More Sweet Tea Please?

Jerry Springer

2021-06-10T11:14:00.001-07:00

Do you ever wake up from a day and wonder if that really happened? Was this all a bad dream? My life here lately has been like this? In the last month, we have had a death in the family, my grandpa had an emergency pacemaker put in, my grandmother is having heart trouble and is in and out of the hospital, my mimi was put in the hospital, momma is battling an ugly case of bronchitis, my nose surgery, and then just normal life things....baseball, swim, and weight-lifting. Oh yea...and I am a mom and a wife!!

My dad's family is extremely complicated. I even said in an earlier blog post, that I always knew this but I honestly had no idea how complicated. This is where Jerry Springer comes in.....I woke up this morning and truly questioned if we had been on an episode. What just happened here? Last night, I laid in the floor crying out to God to intervene. Please come and heal the brokenness. Please come and heal the pain. For years, I have blamed myself for the problems of this family. I truly believed for a long time that me being born was some of the issues, but I have come to realize that these problems stem far before I was born.

In times like these I have never been so grateful for my relationship with Christ. I truly know without a doubt that HE is here with me. I can't control what goes on, but I can control what I have with him. I have made huge mistakes in my life. I have screwed up. I sin every single day. I am not perfect, but I do know he LOVES me. I do know that he has forgiven me, and that is something that no one can take away from me.

The last few years have taught me that material things are nothing! The older I have gotten the more I could care less about material things. You want it...you can have it! I can't fathom only putting my focus on what my parents and grandparents are going to leave me when they are gone. Memories are all I want, and boy do I have some. I am so so grateful for the load of memories that I have, and what's even better is that they are good ones. I love they are my memories and no one can take them!

I have no idea what the future holds for our family. All I know is that God is completely aware of the situation, and it's not my job to figure it out. It's my job to continue to pray and trust in HIM. Just know if you are reading this and you feel like you are living an episode of Jerry Springer you are not alone. I do know the episode will end, we will walk off the stage and it will all be okay!

My advise for the day: Pick up the phone and tell someone you love them! They need to hear it!

Enjoy your day!

A Day

2021-06-09T06:44:00.001-07:00

Let me start by saying that it is 8:13am and I have already had two cups of coffee and walked 2.5 miles this morning!!!! Holy cow...who is this person? This is the same girl that the last few months can't hardly will herself out of bed, let alone get more than 1,000 steps a day. I know, I know, you are thinking big deal Megan. But this is a big deal and if you are someone who knows what a "low" is then you get it. Depression is this ugly monster that grabs hold of you and won't let go, so having the "want to" is a big deal!

Yesterday was a pretty normal day for us. I honestly can't remember what I did of the morning, so obviously it wasn't anything exciting or important! (I really am scared that I am getting the onset of dementia or alztehimers) I do know we had to get Hudson to swim team by 11. Oh wait, it came to me. I got up and had my quite time. Goodness knows I need that more than the air I breathe. It has been a hot minute since I have actually set down with God, and studied his word. I talked to him. I cried. I ask questions. I sat still in his presence and man did it feel good. After a few cups of coffee, I curled up on the couch with another cup of coffee and watched The Butler. Its an oldie but goodie. Its one of my top favorites.

Around 10:35, I figured it was time to literally throw on some clothes and get out the door to swim team. I have officially become the parent that gets their kid to practice at the exact time it starts. I use to be the over achiever who would get there early, but that's too easy. I like to keep my life on edge. I came to a legit rolling stop and Hudson jumped out of the car all while yelling, "I love you Mom". "I love you too, Huddy". God knew I needed to be told first.

Jagger and I used our little bit of free time to run to Wal-Mart to return the 3 bags of clothes that I randomly bought one night when I was aimlessly walking around trying to find something to buy. Wal-Mart has stepped up their game over the last few years, and it makes my heart so happy. Right now I am in such an ugly funk with my body that every single thing I bought was taken back. Now I know why I hate shopping for clothes. Please just take me to Dirt Cheap so I can buy a ton of random stuff that has nothing to do with my body shape or size and it will only cost $10.

After Wal-Mart, we had 20 minutes to spare so what else is there to do except get some food! Jagger wanted Sonic, so like any hip Mom I pull out my phone to use my Sonic app. I am trying to get better about using fast food apps, but I am still not quite there. I place the order and feel like I accomplished something awesome. We get to Sonic and I am so proud of myself because all we have to do is pick up the food and we are still on time to get Hudson. The sweet Sonic lady brings the food out and while she is reading off the list of things we got, in the back of mind I'm thinking that doesn't sound right. FYI...My family eats everything PLAIN!! and when I say plain I mean there better not be one single speck of anything on it or that joker is getting thrown back in the bag! I turn to look at Jagger to confirm what I am hearing and he says, "Mom, I think our order is wrong". I'm like surely not..I ordered exactly what you wanted on the app. A PLAIN cheeseburger...or at least that is what I thought I ordered. Nope! That would be too easy. I had ordered a cheeseburger with spicy mayo, jalapenos, chili and bacon!!!! What in the world? Come on Sonic...who in their right mind would order this? Apparently me....I wonder what the Sonic people were thinking when they saw this order? Needless to say, this didn't fly with Jagger, so I quickly ordered a plain cheeseburger. At this point, I am getting a little antsy and nervous about getting back to pick up Hudson. Thankfully Sonic was on their A game and got the meat, cheese, and bread out quickly!

Once we got Hud picked up, we came home and worked on chores! That's a whole post for itself. The night ended with a ballgame, a night time walk, and some 2nd grade teacher work! Not bad for a pretty normal day!

So I will leave you with my advise for the day.....If you are ordering food from a mobile app, please make sure you double check your order before you submit it! It will save you time and money!

Go enjoy your day!

Family

2021-06-07T19:44:00.003-07:00

Family...a word that means so much to some and so little to many. My whole life I have always had this vision that I had a close family. The last few years have opened my eyes to truths that are far from what I had in mind as a close family. Isn't it amazing how as a child and younger adult you see things totally different than what they are. I think that is why God tells us in the bible to be like small children! They handle and see things much better than adults do.....something to think about?

Anywho.....To start, let me give you a small background. You might get lost, but that's okay. There are still some days I can't keep us all straight! My grandmother, Margie Lantz, had 8 children! 2 beautiful girls and 6 handsome boys! One of the boys, Kenny Lee, is my dad! He is the 2nd to the youngest. Jason, the baby passed when he was 2 years old. So fast forward a lot of years and you have my grandmother, who is 90 years old and has 8 children, 18 grandchildren (I call us the originals), 27 great grandchildren, and 7 great great children! WOW!!!! That is amazing to me that one person can bring this much life!

I know some of you are saying, "Wait, I thought you were the only grandchild on both sides.....) I am! I am the only Bennett Grandchild...There were a few husbands in the mix of all these blessings, but we won't go into that and who am I to judge? I was never in my Grandmother's shoes. It is strange that I am an only grandchild on my mom's side and the only on my dad's dad side! Have I lost you yet?

Back to the fam...Growing up we always, we meaning Dad, Momma, and Me, were at Grandma's. I honestly can't remember a holiday/ weekend that we were not with my dad's family. ( I even spent every spring break and summers at grandma's) Our big holiday get togethers were Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July, and Thanksgiving. These were those times during the year that the WHOLE clan got together. My grandmother's house is small, and we would have so many people crammed in, it would be busting at the seams. And I LOVED it. I can remember being almost giddy the night before each of these holidays. All the wonderful food, all of my family...I mean what more could a girl want? Some of the holidays, so many of us would spend the night we would have pallets all over the floors. I would wake up to the sounds of grandma starting the bread or dressing at 5am. Being one of the youngest grandchildren, I would be so excited to see everyone and I craved the attention of all my older cousins. I thought my Aunt's were the most beautiful things ever with their long painted nails, and fancy hair. To some this would have been an event of chaos but to me it was comfort. During these days, I was so happy nothing could bring me down and I had no idea of the heartache and pain that was dwelling in our family.

As I became a teenager a shift started to happen. People started going different ways. Grandma's house wasn't full to the brim, and I began to sense that there was more to our family than I had ever known. All the years growing up, I was closer to some than others. In the town of Strawberry where my Grandmother lives, my two uncles and their families live there also, so it was just natural that I was closer to them. And boy was I thankful for them. 3 boy cousins, and me right in the middle. Everywhere they went, I went. 4 wheelers, dirt bikes, mud, fishin, back roading...You name it, we did it. Even in our late teenage years we still did life together. They will always hold a special place in my heart.

Even being close to the family we had, there was still this longing for more. Still a longing for a family that was close and did life. Yes, we did these holidays together but that was it. Nothing else. I honestly can't even explain the feeling. It was like we were all there, we ate, we left and that was it until the next go around. I think being an only child, I crave a belonging and acceptance that is hard to explain. I found a journal from a few years before I met Matthew, that was asking God to please provide me a husband that was close to his family and possibly even had sisters that would accept and love me like I was one of their own....He did answer some of that prayer. God works in funny ways.

As the years have past, we have had many heart aches in our family. We have had lots of loss. We have had lots of pain. There are still many things that I have no idea about, and honestly don't want to know. In between all of the pain and heartache, we have had some wonderful things. There have been several reconnections. We have had lots of laughs, and we have made lots of new memories. I have been praying for God to tear down walls, and to heal in so many areas. There is so much good we are missing out on.

One thing I have learned over the last few years is that family is everything. No matter the faults. No matter the drama. No matter what is going on, none of that matters. We are called to love each other. It's so simple, yet so hard for many.

Grandma Margie and I had some awesome conversations in the hospital last week. One of my favorites..(this is improvised) She told me that she loved all of her kids and grandkids so much that she would never turn her back on them, and when they came back to her she would be there waiting with open arms. She said she never holds on to hurt from the past. She said that she knows she has made a lot of mistakes, but her kids and grandkids were never mistakes and she is so grateful for each and every one of us, even the ones who don't speak to her....

This my friends is family! This is grace. This is love........

My advise for the night.....In the midst of trouble/pain/or whatever else just cry! Let it out...It doesn't matter who is around or who sees you..just cry! It will make you feel better! Oh and tell people you love them! :)

Pretty Boring

2021-06-02T20:15:00.001-07:00

Why would anyone want to read about my life? I am boring. I don't have any super awesome things that happen to me. I don't travel to exotic places, although I might consider our local Wal-Mart exotic. I don't have highly entertaining things happen to me. I never win anything, and I have had the same hair style basically since I was 13.

This is a small glance into my daily life...Summer edition...School edition is another story. I am a different human then.

Wake up- I'm not really a morning person, but then randomly I am. Does this make sense? Sometimes my body likes morning and then sometimes it doesn't! I just do what my body says!

Coffee- Instantly.....My mouth waters for coffee!

Sit! This is the time I try to read my bible! I said TRY! The ADD or ADHD sets in. It normally takes me a few minutes and I can make it through my reading. At that point, I typically shut it and just talk to God. Sometimes I have a lot to say and sometimes I don't! Here lately I have had lots to say! Lord Jesus help me! After my Jesus talk, I use this time to maybe start a load of laundry before refilling my cup of coffee and heading back to the couch!

Wait on the kids! My boys are not super early morning people, so normally I have until 9 to do whatever I want. The last week since I have been out of school, I have been scouring the web researching guided reading groups, and math centers. I have learned so much and can't wait to put into place this fall.

Kids are awake! Time for food and getting ready for the day. Our summer schedule is actually pretty busy, which if you know us is a change from our normal home body lives. We have swim team- Hud, weight lifting-Jag, travel ball-Hud, league ball games and practices for both boys, oh and Karate for Hud that I normally forget about!

Between 11-3 most days we are getting humans to the places they need to be.

The evening is spent cooking supper, going to ballgames if they don't get rained out, and sitting on the couch in pjs by 8pm.

See....boring! but I wouldn't give it up for the world! I am so grateful for my boring life!

A few other boring things about me....

*Only child and only grandchild! It's the truth! and no I am not spoiled

*I was about 30 before I decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.

*The only sexy lingerie I own is sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt...oh and fuzzy socks!

*I have a slight obsession with anything Disney!

*I've been on every diet ever known to man since I was 16 and guess what? none of them work!

*Our wedding picture was on J.Crew's website for a few years!

*Matthew and I met in a shoe store.

*I had the biggest baby in the family and the smallest baby.

*I have no talents. I am boring

*I am left-handed and can't do anything with my right hand. Not even sure why I have it?

*I know absolutely nothing about baseball! Don't ask me one solitary question about it. I might can tell you if we are winning.

*I am highly terrified of blood and needles...like to the point of blacking out!

That's all the boring I have for you today!

My advise for the day: Rinse out your dish before you put it in the sink to sit for the night or a few days because that food is a nightmare to scrape out! You may just have to throw it away and start over! Just sayin.....

Now go get some sleep and enjoy your night!

Lots of love..

My Little Piece of the Web

2021-06-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! I wasn't sure my little piece of the internet still existed, but here she is! I honestly have not given this blog any thought in along time until the other day someone ask about it. It has been on my mind ever since.

Why did you start blogging?", you ask. Well, I was a stay-at-home mom who was battling major depression, living in a town that I really didn't know anyone, and feeling awfully lonely, so what else should I do but start writing. When I started it truly felt like a journal. I have always wrote in a journal so it felt very natural to me. It was very cheap therapy for me! Get me? We all have our ways of dealing...

"Why did I stop?".... I have no real answer for that. I guess life. Being a stay-at-home mom came to a halt and I became extremely busy with "mommin' and working outside of the home". It looks like I wrote a few times in 2019, and then put it away for good.

I will always treasure this blog as precious memories for me and my family. I love to look back on my life and give God praise for all he has brought me through, and all he has blessed me with. Here it is 2021, and my life is totally different than it was. I'm just a 34 year old, 167lbs of hot mess trying to navigate through life like I somewhat know what I am doing. Do we ever figure this out or will I spend my entire existent looking back asking, "Did that just happen?"

Warning...If you do decide to follow me on this little journey, just know that sometimes I say things that will surprise you as much as they do me. I am horrible with grammar, so if you are reading this to correct my grammar then you better get to steppin'.

What you see is what you get with me. I don't have anything to hide. I don't pretend to be something I am not, and I am not perfect! Again, if you are looking for these things then click the x on the tab right now! This girl is not what you need!

I'll leave you with my advise for the day: Take the clothes out of the dryer and put them up immediately! (If not, they will sit in there for a week. Then you might move them to the top of the dryer, and then if you are lucky they may make it to the bed, couch or laundry basket)

Now go enjoy your day!

Lots of love

Hardest Job Ever

2019-04-08T14:42:00.001-07:00

Parenting...Something that almost everyone wants or dreams about doing, but do we ever really stop and think about all that comes along with it? I know I didn't. All I ever thought about was rocking the baby, reading books, playing, buying cute clothes to dress them in, and whatever other silly thing I had in my head. I never once stopped and thought about all the EXTRA that comes along with being a parent! The hard part about being a parent.
The minute my boys were born my mind was flooded with questions like, "How do I teach them to be responsible humans?" "How do I protect them in this crazy world?" "How do I teach them to be respectful men in a world full of disrespectful people?" "How do I teach them right from wrong" "How do I teach them the love of Christ" and so many other things. I learned that right then anyone can birth a child and call themselves a mom, but parenting/raising a child the RIGHT way is not for the faint at heart. I knew I had my work cut out for me. I knew right then I had to make a choice right then if I wanted to take the easy way of being a parent or put on my big girl panties and raise them in a way that would take blood, sweat, tears and LOTS of prayers.
10 years later, and I am still not sure I am doing any of it right. So many days I want to throw my hands in the air. So many days I want to lay in the floor and cry. So many times I question if I am the right person for this job. So many days I want to take the easy way and just sit back and let things happen. Thank God that he continues to tell my heart to keep on. To keep being the mother he created me to be.
In saying all of this, I wanted to share some things that I think make parenting hard......

*saying no! I think this is a biggie. I think it is much harder to say no than it is to say yes! I would LOVE to say yes to everything. Believe me...but that doesn't make it right. Parents..learn to say NO. It does not hurt our kids to hear the word no. One day the world is going to tell them no, and will they be able to handle it?

*Bible study with kids! I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to throw the towel in on this one! EVERY single time, we would sit down to have family bible time something would happen. Phones would ring, kids would say they are hungry, kids would say they are tired.... basically anything and everything until I would get so frustrated I would give up! Finally I decided I was going to fight on this one. I figured out a time that we wouldn't get interrupted, a time when they were not hungry or tired and guess what, it works? Are we perfect with it everyday? NO! But it is something that I feel is important so I am not going to give up!

*Teaching respect, and manners. THIS IS HARD and it takes not giving up!!! I feel like it is something that has to be a continuous thing every single day!! I literally remind my kids about their manners multiple times a day! Some days I feel like I am blue in the face. It would be much easier for me to just drop it and HOPE that they are using them, but I know that's not enough.

*Setting rules and boundaries..
Everyone has rules and boundaries that are important to them. The hardest part is following through with them. It's so much easier to just establish the rules and then just forget about it. When we establish rules we have to make sure our kids know what the rules are and make sure that they are following them. There should also be consequences set for them. Good and Bad. This has been hard for us as a family. So many times rules are set and one parent makes them follow the rules and the other doesn't. This makes it extremely tough.

I know there are many other things that make parenting hard, but in the end it is so rewarding!! I feel like when we put in the hard work we get to see the return. I love to hear people brag on my kids. It does make me feel like I am doing something right at times. I am so grateful that God chose me to be part of the hardest most rewarding job ever!

Hope everyone had a day full of blessings...

Lots of love.

Grandma

2019-04-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

Grandma.Granny. Grandmother. Nana. Mimi. Bennie. Gigi. Whatever name is used, it is a name that brings me instant comfort! I have been extremely blessed in the Grandma area of my life. I was raised with my dad's mom aka Grandma Margie. I also had my mom's stepmom, Betty, who I called Mimi. I never got to meet my mom's mom, Emma(she passed away when my momma was 9), but I have no doubt that she has watched over me from day 1. Since marring Matthew, I have gained even more blessing in the grandma area. Both of Matthew's grandmas have accepted me as their granddaughter, no questions asked.
Grandma Margie has always been a constant in my life. I honestly can't remember a time in my life that she wasn't there. Many of my childhood memories were made at her house. Spring breaks and summers were spent staying with her. Daddy and momma worked year round, so I would stay with her during all the breaks. We took trips to my Aunt's house in Cape. We worked in the garden. Hours were spent watching her sew or crochet. We shelled beans. We stood in the kitchen and watched her cook wonderful meals (breakfast, lunch and supper). We played in the sheets and towels that were hung out on the clothes line. Many games of hide and go seek were played. Tanya Tucker could be heard playing while we two stepped and danced around the living room. Night times were filled with reading books, or watching a movie while she put my hair in sponge rollers. I never remember being bored at her house. There was always something to keep us busy.
During Spring break, the boys and I went and stayed at Bennie and Pops (my mom and dad..they live probably less than a football field away from Grandma). While we were there, Grandma and I reminisced on the memories we made. We looked at old pictures and talked about the good times. We also spent some precious time in the kitchen cooking our favorite meal! White beans, fried potatoes, cornbread, and slaw. As I sat in her living room, tears came to my eyes because I felt like for the first time I actually saw her as an 88 year old woman. I saw the wrinkles and age spots on her hands, the grey hair, the tiredness in her eyes, and how she has slowed down. It finally hit me hard that this woman, the woman who has always been my cheerleader, the woman who has picked me up when I am down, the woman who never saw my faults, this woman who showed me a love of the kitchen, and many other things would not be with me forever.
The love of a grandma is like nothing else in the world. It is the precious hand that wipes away your tears. Its the arms that hold you until you fall asleep. Its the purse that you know without a doubt will have gum or some kind of candy in it.
When Matthew and I got married, I was sad because I knew I wouldn't see my Grandma as much as I was use to. I had no idea that God had a woman in my mind to step in and be the Grandma that I needed, enter Grandma Betty! There are not enough words in the world to describe how wonderful this woman is. 11 years later, and I can honestly say God knew I needed Grandma Betty. We have a wonderful relationship, and she has taught me the kind of mom and grandma I want to be.
My entire life has been surrounded by wonderful women, who have helped shaped the woman that I am and the woman I am still becoming. I thank God everyday for Grandma Margie and Grandma Betty. My life would not be the same without them, and I am beyond grateful for every moment I have with him. If you are lucky enough to have a grandparent living, please do everything you can to spend as much time with them as possible. Listen to their stories. Learn their ways (special recipes, sewing, etc). Take pictures with them. Just be with them. You will never regret it!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Lots of love...

Currently...

2019-03-13T07:36:00.001-07:00

Currently I am.....

Reading

Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah's Wife

I absolutely love books like this. Some of my favorite reads are about people in the Bible. One of my favorite books is Havah: The Story of Eve. Such a good read. This reminds me a lot of it. I feel like it kind of opens our eyes to what it was like back then!

Watching

Designated Survivor

Matthew and I were watching 24. Such a good show, but Matthew got burned out on it. I will say that 24 gets tiring. One season is 24 episodes, and by the end you are worn out mentally. We both really like Kiefer Sutherland, so I was happy that we found this show. The title basically tells what the show is about. He is the designated survivor for the president! Watch it..you won't be sorry.

Eating

If you know me, I am typically on some kind of diet. I hop from one to the next and have literally tried every kind of diet there is. Currently, I am low "carbing" it. I have actually stuck this out longer than any other diet/lifestyle/eat habit I have ever had. I don't really have a rhyme or reason to it. The last couple of months, I have been on a carb binge, eating everything in sight. I had to stop because the jeans are getting too tight, and I refuse to buy a bigger size. Back to the grind! Low Carb/Keto here I am...

Wearing

Right now, I am currently down on my closet! I am not sure what is wrong, but I am not liking anything I own. Do you ever go through this? I am really good about keeping things for years. Seriously, some of the shirts that I have, I have been wearing for 5 years. I am in dire need of a closet overhaul, but I don't even know where to start? Before I became a mom, I was some what trendy when it came to clothes..since then Yoga pants, and big shirts have become my trend??

Drinking

Water, Coffee, and Plexus Pink Drink

Planning

I am always planning trips to Disney, I just need the funds to go! LOL We are for sure going to the beach with Matthew's mom this summer, so our thing now is trying to figure out what we want to do with just the 4 of us! Disney? Cruise? We have toyed around with taking a Carnival Cruise. We have done the Disney Cruise and enjoyed it! We learned alot about cruises and would know what to expect for the next time. Matthew and I have also talked about flying out to Vegas for 3 days just to see what it is all about. We don't gamble, so basically we would be sight-seeing and eating!

Is there something that you are currently doing that I need to know about to add to my list??

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Lots of love..

Megan Marie Cohn

2019-03-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am Megan Marie Cohn. I was born September 5th, 1986 in Batesville, AR. My mom, Dana Bennett, and dad, Kenny Bennett were just babies themselves when they welcomed me into the world. I love the story they have. Two totally different worlds coming together to form a family! I am happy to say that they are still married today! I know they have had some rough times, but I thank God everyday that they have been able to look past their differences.
We lived in Cave City, AR until Dad took a job in Searcy, Ar. It was the summer before I started 2nd grade. I remember the first day of school so vividly. Momma was holding my hand and the closer we got to the door the tighter my grip on her was. That was in 1994, and 10 years later in 2004, I was walking across the stage getting my diploma from Searcy High School. I would say that my years in school were pretty good. Some years better than others. Probably the worst thing I ever dealt with was mean girls. I wish I could go back to my younger self and tell her not to worry about any of them. Once you get out of school, you never see any of them again. Its not worth the stress. I did walk away from Searcy High School with people who will always be in my heart. Do I see them often? No not at all. Even if I don't see them they are ones who I carry daily with me. (Audra, Amy, Sarah)
Momma and Daddy never had any more kids. It was just us! The three of us. Things were simple. They both worked hard for everything we had. They taught me responsibility. I got a job as soon as I was able. Thank you Ricky for hiring me when I was 13 at Sunrise Honda! ;) Honestly, there was never a time I was without a job until I had Jagger and became a stay-at-home mommy. They taught me honesty, integrity, compassion, hard work, and great love for music/movies and a good book! I did not grow up in a home where we went to church regularly. Momma said when we moved from Cave City, she just never found a church that she wanted to call "home". She did continue to do her best to teach me about God's love for me. I did attend VBS almost every year, and did manage to go to church camp with friends. This is when my love for Jesus started. Did I put him first for all those years? NO. I lived my life with him on the very far back burner. Not until Matthew and I got married, did I decide that I wanted him to be front and center. I wanted my home to be centered around HIM. I wanted my kids to grow up in a home that loves HIM and isn't afraid to show it!
Growing up, I never really saw myself as a mom. I never really wanted kids. I didn't really like being around kids. Maybe it's because I was an only and it was just a "grown up" environment. The moment I laid eyes on Jagger, I knew God had a different plan for me. If possible, I would have more than the two we have. I would love to adopt. Even before I had kids, I have felt led to adopt. I can't explain it, it's just something that has always been there. I have always felt led to go on mission trips. Why have I gone? I have no idea...It's on my bucket list and one day I will.
So, who am I? Who is Megan Marie Cohn.....
I am a mother (Thank you Jagger and Hudson)
I am a wife (Matthew, I am so glad had plans for us)
I am a daughter
I am a friend
I am a Jesus lover
I am a sinner (I mess up every day)
I am a prayer warrior
I am a book lover (sometimes obsessive)
I am a learner (I LOVE to learn about things and learn new things)
I am cook (one of my favorite types of therapy)
I am a worrier
I am a lover (I love to love on people...need a hug or a smile I am your girl)
I am a Southern girl (I am proud of my Southern roots)
I am a fixer
I am a honest person (Don't ask me unless you want the truth)
I am a controller (I like to be in control)
I am a Disney lover (sorry, but not sorry... I need to know when I can go back to Disney!)
I am a fan of cozy days by the fire with a good book
I am a foodie (food is what motivates me! Its why I go on vacation)
I am not good at controlling my temper (working on it)
I am not good at loving myself fully (I pick myself a part)
I am not good at patience (working on it)
I am not good at house work (who is?)
I am not good at rejection ( I just want to be loved and accepted)
I AM ME!!!!
I am so grateful for the life that God has given me. The good, bad and in between. I know each and every moment has made me the woman I am today.

I like to dance or at least pretend I can dance!! LOL

Sorry Jen and Nana...I had to...Such a fun night! LOL

Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love....

Ugly Monster

2019-03-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Daylight savings time...Yuck! Not my favorite week of the year. I think it actually gives me anxiety! I need that extra hour. LOL and then to top it off, we wake up today with it being dark and rainy! Really? Come on, we are all struggling enough.

Anywho, today's post may not be the happiest post you have ever read, but it is something that I feel needs to be shared. We all have battles we face in life. Alcohol, anger, lust, faithfulness, trust, and many things in between. My battle is anxiety and depression. I call it the "ugly monster".

This monster has been a part of me since I was little. I honestly didn't think that I had anxiety issues when I was little, but the older I have gotten I just realized that it showed up in different forms. Weather use to give me severe anxiety. I mean to the point that if a cloud came up in the sky, I would be crying in the closet. After getting over the weather, Hurricane Katrina hit, anxiety hit majorly over gas prices, and other things that I could not control. Presidential elections, end of the world, death, chaos in the world, kids committing suicide, and everything else in between.

As an adult, the first real time that the "ugly monster" reared it's ugly head was right after I had Jagger. I had no idea what was going on with me. I hit rock bottom, and had no clue what to do. This was the first time, I had to get medical help. I remember being so embarrassed going to a doctor to get help. I had went to our pastor, and he was the one that told me there was nothing to be ashamed of. Getting medical help for this did not make me any less of a Christian. (yes, that was something else I was battling in my mind! How could I be a Christian. have a relationship with Christ but still have depression and anxiety?) The doctor was so good to me. I remember filling out a survey about myself and things that I had faced within that year. Marriage, moving to a new state/home, death of a grandparent, becoming a stay at home mom after years of working, and a new baby. I was sitting in the doctor's office crying, asking, "what is wrong with me?" The doctor went on to explain that just facing three of these was enough to throw a person off, let alone 5 of them. I left there feeling better just knowing that there was a reason I was feeling crazy. I started medicine, and began the process of healing. About a year later, I was off of medicine and feeling much better. The next few years were not bad. I do not remember any major times the ugly monster came out to show his face. Then came Hudson. With my history, the doctors immediately put me on medicine. I am beyond happy that they did, because I had no idea what we were fixing to face. It was a long couple of years!! I felt like most of those years were truly spent just focusing on Hudson and his health. Its so weird because at times I look back and do not remember much about him being little. I don't remember a lot of his firsts? (this gives me anxiety) I don't remember playing in the floor with him as a baby. Was it because we were so caught up in his health? Who knows. I just thank God that we are were we are today. He is an amazing fighter, who gives me inspiration every day.

The last few years my battle with the monster comes and go. There is no rhyme or reason really. I can go months without any problems and then boom, he comes out to play. Some times its extremely easy to push him away, and other times it's a struggle. Back in October, I hit rock bottom again. My uncle passed away and it brought out a lot. Panic attacks like non-other. Waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, shaking uncontrollably, and crying that wouldn't stop. Fear of being alone. Obsessive thoughts that would NOT go away. I literally clung to my bible during that time. I would sit in the chair and hold it. Many times, I had no idea what to say except the name Jesus. Thank God he brought me out of that ugly time. It was a long couple of weeks. I really have no explanation of why it happened. I just know it was real. Winter has been on hard on me this. I am not really sure why. Possibly the thought of my uncle lingering in the back of my mind, and now we are facing new problems with our kiddos. This past weekend, I was in bed all weekend with my mind going fifty million different places. I just wanted to sleep. If I am a sleep then I don't have to deal with my mind. I don't have to deal with not being the best mom I can. I don't have to deal with explaining why I the tears are there for no reason.

Am I proud of the "ugly monster" I face? No. There are many days I question, why me? My life is amazing. I have a husband who adores me and our kids. I have two precious boys, who are beyond healthy. I am surrounded by family and friends who show me more love and support than I deserve. So why me? I have no answer for that. I do know that it is not something I want. I pray daily that God will heal me from this and that this monster will never show his ugly face again. Until then, my main goal is to face each day knowing that I have a loving Savior who will never leave my side. I want so many others that have an "ugly monster" to know that they are not alone. Talk about it. I know its hard and many people want to hide it, but that doesn't help the situation. Dig into scripture. Memorize. Memorize. Memorize. When the ugly monster does come out, you have a way to fight! Anxiety and Depression are a real thing. It is something that unless you face it, you will not understand it. It's as real as any other disease out there. If you know anyone or you face this, please know you are not alone.

Hope everyone has a super day!

Lots of love.....

Weekend Recap

2019-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am SO SO happy that the sun is shining!! I almost forgot what the sunshine looked like. No really, my family has been straight stir crazy over all the rain. My kids enjoy being outside, and there has been no outside. There has been more pouting, bickering, laziness, and the "don't want tos" in our house lately. I one hundred percent blame this on the weather. Ok, enough about the weather....This weekend was a pretty normal weekend. Saturday it rained all morning, so we watched a really good football movie with our boys. We love to pile on the couch together and watch a good movie. I bought a subscription to Pure Flix. It's very similar to Netflix except everything is Christian based. All the movies are clean and it just gives me a peace of mind that we are watching something not full of sex, drugs, and vulgar language. The movie we watched is called Hometown Legend. It is basically your typical football movie. The local football team is having a loosing streak, so an old football coach comes back to help the team get back on their feet. It was good, and both my boys enjoyed it!
After we watched the movie, the weather finally cleared off, so both boys were outside. I finished some chores around the house, and then read some in my book. We had plans that night to go eat craw fish with some friends, but the plans fell through, so Matthew and I stayed home to watch a movie. Matthew has been saying for some time that he wanted to watch A Star is Born. I have honestly been avoiding the movie because I am not good with romance, love stories. I know, I know....not what you thought huh? I just don't like to cry at movies. It sends me into anxiety for no reason, and I don't like it. I get to emotionally involved! So, I have been telling him no I did not want to see it, even though I do enjoy Bradley Cooper (I mean who doesn't?). We sat down while we were eating supper to decide what movie to rent. Matthew instantly says A Star is Born. My choice was Bohemian Rhapsody. We finally decide on A Star is Born, and we made a compromise, if it was too sad we would turn it off!!
Within 15 minutes into the movie, I was hooked and emotionally attached! The style of music Bradley Cooper sings in the movie is exactly the style we enjoy. I have never really given Lady Gaga a chance, but she was absolutely wonderful in the movie. I made it through the whole movie without crying until the end, and then I bawled like a baby!! Enter the compromise...Bohemian Rhapsody. I figured some good Queen music could cheer me up! I can say that I have become a little obsessed with the soundtrack to A Star is Born. I do this..I am so weird. When I find something I like (movie, book, whatever) I become obsessed. I love to research about the actors and actresses, the story behind the movie/book, or whatever else I can find. The last two days I have been watching interviews of Gaga and Bradley Cooper. I am just fascinated with the talent and what was put into the making of the movie! Bohemian Rhapsody was amazing also! But I knew a movie full of Queen music would be! ;)
Sunday was spent going to church, and then eating at Grandma's for lunch. After lunch, I went to the grocery store and then did some laundry. We did watch the Oscar's that night so we could see Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sing together. It was amazing! If you haven't watched it, google it! Wow.. (I am not convinced there isn't something between them)
We finally made it to bed, and boom, it's Monday morning again!
New week, new adventures, new memories and finally sunshine! ;)
Hope everyone has a super day filled with many blessings.
Lots of love.

Flu

2019-02-22T07:04:00.001-08:00

Flu! I do not like this word! It makes me cringe along with all the other sickness words out there. I really just want my family to live in a bubble, but I know that is not possible! I would not consider myself a germaphobe by no means. I don't like germs, but I don't obsess over them getting on us. I don't wipe things down constantly, or spray Lysol like crazy. We aren't the best at taking vitamins. We wash our hands, and that's about it! LOL I guess I am one of those that would rather my kids be exposed to some of this stuff so we can build up our immune systems. Let them eat dirt. Let their "paci" fall on the ground a few times. (I don't let them lick tables or other random things. There are some things that cross the line)
Saturday started out like any old day! Bennie and Pop had come up to visit, so we were doing what we always do when they come. Bennie cooked breakfast, while the rest of us worked on a puzzle and laid around. Hudson was acting just like his normal ol' self. He might have been a tad bit cranky, but I didn't think anything about it. That night they had a birthday party to go to for a few hours, so Matthew and I were excited to have a few minutes to watch our show without interruptions. When the kids got home, they were excited telling us about the party. Matthew was holding Hudson, and told me that he felt a little warm. My thoughts, "he has been at a party running around". Wrong!! I got the thermometer and it read 100.9. Here we go.. (Long post may get boring)
Hudson and I slept in the living room that night so I could keep an eye on him. Sometime during the night, he developed a cough and it got worse as the night when on. The next morning I decided we would go to urgent care just to be safe and make sure it wasn't flu. We get to urgent care when the doors open, and within 30 minutes they are sending us on our way with flu/strep test negative and prescription for Zyrtec! Let me give you a little history..Hudson was born extremely early, and because of that there are times that we have issues when he gets sick. He goes from 100 to nothing in no time. Last year in May, he was hospitalized because he was struggling so hard to breathe. It was very scary, but we know his body and when it is time to head to the hospital. He was showing the same signs on Sunday morning, so that is one reason we went to Urgent Care, hoping to prevent going to the hospital.
After we left Urgent Care, Matthew and I were not too happy with the situation. We had to pay $350 and all they did was swab for strep and flu, then sent us home with Zyrtec??? We had even explained his history and what we thought was going on. Oh you know, what do we know?? We are just his parents. Anyway, we spent the rest of the day at Matthew's moms house. With each passing hour, he continued to get worse. Fever kept going up and his breathing was no good. By 3:00, he was running 102 fever and having labored breathing. We decided to head back to Urgent Care. They knew when we came back it wasn't good. Long story short, 2 hours later we left. They did chest x-rays, blood, and everything else, but it was all coming back ok. They did go ahead and give a steroid shot to help with breathing. They even wanted to send us on to the hospital. We made the decision to wait and if he needed we would make the drive to Jonesboro during the middle of the night. If not then we would go to his pediatrician first thing the next morning.
The next morning we wake up to cough and fever going up. He had slept great through the night, which I thank the steroid for that!
I make the phone call to the doctor to explain what had been going on, and she says, "How fast can you be here". We hang up and head to Jonesboro. By the time we get there, he is running a good fever, so I was glad we were there. I hate when they are running fever and coughing, but when you get to the doctor it mysteriously disappears? How does this happen? Fast forward, 30 minutes and the doctor is coming in saying that flu and strep came back POSITIVE!!!! No wonder this baby boy was so sick! Booooo.... My mind went straight to the rest of us getting it. We had all been exposed, but there was nothing we could do about it.
By the time we got home, he was beyond exhausted. We laid around the rest of the day, and did nothing. (Well, I did finish reading my book)
Basically, the rest of the week has been a battle of keeping the fever down and resting. Oh and he lost over 5 lbs, so we have been trying to deal with that. I stayed home for 2 days with him, and honestly thought while he was napping I would get laundry and other things done. WRONG! Nothing...I literally stayed in pjs the whole time and held him. Anytime I would get away from him, he wanted me! I can say that I am not sad at all! I totally 100 percent enjoyed get to holding and care for my sick baby boy! It's not too often that they want momma! I'll take it when I can get it.
Well...that's all I have for you! That's the story of Hudson and the Flu. I am really praying and hoping that I don't have a story of Matthew, Megan, Jagger and the Flu to share with you! ;)

The puzzle we worked on for 3 days! I LOVE puzzles!

Day 3 pjs and nasty hair!

Last night, our Aunt Marg showed up with his favorite bread and chocolate to make him feel better!! Brother and Dad were super happy too! ;) We love Aunt Marg! She is the best!

Hope your day is full of many blessings and not too much rain!

Lots of love....

Home!

2019-02-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Home! What comes to mind when you hear this word? For me, I instantly think comfort. Warmth. Trust. Safe. I know for some that these may not be the words you feel. I see kids on a daily basis and I am sure the words that come to mind are scared, cold, and mean. My heart hurts so much for these babies.
I am sure you are wondering where in the world am I going with this? Well, we moved into our new house almost a year (in May) ago. I have been complaining and throwing silly little fits that it just hasn't felt like HOME! I am still trying to find furniture and other decor to spruce it up. (Now...don't start sending me messages about how I shouldn't be complaining about my house...I am not complaining at all. I LOVE our house! I am just being open and honest about my feelings towards it being "put together", and I am hoping others feel this way or have felt this way before) I look around at others (comparing, which is a NO. NO) and think that their house is so cute and put together! I look at websites and find tons of stuff to buy to put in the house. BUT does this stuff really make a house a HOME? Are the material things what makes us feel comfort, and warmth? NO! The other day, Jagger and I were having a discussion about his attitude. (10 year old has hit us hard with attitude? Not sure what is going on, but I was thinking I had a few more years?) I was explaining to him that our home should not be a place that is full of negativity, hostility, yelling, bad attitudes, and toxic behavior. I want my boys to want to come HOME. I want them to know when they walk in the door all judgment goes away. I want them to know they are safe. I want them to know that they are loved no matter what. I want Home to be a place that is full of laughter and love. HOME is a safe place from the yucky world out there. After talking to Jagger, it really hit me. All of these things that I have been wanting to make our house a HOME, we already have! Its the people in our house that make it a HOME! We may not have our house completely decorated. We may have blank walls. We may have piles of laundry and toys toys every where you look, but GUESS What? I'm ok with it! The next time we have a small pity party over how our house looks, lets stop and ask ourselves if we want a house or a HOME? A few things that have been going on in our home since October... ;)

Hope your day is full of many blessings.

Lots of love...

To Blog or Not to Blog?

2019-02-20T19:38:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe I am actually sitting down to write. I miss it so much, and can't believe it has been October since I have made a post!
To blog or not to blog that is the question. I have really been torn on whether to get the blog going again or just let it go. Satan likes to feel my head with a lot of negative thoughts. (No one reads your blog. You have horrible grammar. (Yes, Satan I know!) No one cares what you write about.) Just lots of yucky.
I started this blog several years ago as an outlet. I was a stay at home mommy, and I needed a way to get my thoughts out there. I was also lonely and bored at times, so I thought this would help. Guess what? It did!! My blog became my comfort. My passion. I loved getting on and writing. I consider myself a very open and honest person. Many times on here, I have put myself out there in a very vulnerable way. I have shared things that many people would not, but in every post you get the real me! I truly feel like the greatest blessings in life come when we are open and honest about who we are. God put us on this earth to care for others, and to share their burdens. How can we share others burdens if we are not open and honest about ourselves? No one is perfect and unfortunately we live in a fallen world that will not be made perfect until our Heavenly Father comes to restore it all. Until that time, I strive daily to be a person who sees others through love. A person who shows grace. A person who laughs even when she wants to cry. A person who sees the glass half full. A person who can make a difference in someones life even if I don't know about it!
If you have read this blog from the beginning, I hope that at some time or another it has brought you some kind of blessing. If not, then I am so sorry! ;) Moving forward if I decide to keeping going, I pray that God opens up this blog as a way to be a light in this dark world. To be a blessing in some way to whoever may be reading.
So......now that I am done rambling, I am going to ask y'all! Should I keep going or let it go? No one is going to hurt my feelings. I am not sure which way I will go, but I am hoping I will know soon!
Lots of love and blessings......

Walkin In High Cotton

2018-10-09T09:40:00.001-07:00

Cotton Harvest is one of our most favorite times of the year!! If you have never seen cotton harvested you are missing out! It is such an amazing process to watch. Matthew's grandpa has been farming over 60 years, so each year that we get to share with them on the farm is just even more special! I hope these are times my boys will treasure the most. I love the precious memories we make during this time of the year!

Two dirty boys on the farm make me one happy momma!!

Isn't this gorgeous...Matthew took this with his phone last night! Wow!!

and a little throwback...one of my all time favorite pictures of sweet Jagger at the farm!!

Lots of love and blessings....

It's Fall Y'all

2018-10-02T15:39:00.001-07:00

YAY!! It's finally October! This is one of my absolutely favorite months. All of my senses are super happy during this month! I really wish someone would tell Mother Nature that it is October. I'm thinking she forgot and thinks we are still in the month of July! Come on cooler weather, my sweaters are ready to come out of hiding!
If you know me, then you know I love themes!! Each month brings a new theme, and new decorations. I was so excited to pull out the fall decorations and get our house ready to celebrate the month! I always enjoy seeing other people's decorations and what decorations hold special meaning to them. In saying that, I thought I would share what we have going on in our home this month!

Let's start with outside.....Not much going on here and I am not finished. I will probably have to give you an updated picture when we get done...(ps...we were the family that said we would never have blow ups..Boy did that one slap us in the face! We now have a collection!) I tried to keep it simple out front. My ferns are still living so I wanted to incorporate them in with my fall stuff. I still need to add mums and some more pumpkins!

This is in our dining room! The boys love to put leaves everywhere so I just let them go crazy. The silver platter is what Matthew got me for our 10 year anniversary this year. It's the "tin for our 10."

This a canvas that Momma and Jagger did together. Painting is one of their favorite things to do together. I love having their artwork to put out!

The little haunted house is a piece we have had for awhile. Jagger has always loved Halloween, so every year he wants to get a new decoration. I am almost sure this was the first piece we ever got!

Again, leaves and pumpkins randomly put out...

I love this Halloween sign because my dear friend Rachel gave it to me when she was cleaning out her office. I was going to put it in my classroom, but the boys wanted it here! We said when we see it we would think of Mrs. G!! :)

If Grandma Betty and Jagger go in a store together, you never know what they will come out with. This is one of those times...Our friend here came from Walgreens when Jagger was 3 or 4. He has been a family favorite ever since.

This picture cracks me up! It is one of my favorite pictures of Jagger when he was a baby. That day I thought I would get some cute pictures of him sitting in the beautiful leaves. WRONG! He hated those leaves, so this is what we ended up with!

I love this because my boys strategically put these pumpkins in place. If I even tried to move them they would get mad at me. I finally decided that where they put them was perfect!

I miss the age that we could do cute hand print and footprint pictures! This one just makes me smile!!

At one time, this telephone would ring and a scary voice would come on. It use to scare my boys too death! We would get so tickled at them. Now it doesn't do anything but look cute!

Happy Everything plate with the pumpkin attachment!! I get so excited when I get to put the new attachments on the plate! It's the small things, I guess! :)

And we can't forget soap!!! Bath and Body thank you for providing cute bottles to go along with your awesome soap!!

I was hoping the boys would be more enticed to wash their hands if they thought it was Vampire Blood!! Geeezzzz...what is it with boys and washing hands or brushing teeth????

Well, there you have it! Our home is ready for the season! Now let's just pray the weather catches up!

Lots of love and blessings..

We Are Still Here!

2018-10-01T15:18:00.001-07:00

I know, I know. I haven't wrote anything in awhile! I really have no excuse except laziness! I started back to work and everything fell to pot! Not really, but it sure felt like it. I am going to try and catch you up to what we have been up to without boring you too death!
July 29th was the last time I wrote anything and I am actually kind of shocked at how much we have done in two months! No wonder I am so tired!

*Family trip to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals! This trip was so fun. Our boys have never been to a Cardinals game, so it was an exciting weekend. We ate lots of good food while we were there and shared so many laughs. I always love a quick weekend getaway! I highly recommend staying at the Hilton at Ballpark Village. We have stayed there both times we went to St. Louis this summer and it did not disappoint!

* Allyson turned 22!! Our girl turned 22!! Where has the time gone??

*Back to work! Started new position. The beginning of the year was exciting for me because I started a new position. I switched from the office to a classroom! I am now K-2 Computer lab, and LOVE it!! My favorite part is getting to be with the kiddos everyday!

*Jagger started 4th grade. Hudson started prek. How is this even possible?? They are suppose to be babies. Jagger is not crazy about school. He says school is a waste of time, and that he learns more when he is with his Pop. I have tried to explain to him that I completely agree with him, but he really doesn't have a choice. Hudson, on the other hand, LOVES school!! and when I say LOVES it, I mean loves it. Loves everything about it. This makes my momma heart so happy!

* My birthday- 32! 32 is going to be a good year, I just know it! So far, 30's are the best! I am not sure what is different. Maybe I am just more comfortable in my own skin? Whatever it is, I like it. Cheers to a great year!

*Hudson started soccer!

*The Fair! I am not really sure what has happened to me, but over the last few years the fair has become one of my least favorite places? I go for my kids, but I am not sad to see it leave town. This year was different for us because our boys are at the age where they ride different things. Matthew and I had to divide and conquer. He went with Jagger and I went with Hudson. Hudson likes to ride the same ride over and over and over and over and over!

Well....there you have it! That's what we have been up to over the last two months! Nothing too exciting, but still good memories!
Lots of love and blessings

Challenge 2: Date Night at Goodwill

2018-07-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

Challenge number 2 was an absolute blast!! I was so super happy that we got to share this challenge with the besties! I had mentioned the challenge to Heather and she immediately responded with, "yes, count us in". It worked out perfect that we do this to celebrate her birthday!! Happy Birthday Heather! Love you!!
The whole point of this challenge was to go to Goodwill with your date and find them an outfit to wear out on a date!! They have no clue what you are buying them until it is time to put it on! Since this was our first time doing this, we didn't put any stipulations on it. Next time we do it a little different! Challenge accepted, here is how it happened......

When we got inside the fun started!! Heather and I grabbed a cart. The guys no cart! Heather and I were laughing and giggling the whole time. We actually found some cute stuff that will be worn again!

Look at them shopping so seriously!!!

After we checked out, we met at the truck to hand the other person their date night outfit!!

This is when the revealing happened!! I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!!! My stomach was hurting from laughing. I am not sure what I expected Matthew to pick out for me, but it was FAR from what he got me!!

Black Jeggings with no zipper!!! and a black shirt or so you think!!!! WAIT FOR IT.. WAIT for....

The entire back cut out with angel wings!!!! YES!!!! Seriously???? Heather and I were quit confused on where Matthew was thinking I was going??? ALL black? The rave? Marilyn Manson concert? Not sure on this one, but it was hysterical!

Now with Heather we are pretty sure that Blake thought she was going to school!!!! She had the nice long cardigan with a gray tank under it!! They also bought our jeans too!

Work it girl!!!

Love you Friend!!!

AND THE GUYS.......... no date night outfit is complete without the Patriotic Eagle shirt, Calvin Klein Jeans/Pants, and the DuckHead button up over it!!!

I have never laughed so hard over this picture.......looks like a 80's music video!!! (and no his hands aren't on my bottom! )

Look at these two hotties!!!! The looks they were getting were PRICELESS!!!!!

Because I thought you needed another good look at the back of this shirt!!! WOW!

Thank you Goodwill for providing us a great night with awesome friends!!! We will be back to do this again!! and guys next time I want some floral patterns with shoulder pads or something!!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!!

Lots of love...

In This House!

2018-07-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

In this house we are far from perfect!! We screw up on a daily basis, but I'm ok with that! Matthew and I have tried to the best parents we can be. There are some things I wish we would have done different, but I feel like overall we are doing a pretty good job. I want my kids to look back when they are older and have happy memories of growing up. I want them to enjoy their time at home as kids. I want home to be a safe place. A place where they feel comfortable and can share anything on their minds. A place where they can be them. A place full of laughter and love. Isn't that what we all ultimately want? One thing I have learned is that it doesn't just happen!! You have to work at. You have to put forth some effort, and this my friends is where changes are coming to our house! Matthew and I both are guilty of just thinking that if we put on a happy face that everyone will just "get it". If we smile and blow it off, our kids will automatically understand what we expect and how to act! WRONG!! They have to be taught what is expected. They have to be taught how to act!
I sat down the other night and came up with 10 things that are important to our home! I haven't decided what to call them. I don't like the word rules because it seems so negative.. Suggestions are welcome. They will be typed and hung on the wall!!

1. We respect everyone.

2. Keep voices at a normal level. No reason to yell unless you are hurt.

3. When Mom and Dad are talking you listen. That means stop what you are doing.

4. Obey Mom and Dad- even if you don't like it!

5. If you can't say anything nice, just keep your mouth shut!

6. Manners are a must! No questions

7. Only good attitudes! If something is bothering you, lets talk about it.

8. We are going to church! We may not always feel like it, but we are going!

9. Love each other! We are a special gift from God to each other...so act like it!

10. God is #1!!! If other things are being put in front of HIM, those things need to go!

Now that we have those (still need a name), we also decided it's time to really focus on positive behavior! We are bad about harping on the bad behavior (bad attitudes, bad manners, being bad, etc), I really wanted us to focus on the good!! Enter the "Caught Ya Being Good" jars! Each boy has a jar, and when they are caught doing good, they get to put a rock in their jar! When the jar is full, they can pick a prize from the prize jar! The prizes are GOOD, so they want them!

Every day is a working progress. We are far from perfect and don't want to be perfect! In this house what we want to be is happy, fun, loving, compassionate, caring, God fearing, silly, and most importantly full of good memories!!

Hope you have a super blessed day!

Lots of love....

5 Random Facts You May Not Know About Me!

2018-07-17T10:56:00.002-07:00

Most of you that read my blog know me! Some of you know me better than others. I like to think that I am a pretty normal person, at least at times. There are times I do question that? Don't we all? I thought it would be fun to share a few random things you may not know me about me!!

1. I am an only child and the only grandchild on both sides!! On my dad's mom side, I am not the only one but on his dad's side, I am the only grandchild! (and no I am not that spoiled!) Growing up, I never really gave it any thought, but as I have gotten older, it is extremely strange that I am the only 1.

2. My first job was work at Sunrise Honda at the parts counter!! Yup that's right, parts girl right here! Spark plug anyone? What's even better I was 14 when I started!! I worked there through most of high school, and it's funny because my Dad says some of his customers still ask about me!! Guess, I was a good parts girl!

3. I have a small obsession with Disney! Not just the mouse, but anything Disney! Every movie, every song, character, all the merchandise..You name it and I love it! This started when I was a small child! Call me weird, but Disney World is one of my favorite places to be. (Actually counting down the days until we go back) I love the smells, the sounds, and just everything about it. Wonder if they would hire me? I would be a great park greeter!

4. I have battled depression and anxiety most of my life!! At one time, I was extremely embarrassed and ashamed of this, but now it's just who I am. It's just something that I deal with. As I have gotten older, I have learned more of what triggers my anxiety and what things I can do to manage it. One thing that I have learned is that I am not alone! So many people battle this, and the best thing is to be there for others who are going through it!

5. My favorite song in the whole wide world is Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones! Can't really explain why, I just have always loved this song. It makes me happy! oh and Hello....hints the name Jagger :)

Well.....there are my random things!! Did you learn anything or are you a lucky one who already knew all this??? If you are, I am pretty sure I was thanking God for you this morning!

Hope everyone has a super blessed day!

Lots of love..

Challenge 1: Concert Outfit from Wal-Mart!

2018-07-16T14:36:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!! It's been a week or so since I have been on here and I have a lot to share! I won't dish it out all at one time, so I will start with the one I am the most excited about! A couple of weeks ago, I figured I would start something new on my blog..Challenges! I always like a good challenge. So basically, I will take a challenge and see what I can come up with. I am thinking recipes, decorating, crafting, outfits....whatever comes to mind! I would love for some of you to give me a challenge and see what we can come up with!
My first challenge was to find a concert outfit from Wal-Mart!!! Wal-Mart has recently stepped up their game on a lot of things, so I was excited to get started on this one. So in rare Megan fashion, I loaded up my side kick- Allyson, gave Hudson the fully charged cellphone (thanks YouTube kids), and walked into Wal-Mart ready to shop! I'm really mad at myself because I completely forgot to get pictures while we were there. I blame that on Hudson having my phone, but he was really good the whole time, so we will take that as a win!
After two hours in the store this is what we came up with........

This super cute plain white tank, and these cropped jeans!! Total price less than $20!!!! Tank was $5 and jeans were $13 and some change!! I absolutely love this tank and have bought it in more colors. It is a great staple and I plan on wearing it in the fall with cardigans. I did buy a small in the tank and as you can see I still had room to tie it up! I have bought the medium in another color just to have a more relaxed look! In the jeans, I ended up with a 6. They are high wasted, and I was a little worried about them, but they were super comfortable. I love the detail on them, and the frayed bottoms give it that extra touch. I will for sure wear them again.
My shoes were shoes I already had. I found two cute pairs but they didn't have my size, so I just decided to wear what I had.

Challenge 1 complete! I am ready to take on my next challenge. If you have a challenge that you would like to suggest let me know!!
Hope everyone had a super blessed day!
Lots of love......

Family, Friends, and Fireworks!

2018-07-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

4th of July!! One of my favorite holidays! What's better than family, friends, fireworks and good food??

Growing up, the 4th was a HUGE ordeal for my family! My dad would take off the whole week of the 4th. We would pack up, and head "home". "Home" is what we called Strawberry! Strawberry is where my grandma Margie, and my uncles live. (Bennie and Pop live here now! Several years ago, they decided to leave Searcy where we lived for over 20 years and moved back "home") This is the town my dad is from, and about 15 miles away is Cave City, which is where my mom is from! If you have never heard of Strawberry, don't feel bad, not many people have. Its a super small town that if you are not paying attention you will blink and miss it!

Anywho... We would load our bags, four wheelers, tents and fireworks and head "home". The whole week was spent swimming in the creek, camping, shooting fireworks, and eating lots of good food! There would be times as many as 50 people would be on the farm visiting and hanging out. Lots of good memories. We don't spend a week down at the farm anymore, but every year this holiday brings back so many precious memories for me. I am glad that my boys love to celebrate the 4th and hope that when they get older they will look back and have good memories also.

Hope everyone had a super blessed 4th!!

Lots of love....

Celebrating Us

2018-07-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Almost every year around our anniversary, we spend one night in Memphis to celebrate! This weekend was our weekend to celebrate. We stayed at The Peabody, which was so cool! If you have never stayed, I suggest trying it at least once. There is so much history, and getting to see the ducks was fun! Now, we normally stay at Harbor Inn, but they were booked for the weekend. The rooms were nothing special, but the atmosphere was great!! Such an old southern feel, and since everything has ducks on it, it was right up our alley! Duck pillows, duck blankets, duck soap, ducks everywhere! Yes, we get excited over the small things! ;) The trip was short and sweet, but it was filled with great music, amazing food (Automatic Slims for brunch Saturday, Itta Bena for supper on Saturday, and Majestic Grille for brunch on Sunday!! All of them highly recommended!) , and most importantly time for US! Cheers to 10 years and can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 10 years!!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love...

A Decade With You!

2018-06-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

10 years ago today, we said "I DO". Two tiny words that have such a BIG meaning. These two words have brought us through so many memories in a short ten years. Last night I was laying in bed, thinking about all the memories and I was brought to tears! There have been so many good times! So many laughs! Vacations. 2 precious Boys. Pets (I've lost count) A new house. New jobs. Several not so good times. Loss. Heartache, and Uncertainty.

I am oh so grateful for those two words we both said before God and our family. Here's to the next 10 years and many more pages in our book!!

I love you to the moon, Matthew Cohn! Thank you for doing life with me!

Hope everyone has a super blessed day!

Lots of love..

Family Reunion and a Wedding!

2018-06-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

Our Saturday was jammed packed! We left the house at 6:45, drove to Bennie and Pops aka Momma and Dad, got ready and left for the reunion. Reunion was from 11 to 1/2. We drove back to Bennie and Pops so we could change and head to the wedding. It was a full day for us because after the wedding, we drove back to Kennett, but my heart was so full I wouldn't have it any other way!

Momma and I may have our differences at times, but one thing is for sure she is the life of the party! She loves to have a good time, and has a great sense of humor! Some of my favorite times with her is when we laugh at stuff until we cry!!

I love this picture so much because it represents my Grandma Emma, who is watching us from Heaven. She is my Momma's mom, and has been with Jesus since my mom was 9 years old. Many times I have wondered what it would be like to have her around. Would be super close? Would we have a lot in common? Would the three of us take girl trips and spend time together? I know one thing is for sure, she has always been one of our guardian angels watching over us!

If you know us, then you know we have a true love for our country!! We love the red, white, and blue! My cousin is in Washington DC getting to do an internship at the capital building, and she sent the boys these shirts. They were beyond and excited! Thanks Devyn!

Wedding Time!! Growing up, my cousin Rick and I were the youngest, so for several years it was just us!! We were inseparable! I honestly thought he had hung the moon, until Uncle Danny met Aunt Brenda, and her two boys moved into our lives!! Now I had three boys that I thought hung the move! The 4 of us were thick as thieves!! Always in to something, and being the girl, I tried my best to keep us out of trouble! Donnie and his brother Joseph have always been there for me! We have shared lots of laughs, wild nights, and many breakfasts at Grandma's table. I am so happy that I have gotten to share their special days with them as we have grown up!

My Aunt Brenda!! Wow! Talk about someone who has been there! I know I can always count on her! She has always been a great listener and never made me feel guilty for some of the stupid choices I have made! Some of our best times was piled up on the couch watching a movie or heading to Wild River Country to soak up the sun!!

Donnie's bride, Katelyn was absolutely beautiful!! She is so sweet and I am so excited to have her in the family!

My sweet Grandma!! She has always been my #1 supporter! Spring breaks and summers were spent with her! In college I moved in a lived with her for several months! It is some of the best memories I have. She has always encouraged me, and been there no matter what!

Typical picture of us!!! No telling what in the world I am saying! LOL

Well that's a wrap!
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love...