Ki-ki-ri-ca?

"In English roosters say "Cock-a-doodle-doo," but in the Czech Republic they say "Ki-ki-ri-ca." Cows say "moo" in America, but in Holland they say "Booo." In the United States turkeys say "Gobble-gobble-gobble," but they say "Holderolderol" in Israel (Conrad, 1995). Roosters, cows, and turkeys really don't say those words, but people in different countries use different words to describe the sounds they hear animals make. Words are summary symbols with meanings agreed on by a society or a group..." (Developing Literacy by Timothy G. Morrison, and Brad Wilcox).

This is what I opened up to and started reading for homework in my Teaching Literacy class in a chapter about vocabulary. I know you are jealous of my homework. Don't even deny it. :)

...But then I went on to read 60 pages of textbook reading and a super long Ensign article. (Since when does it take 45 minutes to read one article??) So on second thought... Don't be too jealous. I've been reading for like 3 hours....

❤, Meagan

I ♥ Snogging? :)

Since I was back in South Jordan today, it was supposed to be laundry day (It did not end up happening.) But...I definitely wore this shirt in public today.

Surprisingly, I didn't get too many funny looks (that I noticed, at least), no creepy offers, and only had to explain what snogging meant once... which was slightly embarrassing. I'm glad I decided a while ago not to give much credence to what other people think of me. Life is more fun that way. :)
❤, Meagan

Everybody's Gonna Love Today, Gonna Love Today, Gonna Love Today!

So it's that time of February again. That day where half the people I know are bitter about their love lives... or lack thereof, and the other half are all lovey and goo-goo eyed. I'm in on secret plots to help other people show love to their significant others, but not getting anything from one myself, haha. It's not my favorite day of the year, but I'm not totally averse to this day either. My mom always sends me something special, and that's sweet. :) I still know that I'm loved.

Guess what?
Today I had a revalation. A year from today I will be in my very own classroom! Forget not having a "valentine". I will have 30! Do you know how much chocolate and candy and cute little cards that is?? I am so excited. I have a feeling this will become one of my favorite holidays. :)

And just a little note for those of you that feel like you are "all alone" on Valentine's day... You are most definitely not. You don't need that one special someone to make this day bearable. Just look around you and realize how many other special people are in your lives. Love is a many splendid thing, but it can come from anywhere, not just a man. I have wonderful family and friends, and they make my life complete. The romance will happen eventually, but until then? I'm still going to enjoy my life.

Also- I found this video earlier. Oh my cuteness! It is the most adorable thing ever. I'm pretty sure my favorite part is when they ask the kids if they have ever been kissed and they all freak out. And the little girl that is going to marry her daddy. Classic. I am so stoked to spend every day of most of the rest of my life with such innocent and special people! :)

On a random note... I searched and I have exactly 239 songs in my iTunes that have the word Love in the title. In case  any of you wanted to know. Awesome. :)

I love you all!

❤, Meagan

Pandora is my Best Friend

I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog, but I like writing in it anyway. I find that I figure my thoughts out better in writing.

That being said... I don't know why I am so obsessed with this song. Pandora enlightened me to the beauty that is now an obsession of a pretty piano part and soft gorgeous singing. I may have listened to it like 10 times in the last 2 days. SO GOOD! I feel like it connects to my life in so many ways. I know it is sort of sad, but it also sounds really hopeful to me. If you don't love it as much as me, then sorry for wasting your time, but I wanted to share. :) 

Maybe I should start a music blog or something. I sure share a lot of songs. 

I hope your days were wonderful. 

Lots of love!

❤, Meagan

The Whole World is Moving and I'm Standing Still

Lately I've been feeling simultaneously like life is going way too fast for me to keep up with, but also like I'm not moving at all. I don't get it. It's confusing, and sort of exhausting.

I may or may not be afflicted by the Senior-at-BYU/slightly-marriage-hungry syndrome. But in my defense, it's sort of hard not to be when people keep asking how you've been at BYU for 4 years and aren't married yet. I blame it on the height. It also doesn't help that every day I log onto facebook I am alerted to either new engagements or pregnancies. I feel like all those that I knew or once dated (especially those I dated) are getting engaged or married and moving on with their lives. So, guys... If you want to get married, date me (interpret that how you will).

I feel like I am barely keeping afloat with school. 17 credits and the impending practicum are really taking their toll on me. Who needs free time? Oh, wait - me. In that case... Sleep is overrated, right? ;) As I've sat here at my little table in the good ol' library, 2 different people have come and sat with me, finished homework, and left. What am I still doing here?? (Other than writing this blog post, because obviously... This is important).

But don't let me fool you... life is not entirely awful. I am done with all of my homework that is due tonight and tomorrow. I have a few things to tackle for Friday, and I am determined to get all of Monday's homework done as well so I can go out of town with some friends and play all weekend. I desperately need a break.

Also- I went to a book sale at Provo library today and bought 20 books for $20! How cool is that?? I am so excited to keep building up my classroom library and help kids to love reading like I do! :)
That's all for now, folks. I need to get back to the books...

Oh, and in case any of you were curious about the title of this post - Give this song a listen. It's a good one. :)
❤, Meagan

A Letter From the Past

I found this cool website last year called FutureMe.org. It is a website where you can write a letter to your future self and pick the date that you want it delivered. I didn't think it would work, but thought it would be a fun thing to try either way, so I wrote myself a letter and set the delivery date for a year from that day. I completely forgot about it until yesterday when I received an email with the following:

The following is an e-mail from the past, composed 11 months and 30 days ago, on January 02, 2012. It is being delivered from the past through FutureMe.org

Dear FutureMe,
I really hope that this new year has been full of happiness and change. Change is not normally something that I would wish on myself, but I've kind of felt like I've been stagnating lately. I hope that I have stretched myself and striven to become better in my weak areas, especially in gaining a stronger testimony. I hope that I have seized every opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and accomplish something amazing. Or even just plain fun. Let's hope this new year is void of regrets and "what if"s. Live and let live!
~ Me
Also - I wouldn't mind a boyfriend at some point. Just sayin'... ;)

I was so amused! I think I will write another one. And this time... since the boyfriend thing came and went already, maybe I will ask myself for a husband. ;)
❤, Meagan

I Believe in God... Am I Unintelligent?

Today I had someone question my intelligence because I believe in God. According to them, the mark of true intelligence is in not confusing "fact" with "fiction". This honestly made me quite angry. I do not understand how someone can think me less intelligent for believing in a higher power and belonging to an organized religion. Personally, I think religion says a lot about a person's character, but not necessarily anything about their intelligence. In my opinion intelligence is seen in one's responsibility, formal schooling, and ability to make important life decisions.

Rather than a lack of intelligence, I think the fact that I believe in God shows that I am capable of having hope. I have strength enough to believe in the unseen forces at play in my life, and I am informed of what comes after this life. I do not see what portion of that makes me less intelligent than anyone else. My faith in God is not due to lack of information, but rather studying and seeking to find out for myself. As you all may remember from a previous post, it was only through diligence and hard work that I was able to come to this belief in the first place. If anything, I believe that I am more informed about life than those that don't believe in God or His works. Regardless of these feelings of mine, I do not think that it is ever acceptable to personally attack another person for something as personal as their religion.

I don't mean to rant and rave; I guess all I am trying to say is that people are different, and that is respectable. Intelligence does not lie in one's ability to believe that there is something bigger out there. If my friend is an Atheist I won't look down on them or think them stupid, I will love and respect them for their beliefs. I would love it if others could do the same for me.
❤, Meagan