This week I talk to my friend and MILS-Sister (Military Spouse-Sister) Meg Kelvington. During the pandemic, between her leadership and determination to keep us Christ-centered and sane, and my determination to keep us jubilant and maybe slightly tipsy, she and I worked our magic to keep the heart and soul of our community vibrant. While much of our community-building efforts began before the shutdown in 2020, I feel, as a community, we were our best during the pandemic and this has motivated me to cultivate the same sense of community in every lived-in space I have going forward. As I get older, I find that community where one LIVES is so important. We don’t always have to go out to find a sense of belonging and although it may seem hard at first, it is possible to cultivate a sense of belonging and togetherness in heterogeneous communities. Listen as she and I share our community stories and provide advice from our lived experiences on how to create a community where it is needed most, in our neighborhoods.

About this week’s guest:

I'm kicking myself for this because during the episode I fail to really capture what a badass Meg is. Please forgive me! Meg flew helicopters, planes and deployed to Afghanistan. Now she uses her Army leadership experience to coach others through her company "Riveting Mission LLC" while being an Army Wife and mother to 4 young children. She grew up in an Army family with both her mother and father being West Point graduates. She joined the family business and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2006. After graduating from flight school in 2008, qualified in both the Blackhawk helicopter and RC-12 Guardrail airplane, she was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield. She then deployed to Afghanistan and flew over 200 combat hours. After additional schooling, she went on to the 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Corps before leaving the Army to focus on her family and pursue coaching and mentoring. She has done work with Team Red White and Blue, Wear Blue: Run to Remember, and led groups in her local church. She and her husband, Mike, have four children, McKinley (9), Madison (8), “Mac” Arthur (5), and Moriah (2).

Find her at [email protected] and on Facebook @RivetingMissionLLC and Instagram @riveting.mission.llc

She runs a Monday morning virtual group that shares a short Bible-based message and then does a workout together called "Fit To Serve." You can find details on Facebook or email her for more info.

During the show, we mention some resources that are great for women and people in general. Find links to them all below.

Breathe By Priscilla Shirer (here's an intro video too)

The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell - We didn't talk about this during the recording but she shared it with me after. It seems like a great place to start with building community in heterogeneous spaces.

She Reads Truth Podcast

The Green Plate by Jill Connett - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6681123-the-green-plate