Life of the McFerron's

Babies, Rain, School, and Bitter Sweet Goodbyes

2011-05-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of things running around in my head of actually good blog posts. However, at this point i simply do not have time to do that. So, for your enjoyment here are the highlights of the last couple of months.

BABIES!

-My sweet nephew Carter James was born on March 31st. He is absolutely perfect and I LOVE being Aunt Meg. Lately he has gotten every spare moment I have. I took a ton of pics of him so i hope to post some soon.

-Count me as Aunt Meg again, well kind of, mine and David's best friends had their sweet son yesterday May 5th. Robert Dylan. Dylan is precious and i couldn't be more excited for and proud of my best friends! And i LOVE being Aunt Meg again!

RAIN!

- I'm so glad all that rain is over, it was depressing! We had some tornado damage out in my town. Thankfully David and I and all of our stuff is fine. However, we were without power for 5 days. Many of our church family had storm damage and such so David and I spent our time helping clean up and helping volunteer on the fire department during the craziness.

-Through all of this i have seen people pull together and be a unit more than anything. Its nice to see the unconditional support you have from your church, neighbors, and community when tragedies hit. Thankfully no one was injured in our town.

SCHOOL!

-Oh for the love, this semester is almost over! It has been a tough semester and i am thankful that as of Monday i will be done and get a break!

- During all the madness i got offered an internship next year at White County Medical. I am super excited about the medical placement because it is ultimately what i want to do. I can't wait to get started there in August.

BITTER SWEET GOODBYES!

- Today i my last day at Hospice. I have absolutely loved it here. I had no idea that i would fall in love with the gerontology population and fall in love with a position that is as difficult as hospice. But God surprised me, used me, challenged, me and encouraged me through this process. What a blessing it has been.

- It has been hard to say goodbye to the employees here. But it has really been hard to say goodbye to my patients. Here are a few things they said too me:

"Well, i'll sure miss you but i know whatever you do and wherever you go, you'll be great at it."

" You have been the bright spot in my day every time you come, i'll miss you."

"You are a pretty great girl and i'll miss your visits, stay in touch if you can."

-Those sweet words will forever mean something to me. Little do my patients know that they have been more of a blessing to me than i have been to them!

I'm Still Here!

2011-04-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

I don't even know if i have any readers anymore, but i'm still alive. Things have just been busy in the McFerron world. I have some posts coming up soon. Some VERY exciting things are happening in our world. Let me go ahead and say i am NOT pregnant. I repeat, I am NOT pregnant. So go ahead and get that out of your minds. However, i do have exciting things to share soon. And as soon as it is more official i'll let you know. So stay tuned! Megan

Home

2011-02-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

You know no matter how old you get you still refer to your parent's place of residence as "home." It is funny to me that when I leave work I say I am going home, which means to my little 2 bed room 1 1/2 bath home where my husband and my awesome chocolate lab awaits me. But when I'm going to my parents I also say I'm going home. So what exactly or where exactly is "home?"

The dictionary says this:
1. A place where one lives: A residence

2. A dwell place together where family or a social unity occupy.

3. The place of where one was born or lived for a long period of time

4. The place where something is discovered, developed, founded, or promoted

5. A headquarters: A home base.

Now the dictionary had a few other definitions but these were my favorite. I like these definitions especially number 4 and 5. I work at Hospice HOME Care. So I often evaluate what makes up a home to a patient of mine. Home is a big word to me. It carries a lot of meaning. Now i could talk to you forever about what i love about my current home and the home i grew up in (both the structure and the people/environment), but I'll spare you that. One of the things that i love most about "home" meaning my parents home is my dad's voice. Every Wednesday after church i pick up my blackberry go to the "H's" and press call to "Home" and my dad is the one who always answers the phone. What I love about this is that he acts like he doesn't know its me (even though the ring and the caller ID indicate otherwise). This is how it goes Dad: Hello? Me: Hey Dad! Dad: (short pause) Hey Meg. Its his tone and the pause. He pauses before he responds back to me and its because i know he is smiling on the other end. I can hear my dad smiling on the other end of that phone. I love that about my daddy. No matter how bad my day has been, or how bad his has been or not matter if we have talked every day or not in a week- my dad still has that same response. It is love. That is home. I love to call home, go home, be home. Because home= love.

My parents home is the place where i was founded, developed and promoted. My current home is not only where i actually live but it is also where i am continually developed and promoted. And one of these days I'm going home. To my home base, my headquarters. Right now i get to call home to my earthly dad. But i also get to "place calls" to my heavenly dad. Who i also get that same feeling with when i have a conversation. You know the one that goes: Me: Hey Dad. Heavenly Dad: (pause) Hey Meg. I have a maker who knows my name. Oh the love that fills my heart when i get to speak to my dads. Right now i also get the joy of going home to my dad, and that same love, that same joy is there when i hug him. Whether it has been 2 days or 2 months. And one of these days I'll be going home to my heavenly dad. Who will open his arms to me and say,"Hey Meg, welcome home."

You know the saying, home is where the heart is. I hope you heart rest in the hands of the Heavenly Father. Mine sure does.

A God that Supplies ALL

2011-02-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

You know I often find myself worrying. Now i'm not the worrier in mine and David's marriage relationship. I'm normally the "Everything has a purpose, it'll all work out" optimistic one. David is a realist. He sees it pretty black and white. How it is. I love him for that. And since he is like that i typically don't do the worrying. But lately i find my mind consumed with a little worry. But like normal God reminds me that he is supplying ALL of my needs. Being in the ministry and 2 grad school students we don't have what you would call a lot of money. We make enough to cover our needs and we are so thankful for that. However, when things come up, ya know extra things, i'll be honest it gets a little tight. But as my mom would say "the good Lord has supplied our needs" and i can't ask for anything more. It is funny because anytime we have gotten a little extra money we have needed it for something, funny how God works huh? His timing is perfect. I can't complain because we haven't had to dip into our savings or go broke because God has supplied the needs. Here are some examples:

- Break light out in a car a while back, next day there check in the mail from the government for an overcharge on taxes....guess how much it was for? The exact amount the break light cost.

-A nice gift from a church member, enough to cover David's semester at school.

-Another nice wonderful gift, a Christmas bonus from the church. Enough to cover the cost of the next semester and replace the window in my car that got broken out.

-Won $20 in one family Christmas game and $10 in the next. Luck? I don't think so i think the Lord knew i needed that $30 to replace my stolen purse.

-A random gift of money from a family member, because the Lord prompted them to- i'm not sure what this one will go towards yet. But i'm hanging on to it to see.

Now i did not write all of that to tell you about our finances. Or for you to feel sorry for us. That is not it. Not it at all. But i did write to tell you that my God, the one i serve is faithful to me and he has supplied and continues to supply ALL of my needs. I need that reminder, and i thought you might too!

Uncontrollable or Controlling Thoughts

2010-12-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

You ever feel like you have a million things running around in your head and you would love to write about them but don't know where to begin?

That is how i feel. I feel like i need to be expressed, i need to share my heart, my life, my ideas, my concerns, my worries, my fears, my accomplishments, myself. But where would i begin? So below are the top things that lately have controlled my thoughts or uncontrolled my mind.

-Why does Christmas seem to always be about everyone else? I mean for real people it is CHRISTmas, when did we all become selfish materialistic people and forget its focus?

-Lately i've felt like i need a something to do a something. Ya know like i wish i had a talent i could use for a benefit to someone. However, i feel like i have nothing left to give or have i really had anything to give in the first place? Am i the only one who feels that way?

-Sin...sin, its cold, black, deep, dark. It is powerful. Why do we let it guide who we are so often?

-Love. I mean have we forgotten what that was? I feel like i need to have my own love restored. The one for my savior, myself, and for others. Its a constant prayer in my life. I prayer to better love.

-I miss my social work patients. I didn't realize with the craziness of school how much being a social worker fulfilled me. I can't wait to get back to it. I look forward to the day that i do not have to work just to work but i can work at work i love and feel called to do.

-Babies. They are everywhere. Lots of family and friends are welcoming a baby into their family. I feel pressured and desired. Is that normal? Why do we feel that way i mean God's timing is perfect and so why do i feel i need one when everyone else does? We are all different. Why do i think i need that at this time in my life too?

-Burn out and sweet restoration. When my cup runs over and i don't refill it. It becomes empty and i become burned out. But what sweet sweet refilling it is when the Lord allows my cup to run over again.

Thoughts. Achings of my heart. Reflections of my soul. Sometimes they just need to be spilled out.

Christmas Cards

2010-12-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, so i'll be honest i love sending and receiving Christmas cards. But sadly they are expensive and it is hard for me to spend money on something like that. However, i love taking photos and sharing with family and friends what has been going on in our life. Lukily this year Shutterfly is giving away 50 free cards for those who blog about it. So you better bet i'm blogging about it.

There are so many cute ones. If you are considering a photo Christmas card i would highly recommend checking out Shutterfly's options. just go to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery to check them all out. Below are a couple of my favorites! There are so many to choose from!

YMW 101 (or at least in my opinion)

2010-11-12T10:04:00.001-08:00

I realize I write a lot about being a Youth Ministers Wife, but it is a big part of who I am. So therefore, here is another post about being a YMW. I started reading a book 10 things every ministers wife should know and it inspired me to write down some things that as a YMW, we should know. So, these are simple things i've notice on being YMW, in no particular order.

1. Always prepare enough for dinner. You never know if it'll just be you and the husband or you, the husband, and a few teenagers.

2. Be open. Students want to know you are real with them, they want to know your honest opinion and they want to know what you did when you were their age. Be open about who you were and who you are. Don't forget how loudly your example speaks. Even you feel you your past examples was not a good one...they can still learn from that!

3. Be Available. I know this isn't always possible and sometimes you need your time. But at the very most be as available to them as you can. Let them text you, call you, come over unexpected. Youth kids need to know you are a safe place available to them.

4. Love Them. Simple right? Well, sometimes it isn't as easy as we would like for it to be. But we are called to love. Love speaks more than anything. If our students never hear a word we said, but know that we love them, then we've done our job. Hug them, high five them, smile at them, show them. Love, love, love and never stop loving them.

5. Wear the hat they need you to wear. Ok so i realize that probably doesn't make much sense. But what i mean by it is be who they need at the time they need it. Sometimes they need you to be mothering, sometimes just a friend, sometimes just a listener, sometimes a fighter, sometimes an advocate, sometimes a nurse, and sometimes their cook. Be who you need to be for them, but in those titles always be you. You may wear a lot of hats.

6. Love your husband. I know, you should be doing this all the time. But it never hurts to be reminded to love your husband. Because as a YMW the person that is number 1 on your list (besides God) is your husband and your number 1 job as a YMW is to love and be a support for your husband. You are to be his helpmate. Students need to know that you are his biggest fan, and you love him endlessly. They need to see a healthy, a loving, and a Godly relationship. Show them that by loving your husband!

7. Your relationship with Christ. You can't expect them to do what you aren't doing and you can only take them as far in their relationship with Christ as far as you have gone yourself. They need to see you making Christ your number 1. They need to see you turn to Him for your strength.

8. Pray for them! This is one of the biggest ones. Pray for those students. Pray for how you can better reach those students. Pray to better love those students. Pray for them.

I'm sure if i spent more time i could come up with more. But 8 is enough for now. I don't know how many YMW's read my blog, if any at all, but i think this is good food for though for anyone serving any of God's people. For all you YMW -There is no greater joy in life than to be a child of the King serving for His Glory and His Kingdom with the man of your dreams. It's a privilege, don't forget it!

Because I Love Him

2010-10-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things swimming around my head ready to blog about. Sadly enough, i simply have not had the time. So, one of these days i'll catch you all up on everything. Until then...this post is about my husband.

Sometimes I need to remind myself of my blessing and take time out to thank God for them more often. One of the biggest blessings in my life is David. In our vows there was a line that said, "I promise to stand behind you, beside you, and with you always when our love is simple and when it is an effort." I love that line. It probably was my most favorite part of our vows. Why? Simply because of the truth in it because sometimes our love is simple and sometimes it is an effort. We've had a rough last month or so and our love for each other, our love for ministry, and our love for others has at time been simple and an effort and yet we have done it together every step of the way.

What i absolutely adore the most about David is that he loves unconditionally all the time. He never stops thinking of others. And when i say others that includes my self. He is always sacrificing something of his whether its time or money or whatever but he is always giving to others. Other than his love for God that is what i love most about him. The other day he told me if he was a rich man he would spend all his money on other people, and i whole heatedly believe him.

I could go on forever about my husband, because he is just that awesome. For the sake of boring you with sappy explanations of why i love my husband so dearly, I'll leave you with the "I love you because."

I love David Because.....

-He loves our Savior more than anything and strives daily to be more Christ-Like

-He loves me unconditionally, even when i do things he doesn't like

-He often times does more laundry than me (who doesn't love that?!)

-He always is my biggest fan. He is often times more excited than me over a good grade or something i did.

-He is the funniest person i know. Really, he keeps me laughing ALL THE TIME. There is never a dull moment in our home.

-He knows how to love and connect with teenagers better than any person I've ever met.

-He is definitely easy on the eyes

-He never stops going. His perseverance is inspiring

-When he is into something he is into it. He gives whatever sport, hobby or whatever 100% of him all the time.

-He likes my food

-He is a realist. (sometimes i do not love this about him because i'm an optimist...but i love his realistic view because sometimes i need to be brought back to reality)

- He is mine! (i actually might love that the most about him....)

I could go on forever, but i think my husband deserved a post all to himself, because again he is just that awesome!

DW, I love you with all my heart and i wouldn't want to do life with anyone else. Thanks for standing behind me, beside me, and with me always when its simple and when its an effort. I wouldn't trade you for all the tea in London!

Healing

2010-09-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

I realize the last time I left you with anything it was a picture of brokenness. I'm sorry I left you reading a pretty depressing story. However, like i said i have to pour it out somewhere so thanks to all of you who did read and comment. Please know all of your prayers and thoughts were felt and appreciated.

Now, we move on. I would be lying to you if i said everything was great now. It is not. Mount Vernon is still healing, and i think they will be a for a while. I know i said i did not know how to be enough of anything to these kids at this time. However, i did know and still know how to love them, and that is exactly what i did. And love, God's love, will hold us together and help us weather the storms. I find it so refreshing when God uses the unexpected for His glory. I'm glad he is letting me be a part. And along the way i always learn something about myself and more about Him. What i love about youth ministry is that alot of the time (sometimes not) it produces a return. What i often forget is that when i'm loving and ministering to my kids they sometimes in return minister to me. What a blessing. Many of them did that these last few weeks. One saw me across the room, struggling to hold it together for everyone else and got up from his chair and walked across the room in front of everyone to give me a hug and ask me how i was doing. He ministered to me when i needed it. He is an 8th grade boy (if you know much about teenage boys thats not really typical). Another when i asked how he was doing he said i'm good now Megan, you let me cry it all out on you and because of that i'm better. He ministered to me because he returned the effect of my efforts. Another told me she was glad i'm always looking out for her and she's proud to call me her Momma Megan. She gave back to me by giving me purpose in her life.

I could go on. But you get the idea. All of their ministering to me and my efforts to minister to them has been healing for us all (well it has for me and i hope it has for them). In the dictionary one of the definitions of Healing is "to set right." I'm so glad my heavenly father heals my broken, harden heart by reminding me he has "set right" my sins and they are forgiven through his death on the cross. I'm glad i've been healed through the blood of the Lamb and through that blood i get to be a part of his wonderful plan to bring glory to His name. I pray that through this tough time in our lives God will continue to let me rest my head on his chest and that he will continually draw me near to his heart so I, and everyone else involved, can heal.

No Words But Alot of Feeling

2010-09-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

I was reading in one of my school books the other day and there was a quote by Charles Darwin. I won't get it exactly right but it said something like, "It won't be the strongest who survive life, or the most intelligent, but the ones who are most adaptable to change."

Take it or leave it as you want. But what i didn't know is that i would read that Tuesday morning in class and only 4 hours later would i be rushing to the scene of a horrible car accident that resulted in one of our youth leaving this life. We often think our life is going a certain direction, or that we have certain things planned out and God reminds us that he is the one who controls all- therefore i must adapt to "change". The quote meant something to me on that day at that time. Now i know change to me is not change to God, but me adapting to his "change" is me using Him to adapt.

I realize this might not make sense, some people need to cry, some need to be alone, some need to yell, and some need to talk when they are hurting. I'm a talker. I need to get it out, so this is me talking. I don't care if 50 of you listen or no one does but i'm "talking" and its therapeutic.

I won't go into details. But i just know 17 seems to be too early of an age for a child to leave this world. Its tough. All the grief and crisis counseling training in the world wouldn't have prepared me for whats been going on in Mount Vernon the last few days. I'm ok with death, life ends and it begins i know that and i face that every day at Hospice. I know where to rest my burdens. I know who is in control, i know who to lean on. But what hurts momma Megan's heart is the 70 precious, hurting, tear stained faces of all my other "kids." I don't feel equipped enough, strong enough, loving enough, or really anything enough to have my husband, a group of teenage girls, and 17 year old boys cry on my shoulder. And i'm ok with feeling that way. Because I know Christ love will be what holds us together and gets us through. I don't have to be anything but Him through me.

I know i don't know the plan, God does. And i know he will do great in mighty things through this difficult time and i intend to let Him use me. If you read all this, thanks for "listening." One of the best things i learned in my counseling school is to be real and raw. So there you are people a raw, open, honest, hurting, poured out heart.

Beautiful Expression

2010-08-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wish you could beautifully express something your feeling? Or is that just me? I tend to find myself dwelling on lines in songs, or quotes from books thinking man why can't i express like that?

I hear a song and I wonder where they got their inspiration to write powerful words and put it with powerful, emotion stirring music.....

I read from a book and think where did they get their wisdom to put feelings on a page that make so much sense.....

A painter who can take colors put them on a canvas and create something so powerful an image so stirring.......

Or i even watch someone dancers and think how gracefully and beautifully they used their body to send a message......

There has been a few things i've come to terms with about myself. I can't sing, not really at all. I play some musical instruments but beautifully no...i just kinda play. So i'm not a song writer/singer/ or a musician. I struggle with writing i would like to think that i can express myself in that way but rarely ever does it mean something or make sense to anyone else but myself. And well who am i kidding i'm the most ungraceful person i know...so dancing has never really been my thing. So i often wonder where is my beautiful expression? I was thinking about this going down the road the other day after hearing a powerful song i was struck...beautiful expression....then i remembered that i have the most beautiful thing of all time to express --the LOVE of Christ. So people, i may not be very talented or beautiful or expressive in anything else i do but i can beautifully express the love of Christ in all that i do. So chalk one up for Megan, not a author, not an artist, not a musician, not a dancer, but simply a Christian who by my actions will beautifully express Christ's love. I am and choose to be beautifully expressed you can be to.

Life Highlights

2010-08-18T14:48:00.002-07:00

I don't have a whole lot of time to blog so i'm just going to give you the highlights of the life lately.

-I got a job! YAY!! I'm Conway Copies newest employee. Thanks to all who prayed for me, the Lord has provided!

-David has become a seminary student. He has his first day on Monday. Don't tell him i told you, but i think he is excited to be in school again...maybe just a little bit.

-I start my first day as a real Social Worker on Friday. Well kinda, i begin at Hospice as an intern. I'm super excited.

- 2 Jobs, 2 part time students, an internship, and a church full of teenagers is our life for the next little while....i'll keep you better updated as life goes on.

What Is Love?

2010-07-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday nights we have been studying the art CommUNITY. So David has taken several different important aspects of unity and tied them in with being a unified youth group. Anyways, this last Wednesday we look at love. We had them break down 1 Corinthians 13 and focus on what the perfect kind of love is. After we were done I had two of our senior high boys come and and say "Megan, this says love never fails...but marriages fail, people get divorces so doesn't that mean love fails?"

Perfect teaching moment here....so i sit them down. After lots of explanation this is what i basically tell them:

Love, this kind of perfect God given, agape love...does not fail. Love isn't a feeling, it isn't an emotion, it isn't something you sing in a song, or see on a TV screen. Love is a choice. This kind of God given love isn't self seeking, it is not quick to anger, it does hope all things, believes all things and endures all things.....it does NOT fail. I wake up every morning and choose to love David like this. There are some days i do not like him very much but always choose to love him with this kind of love. So yes some marriages fail, but not because love did. People don't fall out of love, they choose to stop loving the way God taught them to love. Those marriages forgot what love was really about. The love that is spoken of in 1 Corinthians is the perfect kind of love...it doesn't fail.

I was on a roll and i really thought they got it and then the reply was "So when i tell a girl i want to break up with her and i say i just don't love you any more i really should say i choose not to love you any more?"

OK, so maybe they didn't quite get it, but it was a good beginning and a good laugh. :)

New York Baby!

2010-07-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite pics from my trip to New York. After 17 hours of trying to get there...we got there. It was a blast, not only did we have alot of fun checking out the city but the conference was actually really good. You never know what your going to get with conferences. But this one was really inspiring. Target even helped sponsor a "party for good" where we put together 150,000 food boxes for needy families in NY. It was great to be a part of something like that. I did however learn that i am not a city girl. I know that comes as no surprise....but i missed my country life. The city was great to visit but i wouldn't want to live there. Anyways, hope you enjoy the quick post and a few pics.

What's Going On

2010-06-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I realize I've let my blog slip a bit. Sorry, but summer equals craziness in the life of a Youth Minister. So since i like list and being organized i will just list you all that has been going on.

David and I got to have a mini vacation and float the buffalo, 12 miles of endless river. Lots of fun, however we did kinda turn over once, it resulted in a minor injury. It was a blast either way.
We both had June Birthdays and were able to celebrate with each other and some family.
We spent a week in Nashville, TN for world changers. It was a great experience to serve people of the community along side our kids and many others. All together we worked and completed 22 houses. Many were roofing jobs, others were dry wall jobs, and others were flood demo/repair. It was a great experience.
I interviewed for an internship position at Hospice Home Care and got it! I couldn't be more excited about spending this next year serving the people in Hospice.
I will be leaving to go to New York City in a couple of days. Through the Americorps program that I'm working in we are able to attend the National Conference of Volunteering and Service, and it is NYC! I am way excited about the trip and hope to have many picture to show you when I return.
David has been doing his normal Youth Pastor thing- running from one camp or mission trip to another. He has two down and two more to go! Needless to say I'm ready to have him home.

I think that is all the updates i have for now. Sorry i've been so out of the loop, i hope to get back with it very soon!

Fathers Be Good to Your Daughters...They Will Love Like You Do

2010-05-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have to admit that over the years I've become more sappy. I don't know if its the being older and grown up part or if my heart has simply become more tender. Maybe all the social work classes are getting to me. Either way, lately every little sweet moment has made me tear up. Well this Sunday was no different. Our 6th graders had gone through a purity class and chose to make a public commitment in front of the whole church on Sunday about the vow to remain pure until marriage. Their parents stood up their with them and they all stated a commitment and then the parents place the rings on their fingers. I could only see on student from where i was sitting. I couldn't see her face but i could see her dads. He took the ring out of the box and placed it on his daughters left ring finger. That was sweet enough, but the look on the dads face is what brought tears to my eyes. I don't know if I can describe it. But there was that look of pride, and undying selfless adoring love for his daughter. He was living out a memorable moment. I know that when that dad walks his daughter down the aisle to be married someday, he'll have that same look on his face. Maybe it got to me because i knew what it meant to me when my dad gave me a purity ring and when he walked me down the aisle to my groom that i had waited for. I don't really know the reason i got so sappy, but i do know that it made me proud to be a part of something so special. I don't know really the point of this post other than to share my emotional experience, but it reminded me of the sweet important relationship between a father and his daughter. Which triggered the John Mayer song "Daughters", which reminded me of the relationship between my heavenly father and his daughter. Which made me think on John Mayer's song in more of a spiritual sense. I hope i love others like my heavenly father loves me. Because I know his undying, selfless, adoring love is even more powerful than that fathers was for his daughter at that moment Sunday morning.

Mothers

2010-05-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

This is my beautiful mother. I am not a mom yet, but i can only imagine how difficult motherhood can be sometimes. I can also imagine of how wonderful and rewarding it can be. I'm no mother but i do know how wonderful and rewarding it is to be a daughter to a mom as wonderful as mine. This woman has been my encouragement, best friend, and constant support. She is very much a Proverbs 31 woman. She is Godly, wise, beautiful, compassionate, caring, a servant, and many other things i could list for days. I only hope I can be half the mom to my kids as she has been to me. Thank you mom for being the greatest most loving mom in the world! Mom's are special, we all know that. On this mothers day i couldn't help but wonder what i would be like as mom or what it will be like to be a mom. I cannot wait for that day. I'll have to admit i was a little jealous of all the other moms. Yesterday I more than ever wanted to be a mom. However, i was sweetly reminded by one of our youth kids that in some ways i am mom. She ran up to me yesterday and gave me a great big hug and said "Happy Mother's Day, Megan!" I thanked her but reminded her i was not a mother. She replied, "Are you kidding me? Look around all of us are your kids!" Then another student piped in and said "For real, we don't call you Momma Megan for nothing." My heart was full....God reminded me that until he blesses me with my own children, i have plenty of his to mother.

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers! You are a blessing!

Sweet Memories, Thank Yous, and Accomplishments!

2010-05-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

This week last year i lost of one of the most influential professors i have ever had in my educational career. We all know Dr. Mitchell was none less than a great man of God, a passionate teacher, and a loving soul. I miss him dearly and rarely does a week go by that something doesn't remind me of him. I guess when you spend 2 years of your life working in his office those memories always seem to come back. I couldn't help but think of him this week because this week this year i completed my first year of grad school, in which many of the things he taught me i repeat over and over in grad school. And when i turned on my radio this morning for my drive into work they were talking about the most influential teachers you have had in your life because today is National Teacher's Day. My mind immediately went to him, and i thought how appropriate that this week this year i remember him not in his death but in all the ways he impacted me. What a nice reminder for me this week. He has spent a year in heaven, and i bet it has only felt like a day. I thank God for putting people in my life that I can learn and grow from while i have them and learn and grow from them when i don't.

Thank you God for an amazing teacher Dr. Mitchell that impacted my life, and thank you for letting me finish my first year of grad school without dying! Only 4 semesters to go!

He is Faithful

2010-04-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it has been a while, April has gone by fast! Where does all the time go? A lot has been going on in the McFerron world. We are busy yes, but we have experienced some hardships lately. Lets just say that after that one bad Monday it was followed with a series of bad Mondays, or bad any days for that matter. But we still praise Him. I have to remind myself multiple times a day that the Lord is faithful and I am often asking him to tell me that "he's got this." I wish I could rid myself of my sinful selfish ways and be able to see the world, my life, and everything involved through His eyes, but since I cannot I will trust Him. I will call on all my blog friends to be in prayer for me, i found out not too long ago that the grant for my job is not being renewed so therefore come the end of August i have no job. I will continue to do school and i am doing an internship as well so i will only be able to work a couple a days a week anyways, but the reason i did school part time was to be able to contribute to the family income as long as I could. I trust the Lord has a great plan within this, but if you think of me pray that God will open up a great opportunity and I will be able to find a job. And if you hear of anyone needing a part time worker let me know.

Well that is enough for now. I struggle with not having a plan, as you can tell. I've always been a planner and I often fear the unknown so be in prayer with me about what God has in store. He is faithful and He will see me through.

Random Update

2010-04-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

These pictures are a little random, but i wanted to give yall a view of what has gone on in the last couple of months. My good friend Robyn got married at the beginning of march so i thought i would post a pic of me and her at her wedding. We had

a really big snow back in February and this is how excited Cooper was to play in the snow. That dog loves to paly and he really loved the snow. And then the other picture is from this past weekend. David had an alumni soccer game. It was really great to see everyone again and of course i had to get some pics of my man in action! :) Enjoy!

Oh Monday

2010-03-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

Lets be honest here, no one really likes Mondays right? They are not normally my favorite and this Monday just gave me more reasons why I don't like Mondays.

The alarm went off at 6:15 and i quickly realized there was no electricity. Great, living on well water means if there is no electricity there is no water. So then i walked in to the kitchen, and what was that nasty smell only the smell of a dead mouse somewhere in the house. Yay i love dead mice. Joy, so off to school i went without a shower and as presentable as i could be and with the thought of a nasty mouse somewhere in my house. Traffic was awful, i made it to class right on time (which is late for me). School and the day proceeded like normal. Good I thought. My day started off horrible but maybe it will only be up from here. I then went to Kroger to do grocery shopping. No tragedies there. Good, in my car on my way home and my low tire pressure light comes on. Great i think, we had just bought bran new tires for my car. So i pull over at a gas station and yep sure enough i have a flat. But not a normal we can put a plug in it flat it was a slash on the outer wall...not repairable. So i call David, he going to come and get me so in the mean time i begin to change the tire. After 15 minutes of trying to figure out how to get the tire out of my car I am well on my way to changing this tire. What do i notice, 3 different people sitting in their cars watching me change my tire. Where is the kind heart to ask if i could use a hand (to those peoples defense i probably looked quite frustrated...i was taking out my bad day on the lug nuts). Anyways, finally someone offered to help. I turned his help down because he was in business clothes and David wasn't far away, but another man who was wearing a mechanic shirt stopped to help and before i could say i think i have it, he had that tire changed. Now, of course i am capable of changing my tire, but bless the heart on those two men who did stop to offer their help.

Thankfully, i was able to end the day all in one piece. Still can't find the mouse i assume it is in the wall so that smell will be around for a while. I'll deal. The tire was replaced for free, so Tuesday turned out to be a lot better. But ohhhh Monday! Just thought I'd share.

Fighting Fire With Fire...Or Not

2010-03-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

So I decided to share a little more light on something new in my life. Being a volunteer firefighter. You may ask me, "Megan, with school, work, church and everything else why did you decide to be come a volunteer firefighter?" Don't worry I've ask myself that very same question. And well to be truthfully honest i didn't really "volunteer" I was more or less tricked into doing this, but i have to be honest, part of me really likes it. David (he is doing it too) and I have just completed are core training. We have Haz-Mat and First Responders training left, but once we are done with that we are qualified to be a volunteer fire fighter. There is many more classes you can take, but i think i'll stick to the minimum. There have already been a few funny stories in my life regarding this new firefighting adventure and i'm sure there will be many more.

However, learning to fight fire teaches me something about my life. Very often i want to fight fire with fire. If someone treats me wrong my first response is to be hateful back. Its easy to be a fire back to someone, its easy to be angry, its easy to hold a grudge, its easy to be sinful. But as i learned in fire class: Put the wet stuff on the red stuff. So in life put the kindness on the meanness. Maybe that doesn't quite work but you get my alliteration. I have to remind myself every day to be Jesus to people...be loving, be kind, be compassionate. Don't be fire.

Self Disclosure

2010-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

-I'm tired
-School is kicking my butt
- I worry about how do to school, work, and internships next year
- I worry about finances
-I feel like a horrible wife when my house isn't picked up and a hot meal isn't on the table
-Why did i decide to be a volunteer firefighter?
-I want my week nights back
- I need a vacation
- I wish i had more time to be a better youth minister's wife
- I feel inadequate to do all the things I feel called to do
-I'm complaining, i hate complainers

In the Psychology world we call this full self disclosure. So there you are blog world, this is how i feel today. I'll be better tomorrow, and i feel better i told someone.

I'm Still Here!

2010-02-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

I don't want what few blog followers i have to think i have forgot about blogging, i haven't. However, life has just been so unbelievably busy lately i have not had the time to update you. Soon, hopefully very soon i'll have the time to write about the happenings in the McFerron world.

Until Then, Megan

Starting 2010 Off Right

2010-01-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a little behind on my blogging. Sorry for that. Its been a crazy beginning to the new year. However, i did want to share one what i thought the new year started off just right.

David had the wonderful privilege to baptize one of our youth. E has been a long time member of our youth group. He is a senior this year, so we will be sad to see him go. After E's salvation he had never been baptized, so David and him talked about it and E came to the decision that he would like to be baptized. This was David's 2nd baptism, but this was the first time he had baptized one of our youth. I was really proud of E and it was a great way to start of 2010. But during this process i discovered something about myself. There i was sitting on the 2nd row of pews, camera in hand, and grinning ear to ear about this baptism. I snapped pictures and watched my husband baptize one of our kids. I watched E come out of the water and tears came to my eyes. The congregation clapped loudly. I immediately felt like one proud momma. I'm sure i looked like one snapping pictures. But i had the swelling feeling of being a proud mom. Now, I've never been a mom but i imagined this is what a proud mom would feel like. Then E came out of the dressing area, David was standing there and he just gave him a big hug. The tears were back, i was more than just proud, i was honored to be involved in E's life. I began to dwell on why i felt so much like a proud mom, and i realized something....i felt that way because i was a proud mom. I know our youth kids have mom's of their own, but to me they are my kids too. All 70 something of them. They are mine, and I'm happy to call them mine. I'm honored and blessed to get to be a part of their lives. 2010 started off right for the Mount Vernon Baptist Youth/McFerron family, and i was proud to be Momma Megan.

Its Beginning to Feel Alot Like Christmas!

2009-12-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been around in a while. But with school wrapping up and Christmas drawing near i haven't had a whole lot of down time to do fun things like blog. But i did want to leave you with 2 wonderful Christmas stories that David and I have already experienced this year. They'll leave you with a smile on your face. :)

1. David and i wanted to get a real tree again this year. Well, lucky for us there is a Christmas tree far in Romance about 10 minutes from us. So we put on our warm clothes and headed to the farm to pick out a wonderful Christmas tree. It was much bigger than expected so we started on our hike to find the perfect tree. I turned down one aisle and it was if the light from heaven shown down on this tree. You know like it does in the movie Christmas Vacation. Anyways, i walked over to it.....what? It has a sold tag on it? What? It was sold November the 1st? What? You can reserve your trees ahead of time? What?

Yes there were many questions. Come to find out you can come and reserve your Christmas tree as early as the middle of October at this farm. So needless to say, David and i spent a good 40 minutes looking for a half way decent tree that wasn't already sold. We found one, its a little special but we like it.

2. David and i were invited to the older adults Sunday School Christmas Party. And when i mean older i mean 65 +. Just so we are clear. We love that group at our church and was really looking forward to hanging out with them. Well they were going to play dirty santa (or as they called it dirty santie) Anyways, girls brought girl gifts and guys brought guy gifts. So the game began. I opened a gift, it got stolen and so i opened another one. The gift was a thing of different scented body butter. But no one could tell what it was so they yelled out, "What is that Megan?" I said, "Its body butter." And Mrs. V (Who happens to be that one lady that gives you the kisses right on the mouth...you know how i'm talking about, every church has one. And who is also 85 years old) yells out for the whole room to hear, "Well David will enjoy that!" The room erupted in laughter and David and i turned several shades of red. I don't get embarrassed easy but this wasn't the crowd i wanted that yelled out to. Then to top that after the laughing died down a little, Mrs. V yells "What? I'm just telling the truth!" lol Good times.

I hope you all have a wonderful merry Christmas. I'll be back after Christmas to share more funny stories...i'm sure i'll have some!

With Love, Megan

For These Things I am Thankful....

2009-11-24T14:42:00.000-08:00

- A heavenly Father who every day lovingly wraps his arms around me and reminds me of how he is a personal God.

-A loving husband who not only loves me for who i am but loves me in my flaws. Is my constant encourager, my best friend, and spiritual rock.

-Wonderful parents who raised me well and put up with my difficulties, wonderful in-laws who make me feel as if I've been in their family all my life, and wonderful siblings that i wouldn't trade for anything.

- A house to live in, food to feed me, and a warm bed to sleep in.

I could list so much more. I know i sometimes complain, but thank you Lord, i am blessed way more than i deserve. Thanks be to Him, the giver of all things.

From our home to yours: Happy Thanksgiving!

If its not one thing...its another!

2009-11-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

My mom use to always tell me that. "Remember Megan, if its not one thing then it'll be another." And boy has that proven to be true these last few weeks. But it has only involved one thing in our lives: David's Truck. David's Truck is named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a 1990 Chevy. She's a good truck, but she's been around the block a few times. Sadly we must admit Elizabeth is getting old. A lot of things have been replaced on Elizabeth, she has been through a lot, but here is the most recent Elizabeth story.

David had rented a van for church from Searcy so he left his truck at the rental place. The next day he went to return the van and pick up his truck...she wouldn't start. After a very long process, he was able to get his truck to a mechanic and not have to pay towing fees. So David leaves Elizabeth there to be fixed and waits to see what the problem is. It was the distributor (i have no idea if that is spell correctly) cap. So they fix that but also notice that all the plugs and wires really need to be replaced. We decided to go ahead and do that as well. They call later in the week and she is all fixed so we go get her. Well David doesn't lock his steering wheel because it has a really hard time becoming unlocked and well the mechanic locked it so after 10 minutes of trying to get the steering wheel unlocked we were on our way. Good its done, or so we thought about a half a mile down the road it is acting funny. So we take it back. We end up leaving it there because they don't know what was wrong. It was a bad spark plug, they call it is ready again so we go and get it. Lovely, it is all working. Finally.
Well, then yesterday came. Someone needed a jump so David so kindly popped the hood of his truck to give this person a jump. It looked funny, as if it was missing something. It was! It was missing a hose. The one that is attached to the air filter or something (shows how much i know). Basically the truck isn't getting air because there is no hose. So, David calls the mechanic. And this is how the conversation goes. "Hi this is David McFerron you worked on my truck a few days ago." "Oh yes! Hi David everything OK?" "Actually no sir, i popped my hood for the first time since i got it back from ya'll and i am missing a hose...happen to have one laying around there?" "Uhhh....yes its right here under the table."

WHAT?!? You didn't notice that you didn't put the hose on this truck and that some random hose was laying under the table? What? So there is the most recent story of Elizabeth...if its not one thing its another!

The Cooper Chronicles

2009-11-05T07:34:00.001-08:00

You may remember this sweet precious dog from a previous post when we first got him. Sorry for the old picture. I have new ones but don't have access to them right now so you'll have to just look at the puppy one.

David and I don't have kids yet, but we do have Cooper. He is a little bundle of joy. One of the most loving, tender hearted dogs I've ever met. But as much as he is adorable he is also rotten. I have a ton of crazy stories on him but I'll just post a my favorite below, and tell the others later.

-Not too long ago David was out fishing with one of our youth all night long. So Cooper and I hung out inside for most of the night, but when it got time for bed time i decided instead of putting him in his pen i would just put in him in the fenced in back yard. We have done this occasionally and it had never been a problem. Plus since i was alone i thought it would make me feel more protected. Cooper went out and i went to bed like normal. It is important to note here that David and i were without air conditioner so we had a window unit in the living room and one in the bed room. So bed like normal, around 3:00am i hear Cooper running up and down the porch. I didn't think too much of it since he's an active puppy. I went back to sleep and about 30 minutes later that sweet puppy is licking me in the face. I sat straight up in a panic and yelled "Cooper! How did you get in here?" He of course was so excited that he was in the house and that i was up. I frantically ran to the bedroom door...it was closed...i opened it checked the outside doors, they were locked. I was confused, David wasn't home yet, how did this dog get into the house. Then i turned to the window: If you know what an air conditioner unit looks like you know that if it doesn't fill up the whole window it has little expandable sides to fill up the space, well Cooper had discovered he could fit through it! The little stinker! I was laughing to hard to get him in trouble, and too tired to take him out...so he slept with me that night. Needless to say he didn't leave that air conditioner alone, it was he entrance into the house and he knew it. A few days later we came home from church, we had left Cooper in the yard...we couldn't find him...where was he? Laying on our bed...he broke in while we weren't there! We had put a board across the space and duct taped it all up...we were sure he wouldn't try to get in. But Cooper while laying on our bed had duct tape stuck all over his paws. So, after that little incident Daddy David punished Cooper with a whoopin' and he hasn't touched it since!

The Cooper Chronicles....more to come!

I'm Still Here!

2009-10-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

I realize it has been a little while since I last posted. It has been so busy! I do realize i say that every time, but it is the truth. Anyways, so let me see if I can recap what has been going on in the McFerron world.

-Team Impact. Our church had a big revival with Team Impact, pretty much its a bunch of big ex football, ex body builder guys who break bricks, and do feats of strength for Jesus. It was very cool. We had over 500 people each night. (yes in Mount Vernon). And we have over 120 decisions for Christ. It was a great week, i got some awesome pictures that i will share soon. Promise!

-David and I did have our 1 year anniversary. And we went to the Razorback game to celebrate. I have some pictures of that to share as well.

-We've also taken a couple of visits home. Got to hang out with his parents for the weekend and went to this really cool corn maze. It was awesome, we also bought some sweet corn that was fabulous. We went to see my parents as well and have caught a couple of Nick's home football games. It has been good to get to hang with our families, we miss them.

- And of course Grad School. That keeps me busy for the most part, i did make a 97% on my Human Behavior and the Social Environment Mid Term. I am proud of myself for that. I've also had a group presentation, turned in a 15 page paper, and am studying for another Mid Term. I'll let you know how that goes. I stay busy with it but i am enjoying it, i will not lie though, i am looking forward to a new semester of classes already. :)

So for now, that is the McFerron world, i will get pictures up at some point.

Story of the Month...or Maybe Year!

2009-09-22T09:05:00.001-07:00

I've seemed to discover that the longer you are married the more you become like your spouse. The following story is exactly something that would have happened to me. Thanks to my sweet husband for taking the role for a little while.

Friday night was Nick's (my little brother) first home football game. David and I along with some Mount Vernon Youth (who had never seen a high school football game) loaded up the church van to go watch the game. Around the 3rd quarter David comes running up in the stands to me saying "Megan, you'll never guess what i just did." I guessed "Did you fall in the mud again?" (I must point out here that David had already lost his shoe in the mud and got his sock all muddy). David replied "No!" Then i said, "David did you go potty in the girls bathroom?" He exclaimed"Yes!"

David had decided he had to "go" and by "go" i mean not number 1 but number 2. (Side note: To David's defense we did have Taco Bell for dinner and my dad asked him to eat a Joe dog: a hot dog with cheese and jalapenos) Ok So back to the story David had to "go" and on his way to the bathroom he was carrying on a conversation with one of our youth, so not looking he just quickly jumps into the first bathroom he sees. No one is in there and he goes into the stall to take care of business. While taking care of business some women enter the bathroom. They were talking so at this point David realizes he is in the women's bathroom. One lady goes to the stall next him to take care of her business. David tucked his feet as far in as his could and waited for them to leave. Once they left he quickly exited the restroom only to be caught by a little girl who gave him the "Did you just come out of the girls bathroom? Because if you did that is creepy" look.

I almost wet my pants laughing so hard at him. I guess life is never a dull moment. I'm just glad that little girl didn't point out David while getting into the church van and say "Mommy that was the man in the girls bathroom." That could have been really bad. lol. I've decided David and I need to have a session on identifying the signs on the doors as people with little skirts and the people with pants. Hope you enjoy as much as i did!

As Promised....

2009-09-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

As I promised a while back, here are a few pictures of our new home! All I have right now are the ones of the living/dinning room. We like that it is all open and very spacious. The walls were white to begin with and because I was so tired of white walls I went a little color crazy. I was nervous at first but once I got all our stuff in there I loved it! Sorry for the dog, Cooper wanted in the pictures. :)
Hope you enjoy these! Maybe soon I'll get pics of the rest of the house up.

First Day of School

2009-09-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

I know i have been horrible with my blogging. It has just been so crazy with everything going on. So to quickly fill you in here are the new things happening in the McFerron world.

I started Grad School on the 24th. It is different than undergrad but I'm really enjoying it so far, however i might have complaints in about a month. I talked to my 15 year old brother on my orientation day and i told him i felt a little nervous because i was back on the bottom again and this was at a much bigger place than CBC. His response was "Oh just get you a Hello Kittie back pack and you'll be fine." lol he's funny however, i did reply that i didn't think that Hello Kittie was very professional looking.

I also started a new job. As many of you know i have been working at CBC for the past year as an Admissions Counselor. Well, when i got into grad school a position came up through Americorps at Conway Interfaith Clinic which is a part of United Way. After much much prayer, it just seemed like the best option for now and the future. It'll be great for a resume and a great start on my Social Work career.

So beyond all of that we have the normal crazy youth group activities, so need needless to say I've been busy. Sorry for the lack of updates. Here are a couple of pictures that I asked David to take on my first day of school. Don't laugh you know you did it when you were in elementary, and well honestly i wanted to keep on the tradition and see how much I've changed in three years when i graduate (see if i still have all my hair!) :-)

Country French Chicken Skillet

2009-08-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Man, where have I been? It has been so crazy and I do promise to get pics of things up soon. Until then I wanted to leave you with this wonderful new recipe i tried the other night. It was very yummy and so easy!

Country French Chicken Skillet

2 T of butter
Boneless skinless chicken breast
1 cup water
1 package of KNORR vegetable soup mix
1/2 cup of sour cream.

Melt butter in skillet and brown chicken on both sides on medium heat. Add water and soup mix and place on low for about 20 mins or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken and stir in sour cream to make sauce.
Serve over egg noodles.

This was very easy and tasty. It also looked pretty, i hate i didn't get a picture of it. Anyways, i hope you enjoy! :)

CRAZY!

2009-07-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since I've updated, but it has just been crazy around here. We just got back from Church Camp. I hope to have some pics up about that real soon. And currently we are packing for the big move to Mount Vernon on Saturday. So needless to say its been a little wild. I hope to have pictures of the new house up soon. So I'm promising an update on our life in the near future. I haven't forgotten about my blog so just hang with me!

Surprise #3.......

2009-07-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

I got into GRAD SCHOOL!!!!!!

So i just found out today that UALR accepted me into their Social Work graduate program! YAY! I'm very excited. I am starting part time and will begin in August. Thanks to everyone who was an encouragment along this way. :-)

Ministry= Relationships or Relationships= Ministry?

2009-06-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

Before i began on this journey of life in the ministry my state of mind about ministry is that if i do ministry then I'll gain relationships with those people. Although that fact is true, i find it some much more true that if you build a relationship then you get a ministry.

Let me explain.

The more time we spend with our youth outside of youth group or church events the more that we gain a personal relationship with them. They end up seeing me a Megan instead of Megan the youth minister's wife. I know they know my title but they know me for me and not my label or title. The same with them, instead of them being just a part of our youth group i know them as Cody or Paige.

I love that in my relationships with them i get a text message just to see how I'm doing, or one to tell me about a problem. Either way they see me as a friend and within that i can minister to them.
I love that when they are in town and have a few minutes they ask if they can stop by just to say hi, in saying hi i normally learn something new about them.
I love that they want to go to lunch with me and over lunch i build a new relationship with one of my girls that might have been lost in the crowd if we wouldn't have spent some alone time together.
I love that they swing by my office to just talk to me because they know my door is always open.
I love that once a week i have a living room full of high school boys because they love to hang out with David playing XBOX, and they let me stay because i can make them food. In all of that i fill their hungry and learn what their heart is hungering for.

Life is a continual ministry, i think maybe though we should start viewing it as making relationships to minister to instead of ministering to build relationships. Not that any of it is wrong, i just think that your witness will go so much farther if you seek to be real with them first and let your Jesus light speak for itself.

Surprise #2: I'm not pregnant, but we did add to our family.....

2009-06-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

This sweet little puppy is Cooper. He is the new addition to the McFerron family. Since we are getting a house with a yard my parents thought he would be the perfect birthday present to David and I. He is a full blooded registered chocolate lab. Isn't he adorable?! :) We love him and can't wait to have him all the time. Right now he is staying with my parents (or grandma and grandpa lol) until we can get him for good. So, the new addition to the family is "Cooper Coop Dogg McFerron" :)

Surprise #1: We are MOVING!

2009-06-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Let me just tell you, we have a God that answers prayers! For a while now David and I have been praying about the opportunity to move to Mount Vernon. We just came to the point where we felt like our ministry would be much more effective if we could be in the same town. Our kids spend alot of time hanging out at our house and we think we will be able to serve them so much more being 5 minutes from their house instead of 30.

So to make a long story short this is how it all happened. Like i said David and i had been praying about moving. After spending one night together praying hard and specifically for this David walked in the office the next morning to some very exciting news. A minister and family that had been a part of our church were offered the opportunity to be the interim pastor at a near by church several months back and the church has just decided to vote on him as their pastor, and if that was to happen they wanted to offer him their parsonage. Well, being the thoughtful people that they are thought since they weren't looking to sell their house in Mount Vernon they would check with us to see if we would be interested in renting it from them. So there you have it.

All i can say is God is good. We plan on moving toward the end of July. Its a very cute little house and I'll be sure to post pictures when i can. So, Surprise! We are moving to Mount Vernon!!!

I have a surpise for you, actually 2 surprises and no i'm not pregnant.

2009-06-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Birthday- 22

2009-06-04T15:53:00.001-07:00

This little thing (its me) turned 22 on Wednesday (the 3rd.) If anyone knows me at all they know i love birthdays! So i thought I'd tell you about my day.

My sweet husband found every way to tell me happy birthday throughout the day. I got it in person every time we talked, i had a text message, an email, a facebook message, the McFerron special birthday song on my work phone, and he even tried to have it put on the sign at the gas station near Mount Vernon. He made it a very sweet birthday. Having a birthday on a Wednesday is hard because of church but he even had everyone there tell me happy birthday. So that was good.
He also got my a big bag of all my favorite candies, took me out to eat, bought me a snow cone, and my favorite gift of all got me Adobe Photo Shop Elements. The boy did good.

Along with him, my in-laws got me a gift card to Old Navy (who doesn't love that?) and i had the special birthday message from George "pops" McFerron on my work phone as well.

My grandparents took me to lunch and got me Yellow Box Flip Flops (if you don't know what they are you must check them out, so comfortable) Lets just say my Grandma has taste.

And then everyone at work got me a cake and card. Along with some youth kids made me cookies and surprised me when i arrived to church.

Lets just say i am loved and blessed beyond what i even realize. I have great friends, family, a wonderful husband, and a fantastic group of youth! And i haven't even had birthday with my parents yet. :)

I'm 22. I don't feel old yet so that's good. :)

May?

2009-05-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Where has the month of May gone? I am so sorry I haven't updated lately. Its been a little crazy around here. So in short, here has been the month of may. I promise for a much better, and hopefully picture filled post later.

- Earlier this month there was MVE graduation. I told David i felt like a little proud mom with all of our "kids" graduating. Along with their graduation we had Senior Sunday at church and we had a senior breakfast for them. I made homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time and let me just say i was pretty proud of myself.

-Beyond MVE graduation we had my Sister in Law Bethany's graduation and senior dance recital. We are so proud of her. But if you haven't sat through a 2 hour dance recital with the McFerron boys then you just haven't lived. lol. That in itself was an adventure.

-So beyond graduations we've had wedding showers for my cousin Corey, youth nights at our house, dodge ball tournaments, concerts, and crazy life adventures.

Stay tuned for more in "the life of the McFerrons" The next episode should be better.

No Words

2009-05-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

I just now sat here for 5 minutes starring blankly at my computer. Watching my courser blink. I thought i might have all these wonderful words to share about this man. Or all the funny memories i had with him. Or maybe a encouraging statement to everyone who is suffering the loss. But sadly, i feel at a loss for words. I'm so glad he isn't hurting anymore. He was one person that passionately longed for the presence of the Lord. I have so many wonderful memories of him. He taught me how to love the Word of God, he taught me how to love the people no one else loved, he taught me how to fall deeper in love with my Savior every day. He taught me. Alot. Our relationship was unique. We picked on each other, laughed with each other, cried with each other, and argued with each other. He was my constant encourager and knew me so well that with three steps into his office he knew what mood i was in and i knew the same about him. He constantly told me how proud he was of me and one thing I'll never forget him telling me was that he knew i was passionate. I pray that I'm as passionate about people and about my Savior as he was. And I hope that i can have an impact on people the fraction of the amount of impact he had on every person he came in contact with.

He meant alot to me. Alot more than i can express in words. I loved him dearly and will miss him every day he is gone. But i have never been more happy for him. He is worshiping at the feet of his loving Father, with no more pain, no more sorrow, and a thousand Angels singing Worth Is the Lamb. He wouldn't want any of us to be sad, but rejoice in where he is!

Hebrews 13: 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Life

2009-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

I wish i had something super exciting to update on, however I'm lacking of interesting stories. So just so you know whats going on in our lives I'll give you a quick update.

- Work has been busy for me lately. It seems as if all high school seniors just now decided they should start looking for a college to attend. We finished up our last big preview day and it was a hit. Now we are giving tours out of our eyeballs but that is good. Maybe that means we'll have a new recording breaking enrollment. We'll see.

-David stays busy with youth. It seems that around this time of the year we are doing a ton of things with the kids. Between graduation and planning for the summer it has been quite crazy at Mount Vernon Baptist Student Ministry. David has been doing a fun series called "Ask Anything" and he has taken questions about anything from the youth and has attempted to answer them according to God's Word. Lets just say it has been interesting at the least. These kids have had a lot of great thoughtful theological questions, so it has been fun and challenging. The one David is taking on tonight is "Do pets go to heaven." Sounds silly but these kids really want to know. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm pretty sure he is going to break every 7th grade girls heart.

-Beyond all of that I'm waiting on my acceptance into Grad School. It'll probably be the end of June before i hear something so I'm going a little crazy, but i know God has a plan. David and I are also praying for an opportunity to move out to the Mount Vernon area. We just feel that our ministry will be enhanced if we are able to serve them right there in their community. Plus we have kids that quite often ask if they can hang out at our house. But the drive to Conway sometimes holds them back and we feel like we are missing out on ministry opportunities. So pray with us as we see what God can open up for us.

I guess that is all i have for now. I didn't think i had a lot to write, but i guess i kind of did. Anyways, until next time!

~Megan

Taylor's Senior Pics

2009-04-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to try my hand at some senior pics the other day. Thanks to Taylor for letting me "shoot" you. Here are just a few of my favorite.

Come Every Soul

2009-04-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

"Come every soul by sin oppressed there's mercy with the Lord, and He will surely give you rest by trusting in His Word."

I love that hymn and I can't help but think of it when Easter comes around. I am so thankful that my Jesus poured His precious blood out for me. His blood never looses its power. We took the Lord's supper last Sunday in preparation for Easter and when i had received my cup i looked deeply into the grape juice (Welch's it was) and imagined what it might have been like if I was at the last supper and my Jesus was telling me that it was coming to and end and to take this cup in remembrance of His blood. I can't imagine the deep emotion felt by his followers when they realized that their Jesus was giving up himself to cover them.

My Jesus poured out his blood over my sinful blacken heart, i am so thankful that there is mercy in my Savior that loves me and gave himself up for me. He took my sin, He paid my price, it was completed. My wicked sinful heart is forgiven and resting in my Savior. What a mighty, powerful, loving God we serve.

Who's Team Am I On?

2009-03-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've tried to take more notice to everyday things around me and then through observation apply it to my life. I am normally the person that does this all the time. I'm probably too observant sometimes, but these days instead of just finding ways to make it applicable to my everyday life I've tried to make it apply to my Spiritual life. Here is what i observed this weekend:

MVE Warhawks....if you have any ties to Mount Vernon, AR you are or will be a Warhawk fan. With David being the Youth Pastor at the local church most of our kids play for the Warhawks. Both the boys and the girls made it to the state tournament and the boys made it all the way to the championship game. I was able to attend the game on Friday afternoon and I noticed that the whole town of Mount Vernon was there. It was a sea of Blue Warhawk shirts. I really think if you would have driven through Mount Vernon Friday afternoon it would have seemed to be a ghost town. Everyone was there, they found ways to get out of what they were doing, they took off work, they postponed plans, whatever it took they were there to support the Warhawks.

The game was a rough one, the boys played with more heart and determination than most people play anything. Sadly enough, they lost it in overtime. But there was something else I noticed. One of the seniors fouled out in overtime, him realizing it was his 5th foul looked over at the coach to confirm it was true. The coach so proudly shook his head that he was done. The senior turned around took in the court one last time, surveyed the crowd, and looked each of his teammates in the eyes and turned to take his seat. As he did his eyes filled with tears knowing that that was his very last moment in high school basketball. My heart broke for him knowing how badly it must hurt to know he had to sit out as his team was loosing the very game they had worked so hard for, but what I did notice on his face is that he sat down knowing he had done everything he could.

The game was a tough one to lose and a group of senior boys were devastated. But as i watched all of that i thought what if we showed up for church like we did for a Warhawk game. We wear the MVE shirts proud, we cheer so loud we don't have a voice the next day, and we will change everything to make it to a game. Yet, when Sunday comes we find reasons not to go to church, we come with less enthusiasm then with what we come with to work on Monday mornings, and we "worship" like we could care less. And then when we have fouled out as a player in this game of life will we sit down knowing that we did and gave everything we had to the work of the Kingdom? Will we take it all in for one more second looking each of our fellow teammates in the eye and know that we had tried our hardest for them? And will we be able to look our Coach in the face and him proudly have us take the bench?

Did You Hear The Fat Lady Sing?

2009-03-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

It is OVER! The fat lady has sung. I took the GRE yesterday and I am so glad that it is over. It was a tough test. But I finished and was pretty proud of myself. Of course I could have done better but I am satisfied with my scores. I will now leave it up to God to get me into grad school. Thank you all so much for the thoughts and the prayers. I've always felt silly praying for a test, but I'm so glad I have God that cares about the little things in my life. Praise be to Him for getting me through this. Thank you all again!!

GRE

2009-02-27T07:35:00.001-08:00

It stands for Graduate Record Examination. I have alot of other words that it could stand for. This stupid thing is going to be the death of me. I am taking it on Wednesday. I have to take it to get into graduate school. Its the hardest test I've ever studied for. Its like the ACT on steroids or something. Its crazy. I personally believe that if you've graduated from college with a Bachelors with a good GPA there really is no need to take another test that doesn't even test you on what your getting your Masters in. Just testing you on worthless knowledge. I'm not trying to whine...really. I'm just frustrated. If you know me you know i want to do exceptionally well, but if you know me you also know that i probably won't. I just made enough on the ACT to get into college so i don't expect the GRE to be that much better. Anyways, if you think of me next Wednesday say a prayer I'll be wasting 4 hours trying to answer a ridiculous test. I'll let you know how it goes.

All The Days Of My Life

2009-02-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 31: 12 says, "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Thanks to many Godly women in my life I was taught at an early age about bringing good to my future husband. When I use to read the passage about being a Godly woman I use to never think that it could apply to my life BEFORE being married. I just always thought of it as a guideline for when I do get married how to be that Godly wife. But one day someone pointed out to me that I should do good to my future husband ALL the days of my life, meaning even the days before I knew him. That really hit me hard and I tried hard to do David good before I even knew him. I did good in some areas, but of course I failed in many. Thankfully, David saw me as a good woman and I had the wonderful opportunity to become his woman and now i have the privilege to do him good all the days of my life. I am constantly thinking of different ways i can do my husband "good" (i kind of sound like a milk commercial). Anyways, on our wedding day David and I made a commitment to serve each other in all that we do and to make that an out pour of service to others. We did this by washing each others feet in our wedding ceremony (i wish i had a picture to show you but i only have a hard copy currently). Every Wednesday i watch David get up on stage and pour all he has into 60 youth. And i wonder to myself if i "washed his feet" enough this week. I wonder if i did him good and honored him as his wife. I think as a YMW i need to work extra hard for my husband to do him good and wash his feet. Because it is my job to be his support and a service to him.

I say all of that to encourage you wives out there to do him good. And for myself as a reminder that ALL my days are to reflect my Father and do my husband good.

25 Random Things About Me

2009-01-27T08:03:00.001-08:00

I was bored so I decided to post this. Feel free to do it yourself!!

1. I have a nasty scar on my head from being hit with a shovel. You can thank my brother.

2. My left foot is slightly bigger than my right...just enough to make a difference in some shoes.

3. I took 8 years of piano lessons, but i'm not that good.

4. I taught myself to play the guitar

5. I will NEVER touch the hand rails of the escalator...it is an extreme fear of the germs on those things.

6. I cannot go to bed without my kitchen clean. The rest of the house can be a mess but i have a hard time leaving a dirty kitchen. If i do, it bugs me.

7. I took a year of Latin in highschool

8. I hope to use that as a base and learn to speak fluent Spanish

9. I was homeschooled for 12 years of my life

10. I graduated from Hefley High

11. I technically graduated college in 3 years

12. I married my best friend

13. My husband and I didn't kiss until our wedding day

14. I once fell on my face trying to run to first during a softball game

15. I plan to write a book someday

16. I have an extra bone in my left knee

17. My biggest fear is dissapointing those i care about

18. I've bungy jumped and parasailed...my next goal is to sky dive

19. I've been snow skiing 7 times

20. In 6th grade i was knocked out playing basketball

21. My favorite title is being a Youth Ministers Wife

22. One of my teeth is half fake.

23. I will not eat KFC...I had bad chicken once and i can't do it again

24. I killed a turkey with a 9 1/2 inch beard when i was 12

25. I've killed an 8 point buck

A Youth Ministers Wife

2009-01-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

There have been alot of things I've learned so far in my so far short time of being a YMW. I've quickly discovered that being a YMW is the catch all. I never know what i might be doing when i show up for youth. Oddly enough I thrive off of this. I normally am the person that likes to know the plan and with the new youth group, my job, longer commute, and great adult helpers i don't always know exactly what is going on or what i should be doing. I've had to let go of the fact of ALWAYS knowing the plan, so now i make it my adventure. But being a minister or a YMW never has its limits. I could be sweeping the floors or counseling a girl in need. I never know and that's OK I've just had to learn to be more prepared for about anything. So the two main lessons that should be learned in being a YMW is always be prepared for anything and be flexible! However, i think one of the greatest things I've learned about being a YMW is that i am the Youth Ministers Wife. I am his wife first. And the first thing i should do is minister to my husband. I know i fail at this alot and David doesn't always get the ministering from me that he needs. I hate that but my sinful nature sometimes gets the best of me and i don't minister to the minister like i should. Proverbs 31 is always a constant lesson to me. Be a woman who fears the Lord, takes care of her family first, and then minister to the needs of those around her. I have been so blessed with the most wonderful husband in the world who just happens to be one of the best youth ministers i know. These kids in our youth group have quickly become "our" kids and it is so rewarding. However, i can't get caught up in the fact that the husband is the youth minister and i am the YMW. I pray God continues to teach me everyday how i can be better in both.

Christmas Remembered

2009-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays are over. So sorry it has taken me so long to write about my Christmas. I hope you all had a great one! This Christmas was different for me, David and I spent our first married Christmas together, and we had double the families to do it with! How blessed we are. Here are a few highlights from the holidays.

-No matter how much my family loves each other we will almost kill each other to win "Christmas survivor" we must not forget this.

-Spending Christmas with the in-laws was a blessing and loads of fun, I was able to learn about all their traditions and i loved it.

-I also learned that even though all of the McFerron children are 18 and older Dad McFerron will still ring jingle bells outside the window and throw a basketball on the roof....just in case we still believe in Santa.

-Posing for a picture first thing on Christmas morning will always haunt you.

-Giving a much appreciated gift never gets old. The look on their face is worth it all.

-Getting to tag along with my Mother-in-law as she went to the local nursing home a few days before Christmas to deliver the laundry she did for a church member taught me how to better be a ministers wife.

-Playing Wii bowling with your family is really competitive and watching your grandma beat you is just embarrassing.

-Receiving my dream camera ( Nikon D80) was a gift i did not at all deserve but man am i pumped about it (Thanks mom and Dad...promising pictures soon)

-And the best part of Christmas was remembering the birth of my Savior who was born to die for my sins.

Emotional Ties and Harsh Reality

2008-12-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

On December 6th my alarm clock rudely woke me, I rolled over refusing to acknowledge that this day had come. David gently shook me proclaiming it was time to get up. I quickly told him I didn't want to...if i got up that meant my day had to start. I slowly pushed the covers off and sat starring at the floor. David, trying to give the best comfort he could, said he didn't want to face it either, but we didn't have a choice we didn't get to choose what God had planned for our friends or for us. I looked up knowing that he was right and began to get ready for my day telling myself to put on a smile and be the best support I could be.

This story may seem a bit dramatic. But that is the best way I can describe the feeling. On the 6th when we drove to our best friends house to load the last boxes, it was finally reality. They were moving. The slamming of the moving van door was a noise that rang through my ears...and through my heart. A lot has changed in the last few months for me. And normally I'm an advocate for change...change needs to happen, it has to, its good for us, change must occur. I realize that. However, this was one change i just wasn't quite ready for. It really hit me today when i was planning my trip to Wal-Mart. David and I have dinner with our best friends every Thursday night and i was planning what we were all going to eat when i realized they won't be there. I guess that was my true reality. I miss them and yes it hasn't even been two weeks yet, but they are more than best friends - they're family. In every hard situation I've always been the rock, most of the time I never show my raw emotion (until I'm by myself) i put on my brave face and be big for everyone else. It is what I do. Maybe that's a character flaw, but it's who i am. So i haven't talked about it and I've been nothing but positive that we'll see each other more than we think we will...and we will. So this is me showing my emotion...to the entire blog world. Oh well i know I'm not the only one who has had someone move away, so this whole blog just may seem silly to everyone...but writing is my therapy...so I feel better now. :)

O Christmas Tree

2008-12-14T14:41:00.001-08:00

David and I have our very first Christmas tree! Here is the finish product. We are pretty proud of it. It took a little work to get it in the stand, however it turned out great. This is also our very first family Christmas ornament. Thanks to David's sister-in-law Crys for getting it for us. I hope you enjoy our tree as much as we do! :)

A Moment of Beauty

2008-12-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

I was going to post a whole slide of the honeymoon pictures. But due to several problems, i ended up not getting to do so. Therefore, i posted one of the many breathtaken views David and I catpured on our honeymoon. I hope it reminds how big God is like it did me. Enjoy :)

Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

This was my first year to contribute to the thanksgiving meal. I was super excited. I should have taken pictures of the things i made, but i didn't so you'll just have to imagine how good they were. I made a chocolate Carmel stripped cheesecake that i got out of the Taste of Home magazine. I must say it was pretty awesome, plus it looked pretty too and that always helps. I also made the homemade rolls, this was my first attempt of that. I know I've helped my mom several times make rolls or bread but this was my first time flying solo. They turned out great, i used a refrigerator roll recipe which made it really easy for me to make ahead. Then to top off my baking for the week, i made peanut butter fudge to take to David's family. It was lots of fun to contribute to the thanksgiving meal. I forget how much i love to bake until i spend a day doing so. I hope all of you had a wonderful thanksgiving. Mine was spent with lots of family and lots of food. So much to be thankful for!

The Things That Melt Your Heart

2008-11-20T07:35:00.001-08:00

David and I had the wonderful privilege of babysitting the Condray kids on Tuesday night. For those of you who don't know these are the kids of our former Pastor and his wife. We miss them all so very much and jumped at the opportunity to spend some time with them. They have grown up so much (in just the few months we've been gone)! Anyways, the best moment of the night was one of the many conversations between Kennedy and David. David said, "Kennedy, how's church." She replies with her face a little disappointed looking, "We miss you." David replies, "We miss ya'll too Miss Kennedy." And then Kennedy says, "Daddy really misses you too."

That was the moment, the moment that melted mine and David's heart. She missed us but she had noticed that her dad (parents) missed us too. If she only knew how much we missed her sweet face three times a week. Thank you Mommy and Daddy for letting us keep your wonderful precious children, we loved every second of it!!

Indescribable

2008-11-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

A lot has been going through this little head of mine lately and instead of me going on and on in ramblings that only i can understand, I wanted to keep it short for you. I've asked God to break my stony heart and show himself to me in ways i needed. He did and these are the little words that came to me. Maybe it'll mean something to you too.

Never Changing
Never Ending
Constant Lover
Constant Father
Unchangeable Truth
Unmovable Grace
Deeper Than I Can Understand
Stronger Than I Can Withstand
Bigger Than My Thoughts
Greater Within My Heart
Sufficient All in All

He is Good

2008-11-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend had its highs and its lows. A wonderful woman of God and a great friend to many died after a car accident on Saturday. In our eyes she was way to young to die and left a husband and 3 month old behind. It isn't what we would view as fair. I had a hard time swallowing the idea of her being gone, and the thought of her family going on without her was painful. I went to church Sunday morning and the message was on how God is great, but is good. God is sovereign and he is in control of all, i have to remember that, but he is also good, he loves us and he has a plan. Jill was a wonderful woman, one i looked up to very much and if i was to model myself after someone it'd be her. She will be missed and i know her family and friends will have a hard time dealing with all of this. But we have to remember He may not say the things we wish he would, or He may not do the things that we know that He could, but he is so good.

The Open Road

2008-10-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

I backed my car out of my driveway last Sunday afternoon and won't arrive home until tomorrow (Friday) evening. I must say although i enjoy my job i left my driveway in complete resentment. Before i met David there was something exhilarating about packing a back pack and jumping in my car with my favorite CD's and hitting the "open" road. Allowing it to take me where ever it pleased. Now I don't mean it to sound like David took the excitement out of my life, i just mean that now i like to discover the "open" road with him, i'm not really a one woman show anymore, and nor do i want to be. I had a hard time leaving for work travel on Sunday, and i spent more than half my drive being angry about it. Then as i was driving on a very open road (just in case any one was curious there is nothing or anyone in northeast AR or so it seems) i began to think to myself that i was being selfish and not thinking about the adventure this could be or the way God could use me. I guess you could say i needed alittle bit of an attitude and heart adjustment. The sun began to set and i wondered why God chose to paint me such a beautiful sunset when i was being so ugly. And then i laughed at his humor, its the little things that he uses to teach a lesson, or maybe you would consider that very big...i guess i needed something to get my attention. Anyways, so back to the open road. I think that somewhere within all of us we have wanted to hit that open road, to learn a lesson, or take an adventure, or meet new people, or self discovery, or just get away. Whatever the case somewhere deep within us there was and maybe still is an open road moment. Well, this wasn't the open road i wanted. Maybe someday i'll have that open road with David, the adventure one. But this one was a short one that led me to a little self discovery, mostly painful self discovery but we are suppose to be in the fire, and that's going to burn sometimes. I wouldn't call this travel week the greatest life open road experience, but a needed one. Sometimes we all need to get a way and be discovered and now that i've learned my lesson.....its time to come home.

Crazy Times, Steady Love

2008-10-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

Man has it been a whirl wind of the last few weeks. Sorry it has taken me so long to update everyone, but it has just been that crazy. Here are a few updates on our lives.

-My job keeps me busy for the most part. I've been traveling from town to town doing college fairs. Recuritment in itself is a challenge sometimes, and i don't always enjoy being on the road, however i keep remembering that in some way or another i'm going to impact some lives. So i keep going. My favorite questions asked is, "Is this a Baptist school?" And i always want to reply "No, we just are just named Central BAPTIST College, but we aren't baptist." I don't think kids always think their questions through. Thats ok, college will be good for them then. lol. But even though i've been busy God has been faithful and i've even been able to share the gospel with one of the state school recruiters. He has a plan.

-David has started his new job as the full time youth minister out at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. And man has that been crazy! It seems like the moment we started we have been doing church things almost every night. Thats ok, thats how it is sometimes. Its been a challenge for me to run from work to church and i'm still working really hard on learning the names. But we had 95 kids at youth the other night, i do good to just remember 5 of them. Its been challenging but they treat us as if we've been there all our lives. Its nice to have that kind of embracing comfort.

-Along with all of that i'm still trying to hang things on our walls, finish the thank you notes, and organize our lives. Its been so crazy i just now got my name changed on the banking and all of that situated. Now if i can get my W-4 form straight that'll all be taken care of. So anyways, if any of you want to see our new little home, wait until January. I think i'll have it fixed up by then.

So thats the quick short version of the update on our lives. Oh and i'm starting to study for my GRE so i can get into graduate school. I have no idea what i'm thinking sometimes!! lol Married life is great, things are well, we are happy, healthy and living it up. We are crazy but we are well. God is good all the time, and though they are crazy he is still good!

Characteristics that Define a Person

2008-09-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

When David and I started at our new church we kind of became enlisted to participate in a new marriage seminar that was going to be going on for a few weeks. I thought this might be interesting seeing that we've only been married for 3 weeks and we were going to be in a class with people that have been married for years, but either way it was fun. In our first session we took the temperaments personality test. This was an old hat to me because i took a whole course on personality in college and i had to take the temperament test and had my scores sent off and all of that serious jazz. It was intense so i felt as if i knew my personality a little too well. However, it has been like 4 years since David had taken the test so it was interesting to see what his came out to be. Well, he is exactly as we thought lol. But as i studied our two different but very similar personalities i found it very neat how well we went together. Although we are alike alot of his weaknesses are my strengths and alot of my weaknesses are his strengths. I guess God knew what he was doing when he put us together. Anyways, i found this other personality test on Paige's blog, so i decided to take it. And well it is very much me. Here are the results:

Your personality type:
Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.
Careers that could fit you includes:
Teachers, consultants, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, clergy, sales representatives, human resources, managers, events coordinators, politicians, diplomats, writers, actors, designers, homemakers, musicians, religious workers.

Oh The Times, They Are A Changin'

2008-09-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night will be our very last night at Bigelow Baptist Church. For those of you who don't know yet, David has accepted a youth minister position at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. And i must admit, this hasn't been the easiest thing to deal with. Everything came at a rush, the wedding, the honeymoon, this job offer and so on. It seemed like such a bad time to leave Bigelow. But i have to remember God's timing is perfect and no matter how inconvenient it is for me it doesn't matter. We love our kids a Bigelow, and we were not looking to leave them, but like i said God has other plans sometimes and we prayed about it hard and God continued to say it was time of us to move on. Something i remembered telling myself a long time ago when i began to get involved in missions and ministry was that the moment i became comfortable, i'd change something. Whether that be something within myself, or my ministry. I wasn't called to be comfortable, and Bigelow had become a comfort to me. I was settled, and in ministry i don't believe you can be settled, if you settle change won't happen within you or who you are ministering to. When David asked me how i felt about all of this of course i gave the answer that every good YMW should give. "Whatever you think God is letting you to do, i'm behind you." I'm not saying I wasn't behind him but man i had to fight through my words on that one. I was comfortable and i didn't wanna change it. Then my words began to haunt me. Then David's dad told him, "David, you were called to move mountains." Thats right! In the ministry especially we are called to move mountains, you can't move mountains where you are settled or where your comfortable....mountains won't move there. Bro. Cary gave David to preach this past Sunday as kindof a one last time thing. And although i listened to my sweet little husband up there preaching my mind wouldn't quit racing. Every moment i had a Bigelow did a replay sunday morning, i looked out over all the smiling faces and teared up at the thought of not seeing them 3 times a week. But change, change is good, change needs to happen, change is suppose to happen, change, change, change. I have to repeat that to myself daily so i remember that God has something grand in store for Bigelow and for us and for that to happen change has to happen. I suppose i've written enough on this. But for all the Bigelow people who have been nothing but "home" to us and have shown nothing but love to us, you won't be forgotten, and you will always serve as a stepping stone that has invested in us!

Oh the Times, they change.

I'm Back

2008-09-14T19:13:00.001-07:00

The dress is in the closet, the presents are all opened, the moment of uniting as one is a replay in my mind, and there is a stack of thank you cards to be written on the table. I guess that means its over. lol. My wedding was perfect, i wouldn't change a thing. The day I married my husband, the very man i've prayed for all my life, and the one God chose for me, was wonderful. If i was to do it all again, i would do it the same. However, i'm glad its over. There comes a time in an engagement when you are just ready for it to be over. I was ready and now that it is and i've had a wonderful honeymoon i'm kinda ready to get back to "real" life. The honeymoon was awesome you can't ask for a better place to go. This is my most very favoirte picture from the honeymoon. Colorado is wonderful, i'd move there in a heartbeat. This was taken on our horse back ride through the mountains. I hope you all enjoy. I'll probably put more pictures up to come but maybe this will suffice for now. If you'd like to see some wedding pictures go to M's blog here. Thanks for all the wonderful pics M! I love them! More to come!

The Countdown Begins

2008-09-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

2 days and i'll be a married woman! I'm looking forward to it. I think i get asked at least 10 times a day if i'm ready/excited/or nervous. So just in case you are wondering....i'm past ready, way excited and not even close to nervous. I won't be posting for about a week but i promise to come back with beautiful pictures from Colorado. So anyways, you'll get all the updates when i get back. :-)

Running Long Distance

2008-08-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

On the way home from church last night David's mom called to check in on us. Because everything has been so crazy and this close to the wedding she wanted to see how we were doing. I quietly sat in my seat on the way home only being able to hear one end of the conversation. I'm not sure what my soon to be mother-in-love said, but David responded, "Mom, I'm a long distance runner, i don't sprint." I'm not sure what he meant by this. Maybe he's running long distance in this marriage (he better be) or maybe long distance in his ministry, his walk with God, or just life in general. Whatever the case was, i liked what i heard. I pondered being a long distance runner the rest of the way home and thought how often i forget to run long distance but instead i sprint. Not that sprinting is a bad thing, but if i sprint i run hard and fast with an end in sight. But if i run long distance i run hard but i pace myself focusing on each step of the way waiting until the end comes. I think when Paul talked about running the race that was set before us, he meant for us to run it long distance. Never has the race for Christ been easy. Nor should it be. But when i run for Christ i want to run long distance, i want to be in it for the long haul, i want to run a good pace doing what i need to do, but run hard when i need to fight off my enemy. I want to run for Christ with everything i have constantly thinking about each step and not focusing on the end. I want to run long distance.

YMW

2008-08-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

As my wedding draws nearer i've began to concentrate more closely on the kind of wife i'm going/want to be. I tend to have this very long list of all these things i'm going to strive to do and be in my marriage. But as people find out i'm about to be married the first title that comes to their mind is " Youth Ministers Wife." Yes i will be a YMW, and i'm really excited about it. It's funny to me the tone of voice people use when they make that realization...it typically is "ohhh your gonna be a ministers wife." And to be honest it sometimes makes me defensive. Alot of the time i want to yell back at them. "Yes and i am and it's going to be the most rewarding thing ever, you just wait and see!" I say that with confidence because even though i'm not David's wife yet i have been in the ministry with him for the past 2 years. I have gotten a little taste of what it'll be like to be a YMW, and i love it! My job as a YMW is first to support, encourage, and love my husband, and second take care of our youth. Here a just a few reasons why i love youth ministry and why it'll be great to be a YMW.

-You still get to play the games, eat the food, and particiapte in the fun activities that the youth group does

-You're almost always considered young and cool

-You get to love on kids that need loved on

-You get the wonderful opportunity to be an example of a wife, woman, and child of God

- You get to put the balme of how silly/crazy acting your husband is on "He's a youth minister"

- You get to be in one of the most wonderful, rewarding, heart aching, and proably hardest part of ministry, but you don't regret a second of it.

A-awiki B-awiki C-awiki

2008-08-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

That is the beginnings of a VBS song that has been stuck in my head all week. VBS was good this year. Our theme was Outrigger Island so it had a little Hawaiian feel. I must admit to you that Bible school is not my favorite. I know thats bad for me to say as a soon to be ministers wife, because i know it will be a big part of my future for many years. Its not that i don't like giving children a chance to learn about Christ in a fun different way, its just that i don't like it. lol. Maybe it was because all the older years of my life, when i thought i didn't have to be involved in Bible school anymore my mom pressured (maybe strongly encouraged is a better word) to be that "cool" older kid that dressed up and acted like an idiot in front of everyone else. Needless to say, I kinda became resentful. But anyways, for those of you who are curious, this is what i took home from Bible Schol this year.

- If you are in your twenties and still think your cool enough to hang out with the 5th and 6th graders, your probably not.

-If you get asked what you want to do in Bible School, volunteer to be the snack lady. Everyone loves the snack lady. Plus you can work on improving the Kool-Aide

-No matter how hard your try, the songs always stick....and you'll be singing them all the time!

-When hanging out with the preschoolers, if they interupt to say something of no relation to the topic, try to avoid that, you never know what will come out of their little mouths.

-And no matter how much you may hate the Bible School songs, when you see the little 6 year olds up there singing every word and knowing every motion, it makes your heart smile. :)

Fear

2008-08-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've been doing alot of thinking lately about fear. I guess it's not really a good thing to think about fear. But there has been a few events lately that have just brought that to my attention. Now that i'm working at CBC i've been a little more on the inside of things. Since i started here a month ago i've heard of 4 people that are CBC staff diagnosed with cancer. One of them being Dr. Mitchell. If you know me you know my relationship with Dr. Mitchell. But for those of you who don't know i'll fill you in a little bit. Dr. Mitchell was one of my professors when i first came to CBC, alot of students lived in fear of his classes and test. He never really scared be instead he took me under his arm like a grandpa would do and put me to work in his office. I didn't spend much time there at first, i just did my work and went on my way, never really paying that much attention to all of who he was. Well, a few months later my grandpa died, my popa was a unique person, one of those you can't forget. When i got back to school Dr. Mitchell moved me up in his office to be his office manager, and thats what i did for two more years. During those first few months i worked really hard to not surround myself with memories of my popa, not because i wanted to forget him but because i lived in fear that if i was constantly reminded it would hurt too bad. However, God had a completely different idea for me on how i should cope. God had made it where i had to spend more and more time in Dr. Mitchell's office forcing me to know him. As the time went on Dr. Mitchell reminded me more and more of my popa. From the sayings he said to the clock on his wall, he was my reminder of my popa. Dr. Mitchell, whether he knew it or not taught me how to not live in fear of hurt but rejoice in a love. A week ago i found out Dr. Mitchell had cancer, the bad aggressive kind. I was able to talk with him before he left to go have his surgery done in Dallas. Behind his voice there was fear. One of the most Godly men i knew that i have never seen fearful, was scared. Within the next few days, as his surgery drew closer, i couldn't get him off my mind. His fearful voice became an overwhleming fear in my heart. The morning of his surgery i prayed my heart out, but i could never get the claming of my fear that i felt i needed. Then, i drove by a church sign. I pass this sign every morning on my way to work and they had not changed the sign the whole 3 weeks i'd be driving by it, but this morning it was changed and do you know what it said? It said 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but the power of love and a sound mind." That said it all to me. There i was in constant fear for a special man that i held dear to my heart and i couldn't seem to get the peace and God used a church sign. I thought it was funny, but greater than that God reminded me to use my power of love and my sound mind instead of my fear....Fear Not, God is good- all the time.

I Gave In

2008-08-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

I decided to join the world of blogging. Sadly enough i'm one of those people that like to read everyone elses blog. And everytime i'd read one i would think about what i would put on my own if i had one. So i finally decided to create one. It'll probably be nothing special, just alot of my random thoughts and observations. But either way i hope you enjoy!