Where I Have Been...

I think I can sum up everything in this...GOD IS SO FAITHFUL.

The last few months seem like a blur. I truly can't believe I haven't written since June. I guess the answer to where I have been is LIFE. It moves on whether we are willing to keep up or not. Some of you know where I've been and what I've been up to, others do not; so let me take a few moments and catch you up to speed...

Let me catch you up on the trivial first; the trivial still fits with God being faithful. Before we left for Beach Break for the month of June, our washer and dryer went kaput. It really is quite humorous...because they are really old, the dryer stopped drying and we took it to be repaired (for over a month); then, I guess because the washer was so lonely, it decided to WALK OFF the edge of the stand it was on...it committed suicide. It had irreparable damage. So, we left with the prospects of washing laundry the old fashioned way, no kosher. While at camp, we were told not to buy anything; members of our chapel community had researched and bought us a 1 year old set washer and dryer, and delivered it 2 days after we arrived home. God was faithful.

July was very un-typical for us; we were really busy. Chris was busy doing much of the testing for his dissertation and proofing the first three chapters. We had also met Jenna, a girl at camp who was interested in serving as our intern for a year here at Hohenfels; we were busily trying to help her through the process of support raising from across the ocean. I had started leading worship in 3 services again, and I was struggling with some major exhaustion. Near the end of the month I had a Dr.'s appointment to get some blood work done. All was fine, but something was brewing...God was faithful...

Hunter ended school on August 1 and my parents arrived for a visit; they were on their way to a cruise in the Mediterranean for their 40th anniversary. They arrived back to a very cranky and tired Meaghan. We discovered a day later that I was pregnant. This was such an answer to prayer, as we had been trying for another baby for over 2 years. This was a very exciting time, and a relief to discover a reason for my tiredness. A day later Jenna, our new intern, arrived (I will introduce you to Jenna in another entry, very soon). She is a great addition to our team here at Hohenfels and we are excited to watch God work through her. God was faithful.

After a 6 week break Hunter started back to school, and Mommy finally had time to rest. All the signs and confirmations were good that I was having a healthy pregnancy. They do things ve different here in Germany as far as pregnancy visits go. I went in for a 8 week check-up and the Dr. was very concerned, he could not find a heartbeat on the ultrasound. I was not worried at all. I believed him to be over reacting. He asked me to come back 6 days later with my husband. I still was not worried, as I was showing no signs of problems. 6 days later, on a Sunday afternoon, we returned to my Dr.'s office and he began to do ultrasounds; we were able to see the baby, and while measuring small, there seemed to be no reason for concern. So, the Dr. proceeded to tell us that the pregnancy was finished. We asked many questions, since again I was showing NO signs.ry He told me the next step was to go to the hospital and they would continue to my care in the process. We came home that evening in complete PEACE. We felt that until we had signs that there was a problem, we were just going to trust God, and we asked many of you to pray with us. God was faithful....More than 24 hours elapsed, when I began spotting; my heart sank. I knew it was possible to spot through a part or all of a pregnancy, but I was at peace, knowing I was in the midst of a trial. The next day we ventured to the hospital, about 30 minutes from our home. We walked into the women's clinic and waited not long for a Dr. to escort us upstairs for an ultrasound; they were so kind and thorough, conducting 3 different types of ultrasound, only to tell me that I was loosing the baby. I was ready for all this to be over, so they scheduled me for a D and C the following morning. Chris and I left with heavy hearts. After being at home for a while and having many conversations, I had resolved that I did NOT want to have the procedure, but rather, let my body do what it is supposed to do at this time. So, I waited. On Wednesday evening, I had an experience that can only be likened to my water breaking. The next 18 hours were my body taking itself what felt like the process of labor, as far as contractions. It was a time full of tears and pain, much talking on the phone to my mom, trying to sleep, and praying. All I can say is I felt wrapped up in the arms of God. God was so faithful. I returned to the hospital the next morning for a check-up and they said I was good, but I would need a follow up appointment in 2 weeks. That appointment was yesterday, and I was cleared as healthy.

So, what I have learned through this process. God has drawn Chris and I not only closer to each other, but also unto Himself. While there have been tears, there has been peace, comfort, love, and even bits of joy. I can't explain any of this. I just know that we had no where else to turn, but to HIM. Sure, we could have blamed God and become angry, but in the end that only would have hurt us. So, instead of feeling alone or isolated, I have felt comfort from my husband, my son, my family, my friends, but most importantly Jesus Christ has been my comfort through this storm. I am continually reminding myself of how I have felt God at this time, and how He has been so faithful in many other times of my life. I have heard it said like this "How do I know He will care for me today? Because He cared for me yesterday! And the day before! And the day before! He never changes! He'll never forget me." He is repeatedly there in the big and small stuff, proving He is really invested in my life and my care. Where would I be without Him. GOD IS SO FAITHFUL...and He will be again.

*Quote: Beth Moore, Living Beyond Yourself 1998 (3rd printing 2005)