Summer Happenings

A lot of people say that their lives are either a mess of chaos or smooth sailing. I do not feel my life is that way. If you want to stay with the sailing analogy my life is always sailing. Sometimes I am sailing through storms, sometimes it is only a small wave that hits just right and knocks the boat over, sometimes I have to paddle because there is no wind, sometimes the wind does hit just right and helps me cruise along. The funny thing about sailing is that no matter how well it's going you still have to be careful and steer your boat. 

I am so thankful that I have a loving Heavenly Father help me throughout my journey. I would never be able to do it alone. On June 6, I got to go through the temple. After what felt like everything going wrong beforehand, going in the temple was so peaceful. It was beautiful and perfect, and I am still so excited and just in awe of it all. After going through, mom and I went to the riverwalk. We got to ride the river boats, we explored the little mall they have there, we went in some of the little shops, we had the best enchiladas with cilantro cream cheese sauce, and I got a little flower crown made of paper (when I was little we went to San Antonio, and I got one with curling ribbon coming out the back; this one was the grown up version). I do wish my dad and brother had been able to go, but I loved it anyways. 

Yesterday, my baby turned one. She is such a great blessing in my life with all of her love. My sweet, sassy, rambunctious, playful, snuggly puppy is one! I was going to make her healthy dog treats, but it was her first birthday. She needed something extra special. Naturally, I made brownie pops.

 And in other news, I applied for Master's programs at TWU and ASU. I got accepted to both, but I accepted the offer from ASU. I start in August, and I will finish in a year and a half if I go full time and two years if I go part time. I'm going to be a sun devil. Don't worry though. I won't be wearing that red all of the time. I'm going to stick with my classy navy and white. :)

The rest of my summer is going to Washington, lounging by the pool, working, and being a bridesmaid in two of my best friend's weddings!!! I love summertime.

Elder L. Tom Perry

About a year and a half ago now I was invited to sit in the President's Box at LaVell Edwards Stadium for the BYU v. Texas game. Multiple general authorities were going to be there, and I was all to excited to go. After buying a new outfit for the occasion I spent hours getting ready. I wanted everything to be just right. When I was satisfied I walked to the Hinckley Center to wait for the rest of my Student Alumni crew that were also invited. It was starting to get cloudy, but I paid little attention to it. I just turned my phone off when the flash flood warning went off and shoved it back in my purse. As I walked with the group to the stadium the dark clouds started rolling in. Fast. Right when it was mentioned that we should maybe walk faster the storm began with water coming down in sheets as if we were stuck directly under a waterfall. By the time we got to the stadium water was up to our ankles, and there was no hope for our hair or outfits. We walked in quickly to try to escape the view of our beloved leaders as we rushed to the bathroom. We dried off with paper towels as best we could and went back into the box keeping our heads down. I had invited Julie Anne to come with me, and we stayed right by each other. As time went on, we got colder and colder. We sat shaking, huddled together, waiting for the game to start. We got up to get some food and stand by the heaters. At that point a man that stood like a tower looked down at us. He spoke to us, and after seeing the look on our faces he smiled with his eyes twinkling. He said that we looked rather cold. We nodded and smiled. Julie went to get more caramel corn and talk to Elder Holland, but I stayed there. That man told me that his wife had been given a blanket, and she wasn't even wet! He then proceeded to offer me his coat jacket, one that was so long I probably could have worn it as a dress and with shoulders so broad Julie and I could have fit in it. I said no but thank you because I just could not imagine taking it. To this day I wish I had. That man was Elder L. Tom Perry. He was the member of the twelve present that night that not only went out of his way to talk to us instead of ignoring us like others did, but he was the one to offer the jacket right off his back to a shivering girl. He looked down at me but not on me. I learned a lesson that night. I learned that being Christ-like can be something so simple as offering to share your jacket. It can be smiling and twinkling your eyes at someone. It is loving. Elder Perry passed away today, but I will never forget the lesson he taught me that night. 

Artsy Fartsy

I didn't draw much in college. I don't think many people knew I could with the skilled stick men I drew on my notes when I was bored in class. After getting a less than satisfying score on my high school AP art portfolio it was hard to pick up a pencil again. You can only hear that your skies are too blue or your colors are too bright or pale or don't contrast enough so many times. After college I decided to pick up my pencils again and draw what I loved most. Flowers. I started with a sunflower in the sunshine. Then, I moved on to my mom and dad's anniversary present: Texas wildflowers. An elementary teacher saw pictures of them I put up on Facebook and asked me to commission two pieces. I just finished them. I may never commission a piece again, but I enjoyed doing it. Here are the pieces I have done since graduation. 

WOW MOM!

I know I am like a week late, but this is happening.

In Sunday School the other day the closing statement that was made was to be the person your mom knows you can be, and you will be alright. "Obey Heavenly Father, and listen to your mom!" This post is dedicated to my momma. It's dedicated to the one who not only knows of and sees my divine potential as a daughter of God but also helps me recognize it as well.

I am thankful for all I get to do with my mom. I am thankful that she is always there to push me to be a better person. The person I am meant to become. I am thankful she is there to have fun with me, laugh with and at me, and hug me when I cry. Mom is the person I can always go to. Period. She is always there to listen and give me some of the advice I need.

She has helped me achieve so much thus far in life, and I cannot wait to see where she helps me go next. She helps me accomplish my dreams. If I wanted to, she would find a way for me to reach up and touch the stars. I am thankful for my momma in every way. I do not know where I would be without her. I know I have dreams for myself, but I know here dreams for me are beyond compare.

Momma, thank you for everything. Thanks for being there to listen, shop, go on a drive, swing, talk, hug, comfort, help, support, laugh, and most of all LOVE. I love you more than I can express.

I'm Back!!!

In all honesty I have not been meaning to neglect this blog. I completely forgot about it for a while. Sorry about that. Let me update you. 

Easter came and went in a flash. It was a good Easter though. I loved being able to hear the words of the Prophet and the other leaders of the church about Christ on Easter Sunday. It was perfect. We had bluebonnet pictures taken. I had to wear my new Cinderella outfit. I know I am an adult, but what fun is being an adult if you stop believing in having a little magic in your life. Also, I am still waiting for my happily ever after, so I see nothing wrong with my choice of outfit. We took Vivien since it is her first time seeing bluebonnets. She would not stop eating them. We got one kind of good picture though. 

 Ry Guy got his Eagle Scout!! A ton of planning and preparation went into the Court of Honor for it, but mom and I pulled it off. Two sheetcakes (made by me), water with strawberries on top and blueberries underneath so it was red, white, and blue, and an awesome ceremony complete with a picture slideshow that I put together for him. He did it! Congrats, wittle brudder! 

 I am 21! Not that it really makes any difference, but it is exciting. I am hoping to get endowed at the beginning of June in the San Antonio temple. When I turned 21 it really sunk in that I am only 21 and I feel like I have accomplished a lot. I mean, I am graduated. I am working on my application to grad school, I have a real job that I love, and I have a plan. Now, my plans have never really worked out before, but it is worth a shot. I decided on ASU for grad school. I want to get my Master's in Family and Human Development and get certified as a Child Life Specialist. Woot woot. 

 I have had a ton of fun lately. Mom and I got to go to Sixflags. I rode on rides I never would before. I mean, some of those are terrifying. I went on the Titan. I remember when it first opened. I was at the park with my mom and Aunt Diana. We waited in line, but I chickened out at the last minute. I cried while they rode because I thought they were going to die. Yeah I rode that. I also rode on Mr. Freeze. That was scary. I rode it once.... That's all I need, right? On every ride I would scream which would make mom burst out laughing. A little while later I would hear her say, "Now my mouth is all dried out!" Then, I laughed. We also did the Red Balloon Run and Ride 5K for the hospital we work at. That's always a blast. We went to College Station for two of my friends' ring dunks. I don't know why A&M made it a tradition to put class rings in the bottom of pitcher's of beer and then have people chug them to get the ring, but they did. Ew. My friends don't drink so they did lemonade and non-sweet tea. The one who actually chugged still threw up like everyone else. Just gross. I'm glad BYU mailed me mine. Thank you, BYU, for having traditions like sliding down a hill covered in blue foam and hiking to the Y on the mountain. 

 Becca comes back from Mexico in 8 days, but since it is so late I'm going to say a week!!! Becca will be home! I have missed her. At the end of June we get to go to Washington to see my Aunt Diana and her family. She has one kiddo getting baptized and a baby getting blessed. I am just so excited to meet her little 2 year old who is a little "imp" as they call her. When Diana asks what she is doing she says, "I be naughty" and keeps on going. Or if Diana asks if she wants to make the good choice or the bad choice she replies, "I make bad choice!" She is just too cute. I am also hoping I get to see Julie Anne while I am there. That would be perfect. The weekend after we get back I get to head up to Utah for a couple of days to see Jan Jan get married!!! And I get to stay with Meghan for one last time because in August I will be going back up to Utah to see her get married! I am so excited for my friends!!! 

Also, did I mention how much I love my job?! I get to help kids cope while they are in the hospital. I have had sword fights and tea parties, I have been hit in the face with a bright green popsicle, I get to do arts and crafts, and I just get to have fun. I loved one day when a little girl lit up when she saw me walking down the hallway and yelled, "Miss Megan is back!!!" How can that not make your heart smile!?! 

I think that gets us all caught up! I will have to post pictures of my adventures as they come because they are coming! 

A Little Bit of Truth

My last year in Utah made all the difference for me. I had a great ward. Everyone knew me, my roommates and I were invited to go watch movies at random people's apartments and to the unofficial park activity after church. I loved it, and I always had fun.

Coming home I did not feel the same way about the singles ward here. I went to the family ward until a few weeks ago. In Utah, I had people yelling my name because they knew and loved me. Now when I walk in I have people screaming my name not because they know me and like me but because someone has probably told them to do so. It is just so forced. Also, it is kind of just like being in a party all of the time. Even during church you hear people in the hallway laughing and talking because they don't want to go to class. It is a big social gathering so why would they? Everyone is just so loud. All of the time. It is intimidating for me. I can be loudish, but I have to know you first. It isn't an all the time thing for me.

My first time going to the ward the bishop gave me a lecture. A half hour lecture in his freezing office. He asked if I was in the ward. No. Do I want to be in the ward? No. Why? Let me tell you. Are you afried of callings? Yes (I'm not really, but I was really hoping he would give up). Oh, well we have one for you. *You don't even know me.* You know, there are three things that are important in this world and the rest is FLUFF.... (tells me everything that is fluff that he can think of at the moment). Those three things are: the priesthood, something I spaced out on when he was explaining, and RELATIONSHIPS and they can apparently give me those in the singles ward. Please no. People in the family ward asked if I felt awkward going to the family ward. If it does, the singles ward makes me feel 500% more awkward.

I want relationships. I want to go on dates and have friends and feel like I belong somewhere again, but the singles ward is going about it all the wrong way. I don't need ANOTHER relationship talk, I don't need an activity every single day, and I don't need people to be all in my face.

I think the hardest thing for me is going in alone. Have you ever been somewhere that you have to convince yourself that it's okay to get out of your car? Or somewhere that induces so much anxiety that you have sweated through your shirt before you even walk in? In Utah I always had friends or roommates to walk in with and talk some of the "in your face" off of me. I think the greatest answered prayer for me right now is that Emily is back home. She even said she wasn't going to walk into that joint alone. Now, neither of us have to. Even if she is only here for a little while, I am glad I have someone to sit with, laugh with, read scriptures with, and feel comfortable with. That makes all the difference.

So, thank you to everyone who never lost faith in me when I did. I'm thankful that they encouraged me when I fought it so hard. Things can only get better from here. Maybe one day I will have a ton of friends and be invited to things and just have fun with the random adventures that happen on a whim.