Monday Joy

October 10, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

So Maelie and I had an entire day today with nothing planned other than her nap.

That’s actually pretty rare.

However, I do have a commitment on Saturday afternoon that I needed to get some things for, so I packed up the girl and took her to Target and Michael’s.

Target was what it always is, and it was quick.

Michael’s. Um, I can’t really remember the last time I’ve been in there, which is probably a good thing judging by the amount I spent.

Oh. My. Goodness.

How have I gone THIS long without that store and all the wonders hidden inside

?

I’m not really a crafter, but I am somewhat artistic, and I do like to paint and make jewelry.

I went in there to buy some paint for a project I’m helping someone with.

I came out? With a canvas (and not a small one, either), five bottles of paint, a package of paintbrushes, new jewelry making supplies (to replace what I had to leave in Indo) and some beads. Oh, and a new 2012 day planner, which I actually needed. AND it was only a buck…can’t pass that up! (Insert laugh. I’m laughing, go ahead and join me.) 😀

I came home so excited to start… well, doing something.

Today I painted drinking glasses. Some of them turned out cute…a couple, I’m scraping the paint off and trying again.

Seriously… how cute is this

?

Wouldn’t YOU want to drink out of this?

I would. In fact, I just might.

This week I’m going to work on that painting I’ve been meaning to do for Maelie’s room for, oh, months.

I also made a pair of earrings today for a friend, but I decided I need more beads before I can make more things.

By now you’re thinking…what does all of this have to do with joy

?

Well…the last time I really did anything artistic was before I got pregnant with Mae. I had been warned by a friend that my creativity would probably disappear during pregnancy, and it did, but lately I’ve been starting to wonder if it would ever come back.

Today was a good sign.

:)

That makes me pretty happy.

Hoping you found some JOY in your Monday, too.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: just life, random

Worth

October 9, 2011 by · 1 Comment

So…it’s been way too long since I’ve had a coffee date with a friend withOUT having to chase a little girl around the confines of a Starbucks.

I am, in fact, dying for some girl time and a good cup of coffee, but I guess that will have to wait a bit longer. Tonight, I’ll have to settle for a mug of java and writing to you all from my couch. At least the girl is in bed, and I am semi-able to tune out the Packer game. 😉

It’s been kind of a funky weekend.

We thought we had plans to go

look at a couple cars yesterday morning, but those changed so we ended up having nothing to do. Around 11, Tobin asked if I wanted to go to St. Charles for lunch, and I immediately jumped at the chance. (There are some of the coolest places to eat there…and, truthfully, I was dying to do something.)

So we hopped in the car and drove 30 minutes…only to find this.

People everywhere, not a parking spot to be found…or a free t

able at a restaurant, for that matter.

We turned around, went through the McDonald’s drive-thru (for Tobin and Mae…I ate a Clif bar ;)) and went home.

Fail.

Thankfully there was a bit of redemption to the day.

We had hired two babysitters to come watch Mae that night so we could go to an event that our church organizes called What’s For Dinner? Basically, couples are randomly assigned to groups throughout the year and take turns having dinner with different people. We had a lot of fun…and it was great to get to know some new people. And, as a bonus, Maelie loved her babysitters, and they loved her…so all was good.

Still… definitely a non-normal Saturday.

And today, I’ve just been tired and blah.

It started out okay. I had praise team this morning, but Maelie wanted nothing to do with sitting in church, so once again Tobin spent the service in the nursery with her. And I spent the service feeling guilty. To be honest, those kind of mornings are pretty rough.

So we came home, fed the girl some lunch, played with her a bit, and put her down for her afternoon nap which, thankfully, she took. And it was long.

I puttered around waiting for a friend to stop over to borrow something, and then I decided I just needed to clear my head so I cranked up my iPod and went for a run.

At least it got me thinking….

And as a d isclaimer, th

is is not a pity party. It’s where I am, but if you want, you can go now. I’ll still love you.

:)

It got me thinking about the word Worth.

What is my value to others? Should I have value to others

? Is that what’s important?

This morning I made a passing comment to a friend that sometimes I felt frustrated that I’m just Mel. I’m not reallly, really good at any one thing. I sing, I play guitar and piano, I write, I’m a wife, I’m a mommy…and while I try to do those things well, I don’t always feel like I do.

I spend far too much of my time worrying about what others think of me.

I’m human.

I want my friends to value me and have a place in their lives for me. I want to know that I actually add something to the lives of those around me.

I don’t want to spend my life just being, though there is definitely a time and a place for that.

I guess I just want to feel like I’m worth something.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Hang on with me, k? 😉

I was tossing these ideas around in my head as I jogged around Carpenter Park,and my thoughts went back to 1 Corinthians 13, the Love

chapter. Which, of course, I had to read. :)

It was humbling to consider these words.

Especially in light of my overly-human characteristics, my desire to be better at things than I am…and sometimes, to be more than the person God created me to be.

There are days when I’d love for someone to think, Wow, she can really sing; or Yikes, she can rock a guitar; or What a great mom.

In the end, though…it’s about love.

I could be all of those things, but if I don’t have love, I am nothing.

Worthless.

I’m not sure I have much to add after that…it definitely gave me something to think about as I search for where I find my worth, my value.

Of all the things I want to be remembered for, I’d most like to be known for Love.

I have a long way to go.

God, help me to Love.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, what I'm learning, where I am

Grocery Store…Um…Fun?

October 7, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Anyone who knows me well knows that I detest grocery shopping.

I’d rather clean toilets…really.

There are many factors that weigh into this,

no less including too many choices, sticker shock, and randomly weird experiences that abound anytime I attempt to actually complete this chore.

Tonight I needed to go. I had put it off for a few days, but we were just about out of food so off I went. At 9 p.m. because there are less people and I can get done faster.

😉

While I was sprinting walking the aisles, I was feeling convicted about my less-that-cheerful attitude about the quality time I was spending in Woodman’s. (It’s cheap…that’s the only reason I shop there.)

So I decided to look for things that could potentially make my outing a little more fun.

Like…

You know, I actually left the store with a smile on my face.

(And it’s a good thing, too, because I ran into a friend on my way out!)

Maybe there can be joy in grocery shopping. Well, sometimes. :)

Sig

Filed Under: just life

Little Blessings (Pt. 10)

October 6, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I know

I counted my blessings a few days ago.

Today, I need to… some days are just like that, huh

?

:) The weather… goodness, it feels like summer.

I’ ll take it!

:) Maelie is doing great after her big tumble on Monday…no concussion or anything other th

an a tiny cut and a bump on the head.

Praise God!

:) Friends to go to the park with.

:) Flip flops.

:) A good Bible study this morning with some

good reminders.

:) Friends and sisters in Christ who sharpen me

and encourage me.

:) A new writing opportunity…can’ t wai

t to tell you more about it soon!

:) Music.

:) Giggling with my girl.

:) Being finished with blogging before 10 p.m.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, random

I Love Random

October 3, 2011 by · 1 Comment

So…I am always random. Today, more than other days.

Bear with me, k? (You know you love reading the crazy things that shoot through my brain anyway, right?) 😉

This is my very favorite time of year.

I love, love, love seeing the leaves change colors. While that is just beginning here, we saw some re ally

beautiful colors in Wisconsin this weekend. I also love jeans-and-sweater weather. Perfect.

We were talking about movies tonight at my weekly work out with friends, and I mentioned that I’d like to take hip hop lessons.

I really don’t know why…but I think it would be fun to learn how to dance.

Maelie and I have moved on from Little House on the Prairie to my other TV addiction, Road to Avonlea. Probably my favorite show ever. And I will actually loan it out if any of you ever want to watch it. It’s fun. :)

Speaking of the Mae…she fell on her head today.

Seriously. It was a 3-4 foot fall off of some playground equipment.

She cried. I freaked out.

Thankfully, after lots of phone calls and questions, she seems to be ok. We’ re watching her for signs of a concussion.

And praying. I’d love it if you prayed, too.

I think it broke my mommy heart to see my little girl hurting.

I desperately need to repaint our front room.

I’m kinda thinking of doing a multi-color, random design with blue and lime green and orange. It’s the room our piano is in and definitely needs to be livened up a bit. We shall see what I come up with.

Tomorrow I am going to (hopefully) chat with a local newspaper editor about heading a different direction with my writing. I’ll stick with my blog (not sure I could ever give it up!) but have some other opportunities, too.

I’m anxious. But excited, too. I really,

really want to write.

I’ve been sitting at the computer for half an hour…and realized I never showered when I got home from working out.

That’s kinda gross, huh

? Guess I better end this and hit the shower.

Love you all.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, Maelie, random

Little Blessings (Pt. 9)

October 2, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

:) A good weekend with family.

:) Dancing. I am not good, but

I danced anyway.

Yay for me!

:) Watching two people commit their love

to each other forever.

Congrats, Mike and Annie!

:) Getting to sit in some pretty stinkin’ comfy, cushy chairs during the wedding. (Yes…in not on… they got married in the Legislative room at the Capitol building.

You know those chairs all those important people sit IN

? Yep, we’re so cool.)

:) A sunny morning walk and a chance to get to know one of my nieces better.

:) A beautiful day.

Really, really BEAUTIFUL.

:) Being loved. And learning to love.

:) Being encouraged by God’s promises.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, random

All the Way From Madison

September 30, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Tonight I’m writing you from our downtown Madison (WI) hotel room.

It’s a very cool room, at least I think so.

:) Tobin’s cousin is getting married tomorrow at the Capitol, so that’s the occasion.

And since this is a home football weekend AND the Farmer’s Market is going on, I am not regretting for a single second the fact that we splurged on a hotel room a block from the Capitol building.

The festivities kicked off early this morning with Mel squeezing in more than is humanly possible before we left.

From the time I rolled out of bed at 7:15 I managed to go for a run, shower and get ready, do three loads of laundry, pack for myself and Maelie, run to Target, Starbucks, and church, come home with time to feed lunch to Maelie, grab some for myself, and get out the door by 12:05.

Yeah, I’m good.

I know you’re all extremely impressed.

And, yeah, my Super Woman cape is in the mail.

:)

Anyway, we’ve already had a fun and crazy afternoon/ evening with family.

Tomorrow is mostly wedding with a little a.m. Farmer’ s Market thrown in there, and

some more family time on Sunday.

It’ll be a good (but busy) weekend. So if I don’t write much, that’s why.

Tomorrow there just might be a picture of Maelie in her Uh-Dorable dress, though, and that’ s worth coming back for!

:)

G’nite!

Sig

Filed Under: family, just life, uncategorized

Just Being

September 29, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Just a little thought for y’all tonight.

..mostly ’cause it’s late and I have barely started the FOUR mongo loads of laundry I need to finish before we leave at noon tomorrow.

Can we say procrastination?

All together now…

1…………..2……………3…

Ok, you get the point. :) Anyway.

Today in Bible study we were talking about Job’s friends and how they came and sat with him for seven days after he’ d lost so much.

They didn’t say anything…they just sat near him and gave him permission to grieve as he needed to…and to be.

My first thought was, Yikes! Seven days? That’s insane!

I’m not sure I could sit with someone and be quiet for that long.

However, it was an interesting concept to think about in terms of this week.

I don’t know if grief is the right word for what I’ve been feeling.

I guess, in some ways, yeah.

I’m grieving the loss of a friend I connected with online.

I’m missing her already.

I’m aching for her family and those closest to her.

It hurts…and there’s definitely a void. That hurt hasn’t consumed my thoughts continuously, but it’s been there in the back of my mind since she died.

And there’s nothing wrong with feeling any of that.

While I am in no way comparing myself to Job, the concept of just needing “to be” hits home

right now.

It’s interesting how that happens sometimes and how we respond to it.

For me, just being means needing a lot of time to process. (Maelie took awesome naps this week.

:)) I’m generally a talker, and while I’ve shared what I’m feeling with a couple friends, most of my processing has been either through the blog or internal.

It also means pulling back on life and taking things slower. For me, being less social, whether I want it or not.

Maelie was also sick this week…three d ays in

a row at home. Not what I would have chosen, but that time gave me a chance to think. (And sleep. I did take a couple good naps this week. :))

It also means weird things like working out at 10 p.m., which I did three times this week when I had a sudden burst of energy. Or cleaning out my closet because I have the sudden motivation to do so…can’t say that cleaning is ever at the top of my list, though! 😉

I think sometimes we all need that in our lives…a chance to just be. No expectations, just time to process.

Does that make any sense?

I’m not sure it does, either, but it’s where I am tonight.

Thanks for reading, friends.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, where I am

A Promise

September 27, 2011 by · 2 Comments

My poor Mae isn’ t feeling great.

The antibiotics are starting to kick in, but she was definitely not herself this morning.

It was a cranky few hours, we didn’t have the van, and it’s raining…so you can imagine I was MORE than ready for her to go down for her nap by 1:00!

After she ate lunch, we played for a little while, and I could tell she was getting tired. So I m ade her a bottle and took her upstairs to read her a story while she drank it. We finished our book, and I looked across her room to see a little pillow propped up on her bookshelf with the words,

Jesus Loves Me.

I held her close and sang the song a few ti mes as she snuggled me. I know it’s probably the most oversung song in the history of Sunday School, but at the same time, those three words hold such a promise.

A promise I want my daughter to know and believe with all of her heart.

Jesus Loves Maelie,
Jesus Loves Maelie,
Jesus Loves Maelie,
The Bible tells us so.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, Maelie, music

Contemplating Joy

September 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

My sweet blogging friend, 10 cheap generic mg nolvadex

engirl.blogspot.com/”>Sara, passed away late last night.

She is at peace, in the presence of both her earthly fat

her and her Heavenly Father, pain free, and dancing.

Dancing…I’m sure of it. :) There are so many reasons to find joy though  my heart aches for her family and friends.

Please keep them in your prayers this week as they say goodbye.

This morning I went to sign in to my blog to find out it was

hacked. Big time. What a mess.

Yeah, it stressed me out, but I was able to leave it alone and go on with my morning. Maybe thinking about Sara just put things in perspective…it is only a blog.

And five hours later, it was back up.

I realized when changing Mae’s diaper right before I had to leave for church that her rash had gotten worse and that she now had it by her mouth and on her feet as well. No church for the girl…home with daddy it was.

Despite her rash, though, Mae was a really happy girl today, full of laughter and giggles…and joy.

And I went to church this morning, discovering all three of these things within less than an hour of when I had to be there.

I was full of anything but joy…but I was aware of it, and I prayed that God would give me that joy.

I found a friend right before praise team practice, let some tears flow, and moved on, determined to smile.

Friends, it is true that God gives joy, even on the bad days.

There were So. Many. Reasons. To. Smile. today.

:) Time at church that left my heart happy.

:) I really, really love to sing. And we sang my very favorite song ever today. That was special.

:) Absolutely gorgeous sunshine, which defied the weatherman for the second day in a row.

Yahoo!

:) Time to get a few things done and to…ahem…cook. (Still not sure if I find joy in cooking, but whatever.)

:) A sweet end to the Packers/Bears game.

:) Good friends (and Bears fans!) to watch the game with.

:) All of us laughing hysterically at the antics of Mae…there will be a picture posted very, very soon of her toddling around in her too-big footie pj’s. So, so funny.

It did my heart good to laugh that hard!

:) A bit of reflecting and realizing what a gift Sara was to so, so many people. I will miss her but am so thankful for the piece of her heart she left with each of us.

God is Good.

And He gives Joy.

Love.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, just life, what I'm learning
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