Short and Sweet…

January 10, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is my hubby’s surgery. In case you’re out of the loop, it’s to “fix” that ridiculous, almost-impossible-to-heal bone he broke in his wrist over Labor Day. (Yeah, four months ago…) It’s a fairly minor surgery, it’s necessary, and it’ll all be good… those doctors do this all the time.

But I still worry so stinkin’ much. My stomach just twists and turns when I think about it…and I’m not even the one they’re cutting open!

😉

We’d really appreciate your prayers…both for the surgery and recovery.

And since it’s my blog, if you could pray for me to be able to stay calm…and that I’ll be able to give things over to God.

Right now the thought of sitting by myself in a hospital for two hours seems almost unbearable…and yet I know He will meet

me.

He always does.

:)

We have to be at the hospital at 9, surgery is scheduled for 11, and if all goes as planned, we’ll be on our way home by 3, maybe even earlier. We’re so thankful for friends who have told us they are praying…those prayers mean so much.

Will let you know how it all goes!

Sig

Filed Under: just life, prayer, Tobin

Gotta Blog, Gotta Blog, Gotta Blog Blog Blog…

January 9, 2012 by · 1 Comment

I let myself get tot ally

distracted by things all day today.

Making jewelry (more on that later…), playing with Mae (though I’d hardly call her a distraction…), working out, ordering pictures.

Pretty much anything but blogging.

I feel kinda bad, but then I thought, wow, it’s been awhile since we’ve had virtual coffee.

Except it’s way too late for coffee so I’ll sw allow the l

ast of my post-workout glass of water and chat with you a bit. K? :)

So Tobin’s having surgery on Wednesday morning on his wrist. I think we’re both a little nervous but, honestly, more ready for this thing to be done. If you think of him, please keep him in your prayers. Surgery is at 11 a.m. And if you’re not doing anything from 11-1, shoot me a text or give me a call. I’m going to need something to keep me from worrying so much.

At least I’ll have my Kindle to keep me busy.

I’m reading Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy. And though it’s good, it didn’t suck me in like the first book did.

(Ahem…the book I read until 2 a.m. Yeah, that one. ;)) And I started The Art of Racing in the Rain, and if I can just get past the fact that the dog is dying, I know I’ll enjoy it.

Several of you have told me I will.

:)

What’s on your reading list? Any recommendations?

So Tobin and I were finally able to finish our bedroom. (aka: buy bedroom furniture, hang things on the walls, that kind of thing…) It’s almost done…and I love it. Pics to come. 😀 Next up? The front living room, from which I’m currently blogging. I decided on dark blue for three of the walls with the tv wall painted cream. Then we’ll hang our two flower paintings from Bali on one of the walls. I love finally having a plan for the purpleish room that has driven me crazy since the day we moved in. :)

Another plan I have? Is to declutter this place.

I decided that if it’s in our house and we haven’t used it in the last year and a half, we don’t need it. Enough said. I have a feeling that cleaning this place out and donating a good chunk of our things is going to be liberating. And I’ll be able to walk through the basement without tripping over anything. 😉

This past weekend was a happy one. It was our church’s Cantata, and I love that it happens after Christmas. It kinda gives us all an excuse to sing Christmas music into the first week of January. Anyway, it was a blessing…and the music was really fun to sing. And when it was over, I was kinda like, Awwwww…can we do it again

? Not sure two certain people would share those same emotions…but yeah. It was really good.

So I wrote a little last week about our anniversary trip.

Long story short, Tobin and I have had a bunch of frequent flyer miles just sitting there from the multiple trips we’d made between the States and Indonesia during summers. If the trend continues as it has in the past two years, we figured that the longer we let those miles sit there, the less value they’d have over time.

Plus 2012 is our 10th so we figured we should just look.

I mean, what’s the harm in that, right? :)

We had a few different places on our list: Rio de Janiero, Hawaii, London…and in the end stayed true to form and went with the craziest of all…Spain, Morocco, and Paris, all in nine days. (Paris was an added bonus that came up as we were planning with the ticket agent.) And I’ll talk more about the trip later…it seems so surreal right now.

Well, since it’s so close to midnight and I haven’t yet pushed the publish button, I should probably end this. Maybe tomorrow we’ll have real coffee. That is, if I blog before 10 p.m.

Love you all.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: just life, random, travel

Tonight

January 8, 2012 by · 2 Comments

Daddy’s Little Helper

Mommy’s Little Snuggler

Yes, indeed, it w as

a good night.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, just life, Maelie, Tobin

Mel + Tobin Put Their Words Together, Part 2

January 7, 2012 by · 1 Comment

Several of you told me that you enjoyed reading this several months ago.

Therefore, on a night when the words just aren’t there…I bring you, Part 2 of Tobin and Mel Finish Each Other’s Sentences.

Hee hee. 😉

I hope you enjoy! 

aka: I hope you don't run screaming!

I’m in bold.

Tobin’s not. :)

Today has been one of those when I wish it was snowing.

Someday this week I’m going to take a nap. A really,

really long one. That is, if my daughter sleeps so I can take that nap.

I think the best way to spend an afternoon is watching the Packers win a playoff game.

The Christmas tree is coming down, and I am sad. Thankfully our neighbors still have their twinkly lights up. I will survive.

The thing I love most about Tobin is his hair.

When I grow up I want to huh? Really?! When I grow up? I cannot even answer this.

:) But I can make him answer it….

When I grow up I want to travel the world on an elephant.

The first thing I did this morning when I got out of bed was the laundry. Really.

I am most annoyed by bad drivers. No, it’s bad grammar. No, it’s rude people. Wait…no, it’s people who don’t pick up their dog’s poop in the park.

No, it’s the lack of snow this winter.

Yeah, that’s it.

My favorite thing Maelie did today was spin while holding a long piece of styrofoam. What a talented daughter I have… she made it look like artistic ballet.

I am excited because I might get to clean the basement tomorrow.

If I could give any animal a hug it would be a koala. I have always wanted to hold one.

One place I still want to see before I die is Antarctica. I know it won’ t happen, which is why I probably wan

t to see it.

The biggest thing I’ve ever seen in my life is the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur?! Maybe. At any rate, they’re definitely worth seeing.

The end.

😀

Sig

Filed Under: just life, random, Tobin

Time to Talk

January 6, 2012 by · 1 Comment

God has been teach ing

me a lot about prayer in the past few days.

It’s something I’ve always struggled with…being intentional about spending time in prayer.

As a little girl, I always thought I had to stop what I was doing, bow my head, and close my eyes (no peeking!)…before I could pray.

Now I know better.

:) And while there’s definitely a time for praying like that, I’m learning how sweet it is to just talk to Him

throughout my day…as I’m washing dishes, picking up after Mae, or sweeping the floor. Sometimes it’s about me, more often it’s not. Sometimes it’s a couple sentences, sometimes I sit down and talk to Him for a few minutes.

It’s sweet.

Today there was something on my heart that was discouraging, and I didn’t know how to approach it.

I prayed, and God provided a conversation that helped me process…as His way of giving me an

answer.

It was such a good reminder to me today…

That God wants His children to talk

to Him.

That He wants to meet the needs that are most pressing on their hearts.

That the talks I have with my Father are precious…and it is time well spent.

Just a little reminder today but something I wanted to share.

Happy weekend, friends!

Sig

Filed Under: just life, prayer, what I'm learning

Little Blessings (Pt. 17)

January 3, 2012 by · 4 Comments

:) A day off last week. (I’m still feeling pretty good from that

one!!!)

:) A new year…I just signed 2012 for the first time a few minutes ago…CRAZY! And awesome friends to ring it in with.

:) Reunions with friends who never change…love that. Love them.

:) Two days of pajamas, a fantastic daughter,  and a cold that is almost gone.

:) Christmas lights that are still twinkling…can we just keep ’em up all year?!?!

:) An Irish Cream Americano and a quick chat with a friend tonight.

:) Anniversary trip plans that are actually happening…and probably happening much quicker than we thought they would.

Um, hello March

? (More details later… ;))

:) Surprise phone calls from friends who just want to say hi.

I like that.

:) Maelie said “coffee” today…such a brilliant, educated-in-the-important-things-in-life, daughter I have!

:) An impending Scrabble game in about five minutes…I totally plan to kick his butt… we shall see.

😉

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, just life

Pajama Monday and a Recap of Last Week

January 2, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

So I managed to get sick…I guess flu shots don’t make a person immune from everything floating around during the season, huh? I had decided on Saturday that my scratchy throat was nothing more than that and figured mind over matter was more important.

It didn’t work this time.

Bummer.

But only a little bummer…definitely choosing to count my blessings today.

For one thing, Maelie slept in until 8:30, which was very much appreciated by her mama!

Then when she got up, all she wanted to do was play with her kitchen and doll and new alphabet toy, which was just fine with me!

We turned on the Rose Parade, played with lots of toys, and spent the morning (ahem…the whole day…ahem) in our pj’s. Well, one of us did.

😉 (Haven’t done that in a long time!)

I think we both needed a down day after the busyness of last week.

We had a wonderful time in Minnesota with family. I especially enjoyed seeing Maelie finally able to play with her cousins. She’s definitely smaller and can’t keep up as well, but that didn’t stop her from trying and getting so excited to be around them. It was a fun memory, and I’m so glad everyone was able to make the trip to be together.

While we were in Minnesota, we were also able to see a few friends.

I had lunch with my good friend, Sara, and we also visited a family from a church we used to attend when we lived there. Christen was in the youth group we helped with, and she has a daughter just a few weeks older than Mae.

I had been wanting the two of them to play together and was happy to see them hit it off.

Mae LOVED her Cozy Coupe…guess what we’ll be watching for on Craigslist?!

We came home on Thursday and Friday and the weekend were busy with different get-togethers.  We spent New Year’s Eve with Jonny and Kris eating Chinese and playing cards and we actually made it to almost 1 a.m., which I think could be my personal record.

Yes, friends, contrary to what you believe about this party girl, I love my sleep.

😉

Then last night, our friends from Indonesia, David and Tiff, came over for dinner.

We got to meet their sweet baby girl, Luisa, and it was so good to catch up with them.

But today? We’re tired.

Definitely a good day for the pj’s.

But also a day to count blessings…because there are so many of them.

So thankful. :)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, friends, just life

12 in 2012

January 1, 2012 by · 3 Comments

Happy New Year, friends!

And, welcome to my version of a bucket list…12 challenges I have for myself to complete during the year 2012.

Some are fun, some are easier than others, and some could kill me. (But…relax. If I die, at least you’ll have my wonderful blog to remember me by.

;))

My goal with thi

s?

Is to LIVE.

To live fully the life He has blessed me with. To be myself…including the crazy…and to stretch myself to limits I didn’t think were possible.

This list is not to be followed in any particular order…just to be completed by December 31, 2012.

We’ll have to see how it goes. I make zero promises. :)

By December 31, 2012, I hope to:

1. Start…and finish…the canvas painting for Maelie’s room.
2. Redecorate our front living room. (The purple needs to go! Soon.)
3. Start an Etsy store so I can sell my jewelry.


4. Take some kind of lessons…guitar, voice, djembe… still deciding, but leaning toward djembe.

:)
5. Complete a marathon.
6. Run a 5k in less than 30 m

inutes.
7. Continue blogging at least three times a week once January 24th has passed.


8. (Re)Learn how to sew and make a bag out of some of my Indonesian batik I still have.
9. Finish the rough draft of my book, Lessons From Indo: On Life, Love, and Squatty Potties, and submit it to at least one publisher.


10. Continue developing discipline in my life by spending time in God’s Word each day…whether two minutes or two hours.


11. Guest write for another blog at least once.

(The Patch doesn’t count. :))
12. Go on an actual vacation with Tobin (and no Mae) to celebrate our 10th.

(This might make me cry…)

Wish me luck!

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, goals, just life, running, where I am, writing

11 from 2011

December 31, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Wowsers, it seems like 2011 flew!

Today is a brief (or not?) recap of 11 highlights of the year. (In really no particular order. Promise.)

#11: barefootmel.com is born. Truly this one has been an adventure. You have no idea the things I have learned as I’ve
splashed my life out every day for you all to read. It’s been fun, it’s been frustrating, it’s been time consuming, it’s been healing. I am so thankful for words and how God gives each of us different abilities to use them.

#10: One more hole. This year I did something I’ve wanted to do for years…pierce my nose. Yes, it hurt. But I’m so glad I did it…and I love it.

Really. But in case you are nervous for whatever reason, know two things: 1) there was zero rebellion attached to the decision; and 2) there will be no more piercings for Mel. :)

#9: Four more wheels. We got by for sixteen months with one car, and I think it taught us a lot about not needing everything we always thought we did.

However, with Maelie getting bigger and busier and me often feeling trapped, we knew we needed to buy another one eventually. That happened on a Sunday morning (before church!) in October. We’re really thankful for that silver Mitsubishi in our driveway.

#8: Road trip fun.

In September we took our first true “family” vacation, visiting Green Bay, St. Louis, and Southaven, MS in the span of ten days. We had a wonderful time with family and friends and discovered that traveling with a one year old can be done…and can even be fun!

#7: Guestwriting: In May a short piece I wrote was published on one of my favorite blogs. And in October I started writing (very sporadically) for an online newspaper in our area. It’s good, and I’ve enjoyed getting my feet wet in the writing arena. (Now I just need more time!)

#6: Coffee love: Yeah, I love coffee, and that’s not news to anyone here! In August I started working at Café Firefly, a (somewhat) local coffee shop. It was a fun job and I loved meeting some new friends there, but sadly, it just didn’t work for my family’s schedule, and my last day was a couple weeks ago. I’ll miss it and am thankful it’s a short hop away so I can still say hi. :) (And caffeinate myself.)

#5: Immanuel: In June we joined Immanuel Lutheran Church and have loved getting involved there through Bible studies and praise team and volunteering. When we think back to previous years and how we’d talk about what we were looking for in a church, we realize that Immanuel fits those things. The people there are becoming our family, and we love them…and love worshiping our God with them.

#4: Home: In July, just one day shy of a year after we moved to 127 N.

Wisconsin, it officially became ours.

I’ve gone on and on about that enough on this blog, but it doesn’t mean that it’s any less important to us.

We’re home…in a neighborhood we love and a community we’re slowly becoming a part of.

It is so good to be home.

#3: Holy cow, we have a ONE YEAR OLD!

In June, our sweet Mae turned one. We celebrated by throwing a big bash for her and inviting our new friends and neighbors over for a BBQ. Over 50 guests, 100 hamburgers and hotdogs, and the cake to end all cakes made up of 86(?) cupcakes. It was a memory we will always cherish. :)

#2: Milestones: Along with a growing and changing daughter come those milestones…some sad, some happy, some
in-between. There were first steps that all too quickly turned to running, first words that soon turned to constant chatter, first haircuts, new things discovered each and every day. And while there’s a twinge of sadness that Maelie is growing up so quickly, we are learning to love and cherish each moment spent with our daughter.

She is an amazing person, and being her mommy
has without a doubt been the highlight of my year.

#1: Where I am: It’s a category on my blog that I post about often. Truly, it’s been an upside-down, rightside-up year.

There have been joys, sorrows, times of growing, times of struggling, gains, losses…but in all of those things, my Father has never left
me, and each day I am learning to love Him just a little more.

I pray that will continue in 2012.

And I hope you are as blessed as I was this year. :)

Th anks to

all of you for being

a part of my life. I love you.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, where I am

What Mel Does On Her Day Off…

December 30, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Which one

to buy, which one to buy…

Don’t worry, friends,  I only bought one.

The silver one in my right hand, if you’re curious.

Y ay for

a new purse!

(And a hubby who knows what his wife wants for Christmas… ;))


Sig

Filed Under: just life
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