Hello, 33

July 19, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I rang in 33 today.

It was a day that started out a bit rough with some recurring s tomach issues, but thankfully, I have a fantastic hubby who was flexible with his morning and stayed home a few extra hours

to give me some time to recover.

By 10:00 I was better and even up for a short (but HOT!) walk with Maelie.

Mae and I got home around 10:45, and I put her down for a nap, which she protested, loudly, until noon.

Then I gave in, rescued her from the evil confines of her crib, fed her some lunch, played with her, and tried the nap thing again at 1:30.

This time, it worked.

She was still sleeping at 3:45 when Tobin c ame home

and I left to go get a coffee

and pedicure with my good friend, Kris.

Two chai frapuccinos, pretty toenails with flowers, and over an hour in massaging chairs later, we headed to dinner with friends at The Village Squire, and were lucky enough that my birthday landed on half price burger night.

Score.

Then it was back to the house for DQ cake…mmmm. :)

Just about an hour ago, I “officially” turned 33.

It’ s gonna be a great year.

And, oh yeah.

I’m about the most blessed girl on the planet.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, friends, just life

Goodbye, 32

July 18, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Today I’m bidding farewell to #32.

It was a good year… one with many unexpected blessings.

I’m not really going all out to say goodbye to 32…I’ m really looking forward to 33.

(And it was way too hot to do much celebrating today, anyway.)

I had coffee with a friend, a super-sweaty outdoor workout tonight (that I think counts as TWO workouts!), some chattin’ with another friend, and now I’m closing out the night with Mint Oreos.

Which will completely UNdo any good I did for my body tonight, but that’s ok.

32 deserves a proper goodbye, and anything involving chocolate qualifies.

Bring on 33!

Love.

Sig

Filed Under: just life

paheoa;nfand;ajfdlmsa;w;lmvos

July 16, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

So, I let Maelie type the title of my post today.

~~ –>

No, not

really…although her new favorite activity is smacking her hand onto the keyboard if she can get to it while I’m working. I choose to lo ok

on the bright side and recognize the genius in my daughter…at a mere 13 months, she is already typing!

Wowsers. 😉

Today was just a day of blessings.

Some of you know this…we’ve been without a working shower for a few weeks now. Thankfully we lived in Indonesia and, on several occasions, had used a mandi, or bucket shower, so that’s what we’ ve been doing for the last month or so.

The problem with that is I never feel completely clean, especially since I really sweat when I work out.

We really tried not to complain, though, and for the most part did ok.

It was getting to be more than a sane person can handle, though.

So today was the day the shower got fixed.

(Insert HUGE HALLELUJAH! here.)

I don’t underst and the ins

and outs of what goes into replacing a shower valve, but I watched off and on throughout the day, and it looked far more complicated than I would have imagined.

(And also involved cutting part of Maelie’s wall out.) I am so thankful for an amazing friend who gave up most of his day to help us…

AND…

We both took showers late this afternoon. To try to explain how wonderful it was to have a working shower, water pressure, and hot water that doesn’t leak is something that, right now, cannot be described in words.

Maybe it’s silly to be overly thankful for a working shower…or maybe not.

All I know is that today was another reminder of how blessed we are.

:)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life

Something Made Me Sad Last Night

July 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I saw the moon.

Then I sang that little song to myself in the version that

I know.

(Actually, I belted it out for the neighborhood to hear; thankfully I don’t think anyone did.)

I see

the moon and the moon sees me,
The moon sees someone that I’ d like to see.


God bless the moon and God bless me,
And God bless the someone that I’ d like to see.

And that’s when the tears welled up in my eyes.

Because as I was staring up at the moon,

I realized something.

There’s a crazy time change and large amounts of daylight here right now, so the moon isn’t shining here at the same time it’s shining in Indo.

Sad.

I miss my Indo friends…and can’t wait to hug them.

Soon, I hope.

G’nite.

Sig

Filed Under: friends, Indonesia, just life

Just Me

July 13, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

I sorta started this several days ago. Since my brain is tired and wordless, yet completely sugar-rushed, I’m gonna post it tonight. Here’s everything you (n)ever wanted to know about me.

😉

I’m…Mel. Well, my full first name is Melinda, but for some reason, a lot of people never get that right.

I’ve bee

n called all kinds of names that start with M…Melissa, Melanie, McKenzie, and once…even Minerva (EW!) by my own grandpa. For a long time, I just answered to them. Then I decided, no, I’ll be Mel. It fits me better anyway.

I’m…a writer. At least I want to be. I love to share what’s going on in my heart, but I’ll be honest with you…the past almost-six months have brought out true writer’s block in my life. Dude, sometimes I really don’t have a clue how to even put things into words. But when the words are there, I love to share them.

I’m…a REDEEMED sinner. I blow it every day. I say something mean, I do something unkind, I lose my patience…it proves that I am a helpless sinner saved only by the grace of God.

And that Grace is everything to me.

I’m…a wife and mommy.

I’m blessed to have found the one man in this world who will put up with my quirkiness, wordiness, and silliness…and still find love through all of the patience those things require. And Mae? Well, she puts up with the same…the only difference is that she doesn’ t know i

t all yet!

In all seriousness, my husband and daughter bless my life every single day. I can’t even put into words how much they mean to me and how thankful I am for them.

I’m…a friend. Friendships are necessary for my survival…but I also can’t im agine

my life without my close friends. I need those people willing to love me, do crazy things with me, and most importantly share their hearts with me.

(You thought I was going to say drink coffee with me

? HAHA! Just kidding. Had I added a 4th item, that would have been it. ;)) I love my friends…so if you’re reading this and you’re my friend, then I love you.

I’m…an ENFP. I wear my heart on my sleeve, even online.

I am overly emotional at times, always talking (whether to others or just to myself) and drift toward the drama side of life from time to time. Ask my husband the ISTJ…I can be a challenge to live with.

I’m…a goal-setter who needs help following through. I dream big and expect big things to happen, which isn’t always realistic. I am learning to make more worthwhile goals in life rather than to spend my days flying high on clouds of wishes. (Haha…that was a cheesy sentence. But I’m leaving it anyway. :))

I’m… often afraid. I let fear take over often, even though I pretend to be strong. I often worry about what could happen more than focusing on the blessings right in front of me.

I want to live the present fully and leave the future to my Father.

That is so much easier said than done…but THAT is one of my goals.

My perfect day…is spent with family and/or friends. I love social interaction and go crazy if I’m cooped up in the house too long.

Give me a friend, some coffee, and my wonderful daughter (of course!)…and I can’t imagine a better way to spend a day.

I…question a lot of things.

When I look over the past year, it almost scares me how much things have changed. My hubby and I have spent so much time sifting through everything we were raised believing vs. what God’ s Word actually

says. At times it has been ugly, nasty, and drowning. Thankfully we emerged, core beliefs still in tact, with a lot of answers to the questions we had.

And feeling so much freer than we ever have before.

I’ve…found home. Over the past months as my heart has ached for a place to call home, God has been teaching me that my only true home is Heaven. He gives us places on earth to call ours for awhile…but they are just stops on the journey. I am blessed and so very thankful to call C’ville my home for now…and Heaven my home for good.

I want my tombstone to read…She lived BIG but loved BIGGER. (That’s slightly morbid to think about dying, isn’t it?) True, though. And yeah, I made that up, but I’m pretty sure it’s not original with me.

Life…Is Good.

Sig

Filed Under: just life, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 2)

July 12, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Lately I’m j ust

really trying to focus on blessings. And there are tons of them… big and small!

:) A really wonderful day with my girl.

:) Having electricity when A LOT of people around us don’t. AND the fact that we didn’t lose any trees in yesterday’s crazy…um…”storm”?

:) The last big step toward buying our house was completed today!!! Closing should be soon.

YAY!

:) Coffee and a walk to the park with my girl and a good friend.

:) Much-needed friend time and a good chat during the above outing.

:) A hubby who’s going to hang white Christmas lights on our back porch. YAY again! (I always knew he was cool…)

:) A gift from Indonesia that arrived in the mail and is hanging on our back porch.

I will post a picture sometime.

:)

:) A free load of firewood.

:) Finding eyeliner that actually lasts all day.

(Even when I cry. When I cry. Miracles do happen.

;))

:) Time to strum my guitar and sing a few songs.

:) Workouts that make me sweat and stink and feel accomplished.

(And force me to do laundry to kill the stench. ;))

:) Diet Cherry Dr.

Pepper.

:) Reading Don’t Let Me Go, a gift I bought for my hubby last year for Father’s Day. It’s inspiring.

:) Watching my daughter get closer and closer to walking…and being so grateful for her life and the blessing she is to us.

:) Sparkly flip flops.

:) Hugs.

:) Looking forward to a trip we’re gonna take soon.

I could keep going, but there should be a Part 3 soon. Happy Tuesday, y’all!

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life

Little Blessings

July 9, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Today was full of them.

:) Blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

:) A late birthday gift for Mae that came in the mail.

It really made me smile.

:) A short but sweet visit from Tobin’s cousin and his wife…which included lunch at my favorite place.

So good to see them and chat for a bit.

:) Another late birthday gift for Mae and the cutest v ase ever

as a housewarming gift for us.

Thinkin’ we need to go buy some flowers soon.

:) Going to Immanuel’s Summer Youth Theater production of Alice in Wonderland with a friend. It was a really good show, and it made me smile again.

:) A napless wonder of a daughter who was so happy to see me when I came upstairs to rescue her from her crib. That smile melts my heart every single time.

:) Watching Mae take three steps while holding on to her push toy.

So, so close!

Any day now!

:) Managing to come up with something for dinner without going out to get anything.

:) A daughter who loves Little House on the Prairie as much

as I do. (Yeah, I’m addicted.)

:) Frisbee tossing with my man.

:) Letting my heart hurt over things…and being able to give them to God.

:) Feeling blessed with where we are in life. It’s good. So is He.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, random

Happy 4th!

July 4, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Happy 4th of July!

Instead of blogging, I spent the day with my awesome husband, adorable daughter, and wonderful friends.

It was a great day. :)

I hope you all had a memorable 4th!

Sig

Filed Under: just life, uncategorized

Spaghetti Face Steals the Saturday-Blog-Post Show

July 2, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Ok…so it has been a good week, mostly.

Lots of good stuff…my hubby had a birthday, some good friend time, excursions for me and Mae, laughs and memories, and…of course, the house.

THE HOUSE!

Can ya tell I’m still excited about that one?!

Thought so.

For the most part, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, too.

I love an upper 70’s/lower 80’s day. That is just perfection in my mind. Today was a little too hot, but it gave me a taste of my Indo weather, so who am I to complain?

Today ended up being a pretty good day even if it started off rough. (And early.)

I woke up with a killer headache around 6:15. The kind that you go to bed with the night before, hoping and praying that you can sleep it off, but it only gets worse.

That kind. It was so bad that even though Maelie was up, I followed my husband’s orders, took five Ibuprofin (I NEVER take more than three…), and crawled back into bed.

An hour later? Headache gone. Thank You, God!

We kind of took our time getting ready for the day.

We took Maelie for a walk, brought her home and let her swim in her sandbox (yeah, yeah, yeah…but how many one year olds do YOU know who know how to properly play with sand?!), and then we headed down to the Farmer’s Market in East Dundee. It was hot. And we walked around for about 30 minutes before giving up, grabbing some lunch, and heading home.

Maelie took a nap for over two hours and so did mommy and daddy. Once we were all awake, we played outside, swam some more, and a friend brought us a couple tomato plants so Mel can attempt to actually grow something in her yard/keep something alive. Wish me luck!

Then we went out for dinner to The Village, a place that friends had recommended.

We tried the double decker pizza, and it was good, but I was so stuffed when we left that it was painful.

We made a quick s top after dinner and then came home and some more good friend time before Mae headed

to bed.

But was MY day over

? Heck no…I went to Target, grocery shopping, and now…at 10:30 p.m., I am blogging. :)

You know, when I read over everything we did today, I actually feel a teeny, tiny bit accomplished.

(Oh, and I did laundry in there, too…so there’s some more accomplishment.)

Really, it was a great day. I love days when we just are. We h ang out

as a family, kind of take things as they come, and make memories.

Oh, and here is a memory…even if it’ s from la

st night.

At supper we let Mae eat spaghetti on her own for the first time.

This is what she looked like!!!!

We had a good time laughing with her, and I am SO glad we’ve got pictures to document this. Oh, she will so love us when we pull out this photo when she brings her boyfriend home to meet us someday.

:)

Thank you, God, for memories, laughs, fun, friends…and family.

We are so blessed.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, just life, Maelie, random

Toenails, Shopping Cart, and Laundry Basket

June 26, 2011 by · 2 Comments

I decided to play a l itt

le game tonight with the blog.

I know, I know…I’ve been lacking depth. It isn’t that I’m not writing anything deep…I’m just not publishing it.

Later this week there will be one. Or maybe even TWO. I just worry far too much about how I say things…and I so badly don’t want to offend anyone that I go over words a thousand times before I let people read them.

To be honest, sometimes I wonder why I have a blog in the first place.

Oh, yeah…I like to write.

So tonight I chose the first three items I noticed in the room and made them my title.

And now you get to hear about them. Aren’ t you lucky.

😉

So in no particular order, I bring you…Toenails. Shopping Cart. Laundry Basket.

My toenails still look pretty good almost four weeks after my pedicure. Of course, the clumsiness that I demonstrate every day has caused me to stub my toes a few times here and there, but amazingly, I think they still look good.

And they’re pretty dang cute, too.

I put together Maelie’s shopping cart on Friday with the help of a friend…cause, yeah, those Little Tikes toys can be a challenge. (Seriously. The directions were so not helpful.) Her shopping cart was a birthday gift, and I wondered if I should wait awhile before giving it to her just because I didn’t want her to try to stand up and faceplant. Thankfully, she is more fascinated with sitting, pushing it across the living room, crawling after it…repeat twenty times. It’s cute. And I love it that she loves her shopping cart.

Oh, green laundry basket, with one lonely sock, you and I have spent far too much time together this weekend.

Somewhere between Friday morning and this afternoon, I managed to wash, dry, and fold eight loads of laundry, which is a LOT for a family of three with two dogs. I hope to not spend as much time with you this next week.

There you have it…possibly the most randomness that has ever spilled from

the brain of Mel.

I’m sorry. And yes, I’m strange. But you already knew that.

And yet, you still read my blog.

So you must love me. :)

G’nite!

Sig

Filed Under: barefoot, just life, Maelie, random
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