Our Story

Because at some point I wrote a blog about Paul and I - but then in transit... it got lost in cyber space and lets face it, I don't have the time or patience to look for it... so I will just revisit our story for some of those who may be interested and not know. Don't worry Paul I will save the embarrassing parts (from both of us) for those who really are in the inner circle...

Paul and I met when we were 21. I was working at Bennigans (or Begin-Agains as I called it - because no matter how many times you got fired or quit you could always come back to Begin-Agains) as a hostess/waitress. Paul was a full time student at UH.

I probably should mention that I was wearing an engagement ring at the time from someone else...

And this is where we think differently on how the "us" story began - lets just say I think that both of us had some stalkerish tendencies between the both of us... hehehe

Paul would come in and "read" a book at a table up by the hostess stand and I would occasionally see him looking my direction. One day I asked him what page he was on. he said some number and I asked if the book was any good... We made small talk but I went about my business and so did he. A few days later I asked him again what page he was on and it just so happened to be the same exact number. I told him that he could talk to me or ask for my number if he was not that interested in his book (not sure the exact words - but in my mind it went something like that).

I should note that before this interaction I did call my mom and mention to her that "My future Husband just walked through the door" she asked if it was my current fiance and I said no. About 30 min later she and my dad show up for dinner just to see who I was talking about (I should also mention that they really did not like my fiance and were OK with the fact that I may have found someone else attractive - but that is a different story entirely - and will never be on this blog because it is not worth the mention to be honest). She told me that she was not sure what it was but that she thinks I was right - looking back I am not sure if she just wanted me to break up with my fiance... or if she really did think so - but she has always loved Paul and opened her arms and home to him (mostly feed him, which if you know him - is the one way to his heart... although this baby coming seems to have hit him in the softies of his heart too)

A short while after our first interaction we started hanging out as friends at Bennigans and soon I was no longer engaged (my choice). We started hanging out more and dating you could say. He was not wanting anything exclusive because (I believe) not looking to get hurt. Who was I to rush him? But I also came to the conclusion that if he was willing to date other ladies... I would be willing to date other fellas... but that only lasted one date before I was asked to be his girlfriend... (His exact words... are you really going to make me ask you? ... YES I AM)

A little while later (I am horrible with dates as where Paul remembers these things) he took me on a trip to Corpus and said we were just going for a relaxing weekend. I thought OK! We went to the OMNI and it was really pretty! We were going up the escalator and there was a perfectly set table. I made the comment of "That would be perfect at our wedding one day" to which it was as if the escalator stopped and time stood still. Paul's face showed signs of panic as he said to me "whoa... I am no where near ready to talk about that!" - I cringed inside and said - "I'm sorry - I didn't mean it to come out that way" and spent the rest of the afternoon freaked out and had my mind made up that Paul was actually taking me here to dump me and I was going to have to walk home from Corpus to Houston... The rest of the day did not go as planned either - I was getting ready for dinner and my hair dryer burned up - there was not one in the room. I had left my make up in the car and it had melted. My dress was a little too tight... And my attempts at making him re-think about dumping me that night had been ruined.

We order dinner (me being from Cypress and had never been to a fancy restaurant) and I was told that the lobster I requested was market price. I said OK - cant be too bad we are on the coast right? Plus... if I was going to have to start my walking journey here in the next couple of hours I needed the energy right??? (Little did I know that Lobster tail was $84. when we got the bill) He waited until the restaurant was empty - I mean no waiters were even in sight... I asked if he was ready to go and he asked me to take his camera... I said OK....??? he asked if he could pull my chair out - I said I guess (I know I know - my irrational thoughts were great not only is he going to dump me but he is going to throw me on the floor to add to the humiliation - as if I did not know this guy at all) He pulled my chair to the side and got on one knee... "What are you doing?" I asked - He went on to tell me that I was his best friend and that I made his life complete. He wanted to know if... "YES" (technically I think he never got the question out - total Joey and Rachel moment) and I cried... I proceeded to tell him "so this isn't how you dump me?" to which he laughed and said "NO - Why would you think that???" I explained why and he hugged me and said that was the only lie he has ever been able to pull off with me (which is true because he giggles and smiles when he lies to this day).

Fast forward to today (10 years married with one kid on the way). We have experienced loss, excitement, love, and heartache all together. He has been my rock solid when I couldn't be. We have two little ones in heaven... one little one on the way (17 weeks along), and 3 fur children - their stories will be here later, and live in what we hope is our forever home (until we retire by the beach).
I cant remember any of my adult life without Paul... and to be honest... I wouldn't have it any other way. He is the hands down most caring guy I could ever have imagined, and I am not talking material things, I am talking down to earth, loving caring, taking my needs into consideration type of guy!

Bottom Line - I am blessed and LUCKY to call Paul my husband.

Letter to Our Future Andersons

To our future children - whether they be from my womb or from foster care or adoption...

Please know that you have been prayed for.  The process has and will be long and hard - but so worth while. There will be times when I am sure your father and I will wonder if we will ever get to meet you, and if the dream for you to be a part of our family will ever become a reality. However, we hold on to the faith and love that surrounds us to know that one day you will be with us and that we will be able to call you our own.

Your father and I have tried for a long time to start a family of our own. You have two siblings in heaven that are already watching over you that love you. We can't wait to meet you and to hear your stories. To help you grow-up and learn about the world. We can't wait to share with you the love that we have for each other and to share our home with you! There may be struggles along the way - but we were once young too, we had to take the time to grow up. We do not expect you to be perfect, no one is perfect. We love you and your imperfections - whatever they may be. You have been wanted for may years. You have been prayed for by our friends and family that you would come to be with our family at just the right moment in time, even if you are not with us forever - I pray that you will know you are loved by the time you leave our house.

You have cousins who simply can't wait to play with you. As of right now, there are 3 young ladies, 1 younger girl, and one young boy. Their names are Jordan, Amber, Chase, Miya and James (we call him Cole because his daddy's name is James).  You have 3 Aunts and 3 Uncles. Their names are Shaun and Melanie, Matt and Melissa, and James and Kristin. You have grandparents too! Mommy's parents are Janet and Phil and Daddy's Parents are John (we call him Joey) and Patricia (we call her Patty) and Jack - you can give them names that you like when you are ready. You also have A LOT of extended family and 2nd cousins that are eager to meet you too! What a blessing it will be to have you in our family!

If you come to our home from foster care - please know that even if you are in our home for a short amount of time - during that time you will be treated as one of our own. You will not have to compete for our love or affection because we have always wanted you. You are special to us and if we can give you a sense of a safe and loving home for even a short while, we will be blessed beyond measure. We want you to leave knowing what love is and how real love feels. We will show you that love is not bought, or earned. It is given to you from the moment we meet. Who knows what positive can come from being shown love.

If you come to our house through adoption - please know that there is nothing that we would not do for you. You our one of our own. No matter your age, no matter your size, no matter what baggage might come - you are ours. We will do our best to protect you. We will honor your birthparents by never speaking unkind words of them. We honor them, for they have given us the greatest and most precious gift... YOU! Without them, you would not be a part of our family! We will watch and help you grow and ensure that you know you are loved!

We cannot wait to get the ball rolling and get our foot in the door to one day meet you, however you may come to us or whatever the circumstances. We promise to do all we can to provide a loving home for you and to give you a family to call your own (even if just for a short while)

We love you now, and forever!
Dad and Mom (Paul and Megan)

A New Year!

It is 2016! 

So many people and so many resolutions.  There are so many things that I could focus on that many times my OCD does not know where to start.  Then I become overwhelmed... and then I get anxious and then I snowball. 

So this year let it be known that I want to do things differently. 

I want to make an effort to spend time with family - whether it be game nights or just sharing a meal... both my husband's family and my family are (mostly) at most a little over an hour away from where we live. As it has been in the past we have not seen them near as much as we should... excuses and excuses of why we dont call or visit... I am conflicted about all of this.  I dont want to be one of those families that does not see each other unless it is the exception of a holiday. I am normally a hermit, not wanting to go out to see them, but rather wondering why my family doesn't come to see me. However, I read a book recently (The Noticer by Andy Andrews), that changed my perspective.  Why am I focusing on why I am not getting visits from friends and family - when I should be focusing on why I have not been driving to visit my family and my friends... when I changed my perspective on it - I became very blue... I have envied families who have a close bond... who call and text and spend time with one another and it does not even have to be a special occassion.  Have I really become this self centered individual who wants to talk only if someone wants to reach out first... who am I to act like that. All about perspective...

I want to take better care of myself.  I have taken a couple months off of working out and eating right, and I can feel it.  It is time to get back to it.  Luckily my sweet friend (who is also my wonderful trainer) has not given up on me and is still willing to help me become a better me.  But it is also more than eating better and working out. I need to be proud of who I am.  Dress like I am proud of who I am.  I no longer work where I have to wear skirts - but that does not mean that I have to look like a bum either. I am now 32 and going to be 33 this year - and while I hate to admit it - I am starting to look like it.  I am starting to look my age... Not that I need makeup - but I think that I might have a better confidence if I started to look like I felt better about myself... brush teeth twice a day instead of once... drink more water... take my vitamins.

I want to be more organized.  I am an organized person - but I feel like I am getting more and more stressed out. More and more uneasy.  I need a better handle on things.  Whether I am writing it all down and making to do lists and sticking to them, or having it on my outlook calendar... I have to get it started somewhere.  My friend told me about a calendar/planner that she uses and I am thinking of getting because it is color coded and looks like it would be great for me to use.  She is a teacher.  She has one for work and for home. She is a mom and a wife and a teacher and she has a lot more going on than I do - but I still like her method of doing things...

I am going to continue to explore my creative side.  I painted some canvases for Christmas for over my fireplace and it is a very therapeutic and relaxing thing for me.  Now I was really rushed to get them done as I had only a couple of weeks to my company Christmas Party that we decided to host... but other than that stress - I had a great time doing them.  I am a little crafty - but mostly create off of other people's ideas.  I am hoping for more creative and fun things that I can do to decorate my house and make it more meaningful and personal.

To save more... pay off debt (and those are the normal things that come up every year)

So here is to 2016!  Raise that protein shake and get moving... 2016 is going to be an amazing year!

This picture was taken this way to get my sweet husband's head and mine to be about the same size... let's face it - I have a head the size of a pea... really its true...