Good Morning!

September 25, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Yes, I’m fully aware that it’s late at night.

😉

A friend mentioned this song by Mandisa last night at workout, and it’s been in my head all day long today. Therefore, completely worthy of sharing. Plus, it’s a good one. :)

Ironically, it’s not really an accurate description of our morning. Up past midnight, I woke late to one of the dogs barking his head off at I-don’t-know-what, my hubby already gone, and Maelie still (thankfully) crashed. (We were ALL up too late.)

On those kind of mornings, it’s just so hard to get up and going. I showered, made coffee, got Mae up around 8:30…and I can’t exactly tell you where our morning went or what we did. It just kind of passed and we chilled.

We really needed to get out, though, and since we had no plans, we took a jaunt to Dairy Queen. (This time I walked. ;)) It was a perfect, gorgeous, early-fall day, and though I walked almost three miles, I still wore flip flops.

Yes, I AM a die-hard flip-flop wearer, if you haven’t noticed. :)

It was good to get out, but it was just one of those tired days. Bedtime came early-ish for Mae, and I crossed a couple things off my to-do list. Always nice. :)

As I pushed Mae in the stroller during our walk, we just chatted with each other, and it was SO FUN. My daughter is TWO! We have conversations! We laugh together, even on the days that are more challenging.

I just love her…and am so thankful for her, even if I forget the blessing that she is sometimes.

Here are a few random pics from today. :)

Love memories. Love her even more.

Mae woke up a few minutes before I went into get her this morning. This is what she had done with her stuffed animals…what a funny girl! (I especially love the fact that she has Grover hanging by his neck…haha.) 😉 

SO love the cheesy smile!

Yay for mommy/daughter ice cream dates! And more cheese, too… 😉

My sweetie!

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, just life, Maelie, music, where I am

Monday Rambling

September 24, 2012 by · 2 Comments

Monday night.

Workout night.

I am pretty sure I won’t be able to sit down tomorrow…let alone even get out of bed without help. It was our first night back in the gym after a summer of outdoor workouts, which are good, but I like the gym better. Maybe not the pain that comes with it, though. We always run stairs. And then do a fantastically grueling (haha…I’m wordy tonight) combination of squats and suicides and squats and lunges and ab work and squats and weights. Oh, and squats.

Sorry…we just did A LOT of squats tonight. 😉 

I’ve kinda been on a workout kick today. I actually ran this morning, too. It was comical…kind of. Well, for me, anything is funny at 7 a.m. :) At the last minute…literally as I started running, I decided to abandon my usual (read: so-familiar-I-can-run-it-blindfolded) morning route in exchange for the bike path by our house. Really, I was mostly just curious to see how fast I could make it to Dairy Queen, which is somewhere between 1.3-1.5 miles from our house. (I forgot to charge my GPS so I had to go on what I remembered, and my pace proved it, I think.) Anyway…the important thing is that now I know I can get to the land of blizzards and freezes (which are my favorite) in 11-12ish minutes. (Maybe even faster if DQ is actually open and there is ice cream waiting.) :)

Oh, and if people stop for runners at crosswalks like they’re SUPPOSED to…I’ll tell that story another day. Maybe. :)

Am I teetering toward dorkiness tonight? I’m thinkin’ so. Sorry.

Tobin had today off, and we had a family adventure to IKEA. For all of the world we’ve seen, I’m sure many of you will find it funny that we have never been to an IKEA, despite living within 30 minutes of one for over half of our married lives. We thought it was a bit ironic, but such is life.

The Pros: Golly, the shopping cart was sweet…the one with the Cozy Coupe-like thing attached to the front. Maelie loved it. Most importantly, she stayed IN it and didn’t run around too much, thus enabling US to actually enjoy the expanse of all things home decor. :) Free breakfast on Mondays, which we didn’t even know about until last night. Uber adorable little girls’ bedroom furniture. I shamelessly took a picture. Happy sigh…someday. :) A cute little pink rug for our girl’s room. Wine glasses…which we needed because after my little mishap (klutzy Mel+granite countertop) we were down to three. Oh, and Chick Fil-A was ever-so-conveniently located on our way home…love how that happens. So, all good stuff. :)

The Cons: Honestly? We thought it was slightly hyped up…and were a little disappointed. I mean, it was an enjoyable outing and was fun to look, but I’m not sure what I was expecting. (I am totally talking myself in a circle here.) And I was sad that the mongo chocolate bar for 99 cents was really not so good. It wasn’t bad…I just wanted super-yummy chocolate. Sadly, it’s not worth my calories. I’m sure I’ll find a culinary use for it anyway. :)

But at the end of the day, it was family and it was fun, and we had a good time.

:)

Well, the adrenaline is starting to slow down, and my eyelids might actually be starting to droop…it IS 11:30…way past my bedtime.

Hope you all had a great Monday. And the good news? You’ve got six more days before there will be another one!

G’nite.

Sig

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

Cold Toes

September 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Summer is turning to fall.

I feel it mostly in the air. And, in my cold toes.

A few days ago, I caved and put socks on. (I usually reserve those only for when I go running.) Refusing to give in to actual shoes, I even tromped outside, sporting the socks and flip flop look for a day or two. SO not cool, Mel…oh, the fashion police I will offend just to avoid shoes.

😉

However, I did finally give in over the weekend and pull out my combat boots. You know, those steal-of-a-deal ones I so fortunately nabbed at Goodwill last December? Yeah, those. :) I smiled as I dusted them off and may or may not have let out a giggle when I realized the last time I wore them was the day we tromped six-ish miles through Pareeee. (Sorry, that was my epic failure of an attempt to sound French.)

Paris.

And though they were real shoes, I have to admit that my feet liked them very much as I stomped the last bits of European dust off.

I’m sad, though…I’m gonna need to find some replacements very soon. While they’ll work for my Monday-Saturday life for a while longer, I really shouldn’t wear them to church anymore.

Yes, I did say anymore.

I wore them all the time last winter/spring. I do believe that makes me insanely cool. 😉

Really, I am pretty ready for fall and all that comes with it…crunchy leaves :), pecan pie, pumpkin spice coffee creamer (found that one a couple weeks ago already!!!), apple cider, sweaters and jeans, going for a morning run when the leaves are pretty, raking the leaves into a big pile and jumping into them because I’m making up for my Indo, fall-less years.

Aaaaahhhh. :)

All of that fun?

Is definitely worth the cold toes. :)

And just because I can…this pic is a couple years old. (Obviously…the girlie is teeny-tiny!) But I love it.

Sig

Filed Under: barefoot, blessings, just life, Maelie, running, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 49)

September 20, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

:) A day of sunshine with back porch guitar lessons.

:) D minor and the fact that my fingers can almost find it now.

:) A healthy daughter who, somehow, took a headfirst dive down twelve steps today and is completely fine. I know all kids fall down stairs, but that was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. So thankful she’s ok.

:) Red toenail polish and flip flops in September.

:) Words of encouragement from friends.

:) Music and laughter.

:) Smiles for a friend.

:) Episodes of Road to Avonlea. (Yeah, I’m still addicted.)

:) Clumsy moments…yeah, that’s me. Thanking God my eye isn’t black and blue. Yet.

:) Having permission to dream…and knowing that my Father isn’t limited.

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, friends, just life, Maelie, where I am

Tuesday Toast and Tea

September 18, 2012 by · 2 Comments

I know you’re all marveling at my astounding alliteration.

But before you think I’ve gone all British on you or that I’m a complete dork, though that IS highly probable most days, I’ll just throw it out there that I feel icky. Clearly last night’s hope of my cold being almost-over crashed and burned. Therefore, sick = (honey/butter) toast + (peach) tea. (For those of you who like specifics.) 😉

I am blessed in the fact that I don’t have anywhere I need to be tomorrow. (Other than resting as much as possible.) I am extremely grateful that my daughter decided an afternoon nap was a glorious thing today…here’s hoping she feels the same way tomorrow. 😉

Sometimes I don’t so much enjoy the grumpy, sick Mel. Colds are the worst. I’ve said it before that I’d take a 24-hour stomach bug any day over a cold, especially the kind that clogs up my throat and ruins my voice. Singing to Maelie tonight was extra lovely, I can assure you. I’m glad she won’t remember my extremely raspy version of Brahm’s Lullaby. 😉

Man, this cold is just bringing out the sarcasm all over the place.

In all seriousness, though, Maelie and I managed to have a pretty good day. A dose of DayQuil got me through the morning. A friend stopped over for coffee (always fun!) and then my girlie and I trekked over to Goodwill for a few. I was running out of steam (aka: the meds were wearing off) and so we cut the trip the short, but I did have a few good finds…and they were things I needed. I can’t wait to go back and finish my trip. :)

Maelie and I had some good princess castle-playing, and we even played an actual card game…sort of. She dumped all the cards out and then matched some of them up. I was impressed…I didn’t teach her how to match them…maybe Tobin did. (honey???) Puzzles, care bears, ponies…all the usual favorites. It was a nice way to spend the day with my favorite chica. She sure is a sweetheart…well, except when she rocks the rocking chair right over my baby toe. (But that’s a story for another day.) She kissed it better without me even asking her…that may or may not have melted my heart into a mongo puddle.

Life just kind of is this week…and honestly, it’s good. Maelie is just so fun right now…conversations make sense, she’s able to actually play with people, we laugh together, there are lots of hugs and I-love-you’s and walks around the neighborhood. She’s so eager to help and just be near me…I love it so much I almost want to freeze time. (Except for part with the random temper tantrums at hospital main entrances…totally hypothetical…but I’m guessing all mommies would agree on that one. ;))

Just soaking up the blessings of today and thanking Him for each one.

Heading to bed…I’m determined to feel better tomorrow. Blessings, friends.

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, friends, just life, Maelie, Tobin, where I am

Monday Observations

September 17, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Time for the random of a Monday.

Actually, it’s time for the random of my brain. It just happens to be Monday. 😉

Flip flop weather is almost over. This makes me very sad…very. I’m not sure what to do with my feet once it’s too cold for flip flops. Well, besides put socks on and pray that my combat boots make it through another winter. I’m gonna need to be on the lookout for another pair. Remember how I always have a backup pair of sunglasses? Combat boots are kinda in the same category.

Even though it’s almost time to wear actual shoes, I’m looking forward to fall. Hellooooooo, leaf-crunching while I run; sometimes I go out of my way to run through random piles of leaves :) Plus, I love sweaters and jeans and, ahem…combat boots. (See a theme going here?)

Over the weekend, we spent some time at Heritage Fest in West Dundee. I was impressed with what a big deal it was…and it was a lot of fun. Good music, good friends, good food. (See yesterday’s post. ;)) Maelie especially loved the parade and caught on quickly to the fact that she could run out into the street for candy almost faster than I could chase her. I think she gave me about a dozen almost-heart attacks, but we still had fun.

I came down with a cold on Saturday. My first in, like, a year, so I can’t complain too much. I can’t tell if it’s coming to an end already or if it’s still going to hit hard. Praying it’s almost over…I’m a grump when I’m sick.

I did yoga for an hour tonight. I can’t understand why people enjoy it. Is there something I’m missing? I just don’t like it. I think I’m just more of a run-like-mad, sweat-it-up, get-the-workout-over-with-already kind of girl. I am almost positive that I will hurt tomorrow, though…possibly even later tonight. So it had to have been good for me. Or something. :)

I went back at looked at my bucket list for 2012 over the weekend. Please don’t go look, too. I am waaaaaay behind. Way. Ugh. Funny how, at the beginning of the year, twelve months seemed like more than enough time to get things done…but it really wasn’t. (P.S. Can someone teach me how to thread my sewing machine???)

This has been, possibly, one of the more pointless posts I’ve ever written. At least you know where my brain is at…not a total loss, right? 😉

Happy almost-Tuesday. Hope your Monday was a good one. :)

Sig

Filed Under: just life, random, where I am

Currently… (aka: the I’m-Tired-So-I-Need-a-Blog-Prompt Post)

September 16, 2012 by · 3 Comments

One of my favorites…I don’t even know the original source. :)

Current Reads: Just finished Kisses From Katie, which really is worth a few separate blog posts in itself. Such a fantastic read. Still working (and haven’t gotten far) on Water For Elephants. (Have any of you read it? Is it worth it?) Also, in a very unlike-Mel move, I read this the other night. It was hilarious, it was political, it was everything I don’t typically enjoy. But it was short, which was why I was able to make it through the whole thing…in about an hour, I think. But since I don’t talk politics in this space, I won’t tell you about it. 😉 It’s free for Kindle right now, though, if you’re dying to read it.

Current Playlist. Oh, goodness, I just made a new running playlist that is enough to get me out of bed early. :) It’s amazing how changing up the tunes makes me want to run out of sheer curiosity at what’s coming next. That, and I had a really fantastic praise time with my Father the other morning…I’m pretty sure He shuffled the songs in the perfect order Himself. Love when He does that. :)

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Today? Chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick. (I did have a partner in crime if she wants to admit it. ;)) Golly, it was so good I’m gonna dream about it tonight. Really. (In my defense, I have not been to a state fair it what could be termed almost-eons. Therefore, I deserved whatever I wanted to eat on a stick. And it was a completely justified indulgence. :D)

Current Colors: Dark blue for the jeans that it’s finally cool enough to wear. Lots of gray and black. I need more color…I know, I know…as one of my faithful blog readers has been telling me.

Current Fetish: Lately I’ve loved going through my closet and finding things I’d forgotten I had. Yay for “new” outfits! I think I wore THREE things this past week I hadn’t touched in several months. :)

Current Food: I think I admitted it already. See: shame-inducing guilty pleasure. 😉

Current Drink: Oh boy, oh boy! So very exciting. I am drinking…Airborne. To kick the cold I came down with yesterday. Thankfully, between that and DayQuil, I am somehow not feeling completely cruddy, which is usually not the case.

Current Wishlist: I need a new pair of jeans. The practical side says I should go with my favorites at Maurices because they go with everything. And because I love them. And because the price is about the best I’m going to find for a decent pair. The completely off-the-wall side of me…wants these. In the bright blue. Or green. :)

Current Needs: Prayer. But I don’t really want to go into details in this post, so I’ll just say jeans. ‘Cause I need them, too. But I’d appreciate your prayers, too. :)

Currient Triumph: Honestly, just doing life with my girl and my hubby. Striving to live fully and love well.

Current Bane-of-my-Existence: I don’t really have one today that I can think of. I’d love it if Maelie would still take her afternoon nap, but I’m not going to term her awake-ness as that. It balances out when she goes to bed at 7:30, anyway. :)

Current Celebrity Crush: I always leave this one blank. But if I have to choose…and my hubby already knows this…I’d have to say Dennis Quaid. Just because. That’s all.

Current Indulgence: Man, that cheesecake is coming back to haunt me…in the blogging world, anyway. 😉

Current Mood: Anxious, a little. But mostly content. It was a really good day…I like those.

Current #1 Blessing: I’m a daughter of the King. I’m blessed with a wonderful hubby, an amazing daughter, and pretty awesome friends.

Current Slang or Saying: Aduh. (The Indonesian equivalent of ugh or stink.) Oh, goodness/good grief. (I need to find a few new phrases!)

Current Outfit: Black running shorts, a tank top, and a gray workout jacket. (Strangely, I did not…and have no plans to…work out today.)

Current Link: I linked enough things in this post. :)

Current Photo: Please excuse the messy hair and slightly streaky makeup…it was a good day. It was also a busy one. (And, yes, in case you’re wondering, that IS Elmo in the background in his underwear, sitting on his little plastic potty. You’ll NEVER guess what we’re working on at our house…) 😉

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, friends, just life, Maelie, reading, running, uncategorized, where I am

Five-Minute Friday: Focus

September 14, 2012 by · 10 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

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

Today’s Topic: Focus

So, on my way to the computer to write my Five-Minute Friday post, I got distracted by a pile of laundry that needed to be folded.

Clearly I need to work on my focus. :)

Sometimes it’s so hard for me…I set out to do something and I HAVE a goal; it’s just that before I get there, twelve other things beg for my attention. My daughter can’t find her princess slippers, the dogs need to go outside, my coffee cup has somehow magically drained itself, and that laundry that I meant to fold on the way to the computer? Never actually got folded.

:)

One thing that has helped me intentionally focus is to start my day off with “me” time. I get up early most mornings, go for a run, crank up the music, and praise. I need it. When I get home, shower, and find my coffee, life just seems easier. My girl is up, but since I’m already going for the day, I’m able to focus on her more. And while she gets going on her morning routine (aka: cereal and Sesame Street) I can find some time to talk to my Father and read His Word.

Those things help me focus. Not perfectly, but they sure help.

Maybe even enough to get that pile of laundry folded…but first, I need some coffee. :)

Five Minute Friday

Sig

Filed Under: Five Minute Friday, just life, where I am

Rainy Night Thoughts

September 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I love a rainy night. :)

Especially the kind when hubby forgets to close our bedroom windows and the temperature is just perfect for making a cup of hot cocoa and climbing into bed under a fleece blanket to update the blog.

As close to perfection as it’s going to get for now. :)

All that’s missing is a fireplace, but I’m guessing that won’t be happening anytime soon around here. Though my neighbor has one…maybe I’ll crash her living room on the next rainy, I-need-to-blog-and-feel-cozy night. :)

I do have to tell you that I love my new, red fleece blanket, though. You know that 5k I ran last weekend? The goodie bag rocked. A cute t-shirt (5k t’s are rarely cute) AND a blanket. The kind that screams, You know you want to go to take a nap just so you can cover yourself up with me. Yep, that kind of blanket.

Be jealous. 😉

It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve just written…you know, had a virtual coffee date with you all like I used to. Except tonight we’re havin’ hot cocoa. And it’s good despite the fact that I had to dig through the cupboard to find a packet of it, and I’m sure it’s been there for at least a year, but I think it might be closer to two. Hey, isn’t that what preservatives are for???

So, since we’re catching up, I guess I’ll just talk about…we’ll just see where it goes.

I finished Kisses From Katie yesterday.

I can honestly tell you that, besides the Bible, it’s not only the best book I’ve ever read; it’s also the most life-changing. Read it…testimonies of God’s abounding grace just leap off the pages. I saw pieces of myself in her, but mostly I saw the Father’s heart…which I think was the point.

You won’t be disappointed. I promise.

And as a complete side note…I feel like I understand myself and where I’ve been a little more after reading this piece of her story, too. Sometimes it’s hard to explain to people why we spent time overseas…it was cool too see her put into words some of the reasons. I could relate. :)

Ok, just read it. (And I’ll move on to something else.)

My sweet girl is all but done napping. It’s a blessing and a curse all rolled into one. Her non-nappingness (Golly, I looooooooove my word creations sometimes!) gives us more flexibility with our days, and that’s definitely a bonus. But it also makes the days long. It also means potentially super-crabby evenings, but also almost guarantees that she will crash the second her head hits her special pillow.

Yes, she has a special pillow. And tonight, she has special jammies, which I had to pull out and cut the tags off and get her really excited about because the worn-almost-every-night princess jammies are a) dirty; and b) too non-covering for a night like tonight. Thankfully she bought my made-up excitement about jammies covered with snowmen and reindeer that I bought for 70% off last January. :))

Someday she will read this and be embarrassed…thankfully that day is not today. 😉

I love her. And I suppose the fact that she got excited about Christmas jammies in September is comparable to me and my new blanket. (Which is still super comfy, since I know you’re all wondering!) 😉

It’s been kind of an up and down few weeks, but I’ve been thankful for what He’s doing despite the roller coaster moments. I’ve tried to be intentional about counting my blessings…it’s amazing to look around and see all the good that surrounds a day despite circumstances and emotions.

I almost skipped my run this morning, but I’m so glad I didn’t.

The weather was perfect, and I made a new running playlist a few days ago, and I was excited to hear more of it. I basically went through every song in my iTunes, picked my very favorites, and shuffled them.

Toward the middle of mile two, this one came on. I hadn’t heard it for months…and I didn’t even remember adding it to to the playlist. But sometimes God just surprises me…and this was a blessing. I hope you’ll take the time to listen to it. :)

And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?

And You answer, “My child, I love you. And as long as you’re seeking My face, you’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”

Powerful words from my Father…Wow.

Love you all…thanks for stopping by. :)

Sig

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

Monday Smiles

September 10, 2012 by · 2 Comments

So, for a Monday, today wasn’t half-bad.

There were some smiles…

A beautiful, perfect day. 70’s. Sunny. Can the weather just stay exactly like this forever? We can all dream. :)

Spreading sunshine. Maelie and I went to visit a sweet friend at work and took her coffee and a gift ’cause it’s her birthday, and I love celebrating a birthday…even if it’s not mine! We even got Mae to sing parts of “Happy Birthday”. T’was sweet. :)

Outside playing. My cool girl is such the climber. She can now scale the side of her clubhouse. It still makes me nervous, but I can smile, too. She’s just growing up so much! I love taking walks up and down the street with her…we have the best conversations and even sing together. So fun.

Encouragement. Sometimes it comes in the simplest forms…like a chat with a friend or a smile from a stranger…both happened today.

Hope. There’s something I’d like to see happen…and it looks like it might.

Swinging and guitar-playing and puking. WAIT…did I say puking? Yep. However, in this house, we are giving thanks that Maelie threw up due to all the swinging she did (not because was sick) AND that she missed my guitar by about an inch. The sweet girlie is feeling just fine now in her happy dreamland, my jeans are in the dryer, and my guitar is packed away (and puke-free). ALL blessings. :)

Much-needed laughter. Sometimes it just feels good to laugh, and singing with Mae tonight provided some pretty great moments. Caught on video, nonetheless. I laughed so hard I cried…and it felt so good. Families need to laugh together often. (And I can almost guarantee that there’s at least one good video coming to a blog near you very soon!)

How was your Monday? I hope a happy one. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, coffee, friends, just life, Maelie
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