A Cute Fun Blonde Blessing

Well two for that matter.

Meet Nikki.

The girl that has changed my life in more ways than one.

When coming out to school last March I was nervous that I would not make very good friends.

My father blessed me that I would make important friends in life.

Little did I know how important....

Very quickly I met Nikki and we clicked like we had known each other for ages.

We were inseparable.

Quite literally attached at the hip it seemed.

She taught me so many important lessons that I could not write them out unless I had a book to fill them with.

We had lots of good times, crazy memories and even shared some hard times together.

But we were always together.

In the fall things changed and we started going our separate ways just a little.

But not without Nikki giving me the biggest blessing I will ever know.

A guy from her math class that was "not her type" but after much joking she sent him my way.

And after a walk in the apple orchards my life would never be the same again.

That boy from her math class quickly captured my heart and I threw away the key, for it belonged to no one else.

And after another walk through that apple orchard, my life is changing one more time.

 "Every story has an end, but in life, every ending is just a beginning" -Uptown Girls

So this is the start of my new beginning. =]

And I will embrace this adventure. 

-Meg

Realizations

#1 Whenever Garett walks in the room my face lights up

#2 An evening of just watching Garett do homework is alright with me.
How much more attractive he looks when he is studying!

#3 Despite not having taken German in a year and a half, I still try to pronounce names the way Germans would.

#4 I should wear aqua all the time; it goes well with my eyes.

#5 Arizona Skillet IS my FAVORITE food. (This has been something of great debate these last 19 years).

#6 As old as Mario is, it is still a game that can entertain all ages for hours, even while just watching.

#7 I am going to California in April! Eeeeek! Though this will ruin my never-fail statement of saying "Never have I ever been to California" in the awesome game of "Never Have I Ever". Almost disheartening except that I get to go to California! =D

#8 I wear Garett's watch more than he does. He wears it over to wherever he is going and then takes it off, strange no?

#9 I actually kind of like sleeping with the window cracked at night. I blame Nikki for this. (Love you Nikki! <3)

#10 I have so many friends that are in relationships which means LOTS OF DOUBLE DATES!!! Now to make plans.....=D

I want bacon and syrup
Sweet and salty please!
-Meg

Short and Simple

Classes start in the morning. I am a TAD nervous, but mostly for the fact that I think I might die of hunger tomorrow. I have class for just over 3 hours tomorrow in one room in the basement of a building. I don't get out of there until 1pm. I think I might just pack a sandwich and eat it between Art History I and Art History 2.

I hope I am not the ONLY crazy person who signed up for both history classes at once.

But I have 3 classes in that room, totaling 9 hours in a basement. Awesome huh? You could say I have a new home.

Work is.......work. Not thrilled, but to make me feel better, I remind myself that it keeps me here on my offtrack. And I like to eat. And have an apartment. Oh curse these luxuries I enjoy....

Friend-wise things are AWESOME!!!

My roommates are pretty much the BEST THING EVER! I love them all to bits and I think we are going to have a blast this semester.

Haley Nicholas has come over every day since she got here. She can talk MORE than me. I kinda really love it! She's a doll and she gets along with my roommates perfectly. I'd say she is a keeper!

Everyone is settled in now and today I realized I have no "fun" classes. My "fun" and "hard" classes will PROBABLY be art history......yup.......art major.....woohoo!

Also scripture study is AMAZING and has really made a difference in my days. The CES fireside was REALLY good tonight.

My ward seems nice. LOTS of cute boys!!! *Praying that the cute boys from Harris are in my FHE!!!*

Saw Jason Hiatt today and screamed his name loudly. =] Yup I think he appreciated it....haha

And I love my roommate Nikki. She is a doll and the sweetest person ever! Love you deary <3

And I got to skype Hannah and Lizzy! That was lots of fun =]

I think that is about it. If you wanna know more, ask. If you comment on this post saying what you want to hear more about, I'll do a little longer post on that stuff later.

I got another letter from Michael Gmeiner; he is doing well. And I am expecting a letter from Rachel! I'm excited!

That's all for now.
TTFN! Ta ta for now!

Frozen banana
slices are delicious!
Meg

A Little of This And That

Wednesday Melissa and I went to Idaho Falls for the afternoon.

And got to walk around this beautiful park along a river and across from the I.F. Temple.
(More pictures later)

And Melissa is pretty awesome to say the least.

Thursday our ward took a trip to Temple Square in SLC.

Just look how beautiful that Temple is!

And apparently about 20+ brides agree because that is about how many we saw in our time being over there. And that was just on a Thursday!

Nikki, Stephanie and I sat on the beautiful grounds right next to the Temple and read our scriptures together. it was quite an experience and the feeling was one I will not forget.

And of course we made some wishes on pennies.

Like I said, it was beautiful. And no, none of these pictures from SLC are from my camera.
My camera is heavy and I did not want to lug it around all day. Plus I've been to Temple Square a few times.

And today I made a silverware drawer!

Yeah my crafty side is coming out. =]
I'm excited!

And my adventure side is coming out too.
I just wanna run around and jump on everything!

Are you jumping in the trees?
Are you jumping on the houses?
Meg

Ich bin geliebt!

Sometimes I look at this and remember how loved I am.

Above are notes from Nikki, Hannah, Catherine, Jesse and mom.
Just a few of my favorites.

P.S. Catherine, you wrote the one that says "I <3 Megan!"
Do you remember drawing that? I think it was at church one Sunday, or that is when you gave it to me. Yes I have kept it after all these years. =]

Just as I know I am loved, and these little notes remind me, this is a reminder to y'all, that I love y'all! No matter where you are. near or far, you're in my heart.

"I hate sand in the wrong places"-Jewelissa
Don't we all?
It's a sacrifice I'm willing
to make though to be tackled
at the sand dunes.
Meg

In the Silence of the Night

It's late and I should be in bed. I'm pretty tired, but I am taking a moment to enjoy the quiet. Rexburg nights are the best because most EVERYTHING is silent and cool. Though it is COLD if you're actually outside. Either way, the apartment cools down and is rather comfortable and Rexburg becomes ghost town. It's a ghost town during the day too currently thanks to it being the 7 week break. Speaking of which...

Most of my friends are back home now in New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, California, Colorado, Arkansas, Michigan, etc. I'm rather envious of them getting to see their families, but I can't complain because I shall be back in NC in a few days.

I'm wondering how it will feel to be back again. Last time I was there it felt weird, like I was a visitor/guest in someone else's home. I guess that's what happens when you grow up. Suddenly you have a new home, and as much as I would love to deny it, Rexburg is my home now and it feels rightly so. When I got back here in April it just felt right. Especially after being cramped up in Tyler's little Geo Prizm for 5 hours...

On a side note to that, isn't it funny how when you meet someone, you don't know the roll they will play in your life later on, whether big or small. You don't know when getting a ride to Rexburg, that you will become really good friends with the driver; that you'll go play at the park, slide down slides and climb buildings in the wee hours of the morning. You think, "oh just another person".

Like when I met Nikki, she was always with her old roommate and they were an interesting mix together. When I first moved in I didn't talk to either one of them, mostly because Janee was intimidating and as most may know, I am rather shy. But after Janee left, Nikki and I got along perfectly. Given, her and I are VERY different people and it's great. Together we kind of straighten each other out, keep each other sane. But when first meeting her, I had no idea that she would be my room-roommate and also one of my closest friends.

I guess the point of all of this is that I am homesick, but not for home, but for where the people I love reside. Funny, now I have people that I care about all across the country, heck even across the world. I miss you all, wherever you are. And whether I see you tomorrow, next week, in a couple of months, or in a few years, I love and miss you all.

I guess this is all part of life. Nothing stays the same for long, there is not much of a constant in your life. People come and go, classes change, moving around, relationships build or crash. You can only go with the flow and try to keep up.

Speaking of which, I can't wait to go canoeing again! I guess I should start working my arms out again so I don't kill myself on the New River.

Alright, I'm off to bed. Be safe and I wish you all the best. Sweet Dreams world!

I did NOT
fall off my bed today!
but I ate half the
food in the fridge.
Gym here I come
Meg

Saving Lives? Possibly.

Why is it that there is some unwritten rule that you always meet the coolest people the last 2 weeks of school? WHY????

I don't like it! And of course it's the people that aren't coming back, like pre-mis and people on winter-spring track. LAME.

Like Kendall is a premi so he's not coming back and Tyler is on Winter-Spring, so he's not coming back. And I am not happy with any of this. Kendall is my walking buddy and he can talk as much as me which is pretty awesome. I've known Tyler all semester but we only recently became really good friends. He's more of the "go exploring, then sit and chat" kind of buddy. Like last night we went and climbed a building, it was pretty cool!

Not going to lie, I was a bit nervous, given I hate heights and we were climbing a beam that was MAYBE a foot wide max and metal and I was wearing Converse. But hey, you can't have fun unless you take chances. So we climbed up on top of the Frontier Pies building and found a little fireworks show going on on the Southeast towards campus, along with some shooting stars. And we found out that it can get REALLY cold in Rexburg even in July. =/ Luckily I was smart and brought my peacoat, poor Tyler was not so smart, wearing bdu's & a light jacket. I warned him that is was cold, but oh well. It was still a lot of fun!

I wish we could have climbed more buildings, but alas he is now in Colorado for the night, after driving for nearly 12 hours. And I guess he'll continue his journey to Arkansas tomorrow. At least he came by and said goodbye this morning before he left. I guess I'll see him next spring or if I come back for winter.

So this is a random picture I took today. Sorry it looks kind of crappy. I was on the phone with Tyler trying to keep him awake while taking this picture. It was Jaide's birthday last week and they wrote on our window. This is the shadow the paint cast on our wall. Cool huh?

In other random news, Nikki and I saw Super 8 tonight. It was pretty good. Not memorable, but not awful. Mostly it was pretty funny because Nikki jumps at EVERYTHING! And I drank way too much Dr.Pepper. This is her, hiding behind her calendar. We're going to fill up that calendar with LOTS of adventures in these next few weeks. =]

Now off to bed with me. I have church at 10am. xP

Can I relive this week?
Over and over and over?
Meg

One of My Favorite Things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.

I have found lately that one of my favorite things to do is to take walks. Have you ever realized how wonderfully beneficial walks are? You're getting exercise, as well as letting off steam, allowing yourself to relax and let go of anything you may be stressing over. Plus walking with friends helps you grow closer and get to know your friends better.


I wish I had better pictures of Rexburg and all the places I walk to. Lately I've been walking around the southwest area next to our campus, covering blocks and blocks. And somehow end up either at the soccer fields or Porter Park. Either way I have been loving these walks. Something about getting out of my smelly apartment, away from everyone else is just completely relaxing. I guess all I can say is thanks Kendall, Nikki, Camilo and Tyler for being my walking buddies. I've had some great times just walking and talking. =]

What do y'all do when you get stressed or just need to get away from the rush of things?

"Who needs a
lawnmower when
you've got Meg?"
Thanks Tyler xP
Meg

Where'd You Go? I Miss You So

Seems like it's been forever since you've been gone. Please come back home.

Though this song only has some relevance, it has been stuck in my head this evening.

I guess I haven't written too much on my feelings on my blog in a long time. It normally all goes into my journal. But I guess, what I am starting to miss is the little things. Like the quietness. Not to say back East that everything was ever quiet. But if I wanted quiet it was not hard to find.

Do you ever take time to embrace the silence even for 5 minutes? Those moments of self reflection, that suddenly things that have been fuzzy for so long now become clear?

I have been pondering over some ideas for quite some time now. I have been trying to understand things beyond my capacity. And though there are some things I still do not fully understand, I am learning little by little.

This semester has been unlike anything and everything I have ever experienced. I have grown spiritually, but not in the normal sense. I have grown to learn about myself in ways I never thought possible. Most of this semester I have been working to think less with my emotions, and more with my head. Anyone who knows me well, knows I am very in tune with my emotions and not that I cut them out, but I began to think more logically.

Given there have still been times where I was confused and unsure of what to do, but I knew what I could not do and then worked from there.

What I have learned is that those we surround ourselves with should make us want to be better. I have found some people like that this semester. Not that I feel inferior to them, but they make me want to work harder and be better than I am. I cannot fully explain it, but at the end of the day, I know I want to be worthy of their friendship and be the friend I know I would want to have.

Sometimes we have to stop and reflect. All semester I have been trying to figure out what I was supposed to be learning. And this semester I have learned to be content with my life. That good things come in time and that I can only work to be better until the time comes that I am worthy of those blessings.

I have learned that being straightforward with people can allow you to grow as better friends. That having people to talk to and understand and relate to makes all the difference. I have also begun to see who my true friends are, and the answers have been surprising. I have learned to trust in ways I did not think were possible. I have had conversations with people that have surprised me for the better. Have you ever had one of those? Those conversations that start off merely as fun and entertaining, but then end up having a heart to heart you didn't expect?

Those are some of the best conversations.

I guess what I am saying is that though I am severely flawed, I am slowly improving. It may not always be evident on the outside, but that is because I am still growing on the inside.

There is more I would share, but that is for another time and another place.

In other news, I am ready to visit NC for a bit. It will be nice to see my family and friends again. Though it is only for a week, that is for the better.

I have no singular home anymore. I have family and friend back East, and I also have family and friends here. I love all of you. I love my family, as well as Hannah, Lizzy, Kris, and Nikki.

I wish everyone back East could meet Nikki. I think y'all would love her. But maybe I am partial because she is one of my best friends. Not to mention a southern bell like myself. =]

I love all of you and miss all of you. I may not get to talk to y'all as often as I would like, but you're always in my heart.

Much love,
Meg

Some Things Are Worth the Loss

Like lack of sleep to watch the sunrise at the sand dunes.

I'm actually going to do this in reverse order of what happened so here it goes: Our neighbors in 309 invited Nikki and I to go watch the sunrise with them at the sand dunes this morning.

The thing about Rexburg is that the sun rises around 5:45am. And the sand dunes are a good 20-25 minute drive. So Amy came to Nikki and I's window at 5am this morning to get us up.

Groggy and tired we threw on several layers of clothes on and the 7 of us piled into Collette's car.

But let me tell you, I have rarely seen anything so beautiful in my life.

(Sorry these pictures are fuzzy; they weren't from my camera. Amy took them). This was before the sun rose, but to give you an idea of how much you can see (sort of).

Yes those are the Grand Tetons on the right. Gorgeous, am I right?

As the morning got lighter (it wasn't actually this bright, or it didn't feel like it. Also the sand was FREEZING cold but you can't wear shoes in the sand....)

As it began to rise. It rose really quickly!
The full view from the top of the dunes.
Amazing.

(from left to right: Amy, Collette, Michelle, Nikki, Ashley, Me, Kendall).
Kendall and I are kind of hiding in the background b/c as soon as I sat down I was NOT about to move because the sand warms up where you sit and the girls wanted to huddle after I sat down. I was bundled in my BYU-I hoodie and would not move. Oh well, got to know Kendall better. He's one of the pre-mi's in my ward and he's from NY.

I loved the shadows of the ripples of the sand. It had this beautiful blue and yellow contrast that I loved!

On the left is Nikki and Michelle sharing a sleeping bag.
I think they rolled down the hill. They tried to move like a worm. As Nikki said "I don't want to be a worm! It's too hard!" So Kendall pulled them to the car.
I'm doing a little "My feet are numb but not numb enough to not feel the sharp rocky ground" dance looking around for my shoes.

To give you an idea how steep the sand dunes are. It's a good little work out trying to get up them. And they are all that steep pretty much.

So yesterday Nikki and I took some pictures together. See here.
This is my roommate and best friend, Nikki.
I'm so happy that we're rooming together in the fall! =D
(She's so pretty!)

Besties even though she has a bit of a creepy face going on there and I couldn't stop laughing.

=D =D =D =D =D That is all I have to say.

And she taught me how to hang off the balcony. Mom does this remind you of someone? I felt this was a Catherine moment back in the day.

We also went with Cacia and her roommate, Stephanie, to tie-dye t-shirts! It was my first time ever! And Nikki and I dyed our hands as well.

Quite a work of art I must say.

I guess I can't escape West's colors. Green and Gold.

The green is mostly gone but the yellow is still very much there. Hope no one notices at church tomorrow....

Nikki and I also sat on our porch for 3 hours hanging out with the girls in 309, just chatting it up. And we watched Penelope. (I thought of you Catherine).

We launched water balloons, muahahahaha! =D

And I finally climbed up the balcony. From the ground to the third floor, I'm proud of myself. =]

And now to go get my laundry.

It's been a GREAT weekend thus far, can't wait to see what happens next!

I love bacon
and so much food!
And sometimes a
lack of sleep can be
completely worth it!
Meg

Skills of a Moose

In the past week I have somehow managed to injure myself repeatedly. I think my subconscious is mad at me.

I burned 2 of my fingers on the frying pan making chicken.

My hand got scratched when playing with Moose (my roommate's sister's dog).

I got grass rash from playing with said dog.

Burned the bottom of my foot walking across the pavement home from church.

And did this to my finger while trying to put on a skirt:

And this picture makes it look pretty.

(Story behind the title of this post is that when we were going to go get the puppy and play in the park, our friend Matt thought my roommates were referring to me as "Moose" from some strange reason. So I am Moose apparently O.o)

So yeah my subconscious hates me. Oh well.

On a side note we had story time last night! A different friend of ours named Matt decided to read to Apt 309, me, Nikki, the other Matt and Stirling and some other random passersby.
And I got sat on by Stirling, so thoughtful.
We heard "Wodney the Wat" and "The Missing Piece Meets the Big O".
It was lovely =]
The end!

Just kidding.
I went and got to hang out with Albert for a little bit and chat it up with him =D =D =D
And then his roommates gave me food and drink.
They are nice.
The End (again).

Can this semester never end?
And let's start calling koolaid "drink"
Want a pot of hot koolaid?
I made this for you!
Meg

If I Never Left

I would be completely happy.

Y'all, I have fallen in love.

I thought I would never be able to love any other mountains other than the Appalachian mountains. Given, I still love the Appalachian mountains the MOST, but the Tetons are now a close 2nd. They are BEAUTIFUL! And to prove it to you, I will show you some pictures, though they don't do them justice.


This was on our ride to Wyoming.
Though this is not the Tetons, it was still rather pretty.

Oh how I have missed the greenery!

Green, green, green!

The Grand Tetons!

A close view.
Yes that is snow.

So pretty that I had to show them twice!

Even closer from the campsite.

We were right next to an overflowing river.
It was beautiful.

And there were trees!
LOTS AND LOTS OF TREES!! (I was a happy camper!)
And yes that is snow at the bottom of the picture.
Those trees were extremely tall, I felt right at home.

The river ran through the camp grounds.

I feel Aaron would have loved this.
Trees fell to make natural bridges that Nikki and I crossed several times.
And had a cute little waterfall.
At night we had skits and a bonfire.
And it was amazing!

We got to explore, have a devotional, eat s'mores and I had my first roasted Starburst.
They were so good that I ate 10 or so of them. =D
And then David threw marshmallows at me from across the campfire. I couldn't see who it was and I was mad at first, but later he told me it had been him and then Nikki and I helped him throw marshmallows at other people.

This morning I woke up because the smoke alarm went off (we were in a lodge, fake camping I know, but no cellphone service nonetheless) and the girls who actually heard it decided the rest of us were not allowed to sleep since they couldn't. =/

Have I ever told you that I HATE being woken up by people?
Well now you know.
I think it is because I'm already NOT a morning person, so I'm not happy, but if I set an alarm then I have no one to be mad at for waking me up but myself. But if other people wake me up, then I blame them for ruining my peaceful slumber. I promise if you ever wake me up, I will glare at you the rest of the day.

In other news- we had a delicious breakfast of eggs, hash browns, pancakes, fruit and BACON!
After breakfast Nikki and I played Frisbee with David, Kendal, Drew, Yazan (sp?) and some other people who came in and out. It was fun and I actually did well, though I throw better with my left hand, odd huh?

We then did a service project. My group set up tents, though it was more of setting up 3 tents in the same spot but the first 2 didn't fit the frame so we put up and took down several tents. Afterword we had a lovely lunch and went home.

I was really sad to leave. Mostly I was dreading civilization and having cellphone reception. If cellphones weren't so vital in communication, I would probably throw mine out. I loved being able to leave it off for a day or two.

Anyway, off to polish up my talk (I'm speaking tomorrow in church) have a great night!

Caprisun is not
as good as I remember
and anything less than
2% milk is gross.
What happened to drinks
with REAL flavor?
Meg