HOW I MET MY HUSBAND {PART 7}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 1}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 2}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 3}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 4}

Click here for How I Met My Husband {Part 5}

Click here for How I Met My Husband {Part 6}

It was Saturday, February 13th, 2011. Exactly one year later from the day I first met Casey at the Theology of the Body talk in San Diego. 

The evening of the 13th I had to work the Mardi Gras Charity Ball for Catholic Charities of Orange County. The following day was Valentine's Day. I got home late from the ball and had a bunch of valentines that I still needed to finish up.

Confession: I can get WAY over my head with crafting. I had good intentions, but I probably was making too many labor intensive valentines that year. Let's just say I stayed up till 3am working on them... Why, you may ask? Because I am crazy; literally crazy. Casey had a big day planned for us, and instead of preparing for that, I was cutting, stamping, and glue gunning paper. 

The plan was to leave my house early in the morning to head down to San Diego, so we could spend the day together. Instead, I woke up late with my head resting on my kitchen counter in a pile of pink and red hearts, and a piece of paper stuck to the side of my face. It was a moment of sheer panic! What had I done? I had waited my whole life for a Valentine's Day like this, and my inner "Martha Stewart wannabe" had ruined it. 

I frantically called Casey and told him what had happened. Thank God he is an understanding person because at the time I was calling him from my home in Orange County, I should have been arriving at his house in San Diego. He calmed me down and told me, "everything was going to be fine." He told me to just get ready and get to San Diego when I could. Reason #50883 that I love him. 

I arrived to beautiful pink roses, a heartfelt card, a box of cupcakes from "Cupcake Square," and a set of little containers from Anthropologie. Yes, Anthropologie! I would have been impressed if he had even heard of Anthropologie, but the man not only had heard of it, but had shopped there; for me! Reason #50884 why I love him. Before we left his house, I was given the container with the number 4 on it. I opened it up, only to find a sweet note inside, with "Level 4" written on top. 

Why the numbers? Did they mean something? Yes. Yes, they did :) 

When we started dating, I would often joke around with him that our relationship was only on "level 2" or "level 3". For example, it was one of my friend's birthday parties and everyone was asking me why I didn't invite Casey, which I kindly replied with, "We are only on level 3, that would be level 7." The numbers were his way of playing off my weirdness with relationship levels. 

He had to rearrange a lot of things due to my later arrival, but he was very gracious about it, and the day was better than any Valentine's Day I dreamed about. 

Each place that he took me, I was given another container. "Level 5" was a late picnic lunch on the top of Mount Soledad, which has one of the best views in San Diego. "Level 6" was a beach front spot in La Jolla right on the water. "Level 7" was Mass at the beautiful Founder's Chapel at the University of San Diego (later to find out that we would get married in this chapel). After Mass, there was one container left. We were outside the chapel walking to the car before going to dinner, where he decided  to give me the last container. 

When he handed me the last container, I realized there was a zero on it. I was intrigued to say the least. I opened it and found the sweetest note. I won't share the whole note, but here is a little excerpt, 

"From the time we began hanging out, there have been many "levels" to our friendship. I know this has been a joke and I think it has been really cute, but "Level 0" brings thing back to square one. No more levels. As a pursuer, I feel like it is my role to initiate 'the next level'."

The note went on to say all kinds of gushy and romantic stuff, and my heart was fluttering. This guy was the man of my dreams. I had put him through so many tests and "levels", and he always exceeded my expectations. When I finished reading it, I looked up at him, and he told me everything I waited my whole life to hear. 

He held my hands and looked deep into my eyes, so I knew he could see my heart and I could see his. He told me that I was beautiful, he thanked me for helping him to know Jesus' love more through my love, and that he was ready. He was ready for the next level. Before I could respond, he told me that if I wasn't ready, it was okay. He would wait until I was, that he would even wait years for me. 

It was silent for about a minute. Then I shared how honored I would be to share my heart with him. I will never forget, when he looked at me and said, "So you are saying Yes!?" And I giddily said,"Yes!" Which he then replied, "So does that mean I am your boyfriend?" And I said,"Yes, it does!"

Then he learned over and our lips touched for the first time. That first kiss put to shame any other kiss I had ever experienced. It was the kind of kiss where the clouds parted and the angels sang, "Alleluia" from up above. 

The lonely nights during my single days were suddenly SO worth it. I was so glad I did not listen to those people who told me my standards were too high. I thanked God I did not settle for any guy, out of fear of being alone. My prayers, patience, trust, and hope allowed God to lead me to the man He had just for me. 

Scared to let God write your love story? 

Take it from me, it is the best decision you will ever make. 

Let go of the control. 

Hand over the pen, and let Him begin.

P.S. Stay tuned for some of our most memorable moments of our dating relationship! :)

SIXBITS: ONE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

June 9th, 2013 was our one year wedding anniversary. We are going to Rome & Paris in September as our official anniversary present to one another, but we still wanted to sneak away for the weekend on our actual anniversary. Those 3 days away was just what the doctor ordered. It is amazing what some relaxation, quiet, and quality time with one another can do for the soul. Here our SixBits of what our weekend getaway included. 

This weekend one of my husband's best friends is coming in to visit from Louisiana. We can't wait to catch up with him!

Hope you all have a blessed weekend! 

Thanks for reading! XO

HOW I MET MY HUSBAND {PART 6}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 1}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 2}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 3}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 4}

Click here for How I Met My Husband {Part 5}

"Thank you for flying Delta Airlines..."

The flight back from Pennsylvania to Orange County was filled with excitement. People sitting next to me on the plane tried to spark up conversations, but quick responses were all they got. My head and heart where in another place. I could not wait to see Casey, to be in his presence! I wanted to hear all about his mission trip to Mexico, and see what God had revealed to him through his prayer. The whole flight I sat, clenching my rosary in my right hand, praying and dreaming of what was to come. 

Due to the 92.5 miles between us and our jobs, we were unable to get together until the following weekend...Talk about the longest week of my life! I know the saying, "Good things come to those who wait," but I had already waited 5 years!

FINALLY, the weekend came and Casey drove up to Orange County for our first official date. I will never forget the moment when we first saw each other. There were no words. We just looked deep into each other eyes and then embraced the other, for a hug that is definitely a contender for one of the best hugs in the history of the world. 

Off to dinner we went. Since Casey was not that familiar with Orange County, I chose the restaurant. I wanted us to go to a place that wouldn't be rushing us out so they could have our table, and quiet so we could really connect and not be straining to hear one another. My choice was this hole in the wall Italian restaurant in Orange called, "Mascarpone's." It is run by Italians fresh from Italy, and you get the same treatment as you would if you were actually in Italy. It takes about 3 hours to get through dinner, it is dimly lit, and authentic Italian food. 

It was a Friday night when we went, and I am not sure what was happening there, but it look liked an Italian Mafia meeting was taken place. The restaurant was very small, but it was packed to the rim with older Italian men. There was literally only one other woman in the whole place besides me. Despite the "mafia" meeting going on, we put in our name. The hostess informed us that there was one table left, and we should feel lucky since that table was known as their "honeymoon" table. Umm... no pressure... I mean it is only our first date :)

Once we got settled at our "honeymoon" table, we finally got to share our hearts and our experiences. He again just put me at ease and it felt like I was eating dinner with an old friend, not at all the first date jitters you usually experience. It felt good. It felt right. 

Even though, I knew that I wanted Casey to pursue me and we were officially starting to date, I wanted to let him know where I stood on some things. I told him that I do not kiss boys who are not my boyfriend and that I was waiting till marriage to have sex. Purity and virginity is mocked in our society, but it is such a beautiful thing. So many girls feel like no guy would want a girl that wasn't willing to "give it up." I am here to tell you that is a MYTH. Casey not only respected my decision, but wouldn't have wanted it to be any other way. That is what he desired as well. Good Catholic Holy men, who honor chastity, do EXIST.

After dinner we did some star gazing and then he took me home. We stood at my doorstop for awhile, neither wanting to say good-bye. We knew it would be a week before we would see each other again because of the distance between us. He brought me in close and I remember as my head rested on his chest, I felt something inside of myself that I didn't know if I would ever feel again, I felt safe. As we pulled away, he gave me a gentle kiss on my forehead, and then I watched him drive away into the dark night sky. 

Stay tuned to find out how Casey officially becomes my boyfriend and finally gets that kiss! I made him work hard for it ;)

HOW I MET MY HUSBAND {PART 5}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 1}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 2}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 3}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 4}

Casey and I spoke right before he left to go on his mission trip to Mexico, and we decided that as much as our trips seemed like "bad timing," it was actually perfect timing. While we were both away, we were going to take our relationship to prayer and discern what God's will was for us. We knew that we were attracted to each other and enjoyed one another, but was this relationship in line with what God wanted for us? 

I know from my own personal experience, that giving God control of my life can be very difficult at times, but His plans always turn out 100 times better than anything I could ever planned for myself. So, even though my emotions were screaming, "Yes, I want to be in a relationship with Casey," I wanted to make sure God was echoing that same thing for me ;)

Off to Mexico, Casey went. 

Off to Pennsylvania, I went. 

I went to Pennsylvania to attend a week long course taught by Christopher West at the Theology of the Body Institute. This would be my second time at the Institute, and it was just as life changing the second time around as it was the first. Even though it is a course, it is a retreat as well. The course is taught in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and you literally can feel God transforming your head and your heart as you learn about His true plan for love, sex, and marriage. 

During that whole week, I carried in my heart the intention of Casey and I. I prayed that God would remove the desire and give me anxiety if it was not of Him, and then I prayed that He would give me peace and joy if it was of Him. 

To be completely honest, there was a part of me that was scared. My heart had been broken a couple of times by guys that I thought were the "one," and I didn't want to get hurt again.

One of the greatest parts about being at this course/retreat was visiting with the other people attending. People were there from all over the country. These people were beautiful and devout in their faith.  It was like sitting in a room with a group of spiritual mentors. I continued to feel peace and joy whenever I would pray for Casey, and I also got a lot of wisdom and confirmation from the people at the course whom I shared about Casey. They also reminded me that God cannot work in our fear.  I had to let go of my fear of getting hurt. 

On the last night of the course, I stayed up late and sat before the Blessed Sacrament. It was just me and Jesus. I prayed for Casey, for me, for us, and told God I believed He was telling me to say, "Yes." I asked Him to please send a big sign over the next few days to show me I was correct. 

Shortly after, I headed back to my room to go to bed for the night. As I was about to change into my PJs, I checked my phone and found this text from Casey,  

"Megan, I did not force what happened with us, that is the main reason I believe in it so much... this is way to quick to tell somebody this, but oh well.... Megan, you are amazing! You are a beautiful soul and so humble.... Those qualities are what drive guys like me, to the ends of the earth to discover."

After I read that text, I looked up to Heaven and said, "Thank you, God... Thank you." It was official. God had sent me the man of my dreams, the man who would go to the ends of the earth to discover me (smile). 

Stay tuned to see what happens when we finally reunite!

HOW I MEET MY HUSBAND {PART 4}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 1}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 2}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband {Part 3}

December arrived, and the Holiday rush came with it: Christmas shopping, Christmas parties, Christmas baking, Christmas concerts, etc. It is such a magical time of the year, but it is busy! 

Casey and I continued to be in touch on a limited basis. We would text some days at work, maybe talk once a week on the phone, or send a Facebook message, but it was nothing big. In fact, it felt like we were pursuing a friendship more than anything. We were getting to know each other slowly, but surely. 

I was enjoying his attention more and more. That terrified and excited feeling quickly came back. Some of the thoughts in my head:

"Do I like him? Yes... NO!...Maybe?"

"What did he mean by that text?? Could that mean he is interested in me??"

"I haven't heard from him in two days, what does that mean?!"

(Oh, the days where you pick a part each sentence and word they say, and wonder all the possible meanings.)

It was a few days before Christmas, and I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping Friday after work. Casey had called me as I was driving to the mall, he was doing some last minute shopping as well. 

We talked about how excited he was to be going home to his family in Louisiana, and the mission trip to Mexico he was going on the day after Christmas. I shared about how I was headed to Pennsylvania on New Years Day for my second Theology of the Body course, taught by Christopher West. We soon realized that we probably would not be able to talk much over the next two weeks. He would have no phone service in Mexico, and the day he was coming home from his mission trip, was the day I was leaving for Pennsylvania for the week. 

As we were wrapping up our phone conversation and wishing the other "A Merry Christmas"and a "Happy New Year," it happened. He was pacing around in circles at the San Diego Mall, and I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at South Coast Plaza Mall, when all of sudden he said, "I am just going to say it." I was like, "...okay" (heart pounding outside of my chest). Then he proceeded to lay it all out on the table by saying, "I like you. In fact, I like you a lot!" 

I almost dropped the phone out of my hand. I was in shock. He liked me. He liked me a lot! ...And now he was leaving, and then I was leaving...  Talk about timing :) 

Stay tuned to see what happens next, and how we used those two weeks of time wisely!

HOW I MEET MY HUSBAND {PART 3}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband, Part 1

Click here, for How I Met My Husband, Part 2

I was meeting some friends for dinner that night, so as I was driving to the restaurant, we talked on the phone. He was calling to give me more grief about "New Moon," which then led to us talking about our families, faith, ministry, and Louisiana. I had visited Louisiana in 2007, so I was sharing my experience of the awesome culture and food there. He was pretty impressed I had eaten frog legs while visiting. (Yes, you read that correctly, FROG legs)

Our conversation took me by surprise. I didn't really know him, but I felt like I could talk to him for hours. As I mentioned before, he just put me at ease, to the point that I got so wrapped up in our conversation, I got completely lost trying to find the restaurant I was meeting my friends. I shared with him that I was lost, and we decided we should probably hang up before I ended up in Timbuktu.

We said good-bye, and it was kind of bitter sweet. I wasn't sure if we would talk again. It was so out of the blue that he called me.

That phone conversation was a game changer. It was the first time I felt a connection with him beyond an acquaintance level. I remember feeling excited and terrified all at the same time. He seemed like an amazing guy, but my heart was guarded. I hadn't seriously dated someone in almost 5 years at this point. (More about that later) Plus, maybe what I was feeling, just meant we would have a great friendship. I didn't want to get ahead of myself. I WASN'T going to settle or try to control anything. I had done that before with previous relationships, and saw the heartache and disappointment it led to. I remember thinking, "I am giving this to God."

I finally walked into the restaurant super late since I had gotten lost. I wasn't even going to tell my friends about Casey because it didn't mean anything, right? 

As I sat down and was apologizing to my friends for my tardiness, all of sudden my best friend, Allyson was like, "What happen to you?" I was totally taken by surprise, so I was like, "What do you mean?"She said, "Your glowing." 

I guess I couldn't hide what I was feeling, it was written all over my face. Stay tuned for what happens next!

HOW I MET MY HUSBAND-{PART 2}

Click here, for How I Met My Husband, Part 1

Throughout 2009, Casey and I continued to run into each other at different Catholic events. We saw each other at RE Congress, Steubenville San Diego, Christian concerts, etc. Each time we ran into each other, we would talk briefly and then carry on. There were no sparks at this point, it was more like, "there is that really nice guy from Louisiana." He was someone I could see myself being friends with. We were Facebook friends, so I guess that made our friendship "official." :)

In November of 2009 a certain movie came out that I may have been a little excited to see... eh hem.."New Moon." I will admit it. I am a "Twihard." I definitely read all the books and saw all the movies. I may even own some (don't judge)... Anyway, one day my Facebook status was expressing my excitement for the "New Moon" premier, which prompted Casey and his roommate Ben to tease me. Being the proud Twihard fan that I am, I stood up for my love of this movie. It was an exchange that went back and forth in good fun.

At the end of the day, right when I was packing up my things to go home from work, my cell phone started to ring. It was a number I didn't know with a San Diego area code. I answered it and it was Casey...

Stay tuned to hear about this game changer phone conversation.

WASHING OF THE FEET

Yesterday evening, Casey and I went to the evening Mass of the Last Supper. It was a beautiful night of reflection and prayer. Traditionally, this Mass includes a washing of the feet ceremony. Each parish has a unique way of performing this ritual. Some parishes wash the feet of their church staff, and others wash the feet of random volunteers. As I watched this part of the Mass, and pictured Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, it struck me that I needed to participate in this. We are called to LIVE OUT THE GOSPELS in our lives, so I leaned over to Casey and whispered in his ear, "I'm going to wash your feet when we get home." He looked at me a little surprised, but then gave me that smile and squeeze that translates into, "my wife is cute."

After Mass we spent some time in Adoration then headed home. Once we arrived home I gathered the supplies. I got a bowl, a towel, and a pitcher of warm water. I am an ambiance person, so I lit some candles, turned off the lights, and had some our favorite Christian songs playing in the background. We did an opening prayer, and then we washed each other's feet. While we washed each other's feet, we apologized for any wrongdoings we had done to the other. To say it was powerful, would be an understatement. I highly recommend this prayer experience to anyone. 

Washing another's feet takes much humility and vulnerability. Humility, in the sense that you have to get on your knees before them to do it, and vulnerability in allowing someone to wash you and be in your personal space. 

Last night, the Last Supper came to life a little bit more to me than it ever has. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, spent his last night on Earth showing us that we are called to serve with humility and vulnerability. Today we walk through His sorrowful passion, and then we wait.... we will be waiting patiently and prayerfully for Easter morning... 

HOW I MET MY HUSBAND- {PART 1}

It was February 2009. 

I was twenty-four years old. 

The previous summer I had the amazing opportunity to attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to hear Catholic speaker, Christopher West. He spoke about Blessed John Paul the Great's Theology of the Body. The message of Theology of the Body resonated in me, and was the truth my heart had been yearning to hear. I had one of those "Aha!" moments Oprah is always talking about. 

With that in mind, you could imagine my excitement when I heard that Christopher West was going to be speaking in San Diego (only an hour and half away from where I lived). I knew I couldn't miss it! Some friends and I drove down for the night. The presentation was just as great as I remembered it to be. 

That evening I very briefly met a guy named Casey. He was from Louisiana and definitely had that infamous "southern charm." 

I feel like sometimes you meet people, and even though it is your first encounter, you just feel an instant connection. Almost as if you were friends in another life or something. That is how I felt about Casey. His presence just put me at ease, and I felt like I could be my true self even though I had just met him. 

Neither of us had any romantic interest in the other though. He was actually dating someone at the time, and my heart and attention was focused on another guy.  It was a simple and sweet introduction to one another that we both felt had little to none significance to us. Little did we know... 

Stay tuned to see how this meeting (a whole year later) blossomed into something more :)