It’s a gorgeous January morning.
For me, gorgeous means sunshine and NO snow, though if some of my friends were to read this, they’d be writing out an IOU for one snowball to the face.
Well, when there’s actually enough snow to THROW said snowball. 😉
I’ve got my coffee, too…always a prerequisite when I’m about to write something deep.
Deep, it is.
Big, too.
I’ve always been honest in this space; therefore, if you’re a frequent reader, the news that I’ve got a God-Sized Dream brewing in my heart and soul isn’t new.
And by now, you probably know that one of my deep desires is to publish a book and share the stories God has placed in my heart.
Eight years ago (goodness, has it really been that LONG?!) my husband and I were preparing to make a big move to the other side of the world. God had placed the burden in our hearts to serve in an international school, possibly even a Christian school, and He flung the doors wide open for that dream to come true in 2005.
We sold it all, said some tearful goodbyes, and moved to Indonesia.
It was five years of…everything.
Wonderful…the kind of wonderful that still makes my heart sing when I think of the people we grew to love and the ways He changed hearts and lives. So amazing.
Challenging…the kind that makes me sometimes-wish I could go back but then brings me to a place of trust because God can still work through imperfections. Thank You, Father, for that.
Life-Changing…I still think about it every day. Most days we talk about it. And once in awhile I’ll even write about it on my blog.
Just Hilarious…I’ve always been that girl; the one who doesn’t need to seek out adventure because it just finds her, and life in Indonesia was no exception. (Trust me…this book is worth reading just for the story about me using a squatty potty for the first time. Really. It’s a kick…I can’t believe I’m putting it in print. :D)
When we returned to the U.S. in 2010 to begin our family and put down some roots in a new place, I started to write.
Really write.
I need to process the change from life in Indonesia to life in Illinois, the transition from being a couple to a couple with a new baby girl, and, quite honestly, what it was like to go grocery shopping in a store that had a thousand kinds of salad dressing.
And as I began to write, it wasn’t long before a dream started to creep in.
That dream turned from creeping in to planting itself deep within my heart.
And that brings me to today.
Today I am writing it down, reliving each story, and it’s an insanely wonderful place to be.
It has taken me the better part of two and a half years to finally be able to express the many, many emotions that still emerge when I visit the Indonesia part of our lives.
My God-Sized Dream, right now, is to take this collection of stories and experiences and turn them into a…memoir? (Just being honest with you…I am not a fan of that word. I think it’s corny. Help, please? ;))
Stories that will make my readers laugh out loud, let a few tears drip, love a little more deeply, and see the goodness of God in a life that is continually in progress.
I would love to see my stories in print, and each day I’m getting a little closer to that.
That’s my dream. 
I am so, so thankful to God for the paths He allows us to travel.
Each one never ends up looking quite like I think it will, but He is always there, always guiding me, always next to me holding my hand…and this book-writing journey is no exception.
I am so incredibly blessed to be a part of the God-Sized Dream Team…a team of women who are also busy dreaming and doing and trusting. They’re amazing…every single one of them, and I’m so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to join them as we all pursue our dreams together! It’s gonna be a ton of fun to watch what He does through all of us!
And thanks to each of YOU for joining me…it means the world to me that you are here.
Love to you, friends!
And be sure to stop back every Tuesday…I’ll be sharing more each week about my dream and what He’s doing.
What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing yourself. Wow! What an adventure…first the living part, and now the writing part. Awesome and inspiring.
Thank you for your sweet words, Heather!
I hate the word memoir too. Record of life? I don’t know, I’m bad at titles.
YAY for your GSD!!!! Even just reading what you’ve written here makes me want to read it. Especially the squatty potty story, not gonna lie.
Thank you for confirming that I’m not alone in my dislike of that word. 😉 Thanks for your encouragement, too…I just love our Dream Team!
Mel,
I look forward to reading what you have to share!
Thanks, Tonya! I’m so glad we’re both part of this!
It’s so interesting to see how our lives can be used by God. Your trip to Indonesia, the stories that are in your heart from the experience, all of it, will be used to bless others in His name. Good luck on your book writing journey~can’t wait to see how it all works out!!
Alecia~fellow Dream team member
Thank you, my fellow Dream Team sister! Blessings to you!
I’m excited to read more!
Thanks, Kristin!
Oh, now I just HAVE to read more, if just to hear the “squatty potty” story. 😉 Exciting to hear your God-sized dream. Writing is part of my story too and this year I’m going to embrace that calling even more and start writing down my story. I’m not completely sure the story He wants me to write, but I know I need to write it!
Thanks, Stephanie! And blessings as you embrace that calling…God has great things for you!
I am so excited for you Mel ! I will be praying for you .
Love you friend !
Oh, thank you, sweet friend. I miss you…we need to talk soon. Love to you!
I love your dream and the book sounds amazing. I’m all about a square potty story! Ha! Can’t wait to hear more! Glad to be on the team together. : )
Thank you, Christine! It’s one of those stories that makes me wonder if I’ll be able to hold my head up in public once it gets out… 😉 Blessings!
Mel-I’m so happy to be on the dreaming team with you! And I’m excited you are writing your story; I want to read it! You sound like an amazing woman… I’m sure amazing things are ahead for you! Hugs!
Oh, thank you for your kind words, Genny. I think we have such an amazing team…I just love watching what God is already doing. Can’t wait to see what’s next! Hugs back, friend.
Mel, I’m so inspired by your post. Thank you for sharing your dreams! I feel so blessed to be on this journey with you
Can’t wait to read more!
Thank you for your sweet words, Lisa! Blessed to be on this journey with you, too.
Mel, I can’t wait to read your stories! I know from my short stint in China that being in another country changes your perspective about living in America and it is definitely a process to reenter everyday American life.
Thank you, Jenny! Blessings to you!