HOME

About a month ago Jason and I had the privilege of moving in to our beautiful brand new home!!! It's our very first house and we were so blessed to be able to build brand new! We picked everything out and really made it our own! We love it and are so excited to fill it with memories!! Here's a few photos of the building process:

Being able to watch our house be built from the ground up was so amazing. We were able to bury a Bible in the foundation of our home before the cement was poured and we were able to write Bible verses on the studs of the walls before the drywall went in. It was such a blessing to be able to really dedicate our new home to God.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.... I Think

Christmas came and went so fast that I'm not even sure it really happened. Almost like a dream. I fell asleep and before I knew it I was awake again with this vague memory of what had been dancing through my brain just moments before.


This Christmas in particular was very different for me and a little difficult. We normally go to see my family in Colorado over the holidays. Being that I don't get to see them very often throughout the year and Jason's family emphasizes Thanksgiving more, we have always made it a priority to be there for Christmas. Well, with our new home-ownership and new-found adult-hood {that's a lot of hyphens in one sentence} we decided we wouldn't be able to afford to go home for Christmas. I was okay with it in theory until Christmas Eve came around and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I would be missing out on all of our family traditions and that I wouldn't be able to spend this time with some of the people I love most in life. I struggled to say the least through our Christmas eve service at church. I tried not to draw attention to the tears that streamed down my face.


Christmas morning came quickly and with the busyness of getting ready for service I didn't really notice the ache in my heart. We had so many plans for the day and I had so much to get done. Having Christmas dinner at our house meant a lot of preparation to keep me busy. I did get to spend some time talking with my family via video chat which meant so much to me. Being able to see my nephews and nieces all so excited to show off their presents and sing me a song or do a little dance. It was wonderful to feel that for just an hour I was with them and everything was as it should be.


I'm not complaining, I know it sounds really depressing to say the least. I missed my family very much, but looking back at the day I can see really how wonderful it was. Jason and I made some new traditions, we shared Christmas with his family {which we've never been able to do}, and we hosted everyone in our brand new home. It was exciting and fun and we made some really good memories:

Jason and I cooked a turkey! A turkey! And it was awesome and soo good! It was so fun to spend time with him in our brand new kitchen, asking each other what the heck we were doing and wondering what in the world that part of the turkey was? And if we were supposed to remove it or not?:) 

Wrapping presents just to open them a few hours later on the random Wednesday night before Christmas... just because we could:) 

Jason getting up early Christmas morning to make me sausage bread so that I felt more at home.

Singing carols at church and having no clue what the words were or how to play the song at all:)

Watching the kids do a Bible scavenger hunt.

Watching the best Christmas movie ever.... A Christmas Story! {You'll shoot your eye out!}

It was a really hard Christmas to be away from my family but looking at it now I am glad that we had the chance to make some memories in our own home, memories that will last forever and maybe some new traditions that will too. 

Thankful

I know it's a little late and most people aren't even thinking about Thanksgiving anymore because Christmas is quickly approaching but I wanted to write a little bit before it's way too late because there are so many things that I am thankful for this year.


I am especially thankful for my devoted husband, Jason. For all that he does for me, for all that he puts up with. He is such a rock in my life, he keeps me steady and at times is all that keeps me standing. He is so loving and affectionate and just plain funny. I don't know what I would do if I had to go one day without him being able to make me laugh. I am truly blessed by him.


I am thankful for my church family. It's been a very hard couple of years for me living in Tucson but I truly believe that God has us here for a reason. Or reasons I should say and one of those is definitely our church, Cornerstone. We have made so many friendships through Cornerstone and are still discovering more today. I love the spirit of our church, the excitement that surrounds every Sunday and the pure joy that our congregation has to be a part of what God is doing. I am especially thankful to our Pastors who have become very dear mentors and friends, almost parents to us lately. 


I am thankful for my job. Not everyone has the privilege to work in a ministry that serves close to 100 abused and neglected kids. Not everyone has the privilege to work with in-laws as amazing as mine are. I've taken my ups and downs in this ministry, tried something that didn't work out but I will never be the same because of the experience. I'm thankful that even though my experience was failure I've fit comfortably into in my new position. I'm so blessed to come to work every day with my family and to be a part of such an encouraging environment.


I am thankful for my family, near and far. For my parents who have always been supportive of my dreams and goals even though they might not have agreed. For my siblings who I can laugh and confide in. My sister especially for her encouragement. I am also so thankful for the family I have married in to. I am so blessed to be considered the favorite.


God has blessed Jason and I so much this past year. We have so much that so many others don't and it feels that God is just pouring out his favor on us and it's never-ending. We can even call ourselves home-owners now! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this next year as I know His promises are in the works even now. 


So just a reminder to count your blessings, tell someone how thankful you are for them, and thank God too for the favor He has over you. 

The Craftiness in Me

I've found my new obsession!! I'm sure I'm way behind the times on this and that everyone is going to be like duh... you didn't know about that? Well I didn't and now I do and oh my goodness!!!

Pinterest.

It's amazing.

I kept hearing about it and yesterday I finally decided that I needed to figure out what it was. My crafting and cooking eyes have been opened to a whole new world and I can't wait to get started!

Please join me in my pursuit of being a better, craftier, cookier {not sure that's a word} housewife {well not really housewife because I have a full time job but you know what I mean}!

Here are some of the many things that I want to try!

Are you sensing my excitement?

I think I might need a sewing machine sometime soon. And lots of mod podge:)

Lay it Down

I've been working through a lot lately. Dealing with myself, picking up and moving forward. It's funny  how God works. His timing and plans, the people he brings into your life and the people he takes you away from. 


We've been living in Tucson for three years now. It's been a struggle for me through and through and I've never really been able to shake it or let it go. I've never really been able to pinpoint why either. I've just struggled. I've felt at times that I was drowning and I felt at times on top of the world. I've felt lonely and depressed and felt like there was hope on the horizon and friends were starting to enter our lives.
A few weeks ago I finally broke. I gave in and decided that I needed help, not something I'm used to asking for. 


Through some much needed counsel I feel released. I feel like God is working in me every moment of every day. I know now that he's never left my side. That he's always been there with me, orchestrating my every move and I fought it with all that I had. I allowed my mind to be open to lies and insecurity, to fear. Fear of what? Honestly everything. Why? I don't really know. You wonder why people are so insecure about things? I wonder why I was so afraid to open up and let people know who I really am. I'm fun and sweet and caring and loving. I have so much to offer and it doesn't matter what I look like or the things that I have. 


I know that I will always struggle with these things, who doesn't? But I realized this Sunday morning as I was at the altar that with God it will slowly become easier to deal with. I'll have to always be at the altar on my knees asking God for help. I'll have to lay down my fears and insecurity at his feet every morning but that's okay. That's what God is asking me to do. He's asking to take my burdens and he's reminding me every moment that he's with me. 

A Sad "See You Later"

It happened... It finally, actually happened. We did it. We gave the dogs away.


Some of you may be gasping in surprise as most of the people we have told have done. It has been a long time coming and something that Jason and I have been contemplating for quite some time now. They weren't bad dogs, they didn't bite, they didn't drive us crazy (most of the time). Actually it was probably the hardest decision we've had to make. We just aren't home enough... we felt like terrible dog owners leaving our poor pups at home all day long by themselves and not having the energy to pay attention to them when we got home. It's something we've gone back and forth on for a couple of months, ever since I started working away from home really.


Finally we came to the decision that it just had to be done and we should get it over with before we changed our minds again. So we talked to a couple of the pastors of our church who adore Delilah and Romeo and to our surprise they jumped at the chance to call them their own. It was a sad weekend as we prepared to hand over our puppies. We felt silly as we were balling our eyes out over a couple of pets. But they were our pets. Our puppies. Our kids really. They brought us so much laughter and joy and some headaches too but we loved them.


Delilah became ours as just a puppy as it was Jason's dream to own a dog. Not being able to have a pet as a child due to his mom's allergies had taken a toll on his childhood. I was excited to be able to give him this gift. Excited that we would have a puppy together. She was playful and crazy and amazed us at how much she could chew and destroy; things like drywall, the corner of our bed, and even a decorative ceramic bulldog. She shook her butt instead of her tail and galloped as she ran. She drooled and shed and thought she was the queen of the house. She loved to play with plastic bottles and often emptied her entire toy bin, playing with everything. She insisted on being a lap dog even though over the years she grew to be almost sixty pounds of pure muscle. She loved us unconditionally and we loved her.

Romeo was given to me in college as a christmas present from my parents. He quickly got his name from his cuddly and lovey nature. He loved to sit in your lap and snuggle. Not long after owning him we took him on a camping trip that would change him forever. Not being the smartest dog you've ever met Romeo got himself into some poisonous mushrooms. After a weekend trip to the emergency vet he seemed to be doing just fine. A few weeks later after moving to Salt Lake for my internship I got a call that Romeo wasn't doing well and was suddenly paralyzed from the neck down. My mom didn't have the heart to put him down and with hope that he would get well again began to hand feed and diaper him. After a few weeks he began to regain his movement and even started to walk again. He was a miracle puppy that the vet just couldn't explain. He regained all functions but was left with a "spaz" quality when he walked. It became rather comical over the years as he ran sideways and followed the edges of the walls instead of walking across the living room. He became submissive to Delilah and they quickly created a very strange and loving relationship. He had the worst gas you've ever smelled from a dog and he grunted randomly but he was a lover. We loved him.

It's been a strange transition but we know it's for the best. They will be loved and spoiled in their new home more than I think could have been possible with us. We will miss them soo much but we are so happy they will be well taken care of. And on the plus side we'll have the opportunity to visit them every once and a while. So it's not goodbye it's see you later.

MmmmMmm..

So as of late I've not only decided that I should blog but that I should start learning how to cook. Not just cooking but enjoying to cook. If any of you know me very well this is somewhat of a stretch for me. I'm sure my sister is jumping up and down in excitement as she reads this {she's been trying to "teach" me for years}.

Well, I've been trying to put forth more effort. Do a little experimenting, look up a few easy recipes.

And, well, I think I like it!

I know what you're all thinking... that's great! But is it any good? Well according to the hubby it's all been pretty decent. {And this is coming from the self proclaimed chef}.  

It's all been pretty easy stuff. Muffins, cookies, different dinner ideas that are actually homemade and not "assembled". Something my Mom says she's an expert in. I actually went to the extent of trying chocolate souffle's for our small group. We won't mention what they looked like but they sure tasted yummy! 

I think I've found a new hobby and I'm rather excited to get in to it more:) Any recipes I should try??

And so it's decided...

I've decided this is going to happen. I'm going to do it. I'm going to start a blog. I'm going to be one of those girls that has something to say. I'm going to share my life and make it sound like it's eventful and exciting. I'm going to open the doors to MEAGAN and share myself with the world!! Aren't you all so lucky? In all seriousness this is something that I have been giving a lot of thought to lately. Why not? Right? So many people don't know the real me... might as well open the doors and let them read me like a book. So here goes world! Here's me.... Here's MEAGAN in all my glory. The good and bad, the boring and uneventful, the quietly opinionated me. I hope you enjoy.