Reflection of our day 8.12.

Nine years ago today I married my best friend. It was a wonderful day--warm and sunny with lots of family and friends. Next year we'll watch the wedding video for the first time... Our verse: Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."

Eight years ago today we went to Chicago to enjoy the downtown museums and Navy Pier. We were inexperienced at celebrating anniversaries, so this was a fairly boring trip.

Seven years ago today we celebrated our second anniversary by camping at the Eleven Mile Canyon in Colorado. Since then we have returned twice and has become our perfect vacation spot. Mountains, a river, and campsite #10. Only a water pump and an outhouse are there--if you don't bring the rest of it, you go without! There is something hopelessly romantic about falling asleep under the stars in the fresh mountain air while listening to the water flow down the river, and waking to a multitude of birds excitedly announcing the rising of the sun.

Six years ago today we headed out for a simple dinner at Bennigan's in Des Moines. As we sat over chicken fingers and Death By Chocolate (that sounds gross to me now, too!) we decided that we should do a road trip. We drove back to Ames, gathered a change of clothes and our toothbrushes, and took off for....Duluth, MN. We drove until about 3 AM, stopped at a hotel for the night, then took off again by 8. We arrived in Duluth around noon to take in the views over the lake for a couple of hours, then returned home. Wow, it was a quick trip with a LOT of time in the car, but sometimes car time is prime time for catching up and reflecting. It was refreshing.

Five years ago today we went to the Iowa State Fair for our anniversary. Craig says that was a one time event. He hates fairs. I had a great time, though!

Four years ago today we celebrated our 5th anniversary, again by camping in the Canyon. Love it!

Three years ago we celebrated our 6th anniversary in our first house. We decided to stay home in honor of meeting a major goal of purchasing a home. We did go out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

Two years ago we celebrated our anniversary in Colorado. Craig was on a 2 week leave from his depolyment to Iraq. When he flew into Denver, it was the first time we'd seen eachother since he'd left 6 months earlier. We rented a condo in Breck for a few days and just hung out. It was simple but just what we needed after a long separation.

One year ago we celebrated our anniversary somehow but, honestly, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how. I know we didn't go anywhere, so maybe we just went out for dinner or something. Hmmm.

Today Craig is at work and I am still sitting at home in my PJ's at 11:30. This is rediculous. We had plans to spend the day together on Monday so Craig took the day off of work, but it was not to be, as I was ill. Tonight we will have dinner and go for a nice long walk. Perfect.

Next year....the big 1-0. Plans are in the works for a big trip and jewelry (...I must mention the jewelry part to Craig soon...). Who knows where life may lead us in the next year, but we will be lead with lasting love and the knowledge that "All things (REALLY DO) work together for good to them that love God," and that's all I need.

Class Reunion

This weekend was the infamous 15 year class reunion. It was so nice to see some of my old classmates. Saturday afternoon we toured our old high school. It was a strange feeling to wander down the halls of a place that was once so familiar. Everything was still pretty much the same, but seemed smaller than I remember. The building where our class attended elementary school has since been torn down and a nice new elementary built ajoining the high school. I found myself really wishing that I could wander through that old elementary building one more time.
On Saturday evening we had a meal catered by the grocery store in New Sharon--it was delicious--and then everyone headed to the bar. I'm not one to hang out much in bars, but it was nice to sit and visit a bit without all of the smoke! Thank you, Iowa law maker people, for passing that ban! Craig and I hung out until about 10:00 and then drove around for a while enjoying the fresh country air and gazed at a few stars.
On Sunday afternoon we grilled out and had potluck. Initial disappointment in a small turnout yielded rather quickly to a refreshing feeling of gratitude as we really had time to reconnect. Matt, Alicia, Travis, Susan, and I (along with spouses) spent 3 hours sitting around sharing memories...recalling so many of those fun times spent together and laughing hysterically as we revisited how awkward those teenage years could be. It was just what I needed. Refreshment for the soul that made all of the unanswered phone calls, unreturned RSVP's, and frustration in planning this event worth the work.
Is it 2019 yet? I want to see my friends again!!

Facebook Status

I have a lot of things on my mind that I want to post as my status on Facebook today, but don't want to have an entire book for my status, nor do I want to change my status every 5 minutes to fit them all in, so I am just going to post them here. Lucky readers.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is not looking forward to tonight.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is looking forward to Wednesday.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel wishes that she could have some of that six patty high burger. I'm hungry.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs to do something productive.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is hot. Now cold. Now hot again. grrr.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel so enjoyed yesterdays picnic...it was the best part of the reunion, I think.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs a life


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel should probably eat something. It is 2:20 PM and all I've had today is a glass of water and some girl scout cookies. Dumb, but not regrettable.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel should clean up the mess hauled in from the car before Craig gets home.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel needs to call State Farm and Cancel the insurance on the car that we sold several days ago.


Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is looking forward to Jen's wedding and hanging out with her friends.

Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel just spent nearly two hours updating the class reunion blog with pictures and stuff and it still looks crappy and needs more work.

Melissa Nieuwsma-Riedel is signing off now.

A venti venti blah blah

I feel a little guilty about updating my blog right now because Craig's dad is grouting in the tile in the new shower, but honestly, I feel like crap. We've had several late nights because of the master bathroom remodel, and I had a follow up appointment with the ENT doctor yesterday. It was depressing. My hearing is not good. Matter of fact, during the word recognition portion of the test it was all I could do to not turn around and try to read the tester's lips. Embarrassed and defeated I left with a refill for the same dose of hctz and a recommendation for a hearing aid. Luckily, my hearing in my right ear is still very good.
The most frustrating part of all of this is that those around me keep trying to talk louder. It drives me crazy, because it is not that I can't hear, it is that I can't understand. The best that I can describe it is it sounds as if I am trying to understand what someone is saying while underwater. When people around me talk louder, it just gets nearly unbearable.
Yesterday after my appt I went to Lowes and Home Depot to pick up a few more supplies because SOMEONE (me) decided to change grout color. I became progressively tired throughout the day and by 4 pm couldn't even keep my eyes open. Then the vertigo started. Classic Meniere's, so I take a diazepam and go to bed with my puke bucket nearby, only when I woke up my stomach was very settled. This was not my Meniere's. What the heck?? Lights became hazy, I was starting to hallucinate a bit. Aha, it has to be the crazies coming to haunt me again. Those who know me well know what I mean. (I am NOT really crazy--all the time, anyway!). Luckily today is my last day for those stupid things this month. I called my Dr.'s office to make sure that it was ok to take my last dose today and found that I am one of only 6% that has those symptoms. Nice. I can't seem to fall into any cool statistics like, say, winning the lottery or being randomly selected to be on Wheel of Fortune, but when it comes to seeing floaties and feel like I am in a perpetual disco room I strike the jackpot. Whooppee!
Anyway, enough complaning. Things will get better, but frustration is the name of the game right now!
Thanks for listening,
~M

What's up

My blog has really fallen by the wayside lately. Life has been busy and I have not had much time or energy to write too much. When I have had the chance to write it seems that my thoughts have been a little too personal to share on the big old scary internet...so...that's what's up. I will hopefully update more frequently again soon.
In the meantime, here are some random thoughts.

~Madison has been with us for about 2 weeks now. I (insert heart) having her here. We've had such a great time just hanging out, talking, and biking. We've ridden our bikes like maniacs...at least 12 miles every time we go out, and we've gone out 3-4 times per week. One day we did 26 miles, but that is before the sun went into humid heat blower mode. Last night we added a new adventure to our biking journies. Madison needed a little extra encouragement to hit the trail, so I bribed her by saying that we could take some bread to feed to the geese when we went by the lagoon on our way home. Little did I know that there are now signs everywhere that ask that the poor geese not be fed--due to the large amout of excrement and unsanitary conditions. Nice. Well, the sign didn't say anything about not feeding the ducks in the creek, so it happened to be their lucky day. We found this momma and cute little baby and were feeding them small pieces of bread when Maddie turned around and saw that a whole busload of geese had crossed the parking lot to take advantage of the bread. They looked like they could become a little aggressive, so we hopped on our bikes and took off, leaving the bewildered ducks behind.
After about 50 feet Madison told me that my tire was hissing, and sure enough, I had a leak. It was flat in no time. 3 1/2 miles from home. We pulled into the driveway just as darkness fell. Madison riding her bike and me pushing mine. Go figure.
~I have become a total clutz. I don't get it. I have dropped a chair on my foot, a shelf bracket through my right big toenail, left the ice cream on the counter for more than 2 hours twice (not the same ice cream, obviously), and spilled a half of glass of soda onto my neutral carpet, got it cleaned up and then spilled the other half. Nice. So cool.
~We're leaving tomorrow to go to the Wisconsin Dells with my parents and sister's family. I'm pretty excited. Anna warned my sis tonight that when we're on vacation she would still love her, but would be spending most of her time with me. I can't wait.

That's all I've got. Hope everyone's summers are going well....

Chat with a 4 year old about a dead bunny.

Tomorrow my mom, sister, 3 nieces, and Madison are coming to our house for a few days. We're going to have a garage sale and (hopefully) get rid of a lot of stuff. I called my sis tonight to touch base with her and make sure that she didn't have any last minute questions. As we were talking my niece, Anna, who just turned 4 could be heard in the background. "I want to talk to Missy. I want to talk to her RIGHT NOW." I told my sister that I better talk to her for a little bit. Here's how the conversation went.
"Hi, Anna. How are you tonight?" (In my sweetest talking to a little friend voice)

"Um, Missy, I am coming to your house tomorrow and I heard that we might play a game."

"Oh really? We should play a game, that would be lots of fun, but we're going to have a garage sale and might need someone to sell Lemonade. Do you know anyone who knows how to sell lemonade?"

"YES! I can do it! And maybe Adlynn (a cousin from the other side of her family) could help me! And what was your bunny's name...the one that is dead?"

"Um, the bunny that died was named Daisy. Dixie (the other rabbit) can't wait to see you, Anna." (Subtle attempt to focus on life, not death)

"I remember when Daisy died. Why did she die again?"

"Daisy got very sick and we had to take her to the bunny doctor, the doctor said that she was going to die and it made me sad. Dixie was sad too, but right now, she is just excited to see you" (a little dramatization...the only thing she isreally excited to see is food) "Are you excited to come to my house? (attempt to change subject).

"Where IS Daisy, anyway?"

(thinking...in a USPS box buried under our tree...) "Well, I suppose that she is hopping around in Bunny heaven somewhere"

"With Jesus?"

"Yep, probably.....so, Anna, what game do you want to play tomorrow?"

And CLICK. She was gone.

Needing some color

Craig has redeemed himself. He did not answer his phone because he had it on vibrate mode in his pocket. He was walking to the bar 2 miles away at midnight in a strange town to pick up his coworker who had taken the shared rental car and was too wasted to drive home. What a guy! I can assure you that I would not be walking anywhere at night by myself. Craig did change his travel schedule so that he will be home tomorrow. Yippee! I can't wait, but am going to delight in my last night of restful sleep tonight. :(

Today I went to Lowe's to pick out paint. I have been pondering the idea of painting both the kitchen and the family room for a while and finally decided that it was time to talk colors. I was thinking "Blade of Grass Green" for the family room. It is, well, the color of a blade of grass. I think that it will look nice--kind of creating unity between the indoors and the outdoors. As for the kitchen...I like the way that the dining room turned out so much that I want to bring some of that into the kitchen. I'm thinking the same creamy wall color for the soffits and walls. There is very limited wall space in this kitchen--it is all cabinets or windows. I'd like to do an accent wall above the table. So far, I am tinkering with the same color as the curtains in the dining room...kind of a reddish rust color. I currently have a sample color taped to the wall, but I think that I would need about 5,342 more to cover the entire space. I so cannot picture what it will look like from one of those tiny squares.

Now...the moment of truth. I want to know who of you, my friends, were going to call me and tell me that I absolutely CANNOT paint any part of my house the color of a blade of grass. It was just a trick to see what you all were thinking when I said that. So...leave me some feedback.

In all honesty I have no idea what color to paint the family room. The paneling is staying for now. :( We realized that it would be way too much work to remove it right now...all of the trim would have to be replaced and there is a LOT of freaking trim in this room. I am leaning towards getting rid of the stripe--kind of. I want to use the same color of paint but alternate between semi-gloss and flat to give it a subtle kick. Otherwise, It could look like painted paneling! Pale sage greens and pale blues are catching my eye right now, but I have to be a little careful. I don't want it to look like a nursing home only missing the pink carpet and scent of urine. Perhaps if I go ahead with my projects soon I will post pictures on the blog. I very rarely ever do that.

But for now, I need to go to bed. I have to go back to work tomorrow and would probably have better accuracy with my needles if my eyes are open. Goodnight, virtual world.