I pray many of you were encouraged by the words Jesus has spoken into my life concerning the beauty of a woman. My heart's desire is to learn how to fully embrace the beauty God has created in my life and to help all women experience that same freedom.
Part of this process, I believe, is seeing who YOU really are--all of your quirks, your passions, your thoughts, your talents, your hobbies, your needs. Though many of us share some aspects of our personalities, each one of us have an almost-DNA-like conglomeration of qualities. We are beautifully unique.
What makes you uniquely you?
I'll start.
Hi! My name is Melanie, and I don't have to work very hard at keeping up with my "adorkable" title. Sure, I can be cute, but much of the time I evoke a response of "aww, well isn't that cute?" I have some serious quirks. Idiosyncrasies if you will.
My toilet paper must roll over the top.
My toothpaste should be squeezed evenly from the bottom.
I insist that water be turned off when not actually in use--such as while brushing my teeth.
I keep lists.
Scrap paper notepads are in drawers all over my house--desk, bathroom, bedroom.
I fold my underwear.
I stack my socks.
I bake for fun. And to relieve stress. (Though I'm not so sure it's the baking that relieves stress or the eating.)
I really can't stand more than 5 emails left unanswered in my inbox.
I can watch hours of tv at a time, but half an hour into any movie and I'm asleep. (Kevin thinks it's the "canned laughter" that keeps me engaged during tv.)
I like skim milk, natural peanut butter, homemade wheat bread, fresh cut vegetables, and granny smith apples.
I also like chocolate chip cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream, fudge brownies, and 99% of other ice cream varieties.
I used to really not like cats.
Now I have two.
Our bed has a severe sink hole in the center. I'm a chronic snuggler.
Those are the random facts--that honestly don't matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of eternity. The rest of my life goes a little something like this:
I grew up learning about Jesus. Mom and Dad taught me Scripture memory verses at a very young age. They even have a video of my whipping off I John 5:11-12 as if it was to save to my life. (Funny thing--it pretty much was.) I was the first one to raise my hand in Sunday School class with the answer. (Yes, I'm still that kid. I'm a firstborn ok??) I loved singing Bible songs like "Jesus Loves Me," "Beloved," "Have Patience," Special Specialitiy," and every song my mom every led during our summers of Vacation Bible School.
My little sister and I fought all the time--most of it was blamed on me. The first born has to be the one responsible and the responsible one, right? But we also loved each other dearly. We'd rather spend hours playing Barbies or "house," or "school" by ourselves than with lots of friends. We became best friends as I went through high school. I'm so thankful for her.
My years in high school were fairly uneventful. I didn't do a whole lot with school friends--church and youth group was my life. I was on my youth group leadership team from 9th grade on and I loved every minute of it. (Foreshadowing, maybe?) I learned more and more about Scripture, I memorized more Bible verses, and I learned the true meaning of getting outside my comfort zone.
I graduated Salutatorian with a 4.0 GPA, was class speaker, and on Homecoming and Prom courts. I really don't know how those things happened. I was far from cool. I just pray it was because people were drawn to the Jesus in me.
I spent the next four years of my life meeting adulthood head on at one of the best universities--Spring Arbor. I learned how to live with people other than family. I learned the true meaning of stress. And how to deal with it. I learned what friendships are really made of. I learned how to think for myself--and how to not think I know I all. I learned so much about worshiping, and studying Scripture, and pretending to understand philosophy. (It's still beyond me and I was Philosophy/Religion major.) I learned what it meant to fall in love once and for all.
And all of those experiences are what have made me into who I am today. I'm not done changing. Becoming. But for now, I'm embracing who I am. I am Melanie. Wife of Kevin. Daughter of Karen and Danny. Sister of Ashley. Leader of teens. Lover of good books and hot tea and piano music. I will forever be a list maker, a family girl, a homebody, and a pursuer of no-nonsense relationships. I hope I will also love baking and hostessing--opening my door to anyone who will enter. I will continue to pursue the heart of God with as much passion as He has pursued me. I want each day of my life to matter in eternity.
Who are you?
Part of this process, I believe, is seeing who YOU really are--all of your quirks, your passions, your thoughts, your talents, your hobbies, your needs. Though many of us share some aspects of our personalities, each one of us have an almost-DNA-like conglomeration of qualities. We are beautifully unique.
What makes you uniquely you?
I'll start.
Hi! My name is Melanie, and I don't have to work very hard at keeping up with my "adorkable" title. Sure, I can be cute, but much of the time I evoke a response of "aww, well isn't that cute?" I have some serious quirks. Idiosyncrasies if you will.
My toilet paper must roll over the top.
My toothpaste should be squeezed evenly from the bottom.
I insist that water be turned off when not actually in use--such as while brushing my teeth.
I keep lists.
Scrap paper notepads are in drawers all over my house--desk, bathroom, bedroom.
I fold my underwear.
I stack my socks.
I bake for fun. And to relieve stress. (Though I'm not so sure it's the baking that relieves stress or the eating.)
I really can't stand more than 5 emails left unanswered in my inbox.
I can watch hours of tv at a time, but half an hour into any movie and I'm asleep. (Kevin thinks it's the "canned laughter" that keeps me engaged during tv.)
I like skim milk, natural peanut butter, homemade wheat bread, fresh cut vegetables, and granny smith apples.
I also like chocolate chip cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream, fudge brownies, and 99% of other ice cream varieties.
I used to really not like cats.
Now I have two.
Our bed has a severe sink hole in the center. I'm a chronic snuggler.
Those are the random facts--that honestly don't matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of eternity. The rest of my life goes a little something like this:
I grew up learning about Jesus. Mom and Dad taught me Scripture memory verses at a very young age. They even have a video of my whipping off I John 5:11-12 as if it was to save to my life. (Funny thing--it pretty much was.) I was the first one to raise my hand in Sunday School class with the answer. (Yes, I'm still that kid. I'm a firstborn ok??) I loved singing Bible songs like "Jesus Loves Me," "Beloved," "Have Patience," Special Specialitiy," and every song my mom every led during our summers of Vacation Bible School.
My little sister and I fought all the time--most of it was blamed on me. The first born has to be the one responsible and the responsible one, right? But we also loved each other dearly. We'd rather spend hours playing Barbies or "house," or "school" by ourselves than with lots of friends. We became best friends as I went through high school. I'm so thankful for her.
My years in high school were fairly uneventful. I didn't do a whole lot with school friends--church and youth group was my life. I was on my youth group leadership team from 9th grade on and I loved every minute of it. (Foreshadowing, maybe?) I learned more and more about Scripture, I memorized more Bible verses, and I learned the true meaning of getting outside my comfort zone.
I graduated Salutatorian with a 4.0 GPA, was class speaker, and on Homecoming and Prom courts. I really don't know how those things happened. I was far from cool. I just pray it was because people were drawn to the Jesus in me.
I spent the next four years of my life meeting adulthood head on at one of the best universities--Spring Arbor. I learned how to live with people other than family. I learned the true meaning of stress. And how to deal with it. I learned what friendships are really made of. I learned how to think for myself--and how to not think I know I all. I learned so much about worshiping, and studying Scripture, and pretending to understand philosophy. (It's still beyond me and I was Philosophy/Religion major.) I learned what it meant to fall in love once and for all.
Who are you?
Linked up with Day 2 of Project 31.
Up until the part about falling asleep during movies, we could have written the exact same list!!
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