30 Days of Thanks, Day 19: Endings

November 19, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Yikes, it’s Day 19 already?

Seems like this is going fast.

Ok…Endings.

Truthfully, when I think of endings, I think of death. And I don’t necessarily want to talk about that so I’m not going to. :)

Last week I shared a little about my grandma and how she wasn’t doing well following a he

art attack.

Today I got to visit with her a little, and I noticed something.

First of all, she’s doing ok, so thanks to those of you who have prayed for her.

But she is 91…and so, whether she goes in ten years or in ten days, she’s in the ending of her life.

Visiting her tugs a little at my heart. She doesn’t hear as well

as she used to. She moves a lot slower. She needs a walker.

But today…there were good tugs on my heart, too…the kind that make me appreciate the end of a person’s life, especially when that person can take time to share stories that are full of history and legacy.

She told me stories today I had never heard before. For almost an hour, I sat and listened to her talk with my mom about things I never knew…about her siblings, about her family, about her kids, about the old, white farmhouse that holds so many memories.

I felt like a sponge as I soaked up their conversation, not really saying much myself.

When we got ready to leave, I noticed a picture of Grandpa A in his navy uniform that I had never seen before.

(My grandpa passed away before I was born.) I asked her about it because she has never talked about him much. She just smiled and told me that it had been out for awhile.

I made sure to tell her I thought my grandpa was pretty good looking.

I loved her response.

She got this young, girlish, sparkle in her eyes, and nodded. Yes, he was, she told me.

I loved that moment.

It’s one I’ ll never forget.

I was blessed to have today.

A peek into the life of someone I love who is in her ending.

But one who has completely lived and loved since her beginning.

Sig

Filed Under: 30 Days of Thanks, family, just life, where I am

30 Days of Thanks, Day 13: Be

November 13, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Sometimes I’m jealous of my daughter…and any little kid, really.

They haven’t yet learned what it is to be self-conscious.

I love it that Maelie just spends her days being whatever she feels…she has crazy moments, crabby moments, smiley moments, cuddly moments…and moments when they’re all rolled into one mood that I can’t effectively describe. But she’s herself, and I just love to watch her. :)

Let’s be honest.

Don’t you all just want to go crazy sometimes? To go run around in the rain, having the time of your life? To belt out a song in the grocery store

? To wear that way- too-

cute hat and not care what anyone thinks?

Ok, I admit...I do those things sometimes...but definitely not without thinking about what others
might be thinking of me.

Really.

I guess my point? Is that there is such freedom in being able to throw away the whole what-other-people-think-of-me stuff and just be me.

A couple weeks ago we were at our church’s Octoberfest, and there was a little boy there who was just awesome.

He loved…LOVED…the live music, and at the end requested for the band to play Roll Out the Barrel.

And when they did, he just danced his little feet away, and it was the most precious thing ever.

:)

I think he became one of my heroes that day.

I’m not saying I should go share my (lack of) dancing skills with those around me, but hey.

We all wish we could be a little less self-conscious, right? 😉

I’m usually pretty good at being me.

..and I’ m usually content with how God

made me.

Sometimes I wish for more, but today, I’m thankful.

Thankful that he made me a chatterbox, social, coffee-loving, friend-loving-even-more, wife-and-mommy, musical ungenius, wannabe dancer in the rain, spill-my-heart-on-paper girl…and a whole lot more.

I like being me.

I hope you like being you, too.

😀

Sig

Filed Under: 30 Days of Thanks, just life, where I am

30 Days of Thanks, Day 4: JOY

November 4, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

If I’m being honest, JOY is about the last topic I want to write about today.

I’m not having a bad day at all.

I’m just tired, I have a headache, and I have to go to bed early so I can get up at 4:30 a.m. to go run my annual (well, becoming that, anyway…) 5k.

At least I’m ready for this one. JOY. Truly…I love knowing that I can do this and not feel like I’m going to completely die at the end!

And waiting for me at the finish line is lots and lots of chocolate. Which is more JOY, even if it will completely undo any good I did my body this week! 😉

I also got to have a lunch date with Tobin and Maelie downtown today.

More JOY. T’ was really, really fun.

Maelie even ate and didn’t throw food.

There’s a ton of JOY right there!

It’s a beautiful fall day…warm enough for a sweater and jeans.

Love days like this.

JOY.

This afternoon I got to hop down (up?…it’s up…I am so directionally challenged) to Firefly and chat with a new friend for a bit. It was nice. JOY.

This morning I put on my JOY necklace…more JOY. No pun intended.

:) I’m not a big jewelry we

arer, though I love to make it.

But this little necklace always makes me smile. I love what it means…and for the sweet reminder it is to find JOY no matter what.

On the way home from downtown, Mae was fighting a nap. She closed her eyes about ten minutes from home, and we were doing everything we could to keep her awake. It was the sweetest thing to see her smile in her sleep when we tickled her toes.

JOY.

Though I didn’t really feel like writing about JOY, it’s something I’m so thankful for.

Thank you, God, for putt ing so much JOY

in my days.

What was JOYful about your day

?

Note from Mel: Ok, ok, I concede. This photo thing is killing me…I TOLD you it was my weakness.

😉 How about a few every week?!

Sig

Filed Under: 30 Days of Thanks, blessings, just life, where I am

30 Days of Thanks, Day 3: Laughter

November 3, 2011 by · 2 Comments

I wasn’t a kid who laughed a lot.

I won’t go into reasons for that…that’s just how I was.

People who know me now are probably surprised to learn that…because now?

I laugh. A LOT.

I’m silly. ALMOST TOO OFTEN.

I’m crazy. I’LL TRY ALMOST ANYTHING ONCE.

I love to have a good time.

ALWAYS.

There. Are. So. Many. Things. That. Make. Me. Laugh.

my hubby’s corny jokes.

my daughter’s dizzy-dancing.  

skin-soaking  motorbike  rides.

puddle jumping.

tickle attacks.

climb-in-bed-with-me, wake-up calls from my girl.

storytelling over coffee. 

playing with the size of words... had to throw that in there.  :)

a good game of volleyball.

playing in the leaves.

a run in the rain.

memories from playing Fishbowl in 4th grade.

Even though I wasn’t an easy-laugher as a kid, things have changed.

I’m so thankful I’ve found my laugh.

What about you

? What makes you laugh

?

There’s no picture today. There is? A video that will most definitely bring a smile to your face.

However, my hubby’s not feeling the greatest, it’s late, and it will take too long to upload to the blog.

So I’ll post it tomorrow. :)

Sig

Filed Under: 30 Days of Thanks, just life

30 Days of Thanks, Day 1: Life

November 1, 2011 by · 1 Comment

All around me…is life.

Almost daily I am up before 6:30 to go f or my m

orning run or my daily torture, as I sometimes call it. Just getting myself to put one foot in front of the ot her

is often a challenge…but once I am off and running, it’ s impo

ssible to ignore the life around me. On weekends there is less traffic, and it’s easier for me actually see the life surrounding me…in the changing leaves, the fog that hovers over the ground, the deer I often see as I run the last stretch of Carpenter Park.

On the other days, I experience life in a whole different way…in the form of

the hustle and bustle of rushed mornings. As I run, I pass countless cars driven by people in their usual morning hurry, chatting on their phones, sending that illegal-while-driving text, touching up make-up.

It’s all part of life.

I’ll get home and shower, and the rest of my day is filled with a different kind of life…the amazing, wonder-filled world of a sixteen month-old.

Oh, How. She. Lives.

Life, to her, is exploring every nook and cranny of her surroundings…of finding joy in the simplest things and giggling gleefully in a sound that is just perfect.

To her, life is being…completely…and it is beautiful.

I am blessed to have these days with her.

..to live them with her.

While most of my day is consumed with my girl, I live in other ways, too…by being a wife, a friend, a puller of espresso shots…and most importantly,  a follower of my F

ather.

It is in each of these things that I find Life…purpose, being, existence.

And in all of this life around me, the Life I am most thankful for comes through my Father’s Love…the Life that came in the form of a tiny baby so many years ago.

It is through the Life of my Savior, Jesus Christ…and his death…that I may Live, too.

Not just here on earth, but in heaven someday…for eternity.

Praying that each of you have found that Life  for which I am so thankful today.

Sig

Filed Under: 30 Days of Thanks, blessings, just life, running

Halloweenin’ It

October 31, 2011 by · 4 Comments

We h ad

a really fun Halloween.

It’s a holiday that neither Tobin or I really celebrated growing up, but we always thought the dressing up part would be

fun, and we didn’t want Mae to miss out on that, especially since she’s at such

a cute

age.

:)

So… we dressed her up in her UH-dorable ladybug costume and took her to spread some sunshine to the neighbors.

She’s too young to appreciate the candy, but that didn’t stop her from taking it.

:)

After trick-or-treating, we headed home so Tobin and I could put on the pig costumes some friends graciously loaned to us.

:) Then we met up with our good friends, Jonny and Kris (who totally rocked their cow costumes), and we all headed to Chipotle for $2 burrito night.

I had thought I would need to title this post something like…Friends don’t let friends wear farm animal costumes in public OR The things we’ll do for a $2 burrito…
😉

But I don’t need to do that because it was a really fun night, and not nearly as embarr

assing as I thought it might be.

We just had a really good time.

Although next year, I’ll come up with something a little more creative.

:)

Happy Halloween!

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, friends, just life, Maelie, Tobin

What Did YOU Do Before Church Today?!

October 30, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

So…we woke up today.

A little late, too, which was so nice.

I love the days when Mae sleeps ’til 8…it happens often on Sundays.

But that’s when our Sunday morning normality ended.

The short story is that we’ve been looking for a second car. Tobin found one that we were sure would get snatched up immediately, and the price was so good that we decided we needed to see it.

Before church.

Which starts at 10:45.

And the car was 25 minutes away.

Enter…let’s get ready at lightning speed. (Translation: I didn’t even look in a full length mirror ’til I got to church.)

We got to the guys’ house at 9:45.

Tobin looked at the car, drove it a bit, made an offer.

At 10:00, we drove to the bank which, thankfully, was literally around the corner.

At 10:15 we returned with cash to pay for the car.

At that point, I left in the van with Maelie in an attempt to get to church on time…no worries, friends, we made it w

ith five minutes to spare.

:)

Tobin missed the opening praise but was there by 10:55.

It’s funny… that we woke up, bought a car, and went to church.

In that order.

What did YOU do before church today

?

😉

Sig

Filed Under: church, just life, random

Chitter Chatter Late on a Saturday Night

October 29, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

It’s been a weird day.

Weird in a not-so-good way, so I’m very thankful that today is almost over and I get

to start again tomorrow.

Thanks, God, for your new mercies. I will be intentionally soak

ing them all in tomorrow.

To be honest, I would love to have a virtual coffee date with you all right now. Unfortunately, I’ve reached my max for caffeine with an Americano and a Diet Coke, both since 2:00 today, and I need to sleep tonight. Enough said. :)

Instead, we can just talk while I finish up my late-night, day-off snack of tortilla chips and melted, buffalo flavored Velveeta. Seriously, it’s good, but I was also raised on processed cheese, so I think it always tastes good…I think certain friends I have who were raised on dairy farms would disagree with my thinking.

😉 I will tell ya, though, that over in Indonesia, I missed Velveeta so badly that I once had a friend bring me a huge two pound block of it when she came back after Christmas one year.

It was glorious. And I didn’t share…at all.

I’ve been trying to pull three mile runs in the mornings when I go out.

That’s almost double what I was running for so long that it feels like a lot. The good news is, I think I might actually be ready to run this 5k next weekend. I’m not looking forward to running in the cold…or being cold, in general, but I do like the whole chocolate everywhere thing. I WILL run for chocolate.

:)

And as a bonus, since packet pick-up is only Thursday and Friday, and since I also have praise team Thursday night, Tobin took Friday off.

We’re gonna trek downtown, pick up my stuff, then go check out an Indonesian restaurant…possibly the only one in all of Chicago. Bring on the sate and rendang and pisang goreng…woohoo!

I could not be more excited about Indonesian food.

And I NEVER got excited about it when we lived there. Funny.

While I’ve tried to not obsess on the blog about weight loss, today was monumental.

I’m a pound UNDER my pre-baby weight.

I saw a number on the scale today that I thought I might never see again…and I loved it so much that I went for a three mile run…and then ate a bagel. (It was worth it, since I know you’re all wondering!) And tomorrow night at my weekly workout with friends, we’re gonna celebrate with these.

If you’ve never tried one, you should. For an energy bar, they’re pretty amazing. And I like that they’re not full of grainy stuff…I don’t feel like I’m eating cardboard.

So I love my daughter.

Really. But somewhere between Tuesday and today, she decided that one hour naps AND shorter nights are enough for her. She has been giving me about an hour nap each afternoon and sleeping about an hour less at night, too. I am not sure what to think of this… it kinda makes me grumpy if I think about

it too long. I always enjoyed my afternoons when she was napping because I could catch up on blogging and squeeze in some strength training and shower before she even woke up.

Life as we know it has changed.

Thankfully, she is generally JOYful just to run through the house and get into things. I love that about her, minus the getting into things part.

😉 And just look at what she built all by herself today…she truly amazes me. :)

Every year I spend $1 in the Target Dollar Section.

(Ok, ok, so I spend a LOT more than a dollar every year, but THIS dollar is for something specific…) I joke that it’s the best dollar I ever spend…but that might be true. I buy a little day planner that’s the perfect size…I write my life in it and take it everywhere I go. I actually bought one at Michael’s a couple weeks ago because Target didn’t have theirs out yet, but as I was wandering through the Dollar Section today, I saw this.

And I totally spent another dollar because it’s way too perfect.

Think God is trying to remind me of something

?

After a day like today, JOY is hard. My heart is not ok, and I’ve cried more than I want to admit. I feel broken, I feel lost…and the only thing remotely salvaging tonight is the fact that I know God is there…and that He’s able to fix broken and find lost.

And His mercies are new Every.

Single. Morning.

Praise Him for that.

I need to wind this up…long, emotional days require extra sleep, and you don’t need to ask me twice to sleep. 😉

G’nite.

Sig

Filed Under: coffee, just life, Maelie, random, running, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 13)

October 28, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

:) A night of praise music.

:) Percussion instruments.

:) A quick visit today with some dear friends from Indonesia.

:) Seeing my daughter spread the love around tonight

at church.

:) Learning discipline in some areas…and seeing the areas in which I still need it.

:) Funky earrings.

:) A day in the 50’s, giving me an excuse for flip flops tonight.

:) Seeing God’s purpose for something…after the fact.

:) A tired girl who will (hopefully!) sleep in a bit tomorrow morning!

:) Missing Indonesia…and remembering how wonderful it was.

Thanking God for blessings today.

What about you?

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, random

Flashback…Thursday?

October 27, 2011 by · 4 Comments

I was chatting with a friend today and remembered that we had this.

To be honest, it’s kind of embarrassing and yet, at the same time, a wonderful memory.

I am hugely pregnant,  SO not a beautiful pregnant woman at all, AND I talk about sweat running down my nose.

Trust me, if you had been there, you would have had sweat running down your nose, too. 😉

But I love it anyway.

So, ignore the weirdness that we are, and enjoy the beautiful beach and Maelie’s first “trip” to Bali. :)

Sig

Filed Under: adventures, Indonesia, just life, Maelie, travel
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