Purity Lesson

Last night at church was amazing! God was totally in that little room with Amber and I as we spoke to high school aged girls about a very serious topic. Premarital Sex. We started out the lesson going over a few things that Amber had covered the previous Wednesdays. The girls seemed interested but too shy to really talk about anything. After we reviewed, Amber wanted me to tell the girls my testimony about waiting till marriage to have sex. So I started out telling the girl's that from 2006-2010, 80+ percent of women had sex before they got married. They were pretty shocked at this crazyness and who wouldn't be! I then began to explain that I was very proud to be part of that 20% of ladies that actually waited to have sex with their husbands. I told them that when I was 15 I took the True Love Waits course at SonRise Community Church and I had made a commitment to God and to my future husband that I would wait till marriage. I wore my TLW ring till the day I married Richard about 5 years after I made that commitment. 
After shedding some tears, I continued to tell them how proud of me my husband was. He told me that that was something that he loved about me and that he really respects me for waiting. It was really hard to talk about Richard last night to those teen girls. The whole time my throat was so tight and I know my face had to be bright red, but I said what I thought God wanted me to say. Afterwards, Amber told them about how she started keeping a journal to her future husband right after we graduated high school and still writes to him now. So she wanted the girls to write a letter to their future husbands and they were pretty excited about it. They didn't have a lot to say about the whole lesson but I had to remind them again that I was so thankful that I had someone tell me about the importance of waiting, not only to my husband but to God as well. I pray for those girls. I pray that they will make the same promise I made to myself, to my husband, and to my God. They will not regret it and their husbands will forever treasure that gift. So after I got home and started to get online to see if Richard was online I has seen one of the girls from the class say this... "Just had the best lesson at church tonight. Thank you Amber and Meagan! I am so blessed to have both of you in my life. You truly inspire me!" 

This warmed my heart and I thought to myself, 'Wow God you were right there with us tonight!!!' Then when I though it couldn't get any better, another friend told us this... "just want you girls to know that (GIRL) was really listening tonight, She is actually considering the possibility of saving herself for her husband. we talked about it on the way home. she was curious. that's the first time anyone has ever talked to her about purity. Keep up the good work! You girls ROCK!'

WHOA!!!! How blessed Amber and I both were last night!! I still am praising the Lord for everything He has done in my life! I don't deserve half the things He does for me, but I am so grateful! 

Blessed beyond measure!!

XO Meagan

Time To Get Serious

I will never be a successful blogger if I don't start updating more... I just feel like there isn't a whole lot to talk about sometimes or what happened today really wasn't worth writing about... I hate that I think like that. So no more negative thoughts towards this whole blogging thing. I want my blog to be a place to find encouragement, comfort, love, and whatever else you might be needing. My vision for this blog is to be something amazing and God-lead. I will be doing lots of different things to this here bloggy and I hope you find it refreshing and fun! 

On another note... I will now try to do a quick re-cap of the past 4 months of my life...

June was a very sad month for me. I knew it was the last full month I got to spend with my husband before he leaves me for nine months. So on a happier not, Richard and I tried to spend every single second we could together and not take anything for granted. June was a bittersweet month... 

Then the dreaded July came and on the 9th I had to say goodbye to the love of my life and let the Army have him for the next nine months. He is currently living in Afghanistan. 

About a month late (August) I got to fly home to Georgia. Reuniting with my friends and family was great and still is. Since being home I haven't really done a whole lot.. Being without a car stinks and having to sit at home 95% of the time is a nightmare since back 'home' in Italy I was doing something just about everyday... 

I do miss Italia very much but I miss my Army sisters even more... I miss having friends that are going thru what I am going thru... I miss having Bible studies every Friday... I miss going to PWOC every Tuesday... I miss my Chosen ladies and our random coffee dates at Ciao Cafe... I miss it all very much...

It is now September and we are 2 1/2 months down and 6 1/2 more months to go with this deployment and every day that passes is another day closer to him being in my arms again. Richard is doing very well over there and I have been very fortunate to be able to talk to him via Facebook and Skype. Thank the Lord for technology!! Since being gone however tragedy has come and gone many times...  We have lost a few very brave soldiers and it breaks my heart to know that some mother, father, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, and fellow soldier lost a loved one. I pray that God is with them each and every day and helps them find peace in knowing that they are in a much better place than we are. 

Psalm 91 is my go-to chapter during this deployment. It's not only encouraging but it gives me hope and strength and most of all it helps my faith in God grow. I know that the Lord will cover Richard with his mighty wings and keep him safe. I know in my heart that He will bring him safely home to me.  My God is a mighty and I thank Him so much for the peace of mind that He gives me everyday. 

Lately I have been struggling with knowing how to prepare myself emotionally and spiritually for my upcoming mission trip to Jamaica. All I know to do as of right now is to pray that the Lord will guide me in the right direction and help me to know His will for me on this trip. I pray that I get everything He wants me to get out of this trip. For those of you who read this I ask you to please be praying for me. I just want to bless the Lord in all my works and praise Him in everything I do. 

With His love,

Meagan

Long Time No Post

Well I am just a failure at blogging. It has been almost 3 whole months since I have updated last and I apologize for that. A LOT has happened since Feb. Let's see, where to begin.... Well pretty much the whole month of March my husband, Richard was gone back up to Germany again for training. I tried to keep busy the whole time and I think it went by pretty fast for the most part. Then April came and it was FINALLY time to go HOME to Georgia!!! We got to go home for two whole weeks! It was a very much needed visit but it went by way to0 fast. The first week Richard was sick most of the time with 104 degree fevers and a trip to the Emergency Room. Not my idea of a vacation but that would be our luck. The second week however was a very fun week! We got to see lots of our friends and family! I'll post pictures after this post. I hated saying our last goodbyes. It was bittersweet. I missed my friends back here in Italy. My 'babies' Ava and Rohan grew up way too fast while we were all away. Then May came and I turned 22 years young! I had a great time going downtown Vicenza out to eat with all of my best friends and their husbands. I love my 'family' here in Italy. They keep me sane! Oh yeah my little brother Joshua turned 19 on the 17th! Crazy how time flies! Then the day after his birthday he proposed to his lady, Lauren! I am so excited for them and their future!
Hmmm... what else can I update on... OH i know! I have joined a movement called I AM SECOND. A few of us meet on Wednesdays and watch a clip from a person who tells their story or their testimony. It's been a real blessing to me. I love hearing people's reasons why they are second. God is FIRST. We plan on going out into the community and do community service projects. And then on Thursday's I have started going to a friends house for another Bible study! So at least 3 days out of the week I am going to some sort of Bible study and I love it! It's awesome!!! I have finally come to realize that I am looking at these 3 years here in Italy as nothing more than a long mission trip!! That excites me! I want to 'plant seeds' (and I think I already have) here and watch as God helps them grow spiritually. I was driving in my car the other day and I was just thinking and realized that I have 'planted seeds' (witnessed to other people) in the US, Mexico, Italy, and come October in Jamaica!! I have found a ladies only mission trip in Montego Bay for a week! I am so excited!!! I am also preparing for my first deployment... Not looking forward to my husband leaving but I know this is part of his job and that I can't change. With God help, I will be strong for Richard, our families, and myself. I will be fine! Oh one last thing! Earthshakes!!! (Got from The Land Before Time) We have been having earthquakes like crazy here the last few days! Night before last we had a 6.3 magnitude one that shook my entire bed like crazy and scared me half to death! It's been pretty scary! But the Lord will take care of us! :) No doubt!

Ciao!

Meg

My little family <3

My Mama & I

Greatest Man I know :) Papa

A February Update

Well I have already failed at updating on here like I wanted to do... No worries! So 2012 has already been a WAAAAY better year for me than last year! The past few weeks I have been going to PWOC (protestant women of the chapel). I am in the Bible study group called Hope for the Homefront. It is a Bible study on how to be spiritual prepared for deployment. Even though we just started like 3 weeks ago, I have learned so much. Not to mention I have made some really great friends who love Jesus as much as I do!! This past Tuesday we discussed how a lot of times we take out our anger on our beloved, when in reality it isn't at all his fault it is usually the Army's. A friend then pointed out that she gets mad when her husband makes the choice to leave her behind. Like he could choose whether or not to deploy and he chose to deploy. That is definitely something I would do. But then another lady had the same thing happen where her husband chose to leave, but she said instead of getting mad at him for doing his job and serving his country, be proud of your husband. This hit my heart hard. I couldn't help but tell Richard about what I had learned and when we were about to go to sleep I told him I was really proud of him. I am pretty sure that made him feel good. I have to remember that yes, Richard has a very dangerous job but his days are numbered. When it is his time to leave this world behind he will. Whether it is here at home, driving down the road, or fighting for America. I am very proud of him and I love him so much for being so dedicated. I know God will keep him safe through it all. Which reminds me that we are also trying to memorize Psalm 91. It's the Soldier's Prayer. Here it is...

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a] 
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, 
   my God, in whom I trust.”

 ³ Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.

 ⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 ¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

I'm trying to memorize this... Hope that I can! So on another note.... The past 2 days have been awesome! Italian thrift stores, great deals, and italian food at Regina's Restaurant! Yum! I am so thankful for great friends!! :) Have a great Thursday everybody! 

XO

Meg 

Goodbye 2011!!

I'm so glad to wave goodbye to year 2011. It was one crazy year for me. And that was the understatement of the century! I can honestly say that 2012 can only get better. I always make resolutions and I either forget about them or I never follow through.. So this year I made myself a 2012 Bucket List. If I do all the things on the list then thats awesome. If I don't then that is ok. I won't beat myself up about them. But just to reflect on 2011 here is a little list that is kinda like a timeline of my year...

2011

Finally got to go get Ellie and bring her home.

Saying goodbye to Richard who left for Italy in March. 

Turned 21 years old.

Packing to past time until I get to go to Italy.

August I said sad goodbyes to friends and family & finally leave and reunite with Richard after 6 months.

Get pregnant.

Have miscarriage.

Have one year anniversary with my husband.

Have our 2nd Christmas as a married couple.

Ring in the New Year.

It was indeed the hardest year of my life. It was also a year that I turned to God for everything. He held my hand thru it all. Leaving my family and moving to a whole new country. Having seen my baby and a strong heartbeat on an ultra sound and a few days later having a miscarriage. God has really helped me and I know He will continue to be with me and guiding me. I have full faith in Him and His will for my life. :) I thank Him so much for everything. He has made me a very very strong person and has made my marriage a very very strong one. 

So now here are a few things on my 2012 Bucket List

Tell more people about Jesus.

Do more crafts.

Re-learn how to sew.

Make my bed everyday. (which I have already failed to do) 

Write in my Journal everyday.

Take more pictures.

Keep my blog up to date. 

Survive deployment.

Those are just a few of what I want to accomplish.  :) 

XO,

Meg

ME.

I wanted to start the new year with a few facts about me for any new followers!

1. I married my best friend, Richard, on December 21, 2010. 
2. My middle name is Victoria just like my Mommy.
3. I love scary movies and romantic comedies.
4. The Twilight series are my favorite books. (so far)
5. I  have had my names for my future children for forever. 
6. I have low blood sugar and low iron. 
7. I'm addicted to Burt's Bees Chapstick.
8. Coffee runs in my veins. 
9. I love Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's. 
10. I love going to beaches. 
11. I'm a Georgia Bulldog fan! Go Dawgs!
12. I was born in Watertown, New York.
13. I love anything vintage.
14. I love going to thrift stores.
15. I have two little brothers, Joshua 18, and Jonathan 12.
16. I love to write in my journals.
17. I am a very crafty person.
18. I have a one year old Mini Dachshund named Ellie.
19. I spent way to much time on Pinterest!! 
20. I wanna write a book one day.