Clark Gable Fairchild

I have never written a sappy post about my Clark Gable. I don't know if that was because he truly hasn't stopped moving since I brought him home, if it is because my circumstances are a little different from when I got Vivien, or if it is because he is the stereotypical second child that doesn't get as many pictures taken of them, has to learn to entertain themselves, etc. I am just going to say it is a mixture of all of the above and move on with this overdue post. 

Moral of this story: never "just look to see what's out there" unless you are ready for a puppy.

Clark is a red Boston. He was born on May 5th, 2017 (which may attribute to his love for salsa, but let's get real, his just has a love for food in general). He has eyebrows, bullseye eyes like his Uncle Ryan and his Great Grandpa. Some people have even told me that he kind of weirds them out because he looks like a Fairchild. It makes me laugh every time. He obviously looks and acts a lot like his Uncle Ryan even though he doesn't even know who that is. He has freckles on his nose. He is the sweetest pup even though he is SO HYPER and SO NAUGHTY sometimes.

It took a little bit for me to be won over by Clark. I was excited to have him, but he wore me down. Sometimes he still wears me down. I was so used to Vivien and how easy she was to train. I am used to her having regular nap times and snuggle sessions. Not Clark! He is his own kind of beast, and he quickly adopted the nickname of Monster. With all of that being said, he has won me over. His loving eyes, the way he hops when he goes to get toys, his long legs, his wagging tail, and his love for football.

I can't believe I have another fur baby in my life, but he has won the hearts of everyone in the family. He has especially won over his Pops. And you know what?! He LOVES his Pops. I am still a little wary of how he is going to be in an apartment, but we will make it work. Things always seem to work out. And, although Ryan isn't home to meet him and give me a hard time I feel like a part of him is here with me. 

Megan Fairchild, MS, CCLS

I am very pleased to announce that my long road to become a child life specialist was worth it. All of it was worth it. The days as a child life assistant, the tears over not getting an internship, actually getting an internship that turned out to be bleh, the friends, the coworkers, the laughs, the kids, all of the reading, the late nights and early mornings, the Master's degree, the education credits, and maybe (not sure about this one) but maybe even having to ride the train during my internship was worth it. On November 4th, I went in to take my certification exam. I was so nervous. It has been almost a year since I finished my degree and internship, and I have not practiced child life since then. I had been studying for a month, but they don't give you a list of things to study. You are on your own. But, thankfully I wasn't actually on my own. I had the nicest CCLS from my internship answering my questions, and she mailed me a packet of study materials. I have a worthy priesthood holder in my home who was nice enough to give me a blessing the night before my test and watch my pups during it. I had friends and family and coworkers and volunteers rooting and praying for me. I got in there and finished my four hour test in an hour. I only didn't know five questions out of 150, and I only missed three questions overall! I am thankful that my prayers were heard and my hard work paid off! One of my coworkers had to take the test today. She passed it, but she said it was SO HARD. I could not believe it. She practiced child life for 10 years before becoming a volunteer coordinator. I left that test and was excited and relieved that it was over but almost disappointed because it seemed too easy. Once again, I am thankful that prayers are answered! I am now Megan Fairchild, MS, CCLS. I ordered business cards at work (I may have waited for my test to be over), and gave my first one out today!! My road to child life is not over, but this is a great step!

#AmericaStrong

There has been a lot going on in our country. We've been hit by multiple hurricanes, there was a shooting just the other night, there have been multiple protest marches in D.C., and there are those that think "taking a knee" during the National Anthem is the right way to protest how our country treats people of color. I honestly haven't had much to say because it hurts. Every time there is a disaster like the hurricane that hit Houston, TX we say we are #TexasStrong or when there was that mass shooting in Las Vegas they were #VegasStrong. Is it too much to ask to be #AmericaStrong? We lower our flag to half mast because we are a country hurting for one another. We are supposed to be there for one another. During the devastation of the hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida it wasn't just Texans and Floridians respectively to go out and help. With the mass shooting in Vegas it wasn't just those in Vegas with eyes glued to the TV to see the latest updates, and it most certainly wasn't just those in Vegas donating blood that the Red Cross and other relief organizations so badly needed. We are a country that works together. We are able to provide relief to others because of that. No good can come when we start thinking it is an individual city or even state that is strong. No good can come of trying to get attention by disrespecting the flag that represents our country, the flag that represents our freedom. So, when you drive by a flag that is at half mast please think of our country as a whole and what we can do to help others. Yes, it starts in our communities, cities, and states, but in starting there and helping where help is needed we make our country strong. Also please remember there is a right and a wrong way to try to make a difference. I think we all need to see and believe how strong our country really is and how much stronger it can be. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtKJCBMqybQ

Family History Bug

So this one time I got called as a temple and family history coordinator. I have been in that calling before, so it came as no surprise. I was told that I would mostly be planning temple trips for the ward. Then, when it came down to it I was all of the sudden also supposed to be teaching a family history class during Sunday School. I knew NOTHING about family history other than the fact that my grandma and mom worked on it! 

So, I dove right in and tried to figure it out. I caught on pretty quickly and filled in quite a few holes in my family tree on both sides. I made it my goal to fill in my four generation chart that the church has challenged each member to fill in and take the names to the temple. When I completed that, I told myself I wanted to complete the larger fan chart it shows on my profile and work on my Grandma Fairchild's four generation chart since she had almost nothing filled in on hers. 

Well, I only have a few spots left on my chart, but I cannot describe all of the blessings that have come from me working on my family history. I feel closer to my ancestors as I read stories about them, see their draft cards going back to the civil war, look at marriage records, etc. They each have a story to tell, and they are so much more than names on a fan chart. Not only this, but I have been able to be closer to both of my grandmas. Grandma Fairchild expressed that she really wants her and grandpa's work to be done in the temple. Also, I have been able to work with Grandma Anderson on her family tree and hear stories about people and see their pictures. I have been able to reserve people to take to the temple. I have also found some fun things. For instance, since I first started picking out names for my future children I was probably about 12 or 13. I have always wanted to name a little girl Emma Jane. I have even had dreams about what she will look like. There is an Emma Jane on my Grandma Fairchild's side that I had no idea about! How fun is that?! I definitely want to take her name to the temple. In fact, I am kind of worried about letting someone else go and do baptisms because I am afraid they won't bring the names back! 

So, moral of the story: family history is not just for your parents and grandparents to do. Sometimes you can find things easier than they can, and why not get some of those blessings for yourself when you are given the opportunity to do so? And once you start, you're hooked.

The Clark Gable for My Vivien Leigh

Do you ever do something crazy? I do. Sometimes. Just a couple weeks ago I decided I would just start looking for a puppy since time is drawing closer for me to get out on my own which means Vivi needs a friend. I never thought I would find one so quickly. Not only did I find a little brother for Vivi, but he was brown. And he was precious. 

I saw his picture, and the next day I brought him home. When I first saw him I fell in love. His previous owner couldn't keep him anymore. When he handed him to me he was the squirmiest little guy!! I should have known then... Driving home felt like forever because he barked the entire time in his crate unless I reached my hand back there for him which was kind of an uncomfortable position for me. Then, when we got home he didn't stop moving. Ever. I finally had to put him back in his crate because he would not calm down! After a couple days I seriously thought I was going to have to give him back because he just wouldn't calm down, but after a stern talking to he has settled and is working on the whole potty-training thing. 

Although he is more hyper than Vivi and is obviously much harder to train (actually, just imagine the complete opposite of Vivien in every way), he won all of our hearts. He looks up at you with so much love, and you have to love him back no matter how crazy he is making you or how mad you are at him. He has made himself right at home. He is learning to walk on a leash, knows how to sit and lay down, is crate trained (yay!), and we are working on getting him to like snuggling. 

At first, Vivien Leigh was not a huge fan. She wouldn't come near him. She was living up to her namesake. And, also true to character, now that she has warmed up to him she only wants to play on her terms. But I really do think they are friends now thank goodness. It made me so sad when she did not like him. I got him for her, after all! So Clark Gable, previously known as Hei Hei, born on May 5, 2017 has made a place in our hearts and our home. 

Update: I wrote this yesterday and had to re-read it today to remind myself that I really do love this rambunctious little guy. He truly was a monster this morning, but after looking this over again I guess I still love him.

Bright Moments At Work

The other day I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out one of the programs I have to work with, and one of the student volunteers walked in. He kept saying "ma'am" like he was trying to get someone's attention. Finally I turned around to see who was ignoring him. It was me... I was ignoring him. I don't think I have ever been called ma'am before. Most people act like I am still so young, so I was NOT prepared for it. I burst out laughing which caught him off guard, but I helped him after. It pretty much made my day.
As I was meeting all of my volunteers I had two come up to me and tell me how beautiful I was. One told me how pretty my smile was and that she knew I would go far in life because I beautiful smile can get you anywhere. The other came and asked if she could hug me. Being told you're pretty is always nice, and these two ladies were so sweet!
One day I was walking into the hospital from the parking garage, and I got on the elevator with a dad and his little kiddo going to visit a sibling. The little one started talking to me about all of the cool things they put in the elevator shaft for kids to find. Then in the skybridge this kiddo would run all around me, up ahead of me, turn around and stop. They would smile and then tell me something about themself or their sibling before repeating the process until we had to go separate ways. The dad apologized more than once, and I got to tell him that was really part of the fun of working here. The kids always keep you on your toes!

Another day I was walking around the hospital, and I was thinking about how much I missed working with the patients. I miss my kiddos and their bright smiles and laughs. I was thinking how I love my job, but that is really the one thing that I just can't be without. I was walking up the stairs in the butterfly atrium (my favorite spot in the entire hospital), and two little kids were walking down to get to the popcorn machine. One was really young and struggling down the stairs on their own. They reached out to me. I smiled, took their chubby hand in mine and helped them down the rest of the stairs. When I got back up the stairs I saw the mom. I could tell she was tired, but she hugged me and said thank you. I just told her that her little one had made my day. That was definitely one of my tender mercy moments for the day, and that special moment made me the happiest girl in the hospital! 

My Golden Buzzer

I was sitting and watching America's Got Talent last week. I was crying like I do in every episode. I watch as people perform and show off their amazing talents. I watch children to elderly adults work on achieving their dreams. I cry because I have not always known what I wanted to do with my life. I haven't known I wanted to be a singer or a nurse or a comedian since I was two years old. I have always had an idea of what I wanted to do, but it usually changed every couple of years. Last week, I was struggling with it more than usual wondering whether or not my dream was actually what the Lord had planned for me. Well, it wasn't. But when have my life plans ever really worked out?! (*Hint: Never*) Throughout the course of my life I have really had to work on trusting in the Lord and being patient with Him because His plans for me are bigger than my dreams ever could be. He proved that to me once again. This week, I sat watching America's Got Talent again, and I got a phone call. It wasn't just any phone call. I was offered the Volunteer Coordinator position that I had interviewed for, and they were willing to pay more than a child life position would. It was oh so comforting. I felt a heavy load instantly being lifted off my shoulders. During the call, I had paused my show and gone upstairs to talk to the recruiter. When I came back one of the contestants who earned a golden buzzer said something I will try to never forget. She said, "It's not the dream that I always had, but that's okay... because I showed up." So, this volunteer coordinator position isn't the dream I have always had. It isn't even the dream that I have had since graduating in December, but that's okay because I showed up for the interview. I am going to make this my golden buzzer moment and create a new dream for myself. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me, believed in me even when I lost hope and didn't always believe in myself, and prayed for me. Prayers are answered. Heavenly Father knows each one of us and our needs. He knows our hopes and dreams, but sometimes He shows us something even better!