Serving in the Temple

A few months ago my bishop wanted to meet with me in his office. I was worried that he was going to release me from my calling as nursery leader. I went in and said that he just wanted to get to know me a little better and see how I was doing. "Okay...." I thought to myself. I haven't had any bishop ever call me in without giving me a calling of some sort and just want to get to know me. But that's nice. :) As our conversation continued he asked me how I liked my nursery calling and I told him that I loved being with the kids. (Never mind the time when one of my little guys literally clotheslined another little boy during class. Epic nursery moment. Ha.) He told me that was good because I wasn't getting released. Relief! Then he said, "What I have been thinking is that maybe you should be a temple worker." I had been thinking about being a temple worker for quite a while, but I just never really felt a strong push or anything to really move forward and do it. My bishop's prompting was the little push that I needed to make something happen. He sent in a letter to the temple and within a few weeks I had an interview with a member of the Temple presidency and I was set apart as a temple ordinance worker.

Working at the temple has been an amazing thing. I have met so many WONDERFUL people there and I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with them once a week. My testimony of Temples has increased. There is so much to learn. I have had experiences there that I know have not been coincidences. I have met patrons who I come to love within the short time that I am serving them. It is a bitter sweet feeling having that sacred time with them and then knowing that you will most likely never see them again. I have stood in the Celestial room and watched as people come in with many questions and heavy hearts. As I have watched them I have come to realize that we all have burdens that we carry that sometimes feel like too much to bare. I stand in awe of these people who, with tears streaming down their faces, sit and pray with so much faith in the midst of their trials. I learn so much from the people that come to the temple. 

On my most recent shift I was assisting a patron who was probably about sixty years old. She seemed very nice and she was smiling and happy to be there. Because of her age I assumed that she wouldn't really need much help because she had probably been attending the Temple for years. However, she kept looking to me for help with certain things and then she would smile and nod as if to say "That's right! I remember!" As she heard the words of the ordinance and participated she began to cry. I found it hard to contain my own emotion as I realized that those words in the ordinance were true and that they meant something to this woman. It is easy to allow things to feel or become commonplace. It is easy to forget that these ordinances are real and for each of us. I struggle to put into words the feelings that washed over me in the Temple at that moment. What I know from this experience is that it is never too late to come back. It is never too late to come to the Temple. I know that Heavenly Father wants each of us there because He loves us. I know that He wants to bless us. The scripture in Luke 11:13 comes to mind: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Also Isaiah 49:15: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yeah, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee."

I know that we are loved. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to come unto them. I know that life can get really REALLY hard sometimes. But I know as we try our best to have faith, keep the commandments, and hold on, that we will receive peace and rest. We will see the light again and have rue joy and happiness because They want us to be happy. I know that. I know that Heavenly Father wants us to come to the temple. It is there that I have personally received answers to important and sincere questions in my life. I know that we can feel peace there, forget about the world, and remember the things that matter most. I have truly seen the Lord's hand in my life within the walls of the Temple.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x_-TQivCx8 

28 and Life Lessons

Today is my birthday!!!!! It's hard to believe I am 28! I still feel so young at heart and I am just loving life in spite of the challenges and stresses that come! This week was so much fun. :) On Tuesday I got to go and interpret at my favorite place to interpret..the MTC!The speakers were great and I just love the group of ASL missionaries that are there right now. On Thursday I participated in the Temple to Temple 5K! It was a great way to start of Pioneer Day and I loved it! It was also my best friend's birthday!!! Hip hip hooray! We went out to lunch and then went and watched How to Train Your Dragon 2! Even though I had seen it once before I bawled my eyes out. It definitely has to be one of my all time favorite movies! Friday, my little brother GOT MARRIED! It was a wonderful day and Lindsey already feels like a sister to me so it wasn't a surreal moment, it just felt right! Mike and Lindsey are a great match and I just love them!!!

I recently read an article talking about 30 life lessons everyone should learn by age 30. That got me thinking about the lessons that I have learned in my life so far. I had a whole plan for this post to be all about those life lessons, but one of the lessons I was going to mention turned into an entire post....I don't know if it makes a lot of sense, but I feel like it is something that I needed to share so I hope that somehow it will make a difference to someone out there who reads my blog.

One of the first life lessons that I have learned is that I should try to be nice to people no matter what. I need to be careful what I say because you never know what someone else is going through. I know I am guilty of saying things that I shouldn't and being quick to judge. But I am trying hard to be better everyday and I think I am getting better.

I have had to learn this lesson by being the recipient of unkind words. Three specific occasions come to my mind. I won't go into detail because it's personal and I don't feel like I need to expand and relive everything that was said. But I remember the words of people not understanding and saying things so hurtful that I thought my heart might break. Each time this has happened I cry my eyes out and have to find the will power to pray for strength, comfort, and peace. It is hard to do. It is especially difficult when the hurtful things said come from people of my faith. People who are supposed to be doing righteous things and being Christ-like. I ask myself, how can this be happening? It is almost mind-blowing. I have to come to my senses and remind myself that people in the church are not perfect. The Gospel is not for perfect people. It is for people with flaws, weaknesses, shortcomings, sins, and imperfections.

These experiences have helped me learn that I have to be solid. What has been said to me could have been a real testimony and faith shaker. I am grateful that in those moments I was able to remember my temple covenants, to remember the things that matter most, and to not let one person's stupid comment drive me away from the Gospel and the church.

I know there have been some that have left because of mean and horrible comments. Because of the experiences that I have had I feel like I understand somewhat what they have been through. It is hard to believe that God can let bad things happen to you when you are just trying to do what's right. How can he let people who are in the church say such mean things? I guess a lot of it comes down to the fact that people have their agency. Sometimes people don't have the Spirit when they are talking to you. Sometimes people have bad days. Sometimes people simply don't understand what is appropriate to say and what's not. Whatever the reason, these things happen. In those moments you have to cling to what you know. People do not equal the principles of the Gospel. The principles and truthfulness of the Gospel remain the same. Remember your testimony, remember the moments you have felt the Spirit and know that this difficult and painful experience too shall pass.

In all honesty I almost wish I wouldn't have had to go through these experiences and hear what I had to hear. But at the same time I am grateful that I have been able to learn first hand the importance of being ever so careful in the words that I speak. I have learned that I need to be quick to forgive and slow to anger, that I need to be slow to judge and quick to love. I hope I will never say anything to anyone that would be insensitive or unkind. And if and probably when I do, I hope I realize my mistake and am quick to say I'm sorry. What we say has such an influence for bad OR for good. I hope that what I say can always be for good.

These are a few General conference talks that I love related to all of this...They really are worth watching.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-tongue-of-angels?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/and-nothing-shall-offend-them?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1982/04/a-brother-offended?lang=eng

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: What it Meant to Me

Sometimes we have an increase of testimony when we least expect it. Tonight I went to a family dinner where they were watching the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". I had the seen the cartoon version when I when I was really young and I had read the book several years ago. However, I hadn't seen the most recent movie version. As I sat there and watched the beginning of the movie I became enthralled. I started to remember all of the symbolism in the story and I was able to see that symbolism in every scene that I was watching. It was so difficult for me to hold back my tears and the feelings of gratitude and love that came to me in those moments. I don't know how to put into words the thoughts and feelings that came to my heart.

I feel like I have always had a testimony of the Savior and the Atonement even if at times I have doubted or of course had to study, pray, and exercise faith to find out for myself. However, sometimes it has been hard for me to fully comprehend the sacrifice that Christ has made because it seems like such a long time ago that He lived on the Earth and because I was not there. I know that I will never comprehend fully in this life what actually occurred and the suffering that He felt. But as strange as it sounds, as I watched this movie I began to understand. That great sacrifice that Christ made was real. It was for me personally. It is for you. It is for all of us.

He truly has born our griefs, carried our sorrows, has been wounded for our transgressions, and with His stripes we are healed. I know this is true. I have a testimony of it. Even when we rebel against Him, His love does not cease. We make mistakes, but His arms are stretched out still. He loves us and He will rescue us from our trials and afflictions if we will but open our hearts to Him and allow Him to comfort us. This does not mean that we will not be asked to walk through trials or heartache. That is the nature of this world and we are meant to learn and grow. But He will not leave us.

I am usually not one to get right up and share my testimony, but I feel that tonight I must share what I have felt in my heart and the things of which I know. I know that He lives. I know that He died for us. I know that we have a choice to follow Him. He needs us. He wants us to be on His side. I am so far from perfect. I make many mistakes and long to be better. I know that through Him we can receive help and that these weak things will become strengths. I know we are all bound for great things and that our greatness is realized through the power of the Atonement. I am grateful for my Savior. I love Him and I know that through Him all things can be made right.

I know that Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ stand ready to help us. I know that they hear and answer our prayers. Sometimes the answers we seek for come soon and sometimes they come later. I certainly was not expecting my testimony to increase so much at the time that it did and in the way that it did, but Heavenly Father knows how to speak to me and my heart as He does with each of us. When we begin to understand the Atonement and draw closer to Jesus Christ the things that seem so important in our everyday lives become less of a big deal and the things that are of true importance are brought to light and our hearts are changed.

Maybe this movie won't hit you the way that it hit me, but who knows? :) I hope you will get a chance to see it.

"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;"
(D&C 109:7)

 

--Megan

Grandparents

The following post is mostly for me. You may get bored because of all of my familial details that I share here, but feel free to continue reading if you would like. :) If not, you can skip to the bottom for a quick thought summarizing this post.

Nineteen years ago today I learned what it felt like to have someone close to you die. I was downstairs at my house. It was early in the morning and my dad came downstairs and told me that my grandpa (his dad) had died. He had been in the hospital with heart problems and we had just been to visit him. I was so young at the time that I don't think I even thought that there was a possibility that he would die. I still remember the moment and I remember hugging my dad and crying. I remember parts of the viewing and the funeral.

I don't remember a lot of conversations with my grandpa, but I do remember some little moments. I remember is seeing him with my brother on his lap in the living room bouncing and whistling through his front teeth. I remember his tomatoes that he tended to in the back yard. I remember him coming and watching me play outside. I am really grateful for those little things that I can remember....and more than anything I am grateful for the feeling that I get when I think of him that tells me how much he loves me.

A kiss from Grandpa

 





My grandpa was quite a bit older than my grandma and he was 86 years old when he died. So she has had to be without him for a long time. Even though she has had to be alone for so long she has tried to keep busy with friends and family. When I was little Grandma was always my best bud. I would go over and have sleep overs, play games, make-believe, play tennis on the back porch, and run and run and RUN until grandma was absolutely tuckered out! I would also call her on the phone and we would play games over the phone and I would sing to her. I have so many fun memories with Grandma and I never tire of talking to her about them. I still love getting together with her. Even though sometimes she is so tired she still makes me lunch and dessert whenever I come over. She loves hearing about how things are going and loves when I come visit. I love spending time with her.

 

 

My Mom's mom is the most energetic grandma that I know! Whenever I go and visit her she is up and awake before I am. She is willing to take me anywhere and makes every moment fun. I hope that I can have the kind of fun energy that she has when I am her age! I have learned a lot from her about pushing forward even through tough times. I love that I can look back and remember fun visits to Las Vegas, trips to the store to rent movies and pick out candy that doesn't even exist anymore, weekends at Snowbird, and long walks to 7-11 for an ice cream sandwich. We have had some great times!

A Raggedy Ann Doll that my grandma made for me.

 

 

 Enjoying a birthday party with my grandma and all of my family.

 

 

Swimming at Snowbird with my grandma, mom, and Michael.

 

My Grandma and Grandpa on my mom's side got divorced a long time before I was born. My Grandpa re-married a beautiful lady who happened to have the same name as his first wife. Yes, very weird I know but I have two grandma's with the same name: Betty Lou Olson and Betty Lou Olson. Since we already called my biological grandma "Grandma O." We had to come up with another name for my Grandpa's second wife. I don't remember the moment we came up with this, but we started to call her "Grandma Kim" because she and my Grandpa had a daughter named Kim. For some reason it stuck and we still call her that to this day. I remember playing so many fun games with her at the house, even though she had so many things to do she would always take time to play with me and Kim. She would set up a tent for us in the front yard to play in, she would chase us around the big pine tree and pretend to be the big bad wolf, she took us to Jungle Jim's and watched us play for hours, she would create little treasure hunts for us in the house and have an actual treasure for us at the end. She was so kind to me and loved me unconditionally. I will never forget when our family was going through some really difficult times and I was over at her house crying on her couch. She came over and held me and my brother and she cried with us. I had never seen her cry before and so when she cried at the moment I felt so much empathy and love coming from her for me and our whole family. Whenever I explain my relationship to Grandma Kim, I can't bring myself to call her my "step-grandma" because it does not even come close to what she has meant to me. She was and IS my real grandma and I love her dearly. She passed away unexpectedly in 1999 from sudden heart failure and I still miss her everyday and wish she was still here.

 

 

 Grandma Kim watching Maddy play.

 



 

 

 

My Grandpa O. passed away seven years ago. It seems like forever. He is someone who I look up to so much and strive to be like. He was so mild mannered, so calm, gentle, and loving to everyone and anyone. When I think of Grandpa O. I think of tan old fashioned jump suits with a matching fishing hat, hand-watering lawns, libraries, ketchup, Arby's, Woody's, Pineapple shakes, banana bars, rubber bands, pens, and a love of learning. Grandpa found joy in the simplest of things and I feel like I relate so much to him. I find myself smiling and wanting to ask people: "So let me get your take on this..." I drive slow and sometimes wait for a long time before making that left hand turn even though the next car is a mile away. It took me several minutes to remember the real word for a dip in the road because they have become known to our family as "dipsee-doodles" as Grandpa called them. I loved how when I got older I went and played the piano for him at his house and after I finished playing a song he would say something like "Now let me ask you a question there Megan. About how long do you think it would take you to learn another piece and be able to play it like that? You young kids just amaze me at what you can do." I wish so much that I could go back in time and have more chats with him. I wish I could go back and see him sitting in his recliner chair and give him the biggest hug and kiss his whiskery cheeks and his bald head and tell him how much I love him and how terribly I miss him!

 

Grandpa taking a moment with Mike

 

How much Grandpa loves us... :)  

 

 

 

So this post was mostly for me. I am SO grateful for the grandparents that I have. I feel so blessed and lucky to have each of them. My message for anyone who reads this is to take time for your grandparents. They have so much to give and so much to share. They won't be here forever. Take the time TODAY! Pick up the phone and give them a call. Write them a note and tell them how grateful you are for them. Don't let them be forgotten. Tell them you love them. Take time to give them a hug and a kiss. Those things mean more to Grandmas and Grandpas then we may know and those moments will mean more to us when we look back and remember them when they aren't physically with us anymore. I am grateful for eternal families and I can't wait to see my grandparents again someday.

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/gospel-solutions-for-families/38-role-of-grandparents-part-1

 

--Megan

 

 



 

 

 



A Little Ray of Sunshine

The other day I was having a bad day. It all started off when things didn't go well with one of my assignments for school. I was worried about the grade that I might get and I was feeling like I wasn't able to do my best. That kind of set the mood for the rest of the day. Looking back on it, it wasn't that big of a deal, but at the time it really seemed like it and I got off on the wrong foot early on in the day.

Well, I tried to push forward. I knew I had a long day ahead of me with a lot of things to do. I went to a freelance assignment for interpreting which was fine until I found out I was supposed to have contacted a specific person for part of my assignment. I ended up calling that person, but when I did they were not very happy that I hadn't called them earlier. I explained that I wasn't given any instructions by my supervisors to call until that time, but he still sounded a bit frustrated with me and I felt a pretty belittled as he was talking to me. Grrr! Things were just not going right!

I drove back to UVU where I was attending a presentation for my elementary ed. program. Did I mention it was a cloudy, rainy, cold, and generally not very pleasant weather that day? Well it was. I don't think this helped me to feel any better. If anything, the gray just matched the events of that day. I walked in the doors and I signed in for the presentation. I noticed they were doing a drawing for some books. I LOVE to read whenever I can and I LOVE collecting books for my future classroom. The last presentation I had been to they had a drawing but I didn't win which was a bummer, but I was excited that they were doing a drawing again this time.

I got a piece of paper and wrote my name down. I carefully folded it up and placed it in the basket. As I did so, I had a thought...which was kind of a little comment to Heavenly Father (yes, sometimes I do this) and I said "You know, this has been a really bad day. I think if I were to win a book my day might just get a little better." I sat down still feeling a little lousy and I listened to the lecture. Then it came time for the drawing. My literacy teacher drew the first paper out of the basket and shouted "MEGAN WESTBROOK!" All of the girls in my class cheered for my as I walked up to pick my book. I picked Charlotte's Web.

When my teacher read my name, I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't help but laugh inside as I thought about how I had said that little comment in my mind as I put my name in the basket. How funny that not only was my name drawn, but it was the first one drawn! I walked out of the lecture and out into the rain again. I laughed out loud to myself. I said a prayer of thanks to Heavenly Father for being mindful of me under the most simple of circumstances. Winning that book was that little ray of sunshine that I needed and it completely turned my day around.

Not like some of my other experiences, this one is a simple one. Again, some may say it was pure coincidence that my name happened to be drawn first out of the one-hundred people that were at the lecture that day. But I don't think so. There was a feeling and a thought that came with that experience that seemed to whisper "this is just for you." I can't explain any more than that.

I know I have so many shortcomings and weaknesses. I say some things that I wish I didn't say and I neglect things that I need to do that I wish I wouldn't, and yet I still feel blessed everyday. I want to always try to do what is right and live worthy of each blessing I receive. I hope I will always use those blessings to go about doing good and be an instrument in His hands in whatever way He would use me that day. I know I have a long way to go, but He is patient and loves me still. I am grateful for His love and I am grateful that He cares enough to help me through those days that feel like a big deal, even if in hindsight it maybe wasn't. Sometimes God uses those little moments that may seem insignificant on the outside to teach us something great.

"Seeing What Matters Most"
http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101413031001

--Megan

Why I am not "single"

The other night I was driving home from our monthly family dinner. It is always so great to see them and spend time with them. We had a delicious dinner and then spent time chatting and catching up with each other....and also had some wonderful fun and entertainment from sweet little Hallie :) Needless to say family dinner is something I look forward to because I am surrounded by so many people that I love. Afterwords, I got to stop by my mom's house and visit with her. She is always so sweet and makes extra food just in case I stop by. She sent me home with soup and bread! She is always so thoughtful! It was so great to see her!

As I was driving home that night I had a question come into my mind: What does it mean to be "single"? That was pretty random I thought. So I pulled out my phone and looked up the definition. The first definition that came up on my Google search was "Only one; not one of several. Synonyms: one (only), sole, lone, solitary, by itself/oneself, unaccompanied, alone." The second definition was "unmarried or not involved in a stable relationship". This second definition is of course true for me; I am not married or involved in a steady relationship at the moment. However, it was the first definition that really caught my eye and got my mind going. "Am I really 'single'?" I thought to myself.

I thought back to the time I had spent with my family that night. We had over ten people there. It was loud. We laughed together and we shared personal experiences. We shared a meal together. We prayed. We hugged. We loved each other. My immediate thought was I may not be married, but I really am not "single".  I am surrounded by multiple family members who I get to love and who love me. I don't feel alone when I am with them. I am a part of the whole and I have an important part to play. I am a member of the team.

Everyday when I go to teach my high school students they become part of my family. We go through rough days with learning and then we go through great ones. I always try and show my students how much I care and I have seen my students show their love and care for me almost daily. We are not just individuals and going through the educational journey alone. We are a community striving for excellence everyday.

After I am done teaching I head to UVU where I get to be with a wonderful group of girls who I consider my dear friends. I don't feel like just a lone student in the classroom. I know I can sit by any of them and have a friend. I know that one of them will make me laugh and that we will strengthen one another in some way that day.

So how am I single? I'm really not. It's a label that sometimes makes us unmarried people feel marked or alone. But just look around! See who you have! If you can't find anyone, go out and make a friend. Build the relationship with those who are downtrodden or sad. Lift up the hearts that need lifting. There is so much joy to be found when you forget yourself and go to work! I have found so much joy in this and so many blessings as I strive to do this everyday. I'm grateful for my family and friends...for my loved ones who help make life wonderful!

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father who has always been there for me through thick and thin. At times when I truly felt alone he has pulled me through. He has lifted my burdens and strengthened me. Hard times will come, but I know as we have faith and push forward that He will help us through and he will not leave us comfortless. I will forever be grateful for all He has helped me through and for all the MANY blessing both big and small that He blesses us with on a daily basis.

--Megan

"He Gives Flowers to Everyone" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4eZr42BZFg

 

 

 

Letting it Go

I don't know about all of you, but lately I have had the song "Let it Go" from the movie Frozen stuck in my head. At one point I had it stuck in my head fro 48 hours! I LOVED LOVED LOVED the movie and all the songs involved, but at some point it gets a little annoying having the phrase "Let it go! Let it go!" rolling around in your head all day. However, I have discovered that this has been a theme in my life lately.

The first time when I had to "let it go" was a few weeks ago. I received a phone call from a concerned parent in regard to their student's grade. I have never had to deal with an angry or upset parent before and the conversation was a little disheartening....especially since I was trying to hard to explain the situation and that there had been a miscommunication. The parent said that they weren't calling to ball me out and tell me that I was a bad teacher but that they were just really concerned. But they proceeded to bring up issues from the beginning of the year and to say things that were not very kind. Well, I got off the phone with the parent and had done my best "customer service" approach that I could with the parent, putting my own feelings and emotions aside to make sure that they were happy. I wanted to cry when the conversation was over, but I got in control of myself and decided to just go on with my day and not worry about it. But the conversation went over and over in my mind that day. Still, I was alright, but then I received another e-mail from a different parent whose student was friends with the other student whose mom had called me that morning. They also were angry with me. I lost it. I cried. A lot. I wanted to just quit my job. What was the point of caring so much about EACH AND EVERY ONE of my students if they were just going to turn around and go complain and have their parents call and yell at me? I was so down that I didn't think I could act like nothing was wrong while I was teaching.

The next few days were really hard. I went to school. I was able to be fine with my other class but the one with the students whose parents had gotten angry with me was difficult. I had two thoughts come across my mind about that experience while I was teaching. Thought one: "Now you know how to treat the teachers that your children have. Be gentle with them. Be kind. Be understanding. More than likely they are trying their best to help your child learn to the best of their ability." Yes indeed. LESSON LEARNED! I hope I can be a little more kind and understanding to every teacher whether it' mine or my child's.

Thought number two: "One reason why you are going through this is so that you can be prepared for elementary school. It's better to get the worst complaint, the first complaint, over with now so next time it won't seem so horrible." Okay Heavenly Father...I think I get that. Now how do I get through this? How will I every be the same with these students again and get back to being happy and my usually fun self? I guess it took me time and Heavenly Father softening my heart. No matter what those students were still MY students. How could I stop loving them and caring about them like the others just because of one really tough situation. Of course my feelings were really hurt, but maybe it wasn't their fault about their parents getting mad at me, but even if it was, what would Jesus do? How would he treat them? Would he give up on them? Probably not. So after the anger and hurt subsided I tried again. I tried to have compassion. I got back in my groove and tried to get that positive energy back again. Even though I sometimes still get that sad feeling in the pit of my stomach about what happened, I was eventually able to "let it go".

Situation number two about letting it go: Last night I got to play in a hockey game with my team. I haven't been able to play for the past two seasons because I have been so busy with work and school. They have been a little short-handed lately for the games so they asked me if I wouldn't mind playing in a few games. I agreed to even though I was a little nervous after not being on the ice for so long. But funny enough at the first game that I played in at Logan I was much more relaxed and things seemed to be going really well out there as I was playing. I was even on defense and have never played that position before in my life! Granted I did get hit with the puck right in the shin and I took a little tumble that just about threw out my back and my neck, but hey I was doing alright! The next game I played at I didn't do too bad either. Of course there were plenty of mistakes that I made and I have a ton of things I need to work on, but again, I was doing alright! :) The girls on my team were so encouraging and they kept telling me what a good job I was doing. It meant a lot!

I figured out that one of the reasons why things were going so much better during the games than they usually do was because I was "letting it go". I was just out to have fun. I didn't worry so much about if I was in the wrong position or not or whether I let someone get by me and let the team down, I just played my best. That is all I can give and as I let everything else go it made all the difference in the world and it was a BLAST to be out on the ice again.

One of my greatest weaknesses is feeling like I am not good enough. I am really hard on myself sometimes. I guess that is like many women. The lessons I have learned lately about letting things go have been so invaluable to me. One of my professors told me and my classmates at the beginning of the elementary ed. journey: "You elementary ed. majors are such perfectionists! You have to have the 4.0 and everything has to be done right now! Sometimes you need to let that one assignment go to keep your sanity! Relax!" It was some of the best advice I have ever been given. Stop feeling like you need to be perfect! Don't let everything get you down if you make a mistake. Don't let other people get you down. Put down the homework and get out there and do something fun! Money isn't everything! Things always work out for the best! Heavenly Father wants you to be happy! So get out there, let it go, and live!

--Megan

Me and my hockey team. I'm #78.

Prayers, Faith, and an Airplane Ride

This past week I got to go on a little vacation to Arizona. I have a dear friend there (my best friend's aunt) who has "adopted" me as her niece. She is one of the sweetest and most giving people that I have ever met and I love spending time with her! She took my best friend and I all over Scottsdale this weekend. We went and saw "Frozen", ate the most delicious gelato I have ever had, went shopping, visited a butterfly conservatory, soaked up the beautiful Arizona sun, and just enjoyed spending time being together with friends and family. It was a blast!!!!

 

 At the butterfly conservatory where I discovered my fear of being around massive amounts of butterflies at a time....

 

 

Dark chocolate gelato....YUMMMMMMM...

      

Me, Aunt Sharon, and my best friend

 

    Our last night in Scottsdale

 

 

 

We spent our last night watching Tangled in 3D at the house and laughing like crazy until midnight. We had the best time. I would have loved to spend a couple more days there, but I knew we couldn't stay.

 

The next morning we woke up and I wasn't feeling very well. I pushed through it hoping that I would eventually just feel better. But by the time we got to the airport I was feeling REALLY sick. I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before, we had to wake up really early to catch our flight, and I was feeling really nauseous. It got so bad that I thought that I would have to miss the flight. I had about two minutes to decide before they were going to close the gates. I started to pray. I told Heavenly Father that there was really nothing that I could do at to make myself better. It was all in His hands. I begged him to somehow take away my sickness and help me to be able to get home without getting sick on the flight. I prayed and prayed and prayed and then we decided to go ahead and get on the plane.

 

When I sat down I was still feeling terrible. The tears started coming. I was worried about how sick I was feeling and I was worried about hitting turbulence during the take-off and it making everything worse. I was so grateful that my best friend was there with me telling me that it would be okay. I asked her to pray with me and she did.

 

Our plane started down the runway. I prayed that we would take off without any major bumps and that the turbulence would be minimal. I kept praying. We took off into the air......no bumps. There were none of those "butterfly in my stomach" type of feelings that general come for me with take offs and we kept climbing higher and higher with no problems. Although I was still feeling sick, the smooth take off was a major miracle for me. The captain told us that he expected to have a bit of a bumpy ride throughout the flight because of the winds. But as of yet, all was well. I continued to pray.

 

"Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing"

(D&C 19:38)

 

When we started having a little bit of turbulence I started to pray fervently that those winds would not bother us or cause us any problems. And that is exactly what happened and the winds dispersed. After a while I even started to feel a bit better. I was able to calm down and relax. I almost felt as if I was in meditation mode when I was praying because I was so engulfed in my prayer and yet I was still there on the plane able to feel and see my prayers being answered.

 

I started to feel better. The flight was smooth. Before I knew it we started to descend to the airport. We made it! I poured out prayers of gratitude for the help and blessings that I had received that day.

 

"And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

(Alma 32:21)

 

An important part of my prayers was faith. Faith has been on my mind a lot lately. Sometimes I feel like I have a hope for something, but not necessarily full out faith. I know it is important to always turn your will over to what God wants, but I felt strongly that in this situation I had to believe that he could and would indeed calm the winds. I had to know that with Him all things were possible and that he would heal me. It felt very much like a test of my faith and because I did have the faith my prayers were answered.

 

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."

(Luke 1:37)

 

Some people may say that what happened to me in that plane was just a coincidence. That the turbulence just happened to go away, that my illness was all in my head, and that I was just psyching myself out. But I know that it was not just a coincidence. I know I was helped in ways that I could not possibly have helped myself. I thought about not sharing these things for fear that people would think it was silly. But I knew on the plane that this was something I needed to share. I needed to share it because I needed to be a witness that God is there....

 

He is in our everyday lives. I know we can turn to him through faith and prayer. Each little step takes us on the road to Him whatever our circumstance whether big or small. We each have individual cares and concerns. Maybe you are worried about the exam that you have to take tomorrow. Perhaps there is a woman out there who is worried about being a good mother. Maybe your everyday stresses and financial cares are more than you can bear. My care today was being sick on a plane....

 

Heavenly Father cares about what I care about. He knows how to help me. Jesus Christ has been there and knows what I feel. He knows what you feel. I know as we turn to Him that he will heal us in whatever way we need healing...because He loves us.

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Go back to school? Say what?!?!?!

I still remember the moment....

It was two summers ago when I was driving on the freeway, southbound, heading home to Springville. I still remember how the sun was shining and that it was a gorgeous day. I don't about you, but it is only on those special occasions where I get revelation that tells me EXACTLY what I need to do. Many times I feel like decisions are just left up to me. Which is kind of nice in a lot of ways. :)

Anyhow, as I was driving I had this RANDOM, can I emphasize that word enough? RANDOM thought come to my mind. The exact questions was "What if you went back to school... for Elementary Ed.?" Uh.....SAY WHAT?!?!?!?! It came so quickly and I got this strange happy/excited feeling coming into my chest. I responded to this little question in my head: "Well, I hadn't really ever thought about that." But this REALLY felt right. It was almost more poignant than any other prompting I had ever received in my life.

I immediately called my best friend who is one of my most amazing confidants. She answered and the first thing I said was "What if I went back to school for Elementary Ed.?" She paused and then said something like "I was just thinking about you being a teacher this week. DO IT." We both just started laughing. It seemed so crazy! I had thought about grad school but definitely not for a degree in education. I had started out majoring in Elementary Ed. my first semester and then switched to Deaf Studies. I had just graduated in 2010 and to go back to UVU for a second B.A. in what I originally started out with seemed mind boggling.

I called my parents. When I told them both what had happened and that I was thinking of following through with the prompting they were both SO incredibly supportive. They didn't even question it. Thanks Mom and Dad. ;)

That week I found myself sitting in front of a counselor at the Education Building at UVU. He told me I was pretty much set to go with the exception of my exceptional students class and two of the most dreaded classes EVER: Math for Elementary Education Majors I and II. I still get a little shudder inside of me when I mention it. YUCK! Fortunately because I started out majoring in Elementary Ed. and I already had a B.A. all of the other classes were taken care of. I was on my way!

I got through the most awful class I have ever taken in the Fall of 2012. I passed with just a few points to spare on the final. Then I passed the second math class last summer. There were so many nights and days in both classes where my stress level was so high that I thought I was just going to roll over and die right then and there. But somehow Heavenly Father helped me to make it through and pass the classes that I never thought I could. I will always be grateful for that.

I went into the group interview to see if I was "suitable" for the program and that went well. I got word that I had been accepted into the program and that I would start Spring 2013. It has been so much more vigorous than I expected. I always have homework assignments and projects to be working on. There have been days when I think that I am not cut out for the program because of the loads of stress that it so willingly supplies. My attempts to balance school and two jobs have been like walking on a tight wire carrying 50 pounds of sugar on my left hand, 30 pounds on my right, and a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup on my head.

Boy has it been a journey! But on those nights when I think that I can't take it anymore, when I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted from a long day and I have two assignments due the next day, I am lifted up by the people around me. I am reminded of how my Mom is praying for me everyday, I remember my Dad and his supportive nature and his words of encouragement, I picture my brother Mike smiling at me and saying "You can do it Meg!", and my Maddy texting me and saying "Hey Meg! Just wanted to say hi and see how you are doing!" Then my roommate and best friend come up and gives me a hug and I lose it. I cry my eyes out and she says "It's okay Meg. Let's see what I can do to help you."

During those hard times I cannot forget what got me here in the first place. It was a prompting. "What if you went back to school?" The thought didn't come with a warning that it would guzzle up the majority of my time and energy, cause more stress than I could imagine, and be incredibly hard. But what I do know is that it was not my own thought. It was from God and I am where He needs me to be. I can be a great teacher even if I feel that I am not good enough. I'm not sure why He wanted me to go back to school to be in this program. Maybe to meet the amazing people that I get to interact with on an every day basis, maybe it's to make me stronger mentally and emotionally, maybe for my own future children, or maybe it's to help the one student that only I can reach. I'm not sure. But I am grateful and I will keep trusting and holding His hand every step of the way.

--Megan

Video Clip of the Day: http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#patterns-of-light-discerning-light

                                          My El. Ed. Cohort (Dec 2013)

          

Thanks to these amazing people and every single other person who has helped me keep going in my program and made a difference in my life!!! Thank you, THANK YOU!!!!!

Seeing His Hands

How It All Started...

This morning I woke up and read my sister in-law's blog post about her second pregnancy. I like to follow along with her blog posts because I get to see how she, my brother, and their sweet little daughter are doing and I just love them. This morning after I read her blog I realized that I felt uplifted and amazed at their faith and the positive way in which they approach their everyday lives. In short I felt "encouraged" by what I had read. I felt a little boost of happiness in my own life because of what Annie (my sister in-law) had posted.

I continued to lay in my bed enjoying my last Saturday before school starts and then it came to me... "Why don't you create a blog that tells the stories of seeing God's hand in your life?" I thought to myself for a few seconds because I had already tried my hand at blogging before without success, but this thought it seemed like a great idea for some reason. Maybe because it may not have been my own. So I sat straight up and started this blog.

Numerous ideas have already been flowing through my mind about what I need to write about. I have had so many experiences in my life...seen so many blessings. I think it is time to share some of those experiences with others as a testimony that God's hands truly are in our lives.

This blog may not mean anything to some, but perhaps it will help to strengthen the faith of just one person. Maybe...just maybe...it will serve to be that little ounce of encouragement as my sister in-laws blog was to me.

--Megan