Thailand trip update

Just an update on the trip to Thailand.

After contacting three ministries it looks like it may be a no go. I have one more place that has been on my heart that I sent an email to today. We'll see what happens.

As I have moved along in this process my mindset really has been the desire to see doors open or close and for God to pull the plug on this trip if it is not the right time. I know in my heart that every step that I have taken in this has been a step of faith in the right direction. Right now, it looks like things may not work out and that is ok if they don't. But then again, God might choose to do something different and I am up for that as well :)

Cute, cute, cute

Today I went to Anthropologie because it is one of my favorite stores (that I can't really afford to shop in) and I just can't pass one up without going to check out what's on sale. I also really like it because I truly feel inspired creatively whenever I go inside. So many pretty things! As I was walking through the store today my eye was caught by the most adorable little stoneware measuring spoons. And then I brought myself to look at the price tag and was shocked that they are under $20. I literally gasped a little bit at the cuteness of these measuring spoons and their near affordability. Then I remembered that I don't have my own place to house them in...and that made me sad.

Oh, cute little measuring spoons, please hold out for me. Perhaps someday :)



I went onto the Anthropologie website to get the above picture for you :) and found that they have so many more cute measuring spoons. I love them all!






I need somebody to get married, so that I can buy them some cute spoons...or maybe I should get married myself :)

Oh, just you wait

What can be done with an old pair of blue jeans, a vintage looking bed sheet from the thrift store, and some muslin? Well, I will be presenting my version of fashion design genius (at least that is what I hope it will be) in a few weeks ... or maybe a month :)



Stay tuned for the transformation.

Going to Thailand

I want to go Thailand. Like really, really, REALLY want to go to Thailand. And by "want to go" what I really mean is that the longing is so strong that it can only be from God. And when I say "want to go" I also mean, WILL go. I will go to Thailand.

I am moving forward in trying to plan a trip to Thailand in August. With each step that I take, I am absolutely prepared and ready for doors to open ... and close. If God decides to pull the plug on this little venture of mine, I am totally ok with that. But I do know that this trip will happen someday.

This particular trip is not the grand move into another country. What I am anticipating for this journey is a two week trip seeking out where God is moving. I want to meet and connect with people who are using creative methods to help exploited women and children. An example of the kind of ministries that I am looking to check out are those like Night Light International. You can check out their website by clicking here. Projects like these get me really excited because they appeal to my heart and passion regarding the issue of the exploitation of women as well as touching my inner creative side. Projects like these are something that I could really see myself getting involved with.

I want to go to Thailand...I mean will go to Thailand. Maybe in August. Maybe further down the line. But someday...you can bet on it.

Some new favorite music

I found this band on Gingibersnaps' blog. You can read the post here . I am looking forward to other music posts on her site. My kind of music.

So pretty

I love, love, LOVE these shoes.





Wish I could afford a pair.
Darlingtonia moccasins found here

The dream that goes nowhere

Have you ever had a very vivid dream and woken up remembering it, but not really realizing that you remember it? It somehow seems so real that perhaps it really happened so you find yourself thinking, "Maybe that was just a part of my day and not a dream." Then there is something that happens that shoots that dream to the forefront of your mind and you realize that it was indeed a dream and a reoccurring one at that.

I had one of those moments of remembrance yesterday. I was sitting at the table with Katie as she read me a chapter from her book, when all of a sudden I remembered a reoccurring dream that I have been having for a long time. The dream actually varies in its details but there is always this point when I am running but going nowhere. It is sort of a feeling of running in water. Where you are trying to push forward but there is something holding you back. Even right now as I think about it, I can literally feel it (weird).

As I was thinking on this reoccurring dream of mine, I realized that it is often how I feel. There is so much on my mind and so much I want to do with my life, but I just feel like there is something causing some resistance. For me, I just feel like I am waiting for the right door to open. I know that I am exactly where I need to be and am loving every minute of it, but there is still so much more. There lies within me the desire to push through and get to that which really truly fuels my fire of my purpose on this earth.

As I recognize the want for more and the resistance that I face, that word "resistance" takes on so much meaning. When it comes to my desire to be in Asia, I believe the resistance is from the Lord. This is a season of training and rebuilding that is very vital for God's plans and purpose for my life. Then there is also another deep desire within me. One that fuels my daily existence in every circumstance and situation. This is my desire to learn more and go deeper with God and the resistance felt in that area is definitely a tool of the enemy. I definitely don't want to bow to that resistance. I have everything I need to make that one cease and desist right now (in Jesus' name!).



So, I guess that I am learning a lot about resistance...and running. And speaking of running: I am going to start doing it in the physical sense and not just in my dreams. While I am writing about this whole running and dreams thing, I will just put it out there that I have realized that I have unknowingly let this dream of mine, dictate my unbelief. Meaning that, for sometime I have desired to take up running but have felt that I can't do it. Like I said before, this dream that I have been having seemed so very real that I felt that it has been happening in the real world (strange, I know, but very true). My dear friend Andrea has fueled the flame under this desire of mine to take up running. Evidently I can even run a 5K this summer. Wow, this summer. If that happens, then we know that God performs miracles :)

I am really looking forward to seeing victory in my life on all accounts of pushing through. Pushing through to soak the marrow out of the season of training and rebuilding that God has me in; pushing through to go deeper with Him; and pushing through to run a 5K. All very important and all very vital to my growth and preparation. So, I'm lacing up the sneakers and running: not away from something...but towards it.

Are you hungry?

There is this intersection near where I live that is called 7 corners. It is my least favorite intersection in the whole world (but that is a different story). At this intersection, there is always someone standing on the side of the road holding a sign and asking for money. My heart always goes out to those people, whether you see them at an intersection or a store or just walking down the streets. I hate being in that situation when they ask you for money, because I feel that giving them a handout is not the option. You never know where they are going to spend that money and many times you could just be enabling them to stay on the streets. Maybe I have just heard too many stories, but I am always very hesitant to hand out money and I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing.

So I find myself in these situations where I see someone ahead who I know will ask me for a handout and I think about how I will react. I have found that I either look the other way or just shake my head. No smile, no words. I just shrug it off. As I write these words I am filled with great conviction. I don't see these people through God's eyes. Who cares if they are on drugs or addicted to alcohol. Jesus died for them! God created them, He loves them, and He does not like seeing them begging on the streets. That is not God's design for their life.

Today I went to 7 Eleven to get a drink and there was a man outside who asked me for change as I walked into the store. I politely shook my head and the second that I stepped into the store I knew that I was supposed to buy something for him to eat. I decided on a Snickers Marathon energy bar. I thought that it would be something that the guy would actually enjoy and would probably give him a little bit of the nutrition that he needs (evidently it is good enough for Marathon runners, so it should be good for this guy too). I walked outside and asked the guy if he was hungry. He nodded his head and I gave him the Snickers bar. And that was the end of it. I walked away and got in my car.

I have done things like that before (buying people food), but it has been a long time since I have. I don't like giving out money, but I do feel comfortable with buying someone some food. I wish that I had sat down with this man and heard his story. I wish that I had the courage to offer to pray for him (not many people turn down prayer). But for me, stepping out and buying someone an energy bar was a step in the right direction.

I'm going crazy

Happy Friday! I know that for me this has been a very T.G.I.F. kind of day. It just feels like Friday. I like it.

So, can I write (once again) about all the creative urges being sparked within me? Cause that's what I am going to do.

I am really starting to feel a little bit crazy. I see all these things that I want to try and think that I can do. I desire to be a painter / drawer / sewer / quilter / applique-er (is that even a word) / scrapbooker / jewelry designer / knitter / crocheter / embroiderer / art journaler / photographer / web designer / blogging extraordinaire.

I want to know how to use watercolor, oil pastel, soft pastel, acrylics, colored pencils, mod podge, my sewing machine, my jewelry tools, beads, my computer, fabric, thread, magazines, (and other sundry items) to make beautiful things. I just want to be able to do all these things well. That's not asking too much is it? Do you see why I am going crazy?

It really does happen

Sometimes you hear stories of some guy trying to pick up some girl at a local coffee shop and you might think to yourself, "Yeah right. Like that really happens." I think that has been my take...feeling like guys just aren't bold enough to try it. Well, it happened to me yesterday at Starbucks; while I was standing in line with a two year old, no less.

There I was with Matthew jumping around (I like to call him "jumpin' bean"). The guy standing behind me strikes up a conversation, using the little guy as a reason to talk to me. Then come the questions: Is this little one mine (at this point I knew where the conversation was heading). Do I have any children? Why not? And ultimately ending with the, "Are you single?" Upon finding that I am single he then asked me if I would like to work out (or work it out. I couldn't really understand, but both options kinda baffle me). I politely declined and then made my way to the car with the "jumpin' bean".

I had a big smile on my face as I strapped Matthew into his seat. Because, while I was not interested in dating the stranger behind me in Starbucks, it really did make my day to be noticed. And I have to be honest and say that I was definitely not feeling very noticeable at that time (it had been a long day).

And there you have it: my Starbucks story. Maybe I need to go to coffee shops with a two year old more often. My trip yesterday served to give a little boost in self esteem :)

Under construction

I got a new book today...one that will help me navigate through Photoshop Elements and be able to achieve what has been held in my mind. I see so many blogs that just look so cute and think to myself, "Surely I can do that too." Well, the time has come. I may not have an SLR camera and major graphic designing skills, but I do have quite an active imagination. So now I will let the imagination take flight in a form of digital art.

Expect to see some major overhauls on this blog in the future. I'm not going to say that it is the very near future, because there are definitely lots of projects I am putting on my plate. However, I am really looking forward to expanding and getting in the habit of sharing more. I could just explode with excitement.

Oh, and if anyone has any good resources for writing coding for blogs and all that technical stuff, let me know :)

Thrifting awesomeness

Tonight I headed to a thrift store called Unique Thrift. I think that it is probably the largest thrift store that I have ever been to. (My sister would have been in heaven) I was on the hunt for things to use in my art journaling. This class (check it out here) that I am taking really has spurred me to think outside the box. I am loving it sooo much. I thought that I would blog and share some of my finds from tonight's thrifting adventures and some of the plans that I have for them because I am quite excited.

Tip #1 - The linen section of a thrift store is a GREAT place to find vintage fabric:

I am pretty sure that this print has been in my family at some point in time. It just looked so familiar to me. Perhaps my mom or grandma can help me out on this one. I have really grand plans for this fabric, not only in art journaling but also in transforming an old pair of jeans into a skirt (more to come on that one).

Tip #2 - Great place to find cheap puzzles:

For some strange reason I have really been wanting a puzzle, but have found that they are actually quite expensive. I found this way cute puzzle for $.99. Awesome!

This book came with a few others but it is definitely my favorite. The pictures are so cute. I plan on cutting it up and using it for my journal. Can't wait to have a journal prompt that is worthy.

Just some seam binding and trimmings, but I was looking on Etsy today for just this sort of thing. The green trimming is my favorite. I LOVE it and can't wait to use it.

So there you have it. I have rediscovered the thrift store. Ah, such wonderful things to be found. And tonight my purchases were all an additional 25% off. I have a feeling I will regularly be checking out Unique Thrift on Mondays. Oh happiness :)

What a funny feeling

I have noticed over the past few days that I have been feeling a little bit weird lately. In fact, today I was able to put my finger on it. I feel...relaxed. I can't remember the last time that I felt truly relaxed. It's a good feeling just to be able to be. To not feel like I have to have a gigantic smile all the time and be energetic. Don't get me wrong I am still joyful, smily, enthusiastic Melany. But I guess that I am just having more relaxing chill moments. Does that make sense?

I feel like over the past few months I have been on a journey of de-stressing and I have noticed that it has really made a difference in my life. I definitely have to say that it is a work of the Lord. It's not something that I could do on my own. But, there are just certain things that don't affect me the way that used to. I feel at ease and am experiencing more and more peace each day. There have been times that it has definitely been the peace that passes understanding. My life is by no means perfect and there are many things on my mind and many things that break my heart. I guess that for me God's hands have gotten bigger. I know that He's got it. I know that He's got me. And right now, He is also taking me on a journey to learn to love who I am. It does not matter what others think of me (this one is definitely a work in progress - one step at a time and each step just sets me free more). It's all about my One. And while I am so grateful for all the people that He has placed in my life to challenge me towards growth, my God is the filter.

That's all. That's what is on my mind and I thought that I would share it.