Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up With Christians
Catching Up with Christians: EP 5 - Megan Kinkenon, Two-Sport Coach and Elementary School Teacher
Have you ever considered the profound impact a coach or teacher can have on shaping a life? My sister, Megan Kinkenon, joins me to share her heartfelt experiences in the world of teaching and coaching at Faith Lutheran High School. With humor and earnestness, Megan recounts her transition from instructing high schoolers to captivating third-graders with stories of faith and resilience. Her journey is peppered with moments of athletic triumph and the humor of an unexpected golf career, illustrating her perseverance and the power of a positive attitude.
As we peel back the layers of coaching youth sports, I reflect on the unexpected path that led me to discover my own passion for molding young athletes. From the initial side job to the profound realization of its importance, Megan and I discuss the significance of instilling a love for the game and inspiring our players beyond mere technique. We weave through our own career contemplations, agreeing that patience and faith are essential companions as one navigates life's purpose—a narrative I am eager to share with fellow coaches and educators.
The conversation doesn't shy away from discussing the courage required to support loved ones through trauma and the value of empathy during such times. Megan's resilience through her own health challenges and our shared family stories offer a reminder of the strength found in understanding and loyalty. As we reminisce about our Kentucky childhood, faith, and the lessons we carry into our work, the message is clear: life's journey is as much about the support we give as the hurdles we overcome. Join us for a dose of inspiration, reflection, and perhaps a spark to ignite your journey through faith, career, and life.
Welcome back to another episode of Catching Up with Christians. I'm your host, coach Dan McCarty. Today I'm alongside my sister, who is actually a volleyball slash, basketball and teacher, coach and teacher. Today we're going to dive into the conversation. You can learn more about her and her faith journey and her career and how her faith impacts her job. Sweet Meg, thanks for hopping on. How are you today?
Speaker 2:I'm doing swell, how are you I? Just finished my teaching day, so that was great.
Speaker 1:Sweet. So if you want to tell them the people who you are, where you teach and how you got into teaching and coaching, Okay, so I am Megan Kincannon.
Speaker 2:I recently got married, so new name, yep, exciting stuff.
Speaker 2:I recently got sorry, still at school, so part of the instructions, maybe I actually started teaching right after I got my associates. I became like a long-term substitute teacher while I was finishing up my degree. That was primarily in the high school area. Then I realized I did not enjoy teaching high schoolers all day and then going and coaching them all day, so I made the transfer over to the elementary school.
Speaker 2:Once I met my now husband, he actually went to Faith Lutheran High School. He's a faith faithful, I guess that's what they call him. He introduced me to faith the school Sorry. He got a full teaching job and still again at that time I was substitute teaching and because he got a full-time position they lost a sub and he was like well, my girlfriend like substitutes. I don't know if that's weird, but I know she's good at her job, so do you want to interview her? So I long-term substitute taught for them for about a year. Then the next year I got hired as third, fourth and fifth grade PE and athletic director. So I did that for three years and then now I am full-time in the classroom and I teach third grade. This is my second year. So I guess I've been at Faith for five years if you're counting the substitute year than six. So long time.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I love it. It's a great environment. I think it's when I did high school it was the public school which I really enjoyed connecting with those students. It was weird because I was just out of college, so I felt like their age. So it was a little weird, but now being at a school where I can openly talk about God with the kids and they ask me questions about him, I find it really special.
Speaker 1:So that's amazing. Well, let's unpack also the sports side of things. So if you want to tell them sports you played and growing up and then how you got in the coaching and that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I grew up playing softball until I was about 12-ish. I would say I have really bad joints and I guess you can figure or find that out at 12 years old. Who would have thought so? I played softball, I was a catcher, I thought I was pretty good for 12, but who knows? So my parents were like you can't really do softball anymore because of your knees and joints and all the things. So I tried to pick another sport and at that time my older sister or our older sister sorry, that was weird she had just started learning volleyball. So I just remember playing in our backyard in Kentucky or was it even backyard field, whatever you want to call it Playing with her, and she just taught me the basics. Then, when we moved back to Vegas, that's when I got really into volleyball and I played all throughout high school and I played two years in college. Then in college I picked up golf. There you go.
Speaker 2:So throughout high school I would randomly go caddy for my biological dad and never hit really a golf club Like I was awful. First year in college they needed one more girl to make a golf team.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:The athletic director was like, hey, you're athletic, you know golf. And I was like, no, I don't know golf at all. And he was like, well, you know enough. So just come out to the range, come hang out, come take a couple swings, we'll get you going. And I said no, that's not happening. I was like I'm here for volleyball and he's like I could probably get you some more money and I was like, all right, I got you. So I went out that next day or that day actually, after like volleyball weights and stayed and I sucked. So bad, so bad. But once I found out that I sucked, I was there every day because our home course like you could hit balls for free and you could play around for free whenever you wanted, just as long as it wouldn't conflict with, like their customers. So I was out there every day. It was bad. You want to know what I shot on my first round? Like official tournament.
Speaker 1:Sure, let me hear it.
Speaker 2:Have I told you before. No. No, you want to guess?
Speaker 1:90.
Speaker 2:More.
Speaker 1:Oh, like 105. It's really embarrassing what 105?.
Speaker 2:More. It's really embarrassing. You can't pick up your ball ever, especially when you get stuck in a sand trap and it was down for rain or in Washington. It was miserable. It was on my birthday. I will never forget this round of golf.
Speaker 1:Like 120. More Like what?
Speaker 2:It was so bad. At the end of the round my coach was just up there on top of the hill, arms wide open. Like I'm so amazed that you did not quit Because it was that bad.
Speaker 1:Wow. So you got to tell the people what was it. We got a dose.
Speaker 2:Oh, it was a 156. It was so bad.
Speaker 1:What's that math? Was it 18 holes?
Speaker 2:It was a lot of strokes per hole. I don't know that math off the top of my head. That's why I'm a third grade teacher. There you go. I can use my calculator though.
Speaker 1:I'm doing it right now for the people All right that is almost nine strokes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that sounds about right. It's so bad, it's so bad. But after that I realized I like sucked, really bad because I got dead last. And I felt bad for the people in my group because, like you're matched up with three other people from different schools so they don't even know you, and I warned them before the tournament. I was like I've never played an official round, so I apologize, like I'm not going to cheat, but just know like I'm going to suck. Were they nice they were.
Speaker 2:OK, that's supportive, but I think they got annoyed towards the end because it was pouring rain and I just held them up a bunch.
Speaker 1:So how long did it take? I got to know that round. How long was that roundable?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't even know. It's probably. Yeah, I don't know, it was so long, but I realized I sucked. So then I went out to the range even more like more than I don't know, spent hours and then guess what I shot by the end of the year, the last tournament season. What.
Speaker 2:Yes 80. 82. Wow. And a coach from another team came up or from another school came up to me. He goes excuse me, were you the girl that shot the 156, the first tournament? And I said, yep, yep, that's me. I was like thank you for the reminder. He goes wow, I'm impressed that you, like, could shave that much off. I said me too.
Speaker 1:There we are. That's awesome, yes, so you finished your golfing and volleyball career, right? You had some injuries throughout college, right you know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, minor ones. Yeah, I was like shoulder issues here and there and that's partly why I feel like if I kept playing like competitively, I just would have wrecked my body, so I stopped. My shoulder is probably still wrecked, but it's.
Speaker 1:OK, but you still have a passion for the game though, right, like you've always had passion for sports. So is that kind of how you wanted to get into coaching, so like after you played in college, what kind of made you want to transition to the coaching side?
Speaker 2:So in college actually I worked with my head coach. She did like a little club scene there out of the college and I would just kind of help her here and there with the little kids and I was like you know, this is kind of fun. So it grew a little bit of, or like my passion grew a little bit there with working with the younger kids. And then when I was planning to move back home after playing, my high school coach reached out and was like I think you're going to make a great coach, like you want to try it out and like she's a legend. You know her coach.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so if she's saying that and I got that opportunity, I was like you know, I might as well like, because I really didn't know what I wanted to do. I just knew I wanted to finish school at some point. But coaching I was like you know, some money on the side, work with some kids and kind of see how it goes. And as soon as I started like I knew I really enjoyed it, just connecting and building those relationships with the girls. And I had the opportunity to coach men's volleyball as well, which actually still to this day has probably been my most fun season Because they're just super energetic and want. They're so athletic too. They just want to get after it and they're sponges, so yeah.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. So you coach different sports and now tell them what you're doing. What's your most recent coach?
Speaker 2:you could never yes, so I coach volleyball still. I'm over at Faith Lutheran High School and the varsity assistant. I've been there for four, five years now, and then at the elementary school that I teach at, they have little sports for little kids and they are school kind of struggles to find coaches. So I offered last year to be the girls' basketball coach if they really could not find anyone. But I think the AD just like aided up. He's like oh, I got somebody, like here we go, didn't go look for anybody. And I even told him I was like I don't, like I know basketball, I can YouTube a bunch of stuff, you figure it out, but I don't know no basketball. And he's like it's elementary, you'll be fine. So we got quite the Motley crew this year. But they're really fun, they try really hard, they just can't shoot.
Speaker 1:I remember when you first called me, you're like so yeah, I kind of got this cool opportunity and I then want to start coaching basketball for, like the elementary school. I'm like, oh OK, she's like, yeah, I just have a couple of girls who can actually shoot at that high and then the rest really can't. So do you have any play recommendations? I get people to try to score, but we can't really shoot it up all the way, and I was like, yeah. So I remember those early on conversations about so that was last year.
Speaker 2:This year, the ability to shoot is like it's a little less. We're going to be really good at defense, though.
Speaker 1:There we go.
Speaker 2:Our games are going to be like 3 to 0 or something random, if somebody is able to make a free throw.
Speaker 1:That's OK. Defense wins championships, so that's good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, did you see my comment on what the little girl asked me about the games?
Speaker 1:Yeah about the running. Yes, I did. Yeah, so cute. I guess that's what's fun about coaching that age right? Yeah, they're so naive or don't know yet.
Speaker 2:It was innocent.
Speaker 1:They don't know anything, yeah, and so you really get to mold. And I think that's what's impactful about coaching at the young age, because you really can make an impact for that person and they can really grow to love the game, depending on how you are as a coach and I know you are a good coach, but to all the coaches listening for the younger ages you really have a big piece of that person wanting to love that sport or maybe they won't or wanting to pursue competitive competition. So I think it's really important to remember, like when you have interactions with the younger kids, like to remember that it is a big influence on how much they enjoy that sport.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's one thing I've noticed and I noticed it right away last year because I'm like you know me, I'm very competitive. So like high school, I'm one coach, right. But as soon as I'm with these little peeps, I am like a completely different coach, because I'm like you know what? They've never played basketball before, about. I have 11 on my team and I think only two have played before. So nobody else has played. They don't know what it is. They're with their friends and I've taught some of them before. So I'm like we just want to have fun. This is their little taste. So then next year, like from the fifth graders, I'm like next year, when you get to middle school, you got the little taste and the happy feel, hopefully, and you're enjoying it. So then you can hopefully go and just keep it going in middle school.
Speaker 2:I guess, it gets a little more intense and that's when you start losing some people. But yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 1:If you weren't mine, I'd love to kind of dive into your life journey and you can correct me if I'm wrong. But I also think you have a cool story in the sense of you don't necessarily know what you wanted to do right out of high school or right out of college. It took some time. I know you possibly were thinking about being coming like a flight attendant at one point. Oh, all the things, all the things.
Speaker 1:But I think that's amazing in a way for everybody who's listening that doesn't quite know what they want in life, and those type of things Like being able to sit back and trust God that you'll reveal the plan for your life and give you opportunities to try and you try to handful of different things.
Speaker 1:And you found eventually what your calling was and what you're passionate about, but I think it could be a really impactful story to people that are kind of like I need to know what's like, what I need to do with my life. I got to know what's going on, but, you know, you took your time and did what you needed to and you ultimately have worked out.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So going into college I was like you know, I'm going to be a nurse, it's going to be so cool. And then I realized I hate needles and which is funny because I have a bunch of tattoos. But those needles that stay in you, the IVs, not for me. And then the idea of giving that to somebody like I would not want to do that.
Speaker 2:So I quickly changed my major within. I don't even know it was bad. My friend called me like what did? She call me A major gypsy because I just moved around a bunch, yeah. So I went nursing. Then I went to teaching because I was like you know what, we have a teacher in our family. Like mom did it, I would help younger siblings with homework or want to be a teacher when I was younger, or it would always be like the little brown noser in class. So I was like you know what, maybe a teacher. Then I switched Again. I just got my general AA. Then I went for occupational therapy, which I really thought I was going to stick with that one. But then I got to the point where I was like this is not me. I'm like I don't like for teaching. I was like I want to have a bigger impact, which I know occupational therapists have, like the things that they do. It's so impressive, right, yeah, but like you said, shaping those young little friends. That's kind of where my mind went.
Speaker 2:So then I went to or went the route of psychology and sociology and dove into that because I was like maybe I could be a psychologist in a school or counselor, but then I was like that would make me cry every day and I don't think I'd want to cry every day, yeah, so then, yeah, then I finally found teaching again, again, went through a bunch, and I have a bunch of random credits now that are for nothing. But yeah, in the end I should have just went with my gut the second time around and there you go.
Speaker 2:Because I knew I wanted, I don't know and the idea of being able to coach to that made the most sense. I think with teaching coaching I could help shape the young little peeps in the classroom, help them figure out who they are, help develop their fun little personalities, how to handle conflict so kind of be almost all of those careers that I was kind of tip or dipping my toes in. But teaching kind of encompasses a wide range of majors, I think, not to the extremes, obviously, but with all the recess drama you got to handle the conflict resolution, all those things. Nurse, got to put those band-aids on even if they're not bleeding, because I'm just getting on them down.
Speaker 1:No, it's true, it's true, and all those credits came in handy. You get to learn different fields to be able to apply them to what you're doing now. I think that's awesome but, like I said, I wanted to touch up on that because I know in my own life, like there's times where, like what's God's will for my life, or what do I want to, where do I feel led to do? And ultimately you came back and God came back to what you truly call to do.
Speaker 1:And from what I hear. You know you love it and you love coaching. You love teaching and you get to be around some of your favorite people all the time you know, and which is awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think the biggest like pivotal point for me, well, I guess two, but they kind of go hand in hand. So, like I mean, you know, route 91, right, I was there super just life changing right, super traumatic, and I was able to talk with a therapist. That kind of had me fall back on what I know right or what I like it took a lot to. I'm trying to like figure out how to word it. But to unpack, right.
Speaker 2:But to again fall back on your faith, right, cause that's the one thing that stays constant, even in those horrible things that happened for some reason. And again you're like why? But like after that it took a lot for me to kind of come and come back, but she opened my eyes a lot and like what I actually wanted in life, cause, again with the like, what is the word? There's a word for it. I can't think of it right now, but when you survive, survival's great or survivors.
Speaker 1:Yeah, guilt, guilt, thank you.
Speaker 2:Like that. It kind of makes you think of like, okay, like I wasn't meant to die, so what am I supposed to do, you know? And then so, yeah, that was a big one. That kind of led me here. And then also, obviously, mike right Cause he grew up in the faith school and in just that environment and then, after meeting him and having this opportunity, it definitely allowed me to just get back to it and get a little deeper in my faith. So it was good.
Speaker 1:That's awesome.
Speaker 1:So you know, I think there's a lot to unpack there, but Meg has some of the most interesting life stories she's been a part of some really, really unfortunate events but also has won like the most random tickets and, like from you know, calling radio shows, has done like some of the most crazy things when it comes to that went to a night's game and had some luck at like a raffle and things, but things like that Like. But then again, you know, and I don't mean to make this as a joke, but it's really wild to see some of the extremely good and some of the extremely, you know, tough things that you unfortunately had to experience. But I think it really shapes who we are and molds us. But, like you said, the one thing that's constant throughout, that is God and our faith, right, like no matter the highs and lows and the things that we experienced, and I think that's really important to the listeners. It's like God does not change, he does not move, he is forever constant and he goes before us and whatnot.
Speaker 1:And you know I would. I'd love to talk about just a little bit about your faith journey. You don't have to go too deep and do it unless you want to, but just kind of talk about, basically, you know where you grew, you know how you started in your faith and how it evolved to where you are now.
Speaker 2:So I mean, you grew up in the same household. You can kind of help me out with this. But I don't know, growing up we kind of bounced around from church to church. It wasn't ever like consistent, but I think Christmas and Easter we would go out with special people. That's what we were, until we found like random churches that mom would like want to go test out, and then we go, and then we go for a couple of weeks and then it's just an odd I think an odd upbringing when it comes to our faith.
Speaker 1:I can attest it.
Speaker 2:But we got exposure in like all sorts of ways. So it's very complex, I think. But I remember there was a church I don't remember where it was, I think it's in Nevada but it was like after you were born and then Ronnie boy, so my biological dad was like going through hardships and like health issues. You were born going through your craziness and health issues and I went to mom and was like I need to be baptized and she was kind of like like what Like cause? We never like talked about that stuff, yeah, and I was like six, five, like who are you Like? What are you? My daughter type of thing, you know. But I like decided on my own at that age and I remember it vividly. I was like I know I can't help them but like if I become a part of God's family, I know I can help others like and be a light for others.
Speaker 2:I mean I probably didn't say that when I was five, it was along those lines. And so I remember getting baptized with mom because she chose to get baptized as well, so that was kind of special. And then, yeah again, then growing up we just popped around. I know dad would have like random times, we want to read the Bible or like share some stories, so just super, just not consistent I guess. But again, I don't think it necessarily needs to be consistent in a way, I don't know, because I mean I still like know that God is there or new right when I was growing up and like even through all those hard times, or like your weird early, late or early twenties when you're crazy, whatever happens, and like you can always lean back on him, right, but I think kind of hit like just we kind of just never talked about it, I think, as a family.
Speaker 2:And then in college I started dating a guy that was like super, super religious, which I love how, or I loved how he was so involved and like wanted to be involved. But it had to be that way or no way. And I was not about that way, it was just very controlling. And.
Speaker 2:I think that's where it's. I don't know like you always hear about people not wanting to attend church and things like that because of people that are so just controlling about it. I guess it's the best way to put it. And so I kind of went along with it for a little bit. I felt like I was just in like a, I was like a robot or something, which I know is really messed up to say, but I was a little bit of a robot.
Speaker 2:And then, once I got out of that relationship, I kind of just did my own thing for a little bit. And then that's when, like Route 91 happened and I really just pushed away from all the things because I was like what the heck, why is this happening? And all the things. And I was never able to really process it or anything like that until I did like it took somebody like telling me straight up like you are here still, like for a reason I know it might suck, or you feel a certain way right now, or you're still having PTSD, like all those things. But you need to be willing to try to go back to what you like not or raised with, but like what you? I don't know, like what you know. So that's when I started diving back in and like I would attend church. Even by myself felt a little weird, but I was like it's okay.
Speaker 2:And then I met Mike and we made like a pack together. We're like you know what, we're gonna go to church or watch it online, like as often as we can. And so that became our like faith together, which was kind of nice Well, not our faith, but you know what I mean Like our journey, which was nice to have somebody who was on the same level with you. I guess it wasn't a controlling thing, it was a partnership in that and that we both can pray together, we both can go to church together, we both can do devotions to get like, and that we both work at a Christian school. Like I love being able to talk with my kids about it. We do religion every day. We have chapel every Wednesdays. I'm able to like talk about or unpack that message with them when they get back to class. So I think that answers your question.
Speaker 1:I know. No, absolutely no. I think Sorry, no, you're good. I think you know it's sometimes when we experience trauma. You know we, like you said, you have to fall back on what you know. And fall back on, you know, the constant and what's always there and like, unfortunately, like you know, we have to experience some sort of trauma in our lives. And but I do remember, you know, through that journey for you, just on the outside, of looking in, like that took you some time to get to that point, right. And so for everybody with something like if you've experienced something super traumatic or you know anything in life like that, where I would recommend, like, just don't be hard on yourself, like it's a process, right, like I'm speaking for you.
Speaker 1:Maybe you could talk about this a little bit, but just kind of you know it's okay and to be unpacked, that and you'll get through it if you you know, use your resources and support system.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely does not help to keep it in, definitely needs to be unpacked and even, yes, I seek a therapist right. But like diving deeply into the church, like that helped too. I talked with a pastor here at our church I talked with and like the weird thing about trauma, it like happens and then everybody how they handle it afterwards is obviously different, but it's like you're almost stunned for a long period of time and then then you grieve sorry, yeah you did. Oh, sorry You're gonna be like.
Speaker 2:It's not cool. Can I turn that down, Okay?
Speaker 2:never, mind never done. Now. Then you like grieve and then you start to kind of process it slowly, but like I realized after like two weeks, like I hadn't listened to music, like I refused to listen to music, and I was like, all right, something's wrong with me. I should probably, and not wrong. But you know, like I need to unpack this, I need to just make sure I'm okay, right. And then, like you get to that point and it comes and goes and waves, like something still might trigger it even six years later, right. But again, having that constant, like you said, and being able to fall back on that was super helpful, because then, not long after that, we lost Claire, our sister, which was like all right, Like another super traumatic thing, right.
Speaker 2:That you don't ever think is gonna happen to you, which I think is right to say for any type of trauma. Right Like you never. You hear about it always happening to other people or whatever, but you just don't ever think it's gonna happen to you. And then it does and same thing Like. Then you're back in that like little hole and you have to figure out how or what's gonna help you get out of that. And that for Claire, I definitely.
Speaker 2:I never saw a therapist, but I did speak with like pastors here and unpacked a lot with them and my principal I was like you guys have you've been through a lot with me, but yeah, so. But again, I think the biggest thing, everybody goes at it their own way and it has to happen at their pace. With whatever trauma, right Like you have to be ready, cause I just remember, like the night of Route 91, mom was like you need to go talk to us. Like whoa, I still don't even know what happened. Right Like I was still just like I hadn't cried, I hadn't, like I didn't even know. So it's not always like an immediate fix. It takes time and effort from that person that's in it, I think, to try to come out of that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. And I'll say from a family member's perspective. You can come time to see, like I hope talking about this doesn't trigger anything, but I know for me on an outsider perspective, like being a family member, like I remember, kind of feeling like helpless in a way because, like you know, when it's a sibling and it's someone you love, I remember when this first happened it was like there was nothing I could do right and like to give you peace and there's nothing people we really can do other than offer like our listening and just being there for that person. And, like you said, when it's their time to open up to you, you just be there for them. And ultimately, the most powerful thing we could do is pray. Right, we couldn't go to God and just say like just give them, you know, strength and the peace to be able to overcome you know, or not even necessarily overcome it's probably not the right word but to be able to deal with this in the proper way.
Speaker 1:And I just remember from being a younger kid too, and you're a little bit older than me and but like you have as a family member, you have this sense of like you wish you could change it or something you could do.
Speaker 1:But I just remember that feeling of like you know what, like the biggest, the best thing I could do right now is pray and just let you know that, like I love and care about you and when you're ready to talk about it and you want a different perspective than mom and dad, or just like wants to want to just talk, you know, or listen, like the most powerful thing is listening. Like sometimes, like you know off topic but funny like dad we talk about you know things, but I would tell dad I'm like I don't want advice, I just want you to listen and like all the times with parents they'll want to fix some problem, solved and give you advice instead of just being there as a listener. And I think just sometimes in life you just have to listen. You just have to be there and let them know you love them and you care for them and just listen. I think that's the most, one of the most powerful things we can do.
Speaker 2:And that's one thing, like with, like you said, praying, like even if it's not like a whole thing, or like I remember literally laying down in bed because I could not sleep after that and I just was like eyes up on the ceiling and I started to just pray to myself, like in my head, or to God in my head, and I was like I don't know what I'm praying for right now, but I was like maybe to sleep, maybe the whole process, hopefully nobody's hurt. But, like I knew, people were hurt.
Speaker 2:I think I again, I was still in shock Cause like just yeah, I was just like I hope nobody's hurt, please, um, yeah, and then like, but I get that, yeah, especially, but the listening is that and that's something that goes a long way for cause. I mean you were again, you were there and you know some things that people that visited that were not listening Exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No, it was definitely over here Exactly, if you're to think to the listeners like it, most people it's coming out of the kindness of their heart, but we just have to understand and have some feel. I think that's the biggest thing is like you have some empathy, you, you, you know and and these things, and it's like, yeah, you might think you're helping, but at the end of the day you could just be pouring salt on the wound and so it's just like really just trying to listen and and that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:Sorry, I'm just thinking about that encounter and you know what's one.
Speaker 1:So I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm so aware. And it's just a while.
Speaker 1:Okay and get back on track now. No, it's okay and this is what it's about, but no, I think you have a really impactful journey and just to see where you're at today and the smile you have, and that's what you know, everybody knows about you and like, knows, like, when they think of Meg, you know we think of you know happy, sappy, you know smile and like energetic and you know volleyball beast and all these other things and so, like, seeing you, you know, in your element, has been awesome.
Speaker 2:Um, volleyball beast. I wouldn't go that far. What does dad say? Dad says I have a credit card. I'm like I probably have that now after my hips are greased, but talk about it. I have a blocker, agrees? I have like 14 blocks recorded, Okay.
Speaker 1:So there you go, talk about hit surgeries. I have a joke that, like Meg's, like one of the disabled people in my family because she's been, she's been equally as injured as me because like it'll be like, but it's wild. So you would you tell, like to tell the listeners, some of the uh, you know issues you've had. You know, physically, you got some hips, you got some new hips, you got some new hips.
Speaker 2:And wait, how old is I? 25? Uh yeah, 2000 and 21. Well, covid, mike and I started golfing a lot more. I started working out a lot more, which was all great, yeah Right, so good, and I felt so healthy. It was wonderful until one day my hip hurt and it continued to hurt. I couldn't sleep and I was like something is wrong with my hip.
Speaker 2:And it was just my left one. So I went to the doctor. They're like, oh, it's your back. I was like my, my hip hurts, but okay. So then they had to rule out the back and do all those things. These, I think, wanted more money, but it's fine. Um. So at that time again leading back on what I know, I was like please, god, like help me figure out what was wrong with me. I just need sleep. And at that time I was still in PE, I was doing student teaching. I was like just 100%, still doing everything. And then they were like, oh, yeah, it is your hip. Like like, yeah, could have told you that about four months ago. But here we are. Um, so I had to get labor repair and they had to shave down extra bone growth in my left hip. Then I got this awesome hip brace. I was in that bad boy for like four no, was it like three months it?
Speaker 1:was miserable. By the way it was miserable.
Speaker 2:Like maybe I can pull up a picture. I don't think you guys can see it on here, but um, yeah, that was miserable. Then, as soon as that one started to feel better, my right one woke up and was like hey, I'm hurt too, but left one was worse. So here we are. So I went back to him, to the same doctor, who was amazing, love him, would recommend him.
Speaker 2:He's actually the golden nights doctor, which is cool or ortho, um, and I was like I like my right hip hurts. Same exact pain, same exact areas. It's like a mirror, like please just go in at this point. I'm like I and that I had done PT and all those things before to try to see if that would help. Nothing helps. Never.
Speaker 2:Um, and so he went back in within like four months. So I got first one in July, second one in November, and then I was back in that stupid brace. Same brace too. They just flipped it, which I think was worse, but yeah.
Speaker 1:So shout out to Mike Uh, that's when he got the most points. For me was seeing him during that recovery. It was amazing. Obviously, nurse Mike, you literally nurse Mike, um, but it really showed his character and his commitment and you know, it was pretty, pretty impactful.
Speaker 2:Poor guy wanted to um propose to me but he was like I figured you didn't want your hip brace in any of the photos and I was like, all right.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You're right. Yes, appreciate that.
Speaker 1:Yes, and, by the way, he told me when he was going to propose and we were out of town and he told me one time I knew before anybody else um, you didn't know that, but shout out to Mike.
Speaker 2:Um, and that's wedding when he was Crazy.
Speaker 1:No, it was at a restaurant, uh, outside of a restaurant, um, but yes and so um. So that's pretty cool talking about that and and Mike's loyalty, and I think that's just an important thing because it's like it's very easy to be with someone or to be a friend with someone or a relationship when, when things are going well and people can help themselves and all that other things. But you know, with your ups and downs, even with your health and things like he was committed and really cared and and love you and and for who you are, and I think that's really important and really thankful to have you know him in our family. Yes.
Speaker 1:And uh guess what.
Speaker 2:So I guess I'll keep him.
Speaker 1:Exactly, exactly. So uh, why not? We don't ever have family members on this, so why don't we take the last few minutes here and you maybe give a couple of your favorite stories of us or me growing up, that, um, it could be sports related, or I know for me like I used to enjoy going all your volleyball games and like I'd sit on like the bench and you'd always try to throw the ball to me. You know how you had to, like the little volleyball. Yeah, like throw out the little white ones. Yep.
Speaker 1:And that was. That was always cool. Um, it's good. I used to go to all your games. Growing up, meg used to babysit me all the time. We've watched um, uh, rent, oh, all the we watched rent.
Speaker 2:Any musical on repeat.
Speaker 1:Yes, that was uh really fun and um yeah. Kind of think of it in my hair, but that's like another. Yeah, I don't like a memorable.
Speaker 2:I mean it's memorable but maybe not positive. Um, try to think like miracle league stuff. I don't know. I felt like I was like always. Oh, that video, yes, from Kentucky, yeah, dan's like really cool because he hurts a lot and and like you can get hurt, but he gets hurt a lot harder or so Like what did. I say it was something, so no he's literally like that.
Speaker 1:It was so bad, it was so funny. But in that video we're like playing in the grass or in the uh, the leaves the leaves. Yeah, that was cute.
Speaker 3:We were so young, but we were just kind of messing around.
Speaker 2:Gosh, I looked like good thing for some puberty and I want to tell you, for some hair. I don't know why, mom, let me cut my hair the way it was.
Speaker 1:It was like this short. Yeah, we all had some wacky hair cut to the wife. Can we talk about in?
Speaker 2:that whole video, how I'm the one that's picking you up too, like where are we going?
Speaker 1:I know. Yeah. I know I thought about the same thing. I'm, like you know, in the video, like we're watching a match game and they're like I'm yelling at the store when we're killed.
Speaker 2:You're yelling at the papa or something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I got in trouble from dad because we're in the opponents fan section and we're winning by a lot, and I'm on the phone and they're, like you know, asking me like what's the score, and I'm like it's 64 to 13, but we have 64. And dad's telling me like hey, be quiet, Like everybody's around you. Those are some fun stories.
Speaker 2:That was all Kentucky.
Speaker 1:Interesting, yeah, but I just remember a bunch of volleyball in high school when you were. You remember that.
Speaker 2:You used to go to all the being the youngest sibling.
Speaker 1:You always go to all the sports you know. Volleyball is life or baseball, baseball, volleyball. We would go on trips, some fun, like power trips.
Speaker 2:We went to.
Speaker 1:Baltimore yeah, that was cool, that was fun.
Speaker 2:What do I think? Honestly, I have the worst memory, I think. That's okay, no, yeah there's. He did a lot. Okay. Trying to think about the house like across from Green Valley. What happened there? Any exciting things.
Speaker 1:Not that I really know of.
Speaker 2:No. But, oh, we had the dogs. That would always bark at you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but let's talk about the. You talk about like faith a little bit, and why do you feel like being able to share your faith in school and your job is important to you and how that, you know, affects the way you teach and that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:That's a good question. I mean, I think, like I said earlier, like I enjoy being able to have that open conversation with the kids, but I think it's like being able to pray with them too and kind of showing them that like you don't have to be like ashamed or nervous to do that, you know and I mean there are only eight, so they don't really know either way but just trying to help them figure that out for themselves. I don't try to like cram it down their throat, right. Like we have religion we talk about openly. I answer their questions, like things like that, and I think the biggest thing is teaching them how to pray right. It's not like wishing for things, right, you're you're more thanking God.
Speaker 2:Right, we always talk about the five finger prayers.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:But I think just in the way.
Speaker 2:I'm trying to figure out how to word it sorry, Like I don't go around and always talk about faith, if that makes sense, Like we do. Religion, we have those things. But I think, in the way that I act, in the way that you respect one another, I think the way like when we go into chapel, I'm like guys whose house are we entering, right, and they're like God or Jesus, and I'm like, right, so how should we like? How should we be acting right now? Should we be jumping on the chapel chairs? I know right, so just trying to guide them to again. Yeah, I guess, just be that light for others and be those I don't wanna say leaders, but just like lead by example, because I think that goes a really long way, especially at this age, Like we mentioned, like having empathy for others and showing that you care for others and those type of things.
Speaker 2:I don't know. We talked about the fruits of the spirit a lot. Yeah, because that kind of is a good connection for them at this age.
Speaker 1:For sure. I think that's a really important thing. Breaking it down for younger kids can be a little bit more challenging, right, because they have their own things that they're wrestling with. They have wherever the case may be right, but and obviously they're still learning a lot. So being I give a lot of credit to people who are able to break it down so that kids can resonate a little bit and so shout out to you guys that are able to do that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some of the like Bible stories we read, they're like what? And I'm like, well, let's take it back a notch. What is Jesus trying to tell us here? What is like, what is yeah, or what was. I'm trying to think of who we're reading about right now. I know we just read like when Jesus feeds the 5,000. And I was like, okay, so what's the message? Like they're like they. Like Jesus fed them. I'm like, okay, but how is that possible? Like it's not like. So just again, trying to relate it to little people words and try to help them make those connections and understand the biggest one is fruits and spirits I'm like okay, we got love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness and self-control.
Speaker 2:That's a big one. We are still working on that one over here, Eddie.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's probably the most important one for the elementary school age Self-control. Keep your head to yourself. It's your personal space. Still talking about bubbles, right? Is this your bubble?
Speaker 2:No, but for some of them I literally I'll tell them like, guys, to enhance ourselves, like that's something we teach and learn in kindergarten. I'm like, do you need to go back there? I'm like, are you sure? Maybe? I'm like, okay, bye, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1:So no, I think Meg would be. I obviously have never seen Meg teach a senior coach. Meg, it would be an incredible teacher. I know she is, and as a coach, I think Meg is hilarious and awesome as a coach too, depending on what's going on. It's so fun. There's so much to like because we I think one of the biggest things that Meg and I have in common is we wear our heart on our sleeves. Like people can tell the way we feel by our emotions, like by our faces, like cause, like-.
Speaker 2:Oh, I can't say anything.
Speaker 1:Me neither, like I'm so bad at it, like. So if you're like coaching and you're like fired up in your team, you can see the red like the sweat. You know, but like, but it's like you're excited, like you. Everybody in the whole building can tell you. And so I just remember, like Watson, meg coach the Bresman team and she just be like you know, just like, walk me in and like-.
Speaker 2:Brakes. Please, gubby with those little freshies, they don't know anything.
Speaker 1:No, but you had a couple of really good and nasty Bresman teams a couple years. That is true.
Speaker 2:One year, we only lost one game. So one year we only lost one game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, me and Ronnie Boy would sit together and enjoy the games. Oh yeah man. Yes, no, I said it was Ronnie Boy.
Speaker 2:See me in action tomorrow if you come to my game.
Speaker 1:Okay, where do you play At Faith? Oh, there you go. Nice, well, maybe I will. But hey, you know what, meg, I appreciate you stopping by and hop on today's episode. I really appreciate the vulnerability and I think that your story could really make an impact on the listeners. I think the whole goal of this podcast is just to share a variety of life journeys and how God has always been at the center and has always protected us, even if it doesn't necessarily look like it and we've had other traumatic things going on. But look at you now, look where you are. You just got married and yeah, Before you go.
Speaker 2:Actually, because at our school we have to do devotion every day or not every day, but I'm in charge of the devotion next week for our faculty meeting.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's actually talking about getting out of your comfort zone.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And the person I listened to. He said sometimes it is the devil who is giving you comfort and is God who is putting you in the conflict. Mm. And Jesus was sent to like confront people right, Not necessarily comfort. Mm. And so that's I kind of like that. I was like kind of what you said just made me think of that.
Speaker 1:No, I love that and I think like and that's when I tell people, like, when you're uncomfortable, I think that's a good sign, you're in the right spot. You know, I know that. I know in my own life like I'm in a season like pursuing ministry, going back to school, like all these other things right, like I have a job interview tomorrow and it's like I completely switched careers. I'm kind of like, ah, moved out on my own, I got all these bills and things. But I'm like when I know it's like a little uncomfortable and I know I'm doing the ministry and all these things, it's like it's God's letting me know that like you're growing and like you're in the right place for your life and the will for your life. So I think that's an important message right, when you're comfortable, you're limiting your growth and you're limiting your potential because you're not allowing God to do that yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna write it down, yeah.
Speaker 1:Yes, write it down All right, you're limiting your growth.
Speaker 2:I like that.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Yeah, we drop bangers here every episode, so tune in people. But awesome, meg. The way I like to close this out every time is I end it with a prayer, just like to give it back to God, allowing us to be able to just reflect on this amazing conversation and just pray that whoever listens to this receives whatever they're meant to receive, and that we know that whoever God plans to listen to this, or whatever part they listen to, we just pray that they're able to receive and take in what they're supposed to do. So let's go to God in prayer. So, dear heavenly Father, I wanna thank you for allowing me to have Meg on this podcast.
Speaker 1:As you know, while we're bearing much and her story is super inspiring and, god, I think it's a testament for don't judge a book by its cover. In the way that there's sometimes, we have people on this earth that might look 100% healthy or might look like they've never experienced anything, or they had a perfect childhood. You know they got a big family, both parents, all these other things, but we don't necessarily know what people are going through. God, and I think it's a great testament to just being there for people and, regardless of what it looks like we don't know what they're experiencing, so we just be there and listen.
Speaker 1:God, I pray that whoever listens to this today can just get an understanding that we wanna be able to be there for our loved ones and people we don't know, and we love them where they're at, we listen to them and we provide our guidance and our prayer for them. Lord, I just thank you for having Meg in our family and the great memories we've created and will create in the future. And, lord, I just wanna give this all to you and this platform to you, that you just allow your people and whoever wanna listen listen and they can grow from this. And we ask this all and you just only name my prayer Amen, amen, amen. Meg.
Speaker 1:All right, I will talk to you soon. Bye, peace out, bye.