Dear Meagan,
I am so stinking proud of you! Lately you have been setting a lot of goals for your life and that is absolutely amazing. The key is to get your goals, write them down and then focus!
As you have been setting your goals I have been reading a book called The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. It's an amazing book that talks about praying through you biggest dreams, goals and desires.
It's a spiritual book, so this is a spiritual blog! Since I'm not a goal setting expert I think it will be best if I share with you the authors guide to writing life long goals. Life long goals are important because it puts everything into perspective and gives you something to constantly pursue. After reading this I was inspired to make a lifelong goal list of over 100 goals, and I hope you are too! I may not achieve EVERY single one of them in my lifetime, but hey I won't achieve any of them if I never set them, right? It's the same for you, shoot for the moon, if you miss you will end up amongst the stars! Love ya sis, here are his guidelines, with my interpretations...
10 Steps to Goal Setting:
1. Start with prayer. Whenever you have a new goal pray about it first or if you make a lifelong goal list than pray over the whole list, it will let God know that you mean these things. Then you have to continue to pray like it depends on Him, but work for the goals like it depends on you!
2. Check your motives- Goals with misguided or selfish motives are not going to be achieved. Well maybe, but it wouldn't be worth it anyway. If one of your goals is to make $1million dollars, make sure you have good reasons, yes you want $1 million so you can be stinkin' rich, but maybe you'd like to give some of it to a charity as well.
3. Think in categories- When making a lifelong goal list it's easiest to break it down into several categories... here are the categories Mark Batterson recommends with an example:
-Family: Get married & have 2 kids
-Influential: Help 5 teens who had brain tumor's through their recovery
-Experential: Take a sewing class with Mom
-Physical: Run a 5K
-Travel: Pet a monkey in Costa Rica
-Financial: Make $1 million in 1 year and give $100,000 to charity
4. Be Specific- The more specific your goal, the better! For example don't just say: "Go to Costa Rica" say, "Pet a monkey in Costa Rica." That way when you are actually petting that monkey you will have such fulfillment in achieving a lifelong goal. Instead of saying "Be Rich" set an actual $$ amount, this way you will know with out a doubt when you have achieved it.
5. Write it Down- This step is ABSOLUTELY crucial! Write down your goals and read your list regularly to keep the goals fresh in your mind. There is something about writing them down that makes them permanent.
6. Include Others- This can have many meanings. One is to include others in your actual goals such as take a sewing class...with Mom. You have someone else you want to do this with. It also means share your goals with someone that you trust and that will encourage you-- it holds you more accountable to them as well.
7. Celebrate Along the Way- As you achieve goals, make sure to celebrate and recognize them! Once you have helped those 5 kids or whatever your goal may be-- treat yourself!
8. Dream Big- The bigger the better-- set goals that just blow your mind. Set goals that you could never accomplish on your own, give God a chance to show of his glory!
9. Think long- The bigger the goal, the longer the time frame! The trick is to never give up, these are lifelong goals that may take a LIFELONG to achieve!
10. Pray hard- Don't just pray, pray through. Pray until your goals are achieved and never stop. God answers prayers, period. That's what He does, sure some are unanswered, but there are reasons for those unanswered prayers! Just have faith and pray like it depends on God, but act like it depends on you.
Get crackin' Meggy! I hope you read this and make that lifelong goal list-- it will give you such a sense of purpose! You were made for greatness and your biggest struggles will turn into your biggest victories :)
XOXO,
Brooke
Friday, June 29, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
What I Like About You
Dear Meagan,
What I Like About You:
1. Your strength- This had to be #1. We didn't know your strength until it was tested four years ago, but if you can make it through this, you my friend can make it through ANYTHING.
2. Your determination- Even with some of the devastating blows and negativity, you are still determined to get better.
3. Your vision- You are always talking about your future and it sounds amazing :) The wedding, the kids, the goals you have, the world is lucky to have you!
4. Your generosity- I always am hearing of a new brain tumor foundation you are talking with! I think it's incredible that you are already giving back to a cause that so recently effected you.
5. Your loyalty- When someone close to you lets you down- your first reaction is that you don't care and you don't like them anyway. But within five minutes (if that) you are saying you don't understand and you just want everything with that person to be okay. That's because you don't let disappointments break you and you have such faith in your close friends and family.
6. Your courage- Little by little you are more and more ready to face the world head on again. Watch out!
7. Your support- I don't know how, but through everything you've been going through you have ALWAYS been there for me. Excited for the good things and there to talk about the not so good. I love you so much for this.
8. Your Meagan FACES!!- haha since you were a BABY you have always had those Meagan faces. Anyone can read you like a book, it's to funny!
9. Your laughter- When your smiling and laughing I think angels start singing lol. It's so contagious! You have such an incredible ability to make those around you just enjoy themselves!
10. Your sense of humor- You make the best of some crazy situations. When you were still slightly paralyzed on your left side you had that cane. And you decorated it and told everyone to call you Phyllis because it is an old ladies name bahahaha... I don't know many 19 year olds that could pull that off!
In order to stick with the theme of this posting I have re-written the words to the song "What I Like About You"!! I think it's in the Shrek movies. This will either make you laugh or make you cry... about how pathetic I am. Either way as long as you smile, I'll be happy. Cuz that smile is so contagious I know I'll catch it from 90 miles North of you :)
Here goes nothing!:
"What I like about you
You never give up the fight
Your stronger than a bull
and even when you're wrong, you're right! Yeaahhhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
That's what I like about you!
What I like about you
Your getting better every day
When you go up, down, turn around
You stop and get level and stay! Yeaahhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
Thats what I like about you!
What I like about you
You turn my frown to a smile
Every time you crack a joke
It makes me hit the tile (so lame)! Yeahhhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
Thats what I like about you!
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU!
XOXO,
Brooke
P.S. I am so going to regret writing that song aren't I? lololol
What I Like About You:
1. Your strength- This had to be #1. We didn't know your strength until it was tested four years ago, but if you can make it through this, you my friend can make it through ANYTHING.
2. Your determination- Even with some of the devastating blows and negativity, you are still determined to get better.
3. Your vision- You are always talking about your future and it sounds amazing :) The wedding, the kids, the goals you have, the world is lucky to have you!
4. Your generosity- I always am hearing of a new brain tumor foundation you are talking with! I think it's incredible that you are already giving back to a cause that so recently effected you.
5. Your loyalty- When someone close to you lets you down- your first reaction is that you don't care and you don't like them anyway. But within five minutes (if that) you are saying you don't understand and you just want everything with that person to be okay. That's because you don't let disappointments break you and you have such faith in your close friends and family.
6. Your courage- Little by little you are more and more ready to face the world head on again. Watch out!
7. Your support- I don't know how, but through everything you've been going through you have ALWAYS been there for me. Excited for the good things and there to talk about the not so good. I love you so much for this.
8. Your Meagan FACES!!- haha since you were a BABY you have always had those Meagan faces. Anyone can read you like a book, it's to funny!
9. Your laughter- When your smiling and laughing I think angels start singing lol. It's so contagious! You have such an incredible ability to make those around you just enjoy themselves!
10. Your sense of humor- You make the best of some crazy situations. When you were still slightly paralyzed on your left side you had that cane. And you decorated it and told everyone to call you Phyllis because it is an old ladies name bahahaha... I don't know many 19 year olds that could pull that off!
In order to stick with the theme of this posting I have re-written the words to the song "What I Like About You"!! I think it's in the Shrek movies. This will either make you laugh or make you cry... about how pathetic I am. Either way as long as you smile, I'll be happy. Cuz that smile is so contagious I know I'll catch it from 90 miles North of you :)
Here goes nothing!:
"What I like about you
You never give up the fight
Your stronger than a bull
and even when you're wrong, you're right! Yeaahhhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
That's what I like about you!
What I like about you
Your getting better every day
When you go up, down, turn around
You stop and get level and stay! Yeaahhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
Thats what I like about you!
What I like about you
You turn my frown to a smile
Every time you crack a joke
It makes me hit the tile (so lame)! Yeahhhh!
You're whispering in my ear
Fighting against the odds, to get you here
cause that's true
Thats what I like about you!
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU!
XOXO,
Brooke
P.S. I am so going to regret writing that song aren't I? lololol
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Meagan's Story
Dear Meagan,
I wanted to start out this encouraging blog with a brief post of your story. Mostly so if there are any other readers, they will understand what this is all about.
I'll never forget the morning Dad called me and said, "We just found out your sister Meagan has a brain tumor-- she is going into surgery in two hours." At first I was just in total and complete shock. I knew you had been having the headaches and dizzy spells and blurred/double vision. But I just didn't think something like this would actually happen to you. You were just finishing your freshman year at Michigan State and you and I had FINALLY started getting along and becoming more than sisters, but friends. I remained in shock the entire drive until I was just outside the hospital and had parked my car. I called Dad to discover you had already gone in to surgery. At that point I lost it Meggy. There I was in a McDonald's parking lot hysterically screaming crying (Probably quite the scene for someone trying to enjoy their Big Mac lol). I was upset about the situation but in reality I just wanted so bad to be there for you before the first surgery. To tell you everything would be fine.
They removed the clementine sized tumor from the right lobe of your brain and the next month and a half or so you were in the hospital where you had another surgery, gamma radiation, and recovery time. At first we were scared because you were completely paralyzed on your left side, after a couple weeks though you could finally move your toes and that was such a blessing.
That summer I was blessed with a light schedule, so I got to be with you at least 4 days a week, and stayed with you about 2 nights a week. Sometimes you were scared but girl as you were getting better we had some fun :) We would go to the garden, watch movies, do photo shoots, and your nurses were just awesome! They were a phenomenal group of ladies.
Since then you've had two more surgeries, one to put in a shunt, one to take it out. Originally, your short term memory was just not there. Especially after the second surgery. You could only remember things from seconds before. It was also very hard for you to get around at that time-- the left side of your body was weaker than your right.
I bet you can not even count how many therapists and counselors and rehabilitation programs you have had to do! But girl HERE WE ARE-- 4 years later. At this point to be totally honest you have had a lot of self esteem hits and negativity around you to the point that you have been having trouble getting back to your life.
This blog is dedicated entirely to you. To tell you that it's time for your comeback :) At least once a week I will post something to encourage you, to help you push forward. I have been inspired to do this because I am already beginning to see positive changes in you, and I just hope and pray that this will help you along the way. Your memory is there, and with a small amount of exercise your strength is there too. This blog is to tell you that there is GREATNESS inside of you. You are an absolute gem and deserve the absolute best.
Meggy what happened to you does not define you. It proved your incredible strength, and god has such a phenomenal plan for your life. You are here for a divine purpose, I truly believe that.
XOXO,
-Brooke
I wanted to start out this encouraging blog with a brief post of your story. Mostly so if there are any other readers, they will understand what this is all about.
I'll never forget the morning Dad called me and said, "We just found out your sister Meagan has a brain tumor-- she is going into surgery in two hours." At first I was just in total and complete shock. I knew you had been having the headaches and dizzy spells and blurred/double vision. But I just didn't think something like this would actually happen to you. You were just finishing your freshman year at Michigan State and you and I had FINALLY started getting along and becoming more than sisters, but friends. I remained in shock the entire drive until I was just outside the hospital and had parked my car. I called Dad to discover you had already gone in to surgery. At that point I lost it Meggy. There I was in a McDonald's parking lot hysterically screaming crying (Probably quite the scene for someone trying to enjoy their Big Mac lol). I was upset about the situation but in reality I just wanted so bad to be there for you before the first surgery. To tell you everything would be fine.
They removed the clementine sized tumor from the right lobe of your brain and the next month and a half or so you were in the hospital where you had another surgery, gamma radiation, and recovery time. At first we were scared because you were completely paralyzed on your left side, after a couple weeks though you could finally move your toes and that was such a blessing.
That summer I was blessed with a light schedule, so I got to be with you at least 4 days a week, and stayed with you about 2 nights a week. Sometimes you were scared but girl as you were getting better we had some fun :) We would go to the garden, watch movies, do photo shoots, and your nurses were just awesome! They were a phenomenal group of ladies.
Since then you've had two more surgeries, one to put in a shunt, one to take it out. Originally, your short term memory was just not there. Especially after the second surgery. You could only remember things from seconds before. It was also very hard for you to get around at that time-- the left side of your body was weaker than your right.
I bet you can not even count how many therapists and counselors and rehabilitation programs you have had to do! But girl HERE WE ARE-- 4 years later. At this point to be totally honest you have had a lot of self esteem hits and negativity around you to the point that you have been having trouble getting back to your life.
This blog is dedicated entirely to you. To tell you that it's time for your comeback :) At least once a week I will post something to encourage you, to help you push forward. I have been inspired to do this because I am already beginning to see positive changes in you, and I just hope and pray that this will help you along the way. Your memory is there, and with a small amount of exercise your strength is there too. This blog is to tell you that there is GREATNESS inside of you. You are an absolute gem and deserve the absolute best.
Meggy what happened to you does not define you. It proved your incredible strength, and god has such a phenomenal plan for your life. You are here for a divine purpose, I truly believe that.
XOXO,
-Brooke
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