Kyle and I are heading out of town tomorrow morning--an unexpected trip!--but I wanted to post a few pics of the home we looked at today. I'm sure you're used to us by now--you've endured this before but we are really loving this home. Not exactly in the location we originally had in mind; not exactly the number of bedrooms we hoped for; but everything else is beyond our hopes/expectations. This is mostly for our family who are too far away to do the walk through with us.

**a word about the builder--AMAZING guy who looks about our age. He's incredibly talented and has literally built this home from the ground up. His heart is in every detail. He is disabled so the floor plan is usually open and spacious.

front of the home: the view faces west--sunset is rockin


the back...the home is on one acre--very wooded lot


living room


Kitchen...(dishwasher never been used)


Master bedroom


as if I wasn't already sold, this bad boy is in the master bath.




Rediscovering you.



After church today, kyle and I decided to drive to Roan Mtn. As we were on our way, we realized it was the weekend of their annual festival--which just so happens to be where we went and what we did on our very first date, 7 years ago!!

The past few months, in the world of the Long's, have been an adventure all unto their own. In more ways than I could ever express, we are truly in a place right now where we are rediscovering each other.

It's no secret that Kyle and I are wired in completely different ways. We express ourselves differently; we process things differently; we learn and abide and grow in different ways. Because of that, it hasn't always been easy to understand each other. Over time, as what often happens with those with whom we are in close or familiar relationship with, we often neglected to pursue; to ask questions; & to seek understanding of each other.

Recently, fueled by some activities at church (like the strengths finder survey, etc) we have sort of accidentally stumbled into this new awareness of each other and it continues to surprise and amuse us, almost on a daily basis. It's been this God given breath of life into our home and into our marriage. I can't explain it completely, but I'm starting to get him. I know, I know. Theoretically, I should have 'gotten him' a long time ago. I guess it's that "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" syndrome. These days, I'm beginning to truly feel how his heart beats and it makes the love and respect I have for him grow. Somehow, I think he's beginning to get me too. How do I know? Because I feel understood--and it's the most validating feeling in the world.

The other day I was sitting downstairs at the table all alone, TV off, not doing anything. He came around the corner-laughed and said..."party going on up there?!"
Yep.
Just like usual--only now the secrets out.

Today before our trek up the mountain, I realized that once again, for one more month, we are not pregnant. When my eyes welled up with tears and I lost my words, he got it. He put his hand on top of mine and said all the right things. And suddenly, I didn't feel so alone.

It ended up thundering and lightening shortly after we got to the mountain. We went down only a few little trails, took some pics and some stock footage for Kyle's video production, and then high tailed it back to the car. On our way home, the rain came hard and fierce--like sheets pounding the windshield. Inside, with the IPOD pumping out music and Kyle putting up with me singing loudly and poorly, I felt unusually full, undeservedly blessed.

This is belated...but happy birthday to two of my most favorite people in the entire world. Gina and Jason--I miss you both waaaay more then I could ever say.
Love you both.

ps. Gina--those photos were hilarious and beautiful!! I'm so glad you have your sister back. Did she LOVE Argentina?!? Wish I was there celebrating with you!


Gina and Karen



Jason and Justine

"fairies and butterflies; church and the beer tent"

Yesterday I had a makeover. I laid on my belly surrounded by barbies and let a 5 year old scrutinize my skin and nails. She decided a manicure was a must. On one hand she carefully selected the color of each nail. My pinky would be purple, my ring finger hot pink...then a swirl of blue-green-orange...etc. The next hand was a project unto it's own. When the last splash of color was brushed onto my final finger, I found the courage to look down. A rainbow manicure would have been something, but the entire top third of all of my fingers were a siren of colors. There's no staying in the lines when you're 5.

Next, was make up. Body glitter was the order of the day. She glammed up my arms and put sparkly lipstick on my lips. I was sure one look at me and Kyle wouldn't be able to restrain himself. Once our makeup was complete (we had to match) we went downstairs for our tea party. I'm pretty sure I've never had a tea party before so I had to rely on her for instructions. First, I was to go to the pantry and pull out 4 marshmallow peeps (2 for her, 2 for me). Then we microwaved them to get them all soft and huge. Sitting at our little pink table we had our party and she giggled the entire time. With full bellies we adjourned from the tea party and made our way to living room and a mountain of barbies.

I've never really been good at the barbie scene. I didn't have many barbies of my own as a child because the only thing I knew to do with them was their hair, and it didn't take long for that to get boring. But this particular afternoon, we were creating a story as we went along...I followed Joci's lead. At one point, she lifted up her barbie and said in a loud, booming voice, "Attention all fairies and butterflies..."

It was then, with that one simple statement that I realized how blessed I was to be there, on the floor with my 'come get me' make up and my glow in the dark hands. I was transported to a world of make believe--and it had been a long time since I'd peered at anything with the eyes of a child. This is a little girl who believes she's a princess when she puts on her princess dress and crown; who delights in tea parties and colors outside the lines. So beautiful!!!

When I came home looking a bit hooker-ish, it was hard for Kyle to believe anything that profound came out of our time together. Kyle and I went to a fancy place for dinner (by way of a gift card) and I sparkled, literally, over candlelight.

Switching to a completely unrelated topic, this morning I was on the phone with mom. We were talking about a relative with the nickname "sug"--like sugar. (His last name is Cane...seriously, my family is not right. His daughter goes by "candy"--no joke). Anyway, mom was telling me about a recent fall that he had. The story went something like:

"Well, it was Memorial day and they had an event outdoors at the church. It was really hot outside so Sug stayed in the beer tent."

I'm sorry. Did she just say 'beer tent'?
at church?

The story did not end there, in fact it was just getting started. She was already on to describing his fall, (which allegedly did NOT happen from one too many) but as she continued talking, I was still back in the beer tent, kicking it with Sug. There was a time in my life when that would have seemed normal to me, too, but let me just tell you, I fear those days are long gone. Church functions in this part of the world simply do not have beer tents on the front lawn.

hmmm...Jim, John, I think I just found my talent!! ;)

This past week I got to co-lead my first youth group experience. Everyone laughs at me when I say this but I'm telling you, I was ner.vous. I had visions of really bored girls, with really blank stares-nodding off and drooling. Me, in the circle, droning on and on...and on. Completely out of touch. Misery.

I'm not sure if you remember what it was like to be 14, but I most certainly do. I remember adult's saying "these are the best years of your life" which, just for the record, is exactly how not to validate your teenager. :) (and no, my parents never said such crazy things) Looking back now, there are certain freedoms of my teenage years that I appreciate but the truth is, those were the hardest years of my life. Someday I hope to articulate that so much better but for now that's all I know to say. I felt like I had two lives and I was good at living them both. I know I was a bit of a paradox to those under my roof and I'm sure I perplexed those who wanted to get inside my head.

As a teen, who didn't read her bible and knew very little in the way of Scripture, youth group was the first place I ever heard that whisper "He loves you". Over the years, it became a constant, recurring theme. There were moments when those words seemed to get inside my heart: camp, Campus Life trips, etc. For a few minutes, a night or a week, I would really, truly believe it. He loves me. How desperately I wanted it to be true. I loved that youth group was fun, safe, and full of activity. I loved that my best friends were there and that we made some significant lifelong memories. It wasn't long before we became student leaders. I was passionate about the people in our group; I talked the talk; and I wanted to believe it but I'm not sure I ever really let those words be true.

So now I'm 28. My moments of experiencing God are becoming a bit more frequent but in so many ways, I still feel like that student leader. The cry of my heart-almost on a daily basis is to spend time with Him but I don't always know how to get there. Hungry-that's how I feel. Sometimes I open up my bible and flip through sections of it-barely letting my eyes focus on the text; not knowing where to start or what to read. Sometimes it's just a bunch of words that feel as if they were written for anyone other than me; a different time; a different place. And then there are my moments. The times when those very same words get inside my heart. The times when every hidden piece of me feels like it's sprinkled through the pages. The times when I know it to the depth of my being...He loves me. I want nothing more then to be captivated by Him. But thus far, in this life, for whatever reason, I am still fueled by moments--this is not the place I abide in on a daily basis. Sometimes I feel like I'll always be that girl who never truly gets there--as much as I want it to be true. A good friend asked me last night "do you think it's possible to experience Him like that here (in the flesh)?" And my answer is yes. I do believe that; I can't imagine Him creating us to live any other way.

So Weds. night I was nervous. Not so much because I worry about what our girls think about me but because I remember what a tender age this is for them. I remember that things are not always what they seem and I want them to believe they are loved with a love that redeems. I want more for them then moments. I wonder how God can use someone like me to help young women grow when I still feel so very young and foolish in the ways of Him. I wonder if it's to their detriment that I'm still hungering...still longing...still seeking much in the way that I did over a decade ago?

Well the good news for my first study was that it was a very small, intimate group and it felt a bit like family as we sat and chatted. There was laughter folks and no drooling insofar as I could tell. ;) My pastors daughter, who's 7 (?), sat with us and she participated probably more then anyone else. I'm thinking if things don't work out for me, she'd be a perfect replacement. :)

Oliver is sick.

Yes, for those of you who know me at all, you know what this means. This stresses me out waaay beyond what is normal. It started out as allergies. Harmless enough right? Wrong. He can't breathe and he walks around the house gasping, sneezing, and struggling. Oh yeah, and let's not forget to mention the diarrhea that he's left for us to find around the house. The gag reflex comes on hard and strong for me-which a new thing for this nurse. Our first vet appt was two weeks ago when they put him on steriods. Didn't help. This past week he had chest x-rays...and now takes steroids, bronchodilators, an antibiotic and an antihistamine. Kyle said "don't tell me we're going to have one of those dogs"...as if we didn't already fall into that category before illness struck. ;)
Poor little guy.

Kyle got to take a ride in a friend's helicopter yesterday. Yeah, work is tough...I managed to steal a photo and I know he'll post more on his blog if you want to see more. He was super excited.
Loving work, as usual!


And then, last week we went to Cinema on the Lake. Every Thursday night in June they play a movie by the lake at dusk. We had never been to it before and last week we met up with some friends to take in the show. I was exhausted so I don't think I appreciated it for all that it was but it's definitely one of those happy summer things that people/families do together that becomes a lasting memory. Good stuff.



I could write loads more but Kyle is itching to get on here so I'll close for now. Take care sweet friends!

Living your strengths.

Kyle came home one day recently and handed me a book given to him by Jim. I flipped it over a time or two trying to size it up. Being a lover of books, especially of those that claim to get inside your head, I decided to give it a go and opened up to the first page:

This is what I read:
The Gallup Organizations's 2002 national study of congregation memebers revealed that most people (53%) do not strongly agree with the statement:
"In my congregation, I regularly have the opportunity to do what I do best".


Page one and already, that one simple statement stopped me.
"in my congregation, I regularly have the opportunity to do...

Growing up, at least in my early years, there was always the small handful of do-ers...and then there was the rest of us. ;) Church was a quiet, passive place. A place to sit and to stand and to pray with your eyes closed. People didn't know my name much less care what skills or gifts I might have. And honestly, I was good with that. Personally, I didn't care much about the woman beside me either. It wouldn't have even occured to me that I should be doing something. At confession I told my sins to the priest behind a screen so that he wouldn't have to look into my dirty, sinful eyes. :) I definitely got the vibe early on that there was nothing 'megan' brought to the table in a religious or spiritual sense.
My place was on the pew.
eyes closed.
Fortunately these things changed as I grew a bit older and started to attend a different church but nonetheless, it is a reality for many.

The second part of the statment: how does what I do best apply to my "congregation"?

What does that mean exactly? I guess I define 'what I do' by my chosen career and I feel nearly 110% certain that my congregation doesn't want me sending them off to meet Jesus every weekend. (Don't read too much into that...yes, they all want to be with Him and walk the streets of gold but, let's be serious) I'd have no friends at all. The problem? I'm not even sure I know how to answer, when asked 'what is it you do best?'

I do know that I don't sing, don't teach, I'm not great with organizing events--or at least I wouldn't know for sure because I haven't ever tried. The truth is, for as much introspection as I've done I'm still a little perplexed when it comes to applying the things that make me, me, to the benefit of a church body or community. I have a good handle on my weaknesses. The things I wish I could be, do, or say.
Which, according to this book is how most everyone operates. You might agree.

So I read the first chapter and took the strengths finder tests. I was surprised. And just the fact that I was surprised, surprised me. I thumbed through the book and read about a few other strengths (the ones that I didn't get) and found myself getting jealous. Again, seeing my weaknesses in what might be another's strengths, wishing I was something 'other than' instead of me.
What is that?!

Today, after church there was a little lump of us who were standing together talking about this book and the test. It was fascinating to listen to each person talk about what their strengths were. There was a buzz; an energy to the conversation and I walked away feeling excited about all that is to come. The wind is blowing; could it be possible for each of us to truly do what we each do best? The next few chapters of this book are application; what I wonder, will that look like?

Obviously we don't take these tests to give ourselves a self righteous pat on the back. No one is interested in knowing one's strengths or skills just for the sake of knowing. Rather, the purpose of any of this--the book, the test, the conversation is to propel us out into the world, to serve others and to honor Christ with our lives and our ministry. What you do best, is different from me. And for once, I might be okay with that. ;)