Made it Through

This week has been an interesting one. It has been full of changes, disappointments, sadness, good laughs, and some stress. Sunday was just the beginning. I missed  church. I slept through not only my alarm but my roommate's as well. Even her getting ready did not wake me up. The retreat really knocked me out. I finally woke up at noon and had to get going. I had an area dinner to get to. Angela Lopez came over to help me cook cinnamon cream cheese stuffed French toast. It was so good! I loved having dinner with my friends. We sat and just laughed. Monday was a rough one. I found out not only is Angela Lopez not coming back to BYUSA after this semester, but Angela Blomquist may take another job. I cannot lose both Angelas. I was so distraught afterwards I cried for an hour and a half. I will say, in our area meeting before I got this awful news, I was rather enjoying myself. My area was talking about how quietly opinionated I was, and how verbally opinionated Eric was. Someone was like, "That is why they are so compatible." I did not enjoy this because I like him, but that really is one of the reasons we work so well together all of the time. Once I got the news about losing my favorite people in the office it was one of those days that all I wanted was a friend. I am finding more and more that you cannot depend on people. When you need them they are nowhere to be found. It is just making me more independent than ever. Tuesday was a little better. We had the best forum speaker I have heard since I have been at BYU. Wednesday was blah. Thursday I was fidgety all day because my dad was having surgery and I was nervous. He is fine! I was kind of a wreck all day. I did not even put on make-up. It made some people really worry about me. It is nice to know who my real friends are. Seriously, this week has been one in which my eyes glaze over and I just go through the motions. Today I am back to normal. Happy go lucky, smiley, and sassy as ever. I got so much done today! Love it. More laughs, a nerf gun war in the office, a wonderful dinner (consisting of popcorn, cheese dip, a pomegranate, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies), and "Breaking Dawn." I will admit, I laughed the first fifteen minutes of the movie, a laughed multiple times during it, and I even cried at one point. They threw in a twist I was not expecting at all. Ending my night with more cookies and "Get Smart" is making my week seem a lot better than it actually was. Next week is Thanksgiving! Two days of classes, and then a much needed break. Three and a half weeks and I get to go home!!!

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

I first want to acknowledge the hand of God in my life this weekend. I did not have to drive up in the canyon. I went, but I drove up with my coordinator. I prayed all yesterday that I would be safe driving up there, and driving in a car that wasn't mine was just making me feel uncomfortable. Good thing I have a wonderful coordinator watching out for me. I was safe. I also realized she is one of the coolest people I will ever meet. We talked about almost everything on our drive up, and it put my racing mind at ease. I seriously love her. I also want to point out that the song Diamonds came on three times on the drive up there. Needless to say, it was stuck in everyone's heads by the time we arrived. We all sang it all night. When we got to Springhaven, I was amazed. First off, it is HUGE. I got lost more than once in that "house." There is a jungle gym and a treehouse inside. Second off, it is so nice. It has heated floors. I was happy. With the blizzard going on outside, there is nothing better than a place with heated floors. Trainings and games and food... Oh my! It was a lot. I went in to this retreat like one often does conference. I went in with a prayer in my heart. It was answered, and everything was perfect. Everything went well. I did get thrown in the snow a couple of times, we had a snowball fight that was rather intense (I am a pro at dodging and aiming so I think I won), and we just had fun. I shone bright like a diamond the whole time, and I got closer to people I already love. Also, it is a huge feat that my crush did not resurface. Proof that I am so done. The theme was dedication. Spiritual, BYUSA, school, and self dedication. I learned a lot and had fun. There isn't much better!

Scared Out of My Wits

How can weather go from the perfect fall weather to snow overnight? I have no idea. Welcome to Utah where one minute you are instagramming pictures of changing leaves and the next you are instagramming multiple inches of snow. Today is the day I have been so excited for and have been dreading all at once. I have my retreat tonight. I am so excited for all of the fun I am going to have. I am excited to get away. I am excited to be with friends. I am dreading driving up by myself. I am dreading having to facilitate a game. Today I woke up and it was raining. Well, that rain quickly turned to snow, and now I have to drive in the snow for my first time going up a mountain in a canyon that has no cell phone service by myself with the food for the night. Needless to say I am stressed. I have not been able to concentrate on anything. It took me an hour to put on the little bit of makeup I wear. For other girls that may not be bad, but it usually takes me eight minutes. I just need to drive up there and I will feel a million times better. I know I will be fine, I am just terrified. 

Election Night

Tonight I realized I had an assignment due at ten, and I had to go up to campus to turn it in. Well, I finally finished it around seven and went to turn it in. I loved getting to park in teacher parking because it was so late. There was a problem though. When I went to turn it in I realized I had no idea where to go. I never go to my Stats lab and that is in the building where I had to turn it in. So, I walked into the building and was instantly lost. I finally found stairs which I needed to go up a floor, and found the room fairly easily. There was another problem. I found the room and turned in my homework, but how in the heck was I supposed to get out of this building? None of the math nerds were in the building so I was on my own. After a few minutes of sheer panicked searching for a way out, I found the door. All is well in the world. That is, all was well until I got home. You see, it is election night. My stress level is soaring. Today in my class we rated ourselves on whether or not we had a feeling of impending doom. I rated myself very low. Well, now that rating would be through the roof. My comfort foods have been broken out, but you can only eat so much popcorn and drink so much chocolate milk. I know members all over the country are praying for the best man to be president whomever they think they may be. Everything will work out. I did my duty as an American citizen, and I voted. I just have to remember to stay calm and breathe. Well, he may not have won, but Mitt still has my vote! Also, just because who I voted for did not win does not mean I am not going to support and pray for President Obama. The next four years should be fun.

It is obvious wisdom comes with age...

Thanksgiving Time

     Please forgive this amazingly long blog post, but I have learned a lot over the past couple of days. Much has changed, and I feel so much lighter than I did even Saturday morning. I learned a lot about others, but I learned the most about myself. Some of this is just for fun, some will make you feel good all over like nothing else, and some I just felt like I needed to share.
     I was doing some scripture study the other day... Mosiah 4:15 says: But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve on another. So, I have been working to serve and love others. Between BYUSA, friends, and school work, my schedule and just life in general has been insane. Then, I came to Mosiah 4:27 which says: And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. I was running too fast for my own good, and that is going to change. I am putting my life in Christ's hands which is hard for me considering my level of independence. This is a very literal "Jesus take the wheel" moment.
     I have heard a lot of funny and just memorable quotes lately...
-You're only as close to your answer as your knees are close to the floor.
-As sovereigns  choosing to yield to the Highest Sovereign is our highest act of choice. It is the only surrender which is also a victory! The putting off of the natural man makes possible the putting on of the whole armour of God, which would not fully fit before.
- If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.
     Everyone is doing the one-a-day thankful posts. Well, I do not have time for that so I am just going to do a really long one with thirty things on it right now.
1. I am thankful for my testimony. I do not know where I would be today without it.
2. I am thankful for the power of prayer. I am constantly reminded of it, and it amazes me each and every time.
3. I am thankful for crunchy leaves. There is no day so bad that crunchy leaves cannot make it better.
4. I am thankful for sunshine. I love the feeling of the sun on my face and how it reflects off my hair. Being blonde, I feel like a have a little sunshine with me wherever I go.
5. I am thankful for the best friends I could ever ask for. They are awesome, and I love having fun with them.
6. I am thankful for the most wonderful family ever. Their love and support get me through.
7. I am thankful for teachers with a sense of humor. They make my day so much better.
8. I am thankful for seasons. We do not have them at home, but I love the changing colors and weather.
9. I am thankful for uplifting music. I love music. It just makes me happy.
10. I am thankful for dogs. This applies mainly to my dog and the spotted dog I love so much, but dogs are great in general.
11. I am thankful for the majestic mountains all around me. They make me feel safe and secure. They are also just beautiful, and remind me there is so much more out there than the small area BYU takes up. Heavenly Father created some of the most amazing things, and they are out there for me to explore.
12. I am thankful for movies. There is something comforting about curling up in a blanket and watching a movie.
13. I am thankful for tests. I know that sounds crazy, but I learn more from the tests I take than I do from the multiple hours I spend in class.
14. I am thankful for sweaters, jackets, and coats. I hate being cold, and I love to layer so it all works out.
15. I am thankful for nicknames. I love the sense of belonging I get when someone uses one of my nicknames, and I love hearing the meaning behind some of them.
16. I am thankful for convertible cars. I love my car, and I love the sense of freedom it gives me when the wind blows through my hair. I love just laughing when my hair is attacking my face, and I love getting to blast my music without a care in the world.
17. I am thankful for minivans. Enough said.
18. I am thankful for mail. I love getting the mail out of the mailbox and getting letters from friends and family. I always know someone out there loves me.
19. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to be at BYU and be a part of BYUSA. I am learning and growing so much.
20. I am thankful for my planner. I don't necessarily like every moment of my life planned out, but there is something about being able to cross things off the list of things I have to do that just makes me happy.
21. I am thankful for the fact that I have my cousin Becca here. Through the good, the bad, and the ugly, she is always there, and frankly I just love having fun with her.
22. I am thankful for my patriarchal blessing. Sometimes everything around you in in an uproar of how bad things are and how much worse they are going to be, but my patriarchal blessing gives me hope in the future.
23. I am thankful for eyes. You can see the true emotion and intent behind what people are saying through their eyes. You can see what kind of person they are. Also, some eyes are just gorgeous.
24. I am thankful for food. Good, tasty food is just wonderful... Oh, and so is chocolate.
25. I am thankful for smiles. When someone smiles at me, even if it is a stranger, it kind of makes my day.
26. I am thankful for art. I love not only looking at beautiful art people have created, but I love creating it.
27. I am thankful for the fact that I actually know people on campus. Seeing a friend in the masses of each passing period is just amazing, and I love it.
28. I am thankful for disasters. All of these things will be for my good and give me experience.
29.  I am thankful for dreams. Sometimes dreaming of things to come is one of the few things that make me think everything will be all right in the end.
30.  I am thankful for Christmas. I am so excited to not only celebrate the season, but see the lights, eat the treats, and be with my family.

Superb Weekend

My weeks are long. I work so hard every day, fighting to get through. The daily minutiae that I so frequently get caught up in wears me out. The thing is, I have wonderful people that help me make unforgettable memories which makes it all worth it. I had a fantastic day yesterday. I decided I was going to make it a good day, so I did. I just had fun. Sitting outside with the beautiful colors of autumn all around me, the crisp fall air, and the sun shining on my face and hair. I love it. It was the perfect temperature, the perfect activity, the perfect day. 

Do you know what made my day even better? I got a front row spot at Walmart. That never happens, especially on a Friday night. I got a quiet buggy at Walmart. That really never happens at Walmart. I got to talk to my momma. I realized today healthy food is a lot cheaper than other food. Way to go, Megan. New diet! Then off to Ihop with one of my roommates, Hairspray, and a little fun. Seriously a great day! Today I drove up to a canyon I did not even know existed with a friend. I was terrified before I went thinking it would not go well, but it was fine. I now kind of know where I have to drive on Friday... It is going to be fun.

I also found some pictures of when I got to say goodbye to my cousin Aleah before she went on a mission. Becca and I got to spend some time with her before she left. I have been writing her. It is funny how much you miss someone when you know you won't see them again for eighteen months. I love these girls though. 

Then, I was feeling kind of sad, and I was wishing I could be at home to see my family. So, I read my text messages from my mom, dad, and little brother. I was instantly feeling better, and then I came across this picture. I seriously have the cutest dog ever. I cannot wait to see him and hold him and let him fall asleep in my arms while I watch a movie. 

Halloween

So, I will be the first one to admit I am not a huge fan of Halloween. I mean, I like candy... but the costumes, masks, haunted activities, and other creepy happenings make it altogether uncomfortable for me. This year was different. When I finally walked on to campus, I saw this guy. 

How can you not smile? Then, I went to class and my teacher was not dressed up like he said he would be. Now, I was rather disappointed until he took off his suit coat and started humming. What was he up to? Next thing I knew he was putting on a bright red sweater and singing the Mr. Rogers song. Oh my gosh yes!!! Day made. When class was over I went home to change into my costume. I put everything on but the tutu. So, I walked around campus with a Thor shirt and a pencil skirt all day. Things got crazier as my day went on. BYUSA, the volleyball event (which was an epic  failure), and watching "Psycho" with the old roomies and a couple of FHE brothers. I will say our costumes looked super cute, and I had fun seeing friends at the party. I just wish the party had gone the way we planned it. Athletics kind of ruined it when we handed it off to them. No big deal. I will get over it... Eventually. Psycho was not a scary movie, but it creeped me out if that makes sense. Not scary, creepy. :) Fun night even if it was Halloween. 

 

I am really excited to go home. My little brother and I used to always watch the Halloweentown movies on television every year, and he said he would save them for me. Am I going to be watching Halloween movies on my Christmas break? You betcha! Also, in honor of my costume I told him we have to add "Thor" to the list of movies we have to watch while I am home so now we have Halloweentown, Thor, The Hobbit, the new Batmans, and maybe the new James Bond if it is still in theaters along with all of the Christmas movies we adore. I cannot wait!