Catholic Blogger Meg Matenaer

You know those people you get to know over the years, thanks to the wonder of the internet, and you just know that, when you meet them in real life (even if not until the life to come), you will SQUEE and spend an entire day and many pots of coffee with them?

Well, that's how I feel about Meg Matenaer. I've been a fangirl of her work here at CatholicMom.com for quite some time, and it's a joy to be able to highlight her as a blogger.

She is, in her own words, "the wife of a handsome canon lawyer and mom to four little people." By her own admission, she spends her days cooking, cleaning, playing with toys, eating candy on the sly, and reading.

Meg recently revamped her blog and moved it AND renamed it. It is now called "heaven's in your corner," and she's writing it because, she says, she wants it to be a reminder that heaven is rooting for you. I suspect that, like so many of us who write online, she's writing as much for herself as for anyone who happens to read it...but I could be projecting a bit there. :)

As for me, I can't wait for the day when I hear her self-proclaimed "atrocious accent" with my very own ears and get to binge on coffee and chocolate and conversation.

Until then, I'll settle for cheering for Meg from the sidelines. Enjoy our conversation!

Tell us about your blog in five words or less.

Faith. Motherhood. Encouragement. Saints. Typos.

Why did you start blogging?

At the time I was an at-home mom of two little people. My background was in creative writing, and I’d been feeling the urge to get back into it, though I didn’t know where to start or how to get my foot in the door at a publication. My brother, who’s since written a novel, helpfully suggested that I start a blog because that way I could write without having to rely on someone hiring me—a roundabout way of suggesting that probably nobody would hire me!

I took his advice and started a blog one evening at a McDonald’s when my husband watched the kids. I appreciated the freedom of being able to instantly publish what I wanted to write about, which was the intersection of faith and motherhood, an area where I’ve learned the most about God’s immense merciful love for each one of us. I gave God my little blog at the time, Offering It Up, to use as He wished.

Why do you keep blogging? What's your inspiration to continue?

Blogging sure can be difficult. It can be discouraging to work hard on a post only to receive little or no feedback. Being a mom, though, is slowly teaching me that giving something to God means that we often don’t see the fruit of our work. I have to remind myself that my only job is to plant a little seed—that sounds like Sheri Wohlfert, doesn’t it?—and if there’s any fruit that comes from it, that’s God’s business. But it sure is exciting to think that God needs our help in planting those seeds.

When you think of the New Evangelization as a Catholic blogger, what excites you? What makes you want to continue?

It is a thrill to think that I could play even a small part in communicating the truth and beauty of God on the internet. Our media is saturated with narcissism, pessimism, hedonism, materialism, snarkiness, and despair, and it can take a real toll on our outlook on life. Every one of us is thirsting for God, whether or not we know it, and if He could use me to help reach even just one person, it would be worth all the effort.

What's the most rewarding aspect of your blogging?

By far it’s the people I’ve been blessed to write with and for. You and Lisa, the CatholicMom contributors and readers have been a joy to get to know. I’m an at-home mom and I am so grateful for this real community that’s been such a source of joy, comfort, and camaraderie in this blessed, and, at times, upsetting journey of motherhood. I’ve often felt God speak to me through others’ posts and comments, and I know that many others have, as well. Moms can never get enough encouragement!

In your spare time, what are we likely to find you doing?

Probably eating candy in the dark corner of my kitchen. I have a sugar/coffee problem that I’m trying to hide from my family. I also love reading the newspaper, taking walks, and being with my family.

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Copyright 2014 Sarah Reinhard