The One with the Mentors

I am grateful for my past. Past experiences. Past relationships. Past learning. All of those factors have had a huge part in making me who I am today, and not only that but many of them have proven themselves continually effective in my life. It amazes me how many lessons have affected me--the way I think, the way I make decisions. 

Today, Kevin and I had the opportunity to spend a few hours on campus--our old stomping ground--Spring Arbor University. Though there is less than a handful of students who still have any idea who we are, the faculty and staff who impacted our lives still remember. It is a blessing to be able to call or email a professor seeking advice on anything--life, ministry, scholarship--and they go out of their way to answer. Many of them will even set aside two hours to buy you dinner and spend time catching up on life. 

We value the counselors God has placed in our lives. They are irreplaceable, unforgettable mentors. It is so important to surround our lives with those who are older, wiser, experienced--those willing to give of themselves to invest in us. 

Do you have anyone like this in your life? I pray you do. 

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The One with Thoughts of Spring {blog partay}

It's been quite some time since I joined in on a blog party, so when I saw Lynnette's Thoughts of Spring {Blog Hop} I couldn't resist. Maybe it was the title--I have spring on the brain. Every other day it's winter then spring, winter then spring. And then the weatherman goes and tells us it was 75 degrees on this day in 2000. SEVENTY FIVE! I want that. Or at least 63 (anything over 32). That'd be great. 

While I'm waiting on the weather, I thought I'd share a little bit about me as I welcome anyone new to my blog. Thanks for stopping by! 

If you're new here, this is me. My name is Melanie and I married my college sweetheart, Kevin, just one week after graduation in 2008. Together we lead a growing youth ministry at a small-ish church in Michigan. It is such a privilege to spend our time together--pouring our hearts into these students so that they might come to know the love of Christ. 

 (And we have a bit of crazy fun together too!)

I have a passion for leading worship. I bake an exorbitant amount of cookies. I love adding to my recipe blog. My husband and I share our thoughts on ministry and on walking with Christ at this other blog. I teach piano in my spare time. I love reading and drinking tea and watching Friends. I have recently developed a love for learning graphic design--fonts get me all excited now. I have a penchant for organization and planning events. And I hope to really learn photography.  

snickerdoodles.

Besides the basics, here's a few random answers to questions you may not have ever wanted to ask.  

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?

Adorkable. I'm a huge dork, I'm a bit neurotic about a few things, but somehow I manage to remain cute and well-liked, unlike Monica. 

What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?

Honestly, if I really admire an actor or actress or musician, it's most likely because I've learned a bit about their "real" lives and I appreciate them OR it's because I've watched their show for far too long and feel like I know them already. Therefore, I might be ridiculously talkative with them, truly believing they're my actual friends. I may have a problem. 

What is your comfort food/drink?

I'm a chocolate lover, hard core. But really, anything sweet will do the trick. 

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.

I believe there may be too many random and weird facts to list. I'll pick a few easy ones--

I still bite my fingernails after decades of failed attempts to quit. 

I love grocery shopping. 

I fold my underwear. 

When I go to sleep I have to have the covers perfectly even and folded over me. My husband cannot stand this. 

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Documentary? What are your favorite genres?

I am a big fan of comedies. Laughing with friends and family is just plain good for the soul. I like to throw in a drama/suspense every now and again too. 

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?

I am a sucker for Christian Fiction novels (oftentimes of the "romance" genre). Stories by Karen Kingsbury and the like just suck me in. 

Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).

I am way too uptight about way too many things. But I'm working on it. For instance, I don't get irritated at the way my husband arranges the contents of the dishwasher. (I just re-do it later. ooops. That's no good.)

When you leave a social gathering, do you wish: You would have talked more or You would have talked less? 

Every once in a while I find myself sinking back from the conversation. Large crowds really aren't my favorite. But other times I find myself annoyed with how much I just talked. I can't stand myself sometimes, so I wonder how others put up with me. 

If money wasn’t a factor, what stores would you shop in?

I am a thrift store, Aldi girl all the way. With a little Kohl's 70% off racks throw in. 

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?

My biggest fear is having people not like me or something that I've done or planned. 

What is your greatest accomplishment?

That's a tough one. Immediately I think of my B.A. in Philosophy/Religion. But then my mind flits to the relationships we've built with these teens. And then I remember how much I've grown as a church keyboardist/pianist. I'm proud of all of those accomplishments. 

And that's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my life and I hope you come back again soon! 

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The One with the Dentist. Dun, Dun, Dun!!!

I went to the dentist yesterday. 

Not a big deal, right? Nothing out of the ordinary? Well, it was totally on a whim when my mom mentioned getting into the dentist while I'm home for the weekend. She found me an appointment spot for 3:30pm Friday, and I was looking forward to a good ol' fashioned teeth cleaning. As I arrived early to fill out paperwork, I was instantly faced with the reality that it had been THREE YEARS since my last dentist appointment! Woah. That is unacceptable. I was very good at my every-six-month-cleaning appointments for my entire life. But then, I got married, and we didn't have dental insurance so we didn't see the dentist. (I won't tell you how long it's been since Kevin had a cleaning and checkup.)

Now that Obama has changed the healthcare policy, I'm reaping the benefits. I get to be on my parents' insurance until I'm 26 regardless if I'm married or not. Honestly, I think it's insane. If you're married, you should not be allowed to rely on your parents' insurance. But heck! I'm totally taking advantage of it. 

They called me back to the room, and I explained that I have had some sensitivity--almost a stinging sensation--in two spots near the gum line. I was hoping it wasn't something serious. The hygienist explained the possibility of receding gum line which can be painful, but you can't really do much about it. She took my xrays and then the dentist came in. Both he and the hygienist commented on my beautiful teeth and the good care I've taken of them for not having been in for an appointment in 3 years. 

But then came the awful, embarrassing, humiliating truth.

I have four--count 'em 4--cavities. 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. 

I never have cavities. Well, almost never. Two tiny ones when I was five or six, but that doesn't really count, right? My mom was surprised because I had sealants put on years ago. But I'm fairly certain those sealants aren't meant to last longer than 5 or 10 years. And it's been at least 10 years since that treatment. 

And so, I have to come back in a couple months for my regular dentist to do the fillings He's been taking care of me since I was a toddler. :) But get this--it's going to take 2 appointments and $100 out of pocket. Crap. 

I'm ashamed. 

I'm going to start flossing more than twice a week.

Do you floss??

The One with the Daddy Dates

Tonight my daddy texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him while I'm home. My dad asked me on a date! I said "sure!" right away, of course. I never turn down free food, after all. 

No, no. It's so much more than that. Dad loves spending time with me, and I love spending time with him. For as long as I can remember, Daddy has taken me on dates. I was probably 6 or 7 when our dates started. I would order the chicken tenders and french fries at our favorite local restaurant Caruso's. Dad ordered the special or something equally Italian, always including the salad with the "house" dressing and Italian bread. Sometimes, though, we would share a calzone. yyyyummm. 

[photo circa 11/05]

Throughout school, report card time always meant date nights. Yeah! I loved the one on one time, the fact that it was dad's idea, and having the opportunity to get pretty. All of those factors still apply. 

I am blessed to have a dad who I can call "Daddy," who still likes me to snuggle beside him, who thinks I'm worth spending time talking with. I'm looking forward to our date. Maybe I'll get the chicken tenders again, you know, for old time's sake. ;)

Do any of you have special memories with your dads?

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The One with Not Much

My belly hurts. And it has been for 32 hours on. the. dot. Not cool, gastrointestinal system, not cool. 

Last night as I waited for Kevin to come down from class it was really random to see a van pull up beside me and realize it was my other mom. ("Mother-in-law" technically, but that seems to be too distant a description for our relationship. :D) I'm going to miss out on a spur-of-the-moment Mexican restaurant meal with his family Saturday. boohoo.

This cold-warm-windy-rainy-cold-warm weather pattern we've got going on is the pits. 

I can't believe how much "stuff" people find every year to put in the rummage sale. 

My bells hurts. 

This afternoon, I made a batch of these Light Brioche Buns for our BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches. It was a whim. And it was so worth it. 

My husband has been saying he doesn't want me leave. I'm going home to visit my fam for a few days and he's going to miss me. I like that. I'm going to miss him too. He rocks. 

Today, we sold six of his textbooks to Amazon's book buyback. We get Amazon cash back which we're going to use to put toward his netbook. Funny thing, those chemistry books are worth a LOT. Two hundred sixty five and zero-zero over one hundred dollars to be exact. ($265.) 

The One with the Proof of Adulthood

 

The Top Ten ways I've realized I'm a grown up. 

1) Almost all of my friends were married within months of our wedding. 

2) We have to buy our own TOILET PAPER. 

3) Ninety Percent of the mail is filled with bills. 

4) I would rather sit at home and spend a quiet evening with my husband than party it up with friends.*

  

      *oh wait. I never partied it up. never mind. 

5) I limit my driving time to necessities so as to keep our gasoline bills low. 

6) We signed up for a credit card with reward zone points and use it for buying gas. Only grown ups do that. 

7) The congregation voted to put me on the pastor's cabinet with a 40 year old, two 60 year olds, and a 70 year old. 

8) The oldest students in our youth group are 5 years younger than my baby sister. EEEEEK. 

9) I can rent a car. Not that I ever have. But I can. 

10) I can count at least 15 friends who have recently or are almost ready to give birth to a new baby*.

            *and tonight I get to hold one of them!!! 

photo by michael j. metts.

linked up with Oh!Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday.

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