I first met Courtney Melonas through school and then got to
know her and her family through a Bible study we were both apart of. Not only
is Courtney kind and gracious, she is very wise and sober-minded. Shortly after
marrying her godly husband, Nick, in February she has started blogging about
her latest projects and issues young women face. Titus2minutes
reflects her heart for young women and her desire to serve the Lord with all
her abilities. I was so blessed and encouraged to have an interview with her
over the phone, despite some technical difficulties.
Kate: First off, I
just want to say, I really love the concept behind your blog, making it a short
post you can read in literally 2 minutes. Explain how you came up with the
concept?
Courtney Melonas: Yeah so I know my attention span. I think
I know my attention span. I’m not going to read something super long. If it’s a
blog I don’t want to read for more than five minutes. I think if it’s an
over-long article it kind of turns me off. So I sort of went with the concept
that if I don’t want to read something that’s super long, then probably other
people don’t want to either. I could be wrong about that.
I think if you’re reading on the internet you’re kind of
browsing, you’re not sitting down to read a book, so you want to get to the
point quickly. Not that I wouldn’t ever read a long post but I’m probably more
likely to read something that’s a little shorter.
KB: Most of the
material on your blog is about issues you’ve been learning in your walk with
the Lord, how would you say you’ve grown even since taking on this project?
CM: Yeah, I would say He’s been teaching me that He’s the
only one that I can find my sufficiency is in the Lord. I can’t find my sufficiency
in my job, my husband, or even my church. The church isn’t perfect, you know?
Only Christ is perfect. The church is wonderful and we love it, but I think I’ve
been learning that I can only trust in Him.
Church is wonderful. I think recently that is what he has
been teaching me that I can only trust.
KB: Is it ever hard
to balance time being a new wife (congrats!!!!) and blogging?
CM: It’s actually been a little harder now that I’m not
working. Because I don’t have a consisant schedule. It’s actually a little bit
harder. Which is funny. I work better with a routine. It’s actually a little
bit harder to find that routine. When I was working- I was writing about things
that I was doing anyways.
KB: What kinds of
things?
CM: I journal- so a lot of what I write is what I write in
my journal. I wrote about recipes that I was I going to do. I was basically
writing about projects I was doing around the house. Stuff like that. So it’s
not like I go outside of my normal routine so much.
KB: Your husband is
from the East Coast and you’re a California girl, how did you two meet?
CM: We technically met at Grace Church but it was because of
mutual friends at Master’s that we met. So it was more that met at school than
at church. There was a group of friends and we would hang out all the time and
do game nights and things like that. Even though it was at church it was more
because of our group.
KB: On a different
note, it can be super hard to come up with new topics. How do you go about
picking what to write about?
CM: Like I said, it’s generally things that I’m already
doing. Usually things that I feel strongly about. Like right now I’m in the
process of writing a blog post on modesty. That one’s going to take a little
longer. I usually have a couple of topics in my mind that I want to write about.
I’m not usually for lack of topics. It’s more an issue of time for topics.
KB: Who would your
ideal reader be?
CM: I think I’m probably writing with the 18-24 year old
bracket in my mind. Maybe in college or newly married. Because that’s where I
am. I don’t know that that is necessarily my reader but that’s what I’m
thinking about when I write. I’m mostly talking to other young women.
KB: Do you ever have
conversations with people about your blog outside of your blog?
I’m starting to have people mention my blog which was kind
of weird at first. They would go “Hey, I read this and I really appreciated it”
or “I read it and this is what I think about that topic.” Especially the one
about relationships, that one generated the most talk. I’ve had a new mom say
she was really encouraged [by the blog] because it can be hard with a new baby.
Which was cool to hear.
[My blog] is meant to kind of challenge people to more holy
living. Because it is short- I can’t go on and on and on. I can’t go super deep
on a topic. It’s just meant to spur your thinking. Sometimes I will do more
than one post on a topic. But it can be hard because the posts are meant to be
short.
KB: In addition to
having some very wise insights you are also quite the crafty woman. Where did
this talent come from? Are there any projects you’re working on right now?
CM: Yes there is a project I’ve been working on for a while.
I cut two of my shirts and have been trying to sew them together. I’m not the
greatest seamstress so it’s taken me awhile…I wish I was better. Plus I usually
put it aside to do other projects like painting our furniture.
And see, that would be an example of something that’s not
really necessary to my life right now. It’s not that important. Hopefully I
finish it someday. (laughs)
KB: Have you ever
considered selling your projects?
CM: You know I’ve thought about it. But I never came up with
something I’m good enough at. I would need something that’s unique enough that
I could do that.
But I never found something that I’m good at and other
people would want.
KB: (laughing) But I
liked your maxi-skirt!!!
Right. Well. But that was pretty easy.
I don’t know. Maybe someday if I come up with something.
KB: Any future plans
for the blog?
CM: I plan on in a couple of weeks launching a new site. Unlike
my blog it would be an actual new updated website. But I have to wait a couple
more weeks because I’m waiting to transfer my domain name to this new website. So
that should happen sometime mid- August…I’m excited.
KB: That is exciting!
I hope everything works out with your new website! And thank you so much for giving
me this interview!
CM: Thank you!