Melanie On My Mind

My sister likes to think she's pretty funny. I try not to encourage her too much, or her jokes start getting pretty, um odd, we'll say. And I also try not to let on that I think she's cool, even when she manages to pull off something that is pretty impressive. Don't want her thinking she's getting bigger than her britches. But my sister (Melanie -- stop reading here) is actually pretty awesome. I'm not sure why, but I feel the need to blog about her. So let you introduce you to my greatest friend, ally and competition. This is Melanie:

1. Amazing mother of three kids five and under. She somehow finds time and energy to raise three intelligent, musical little punks (yeah, have you ever met a kid who, when listening to music says, "Hey mum, is this a minor chord," AND IT IS?), running between kindergarten, music lessons and other various day-to-day things without using a TV daily or DVD in the car. She is hard on herself, as many mums are, but if her kids are a reflection of her parenting (which of course they are), then anyone would agree she must be doing a great job. Oh yeah, and she's due again in the spring. Make that four kids five and under.

2. Super Scholar (or super-nerd at least). Melanie is currently working on her Master's Degree in Music Education. Working her tail off, she is dissatisfied with anything less than an A+. Not that the GPA changes from A to A+ (both count as a perfect 4.0), but if she doesn't receive that + she will talk to the instructor afterwards to find out where she could have improved. Yeah.

3. Crafty Lady Extraordinaire. Quilter, Artist, but mainly a Scrapbooker, this woman somehow finds time for fun in the midst of this already crazy-busy life. She has been coordinating a scrapbook club for more than a year, and is a Close to My Heart demonstrator. She doesn't sell to people other than her closest friends and family -- partners in scrapping -- but seriously, how could she find the time? Her works are beautiful. To scrap well, your really do need to be an artist. And she is.

4. Preacher girl. Not just to me, and well, everyone who will listen as she imparts her own special brand of wisdom on our lives. She has led Sunday bible studies, home groups and now the church has given her an official platform doing the odd sermon at church. She did one this summer, and another in the fall. She does (though don't let her know I've said so) know a fair bit, so I'll give her credit there, but unlike her own view of self, she does not know everything.

5. Friend. I love my sister. She is my oldest friend. Well, I guess technically my mam is, seeing as we were bonding while I was in utero. But my sister is the one who poked my eyes when I came home from the hospital, to see if I was real. She was the one who played with me throughout my childhood - building forts, snow forts, Lego projects; inviting me to come with her to birthday parties; playing MBG's with me (Make-Believe-Games) that we were orphans like on Annie. Introducing me to her friends in high school, to Young Life, to Jesus. Being my encourager and conscience. Could there exist a better friend than the person willing to come over everyday while you're home with a newborn who won't latch? Just to teach me how to do it right? I think not.

I love my sister. I hope that Jonah will be as good to his sister as mine has been to hers.