Little Blessings (Pt. 50)

October 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

:) I’m back on Illinois soil. (Well, that’s a blessing to me…you can decide if you feel the same way.) 😉

:) Safe travels and memorable moments with a toddler who pours the on the sunshine wherever she goes.

:) Precious, best-friend time…complete with dressing alike in public, laughter, and remembering. I love those two.

:) Maelie/Grandma time. Mae chatted all the way back to Illinois about going to Grandma’s house. :)

:) GPS that works.

:) Just-because-I-want-to-say-hi phone calls.

:) Upside-down plans that turn out right.

:) Random Dutch bakeries…and fattening pastries. Plural. (Guess who’s goin’ running tomorrow morning???) 😉

:) Having a God who heals and provides and Loves completely.

:) My hubby…I don’t always add him to the list. But he’s a blessing. Love him. :)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, friends, just life, Maelie, travel, where I am

MoNDaY mOrnINg CofFeE LoVE

October 1, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Clearly, from the title, I need a good dose of the stuff.

It’s 7:45 a.m., the girlie is still asleep, we’re almost packed for our trip, and YES.

I’m drinking coffee. :)

Mae and I are headed out to Iowa in a couple hours. (I’ll tell you more about that at the end.)

In the meantime, I am SO incredibly, super-excited that I finished packing for both of us by 9:30 last night. That, like, never happens. Of course, there are still the last-minute things, but I’m impressed with my organization/lack of procrastination. And that I’m sitting down to blog before we go! (That usually never happens before a trip, either!)

Though I did make myself get up early so I’d have time for it.

Oh, the commitment I have to this space. 😉

Ok, I’ll stop. Obviously, I should be chugging more coffee if that’s where my brain is right now. OY…

And as much as I want to go on and on this morning, I need to keep it short. Ish. I told myself we’d leave at 9, but that won’t happen. Does anyone else out there do that? I SAID 9, so we’d be out of here by 9:30. That should happen. I hope. :) Really not relishing the thought of hitting the afternoon rush in Des Moines, and I think if we leave by 9:30 and don’t make too many stops, we’ll be good. Rush hour + Mel = don’t mix.

We had a good weekend. It was Pumpkin Days at Immanuel, and of course, we took our girl. She’s been fighting a cold for a few days, so she was definitely not as crazy as she usually is, but she completely hearts bouncy houses, and she had a great time with that. She even joined some of her older friends in the “big kids” bouncy house with the slide. Tobin and I were amazed that she could climb up to the slide in there. Sigh…my girl is growing up way TOO fast! We’re glad she had such a good time, though.

In just a few, Maelie and I will be heading to Iowa for a few days. The purpose of part of the trip is so she can have grandma/grandpa time. :) We’ll spend the night there, and tomorrow morning I’ll leave her in Creston and head back to Des Moines for a couple days to see my two best friends. Hence, the other purpose…to help one of them pack to move back to Creston. She and her six sweet kiddos will be moving in just a few weeks. I’m sad for them…they’ve had such a hard year. Though the details don’t belong on the blog, please keep them in your prayers. :)

It will be fun to have a change of pace from my normal, though I’m sure I will miss my girl like crazy! I’m looking forward to reconnecting with them and just being the three stooges that we used to be. We really are a riot when we get together. :)

Along with that, I’ll be taking a hiatus from the blog for a few days. Even if I can carve out the time to write, I’m not going to. I know it will all be here when I get back on Thursday night! 😉

So, in the meantime, prayers are appreciated since, as most of you know, I completely love driving long distances by myself. (Well, with a toddler.) Please pray for safety and good mommy/daughter bonding time. We have lots of fun music, snacks, toys…hopefully it will be a good six/seven hours. :)

So, happy Monday and happy week, friends! Back soon. :)

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, coffee, friends, Indonesia, just life, Maelie, prayer

An Impossible Perspective

September 29, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

I look around me and I wonder.

I wonder a lot of things.

I especially wonder why…why, in this beautiful tropical country, one where God’s fingerprints are everywhere, I still see such need all around me.

Not just physical, but emotional. Spiritual.

It’s as if the need has become too great and no one knows how to help.

Each day is the same for me.

I put on my one pair of tattered flip flops and trudge to the market.

I pass children in their school uniforms. Carrying backpacks with books. Pencils. Paper. They’re excited.

Oh, how I long to be one of them.

There’s so much to learn…do…see…discover. And I want to sit in a classroom and soak it all up right along with them.

I arrive at the market and find my father…the man who sells fish.

Sometimes he sells enough to provide for our family that day. Sometimes not.

But I help him. I love him and am so proud of him for doing what he can for our family.

That evening we go home. Short on sales that day, our family has a bit of rice for dinner. My parents are tired, worn out, discouraged…and we go to sleep early on the corner mattress we share.

I lie there in the dark…and I wait.

I’m waiting for something. Someone. I’m not sure what or who or how, but I pray every day that it will happen.

That someone will choose to help ME. That they will sacrifice a little so I can go to school. And wear red shorts and a white shirt and sit in a classroom and learn all I can. So my family can eat. So my parents can rest easy each night knowing that our basic needs are met.

Maybe they will even have enough energy to join me at church on Sunday.

It’s a beautiful dream and one that could come true, but I need that person. Someone to say, “Your life matters. You are worth investing in. And I want to be that person.”

It would truly change my life forever.

*********************

Sometimes, even as a writer, I find it impossible to fully find the perspective of someone.

A child waiting for a sponsor is one of those people.

It’s almost a place I don’t want to go. Most of you know that I’ve seen this very situation…walked right past it many times, I’m sure. I’ll never forget the sight of those students in their red shorts and white shirts on their way to school. And near them, the children who didn’t wear their school uniforms. Didn’t go to school…not because they didn’t want to but because they couldn’t afford to.

I saw need. In the eyes of those children whose lives were spent begging at the corner of Jalan Sukajadi and Pasteur. I wanted something different…better for them. I hope and pray that somehow they found it.

Tomorrow marks the last day of Compassion’s Blog Month. As of Friday, there are still over 400 children waiting for sponsors.

It’s never too late to change the life of a child.

Because every child deserves a chance.

Sig

Filed Under: barefoot, blessings, Compassion, Indonesia, remembering, where I am

Five-Minute Friday: Grasp

September 28, 2012 by · 7 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s Topic: Grasp

I watch each step as her grown-up-much-too quickly toddler legs carry her faster than I could have imagined even a few months ago.

She’ll explore. Climb. Jump. (Jumping is her trademark.)

Eventually she always discovers the tallest slide…you know, the one that gives this momma’s heart a near attack each time she climbs toward the top. She’ll hang out on the platform near it, hover over openings that this Mama Bear thinks should never even be there…and sometimes she’ll go down the slide. Other times, she’ll climb right back down.

The truth is that going to the playground is more stress for me than anything.

I constantly wonder when it will be that she’ll take a nosedive or a freefall, totally-on-purpose jump.

And then…I remind myself.

That she’s two. Growing, changing, discovering, learning…just as she should.

And though it’s tempting sometimes to hold on so tightly that she’ll never leave my arms, I know that’s not my calling.

I have to give her that space to Grow. Change. Discover. Learn.

A little at a time, I have to release my grasp.

And watch her fly.

Five Minute Friday

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, Five Minute Friday, Maelie, where I am

The Difference of a Few Words

September 26, 2012 by · 2 Comments

Several years ago when the book, The Five Love Languages, became popular, I read it.

As any emotional, feel-y female would be, I connected with the fact that Gifts was my love language. (Who doesn’t love a good gift?!?!)

But as I’ve spent much more of my time in the past few years writing and hanging with people, I’ve realized that Gifts actually comes further down the list than I once thought. My two love languages? Are really Words of Encouragement/Affirmation and Quality Time.

Especially words. We ALL need them, whether we admit it or not.

God has been challenging me in the last year or so to be intentional about using my words to build others up. That can be done in many ways…a blog post, a simple face-to-face conversation, a text, a phone call, a card.

In fact, I will shamelessly admit that I keep cards. So if you’ve ever sent me a little note or a card, I probably have it saved somewhere. :)

Words of encouragement have such a healing, uplifting power…at least for me. And for probably a lot of other people, too. :)

Dayspring recently sent me a free packet of cards…which I LOVE! (Thanks, guys! :)) They sent me the Colors of Compassion set, and as I looked through each one, I actually thought of several people that those cards were a perfect fit for. Someday…when a little word love is needed. :)

But there was one that caught my eye and challenged me to step out of my box. So, pardon me while I do a little storytelling. 😉

Two years ago, my family and I moved to Illinois from Indonesia. But between those two places, we had a quick six weeks in Minnesota and a teeny-bit of time to reconnect with our church from pre-overseas life. The church had changed quite a bit in five  years, though we still had several friends there. There was a woman there that I literally met in passing, and we had a few conversations during those weeks, but when we moved, I didn’t really keep in touch with her.

But I did read her blog.

And about a month ago, I caught up on it, and it made my heart bleed. She was going through some really tough things and was so open and honest about her struggles. I admired her courage for sharing the difficult and realized that, though I barely knew her, I could relate to a lot of what she wrote through the different seasons I’ve had in life.

But I had no idea what I could do. I said a prayer for her when I thought of her, and that was that…or at least I thought it was. Maybe our paths would cross again someday.

And then a few days ago I got a card in the mail. It was a completely unexpected, simple, I’m thinking of you note from a friend, and it made my day.

I thought about how much those few words meant to me at this particular time…and asked myself, Why don’t you just send her a note? The worst that can happen is she’ll never reply.

As I flipped through the stack of cards that I’d stashed in a drawer, I found the right one, wrote her a note, addressed it, and mailed it before I had time to chicken out.

I don’t know what will come of it, honestly, and that’s ok.. When I went back and thought about all she’d processed and shared with those who read her space, I realized she just needed some encouragement. Someone to let her know that there were prayers being said for her. Maybe a friendship will come of it, and maybe not, but either way…it’s all ok.

It was a chance to build up a sister-in-Christ.

I really hope it makes her smile. And reminds her she is Loved.

What about you? Is there someone you can encourage? Pull out your phone and send a text to a friend you know is struggling. Take time to jot a note to that friend you haven’t seen in ages but wish you could gab for hours over coffee with. Leave a comment on a friend’s blog just to say hey. (No subtle hints here, I promise. ;))

There are so many ways to make a difference with just a few words

Be blessed today, my friends. Love you all. :)

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, church, encouragement, friends, just life, remembering, what I'm learning, where I am, writing

Good Morning!

September 25, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Yes, I’m fully aware that it’s late at night.

😉

A friend mentioned this song by Mandisa last night at workout, and it’s been in my head all day long today. Therefore, completely worthy of sharing. Plus, it’s a good one. :)

Ironically, it’s not really an accurate description of our morning. Up past midnight, I woke late to one of the dogs barking his head off at I-don’t-know-what, my hubby already gone, and Maelie still (thankfully) crashed. (We were ALL up too late.)

On those kind of mornings, it’s just so hard to get up and going. I showered, made coffee, got Mae up around 8:30…and I can’t exactly tell you where our morning went or what we did. It just kind of passed and we chilled.

We really needed to get out, though, and since we had no plans, we took a jaunt to Dairy Queen. (This time I walked. ;)) It was a perfect, gorgeous, early-fall day, and though I walked almost three miles, I still wore flip flops.

Yes, I AM a die-hard flip-flop wearer, if you haven’t noticed. :)

It was good to get out, but it was just one of those tired days. Bedtime came early-ish for Mae, and I crossed a couple things off my to-do list. Always nice. :)

As I pushed Mae in the stroller during our walk, we just chatted with each other, and it was SO FUN. My daughter is TWO! We have conversations! We laugh together, even on the days that are more challenging.

I just love her…and am so thankful for her, even if I forget the blessing that she is sometimes.

Here are a few random pics from today. :)

Love memories. Love her even more.

Mae woke up a few minutes before I went into get her this morning. This is what she had done with her stuffed animals…what a funny girl! (I especially love the fact that she has Grover hanging by his neck…haha.) 😉 

SO love the cheesy smile!

Yay for mommy/daughter ice cream dates! And more cheese, too… 😉

My sweetie!

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, family, just life, Maelie, music, where I am

Monday Rambling

September 24, 2012 by · 2 Comments

Monday night.

Workout night.

I am pretty sure I won’t be able to sit down tomorrow…let alone even get out of bed without help. It was our first night back in the gym after a summer of outdoor workouts, which are good, but I like the gym better. Maybe not the pain that comes with it, though. We always run stairs. And then do a fantastically grueling (haha…I’m wordy tonight) combination of squats and suicides and squats and lunges and ab work and squats and weights. Oh, and squats.

Sorry…we just did A LOT of squats tonight. 😉 

I’ve kinda been on a workout kick today. I actually ran this morning, too. It was comical…kind of. Well, for me, anything is funny at 7 a.m. :) At the last minute…literally as I started running, I decided to abandon my usual (read: so-familiar-I-can-run-it-blindfolded) morning route in exchange for the bike path by our house. Really, I was mostly just curious to see how fast I could make it to Dairy Queen, which is somewhere between 1.3-1.5 miles from our house. (I forgot to charge my GPS so I had to go on what I remembered, and my pace proved it, I think.) Anyway…the important thing is that now I know I can get to the land of blizzards and freezes (which are my favorite) in 11-12ish minutes. (Maybe even faster if DQ is actually open and there is ice cream waiting.) :)

Oh, and if people stop for runners at crosswalks like they’re SUPPOSED to…I’ll tell that story another day. Maybe. :)

Am I teetering toward dorkiness tonight? I’m thinkin’ so. Sorry.

Tobin had today off, and we had a family adventure to IKEA. For all of the world we’ve seen, I’m sure many of you will find it funny that we have never been to an IKEA, despite living within 30 minutes of one for over half of our married lives. We thought it was a bit ironic, but such is life.

The Pros: Golly, the shopping cart was sweet…the one with the Cozy Coupe-like thing attached to the front. Maelie loved it. Most importantly, she stayed IN it and didn’t run around too much, thus enabling US to actually enjoy the expanse of all things home decor. :) Free breakfast on Mondays, which we didn’t even know about until last night. Uber adorable little girls’ bedroom furniture. I shamelessly took a picture. Happy sigh…someday. :) A cute little pink rug for our girl’s room. Wine glasses…which we needed because after my little mishap (klutzy Mel+granite countertop) we were down to three. Oh, and Chick Fil-A was ever-so-conveniently located on our way home…love how that happens. So, all good stuff. :)

The Cons: Honestly? We thought it was slightly hyped up…and were a little disappointed. I mean, it was an enjoyable outing and was fun to look, but I’m not sure what I was expecting. (I am totally talking myself in a circle here.) And I was sad that the mongo chocolate bar for 99 cents was really not so good. It wasn’t bad…I just wanted super-yummy chocolate. Sadly, it’s not worth my calories. I’m sure I’ll find a culinary use for it anyway. :)

But at the end of the day, it was family and it was fun, and we had a good time.

:)

Well, the adrenaline is starting to slow down, and my eyelids might actually be starting to droop…it IS 11:30…way past my bedtime.

Hope you all had a great Monday. And the good news? You’ve got six more days before there will be another one!

G’nite.

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, family, friends, just life, Maelie, running, where I am

Cold Toes

September 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Summer is turning to fall.

I feel it mostly in the air. And, in my cold toes.

A few days ago, I caved and put socks on. (I usually reserve those only for when I go running.) Refusing to give in to actual shoes, I even tromped outside, sporting the socks and flip flop look for a day or two. SO not cool, Mel…oh, the fashion police I will offend just to avoid shoes.

😉

However, I did finally give in over the weekend and pull out my combat boots. You know, those steal-of-a-deal ones I so fortunately nabbed at Goodwill last December? Yeah, those. :) I smiled as I dusted them off and may or may not have let out a giggle when I realized the last time I wore them was the day we tromped six-ish miles through Pareeee. (Sorry, that was my epic failure of an attempt to sound French.)

Paris.

And though they were real shoes, I have to admit that my feet liked them very much as I stomped the last bits of European dust off.

I’m sad, though…I’m gonna need to find some replacements very soon. While they’ll work for my Monday-Saturday life for a while longer, I really shouldn’t wear them to church anymore.

Yes, I did say anymore.

I wore them all the time last winter/spring. I do believe that makes me insanely cool. 😉

Really, I am pretty ready for fall and all that comes with it…crunchy leaves :), pecan pie, pumpkin spice coffee creamer (found that one a couple weeks ago already!!!), apple cider, sweaters and jeans, going for a morning run when the leaves are pretty, raking the leaves into a big pile and jumping into them because I’m making up for my Indo, fall-less years.

Aaaaahhhh. :)

All of that fun?

Is definitely worth the cold toes. :)

And just because I can…this pic is a couple years old. (Obviously…the girlie is teeny-tiny!) But I love it.

Sig

Filed Under: barefoot, blessings, just life, Maelie, running, where I am

Five-Minute Friday: Wide

September 21, 2012 by · 2 Comments

Today I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for Five-Minute Friday.

Join me!

The rules: Write for five minutes. No editing, revising, overthinking, or backtracking. Just write.

Today’s Topic: Wide

Have you ever seen the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, when Andy is finally free at the end and he opens up his arms wide and fully embraces life in a way, I’m sure, he never had before? Yeah, it’s a pretty sweet movie-moment for sure.

I’d like to think I live like that…or at least try to.

At times recklessly, but mostly just wide open…ready for whatever and whoever comes my way.

I especially see that in my life when it comes to friends…I want those deep, lasting relationships that start with wide open arms that say, Come on in! I’m not interested in superficial or shallow…I want the real deal. People willing to spill hearts, crumble walls, and embrace imperfect…all of which are even better over a cup of coffee. 😉

It doesn’t mean that I always embrace life fully…but it’s definitely something I want for myself. To live with a safe-ish reckless abandon and learn to love fully like my Father did. And still does.

What a beautiful example of wide…the way my Savior’s arms reached out so. much. wider. than mine ever will…He embraced the Father’s will for him and used those wide open arms to show the world just how much he loves us.

Wow.

Five Minute Friday

Sig

Filed Under: blessings, Five Minute Friday, friends, where I am

Little Blessings (Pt. 49)

September 20, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

:) A day of sunshine with back porch guitar lessons.

:) D minor and the fact that my fingers can almost find it now.

:) A healthy daughter who, somehow, took a headfirst dive down twelve steps today and is completely fine. I know all kids fall down stairs, but that was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. So thankful she’s ok.

:) Red toenail polish and flip flops in September.

:) Words of encouragement from friends.

:) Music and laughter.

:) Smiles for a friend.

:) Episodes of Road to Avonlea. (Yeah, I’m still addicted.)

:) Clumsy moments…yeah, that’s me. Thanking God my eye isn’t black and blue. Yet.

:) Having permission to dream…and knowing that my Father isn’t limited.

Sig

Filed Under: being mommy, blessings, friends, just life, Maelie, where I am
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