tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91898832012-01-26T13:50:16.952-05:00Not quite like the small, square yellow sticky notes at all really...think legal size post-its!!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.comBlogger5871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-15286193760190404182012-01-26T12:12:00.003-05:002012-01-26T13:48:11.507-05:00

Most of us don't enjoy confrontation. Yes, there are some that do, and I've met a few of those people in the past. But I think the majority of those I'm acquainted with aren't crazy about having to confront people. I know I'm not. I don't like it. I'll do it when the situation calls for it, but it's not something I look forward to. This morning I woke up wide-eyed with my alarm. I'd been having

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-4958069805512659752012-01-25T09:26:00.000-05:002012-01-25T09:26:58.979-05:00

Less than 24 hours into my first experience with Invisalign braces, I would call my behavior distracted. This is probably going to take some getting used to... I am tasting plastic - pretty much nothing else but plastic. I don't feel any pain, but I certainly haven't forgotten that I have something on my teeth. I slept just fine all night with the braces in my mouth. I can't keep my tongue from

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-65083101346432013362012-01-24T11:54:00.045-05:002012-01-25T06:54:16.902-05:00

My name is Melanie, and I don’t like American football. There I said it. Don’t judge me too harshly. I’ve never liked football really. The last football game I enjoyed had nothing to do with the game and everything to do with a cute boy off the field. I was 15. And while I am on this full disclosure kick, let me be completely honest… I didn’t know who Tim Tebow was until  2 weeks ago. No shame

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-56639487126217779332012-01-24T11:43:00.007-05:002012-01-24T11:43:00.372-05:00

My church choir is planning a trip to Italy for late April / early May 2013.  I am delighted at the prospect of returning to Europe. I’ve not been to Italy yet and am eager to see it. OK, quite honestly, the travel committee had me at the mention of Florence. I became transfixed on the idea of Florence after reading E.M.Forster’s novel, A Room with a View, and seeing the exquisite 1985 film

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-67494462154374051532012-01-23T22:36:00.085-05:002012-01-24T11:01:54.577-05:00

I have a little book of quotes that I update with favorite lines I hear in a film or on TV, read in a book or catch in a conversation. Tonight, I wrote down another good one. It was in the movie Something Borrowed. This was my second time watching the film, and as before, I was crying throughout a couple of scene. One scene in particular touches me for some reason. Rachel and Ethan, two close

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-8547119687524059932012-01-21T15:39:00.003-05:002012-01-22T16:51:57.637-05:00

On Friday night, I went to see the ballet of Swan Lake featuring the Voronezh State Ballet Theatre of Russia. This was my first viewing of the actual ballet. My only experience surrounding the Swan Lake story was through the film, Black Swan, and so I was rather curious about seeing the full ballet and learning more. I was not disappointed. I've seen several other ballets over the past few years

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-75905185525126497502012-01-20T11:44:00.007-05:002012-01-22T16:17:40.144-05:00

I grew up secretly dreaming of becoming a ballerina. My sister and I would twirl around our living room floor and practice our “moves.” It was a rather silly pipe dream now when I think about it. My parents were against dancing. I don’t think they would be morally opposed to going to a ballet themselves, but they never would have allowed their daughters to take ballet lessons. Ballet is after

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-51851505014339223702012-01-17T17:34:00.002-05:002012-01-17T17:36:36.251-05:00

Breaking up is hard to do…especially when you don’t recall how you got hooked up in the first place. Odd as it may seem that day is rather a blank slate for me. One moment I was free and untethered, carefree as a bird. The next moment, everything changed. Suddenly my whole world revolved around him, and we have been cosmically connected from that day on. Isn’t this what every woman dreams of?

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-80666062957310391062012-01-12T19:44:00.000-05:002012-01-12T19:44:06.015-05:00

I'm me. Tried to be someone else once. It didn't fly. So you're stuck with me… That’s my opening line on my Twitter profile. Sure. It’s kind of odd to start there, but it is reality. That is the way I’ve been viewing my life for the past couple of years. I’ve started showing my real self. I’ve stopped faking, stopped trying to be someone else, stopped trying to please other people, stopped

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-75848634997059460652012-01-12T19:08:00.002-05:002012-01-12T19:10:38.387-05:00

I came across this video on another blog. Some might call it random, but I don't believe in accidents. I resonate with A LOT of what the speaker is saying here. It's thought provoking stuff. I particularly liked this line that he said about the church: “It’s not a museum for good people. It’s a hospital for the broken.”  

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-34034447113442212502012-01-01T01:28:00.002-05:002012-01-01T01:28:01.394-05:00

I’m a Showtime series junkie. I can’t handle all of it, mind you – just the shows that make me think and go deep or make me feel alive. The writing on a couple of Showtime’s series is phenomenal, and I’m a fan. I’ve watched Dexter from the beginning. Season 1 still is my favorite, but I’m rather obsessed with seeing what else Dexter will get into with each new season. I love it. It’s raw, edgy

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-27353058240530299652011-09-20T06:30:00.038-04:002011-12-20T08:48:12.116-05:00

Reflecting back on our European adventures this past May, I find it curious how expectations can really get in the way... Our first day in Brussels was a bit rough. I think we were all tired and a bit cranky and getting on each other’s nerves quickly. We got settled into our hotel, explored a bit of the surrounding area, and then had a welcome meeting with our tour director followed by a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-23994454283345429402011-09-06T15:39:00.001-04:002011-09-06T16:13:47.601-04:00

This past weekend a thought came to me, and I quickly made it my Facebook status to capture the thought – My greatest fear? That my tombstone will declare: " Here lies an accomplished reader..." First of all, it’s not actually my greatest fear. Outside of eternal separation from GOD, spiders would probably be at the top of my list. (shiver) Secondly, I’m not ordinarily morbid or so focused on

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-34001595025644389112011-07-19T05:42:00.001-04:002011-07-19T08:00:04.506-04:00

I grew up reading novels about how Europe transfixed or mesmerized characters in those books.I’ve watched films with that same idea that a visit to Europe can make people different afterwards.And now, I can attest to the power of European travel for my self.  In 2009, England was perfect bliss. I instantly fell under the spell of the stately country estates with their green, green gardens. It was

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-75485471429278134072011-07-06T12:10:00.001-04:002011-07-06T16:36:48.115-04:00

I set the alarm clock for 2 AM because our luggage had to be bagged and tagged and outside our door at 3:15 AM. Breakfast was also at 3:15, and so we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to get everything together. Sandor and Ben were up to see us off. Our bus left soon after 4 AM. It had been such a wonderful trip, and I was extremely grateful for all the great memories, the new friends and

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-67621574984997567992011-07-06T11:22:00.015-04:002011-07-06T16:36:12.127-04:00

I woke up to discover that we were well on our way to Budapest already. Slovakia was on the left bank of the river, and Hungary was on the right. Very picturesque!We had our disembarkation meeting at 10 AM, where we learned the process for the following day. We will need to have our suitcases packed and in the hall by 3:15 AM, which is also when our breakfast starts. We will be leaving the ship

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-48916762918506011602011-07-06T11:14:00.007-04:002011-07-06T16:01:09.775-04:00

After breakfast, we had a lecture on music with Professor Kudlac, a Canadian (from Montreal) who has lived in Vienna for over 30 years. He played samples of some of the classical music he was talking about, too. It was a good lecture. Then we met up with our local guide Sigrid (or Sigi) whom we had walked with the day before, and she joined us on our bus ride to the Schönbrunn Palace, which is a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-80059690723710819762011-07-05T22:48:00.012-04:002011-07-06T15:39:27.053-04:00

We docked in Vienna before breakfast this morning. We are going to be in Vienna today and tomorrow as well. YAY! At 9 AM, we set off for our panoramic Vienna city tour. We drove into the city and passed several churches and other landmarks on the way. The Ringstraße (or Ringstrasse) is a circular road surrounding the inner city or Innerstadt of Vienna and is one of its main sights. It is typical

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-89041766516573553082011-07-05T22:32:00.005-04:002011-07-06T15:40:30.889-04:00

Today is the day that the ship is going to be dry-docked while the passengers spend a full day sight-seeing. We’ll be on the go all day today, but it does sound like fun. Ben (the hotel manager) is going to go along with us today and lead the GREEN group since Louise is not going to be coming back for our tour. Our ship docked at Linz, Austria this morning, and then after breakfast, we hopped on

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-52925260467941204102011-06-29T20:02:00.009-04:002011-06-29T20:02:00.145-04:00

After breakfast, I took some pictures of Passau, Germany from the sun deck. There are some uniquely colored homes across the river and a pink church on our side of the river. I hope we have time to visit Passau when we return to the ship this afternoon. Mom, Aunt Peggy and I opted to go to Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Dad stayed behind to do the walking tour of Passau, Germany instead. We

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-61969744497812316352011-06-29T19:44:00.021-04:002011-09-12T06:44:18.504-04:00

Today was a foggy morning along the Main-Danube Canal, but it did clear off soon enough. After breakfast, we spent quite a bit of time on the sun deck like normal. Mom is feeling better this morning, and I’m glad. I’m having fun with the crowd from California and New Mexico: Linda and Harry, Cheryl and Stan, Melanie and Steve, Carole and Bob and Carol and George. Maureen and Paul (from Canada)

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-54866256650583372442011-06-29T19:19:00.015-04:002011-06-29T19:19:00.797-04:00

We docked at Nürnberg around breakfast time. Mom and Dad both made it to breakfast this morning. Mom is feeling weak, but both she and Dad were hungry, which is a good sign. At 8:30 AM, we heard a lecture on “The Development of Nürnberg” by Margit Schmidt Pikulicki. Today, Nuremberg is a beautiful, bustling city with the old mixing in with the new, but it also has a dark recent past: from

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-64581662725104117952011-06-29T18:53:00.036-04:002011-06-30T10:49:24.883-04:00

Mom and Dad are both sick today, which makes me sad. I hope they get feeling better soon. After breakfast, I headed up to the sun deck afterwards for the scenery again. (BIG SURPRISE, I know, but I love the sun deck!) I made some more new friends! I am really having fun with the people on board. We keep going through more locks. We have now gone through 35 of the 68 locks between Amsterdam to

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-12209534778121919682011-06-29T11:33:00.002-04:002011-06-29T11:33:00.184-04:00

We woke to find ourselves docking in Würzburg already, and there was a “Noah’s Ark” attraction nearby.  We are docked in an industrial zone. Würzburg is located in Bavaria on the Main River and is the commercial center of an agricultural region most noted for its vineyards. In the morning, there was an early AM lecture on “Germany in the 21st Century: Changes & Challenges” by Dr. Markus Urban.  

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-19990625320918358652011-06-29T11:12:00.001-04:002011-06-29T11:12:00.843-04:00

After breakfast, we spent more time on the sun deck. The water was calm and still this morning and perfect for reflection photos. I took a lot of them! We passed a couple more castles and turrets and made our way through a couple more sets of locks as well. The countryside scenes were beautiful! I loved the rolling hills. The red jagged rocks really stand out amidst the green hillside. The

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-79315821392314744722011-06-29T06:12:00.007-04:002011-06-30T10:50:16.630-04:00

I took over 7,800 photos on my recent trip to Europe, and so it has taken me a while to get through them all and decide which photos to post on Facebook. Now, don’t panic! I did NOT post all 7,800 of them. I used some restraint and posted some from each day. HA! Feel free to check the photos out in your spare time…   Day 1-3: May 8-10 – Brussels, Belgium       Day 4: May 11 – Margraten,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-2795059112904897152011-06-28T19:14:00.000-04:002011-06-28T19:14:00.266-04:00

We arrived in Frankfurt early this morning. We had an early breakfast since we needed to take a bus trip to Heidelberg Castle. Once we got to Heidelberg, we rode up to the castle via a curvy, tight road. And then we stopped for a restroom break before starting our tour. Mom and Dad’s bus arrived later, and so we had to hold up the yellow group while we waited for Mom and Dad to use the restroom.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-41390822930317426132011-06-27T19:40:00.024-04:002011-06-28T20:45:35.716-04:00

Today was my favorite sailing day so far.  After breakfast, I spent the morning on the sun deck taking pictures. The day started out hazy with a few raindrops, but the rain kept away from us for most of the morning, which was nice.  Lots of my new friends were up on the sun deck as well. I’m really getting to know lots of people onboard, and I love that. We passed 15 or 17 castles in the space of

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-47919728922608437292011-06-27T19:35:00.037-04:002011-06-30T12:45:02.149-04:00

We had our breakfast and then a great many of us hung out on the sun deck enjoying the view. There is so much to see all around us as we cruise along the Rhine River in Germany. We passed under more beautiful bridges. I think I am quickly becoming a bridge fanatic. I am also enjoying the many steeples along the shore and the different styles of architecture. There is quite a bit of traffic on the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-73961126571993163232011-06-27T19:30:00.020-04:002011-06-30T12:05:43.233-04:00

We all slept great our first night on board. First thing this morning, I ran up to the sun deck to try and get some sunrise pictures, but the sun was pretty well up by the time I got there. I joined Mom, Dad and Aunt Peggy for the wonderful buffet breakfast that we would come to love. After breakfast, we divided into our 4 teams and went into Amsterdam by bus for our city tour. Let me just say

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-66908042169721776882011-06-27T18:50:00.007-04:002011-06-30T11:50:06.925-04:00

We had another early breakfast this morning since we had to be packed so early. I am going to miss the chocolate brownies and the lemon pastries for breakfast every morning. YUM!! And plus it’s kinda nice having a celebrity in the same dining room with us. Yes, Aaron Eckhart was back again this morning, and I just smiled quietly to myself. Soon we were off – all 31 of us headed out by bus for

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-32810659553279049202011-06-21T12:33:00.004-04:002011-06-30T11:16:07.332-04:00

We had breakfast early this morning since we need to catch a train to Maastricht, Holland at 9:24 AM. We are all rather excited about the prospect of today’s cemetery visit. I noticed a man that was having breakfast in our section this morning. He was not clean shaven and was dressed casually in khakis, a blue t-shirt and sneakers, and there was something oddly familiar about him. I tried to work

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-65106305546278081762011-06-21T12:22:00.001-04:002011-06-30T11:07:36.765-04:00

We had breakfast in the hotel. Lots of good stuff to choose from the buffet, and there is plenty of it. There are also a lot of odd things like sushi, salads, etc. Not sure who eats stuff like that for breakfast. I think I’ll stick with my bacon and eggs and enjoy the pastries as well. I did see that they had baked beans available, which was reminiscent of England for me. (sigh!)At 9 AM, the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-76029793436466170342011-06-21T12:03:00.002-04:002011-06-30T10:58:16.769-04:00

We got to Brussels around 8:50 AM. My first view of Brussels was a good one. I snapped a few photos promptly. It seems to be a fairly clean city, and the Conrad Hotel is right in the heart of the upscale shopping district, Avenue Louise. We were able to check-in immediately with Aat (a Vantage representative) and headed directly to our room. There was a bit of a hiccup at first. They had me and

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-67652573555664802282011-06-21T11:45:00.002-04:002011-06-30T10:55:17.810-04:00

I slept almost 7 hours and woke up ready to go. WOOHOO!! Today is Mothers' Day! I love my Mom, and I'm excited that we'll get so much time together over these next few weeks. Barb Saberson picked us up and shuttled us to the airport. She’s amazing, and I’m so grateful to her! Love ya, Barb!We made our way through check-in and security without any issues. And our first flight to Atlanta was

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-2732137958955626262011-06-06T07:49:00.001-04:002011-06-06T07:49:36.715-04:00

I can fully identify with Francesca Battistelli’s song This is the Stuff. I had a weekend full of little things that just kept adding up and annoying the heck out of me. It was one of those weekends where I seemed to have misplaced my sense of humor and struggled to find it again.The water from my shower/tub leaked into the apartment below it. Not a big deal. I didn’t have to do anything about it

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-60662018740862931112011-06-02T08:00:00.001-04:002011-06-02T08:00:57.584-04:00

Travel is like a drug to me. The more I see of the world, the more I want to experience more and more. Coming back to my life in Indiana after nearly 3 weeks in Europe has been quite hard on me personally. I’ve been living all week on the highs of my recent travel, and I’m just now crashing back down from that peak. I can’t complain about my life here in the Hoosier state. It's good! After all, I

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-2639708373696876852011-04-07T12:30:00.003-04:002011-04-07T15:45:05.877-04:00

I finally downloaded Brandon Heath 's newest album, Leaving Eden, this week and found it rather catchy. One could argue that it is perhaps not his strongest album to date, but it's still really good, and I am enjoying it. 4 stars from me!! It is $5 on Amazon at the present. Check it out. P.S. I'm sharing a slightly cheese YouTube video of the song and lyrics below. Enjoy!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-74825318128143069982011-04-06T13:21:00.027-04:002011-04-06T15:21:19.989-04:00

I wanted to love this latest film version of Jane Eyre. I really did. But I recognize that I probably walked into the theatre with overly HIGH expectations.·     Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time. There may still be a book or two out there or one yet to be written that will challenge this ranking, but until then, Jane Eyre sits on top. ·     I first saw a preview for this film months ago,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-2072237538143743402011-04-06T12:05:00.005-04:002011-04-06T12:08:13.368-04:00

Today, I’m borrowing from my sister’s blog and writing about a couple of things I like.* Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny ®Serum I was skeptical about using this product. (Shocking, I know!) But I have drawers full of straightening and smoothing hair products that have been of little or no use to me in my ongoing struggle with my hair. Thus, my hair expectations were low when trying yet another

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-90377509007618094772011-04-04T07:04:00.001-04:002011-04-04T08:08:34.766-04:00

Call me old-fashioned, but I still love books. You know those mostly rectangular objects with inked words all over their paper pages. Yeah, those things – well, I love them. This isn’t news to you, I’m sure. I’ve blogged about my obsession before.I have friends enjoying their iPads, their Kindles and Nooks, but I just can’t do it. You can’t cuddle with an electronic device. (sputter) OK, maybe

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-48495495580297812522011-03-31T12:20:00.003-04:002011-03-31T17:21:29.332-04:00

I read and re-read classic books about the ongoing quest for love. I watch romantic films and epic love stories. I stir with the lyrical voices of the romantic poets. I listen to love songs and sappy musicals with a heartfelt sigh. Yes, I’m a rotic. A romantic without a man in my life. I dream, write and hope to find a love of my own one day. I want it deeply. I crave it. I long for it, and yet

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-60158040714176656642011-03-17T06:30:00.012-04:002011-03-17T08:53:01.530-04:00

Normally, I confess, I’m not big on hype. If everyone gushes over something, I tend to stand back. I guess I assume if everyone likes it, I won’t. However, when I am told that I should not read a book or see a certain film, it’s gonna be an automatic magnetic draw on my very soul to do the exact opposite. I don’t like dogmatic statements being made without any evidence or someone taking a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-37501613054598458192011-03-14T07:31:00.007-04:002011-03-14T07:35:22.257-04:00

I made it to see Red Riding Hood this weekend and found the scenery, setting and storyline familiar like an old friend. This is not the fairy tale I grew up with; although cleverly, there were scenes and dialogue thrown in for that nostalgia affect. It wasn’t completely brand new.This was a fresh take on an old story, and yet it was familiar somehow, like catching up with an old friend. A lot of

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-22091350277937138902011-03-10T08:24:00.005-05:002011-03-10T09:36:47.366-05:00

I’d like to go back in the recent past and re-do a “getting to know you” moment. I’d like another crack at that conversation, a second chance to make a first impression. I didn’t say anything I regret. I wasn’t rude. I wasn’t unkind. I wasn’t much of anything really. I clammed up. I was quiet and a bit reserved without trying to be. I listened and responded appropriately, but I was not myself at

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-53509179758801813092011-03-02T22:58:00.012-05:002011-03-07T11:03:26.244-05:00

I think each of us ache for beauty. Sometimes we catch a glimpse of it, and it is more than we can handle here in the present. It doesn’t resonate with the other things in our lives – the chaos, the hatred, the pain, the struggles. Somehow just a peek at something pure or less tainted creates a dissonance within. It leaves us longing for that something else. Longing for more! We long for

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-62276641192567204502011-02-23T20:33:00.013-05:002011-03-08T16:41:53.324-05:00

Another year has gone by again, but I refuse to mope about my age. In fact, from now on, I will be choosing to embrace it. After all, I can’t stop the clock from ticking. OK, so a vampire could bite me and grant me immortality instantly, but I’m not counting on it. How many Edward Cullens could there possibly be out there? HA! So, here I am at 37. I’m not gonna panic at that next decade marker,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-68086861215642776802011-01-24T20:10:00.001-05:002011-01-25T14:29:23.372-05:00

Introverts get fueled or re-charged by spending time alone. That is me to a tee. BUT I’ve got an extroverted side, too, and I’m trying to let my extrovert, social-butterfly-self free a bit more often. Recently I let loose just a bit, and my extroverted side reemerged from her cocoon ready to fly off and socially mingle as much as possible. HA! Apparently, I’ve been holding in my extroverted self

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-19517973933602109702011-01-12T11:18:00.006-05:002011-01-12T15:25:31.087-05:00

Sure is hard to believe, but we are already in the 2nd week of 2011. I’m in denial I guess because I’m still wanting to recap 2010 one more time, and so in line with Julie Andrews, I made a list of my favorite things… FAVORITE GOD-STORY: My home invasion: GOD kept me safe and provided for my needs! FAVORITE NEW FRIENDS: My Chancel choir friends FAVORITE SPECIAL EVENT: Janet (my niece) and

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-41986859237647018182011-01-10T12:03:00.017-05:002011-01-11T07:23:27.902-05:00

I had trouble falling asleep last night. I just lay there with a silly grin on my face, my mind a million miles away. I was in love. In love with yet another British series, Downton Abbey. The first episode aired last night on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, and I was immediately captivated by the twisting story lines, the 1912-1913 era, the English country house setting, and the riveting characters.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-4771024913096781272011-01-07T09:14:00.002-05:002011-01-11T07:03:51.820-05:00

I recognize that the Times They Are A-Changin’. Sure, fads and fashion trends come and go, modesty standards adjust, and things continue to evolve. Over the centuries, standards of decency have fluctuated back and forth. I get that, but sometimes, I really don’t like what I’m seeing out there. I find myself shocked to discover what young women are wearing today and what pictures of themselves

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-28407624439937854462010-12-08T18:20:00.001-05:002010-12-08T18:20:00.837-05:00

For the first time in a decade, I sang in a Christmas concert again. No solos, thank you very much – I tortured myself and others enough with those in years past. HA! But I did sing with my church choir and loved every minute of it. We had 2 performances last weekend, and now after a break of several days, I’m almost ready to do it all again. ALMOST! It was a thrilling and moving experience, and

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-39493563768313996092010-12-08T11:44:00.001-05:002010-12-08T13:09:45.027-05:00

I can't believe we are in December already. Yes, I know the calendar says this is the 8th, but I am in denial. I haven't blogged about all of November yet... In mid-November, my parents came to Indiana for a quick weekend. We had a get-together at my brother Steve's home in Peru with lots of the family. And then that Sunday, Jacob was baptized at his church in Kokomo, and a group of us were

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-37460739563948238242010-12-07T13:19:00.000-05:002010-12-07T13:19:42.559-05:00

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-91744648089432253722010-11-30T11:17:00.012-05:002010-11-30T14:34:39.505-05:00

Confession: I’m obsessed with accents from the United Kingdom or Ireland. It’s true. Whether it be Irish, Scottish, Welsh or English, it all sounds better to these American ears. There is something magical and lyrical in their speech that seems to be missing from every day life here in the States. I can't get enough. I love Masterpiece Theatre’s British productions in particular. Whether it is a

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-39619940661758478432010-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:002010-11-30T10:24:47.113-05:00

OK, before the rumors start to fly, let me state for the record that I am NOT pregnant. No baby is expected in my life within the next 10 months or more honest! AHEM! I am glad to get that little agenda item cleared up. Actually, I’m using the term “expectant” here in a different line of thought. I heard it on the radio this morning. Normally, I don’t like talkative DJs, especially in the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-80995810929919189912010-11-29T11:27:00.000-05:002010-11-29T11:27:09.928-05:00

Today has not started off well, and sadly, I haven’t handled it quite as well as I would have liked. I’d like to say that I’ve let optimism rue the day, but that hasn’t happened. I’m running on empty as it is, and my emotions keep waffling between anger, frustration and sadness. I’m hoping my sense of humor will return soon, and I’m attempting to find something to laugh about by writing this down

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-19740407246468604732010-11-22T12:30:00.001-05:002010-11-22T12:32:09.993-05:00

I was having a conversation with a colleague the other day, and she commented that she considered me to be an optimistic and upbeat personality. I thanked her for her kind words, but inside other thoughts were churning. Was that really the case? Wasn’t the opposite more apparent in my life as of late? I certainly didn’t feel like I was a Pollyanna. OK. So I do try to be positive and see the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-69100549415496336092010-11-17T12:50:00.002-05:002010-11-17T12:50:48.904-05:00

Today I am choosing to be grateful for... File Folders. Don't laugh, but I’m obsessed with organizing projects, and file folders help me do just that. I set up tiers of folders to keep me on task or sort through the files. I am just as fixated on organizing my personal files as well. OK, I don’t really function well outside of an organized system, and so I can’t imagine living without those

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-88899831749317576842010-11-11T12:01:00.003-05:002010-11-11T12:01:00.558-05:00

I didn’t quite know what to expect with “My Name Is Khan” when I added it to my Netflix list, but after spending last evening viewing the film from the safety of my couch, I can heartily say that the film delivered. It is an incredible film with a powerful and heartfelt message. SUMMARY (NO SPOILER!): All his life Rizwan Khan has been different from other people, and his mother, brother,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-63387012140917459732010-11-10T13:29:00.002-05:002010-11-10T13:35:03.077-05:00

Lately, I've been struggling to enjoy the lulls in my life – the quiet, still moments between the next best thing. I’m restless. I’m fidgety. I’m uncomfortable. But while I fuss and squirm in my present state, I’m missing the magical moments of every day life. I’m failing to acknowledge the beauty and joy of the present while I look ahead to the good stuff – my future adventures and the dreams I

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-75470469742817363862010-10-25T18:12:00.009-04:002010-10-26T07:11:44.596-04:00

No sooner does GOD mend one area of my life and fill in the gaps than I catch myself bemoaning another area of my life that needs some attention. Now that I’ve happy with one aspect of my life, I’m ready to move on to the next “project” on my wish list that requires some divine intervention. OK, LORD, you took care of that one. Let’s see what you can do with this one over here! But did I take

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-40519600624705341542010-10-19T08:18:00.005-04:002010-10-19T08:20:58.401-04:00

Tenth Avenue North is one of my favorite Christian groups. I love their lyrics, and You Are More from their latest album The Light Meets the Dark is amazing. I love these words...   But don't you know who you are, What's been done for you? Yeah don't you know who you are? You are more than the choices that you've made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-1059565796811988002010-10-13T06:38:00.001-04:002010-10-13T10:17:02.205-04:00

My friend Becky is a big Jars of Clay fan and has been for the past 15 years. She actually had tickets to a Jars of Clay concert a few years back, but the event was canceled, much to her disappointment, and so she has been determined to get to one of their concerts ever since. Well, a few months ago, Becky, Jessica and I heard that the band was coming to Wabash with Brandon Heath, and it became

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-18636952439103955162010-10-12T11:47:00.001-04:002010-11-09T10:12:51.863-05:00

OK, I’ve been rather serious on my blog as of late. I re-read the last few posts and started to laugh. WOW! Nothing wrong with being sober and trying to go deep, but life has it’s share of fun and playful periods as well. So I thought I’d start this week by blogging about some lighter moments in the life of Mel... Last Friday, I went up to Kokomo to hang with my sister and her family. Loved

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-16414358783573315222010-10-07T08:21:00.012-04:002010-10-07T08:31:17.630-04:00

If you tell me something about myself, I’m gonna internalize it and think on it for hours and days. Good or bad. Right or wrong. I’m gonna ponder. I'm gonna dig deep. I’m an analytical. If you say let’s meet at 5, I’ll be there at 4:45, and I’ll sit there patiently waiting for you. I won’t give you a hard time about being late when you show up at half past. I’ll just be glad that the tables

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-13047753318011011402010-10-06T12:20:00.057-04:002010-10-06T12:53:49.617-04:00

I’m not a big fan of competition normally. I really don’t like watching sports on TV, unless it is the Olympics, an occasional baseball game or hockey championship. Can’t handle watching football, basketball or golf at all. Although my sister-in-law tells me that I just need the right guy in my life, and I’ll change my tune. We’ll see. I don’t really care for game shows or so-called reality

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-90998312068190628582010-10-04T17:21:00.000-04:002010-10-04T17:21:18.959-04:00

I’m extremely grateful for my new church choir family. I am. I can’t quite express enough what a difference the last few weeks have made in my life. I feel loved, accepted and wanted. I feel like I belong. REHEARSALS: I actually look forward to choir rehearsal on Thursday nights. Seriously, that’s amazing. Thursdays are my last work day of the week, and by Thursday late afternoon, I’m usually

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-12278780315217131442010-10-03T20:37:00.013-04:002010-10-05T13:15:00.519-04:00

I’ve always considered myself a romantic, but I’m not sure I fit that classification any more. I love to read classic novels by Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Elizabeth Gaskell and E.M.Forster. I marvel at the deep connections forged between characters and am struck with the monumental, often selfless love I see housed within those yellowed pages. I can’t get enough of romantic, period films,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-63609929983411453352010-09-28T21:38:00.008-04:002010-09-29T17:23:30.789-04:00

There is some debate amongst my family and friends as to whether or not a person can take too many photos. I heartily believe that it is not possible to take too many. In fact, the more pics, the better, and I regularly practice this aforementioned theory. This weekend was no exception. I came back from my 4-day weekend to St. Louis with 1,180+ photos to upload from my digital camera. WOOHOO!!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-57144782284247088022010-09-23T09:00:00.002-04:002011-10-05T07:10:36.103-04:00

We all know the saying: “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." But what if you aren’t crazy about lemonade at all? I’m not. I have friends that are crazy about it. Their first stop at the state fair is to get a lemon shake-up or a lemon freeze. Personally, I don’t get their obsession with lemon drinks, but I’m happy for them. I prefer water to lemonade, and that is saying a lot since I'm

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-77535379502017979102010-09-23T08:42:00.000-04:002010-09-23T08:42:37.726-04:00

That we lose 1,000 U.S. World War II veterans every day? I sure didn’t, but now I do. I called my 85-year-old Uncle Gilbert (aka Gib) this week to catch up with him. I am going to be traveling to St. Louis this weekend, and I’m hoping to connect with him. He’s a charming gentleman, and I could listen to his stories for hours. We got to talking about his service in the Navy during WWII, and he

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-40013185783959239202010-09-22T07:26:00.003-04:002010-09-22T07:29:43.184-04:00

Autumn begins later today, and I’m ready for it. Yes, I think I blog about this every year…how I start to smell caramel apples and burning leaves, start craving candy corn and turkey (not in the same bite, mind you), and start breathing better and enjoying the great outdoors more. So the temps are still higher in the Hoosier state than I think they should be right now -- I acknowledge that, but I

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-42130523974924468022010-09-21T11:03:00.001-04:002010-09-21T11:04:30.352-04:00

A few weeks ago, I finally made the decision to leave my former church and branch out into another church. Five weeks later, I’m so grateful to GOD for HIS direction and sense of timing. I can say with confidence in HIM that I am where I am supposed to be right now. The Chancel Choir at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church has welcomed in this former Baptist, former Grace Brethren, former

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-86078832846507159212010-09-20T17:27:00.000-04:002010-09-20T17:27:57.366-04:00

I love those “smile” boxes that arrive in the mail, don’t you? Amazon.com rocks! Today, my new shipment of Black&Decker “Ultrasonic Pest Repellers” arrived in the mail. I’m using an earlier version of these plug-in repellers at present, and I figured I was due for an upgrade. Fact is that I’ve had to resort to killing a few spiders that had made their way indoors recently, and I seem to

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-20897924223637912922010-09-20T11:11:00.005-04:002010-09-20T11:15:52.132-04:00

I love having my Fridays OFF. Love it. Love it. Love it. Seriously, I highly enjoy having my Fridays to play with. My Monday through Thursday schedule is often jam-packed, and so my Fridays are a sublime retreat from the frenetic pace of life. • Catch-up on sleep: Sometimes, I confess, I sleep the better part of the morning away. I often struggle going to bed by 10 PM during the week despite

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-73101262823373502952010-09-14T08:16:00.002-04:002010-09-14T12:08:37.845-04:00

Two momentous things happened on Sunday. 1. In the morning, I sang in the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for 2 services without tripping on the stage or bursting into song out of turn. For weeks, I had envisioned myself tripping on the stage as we walked up or down the stairs there, but I had a successful “premiere,” as it were, and am pleased that there was no reportable

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-54383485316875933502010-09-07T12:24:00.001-04:002010-09-07T15:48:30.383-04:00

I really like this video/song, which just reinforces what I was trying to say in my blog earlier today. Good stuff! Thank you, Jonny Diaz!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-21850027344591404612010-09-07T06:15:00.000-04:002010-09-07T09:19:32.068-04:00

I’m trying to eat healthier options as a way of life. I’ve become a lover of salads and fruit. Whole grains are yummy, and lite versions of just about everything line my fridge shelves and kitchen cupboards. I’ve been able to revise some of my habits, but I’m still probably never gonna be an I’m-sorry-I-just-can’t-finish-my-burger-girl. I just don’t think I’ll get there. I’m quite capable of

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-14521667732482392192010-09-01T08:50:00.001-04:002010-09-01T09:40:33.859-04:00

I was home sick yesterday. I didn’t feel like doing much of anything, other than laying around all day in my jammies. Yep, I was curled up on my couch for most of the day. I ignored Facebook. I didn’t write a darn thing. And late in the day, I craved toast, scrambled eggs and Sprite like you wouldn’t believe. On a positive note, I got a lot of TV-watching in – thanks to Netflix. I’m a third of

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-1672271641390426402010-08-30T09:13:00.004-04:002010-08-30T12:21:39.571-04:00

Last Friday, I attended an all-day team building event that involved getting a copy of my results from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality profile. I didn’t know quite what to expect at all, but I found myself enjoying the day. Three weeks ago, I completed the paperwork with more than a slight suspicion of how in the world my personality was going to be assessed based on whether I

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-59845665820348165442010-08-30T08:02:00.001-04:002010-08-30T12:21:54.687-04:00

I have switched gears officially now and am attending a completely new church for me, not to mention a new denomination. It’s all rather exciting and intriguing for me, albeit a bit shocking for my parents. I think they are concerned I’ll lose all of my fundamentalist upbringing, but these dear people I am now worshiping with are ALSO part of the body of Christ, and I feel very strongly that GOD

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-47263202052573502612010-08-29T16:16:00.012-04:002010-08-29T16:32:26.507-04:00

The balance between good and evil has been brought back into alliance if only for a brief few seconds, as I hastily ended the chances of a larger spider to gain entrance into my domain. We were NOT mean to coexist in this little space. It just wasn't gonna happen. One of us had to go, and it wasn't gonna be me. I know that my arachnid loving friends will be disappointed to learn of yet another

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-84346712716983396052010-08-23T16:34:00.001-04:002010-08-23T16:36:29.970-04:00

10 days ago, I was privileged to be a bridesmaid in my niece Janet’s wedding. It was an amazing day! Congratulations to Chris and Janet!! I love you guys!

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-62119316188757212192010-08-23T09:22:00.002-04:002010-08-23T16:15:27.282-04:00

I am fascinated with people. I love people. It’s a good thing really. GOD has called us to love others as ourselves, and I think a healthy interest in other people is part of just that. I love connecting with people, and the social media blitz of today is all about making those connections. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Friendster and others allow us instant access to people near and far,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-28908337668853512632010-08-04T07:48:00.002-04:002010-08-04T08:10:07.349-04:00

It’s hot out there. I walked to my car in sauna-like temperatures and humidity this morning just before 6:30 AM. That’s craziness! This girl doesn't handle high humidity well at all. Have you seen my hair lately? WOA! I ran into a friend the other day, and he was like: "Hey, Mel, is that you under all that hair?" NOT a pretty sight. My skin is naturally oily anyway, but all this humidity is

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-23143798452892183012010-08-02T17:02:00.000-04:002010-08-02T17:02:04.981-04:00

We are now at T minus 12 days before my oldest niece gets married at the age of 20. I’m psyched and giddy with excitement for Janet and Chris. It’s really big news for my family since it has been a few years since we have had a wedding to celebrate. It will be like a family reunion of sorts as two lives merge into one. I can’t wait. However, as the single, never-been-married,

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-75083702924423231012010-07-27T20:54:00.007-04:002010-07-27T20:54:00.102-04:00

WOA! Where has July gone? It’s been a busy few weeks. Michigan Weekend: Over July 4th, I joined my sister and her family for a long weekend in Michigan. We had a blast, even though Michigan was experiencing unseasonably HIGH temperatures. YIKES! It rarely gets above 100 degrees F, but it did while we were there. HA! We caught fireworks along Lake Huron, shopped at the Croswell Stockyards, played

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-90838920227785907102010-07-27T12:34:00.007-04:002010-07-27T14:43:42.518-04:00

Three years ago, after months of praying and struggling, I left my church and went out searching for something more. I wallowed a wee bit (I confess), visited other churches, and 12+ months later, came back to my former church determined to make a fresh start. I immediately tried to get busy serving and doing. I’m a doer, one of those people that can’t just sit still. I’m a Martha. I had

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-68039996750486110412010-07-27T12:29:00.003-04:002010-07-29T07:27:22.973-04:00

OK, I admit that I’m not perfect. I’m completely and heartily flawed, and some of the loneliness I have experienced in church is my own doing. I got burned a couple of times and simply stopped trying. I gave up. Plus, I had my own baggage, and that was probably the root of my problem. I was jealous of what those paired off people had. I wanted to belong to another person myself. Most singles do.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-30907431271187331692010-07-27T12:25:00.001-04:002010-07-27T12:36:12.950-04:00

My friend Stephanie once shared a quote with me, and those words have stuck with me over the years: “Church is the loneliest place for a single woman.” I don’t know who originated those words, but I believe them to be true with all my heart. I’ve battled the loneliness myself. It takes a lot out of a person to attend week after week alone. I pump myself up on the drive to church with worship

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-67498462767847391442010-07-19T08:43:00.002-04:002010-07-19T10:50:02.512-04:00

We’ve all heard that old saying about “the end will justify the means,” right? Well, this morning, I was struggling to wake up, and so I popped in my ear buds and started jamming to tunes as I started my work day. Music always seems to help, and the lyrics to Relient K’s song Let It All Out offered a stunning twist to that archaic saying. I guess I just caught the meaning of the words for the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-38092978542977077302010-07-16T12:03:00.001-04:002010-07-19T12:07:26.274-04:00

Last week, I participated in an amazing open-dialogue session all around the subject of “art.” It was an incredibly refreshing experience, and I’m so glad I was invited to join in this invigorating conversation with such talented and creative women. Now I haven’t read Makoto Fujimura’s Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture yet, but I’m adding this book to my list of must-reads for the

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-38025704446931186042010-07-08T08:32:00.007-04:002010-07-08T16:02:27.522-04:00

But there are some who doubt that I am a REAL girl...1. I don’t collect shoes. Sure, I like cute styles, and I try to meld cute and comfy together, but my aim is to avoid pain. 3-inch heels might be adorable, strappy sandals might be irresistible on the shelf, but neither are for me, even though I could use the added height or flare. No, I seek out comfort in Skechers or Dr. Scholls. If the shoe

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-50538315874519318762010-07-08T06:11:00.003-04:002010-07-08T07:20:54.591-04:00

Dear Makers/Packagers of Orbit Gum,Thank you for your delicious and amazing product! Orbit is my preferred gum of choice and regularly travels with me. Actually, I rarely leave home without a pack. In fact, if there was ever a game show where a random “contestant” could win a million dollars if they had a pack of Orbit gum on their person, I would be a winning candidate. So yes, I confess, I’ve

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-64543594619900166202010-07-04T00:01:00.003-04:002010-07-04T00:01:03.115-04:00

"Yesterday the greatest question was decided...and a greater question perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."~John Adams, Letter to his wife Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776~ We're a hodgepodge of people thrown together as one nation. We each have

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-66237224608579492010-07-01T09:10:00.002-04:002010-07-01T17:18:12.918-04:00

I love books, movies and TV shows with vampires, werewolves, immortals, wizardry, magic, etc. Always have. What is the appeal to the unexplained and the fantastical? What draws me into the mystical realm? Now some may be concerned at my interest in what they term as "darkness." I disagree. I think it is only natural that the supernatural, the mysterious and the unfathomable calls out to me. After

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-82011309545314411602010-06-29T12:12:00.010-04:002010-06-29T14:32:15.281-04:00

I’m not an expert photographer. I’m not even a decent amateur. I’m just a girl who loves taking photos. Personally, I believe that any good shots I happen to capture occur merely because I was there at the right place, at the right time. (Or maybe it was because I took 15 photos to your one or two clicks of the shutter.) But no matter, it was just pure happenstance and running of the odds.

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-67897124946984889562010-06-24T15:00:00.004-04:002010-06-24T15:07:22.651-04:00

My Grandfather (my Mom’s Dad) died in combat in World War II. He was killed near Berlin, Germany and buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. My Mom and her younger sister were small children when their father left for the war, and neither of them have ever been to visit his grave. So we’ve been talking about making this journey for years. BIG NEWS!! Last weekend, we made our

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189883.post-34258927839024283392010-06-24T11:35:00.003-04:002010-06-24T11:35:00.173-04:00

I know I’m not a perfect communicator. I’m flawed. I make mistakes. I say the wrong thing or circle the point instead of hitting it. But I do try. I try rather hard to make sure I am precise when communicating, especially via written words. In person or on the phone, I can get flustered or mixed up. My brain will go faster than my lips, and I never quite know what just got said. But when writing

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232148673429282933noreply@blogger.com0