ReadWithMel

Heyyyy! One thing about me is I’m going to hyper fixate on certain activities to disassociate from a brain that rarely chills the eff out…🤦🏼‍♀️🤪And, I’m going to do it like Jesus himself said it was my main purpose in life.

I’m Mel! A 42 year old mother of 2 teens and a toddler. My oldest recently turned 18, graduated from high school and will soon be leaving for National Guard basic training. My middle daughter is 14 and just graduated from middle school in May and will begin her high school career in August. My youngest is 3. She is joy personified and our rainbow baby. We suffered second trimester losses before and after her. Maybe that seems like an over share, but for me the ones I’ve lost are still my babies and this world needs to become more open about pregnancy and baby loss. No one should suffer in silence. Silence breeds shame and when it comes to this topic, shame should play no role. 👼🏻

While being a mom is one of my defining characteristics, I’m trying to remind myself it isn’t the only one.

I like to think of myself as an extroverted introvert or an introverted extrovert; take your pick. There are times I love being surrounded by people and other times I find even myself too much company. 🙈

Books…..sigh….🥰. Books stir my soul and swirl my spirit. They are my safe space and my wild escape. So far in 2023 I’ve read 101 books. Pppshhh…screw abs, you should see my left hemisphere. It’s got major gains; it’s beefy. 🧠💪🏻 So trust me when I tell ya you’ve got to read these books: Together We Will Go, Leaving Time, All the Ugly & Wonderful Things, The Yellow Envelope, Between Two Kingdoms.

Some extra baggage I’ve picked up along the path of life: PTSD, crippling anxiety/depression. “Hey….you. Yeah, you. The one reading this who feels like they’ve fallen short, like they are the only one who has ever felt like this before. Like this terribly heavy and lonely feeling will never go away. I see you. Go to therapy, take your meds, meditate, pray. I see you. We are in this together.”

Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free)! I am a born and raised proud West Virginia Mountaineer. The granddaughter and great-granddaughter of coal miners. Love for Appalachia is deep in my bones, engrained in my DNA. However, I have seen first hand how big business, coal companies, prescription drugs and poverty have scarred and forever changed the people of these country roads. Things that have taken all we’ve had to give and just dumped us on the side of the road. Ever watched The Wild & Wonderful Whites of West Virginia? If not, stop what you’re doing and go stream that train wreck. My family may not be able to claim a famous “dancing outlaw”, but we are just as well versed in poverty, mistakes and drama. Maybe a swap will allow me to share some of those stories?!

Jesus is not only my Lord & Savior, but He’s 100% my homeboy. My faith is something deeply important and personal to me. Please do not allow that to be one of your icks or steer you away from me. I promise I will be just as respectful of your faith or total lack there of. My goal is to lead with love for and absorb the whimsy of all people and things. I know Christians often turn people off of Christianity and there is no doubt church trauma is real, but I hope my words and actions prove I will always default to love.

My newest hobby is postcard sharing. And boy or boy, did it sweep in and steal my interest like a thief in the night! That obsession is what led me here in hopes of increasing the happy mail I can send and receive. When it comes to postcards, I'm not too picky. For me, its more about the message on the back and the connection with people. If you've got a strange card you're not sure who you could ever send it to...send it to me. I asked my kids what kind of cards they would send me they said, anything sarcastic, rainbows, hot air balloons, elephants, vintage, penguins, first ladies, anything weird, and books. There ya have it folks, the experts have spoken.

I LOVE music!! Nothing breaks or heals your soul quite likes it! I'll listen to anything that makes my ears happy. My go to is country. Love Luke Combs. Love T Swift. My go to dance party faves are Footloose and I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

I journal, but I'm a chaotic journaler. Sometimes its about the books I'm reading. Other times its thoughts occupying my mind; Occasionally, its drawing and doodling. All help my soul purge. Back in 2017 I made my first ever bucket list and it's amazing how much can come to pass just by putting pen to paper.

My hubs job requires a lot of travel. In recent years he has tried to lessen it, but it never seems to work. He doesn't get to be home much, but a bonus of it is we get to visit so many places we probably would've never heard of. In the last year, we acquired a camper and as long as the site is a full hook up (lol) I really enjoy it!

Nothing reminds me more of God than the ocean.One of the most spiritual experiences I've had happened in a hot air balloon. And, that event changed the trajectory of life. My hubs told me later that it was there, floating through the sky he realized for the first time he was in love with me.

I have some serious FOMO over not being born a lefty. If God made one mistake its certainly the fact I do not write with my left hand.

I'm the kinda person who likes a lot of things. I'm also pretty ok at most things, but an expert at absolutely nothing.

I'm so excited to swap with yall!