The ABC’s of Mel’s Brain

July 24, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

It’s definitely time for me to sit down and have some quality time with the blog.

It isn’t like I haven’t been here the last few weeks, but I haven’t been here.

I guess life is just like that sometimes.

So…in 26, if-I-make-it-that-long, bullet points…here’s life.

Sorta.

And by the way, I wrote part of this on a Sunday…I think I reference that once or twice. :)

  • Andre is my dog…my nine year-old boy. I love him. He puts a smile on my face even when I don’t feel like smiling.
  • Hearts that break are opportunities for God to do some major healing. That’s what I’ve been learning lately.
  • I love to create. My brain is awesome at dreaming up ideas…the following through is hard. Ish. Really enjoying painting lately and almost ready to pull out the sewing machine and learn how to use it.
  • I still want to learn to play the djembe. Really play it. Thinking about blowing the rest of my birthday money on one since it’s cheaper than a plane ticket to Africa so I can buy one in a market there. :)
  • Epic moments have made up life lately. Nothing huge, just important. I feel like I’m finally comfortable with being who I am…and not caring (as much) what other people think. Took me awhile to even get to that point.
  • F is for big failure. Feeling like that in a lot of ways. A friend said something today about Satan attacking ferociously on Sundays. I have to agree…feeling really down today.
  • Good memories. Really trying to focus on the blessings that God has placed in my life. There are so many…and I’m thankful for each of them.
  • Happiness is this picture I bought for myself a few weeks ago with some of my birthday money. I love it. I can’t think of a better thing to hang in our kitchen on our green wall. :)

  • Ice cream cake. It’s worth turning a year older for…to be sure. A week and some later, we’re still working on it. Which could speak volumes about our self control…or the fact that I sorta forgot it was in the freezer! :)
  • Goofy, but I love toast with jelly. So does Mae.
  • Mae is still talking about chasing kitties on the farm. Golly, I love her…and that she had such a good time there.
  • I am so thankful that I am loved. By friends, by my family, by my Father. So good.
  • Mae lights up my life. Every single day. What a blessing she is.
  • Thankful for a Father who never gives up on me, even on those days when I’m sure everyone else has.
  • I’ve been overtired lately…too many late nights and too much early-morning running. Headed to bed soon, thankfully.
  • Poofy pigtails on my princess of a girl. Her cutest look so far, I think.
  • Been a week full of questions. I’m more convinced than ever that some things, there will be no answers for, until I can ask my Father face to face.
  • Reunions with sweet friends…always fun. Always hard to say goodbye, too. Still worth the hello.
  • I love my Sammy, too…I never thought we’d bring home an Indo souvenir like the one we’ve got living in our house. He’s one-of-a-kind.
  • Sometimes you just gotta cry big, fat tears. Letting them fall helps. And letting my two year-old daughter hug them away teaches the beauty of compassion.
  • Sometimes we just need people who love us unconditionally. Thankful for that this week.
  • I was thinking of learning to play the violin. Just kidding. :)
  • I found this bottle of wine a week or so ago. Seriously. I thought we had topped it with Barefoot wine, but this? Fantastic.

  • X…seriously? Who can come up with anything related to it in daily life? I don’t play the xylophone and I haven’t broken any bones lately, so this one may just have to stay blank.
  • Ever feel like life is a ride on a yoyo?
  • We haven’t been to the zoo yet this summer. We talked about hitting the one in Omaha with some of my family later in August. We’ll see.

If you stuck around long enough to read all of this…thanks.

You’re a blessing, friends. :)

Sig

Filed Under: barefoot, being mommy, blessings, dogs, family, friends, just life, Maelie, random, Tobin, what I'm learning, where I am

Without a Connection

July 22, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Tobin, Maelie and I spent the last few days up in small-town, out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, Wisconsin.

The pros: fun people, games, good talks, (way too much) good food, coffee, beautiful house and location, laughs, new friends and old, too, 15-2 Brew…the list could really go on. Lotsa good. :)

The cons: not enough bathrooms, flies, an over-abundance of indoor taxidermy, and almost. zero. internet. 

For about a day, I thought a few of us, Miss Blogger Extraordinaire included, might die. Or at least suffer mentally. (I really hate to miss blogging, especially when I haven’t mentally prepared to actually NOT do it. I know I’m strange…get over it.) 😉

Eventually I had to wrap my mind around the idea that we WEREN’T going to have internet, that if I HAD to get in touch with someone, I’d have to call or text (cell reception was also extremely iffy…did I mention that?), and that if I NEEDED to blog, I’d just have to wait.

You know, that thing I do So. Extremely. Well.

Eventually I (and a lot of other people) had to get over the fact that, for the most part, life outside would have to wait.

I found myself thinking about it less and less by Friday (even though I did have time to blog during the window we actually HAD a connection), and time was spent doing a lot of other things that were more fun. Cribbage playing, catch-up talks, cookie-devouring, horseshoe games (though I just watched), bocce ball, a late-night in-law chat (but there were out-laws there, too. ;))

It was SO good…kinda to the point where I thought, hmmm…what if I try to use the internet less?

Like, a LOT less?

I honestly don’t know what that looks like. As it stands, I’m currently organizing a 5k with someone who’s in another time zone, so I can’t stay disconnected completely. But all that facebooking that I think is so necessary?

I’m thinkin’ not.

In fact, I’m gonna try something…like staying off the internet in the mornings. That’s the chunk of my day that is concentrated most on Mae. I wonder what life will look like if I focus fully on her instead of dividing my attention between her and whatever thoughts are begging to be blogged or the magnetic pull online life seems to have on me.

I don’t know how it’s gonna go.

Really.

And I’m not making promises…just talking aloud. :)

But I do know that I’ve got a daughter to love on, and if I let her, she can easily fill up my mornings. Not to mention, our summer days are ticking down quickly, and I’ve still got coffee to drink and friends to chat it up with while Maelie entertains us.

I’m not sure the blog will see less of me in the weeks to come.

But my daughter will definitely see MORE of me.

Because there are other connections I’d like to make besides the internet.

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, goals, just life, Maelie, travel, where I am, writing

New Blogs, Bear Shopping, Princess Jammies, and Bad Internet Connections

July 20, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

So did ya notice something?

Yeah, I took my birthday off.

SHOCKER. (Really.)

Actually, I had no plans to do that. During our drive yesterday to our four-day family reunion in Wisconsin, I thought through several fairly deep topics, sure that I’d have something wise to share with you all.

I am 34, after all. 

😉

However, beside the fact that we are completely in the middle of No. Where. with extremely iffy cell reception, the wi-fi at our rented house was completely out of commission. Therefore, ZERO thirty-four year-old wisdom to share…at least that particular night.

So, tonight, you get thirty-four and a day, which isn’t really all that bad, huh?

Like I said, we’re spending a long weekend up in Wisconsin with Tobin’s extended family. I think the total count is 40 people, and we rented a ginormo house. Yeah, it’s out in the boondocks, but it sure is cool. Tons of space, sand volleyball that has doubled as a huge sandbox for the kiddos, a seven-person hot tub, pool table, mini shuffleboard, the list goes on.

It’s like a vacation. :) 

I also discovered that one of my cousins-in-law (does that term even exist? It does now…) is a blogger! I know! Despite the fact that I’m being slightly over-dramatic, she really is a very good writer, and I’ve loved the bit I’ve read so far. I’ll have to link her up here sometime. That was a fun discovery. :)

Tonight, as we were waiting for dinner to be ready, I was chatting with Annie (also, the blogger) about the insane amount of stuffed animals (aka: taxidermy) inhabiting the house we’ve rented.

Really.

I cannot even begin to describe to you how CrAzY is is to be stared down by a mountain lion or to be greeted by a bear when you walk through the front door.

It’s sorta creepy.

I was sharing this with her (and she agreed), and Maelie heard me say that I thought the bear was “shocking”.

A few seconds later, she looked at Tobin. “Bear shopping! Bear shopping!” 

Haha…I suppose it DOES make sense. It gave me a good laugh, anyway.

😀

After a busy (and napless) day of playing in the sand and running everywhere and swimming and even decorating a cardboard playhouse, Maelie had HAD it tonight…and we experienced the worst temper tantrum from her we’d had EVER.

Gosh, it was bad.

Lesson to be learned: Mae will always want her princess jammies. Always. Therefore, even if she is NOT dressed IN her princess jammies, she does not need to know this piece of information.

Either that, or we need multiple pairs of princess jammies.

OY.

Despite temper tantrums and cell reception that hates me, it’s good. Nice to be away for a few days and spending time with people we haven’t seen in a long time. (A few we hadn’t even met yet!)

Good memories.

I should go be social…g’nite, friends!

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, just life, travel, where I am

See Ya, 33…

July 18, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Big day tomorrow, I guess.

You know, July 19th.

National Mel Day, as my hairstylist dubbed it tonight.

Or, maybe, not. quite.

I like my birthday…who doesn’t? Really. If we’re being honest, we ALL like a day that gives us a little extra love. 😉 I’m planning to spend the morning at the splash park with my girl and some friends. I even baked myself some birthday cupcakes ’cause that’s just what I do.

:)

Then in the afternoon we’re headed to Wisconsin for a few days for the big family reunion. (So blogging may be slightly sporadic. We’ll see…)

I got to do my celebrating a few nights ago. My hubby totally got me.

I am so stinkin’ hard to surprise, and he managed to pull it off. I thought? We were boppin’ across the street to take some birthday ice cream bars to Jonny.

Nope.

Surprise, Mel! (Kris got a good picture of the actual moment. I look very confused…it’s slightly comical.) :)

Anyway…it was a great birthday surprise. Exactly the way I would have chosen to spend my birthday…with people I love. :)

We had dinner, DQ cake, and then played a couple rounds of fishbowl, my favorite go-to-when-I-want-to-laugh-a-lot game.

Sweet memories with my hubby, daughter, and some amazing friends.

A few pics…we didn’t get a ton, but that’s ok.

You know how I loooooooooooove cake? I love DQ cake even more!

Yeah, he’s a good guy. :)

Ok…so, yeah, this is what we’re really like. I have no idea what led to this photo…possibly a conversation about a bottle of ketchup? FYI, I did have permission to post it. Mostly. 😉

Yeah, this one is good enough to post twice. Love these two.

Hello, 34!

It’s gonna be a great year. 😀

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, friends, just life, where I am

An Answer to Prayer

July 17, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I was just thinking today about life two years ago…

…about how Mae was so teeny-tiny.

…about how we were packing up our lives to move here and begin a new chapter.

…about how Illinois felt more foreign than Indonesia.

…about how scared I was that I’d never find friends. 

One of my sweet friends from Minnesota told me that she was praying extra hard for God to send me one or two close friends. I’m sure I prayed that off and on, too…in between diaper changes and feedings and naps and coffee and episodes of Little House on the Prairie. 😉

But I know she prayed it…often.

And God answered that prayer…beyond what I could have ever imagined. And these two beautiful women, Kris and Alison, are a big part of that answer.

Friendship is such a gift…and I am so blessed.

This pic was taken at my surprise birthday party the other night. Will tell you all about it tomorrow. :)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, just life, prayer, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 43)

July 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

:) My daughter, the unofficial, West Dundee Target greeter. Today we were picking out a birthday card near the front entrance, and as a family walked in, she looked at them and said, “Hi, people!”. With a wave. Golly, I love her. :)

:) Wedding tomorrow and plans to see friends we haven’t in a long time.

:) Coffee and a good chat on the back patio with my dear friend.

:) Family walks up and down the street.

:) My Mac is still going…granted, I haven’t used it much, but I’ll take it! (It’s honestly weird to have my own laptop again. Really.)

:) Cute, $7 white skirts. (Did I just use the words “cute” and “skirt” in the same sentence? As a blessing? WOW, Mel…) 😉

:) Surprise e-mails that make me smile.

:) Early morning running when it’s NOT already 90.

:) Painting…I love my latest one. It’s a gift that I’m really excited to give, but I not-so-secretly want to keep it for myself. Thinkin’ I might try to do another for me. :)

:) The Psalms…I’ve spent some time reading several of them this week. So thankful for the encouragement found there.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, coffee, family, friends, just life, Maelie, what I'm learning, where I am

…

July 12, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Sometimes there are just those days.

No words.

Definitely emotions but no way to adequately express them.

Gwen died this morning.

My heart aches for her family. Her boyfriend. Her friends. Everyone who loved her.

It was so quick…the evil of cancer took her faster than any of us could have imagined. And for that reason alone it feels surreal.

She’s at peace, though…with her Father and Savior. I wonder what it’s like…I’m sure her smile is even bigger in heaven than it was here. I can still hear her laugh…and it must just be music there. I know one thing…she’s incredibly happy.

That thought alone will comfort a heart tonight.

My friend, I’m so glad this isn’t the end, that this is a see ya later and not a goodbye. Someday there will be another hug, a chat, and probably another bagel with LOTS of cream cheese. 😉 Thank you for the blessing and privilege of knowing you, loving you, and calling you a friend.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, remembering, where I am

A Tale of Two Friends

July 11, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Once upon a time there were two girls, M & G.

They went to the same college, and, though they knew each other somewhat, they weren’t really friends during their first year.

But then…

Sophomore. Speech. Class.

…happened.

M was deathly afraid of it, G not so much.

And so it was that the one who didn’t mind so much helped the girl who could possibly have fainted on the spot…survive.

And a friendship happened.

It was a good one…the kind that brought on deep conversations because they were both thinkers and writers. A few times there were trips to the laundromat when they were both desperate for clean clothes and didn’t want to wait at the end of the long list of girls who thought ahead and actually signed up for a time slot.

And, usually, those trips to do laundry also resulted in a stop at a local bagel shop, the place where they’d have a bagel to go with their cream cheese. They’d talk, laugh, and just enjoy the friendship.

At the end of the year, G graduated and moved on to what was next for her; M stayed to finish her degree for a few more years.

They lost touch until several years later when Facebook swept the world and reunited them, at least online. Though they wouldn’t see each other again in person, there was the occasion birthday wish, note, status-or-photo like. A small connection still.

Last month G found out she had cancer, and treatment options were being explored and discussed.

However, things were far worse than imagined, and the doctors soon told her treatment was not an option…her condition was terminal…and she began to deteriorate very quickly.  The best thing they could do was keep her comfortable in her last days.

Tonight my sweet friend, G, is in her last days…possibly hours. She is surrounded by her family, her boyfriend, and many who love her. From an earthly standpoint there is nothing that can be done, but G has a Hope…and she knows Who is waiting to welcome her Home. I ask you to pray for aching hearts being forced to say goodbye to their dear daughter, girlfriend, friend…far too soon. I’m sad that I will never hug my friend again on earth, but I, too, have that Hope…and it makes heaven seem just a little sweeter tonight.

In your own words, G, Toodles, my beautiful friend. I will miss you.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, remembering, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 42)

July 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

:) Fireworks with our sweet friends and a certain little girl who loved them. (Well, until she decided she was tired.)

:) Sunshine. (But can’t say the temps that came with it were that much of a blessing! ;))

:) Heart to heart chats.

:) A stay-home movie date and key lime pie with my hubby.

:) Bedtime stories and songs.

:) People who love my girl.

:) Free Kindle books…I’ve gotten several good ones lately. Really, really LOVE it when I don’t have to pay!

:) Two days and a few hours of just me and the girl…and friends who kept me company. Parade, fireworks, guitar lesson, shopping, long chats, a movie. I am so blessed.

:) Temps in the 80’s. Aaaaahhhh…

:) Trusting that He can see when we can’t.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, just life

Currently…

July 6, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I stumbled onto a blog of a friend of a friend of probably a friend (you get the idea…) awhile ago.

She’s such a good writer, and she does this thing that I’m gonna borrow tonight. :) I like it.

It makes me process, evaluate, think a little, and gives me permission to be a little silly.

Just a little. 😉

So I’m borrowing her ideas, once again, tonight.

Current Reads: Have I mentioned before that my Kindle has turned me into an insane bookworm? I devour books and lose sleep. Like, a lot. Most of the time it’s worth it. In the Presence of My Enemies, by Gracia Burnham, is a book I’m reading for the second time. I’m taking it a lot slower this time around, and it’s still as good this time, too. Read it. Really. I’m also reading Ready or Not by Chautona Havig…it was a freebie borrow from the Kindle store and I have to admit that it’s good. A lot better than I was expecting. It’s my stay-up-late-even-though-I-should-be-sleeping read. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen is also on my I-really-need-to-finally-read-this list. I am bound and determined to finish it by the end of the month.

Current Playlist: Honestly, whatever’s on KLove. True. I jam in my car…and I jam in the house, but those songs are pretty much the same ones. My running playlist is a little different…still mostly just praise and worship. It’s what I like. What lifts me up and brings me closer to Him. What I need. :)

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Tanning/lying in “Maelie’s” 12′ x 30″ pool. While she naps. (Not every day, though.) I say I’m unashamed that I do this…and most of the time it’s true, but there are always those self-conscious, my-thighs-look-too-big-in-these-tankini-bottoms thoughts. I need to get over it.

Current Colors: Kelly green. Dying…DYING…for a dress or skirt in this color but have yet to find one. Also really loving my usual brown and blue, the new color scheme for our front living room. JOY! (Now to actually paint it…)

Current Fetish: Clunky shoes. That one never really changes, but this summer, I’ve really loved the clunky flip-flop thing. Dear weather, will you please stay warm and ice-free forever so I can keep wearing ’em? 😉

Current Food: Just finished a chicken wrap about ten minutes ago…does that count? Thinkin’ about the sea salt caramel dark chocolate I have hiding in my fridge at the moment, too. Yes, you should be jealous.

Current Drink: Diet Coke with Lime. Yeah.

Current Wishlist: This jean skirt at Maurices that I completely heart. Oh, my. Oh, NO. Not unless it goes on, like, major clearance! Some type of organizer for all of Maelie’s downstairs toys. I am tired of tripping over them. I have some ideas…now to finance them. An agent. To help me with this whole book thing. So jealous (really) of people who have literary agents. Sometimes a writer just needs someone to believe in them, ya know?

Current Needs: Sleep. To drink more water. Yeah.

Current Triumph: Um…

Current Bane-of-my-Existence: Well, DUH. THE WEATHER!!!

Current Celebrity Crush: More um…

Current Indulgence: It’s pretty sad when I can’t think of an answer to this one, huh? Except for the fact that I eat too much chocolate, I really can’t come up with anything.

Current Mood: A strange mix of happy and pensive. The two, simultaneously, make for a strange Mel. One who probably just needs to crash for the night. 😉

My Current #1 Blessing: This one never changes. I am blessed with the most wonderful hubby and daughter and some pretty great friends, who I consider family. I love them so much!

Current Slang or Saying: Seriously?! Oy…is still on the list. Come on, Mel…lately, I’ve had to talk myself through running long distances. Sure. Those. Nothing exciting, just me.

Current Outfit: denim shorts, white tank top with flowers, brown wedges…which, strangely, I am still wearing. Usually I kick off my shoes as soon as I’m through the door.

Current Link: Honestly, my brain is about fried for the night. I’ll get back to ya on that one. 😉

Current Photo: Aren’t I cute? Don’t answer that. 😉

G’nite, friends!

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, random, uncategorized, where I am, writing
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