The Simple Life.

Pin It Now! All too often, our expectations in life lead us to believe that we need things to make us happy, we need stuff to occupy our time,  and we need success in order to define what we have accomplished. But what does all this stuff really do in the long run? It fills our lives with unnecessary baggage, stuff we need to carry around with us... just to have in our possession. 

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE all my stuff. I am your typical teenage girl, obsessed with the newest technology, my makeup collection, my stack of romantic comedies,  and my pile of books that I have read from cover to cover. I know I appreciate these material possessions as an important part of my life (and I do realize how blessed I truly am for having them all) but sometimes I wonder what life would be like without all the stuff. Don't you?

Sometimes, we even convince ourselves that we wouldn't be anything without our stuff. That's when things start to get scary... Can we really not live without our cell phones or laptop computers? I agree that these material possessions can truly enhance our quality of communication, our connection to the people around us, and our knowledge of our world, but is there a way to live with just what we need? Or is that simply asking too much?

After moving all my stuff to a new dorm, I realized how much stuff I brought with me to school... I kept asking myself, "How/why would I EVER need this much STUFF???" I was even tempted to throw some of it away, just because it seemed like too much work to move it all. I began asking myself... is there a way to live more simply? Would it help me truly appreciate all that I am blessed with.

I challenge you to evaluate how much you value your stuff? Is it devaluing more important things in your life? In the end, it isn't our phones that make us happy, it's the people on the other end.

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

1 Corinthians 3:16

Peace.Love.Inspiration.

Meaghan

Family Love Away From Home

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There is something about being with FAMILY that is so incredibly beautiful. There is no need for deep conversation, planned activities, or gourmet meals... simply being with them is more than enough.

Family is something truly special. When I am around my family, I don't feel pressure to be someone I'm not, I feel like I belong, and I feel genuinely loved and appreciated. It is a place and a relationship unlike any other human relationship known to man. This weekend I got to see my MOM and SISTER. Being with them is like hanging out with my best friends. My mom and I can talk about anything, I can always count on her to make me feel like the most special daughter in the entire world. She is my role model, best friend, and the most incredible mom I could EVER ask for. I honestly don't know what I would do without her.

Being away at school, family time is something extremely rare (besides phone and text conversation of course). Being away from home has truly shown me how much I need my family, how much I depend on them, and how important they are in my life. I would be nothing without them. So when I do get time with my family, I try to laugh, smile, and just appreciate being with them. I am so blessed.

Take advantage of the time you have with your family. Use time apart to grow in relationship with them. Realize that you CAN depend on them.. realize that they are your best friends and the people that will love you until the absolute end. Realize that they will do anything for you. Love them each and every day like it is the last. And... don't be afraid to shed a tear when they pull away from the curb outside your dorm room. They will be back... :)

"We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

Peace.Love.Inspiration.

Meaghan

Love Away From Home

Pin It Now! There is something about being with FAMILY that is so incredibly beautiful. There is no need for deep conversation, planned activities, or gourmet meals... simply being with them is more than enough.

Family is something truly special. When I am around my family, I don't feel pressure to be someone I'm not, I feel like I belong, and I feel genuinely loved and appreciated. It is a place and a relationship unlike any other human relationship known to man. This weekend I got to see my MOM and SISTER. Being with them is like hanging out with my best friends. My mom and I can talk about anything, I can always count on her to make me feel like the most special daughter in the entire world. She is my role model, best friend, and the most incredible mom I could EVER ask for. I honestly don't know what I would do without her.

Being away at school, family time is something extremely rare (besides phone and text conversation of course). Being away from home has truly shown me how much I need my family, how much I depend on them, and how important they are in my life. I would be nothing without them. So when I do get time with my family, I try to laugh, smile, and just appreciate being with them. I am so blessed.

Take advantage of the time you have with your family. Use time apart to grow in relationship with them. Realize that you CAN depend on them.. realize that they are your best friends and the people that will love you until the absolute end. Realize that they will do anything for you. Love them each and every day like it is the last. And... don't be afraid to shed a tear when they pull away from the curb outside your dorm room. They will be back... :)

"We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

Peace.Love.Inspiration.

Meaghan

Peace in 2011?

Pin It Now! Life is crazy. It is full of ups and downs. It changes in the blink  of an eye. Perfect sanity can switch to mere insanity in a matter of moments.
The question becomes... do we try to change the world, or do we change ourselves to accommodate the world around us? It's a tricky situation, because we have to admit that the world is not going to become a peaceful place over night. It may never be a peaceful place. But in order to deal with the craziness and trouble, we have to learn how to have a calm heart.


What does it really mean to have a calm heart? It means having faith that everything is going to turn out okay in the end. It means letting go-trusting that God has you in the palm of his hand. It is learning to live life appreciating the little things- acknowledging the people around you, giving thanks for everything you are blessed with. It is learning to step away from the insanity, and recognizing that YOU are in control.


Take 5 minutes to unwind and think about how often you are running around in life, playing catch-up, "rushing" from one thing to the next. What are we trying to catch up to? The truth is, we will never really catch up... because we were never really behind in the first place.



I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33 


Peace.Love.Inspiration.
Meaghan

Be Vulnerable. Open Up.

Pin It Now! Do you have emotional walls up? Are you always scared to let people in? Who is the real you, what do you stand for, what do you believe in, what holds you back, what makes you smile? I love the quote above because it is so true. We often think we are afraid to "end up alone" (any woman will probably say that is at the top of their not to do list), when we are truly just scared to let people in. 
Being vulnerable is something I constantly struggle with... and with good reason. It may not be the smartest thing to open up to people 5 minutes after you meet them, but it shouldn't take me years to finally get beyond generic conversation. 


So how do we push ourselves to get beyond the word acquaintance and to develop true friendships? I think the answer lies in trust. Learning to trust people, and believing that by telling someone who you are will not only bring you closer to them, but will benefit you individually as well. Opening up to others can take mounds of pressure off our shoulders, can confirm that we are loved, and can give us a sense of belonging.


If I would have been afraid to open up in college... I wouldn't have the incredible group of friends I have surrounded myself by. I would be left alone.. in the dark. And life is so much happier with people to share it with, trust me. So if you find yourself constantly battling those voices that tell you to hold back, tell them off. Be vulnerable and be open. It WILL change your life.


Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

Peace.Love.Inspiration.
Meaghan