Meet Melissa, 27, NW Indiana/Chicago Area

Hi there! I’m Amanda’s sister, Jen! And I’m hijacking her blog for the day to tell you about my amazing friend and college roommate, Melissa, as a part of  Kelly’s “Show Us Your Singles.”

Melissa truly is a catch looking her lobster! (I hope you got that “Friends” reference, because, well, I’m pretty sure Melissa can quote every episode!  If you like “Friends”  it will definitely earn you some extra credit points…oh, and Justin Timberlake….she likes him too  J!)   She is the kindest and most sincere person I know.  She is very insightful and intelligent. She loves deeply – her relationship with God is of the most important, she is very close with her family and friends, and she is just about the most fantastic friend you could ever wish for! She goes out of her way to make those around her feel comfortable, welcome, appreciated, and love.  Her greatest joy is to make your load easier to carry. She truly has a servant’s heart. Believe me; I wouldn’t have been so successful in college without her thoughtfulness, kindness, silliness and humor!

Melissa and her baby brother Raymond

We attended a Christian college in Indiana where she studied Psychology and then she earned a Master’s in Counseling Psychology at another Indiana Christian college. She is currently a middle school counselor. She has been involved in leading her church youth practically since the day she was “too old” to be in youth group! She loves to have fun with the kids and gets right in the middle of their crazy antics.

Melissa is in the back right, wearing a red bandanna

 Melissa is a girl who prefers ice cream over flowers, quality time over elaborate displays, and sweatshirts over party dresses and high heels (but she looks darn cute in a dress too!). She is a simple, fun loving girl who loves to laugh, likes Italian food (she is half Italian), chocolate, watching TV and movies, hanging out with her friends and family, and being present in each and every day of her life. I know she will be a fantastic wife and mother!

When I asked her what she wanted in a guy, this is what she replied:

“So what do I want in a guy......he has to love Jesus, that's most important. I want a spiritual leader that I can rely on. I want him to be funny and caring and good with money. Someone who understands taxes and money management and all that stuff that I hate. It'd be great if he played an instrument, maybe the guitar or piano. You know I like that. :) Also it'd be awesome if he loved movies and did not ride a motorcycle.” 

Please leave a comment with your email or blog link if you would like to get know my dear, sweet, Melissa more!

Jen

Labor Day Weekend

Over the weekend we have a our wonderful friends come to visit! We saw them last year on this same weekend! Candace and David lived here in NWA for a few years then got a chance to move back to their home town in TN. So off they went :( . Even though I know how much they LOVe being back home and close to their families, I miss them terribly. Candace and I became such great friends in a short period of time.
I am ALWAYS thankful when they make the long drive back to see their old co-workers/friends and us! They stay at our house and I just love having them!
We had a fun, relaxing weekend filled with shopping and eating!! We managed to fight the crowds at "Cabela's". We walked around for a bit but found a spot at the fish tank. We figured they had one but we kept telling Amelia we were going to see
fish. She kept yelling "I see fishy now!"
Every where we went over the weekend Amelia was silly. She was always well-behaved but just loud at some points. I think she was showing off for our guests! Thankfully, she is good 90% of the time!
Candace and I enjoyed shopping a few places at the mall while the guys entertained Amelia for us! It was so nice to send time together!! After shopping we ate there at the mall. Amelia was sleeping for part of dinner in her stroller, but woke when the food came! :)
Sunday morning I made breakfast thn Candace and I went to a store called "true treasures" it is one of my
Favs! We also made a stop at Target before going back home. At dinner on Sunday she was banging the table saying "I eat pig... I eat pig!". Since she doesn't eat much of anything she was lying. The kid won't eat like she needs too. The restaurant had paintings of pigs hung everywhere and she LOVED it. She enjoyed waving and saying hello To the staff as they walked by. "Personality Plus" is what I call her!
After dinner that night we took them to see Crystal Bridges. Since it was after 6 on Sunday we couldn't go in but we walked the trails and went to the lookout point. While we were on the trail and we saw whole family of deer! They weren't even scared of us and our loud toddler! I couldn't believe it.
Overall we had a wonderful time and I am already looking forward to the next time we get to see Candace and David. I am hoping we can get out to see them and their "neck of the woods".

My 27th birthday

Crazy to think I am now 27 years old today! I couldn't be happier with my life and very thankful for the people in it!
Today was perfect! First thing this morning little miss and I shopped a bit. I am finally decorating our guest room! We can home for lunch and nap :) I woke Amelia a bit early from nap and took her over to my friend/neighbors house so I could head to my massage appointment. I had a hot stone massage for the first time and it was amazing! I went to the spa at my dermatologist office. The place is down right beautiful and the spa was perfect!
They had me change into a rope right away and I sat in the relaxing room for a bit. They even had rooms called "sleep cocoons". The massage therapist told me afterwards I could stay as along as I wanted. I should have asked if I could sleep over! :) a full nights rest sounds REALLY good these days!
I didn't take them up on the napping afterwards because I wanted to go get Amelia. We came home, opened my other gifts( two canvas prints from our
Family photos) and went out for dinner (Mexican) with Deric. I also got a DQ ice-cream cake! I can't remember the last time I had a birthday cake and DQ cakes are my favorite!!!
Our evening has been fun and relaxing, Now if we can get Amelia to sleep all. Night in her own bed would make my birthday even more perfect!!!

Changes

This past Friday was Amelia's "last" day with Candace and Ana Kate.
Ana Kate started kindergarten today and will be homeschooling 3 days per week. So with that comes a new setup for us. I have been wanting Fridays off anyhow so it all worked in our favor.
All the sitters I talked to wanted 2 really 3 days per week. So not only
do we lose our days with Candace but with grandma Marcia too.

We now have a babysitter who will
come to our house the 2 days while I am at the salon. I think she will be a great fit with Amelia. Amelia was already saying her name after she left our house Saturday :). I am so thankful to have a sitter come to our home. I just don't like the thought of paying for a full time sitter when I only work about 15 hours a week. I am sure there will come a day where I will stay home full time. But, for now I really enjoy working. I know it is a good break for Amelia and I. She is such a mommy's girl... Not that I mind... It is just nice to have a break. I LOVE doing hair and know I would miss it.
Here is Amelia's first day with Candace and her last day. I knew the change in Amelia would be huge. But Ana Kate looks so different too! Crazy how those girls became best buddies over the year of spending Friday's together. They will miss each other each week, but we have plenty of chances for fun play dates!

18 month well visit

Amelia had her well check this afternoon. We were about 2.5 weeks late due to our vacation. Here are her stats as of today 21.6 lbs (10%), 31 inches tall (25%), and her head circ is 18.70 inches (10%). Overall she has stayed in the 10% since birth but is getting taller! She is still as sweet as ever!
Her doctor was impressed with her vocab and social skills. Makes her daddy and I very proud. We just love our girl to the moon and back!

The big 3-oh....

Happy Birthday to my favorite guy! Today, Deric turned 30th! We just had a little celebration with the 3 of us... Well 5 if you count the dogs! ;)
I grilled steaks and veggies kabobs for dinner. It was so good! For desert I bought a cheesecake. I got all of the groceries at "Fresh Market". It just opened up about 2 weeks ago.
I made Deric a beer cake and did a few other decorations. I had a sign in the front yard with balloons but the stinking heat popped them within 5 minutes of them being outside.. Ugh.

Deric- I wish you the happiest birthday! I am so thankful we get to spend each year growing older together ! You are truly my best friend. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father for our girl! I can't wait to spend the next 30 years with you!
Love you!

Gigi and G-dad's house

Amelia and I finally made it to my parents after airport delays, a road block, and a screaming toddler who wanted out of the car!
Amelia did amazingly well at the airport waiting and waiting. She as usually was a great flyer this time too. It was only when we got back on the car after a stop for dinner. Poor girl was over tired and just screamed for me to hold her. Hard for a 18 month old to understand why I can hold her on the the plane but not in the car. :( She finally fell to sleep and didn't wake up until about 7 the next morning.
Here are a few iPhone pics of our week so far at m parents.