Crazy and THE CAKE

June 12, 2011 by · 3 Comments

Crazy day. A good one, one that I’ll write much more about over the week.

We celebrated our girl tonight.

(Her birthday is actually Tuesday, but weekend parties are just better for everyone.)

And what a fun night it was!

We got the most perfect weather…low 70’s and sunny, lots of friends and fun and ( too

much) food.

I love memories, and THE CAKE is definitely one

I will always remember.

My dear friend, Kris, spent over two hours helping me put it together, and we were pretty proud of how it turned out.

I think Maelie liked it, too. :)

The Cake
The Cake
Maelie eating cake

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, food, friends, Maelie

Just Tonight

June 9, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Ok, so if we’re being honest here

, the time I’ve spent with this blog has dwindled considerably in the last few weeks. Yes, there were a few things keeping me busy, but even so it’s become less of a priority.

I’m not sure how I feel about that.

It’s not like I’ve run out of words…HA! Like that will ever happen.

It’s just that I’d rather be doing other things…like chasing my daughter. Laughing with her. Hanging out with my hubby.

Running here and there, spending time with people (instead of a computer) and feeling like I have a life again.

I think, without completely realizing it at the time, when I started this blog, I was looking for a friend…you know, the kind you can pour your heart out to

? Yeah, that kind.

Things have changed since that day in January when the heart spilling began.

Now…there are friends.

There are places to be. There are things to do with my time. I’ve got an active daughter who loves to play and be read to and have her mommy close by.

I love that. And I’m really happy.

And I’m not questioning the whole 365 day blogging challenge. I really want to complete it, and I plan on it. But long, drawn-out thoughts might become more sporadic.

Pictures and little memories of my days might become more common.

And that’s ok. Because, really, those are the things that make up my life.

I love what my husband wrote on Monday…about how we’ve so clearly seen God at work during the past year through some of the toughest changes a family can face.

That encourages my heart so much and just makes me smile.

God has given so much, and I love to recall how He’s provided…in ways we never thought possible.

And God has provided friends, too…those who listen and love and will tell me what I need to hear. He’s also given me a few blogging friends, and I consider them just as much of a blessing.

Those people who are willing to read my thoughts and leave me a note or a say a prayer mean more than you will ever know.

Anyway, just my heart tonight. Feeling pretty thankful for those of you who are blessings in my life.

I need to crash.

One of my newest goals

? To get more sleep.

Yeah, one can try.

:) G’nite.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, where I am

Sisters

June 8, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Miss, Mel, Becky

Today: a day with my best friends, Missy and Becky. I love these two.

We grew up together, therefore they know more embarrass ing

stories about me than you can possibly imagine. :) But we’ve also got more amazing memories together than you can possibly imagine.

Days with the three of us…don’t happen very often.

And when they do, we laugh and talk like we’ ve ne

ver been apart.

I love that about us.

Miles, sometimes thousands of them, have separated us; marriage and kids have made us busy; different lives have kept us going in opposite directions.

But we’ve never lost this friendship, and for that I am so incredibly thankful.

It’s forever.

I love you, girls!

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends

Counting Blessings

June 5, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Just a few thoughts today.

We are headed to Iowa in a couple hours and will be gone til Wednesday…but I won’ t be gone from

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the blog. Promise. :)

I’m not gonna lie…it’s been a hard week.

It’s been busy…and a good kind of busy, but there have been some tough moments wrapped up in the week, too.

I’d much rather be running around than be stuck at home for days at a time, though…so it was good to have my mind occupied.

(Not sure how I survived winter…)

Anyway, today’s that kind of day where I need to count the blessings instead of the things that have kept me on the verge of tears for days. Isn’t it amazing how we just naturally tend to focus on all the bad stuff

?

So let’s look at some good.

And smile. Lots of smiling.

It’s good for the heart. :)

😀 Rummage Sale. That’s one thing that kept me busy this week. Immanuel’s PTL (the parent association) had its annual rummage sale this past Thursday-Sunday.

I showed up to help out because there was no good reason to not go…I have more free time than most people, and because people = fun. (Even if I’m working!) It was fun to get out, do something for a good cause, and get to know some people better, too. (And I’m still pretty proud of the Jeep Stroller I managed to snag at the sale, too.

;))

😀 Park. Yay for warm weather and being outside! Maelie and I had a lot of fun with a bunch of friends on Thursday morning at the park. We both got a little pink… thankfully I put sunblock on her!

It was fun, though.

😀 Pedicure. I’m throwing this one in here because it had been over a year since I’d had one. Therefore, completely justified. Even for this super-ticklish girl, there is almost no better way to spend an hour than to have someone ELSE make my toes pretty.

😀 Random naps.

I have napped in the strangest places over the past few weeks.

I’ve taken a couple outside in the yard, one on the porch with my feet sticking up in the air…no idea HOW I managed that one, and just a few minutes ago I woke up from a power nap I accidentally took while blogging. And I never sleep sitting up, so I MUST be tired!

😀 Music. I love it. I th ink you know that if you read this blog once

in awhile. 😉 Listening to it, making it…it’s all good. We sang Glorious Day (Casting Crowns) this morning at church…I just love that song. It made my heart happy.

😀 Road trips. Maybe. Honestly, I don’t love long trips, but sometimes they’re necessary. Like when a sweet former student is graduating or a sweet little girl is turning one and needs to celebrate. So I’m trying to be happy about the impending road trip we are beginning in just a couple of hours. We chose to leave in the evening hoping that Mae will sleep most of the trip and through the night. (The last two hours of the drive yesterday were kind of brutal. Earplugs, anyone?) Please pray for safety and for a happy little chica.

😀 Golden retriever love. Oh, the exuberance these boys bring to my days. As often as I get annoyed by the constant love-in-my-face all the time, I love my dogs.

😀 My sweet girl. I don’t give thanks for her enough…but I am thankful for her. Every. Single. Day.

😀 My hard-working hubby. In any relationship, it’s easy to look at the negatives, but really, there’s a lot of good with us. I love him, even on the hard days.

Ok, I could keep going, but really…we leave in an hour, and I’m not done packing yet…for me or my girl. I’ll see ya next time…from Iowa!

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, friends, random

Congratulations, Kayla!

June 4, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Today I had the privilege of celebrating the high school graduation of a dear friend and former student, Kayla.

I am so, so thankful that we could make the trip…and it was worth it j ust for the look on her face when she saw

us and the happy-tears reunion that occurred.

:) God has given Kayla such a sensitive, caring heart, and she is open to whatever He has for her. I can’t wait to see what that is!

And here’s some fun…this first picture was taken the last time I saw her, in November, 2003.

She h ad been in town for

a few days and came over to my house to decorate cookies with me.

We had so much fun…and I had no idea that almost eight years would pass before we’d see each other again.

We won’t be letting that much time go by again.

Kayla 2003

And today. :)

Kayla 2011

Blessings to you, Kayla!

Lots of love.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, teaching

Going Back

June 3, 2011 by · 2 Comments

I’m going to forego Five Minute Friday this week and go a different direction.

Tomorrow is kind of a cool, not-sure-what-to-expect kind of day.

We’re driving up to Wisconsin Rapids tomorrow, my old stomping grounds from my very first year of teaching. I haven’t been back since the last day of school in 2002.

Yowsers, time flies!

My very first class is graduating from high school this year, and honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about that, other than very, very OLD!

One of the sweetest students I ever had

the privilege of teaching is graduating tomorrow, and she sent me an invitation to her ceremony and party.

Well, of course I have to go!

But I also have to admit that the butterflies are turning summersaults already.

I’m not used to going b ack to

a place.

Life has been a series of moves from place to place…and I never really “go back”. Other than for a visit a few days at a time.

And for some reason, this one seems strange because it’s been SO long.

There are so many people from this little slice of my life who meant so much to me. It makes me sad that I didn’ t do more

to stay in touch.

Regardless of that, I’m looking forward to having a few hours to celebrate a dear student and friend and to possibly catch up with a few old friends, too. And maybe prove to them that I eventually grew up…well, a little at least. :)

Tomorrow I get to “go back” to one of the many homes I’ve had. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’m sure it will be wonderful.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, teaching

Her Mommy’s Daughter?

May 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I snapped this picture yesterday…

Maelie might not look like me, but she is most definitely my daughter.

We’ll h ave her hitting

a volleyb

all in no time!

(Just look at that concentration!)

And…one of my favorite mommy/ daughter photos so far.

I just love my beautiful girl!

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, Maelie

Taking a Break…and Being Honest

May 24, 2011 by · 1 Comment

I’m going to give myself a break from The Journey tonight and go a different route.

I’ve been wanting to chat about something that’s come up recently, but I sometimes feel like a broken record.

I mean, how long can a person grieve over something?

It’s been a little over a year since I left Indonesia.

When I first left…I was sad.

I missed it, and I

missed my husband more. Those first weeks home were spent anticipating his return and the birth of our daughter…I’m not sure there was a lot of grief over Indonesia mixed in there.

Then Tobin came home…and life was focused on our little girl and getting ready to move to Illinois.

Yes, there was grief…over leaving Minnesota and friends…but not so much about the loss of Indonesia.

And then we moved…and there was a whole new kind of grief… grieving what was no more.

It’s been a year of figuring that out…but also a year of being so incredibly blessed by life as a family of THREE, by new friends, by a new community and church.

Our minds were so busy with those things that we didn’t really think much about Indonesia.

It wasn’t intentional… it just happened.

And somewhere in the last month…grief started to creep in.

There were days when I would try to push it out and ignore the pain, but it wouldn’ t go away.

I’d get on Facebook, see pictures of former students, and my heart would just ache. I’d hear about staff members and what was going on with them…and I longed to be a part it. I saw pictures of the senior banquet…students we love…and we’re not there.

I think I most accurately verbalized my feelings last week when I told Tobin, “When our students are in Indonesia, I feel like we always have the option of going back to see them again…so it’s ok if we don’t miss them too much. But now another class of incredible students is graduating…and scattering. I’m not sure we’ll ever see them again.”

That’s sad…and the reality of a transitory community.

I’ve let the tears drip this week…surprisingly, there have been a lot of them.

They come at random times but never stick around too long.

The ache is there, though…the dull, physical heartache that makes me long for the day when there will be no more goodbyes.

Just where I am today…sad.

But still thankful.

Because grief means it meant something…that it was worth loving and worth hurting over.

I don’ t long

to go back

to life in Indonesia. It was a season, a piece of our lives.

Life is here and now, and for awhile, I will take the time to grieve if those moments hit.

But I’m going to spend far more of my life looking forward and enjoying the blessings God has given me today.

I’m so, so thankful.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, culture shock, Indonesia, remembering, where I am

For My Girl

May 8, 2011 by · 3 Comments

May 8, 2011

Dear Maelie,

It might seem a little odd that I’m writing to you on my very first Mother’s Day. But there are some things I want you to know, my girl, because I love you.

God took your daddy and me on a journey, one that was not what we had imagined at all, before he made us parents. And because of the waiting, heartache, and tears, we know that you are that much more special. Through all of that, He had you picked out for us!

Our little Mae, you are so very loved and treasured.

When I first found out I was expecting you, I was SO EXCITED. (It was really hard to keep it a secret for a few weeks!) Over time, I was convinced you were a boy. (Isn’t that so funny?) But deep down I w anted

a girl, and God knew that and gave me the desire of my heart.

You made my dreams come true on June 14, 2010, when you made your entrance into this big, crazy world. I couldn’t wait to hold you, love you, hug you, kiss you, snuggle you, pray for you…be mommy to you. You came out ready for all of that…and at the same time, marching to the beat of your own drum.

I like that.

I like it that you’ve found your own rhythm so early in life. There’s gonna be a lot of dancing going on in our house as you grow up!

You’re going to learn a lot of steps from me, and you’ll teach me some, too. And we’ll figure out this mother/daughter dance of life together. It’ ll be fun.

😉

I also want you to know how much I love dreaming BIG dreams for you. As fun as it is to imagine what you might be like, though, I want your dreams to be

your own. I know God will give you those dreams, and I can’t wait to see who you will become!

With everything in me, I want you to be a girl who grows up to love Jesus and others.

Your daddy and I want you to see the world and learn to love

the beauty of diversity. (But take your time growing up because the first year has already gone by too quickly!)

I love you so much, my sweet girl. And even though it’s Mother’s Day, today I celebrate you.

Because you are what makes me mama…and you make my life so much sweeter, so much more beautiful, and so much more blessed.

May you find God’s blessings in each moment and grow to love Him more and more each day.

I’ll love you forever,
Mommy

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, Maelie

Saturday Love

May 7, 2011 by · 1 Comment

My blog post for today is so not deep or profound.

Probably because I’m still waking up from that glorious 2+ hour nap I gave myself this afternoon.

(Thank you to my fabulous daughter for the close-

to-three-hour nap she took just so I could sleep.

;))

I use to love running all over the place and doing everything on weekends.

Now, if given a choice, I want nothing more than to be with my family, hanging out at home or spending time outside in our neighborhood. I think I am boring.

Or maybe finally growing up. :)

Today was the perfect pre-Mother’s Day gift. Because the sun rises so early now, I really can’t sleep past 6:30. Which is frustrating at times, but today it was ok. I popped out of bed, realized that my daughter was still OUT (which is pretty rare…usually she’s talking to herself in her crib by around 6:15), and decided to be productive and make Oatmeal Cream Pies. Again.

Yes, at 6:30 a.m. I’m just cool like that.

And, for the record, they turned out perfectly this time. Which is good and bad.

I gave some to the neighbors tonight

so I can still fit into my pants tomorrow. Hopefully.

My daughter, in all of her I-was-up-talking-to-myself-at-4:39 a.m.-but-mommy-ignored-me-and-I-went-back-to-sleep glory slept til 8:00. She. Never. Does. That. Ever.

It was a fantastic start to the day.

She got up and did her usual eat, play, cuddle, eat routine…then it was back to bed for her morning nap around 10:30. We didn’t get a huge nap, but she slept a good hour.

Then it was off to Target for tp, formula, and diapers…such a fun trip. We did get to browse a bit while Tob “shopped”, found some too-adorable kitchen towels, and even saw some friends.

T’was fun. Well, as fun as it can be to drop $50 at Target for expensive essentials. Grrr.

Then it was home for a little swinging and playing, a bottle, and

?

Another nap.

Bless my daughter’ s awe

somely sensitive heart. She knew her mommy needed a nap and was only too happy to oblige. And so she slept from 2:30-5:15. (At which time Tobin went to wake her up so she would actually sleep tonight…) I slept too. It. Was. Wonderful.

Then more eating and playing. My daughter really loves to play. (And crawl all over creation, getting into everything.)

Around 6:15 we got a text from some friends inviting us over for dinner.

So we packed up the girl and headed all the way across the street. After d inner we sat around the fire pit

in their backyard chatting. Maelie is an outdoor girl…she is never grumpy if she is outside. It was a nice change instead of her usual crabby evenings. I think we may have found a cure. :)

Then it was home and bed for the girl and a little chatting with a friend for me.

Good Saturda

y…I really love days when the three of us are together. (Even if there are long periods of sleeping involved…)

Except for one thing. I had about six topics I wanted to write about tonight, and none of them came together. I was feeling wordless…which clearly isn’t completely accurate.

I mean, I obviously have plenty of words. :) Just nothing too deep.

How was your Saturday

?

Thanks for reading.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family
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