Meg & Adam Thought They Would Have a Large Family

“I certainly didn’t expect to meet and fall in love with a man on the other side of the country three time zones away from me!” exclaims Meg, 37.

After meeting on CatholicMatch in October 2013, Meg, from California, and Adam, from North Carolina, were engaged in May of 2014. They married in May of 2015, and in March of 2016, they became parents to a beautiful, blue-eyed baby girl.

“On paper, it didn’t make any sense, but somehow it worked for us,” shares Meg. “But here we are 18 months after the birth of our baby, thanking God for what seemed like impossibilities becoming possibilities!”

And then came...Charlotte

For Adam and Meg, getting pregnant right away was a blessing, but what followed was both a cause for joy and heartache. Just hours after giving birth to a baby girl named Charlotte, there were complications and Meg was rushed into surgery for a hysterectomy—dashing their dreams of having a big family.

“Even now, I struggle with wrapping my mind around this fact. There have been many sleepless nights and tears that have fallen, and Adam has been there for it all. He has consoled me in the darkest of times as I grieve the loss of being able to bear more children,” she laments.

Still, Meg and Adam revel in having Charlotte. “She has brought so much joy and happiness. Adam and I work as a team even more than we did when it was just the two of us. Charlotte is always at the forefront of everything we do," she says.

Sometimes Charlotte and her latest antics cause the couple to laugh and smile so much their cheeks hurt.

Adam, 44, adds, “Seeing the new things Charlotte learns and does each day is a real gift, and I am glad to be able to do this with Megan.”

What Meg loves about being married is having a helpmate to encourage her to grow in her faith and to hold her accountable.

The roller coaster of marriage

“It can be somewhat taxing to not only try to get yourself to Heaven but also to try to help your spouse along that same path,” she shares.

“However, being married to Adam has been a huge blessing and joyful in the sense that he brings humor and  lightness to the situation while still recognizing the gravity of our life’s work and vocation to one another and God.”

For Adam, the biggest marital joy so far is the gift of living his life with Megan and the birth of their baby.

We are very different, and that is challenging

Meg and Adam share that they have also encountered relationship crosses. Communication has been one area that they struggle with because they have different communication styles and temperaments. When Meg is upset, she tends to keep things in and stifle her feelings until they come spilling out when she hits a breaking point.

"Adam, on the other hand, is really good about talking through his feelings and starting the dialogue between us,” she points out. “Then, there are other times when I’m a chatterbox and overly social, which leads to overcommitting and burnout on my end. Adam, who is more of a homebody, would rather have peace and quiet while he’s doing his own thing.”

The couple has noticed that they recharge in different ways. Adam is more introverted and needs his alone time while Megan is extroverted and gets energy from being around other people.

Adam adds that sometimes differing expectations have been a challenge that they have needed to talk through.

If you're frustrated, do something about it!

Meg recommends that members fall in love with God first and put Him at the center, but to never stop praying for one’s future spouse. She also recommends seeking God’s will rather than one’s own will, so the opportunities He sends don’t pass you by.

“Be open to all the possibilities God will bring you to because you never know what will happen!”

She also suggests that while members are waiting to find “the one” that they try to grow in their faith by going on retreats or to Bible studies, through volunteering, and getting to know people at church.

"Just put yourself out there," says Meg.

Adam thinks that there's most likely a correctable reason for what's causing dating frustration.

“Branch out of your comfort zone. Take a look at what you’re doing and if don't like the results, look for ways to change what you’re doing, so that you can get different results or outcomes,” he explains. “Get out and meet others who enjoy the same things as you do.”