Hi! I’m Melanie. My mother named me after a friend she met while living and working in Louisiana for the phone company. Her friend’s name was Melawey. Yeah…I don’t really understand that either. I’ve got southern roots in the red clay of Mississippi, Louisiana and Georgia, however, my “pastor dad” planted new churches so I’ve been privileged to live all over the U.S. map.

For the  past twenty-two years I’ve lived on the west coast of Florida – just 10 minutes from the beach! Hey, somebody’s gotta live here. If the question is “mountains or beach”? I’ll take the Gulf Coast beaches any day of the week. Every chance I get I plant my backside in a chair on the powdery sand for what I call “beach therapy.”

My biggest blessing is my family of five. You can read more about my family here.

My greatest fulfillment is teaching God’s Holy Word. But I didn’t start out with my sights set on being a Bible teacher. (Listen to some speaking samples here.)

When I was a little girl I dreamed of performing in Broadway musicals. Evidently, as a young child, I watched a lot of old musicals. “Hey kids, let’s put on a show!”

As I neared high school graduation that childhood dream was elbowed out by this one: Succeed Jane Pauley on the Today show. The execs went with Deborah Norville, by the way.

At the end of my senior year in college in which I earned a double major – Communications and Modern Foreign Languages – I had interviews with both Delta and United airlines. Boy, am I glad neither hired me to be a flight attendant! I really don’t enjoy flying. I guess I thought the whole flying thing would be exciting? Romantic? Now, I just think air travel is gross and germ infested. And for someone who really needs her personal space? Forget about it.

Upon college graduation, I was hired by a local newspaper but I never actually started the job. My “preacher dad” convinced me to move back in with the folks after my college graduation and (again) boy, am I glad I did! My parents had recently moved to a small town in Georgia to pastor a church and it  was there on a Sunday morning that I met my future husband.

My first “real job” after college was a huge disappointment. I realized I was not cut out to file endless amounts of boring paperwork, answer phones and inhale the boss’s cigar smoke and put up his “Pardon my French” vocabulary. That led me to begin night classes to earn my teacher certification.

I’ve taught in the public school system, in private school, and I home schooled our three children for many years. By far, home schooling was the most challenging but also the most rewarding. I taught my children to read and write! I also taught them a little math and then I hired a tutor. ; )

Dannie Dorsey and I have been married for 25 years and my greatest joy has been the opportunity to be a stay at home mom for most of our married life. This has only been possible because of my loving and supportive husband. You may already know that in 2009, our youngest child, Andrew, was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. We lost him four months after the diagnosis. A heart has no grief like that of the death of a child. Seeing the way my husband tenderly cared for our son during that harshest of trials, made me fall more in love with that man. We are devoted to one another. He has my back and I have his.

A few tidbits of trivia:

I am not a big shopper although I enjoy a deep discount and do my share of thrift store shopping.

My husband and I make over and sell vintage furniture pieces and we have the paint stains to prove it! We look for good quality, pre-1970′s furniture and modernize it with fresh paint and detailing. (This is a side job for us. He has a full time job, too.)

Spiders don’t scare me but dirty dishes in the sink? I shudder.

I love to cook. Cleaning up afterward? Not so much.

Running and strength training are at the top of my priority list. Women, you must get strong and fit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you will find on my website~

I post a new article 2 -3 times a week. I share the occasional recipe or beauty and health tip. Some of my best writing has been inspired by my folks. You’ll want to read about Don & June, too. Most often I write about the Christian walk and the consensus among my readers is that I’m candid and transparent in my writing. There’s a reason for that. In the early days after losing our son, I promised God that I would be honest with Him and honest with others. You see, for many years I was in hiding. I hid my emotions. I hid my “ugly.” I hid behind lofty expectations and the falsehood that as a Christian, I should have all the answers. I’ll admit that there are days when I feel overwhelmed by life! And those are the days I have to fight my flesh over going back into hiding.

What I Know For Sure ~

God is good and He is faithful. Even when things don’t go my way. Even when I feel disappointed in the bend of the road. Because Christ was faithful to endure the cross, I can be faithful to the One who loved me before I knew Him.

The Official Bio ~

Melanie has a consuming hunger for God’s Word and is excited about inspiring others to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. Through in-depth Bible teaching and personal stories, she speaks with the authority that comes from knowing her God-given purpose. Her message leads others to:

• Develop a faith that endures the storms of life.
• Deepen relationship with a trustworthy God.
• Discover insight in the Word that brings personal revival.

Melanie is a graduate of Lee University and holds a B.A. degree in both Communications and Modern Foreign Languages and a minor in Bible. She is also a certified teacher. A featured soloist for many years, she considers it a joy to minister in song.

Melanie is married to Dannie Dorsey and they live in Florida with their children Audra and Avery. Their third child, Andrew, resides in Heaven now and they anxiously await their glorious reunion!

In the meantime you will find Melanie choosing to run this earthly race in such a way as to obtain the heavenly prize.

More ~

After the passing of my wonderful 12 year old son, Andrew, in December 2009, I spent many hours and miles walking and running along trails and on the beach. It’s where I worked through my stuff. And just as Jesus “drew near and went with” the men on the road to Emmaus, He met me in my grief, pain and questions. He walked with me – healing, comforting and growing me up in Him.

I invite you to accompany me for a walk with the WORD through the Word. Along the way, you will encounter an honest approach to a God who is brighter than the morning sun and bigger than the moonlit sky.

While I am intentional in my relationship and daily walk with Jesus, I am religious about strength training and running most days of the week. Won’t you join me for a few miles in relationship on the road with Jesus?