit IN

? Yep, we’re so cool.)

:) A sunny morning walk and a chance to get to know one of my nieces better.

:) A beautiful day.

Really, really BEAUTIFUL.

:) Being loved. And learning to love.

:) Being encouraged by God’s promises.

Sig

Wedding Cuteness

Yeah, we’re adorable. 😉

Sig

All the Way From Madison

Tonight I’m writing you from our downtown Madison (WI) hotel room.

It’s a very cool room, at least I think so.

:) Tobin’s cousin is getting married tomorrow at the Capitol, so that’s the occasion.

And since this is a home football weekend AND the Farmer’s Market is going on, I am not regretting for a single second the fact that we splurged on a hotel room a block from the Capitol building.

The festivities kicked off early this morning with Mel squeezing in more than is humanly possible before we left.

From the time I rolled out of bed at 7:15 I managed to go for a run, shower and get ready, do three loads of laundry, pack for myself and Maelie, run to Target, Starbucks, and church, come home with time to feed lunch to Maelie, grab some for myself, and get out the door by 12:05.

Yeah, I’m good.

I know you’re all extremely impressed.

And, yeah, my Super Woman cape is in the mail.

:)

Anyway, we’ve already had a fun and crazy afternoon/ evening with family.

Tomorrow is mostly wedding with a little a.m. Farmer’ s Market thrown in there, and

some more family time on Sunday.

It’ll be a good (but busy) weekend. So if I don’t write much, that’s why.

Tomorrow there just might be a picture of Maelie in her Uh-Dorable dress, though, and that’ s worth coming back for!

:)

G’nite!

Sig