Ramblings
March 31, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Just a few thoughts…that are really not connected at all, just not worthy of a whole blog post on their own. đ
I spent more time today in my pajamas than in jeans. That almost never happens…and it was nice. But wanna know a secret? Sometimes I wish I was that woman who can go to Super Target on a Saturday morning and walk the aisles in her sweats, while sipping a Starbucks and looking disgustingly cute. I, um, think that’s maybe not me. But I’m secretly jealous of people who can pull off that look in public.
Last night we had friends over for dinner, and they stayed to look at pics from our trip. They are really nice friends. đ (Gosh, that reminds me I need to post Morocco soon…tomorrow.) We grilled out for, like, the 6th time this month, and my husband seriously outdid himself. I don’t know why the burgers and chicken were so good, but they were. SO. GOOD.
Anyway, I woke up this morning wanting a burger with pineapple and provolone…and BEFORE you scoff, you need to try it. It’s my favorite. 
I promised myself that if I did three miles of sprints, I could come home and eat one for breakfast.
I seriously hate sprints and only do them on Saturdays.
ANDÂ I thought about that burger the whole time.
And when I got home, I ate it before I even took a shower. HA.
đ
So my daughter seems to be changing her sleeping habits, which is not so wonderful. Yesterday she napped for a whopping 30 minutes and then stayed up until 10:30 pm…yes, you read that right. She slept this morning til 8 am, took a 2-3 hour nap, and now, at almost 10 pm, is showing zero signs of being tired.
Ugh…I’m afraid we may need to start phasing out the nap in order to get her to sleep at night.
I’m not sure I’m ready for this at all.
So I signed up for this.
The whole idea is that the group of women who write this blog (which has a HUGE following) are hosting a worldwide conference with “meetup” spots all over the place. Then each of the groups can watch the conference, which will be broadcast online. When I signed up, I figured…this is the Chicago area; there will be at least one meeting close to me.
Um, nope. The closest one is over an hour away. Bummer.
So I’m debating what to do. I can watch it at my house, but the whole idea of it is community. So do I make the drive to meet up with a few people and make some new friends or do I just chill in my pj’s and invite a friend or two to join me for the morning?
Still thinking on it.
And speaking of still thinking…I’m thinkin’ it’s time for bed.
This could be history, folks…I think I’ll be asleep before my daughter tonight. Oy…
Hope you’re all having a fantastic weekend!
A Friday Photo
March 30, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
You’ll never guess who Maelie loves. đ
A sweet friend gave her this today, and to say that it made her week is an understatement. We are pretty blessed.
Life in 700ish Words or Less
March 29, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Maybe tomorrow I’ll switch things up and have hot chocolate or something, but I’m just feelin’ the coffee thing this week. It could be that I’m just tired and desperately trying to keep my eyes open…last night was interesting.
I actually fell asleep pretty early (for me) last night…around 10:30. I slept great until around 4:30 when Mae woke up crying. I checked on her and realized the poor girl, who’d been having tummy issues the day before, had blown through another diaper…all over her pj’s, all over her sheets. (Thankfully NOT all over her blanket and stuffed animals.)
She was so sad and miserable that I just wanted to pick her up and snuggle her, but I had to clean her up first, which took enough time. Once she was in a dry diaper and clean pj’s, we had time to cuddle…oh, it was wonderful, even if it was at 4:30 a.m. đ
I am completely convinced that Mae is now making up for all the snuggling she didn’t do as an infant. She’s a cuddly sweetheart, and I gladly oblige.
Thankfully, after a song or two and some snuggly moments, she went down again with just a few tears. I threw in a load of laundry and crashed again for a couple of hours.
And while my daughter slept til almost nine and woke up rarin’ to go, I didn’t.
It was kind of a blah, drink-a-pot-of-coffee, kind of morning. Thankfully we had plans to meet a friend at the park for an hour or so. Even though the weather was only upper 40’s, the sun was shining, it was a gorgeous day, and Mae and I both had a great time…though she needs to understand that one needs to SIT properly before trying to go down a slide. đ
When we left the park, I swung by Target to get some Pedialyte to help her tummy. (She thinks it’s juice…I’ll just let her think that for awhile. ;)) Then we headed home for our usual. Lunch, play, stories, snack, nap.
I know I say it all the time, but I feel completely blessed to be able to stay home with my daughter. I love soaking up the simple moments that make our days.
Next week I’m going to start taking guitar lessons from a friend. I’m excited. Yes, it’s one of my 12 in 2012, but I’m excited to potentially progress beyond the self-taught, I-can’t-play-bar-chords, level at which I currently am. I’d really love to play for praise team sometime…I guess we’ll see. At any rate, I’m looking forward to it.
So y’all read my post yesterday about the Reese’s eggs? Yeah. I forgot to mention I sorta love jellybeans, too. I am really, really thankful that I waited til less than two weeks before Easter to cave. Less time to consume so much sugar.
So…just a blogging pet peeve of mine. Also, one that proves that though I am very fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants and easygoing, I do have perfectionistic tendencies. WordPress is slowly killin’ me, I think…their formatting for archives is atrocious. Pretty much anything that is even a few weeks old is completely messed up. (Please don’t go look.)
So my goal for April is to update what needs to be updated (which I’m not great about), find a new layout for the blog (which I’m excited about), and try not to care as much (which I’m not sure I can do).
Ugh. Everytime I look at older things I’ve written I just cringe.
And, yet, it reminds me that sometimes things in life are just what they are. We have to accept them and keep going with life and not let ourselves worry and fret over what we can’t change.
God has been teaching me so much lately about trusting Him with things…doing what I can and leaving the rest to Him. It’s cliche, but it’s true.
He does have it figured out.
I know I keep quoting Jesus Calling, but the devotion for today was so exactly where I am.
Maybe it’ll bless you, too.
“A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world.”
I love the reminders He gives, just when we need them.
G’nite!
Coffee in a Packet + Friend Chats + Painting = JOY
March 25, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
So we’re coffee datin’ it tonight, even though it’s kinda late.
And I’m drinkin’ this.
Some would argue that it’s quality coffee. Or that it’s even actual coffee.
However, I brought a box home with me from Spain.
I like it.
And it reminds me of Indonesia ’cause I drank something similar there all the time. Except that was this. You can’t get it anywhere in this hemisphere, I’m pretty sure. And I miss it.
Since today was not exactly my favorite day ever, for reasons that don’t need to be discussed, it’s good that I’m drinking coffee that came out of a little packet. It kinda cheers me up.
A little.
It has that same, slightly-burnt-coffee taste that is strangely comforting and reminds me of my sweet 4th grade class who would always ask me what flavor I was drinking that day. And it’s only a little ick, mostly good.
Tonight, I’ll take it.
So I’ll just say up front that five hours of sleep when emotions are running high is not a wonderful combination. I really had to search for the JOY in my day today.
What I love is that He always gives it, somehow.
And, thankfully I’ve been blessed with this girl who doesn’t understand what it is to actually have a bad day, though she’s definitely had a few. She just doesn’t get it yet. She, most of the time, runs around with a huge smile on her face, spreading sunshine everywhere she goes.
It’s really, really hard to be in a bad mood around that.
After church and lunch today, my girl and I took a walk down the street and then ended up at the house across the street, the one I swear she thinks is her second home. đ I got a chance to talk to my dear friend for a bit while Mae climbed up and down and up and down and up and down the front steps.
Then it was home for her so she could take the dreaded NAP. She protests it loudly each and every day. It doesn’t change anything.
While she napped, I decided to finally get going on a painting for her room that I’ve had in my head for over a year. I didn’t think I’d actually finish it today, but I did.
I’m happy with how it turned out, even if there were a few little mistakes…that I mostly fixed. đ Keep in mind that…1) I’m not technically an artist though I do occasionally paint; 2) lettering is not my gift; and 3) I still don’t love the colors…I wish I had added orange.
Next time.
Mae clearly liked it, though…in fact, she wanted to play with it until we finally hung it up on her wall…where she couldn’t reach it! đ
It was a good ending to a not-so-good day…and things are looking up, I think.
The coffee from a packet is definitely helping.
Happy end-of-the-weekend, my friends.
Love you.
Little Blessings (Pt. 28)
March 22, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
The funny things my daughter does…like pushing the capo for my guitar around in her stroller, yelling, “Capo! Capo!” (her newest word) Hilarious.
Wrecking dinner and being blessed with a hubby and daughter who will eat it anyway.
Computers that are still under warranty. Oy…
An awesome hubby who took Mae over his lunch break so I could go to my sweet friend’s organ recital. And actually sit there and soak it all in. ‘Twas wonderful…the recital AND the fact that I got to just sit for 45 minutes. đ
Nine straight days of flip-flop weather. In March. Yes, please.
Walks with friends in the sunshine.
My Thursday morning Bible study…I love those women.
Something kinda cool that happened this week…I’ll tell you all about it in the next few weeks. But it made me smile really BIG.
Wagon rides and walks and playing in the backyard and sliding and trips to the park…with my girl. We have such a good time together.
Reminders from my Father this week. It is SO. GOOD. to be loved by Him.
Yes, I Drink Caffeine at Night. Sometimes Late.
March 21, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Hi, my name is Mel, and I’m a coffee addict.
I know that’s shocking news to all of you.
So it’s 9 p.m…and a pot of coffee kind of night. Or at least a cup.
It wasn’t a bad one at all…it was actually a really good day.
But I don’t feel like I’ve sat down much…so bring on a cup ‘o joe, my pj pants, and some quality time for me and the blog!
I like to chat about life…what’s up, what’s down, what I’m learning, how He’s working. So let’s talk about that, k? And hopefully, I’ll get through the conversation on just one cup of coffee because, really, I shouldn’t be drinking more than that this late.
Even coffee addicts need sleep. đ
What’s up? Lots of stuff.
My days are full of Mae…she is such the sunshine. It’s melts my heart and makes me smile really big to see the way she blesses the lives of people around her. She is JOY and random hellos and handshakes and hugs and complete love all rolled up into a pretty stinkin’ cute, albeit slightly-messy-haired, little girl.
And I am incredibly blessed to spend my days with her.
The temperature lately has been UP…therefore my desire for a tan has been elevated, too. Truthfully, I’m not the sun worshipper I used to be, but, hey, if there can actually be a tan in March, why not?! I got some good color in Spain and have been able to keep it thanks to Chicago’s glorious, eight consecutive, days of 80’s and sunny.
Love.
The weather has been completely awesome for running, too…I can’t remember ever going for an early morning run in March in a tank top and shorts. Ever. That is motivation enough to get me out of bed at 6:15. Truthfully, I like running in the morning just for the simple fact that I’m done for the day. I don’t particularly like “looking forward” to running because I don’t really “look forward” to running. But I like the way I feel after, so I guess that’s a good tradeoff.
What’s down?
Certainly not gas prices. Ugh. But I don’t want to analyze those too much.
The amount of time that Maelie naps during the day is definitely down. I’ve seen this coming…she’s slowly cutting back on her afternoon napping…secretly, I think she just wants to play outside more. I have to accept the fact that she’s almost two…it’s the inevitable. Rats…I was hoping she’d take four hour naps til she was six…like her mommy did. True.
But what ISN’T down is her energy level. She just goes and goes and goes. And I think people fall in love with her because she’s so outgoing and loving and just…crazy, big-hearted, Mae. I love her oodles for it, even when I wish she’d sit down for two minutes. đ
What I’m learning?
Tons…where to even begin.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the wonderfully crazy journey of parenting at Mom’s Bible study. We’re starting a new book, and I really am looking forward to it. I love being a mommy, but I also know that there’s a lot of godly wisdom out there that will help me become much better at it.
I guess this one ties into the next one…
What’s He doing?
I mentioned a few days ago that I bought the book Jesus Calling for my Kindle.
Came across this a couple days ago. I found it challenging, convicting, and, truthfully, IÂ am still chewing on it. I want to process it more with you all, but now is not the time.
But I’ll leave you with it because it’s that good.
“Holiness is letting Me live through you. Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy. Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living. I want to inhabit all your moments–gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior.”
Wow.
G’nite, friends.
I Love Today
March 19, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
(This post has nothing to do with trips or photos of trips…you know, those things I’ve been meaning to post for a few days. I promise they’re coming soon! :))
It does? Have everything to do with today.
It was a Monday…normal, mostly.
I woke up feeling a bit blah and sore from my workout last night…and needing a good dose of JOY. I prayed for it, wondering how He would give it.
‘Cause I knew He would.
It came through my girl. Mae and I have had a few rough days since Tobin and I got home from our trip. There have been extra temper tantrums, more stubborn moments, and even more moments of feeling like a parenting failure.
Today my heart was just full…of Maelie love and blessings. Oh, sure, we had a few moments…we always do. But, mostly, it was just good. Playing together. Laughing and singing and guitar playing. A trip to the grocery store filled with a precious little girl greeting everyone she saw, chatting up a storm…and spreading loads of sunshine to the place. A good afternoon nap, and then some fun family time before Tobin had to leave for his Bible study. We played outside, grilled out and ate on the back porch, took a little walk and visited our favorite friends, read stories, played some more.
A truly wonderful day.
I just soak up days like this…those when Mae and I just are. It’s what we do so well.
I’m so, so thankful.
Because today is what we have at this moment…and I love it.
Currently…
March 17, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Borrowed this from a fellow blogger.
In an effort to not think too hard…it is the weekend, after all. đ
Enjoy.
Current Books: Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider…reading it slowly to digest it and actually apply it to life. Beginning a new Bible study book, Effective Parenting in a Defective World by Chip Ingram…looking forward to it. Just finished a Karen Kingsbury on the plane, Leaving. Problem is I scored that one super cheap…the other three in the series roll in at a whopping $10 each. I’ll be borrowing those from the library. But definitely a good read.
Current Playlist: No particular artists but lately lovin’ anyone who’s “redone” a hymn, like the one I posted a few weeks ago. Also have a playlist for running that I listen to. When I run. đ The rest of the playlist is whatever I’m singin’ at the time. Works for me.
Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Does The Bachelor count? I didn’t watch the whole season, just here or there, but my interest was definitely piqued with the finale. I truly don’t know what Ben was thinking…or that he was thinking…but I wish love for him and Courtney. Truly.
Current Colors: Always a fan of green. Really liking it with brown and cream right now, too.
Current Fetish: Flip flops. Always. Especially when the weather is summer in March. Score.
Current Food: Um…don’t laugh. String Cheese. Craved it the whole time we were gone. Something about a good shot of protein with just a few calories.
Current Drink: Two. Of course. Coffee…with whatever creamer I have in my fridge. And lately, liking Cherry Coke Zero. Both much better with a dear friend and a heart-spilling chat.
Current Favorite Favorite: Music. Love it all. (Well, mostly.) I sang through my whole run this morning. Not sure how I sounded, but the world…was just brighter this morning. Waved at a few drivers I recognized, belted out All I Need (Bethany Dillon), and soaked in the moments of the sun on my face. Music.
Current Wishlist: I don’t really have a list of wants other than shorts that fit ;). If I could wish for something, it would be that balance in life came more easily. I’m trying…and jet lag has helped with it the last few mornings. I’ve woken up so early and had so much time to accomplish things before the daily grind of life began. Morning coffee, Bible reading, laundry, blogging, running…have all happened before I needed to get Mae up for the day. Maybe I’m wishing that this trend can continue. I think it could be very, very good. Oh, and maybe I’ll wish that my book will get published this year…well, once I finish it. đ
Current Needs: New black flip flops. Whether those are actually a need…it doesn’t really matter, probably.
Current Triumphs: How does one answer this without bragging? Or at least sounding like it. Being a pound away from my goal weight is definitely a triumph…and the fact that I decided weeks ago not to obsess over a number on the scale anymore.
Current Bane-of-my-Existence: I’m not, in general, particularly annoyed with anything right now. I really try to look on the sunny side of the street…and walk there ’cause it’s much warmer, too!
Current Celebrity Crush: Totally my hubby. He’s famous to me.
Current Indulgence: Today I finished round 2 of the Biggest Loser competition with my friends at church. And I am eating a big chocolate chip cookie sometime today to celebrate. And maybe some pizza, too!
Current Mood: JOYful. Allowing the JOY to seep into every moment…because life is good even when things are hard. I am blessed, I am loved, I am His…and that’s enough.
Current #1 Blessing: Family, friends…and the JOY they add to life.
Current Slang or Saying: Golly, Miss Molly… (to Mae); Oy… Aduh… (that one never changes)
Current Outfit: Brown cargo shorts, purple tank top, flip flops with rhinestones that are, sadly, falling apart.
Current Link: Um, I don’t know? I really, really like these shoes. I could add them to my wishlist, maybe. đ You can find them here.
Current Quote: I spent some time reading in Romans this morning when I got home from my run…the sun was shining, there was coffee made, and I couldn’t NOT sit on the front porch and soak it all in. Chapter 8 was particularly meaningful today, though no one verse stands out. But I also spent my Valentine’s Amazon money (finally) and bought the devotional, Jesus Calling, for my Kindle. And today’s thoughts were exactly what I needed to read. This stood out:
“Rejoice in the One who understands you completely and loves you perfectly. As I fill you with My Love, you become a reservoir of love, overflowing into the lives of other people.”
Wow…I want that to be me.
Current Photo: Um, bread, anyone?!?! (Sorry, I had to talk about it one more time!!!) đ
A (Poor) American in Paris
March 16, 2012 by · 1 Comment
At the end of our trip we stopped in Paris for a day.
Since I was a little girl, I’d dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower and all of the things that made Paris so magical.
The Eiffel Tower was cool…and when the lights twinkled at night, it was magical. Like seeing something I’d only ever imagined…and it didn’t disappoint.
But Paris…I have to reflect on this city, and here’s why.
I couldn’t believe the amount of Gucci and Chanel and Prada and expensive purses and coats and boots I saw. It seemed that everyone around me was just a walking advertisement for Vogue…and I looked down at my Target jeans and $5 combat boots that I wore while tromping through Paris.
And I felt poor.
We’d see people lounging in the late afternoon sun having a drink and a chat with friends at an outdoor cafe…and a quick peek at the menu told us exactly what they were paying to have that drink.
I felt poor again.
We wandered a bit around dinner time, looking for a place off the beaten path, but the prices just killed us. (Obviously, figuratively ;)) We could have paid the money and eaten that food, but we just couldn’t do it.
If that makes any sense.
It was a reminder, once again, that I felt poor.
As the evening wore on, Paris crept into every part of me, nagging and whispering to me exactly what I didn’t have. Lots of money, expensive things…
And then I caught myself.
And as we walked back through the narrow, cobbled streets and passed bakeries and bought bread…what we could afford…I stopped.
Thought for a moment.
And smiled.
Eight days of adventure with my honey, courtesy of some hard-earned frequent flyer miles. đ Going to places we never thought we’d see. Exploring and having adventures that didn’t require emptying our savings account. Riding a camel and suriviving the Tangier market. Basking in the beauty of the Mediterranean and the mountains and the sunshine. Laughing, mostly. Learning to love more deeply. Knowing that when we went back, we’d have our amazing daughter waiting for us in a place that is home…full of friends and family and community and love.
So I tromped through Paris feeling very, very poor.
And when we arrived home…had a precious reunion with our girl, saw some dear friends, started feeling a bit jet-lagged…I opened my purse to see a small paper bag containing my Eiffel Tower key chain, my lone souvenir from Paris that I paid half a Euro for.
I clipped it onto my keys and stared at it for awhile, thankful for the reminder.
The reminder that I am very, very rich.
