Stay

July 7, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Our friends/neighbors left on a mission trip yesterd

ay to Ecuador. They’ll be gone 2 1/2 weeks along with another adult and several teens.

I’ m happy for the

m. They just ooze passion for God and want to serve Him, and while I’ve never seen them with their teens, I have seen them with the kids in the neighborhood. They’re amazing.

But I have to admit that

as I watched them go…figuratively–there was no way I was gettin’ up at 4:30 a.m. to see them off!…there was a twinge in my heart.

Of jealousy?

Of pain?

Of sadness?

I really don’t know.

Here’s the thing. I’m not used to seeing other people go; I’ m used to being the one who goes.

That world out there is what changed my heart and my life…and I can’t get enough of it. As much as we truly believe we are supposed to be here for now, sometimes I remember those things that come along with going…

That last statement is still true when I think of our future.

Only, instead of the adventures that lie within the word, “Go”, they now lie within the word, “Stay”.

He says to us, Make my name known here.

You are here for such a time as this. You are called, you

are chosen, you are loved, you are mine. I love you with an everlasting love, and you can make disciples right here in your own country.

( Pardon my paraphrasing.

:))

The word stay is foreign to me. And yet, it holds an unknown factor, something that does still create a spark in me. I wonder, I dream…

And while there is a twinge of jealousy for those who get to go, doing what He has called me to do is far more important and truly is what burns in me right now, even if there is sometimes sadness.

I live, I love what is now…and my heart’s prayer is to be content in that. He has given that.

If, for some reason, I may Go again…I will pray to be content in that, too.

But for now, I will Stay.

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, what I'm learning, where I am

UNchange

July 6, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

My heart’s been going through a lot lately, some of which I can’ t even effec

tively describe.

It’s not like it’s drama…it’s not really even a big deal. It’s not sad, it’s not stressful, it just is.

Oh, I don’t know

what it is.

Maybe…silly? Anyway, it’s something I don’t really expect most people to understand, but I’ll talk about it anyway ’cause it’ s my blog.

:)

A lot of it has to do with a lack of change,

something my hubby and I chatted about last night.

A lack of change.

Dude, Mel, do you realize how much change you’ve gone through in the last yea

r?

Yeah, I know.

In our married life, Tobin have been the picture of what a constantly changing life looks like.

Year #1…he got laid off, job search, job switch for me. Oh, yeah, we were getting used to being married, too. 😉

Year #2…new job for him, new job for me.

Year #3…two jobs for him, another new one for me, selling everything, moving to Indo.

Years #4-8…Indo, which was full of constant change.

Year #9…EVERYTHING changed.

And now we’re going into Year #10. And other than buying a house, nothing’s changing.

It is the strangest, most unimaginable thing for us to consider committing

to one place for a long time. (I guess we’re past considering…it’s reality. :))

It’s kind of freaky to me when I consider settling down for good.

Don’t get me wrong…this is something we’ve dreamed of and hoped for…and are excited for.

But it feels like such a huge commitment.

Is it normal for someone to feel that way?

It’s something so strange that I almost can’t talk about it because I don’t want people to think I’m weird.

I guess for us…the fact that life is NOT changing? Is our change.

See if you can wrap your mind around that one.

:)

Please pray for us as we finish up the last things toward purchasing our house. Financing is figured out (Praise God!) so now we’re just waiting on all of the papers for closing to be finished, then we’ll sign them and finally be homeowners! Exciting stuff ahead…even if it’s not really change.

So many blessings to count. He is so Good.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, blessings, where I am

Loved This!

July 1, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

After some deep thoughts, I need a Friday break. (And I’m in a bad mood ’cause I lost my driver’s license…so I need a diversion.

:))

I saw this on a friend’s blog and loved it…it kind of got me excited again to finish making my bucket list and to keep adventuring…no matter where I am.

Items in bold? Are what I’ve done. (And because I’ m full of words

? You’ ll even get a few comments to go along with them!

:))

The rest? Things I’d love to do…well, not all of them.

(And don’t judge me for anything you may discover that you didn’t know…or didn’t need to know!)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (Disneyland for our first anniversary…so fun!)
8. Climbed a mountain.


9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12.

Visited Paris
13.

Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Um…we won’t go here.)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (I am dying to do this one!

Hopefully soon!!!)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (A half is on my bucket list…not sure about a full.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34.

Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35.

Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39.

Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke (More times than I can count…oh, how I miss Indo karaoke!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight (Tobin and I did this all the time in Bali. We love Kuta Beach! :))
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49.

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50.

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain 😀
53. Played in the mud
54.  Gone to a drive-in theater
55.

Been in a movie (Does the movie my 5th graders made count?! I still have it somewhere…)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I count it if the whale came to us while we were hangin’ out at the beach. We sat there and watched it for a long time, so that counts as “whale watching”, right?)
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (This one will never happen…sorry.)
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check (Ooops! It was during college, though. Who has money then?!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71.

Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (Um…I lived in Indo! But then, what is speeding there? Not sure it exists…)
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (most DEFINITELY on my list of must-do’s!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87.

Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

How many? 45

What about you?

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, random

Random Dreams

May 28, 2011 by · 1 Comment

In keeping with the random Saturday tradition, today I’ m going to let

myself dream. Feel free to come along for the ride.

:)

I could start off my random with a rant of sorts…how I dream that maybe the residents of this house could be in GOOD moods today, but that does not seem like a possibility.

Maybe it’s the wea

ther? All I know is that we all woke up cranky. I tried to make it better, but nothing really helped. Thankfully we don’t have to see any one

today. (And thankfully, the girl is down for her second…and hopefully long…nap of the day.)

End of the Day Edit: Maelie took an incredible afternoon nap, and when she woke up, we were all happier.

Definitely a much better ending to the day…Hallelujah! 😀

So I’m a dreamer, as those of you who know me well are aware.

I’ve had some run-ins with people who aren’t dreamers…and are more dream-squashers. While I don’t necessarily dis like people

like that, sometimes they bug me.

I told my husband the other day, I’d rather dream and get my heart broken than never dream at all.

I think that’s pretty profound, though I am rarely that.

So, I bring you some of my latest and biggest dreams. (Yeah, I know they won’t all happen, but a girl can dream, right?)

First off, I’ve always wanted to see Europe. Really, see it. Some of the places on my list besides the standard London and Paris? Istanbul, Athens, and Budapest. (I love history.) Some of you know that we have actually been to Europe… for three days.

On our way home from South Africa in 2004, we took a short stopover there because our flight was insanely cheaper if we stopped for a few days.

(And spent the money we saved seeing

the best of Amsterdam. And…ahem…eating our way through it!) Yeah, I want to see Europe.

But beyond travel…’cause, really, we all want to see the world, right?

I dream of writing/publishing a book. I love the blog and will keep it going probably until I die, but I really dream of seeing that cover with my name on it. I actually wrote a book several years ago, but after living overseas and realizing how far off my perspective actually was, I have never done anything with it. No, you may not see it. (Cause I know you’re thinkin’ about asking!) I’m not even sure what I’d write about. Any thoughts?

Another thing I’d like to do

? Completely redecorate my house (once I own it…yeah, still waiting). Included in that redecorating? Knocking out a wall that divides our two “living rooms”, completely making over our bedroom, and doing one room completely Indonesian. (I actually have some fun ideas for that one…again, I just need to own the house.)

One of my biggest professional dreams is to blog a Compassion trip. Every year Compassion sponsors several trips, and they take bloggers with them. Oh, how much I would love that. I have no doubt that it would completely break my heart in half to experience some of the heartaches that come with a trip like that, but I also think it would change my life.

That’s one of those dreams that I keep locked away in a corner of my heart, hoping that someday it might happen. (I guess it’s not locked up anymore since you all know about it now! ;))

Another dream I have that’s a little less tangible…to live fully for Christ. That’s a hard one. I think as a Christian, I struggle in giving it all…there are always things I want to keep back for myself, those little things that, if released, would give me so much freedom. But it takes strength…and I’m weak. I sometimes wonder what that life would look like…and realize that dream isn’t so far out of reach.

It just takes Mel letting go a little. Working on that. :)

Just a few things I’d love to see happen.

What about you?

What do you dream of?

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, goals, random, where I am, writing

Open Mic Night…

April 29, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I survived.

I did.

I wish my stinkin’ nerves didn’t always get in the way of everything, but by the last song, I was actually having a good time.

(So I’m really glad I saved my favorite song for last.) Oh, and I had some pretty fabulous impromptu backup singers for Let It Be. They are so cool.

😀

One of them asked me why I was doing this on the way there. I believe that question came after I said something to the effect of, And WHY am I doing this

? :) So her question was totally legit.

And deserved.

It was always on my bucket list. (The one I’ve never officially made.

I better hurry up and make one before I cross of all the items…cause then I will really have to do some crazy stuff! ;)) I love to make music. Coffee shops make me happy. Hanging out with friends makes me really happy. I think everyone should do things once in awhile that are wildly out of their comfort zones.

All of those reasons, I guess.

The first time was scary, but I’d do it again.

Yay for new experiences that stretch us.

And yay for adventures…I do love those!

:)

There are no photos of me singing.

(That’s really ok.) But here’s one with two pretty awesome friends…who also sang some pretty sweet harmony on a certain song.

:) Love them.

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, coffee, friends, music

10 Indonesian Adventures

March 4, 2011 by · 4 Comments

Time for another top 10 post.

:)

So, I bring you…10 Indonesian adventures

I will never forget. (Pardon me in advance if some of these are TMI. I had some solicited help from a certain someone in my house. :)) Oh, and I didn’t even attempt to number these in any particular order. Tobin said it best…they were all adventures for their own reasons.

And even though some of them weren’t fun at the time, I smile now. :)

10. Using a Squatty Potty. Some would argue that this

is an actual adventure.

I beg to differ…seeing as the first time made me cry. I will spare you the details, only to tell

you that I eventually figured it out and came to the point where I preferred them over regular toilets.

9. Surfing at Kuta Beach. Surfing was always on my Bucket List but kind of one of those things I was afraid to try. But in April 2007, I took a trip to Bali with some friends…and somehow I found the guts to go out, find a surf instructor, and rent a board. Not only did I stand up on the board and actually ride it to shore, I was hooked immediately. I still love to surf…I just need an ocean now. :)

8. Bukit Lawang. In 2007 I took a trip with some friends to Bukit Lawang in the jungles of Sumatra.

We went on an eight hour hike to see the orangutans in the preserve there and went white water “rafting”…in a raft made of a bunch of rubber inner tubes. It was fun…not necessarily something I’d do again but something everyone should do once if they get a chance. And the orangutans were pretty cool. :)

7. Being Jane. And while I was on the above trip

? I. just. had. to. be. Jane. Just once. I had always w anted to swing on

a vine, and our guide, though he thought I was crazy, very nicely went out and found me the perfect swinging apparatus.

6. Eating Octopus. While we were in Indonesia, Tobin and I loved eating sushi. (Because there, we could afford it!) We went with some friends to celebrate Tobin’s 30th birthday, and one of them pulled a plate of baby octopuses (octopi?) from the conveyer belt that went by the tables. I have to admit that I was really grossed out but eventually ate it. But really, only for bragging rights. :) Not something I’d eat again. (I can’t believe how long my hair is in this pic, either!)

5. Taking the Ferry to Singapore. This was an adventure in the worst way possible. Now, I can look back on this particular day and smile. Then? I thought I might die. Anyway, in an effort to save some money, we decided to take the ferry from Batam to Singapore before flying on to Thailand for our Christmas break.

No one warned me about what happens to people on a ferry who get extremely motion sick. Imagine…the most excruciating 60 minutes of your life spent heaving into a garbage can. While the boat goes up and down. And up and down. And up…and down. While all 200+ people in the room watched the extremely sick white girl, wondering if they should take pictures. (Some probably did.) Yeah. I was so sick that once I got off the boat? I laid down on the floor until the line for immigration was shorter. Worst morning EVER. (Oh, and quite obviously, this picture was taken BEFORE the ferry left.)

4. Climbing the Steps of Borobudur.

This was another item on my Bucket List. I couldn’t wait to see Borobudur, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved it…loved it…loved it. I want to go back again.

Anyone for a trip to Indonesi

a?

3. Driving to the Beach. I did not take pictures of this. It is not worth remembering although I am extremely unlikely to forget it. I still have images of the many bus cepat…fast buses…speeding toward us. Each time I was sure we would be crushed…thankfully, each time I was wrong.

In general, drives to the beach were long and slow. One beach was 200 km from where we lived.

(I just made up that number, but I think it’s about right.) That equals about 124 miles…which took us anywhere from 6-8 hours.

Yeah, it was that slow. And full of dodging buses, trucks, motorbikes, carts, and pedestrians. Bonus points to my hubby for keeping us all alive on such trips.

2. Motorbike + Tidal Wave. You can read the full account here. It’s a good one. Let’s just say that for the three years we drove in Indonesia, we had a knack for getting caught in the rain more times than we can possibly count. And one time during our first year, we met a bus. Bus + two bules on motorbike + monstrous puddle = two very wet people + bus full of laughing passengers. Oh, memories.

1. Hiking Tangkuban Parahu in Flip Flops. One time when a friend was visiting, we decided to take her to the volcano about 45 minutes from our house. It was kind of a rainy, cold day there and we figured we’d just go, look around, take some pictures, and then head to the hot springs, which was the real reason we went up there in the first place. :) However, once we got there, we decided that we should hire a guide to show us around. We thought? That he would take us around the rim, point out a few things, and we’d be done.

Oh, no. Not at all. He took us on a “hike” down to the bottom of the volcano. We were all wearing flip flops. It was wet and muddy. And cold…well, cold for Indonesia. And the best part? We had to hike back up to the top…which re ally is

a story for another day. Now I can say I’ve hiked a volcano in flip flops. More bragging rights. :)

I heart adventures.

So thankful for the memories.

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, culture shock, Indonesia, remembering, Top 10, travel

Airports

February 26, 2011 by · 3 Comments

I love my husband.

I’m fighting a cold, going on

half speed, and my brain is so. very. tired.

So I asked him to give me a word to blog about.

He typed in random word lists into Google…and came up with “airports”.

Interesting choice.

And, it works.

I’ve been all over the world…so why not tell you about all the airports I’ve been in

? And if there’s something particularly memorable, I’ll say it, too.

And I’ll even include the airport codes, for those of you who love to be intellectually stimulated. :)

Enjoy, potentially, the most random post ever!

Africa

  • CPT – Cape Town International Airport; Cape Town, South Africa. Good Italian food…and one really late night there.

Asia

  • CGK – Soekarno Hatta International Airport; Jakarta, Indonesia. Thankfully it had a Starbucks.

  • BDO – Husein Sastranegara Airport; Bandung, Indonesia.
  • MES – Polonia Airport; Medan, Indonesia.
  • SUB – Juanda Airport; Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • DPS – Ngurah Rai International Airport; Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia. Ditto…Starbucks. :)
  • BTH – Hang Nadim Airport; Batam, Indonesia.
  • MLG – Abdul Rahman Saleh Airport; Malang, Indonesia. Sitting on the floor (and killing a roach) while playing cards for three hours and waiting for a very delayed flight back to Jakarta. No Starbucks there.
  • SIN – Changi Airport; Singapore. Many in-transit nights spent in the lounge. McDonald’s breakfast at 3 a.m. After a year without it? Enough said.
  • KUL – Kuala Lumpur International Airport; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • BKK – Suvarnabhumi International Airport; Bangkok, Thailand. Mango sticky rice and Amazing Race moments.
  • CNX – Chiang Mai International Airport; Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  • HKT – Phuket International Aiport; Phuket, Thailand.
  • HKG – Hong Kong International Airport; Hong Kong. Really good chocolate…which I so needed after a 14 hour flight from LA. :)
  • NRT – Narita International Airport; Tokyo, Japan. Not my favorite place to spend anticipating a long flight back to Minneapolis. Cool toilets with too many buttons that I was afraid to push for fear of what might happen.

    :)

  • ICN – Incheon International Airport; Seoul, South Korea.

    Chocolate covered sunflower seeds and peach water.

    Mmmmm.

Europe

  • AMS – Schipol Airport; Amsterdam,

    Netherlands. Sadly, the only time I’ve ever been to Europe. Good chocolate, though.

    And cheese. :)

North America

  • PHX – Sky Harbor International Airport; Phoenix, AZ.
  • LAX – Los Angeles International Airport; Los Angeles, CA. Really needs to be more accessible for passengers switching terminals. One loooooong walk with several bags, a guitar, and a djembe, when we left for Indo the first time.
  • SAN – San Diego International Airport; San Diego, CA.
  • SFO – San Francisco International Airport; San Francisco, CA.
  • DEN – Denver International Airport; Denver, CO.
  • MIA – Miami International Airport; Miami, FL. The only time I’ve ever been to Florida…and it was in transit to Honduras. I didn’t even get to stay.

    :(

  • ATL – Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Atlanta, GA.
  • ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport; Chicago, IL.
  • DSM – Des Moines International Airport; Des Moines, IA.
  • MCI – Kansas City International Airport; Kansas City, KS.
  • GRR – Gerald R. Ford International Airport; Grand Rapids, MI.
  • MSP – Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport; Minneapolis, MN. We ate at Chili’s there every time we flew out. Good memories. :)
  • EWR – Newark Liberty International Airport; Newark, NJ. Ate a hot dog right before our flight to Amsterdam. Not such a good idea.

  • PDX – Portland International Airport; Portland, OR. Our favorite airport so far.

    Amazing Greek food and a bookstore I could actually afford. I’d go back to Portland just for the airport. :)

  • MEM – Memphis International Airport; Memphis, TN. Flew through this one way more times than I can count.
  • DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; Dallas, TX. Eight hour layover that turned into twelve…lots and lots of Phase 10. Good memories. :)

Central/South America

  • LIM – Jorge Chavez International Airport; Lima, Peru. Inca Kola and playing my wooden flute for a crowd while wearing the coolest stocking cap ever.

    :)

  • IQT – C.F. Secada Airport; Iquitos, Peru. I loved Iquitos. So I guess I loved the airport, too.
  • MGA – Augusto C.

    Sandino Airport; Managua, Nicaragua.

  • SAL – El Salvador International Aiport; San Salvador, El

    Salvador.

  • LCE – Goloson International Airport; La Ceiba, Honduras.
  • RTB – Roatan Airport; Roatan, Honduras. Teeniest, tiniest plane I’ve ever flown on.
  • MBJ – Sangster International Airport; Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Whew! I’m tired.

5 continents. 15 countries. 40 airports.

It’s a beautiful world…go see it. :)

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, remembering, travel

That Kind of Love

February 14, 2011 by · 2 Comments

buy cheap antibiotics

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We don’t have the kind of story that people write love

songs about.

We met when I was a senior in college, and he was already working a job he planned to stay with for awhile. I wasn’t planning on getting married and had big dreams of heading to the mission field alone.

But then he walked into my life… and I fell in love.

It wasn’t instant…it took a couple of d

ates. When he dropped me off at home after our second date, I knew this was the man I was going to marry.

It took him about another month to be sure.

A lot of people disagreed with us. We were young, we hardly knew each other.

But we didn’t care what other people thought…and still don’t. We knew.

And that was all that mattered.

We dated five months, were engaged for ten, and married on August 3, 2002.

It was a simple wedding. I’m not a froo-froo girl. I picked out my wedding dress (and bought it) in 45 minutes. I went barefoot. (One less thing to trip over :)) The decorations were simple…daisies, blue, and silver. My bridesmaids were five of my closest friends. From the beginning of the wedding to the end of the reception, it was maybe three hours. Oh, and we ate pie…it was really good. :)

That was just us.

And it was perfect.

We spent a week in Jamaica…so. much. love.

And then we returned to normal life.

And that life has brought many, many things.

Unemployment, searching, praying, obedience, goodbyes, adventures, adjustments, tears, waiting, hoping, trusting, seeing God’s provision, perseverance, acceptance, joy…and love.

Not always the jump-on-top-of-each-other or make-out-for-hours kind of love.

..but true love.

The kind that hangs on when things get rough and promises to be there no matter what. The kind that can survive the biggest arguments, the most unkind words, the really terrible days.

When he walked into my life ten years ago, I had no idea what the next decade would hold…but I’ m so thankful.

Thankful for the man who sees all of my imperfections and flaws and still chooses to love me. Thankful for the guy who calls me “Honeypie” and teases me endlessly with a certain word I despise…and then gives me a wink, just to let me know that it’s all in love. Thankful for a guy who was willing to stay with a girl when life seemed so upside-down and unfair…and love her through the many ugly and awful days.

It’s been just about ten years now since I fell in love.

And although life hasn’t turned out like what we first pictured, I would do it all again…every single moment…for that kind of love.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Tobin. I love you.

 

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, marriage, remembering, Tobin

Barefoot Mel REALLY Goes Barefoot!

February 2, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Can I win an award for this or something

? I just thought the opportunity was a little too perfect…

Now, if you’ ll excuse me, I need to go put my shoes and socks on.

NOW!

And yes, as if the look on my face doesn’t say enough…IT. WAS. COLD.

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, culture shock
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