blessings

Five Minute Friday: Broken

July 25, 2013 by Mel · 38 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s topic: Broken

The word hurts.

It does.

Broken.

There are so many things in life that I have allowed to break me…from hurt feelings to parents splitting up to struggling for a baby to being forced to start over in a new place.

And I think sometimes it’s ok to break…to get to that point where there’s nothing left to lean on but my Father.

Because that’s what He does…He takes those who are broken, and when we let Him,

He fixes us.

Heals us.

Glues those broken pieces back together in the way that only He can.

I think back a few years ago…when we stared down so many unanswered questions…life just felt broken.

So broken.

And now I look back, and I just smile…because He knows what He’s doing.

I see that in the little girl who fills my days and the new place that has become our home; in the ways He has led our family and the things He does each day in our lives.

And I’ll take those pieces of life that have been put back together by my Healer any day.

Because they’re beautiful.

Thank you, Father, for taking the broken and making it so much more beautiful than I ever could have dreamed.

**********************

And, could I ask a little favor, sweet friends?

If you haven’t had a chance yet to hop over to CausePub, would you take the time to read my story and vote? I submitted A Moment of Love, and am hoping like crazy that it will be accepted into their book project; the proceeds from this book will go to Blood:Water Mission in Africa.

You can go here to vote for it. Thanks so much!

Filed Under: blessings, encouragement, Five Minute Friday, just life, Maelie, remembering, where I am, writing

Behind the Scenes: Oh, the Places We Eat Breakfast…

July 23, 2013 by Mel · 29 Comments

Becky, Mel, & Missy

So when you look at this picture, I’m sure you think, Awww. Three friends.

Maybe even, awww, three best friends.

You’re getting closer. 😉

We are, in fact, three best friends who have just had breakfast in the driveway at 6:30 a.m.

But there’s a little more to the story. Because there always is and because I like to be a storyteller. (I think it might be my gift.)

Anyway. 😉

Missy and Becky are actually sisters. Like, blood sisters…but we’re all sisters because we just are.

We grew up together from the beginning…like, from the very. beginning.

I don’t remember a time in my life when these girls weren’t part of my life.

Since the two of them are sisters, they are obviously about as close as sisters can be, but they let me be included in that.

They don’t know that it means the world to me to be included in their family. Really.

The three of us got into all kinds of ~~trouble~~ adventures while growing up, and we have so many memories…from summers spent at the community pool to tree climbing to canoeing (one of us may or may not have fallen out of a canoe one day…) to camping out…

We just had the best time.

As happens with most friendships, we’ve gone different directions, but right now, the two of them live within an hour and a half of each other…so when I go back to Iowa, I get to see them both.

Often, at the same time which is pretty much my favorite thing ever…and when it happens, we always, always, take a picture.

On this last trip to Iowa, that didn’t look like it was going to happen, though. I’d stopped to see Becky on my way to my hometown, and Missy was coming back to Illinois with me for a few days, but we didn’t think it would work out to see each other at the same time.

Until someone *brilliant* in the group devised a plan. 😉

Knowing that Missy and I would be passing through Becky’s area around 6:30 a.m., I suggested we meet for breakfast at her house.

The problem?

Was that Becky’s kiddos would still be asleep…and let’s face it, at that hour, it’s always nice if the kids stay asleep. Plus, I didn’t know if Maelie would be awake or asleep or bouncing out of her carseat.

And so we decided to have breakfast together in Becky’s driveway.

Missy and I hit a drive-through on the way for McMuffins and hash browns, and Becky made the coffee and chocolate milk, and we pulled up to her house and parked the van to see…

…something that I wish I had taken a picture of…

Becky had set up the cutest little table and camp chairs in her driveway just for us.

For an hour, we sat there and chatted and ate and drank really good coffee (because Becky makes really good coffee :)) and then ended with the we-need-to-snap-a-photo-of-our-time-together picture.

I treasure these moments, these photos.

I’m so blessed to have these two beautiful women in my life…they are my heart-sisters, and I love them.

And I think this whole breakfast-in-the-driveway thing is kind of a cool tradition.

It’s one I’d like to keep.

**********************

Thanks for stopping by for my take on life behind the iPhone camera lens. 😉 I love this link up on Tuesdays over at my friend, Crystal’s place!

Social media and online relationships can make us feel like everyone else has it all together. We’re edited, proof-read, Pinterest-perfect versions of ourselves (or so some might think!) when – in reality? There is an unfinished pile of laundry around the corner. That cute toddler smiling for the camera just had a massive meltdown seconds ago. That yummy breakfast-for-dinner you just showed us on Instagram? It’s because the cat licked the chicken that was supposed to be for dinner.

“Behind the Scenes” is a fun link up where we show those photos – but tell the real story behind them. The sneak peek behind the scenes, a look past the edges of the photo to the real life behind it.

I hope you’ll hop over for some sweet and crazy and fun and sometimes-sad stories of what actually goes on behind the pictures we share.

**********************

And, could I ask a little favor, sweet friends?

You can go here to vote for it. Thanks so much!

Filed Under: adventures, Behind the Scenes, blessings, friends, just life, remembering, where I am, writing

Embracing the Chaos: A Guest Post

July 12, 2013 by Mel · Leave a Comment

Hi, friends!

Today I’m super excited to be writing over at my sweet friend, Kristin’s place, The Riches of His Love.

I met Kristin through the God-Sized Dream team, and she was kind enough to let me share a piece of my heart in her space. I hope you’ll take some time to hop over here to read about the crazy and the chaos (and also the lessons) that came from driving a motorbike in Indonesia. 😉

And maybe from crashing into a few bushes, too…

You’re totally curious now, aren’t you?

😉

Filed Under: blessings, culture shock, encouragement, guest posts, Indonesia, just life, remembering, what I'm learning, where I am

Behind the Scenes: Sammy

July 9, 2013 by Mel · 43 Comments

Aaaahhhh, Sammy.

Meet one of my two “boys.”

And behind this picture…more stories than I can possibly begin to tell you.

I could tell you that the reason we have him is because he and I fell in love one night in a pet shop in Bandung, Indonesia and how I had to take him home in a taxi…and how the taxi driver charged me double for the simple reason that he didn’t like dogs and he could.

I could tell you about the utter heartbreak we experienced when he was stolen from us and missing for six days…and how we paid a ransom, literally, to get him back. (That story is in the book… ;))

But today, I’m just going to tell a bit of the silly and sweet of this crazy, lovable, completely loyal pooch named Sammy.

We tell people that he is our Indonesian dog, which is true. Andre is from America, Sammy is from Indonesia…

and I kind of think it’s cute that it ended up that way.

Sammy has been, from day one, all kinds of mischievous and loyal and ornery and loving, rolled up into one, big, lion-ish golden retriever with Really. Big. Paws.

No joke.

For years we’ve found it hilarious that he will lie in the direct sunlight when it’s HOT out, and take a nap.

That would be what he’s doing in this particular photo. 😉

Andre is usually lying nearby in the shade because he gets that lying in the sun is…well, it’s HOT.

Especially when you have golden retriever fur.

Not that I would know…I’m just imagining here.

He would do it on a daily basis when we lived in Indonesia. (Read: when the temperatures were pushing 95 or 100.)

We would watch him and think he was crazy as we still-sweated in our not-outside-in-the-sun living room. Yet a good part of his days were spent basking in the glorious (and did I mention HOT?!) tropical sunshine.

Maybe he was soaking up all he could because he knew eventually we’d stick him on a plane bound for the Midwest. And snow. Which he loves, by the way..

The truth with this dog is that he’s always been a little odd.

The first time we offered him ham, he wouldn’t eat it. What dog turns down meat?

His first interaction with Andre, as a twenty-or-less pound puppy, began with him trying to jump on top of our poor, confused, American dog. We still laugh about that.

He always has to have something in his mouth…usually in the form of a stuffed animal. (And he will steal one of Maelie’s if he can’t find one of his four or five.)

He still lives to greet us at the door in his usual, run-full-speed-and-almost-knock-us-over, manner…whether we’ve been gone for a week or two minutes.

The truth is, this crazy dog wormed his way into our hearts immediately…

And we love him like the crazy that he is.

**********************

It’s Tuesday, and this link up at my friend, Crystal’s place is becoming one of my favorites. It’s pretty sweet (and sometimes tear-jerking, so bring tissues) to read the stories that come with the photos of life…especially the photos where there’s so much more going on than what we see.

Take some time and come on over to check out the silly and sweet of what goes on behind the camera lens…I promise you’ll leave smiling.

Filed Under: adventures, Behind the Scenes, blessings, dogs, family, Indonesia, just life, remembering

Five-Minute Friday: Beautiful

July 4, 2013 by Mel · 70 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s topic: Beautiful

It’s one of my favorite words that she says…beautiful.

Except she doesn’t say it that way.

Flowers are beaufitul.

Mommy is beaufitul. (according to her, anyway!) 😉

The car is beaufitul. (I adore her.)

It’s one of the few words we won’t correct because it’s just so darn cute.

Really, the word, beautiful or beaufitul or however you want to say it…

Is the word I would use to describe this journey.

The journey of mommyhood and being a wife and finding community and dream-chasing.

Oh, it hasn’t been easy…and the days haven’t been perfect.

But when I look back at the end of each day, there is always,

Always

Always a reason to smile.

Life is beautiful.

The blessings He gives are beautiful.

And I’m going to soak up each precious gift He chooses to give.

Especially when those gifts come in the form of a beautiful little girl who says the word in about the most adorable way possible.

Beaufitul.

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, Five Minute Friday, just life, Maelie, where I am

Five-Minute Friday: In Between

June 27, 2013 by Mel · 54 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s topic: In Between

It’s true what they say…the days are long but the years are short, and we’ve “only” got three years behind us.

I can’t believe how fast it went…how that precious, tiny little girl grew up into such a little lady…one who even steals my headband for certain birthday celebrations. 😉

We celebrated her last week, and it was the strangest mix of joy and disbelief…but really?

Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I. Am. So. Blessed.

Not only am I the one who gets to spend my days with this awesome girlie, but I get all the in between moments…and sometimes those are the best of all.

In between swimming and trying out her new scooter, I get that quick snuggle and I love you, Mommy.

In between a fun morning at the park and the ride home, I get to hold her hand while we walk to the van.

My sweet Mae, let’s hang on to those in between moments and soak them up for all they are.

I hold every one of them in my heart.

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, Five Minute Friday, just life, Maelie, where I am

Oh, the Silence

June 24, 2013 by Mel · 14 Comments

To most people, silence is golden.

I think of that often, especially since I’m mama to the sweetest…and possibly most talkative ever…toddler. We DO have a good time…we also do a lot of chatting. 😉

So for me, if there’s too much silence, something is wrong.

Which is actually funny if any of you knew me at all between the ages of 0 and 20-ish.

I kind of didn’t talk much. Or, really, at all.

And then I decided enough was enough…and maybe I started making up for the two decades I didn’t talk. 😉

Honestly, it’s been a test in maturity for me. I can truly talk someone’s ear off…I really have to be careful to keep a rein on my tongue and decide when to use my words and when to use my ears. Because, in my mind, there’s almost nothing better than sitting down with a friend and chatting it up for hours.

And hours.

And even more hours, if we have those hours. 😉

And for a long time in this space, it was the same way. Talk, talk, talk (aka: write, write, write) all the time, every day, without fail.

I began to find my worth in the number of times I hit the publish button on this page.

I was learning anything but silence during that time.

And then it happened…about a year ago. Instead of writing seven days a week, it went down to six. Then five, then four, and I sat at four for quite awhile. And then somewhere in there it went down even further to two or three.

I began to struggle for words…and for a writer, that’s similar to a struggle for air.

And I fought God more than you can possibly imagine.

What’s wrong with me, God? Where are the words? Where are the deep thoughts and lessons?

I felt useless.

Instead of basking in the gift of silence, of reflection, I was fighting it, determined to be noisy and heard.

Oh, Mel.

Mel.

Mel.

How often I act like this in life.

Instead of sitting and listening, whether it’s to a dear friend or my husband or my daughter or God…I beg for someone to listen to my words.

Friends, it’s become my time to be silent-er. (I do believe I just made up a new word.) 😉

Actually, it’s been that way for awhile; I just haven’t wanted to admit it.

That’s why this place has been so quiet lately.

There are still a few blog posts each week, but I’m well aware that I don’t share nearly as much as I used to.

The truth is that there’s a lot going on in my heart, and while it feels like He’s been putting me through the fire a little lately, I know His purpose is to refine me.

I’m seeing that refining and taking the time to process some really cool things…and, hopefully, I’ll be able to find the words for them soon.

And that’s really, really good.

I’m moving forward on a couple of dreams that I haven’t talked about too much here. Yet. 😉

One is in the works…being a contributing writer. And I’ve gotta tell you, friends…it’s been nothing short of incredible to watch God move on this one.

Ooohhh, I really can’t wait to tell you more soon!

And I’m taking a big, scary step and going for another dream today.

I don’t know when I’ll have an answer to this one, but I do know that if I don’t take this step…though it feels more like a gigantic leap off the edge of a cliff?! 😉

I’ll always wonder and wish…and just regret that I let the Chihuahua of Fear win. (Nope, you annoying, little, ankle-biter…you’re not winning this one.)

I’m believing that He’s got good plans always…even when I can’t see them just yet.

I. Just. Need. To. Trust.

And take the time to be still and know that He is God.

He’s. Got. It. All.

So thanks for hanging with me through the quieter days in this space, for stopping by and leaving comment love, for connecting and Tweeting with me…for just being there.

I’m so blessed by each of you.

Filed Under: adventures, barefoot, blessings, encouragement, friends, God-Sized Dreams, just life, what I'm learning, where I am, writing

Five-Minute Friday: Rhythm

June 20, 2013 by Mel · 56 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s topic: Rhythm

My heart wonders sometimes when I think of it…the whole, this is life right now, thing.

I don’t mean that in a bad way…it’s just that the rhythm is different.

Three years into this season of life, and I’m learning what it means to stay, to settle,

to play along with the rhythm of what we have instead of trying to create our own.

It’s not a secret that I thrive on adventure and the crazy that seems to abound around the corners of the less-traveled paths.

But this season, He has clearly said…

Stay.

This is your rhythm for now.

And you know what? I like it…and I’m learning to soak in the blessings and sing the songs that come with it instead of becoming desperate for something new.

Just this week He’s been impressing on my heart the beauty of memories and what was and what will always remain in my heart. And along with that?

He’s showing me the blessings of now,

And the rhythm they bring with them is just amazing.

Feeling grateful tonight for the place He has brought us…and the things He has yet to do.

Filed Under: adventures, barefoot, blessings, encouragement, Five Minute Friday, Indonesia, just life, what I'm learning, where I am

Behind the Scenes: Pieces of an Early Morning

June 18, 2013 by Mel · 34 Comments

I wrote a pretty heavy post last week…and that’s ok. There are times when soul baring is necessary, especially when there’s something beautiful that comes from it.

And, truthfully, there always is…it’s just that it’s not always that easy to see.

I’m in let’s-process-the-past-few-weeks mode right now…and I’ll write more about it later.

But today?

I bring you So. Much. Awesome.

Well, I guess I’ll let you be the judge of that. 😉

At first glance, this just looks like an Instagram…hey, hey, look what I’m up to! (And it kind of is.)

But not really.

See…this pic was taken around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. I know, I know.

My eyes had popped open crazy early. The girl was still sleeping, I didn’t have to be at church for praise team until 9:30, and our back porch…with the sun just starting to peek in…was calling my name.

And so I grabbed a cup of coffee, a (small) handful of chocolate (breakfast of champions!), and plopped on a chair with my legs propped up. (Notice the awesome floor burn from the volleyball tournament we WON on Saturday? Yeah, the one I played without knee pads… ;)) My faithful pup, Sammy, took his place by my side, and it was time to (literally) waste my brain on an episode or six of The Babysitter’s Club.

PSA: It’s now available on Netflix streaming. I. Kid. You. Not. (You may or may not be missing out if you haven’t experienced this wonder at least once in your life.)

And as I sipped my heaven-in-a-cup and practically quoted, word-for-word, the cheesiness of the Brunettes trying to steal Logan from Mary Anne and even likely sang audibly…and by likely, I mean,

Yes.

I totally did.

Say hello to your friends…Babysitters Club,
Say hello to the people who care,
Nothing’s better than friends…

Oh, come on.

You know you were singing it from the time I mentioned it. 😀

Plus? I needed to warm up before praise team. 😉

All of that to get to my actual point, because there is one that goes beyond cheesy 90’s tv and coffee and even cute golden retrievers.

That sometimes the blessings come in small pieces of sweet and a bit strange…and they don’t always look like daisies and bright sunshine at acceptable hours of the morning. 😉

But that Sunday morning? Was an amazing gift from my Father.

It was the kind He sent just to say I love you, Mel. And I know it’s been hard, but I’m Good and I know exactly what you need.

He’s right.

I soaked it all up until about 7:30, and then I was joined by the sweetest THREE year old ever, who surprised me by watching right along with me and even asked for another episode.

BAHAHAHAHA!

What have I created?!?! 😉

It was a beautiful morning, one that still makes me smile.

He is Good.

**********************

It’s Tuesday, and I love Tuesdays.

I’ve taken the challenge this summer to write about the life behind the photos…the ugly, the messy, the real, the true…and link up with my sweet friend, Crystal, at her space for Behind the Scenes.

I hope you’ll stop by and read about the real of hearts and lives…some of my favorite writers link up there, and their words will bless you. Happy Tuesday, all!

Filed Under: barefoot, Behind the Scenes, being mommy, blessings, coffee, just life, Maelie, where I am

Him and Me…Daddy and Daughter

June 17, 2013 by Mel · 10 Comments

Sometimes I wish I had known to hold on to the good times.

But there’s no manual that comes with childhood…the kind that tells little girls that every moment spent with their daddy is something to be treasured.

For me, it was so much unlike what “all of my friends” had.

He worked the 11-7 or 3-11 most days. (He was a police officer.)

I rarely saw him for more than an hour or two at a time.

Occasionally he’d take me out for coffee (I got Dr. Pepper) or to the airport to see his buddies.

And once, he took me running with him. A day I’ve never forgotten.

It was all of those little moments and memories, the things that made up our version of daddy and daughter.

I thought he hung the moon, and when it crashed, so did my entire world.

I skipped school that day and I watched him go. His belongings packed into his white truck, a quick goodbye, and that was it…on that too-beautiful-for-anything-bad-to-happen, early-May day, I set a record for the fastest a wall could be built by a fifteen year old.

There was no way I was ever letting anyone in again.

The years that followed were a series of separations with a brief, very-occasional, few hours together thrown in there. But for the most part, this daddy/daughter relationship was gone.

Over.

Can I tell you something, friends?

That’s not ok.

Daughters need their daddies in their lives, and they need them to be All. There.

Committed.

Faithful.

Because eight years later, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle. And to be honest, I didn’t know what I wanted.

Well, if we’re being completely honest here, I wanted to get married on a remote beach with a few friends there as witnesses. I wanted to forget the fact that there was that whole giving-the-daughter-away thing looming over my head.

But I couldn’t…because I’m Mel. Because I’m me and because my heart wanted to do the right thing, even if it was hard and it hurt and was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

And so we walked down the aisle together. (I cried more than he did, but for the record, I don’t think his eyes were dry, either. ;))

And nothing magical happened that day, but those bricks from the wall I’d built around my battered heart did begin to fall.

And almost eleven years later? I have a daddy again.

Our relationship still looks different…but it’s a good one.

We only see each other a few times a year, and we talk about that often, too. But those moments are special and I hold them close to my heart and thank God that He was able to redeem such broken.

He called me the other night, out of the blue, and I LOVED that he called. It was mostly just chatting about life and family and running (my awesome daddy-o is running a marathon this year!!!)…and well,

I whispered thanks.

Because my Father redeems…and He gives.

And He gave me my daddy back. Happy Father’s Day, Dad. (A day late because…well, you know me. ;))

I love you. And I hope we have a lot more little moments to come.

Filed Under: barefoot, blessings, encouragement, family, just life, remembering, where I am

Five Minute Friday: Broken

Behind the Scenes: Oh, the Places We Eat Breakfast…

Embracing the Chaos: A Guest Post

Behind the Scenes: Sammy

Five-Minute Friday: Beautiful

Five-Minute Friday: In Between

Oh, the Silence

Five-Minute Friday: Rhythm

Behind the Scenes: Pieces of an Early Morning

Him and Me…Daddy and Daughter

Mel

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