What I love about Rain

Rain. Good for plants. Not good for hair. Guess my hair is going to be in a ponytail all week.

Today, and the rest of this week. You can't really tell, but it is pouring during this picture.

Today it was my turn to get the mail. Our mailbox is across the parking lot and on the otherside of another set of buildings. Normally I walk between the buildings to get it. Today it was flooded (which is normal in rain) so I had to walk around. When I came back, I needed the Coast Guard and Ashton Kutcher to save me. It was really wet. And  I was really wet  (my mom says I'm not sweet enough to melt--I disagree). Yuck!

I've discovered through the years that I only love rain when I am inside. I don't like being wet. (Showers being the necessary exceptions!) But I do love when it rains and I am inside, curled up in a cozy chair with a soft blanket next to the fireplace with a book in my lap and watching the storm. That makes me happy. I could do that for days. :)

Growing up, our living room had this big picture window that took up the whole wall and looked out over the front of the house/driveway/rock garden/horse barn. (Yes, my nana had a rock garden--it was called the rock garden because of all the cool rocks in it. It also has tons of rose bushes and other plants too. My nana totally rocks! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!)

Anyway, puns aside, it was awesome to sit in Grandpa's chair next to the fireplace and watch storms through the window. Trees would be bent half over in the wind and rain would be pelting the tin roof. I love the sound of rain on a metal roof. Awesome!

Though there have been times when I love playing in the rain. When we lived in Dallas, we weren't allowed to play in the rain because rain generally means tornados. When we moved back to CA, tornados weren't an issue anymore and so we loved playing in the cold rain--especially down in the fields--and even more especially when the fields were a little more than slightly flooded. It was magical. Seriously. 

And then we got cold, we would go up to the house and sit by the fireplace, hang up our wet socks (even though we had a dryer-we just thought it was waaaay cooler to hang them by the fireplace) and Nana would give us hot chocolate and fresh cookies or bread. There were always fresh cookies or bread. Seriously--she made both every week. BEST NANA AWARD!

Anyway, I'm not sure how this turned into a trip down memory lane. Weird. Sorry. Hope you'll forgive me.

So summary: I love rain, when I'm inside and dry and warm. :)

Adorable Visiting Teaching Gifts

So I found these adorable little gifts for St. Patrick's Day online here, including the cute tags. And so I made my own version:

I love the dollar store. I found the filler, little pots and little take-out boxes there. PERFECT! Then I put them together, filled with gold candy, and attached a lucky horseshoe keychain I happen to have left over from a county themed bridal shower I threw last year. I love the rainbow colored ribbons.

 So cheap, easy, cute! Perfect!!

A New Calling

Today I got a new calling. I'm now the Relief Society Compassionate Service Leader. I think that means I need to be compassionate and I need to do more service. It was like the Lord said, "Megan, you need to be more compassionate and do more service." Seriously. That is what he told me. :)

People kept saying, "Megan! That will be so perfect for you!" or "Compassion is your middle name!" or "You are going to be so wonderful at that! We're so excited!" Uh, these people were being serious, but it felt so sarcastic. I realize that sarcasm was what I was reading in to it. I don't feel very compassionate or service oriented.

Maybe that is why I got this calling. I'm actually quite excited about it. I love being released from current callings and getting new ones. To me, it feels like I've done what I need to do, and I've learned what I need to learn, and I've served they way I need to serve--and now I have a new opportunity for growth. Hopefully I feel this way because I've magnified my callings to the best of my abilities. I will miss FHE Committee, though. That was a fun calling.

And you know what is cool about my new calling? I get to be in charge of Birthdays!! I love birthdays! I love recognizing and celebrating the day of people's birth! YEAH! Oh, and I get a committee! Ha! :) The other part is that I'm back in Relief Society! I love serving Relief Society. I love helping women feel of the Savior's love and helping them realize their worth and potential!

Anyway, Yeah! for new callings!!

My Life is Kinda Boring

Okay, let me be clear, I don't want something thrilling happening everyday--that would be too exhausting, but it would be nice if something exciting would happen occasionally. Is that too much to ask? But I suppose that no matter what other options I may have had, I would still be bored, because its probably more of an attitude problem than a lack of events in my life.

I have been working on my Christmas presents for my family. Well, I can only do one at a time, but the first one is nearing completion! Yeah! I think the first is the most detailed and difficult. At least, I hope it is. Its definitely been time consuming. Anyway, I know I am a jerk for not saying what it is, but oh well. :) Okay, okay, I'll tell. I'm making...busts of ME to give them!! Ha ha ha. Just kidding. That would be a creepy gift. But once Christmas comes, I will post pictures because I'm quite proud the one I've almost finished, and I'm sure I'll be proud of the ones I will do. :)

So that is what I've been upto and probably why things are so boring for me. I think I just need to change my attitude. Yippie Skippie.

Tree Blossoms

Ok, I know these aren't cherry blossoms (which I love), but still they are beautiful! I love how the street is lined with these trees!

I know I keep saying this, but I love Spring! I love the pink blossoms in the trees and I love that as I walk under the trees, the blossoms fall and kick up underneath my feet. It feels very magical. And Park Drive in Rocklin is lined with these trees so walking under them the past couple of weeks has been awesome!

A Movie, A Dream, and A Dog

Last night for FHE, we watched the movie we made last week. It was hilarious!! We also played Disney Scene It. So fun. As an explanation, we split into three different groups and filmed each of the acts independently. We had no idea how the other groups were filming their part of the plot. And then it was edited and polished. It was fun to make and fun to watch. Enjoy!

***

I think my dreams are getting out of control again. This happens every so often.

This morning I dreamt that I was hiking a hill with some guy (I don't know who, but he was super cute!). We were searching for something and he slipped over the edge of cliff near the ocean. I grabbed his arm so he wouldn't fall and as he was just hanging out (*snicker*) he looked around and saw a small opening in the side of the cliff below him. We both looked into the hole and saw an old '30's era car in a cave. Weird, right?! Well then we noticed a landing that if I swung him correctly, he would land on and then we could explore the cave.

Suddenly we were in the cave, which had electricity, and were looking around. It was like someone had stuck all their treasures in this cave and the car was just the beginning. Everything was super old and it looked like someone had lived there (I remember some beautiful rugs on the floor. It was so exciting! At first we couldn't figure out who put it there and how it got there. Then I decided that there must have been a road that had been washed away by the ocean. As we were exploring, we found a painting of an old man. It was my friend's grandfather or something.

And then I woke up. The end.

***

The last thing for today is a little shout out to my doggy Rufus. He died yesterday. We got him when I was probably about 14. We found out a couple weeks ago he had cancer, but decided not to put him down yet. Then he was found in the afternoon and given a little doggy funeral and buried in a favorite spot.

He was the best dog. Always sweet and loyal and a great listener. Isn't he soooo cute?? 

The Power of Women

In honor of today being the 100th Anniversary International Women's Day, I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes and thoughts about the power of women, especially LDS women.

Brigham Young said, "Now, I say the women have great influence. Look at the nations of the earth. Any nation you like, no matter which, and you enlist the sympathies of the female portion of it and what is there you cannot perform?"

Wilford Woodruff said, “I am glad there is a little spirit among our sisters, and that they dare say their souls are their own.” I love it! Its okay to be spunky!

David O. McKay said, “A beautiful, modest, gracious woman is creation’s masterpiece. When to these virtues a woman possesses as guiding stars in her life righteousness and godliness and an irresistible impulse and desire to make others happy, no one will question if she be classed among those who are truly great.”

The three quotes above were from here. I only selected a few, but there are many more!

One of my favorite things about being an LDS woman is my membership in the Relief Society. I love Relief Society!! Sister Julie B. Beck, the Relief Society General President gave an amazing talk about the purposes of Relief Society and the women in it. 

I love this statement she makes at the end of her talk, "President Spencer W. Kimball stated a number of years ago that 'there is a power in this organization that has not yet been fully exercised to strengthen the homes of Zion and build the Kingdom of God—nor will it until both the sisters and the priesthood catch the vision of Relief Society.' Relief Society was established by the Lord to organize, teach, and inspire His daughters to prepare for the blessings of eternal life. Our aim is to support the women of the Church in their individual responsibilities by ensuring that every meeting, every lesson, and every activity we undertake helps them increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen their families and their homes, and serve the Lord and His children."

I also really liked this talk by Patricia Holland. So inspiring!! As is this talk by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

President Kimball said the following: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days . . . will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that [they] are seen as distinct and different —in happy ways—from the women of the world” ( Ensign, Nov. 1979, 103–4 ; emphasis added).

I'm definitely feeling very inspired today about my role as a woman and the power and influence I have in my life here and now.

I said something to my co-worker about today being International Women's Day and she didn't understand. I explained that it celebrates the positive influence women do have and can have on the world. Her next comment made me so sad, "We can do that?" Of course we can!! If we don't, who will?! I'm so grateful for a religion that teaches the value and roles of women and then whole-heartedly supports us. 

Happy International Women's Day!!