A new perspective

I was looking through some other blogs this morning when I came upon this quote by Majorie Pay Hinckley.
“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.

This quote made me really think about how I want to live my life.  When I have children I want to be there for them at all times.  I want to put my own needs second and put my families first.  I want to be able to help my neighbor when she has a hand full of groceries in one hand and a child in the other hand. I want to make a difference in someones life.  Majorie Pay Hinckley is truly a remarkable woman! She inspired me and so many other people.  

Family

Man married life is sure amazing!! I can't believe its already been a little over a month since I have been Mrs. allred! I'm finally getting used to signing my name as Megan Allred rather than Clark! Its so strange but I love it so much!! I have the best husband ever! He takes  such great care of me and I could never ask for anyone better!! We can both be totally goofy together and just laugh all night! Its the best having someone around who is so much like you!! We got our wedding day pictures back and oh my goodness they are gorgeous! I love every single one! I cannot wait until we have our own place! Ya that means paying bills and everything but I honestly cannot wait! Its been stressful trying to find somewhere while David is at work. Were going to make our final decision this weekend when we go to Utah for my cousin Jennifer's baptism.  I can't believe she is already 8 years old! Man where has time gone! It seems like just yesterday I was baptized! Anyways these past couple of weeks we have had my little brother Kayden staying with us.  It has been a great experience for us all. It has taught me to have alot of patience and understanding.  He is the type of kid that has to always be busy doing something and I'm still not completely comfortable just doing my own things here so trying to find things for him also is kind of a difficult task, but we have managed! We have done some pretty fun things.  We went up the mountain a couple days ago and we hiked up to a really pretty waterfall, and we roasted marshmallows and hotdogs.  It was alot of fun! We also went to the Powell Aquatic Center and went swimming.  It has this cool little place where you hold onto a rope ladder thing above your head while you walk across moving lilly pads.  It was way fun and alot of hard work! We were all pretty sore afterwards.  Especially our poor hands.  We also have had a fun time just chilling around the house and enjoying each others company!!! It has given me things to do with David being gone all day!  Its going to be so weird not having him here while David is at work, but its all good, i need to start packing stuff up anyways.

       

I'm truly grateful for my amazing family! They have done so much for me and have supported me so much through out my life that I can never thank them enough!! I dont think I could have ever landed in a more amazing family! Now that I get to start my own family out I hope I can raise my children like my parents raised us! Thanks to everyone for all their love and support! And most importantly thanks for helping me on my way to a great and happy life!!

Time Flies!!

Man I cant believe that its been almost two weeks already!! Its so strange starting out a new life, going through life with someone else always by your side! I figured that since I have been slacking big time I should probably update you all on my life. 
I got married in the Manti Temple on June 25, 2011.  It was the most perfect day of my life!! We arrived at the temple and had to park out in the middle of no where all because there were 18 brides just before me.  I couldn't believe how busy they were on this day.  18 Brides before 10:30 a.m. seemed pretty much insane!! Anyways it was still an amazing day!! The temple is such a beautiful place inside and out!! I'm so grateful I had the chance of getting married in it.  You walk in and there is just a completely different atmosphere! We were so blessed to have Brother Squires do our sealing.  He is a man in my ward that is completely remarkable!! It was so amazing all the blessings we were given and everything that was said to us! I couldn't have imagined a more amazing day!! One of the best feelings in the world was looking into the mirrors and seeing myself and David continue on for eternity!! I loved having us go in there by ourselves for a minute then have all our families file in one by one! Man that was sure phenomenal!! I cannot wait until I can go back to the temple!
After our amazing temple experience we took pictures for a while, then we left and went to the luncheon.  I was so hungry by this time that I could have eaten a whole cow!! But I simmered down and ate a sandwich and some chips.  It was pretty delicious and filled me right up! Thanks for all of those that helped with this! At 5:30 that night we had a ring ceremony for all those that couldn't attend the temple!! This too was a pretty cool occasion! Bishop Thomas conducted a little ceremony which was really cool.  Then he asked my dad to bear his testimony about temple marriage and the importance of it, and mostly just what it means to us and what it enables us to.  It was amazing because I had never heard my dad bear his testimony so strongly about something!! Thanks dad you rock!! Right after our ring ceremony we had a reception.  The reception was held in my backyard! It was so freaking beautiful! My dad worked really hard on getting the backyard looking in tip top shape! It looked so beautiful and I couldn't have asked for any better reception! The cake was also amazing!! My wonderful cousin Daniele made my cake and frosted the cupcakes.  I had a really pretty cupcake tree that was a huge hit!!! The food was also super delicious! We had chicken salad sandwiches, delicious strawberry lemonade, amazing chocolate covered strawberries, pretzels, cinnamon bears and many other amazing things.  My parents worked so hard on making this the best day of my life and let me tell you, it was more than that!! I couldn't have asked for a better fairytale wedding that will never end!! That's the best part of getting married in the temple, you never have to leave anyone for ever! Just for a little while!
I will never be able to thank everyone enough for all the work that was put into this phenomenal day!! It was a day I will never ever forget!
(I will post pictures as soon as I get them I promise...)

Everything Changes

Just when we think we have everything planned out, our direction seems to go a completely different way.  It all started when I got called to come play soccer at Northwest College in Powell Wyoming.  I had my life planned out, I knew who I was going to marry, I knew where I was going to live, I knew all my friends, and most of all I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Looking back on everything, that would have for sure been the easiest thing to do! I wouldn't have had to leave my family and friends, I could have a nice paying job, I could be living at home, getting delicious home cooked meals every night, and I also would probably be married.  Its crazy how one little thing can change EVERYTHING!!

I came to Powell with the intentions to play soccer and have an amazing time! I came here expecting to go home this summer and get married.  Well all those things happened and are going to happen.  The marriage part is just a little off.  It was so hard coming here and leaving someone I loved so very dearly.  I broke off our relationship in September just because I was being stupid.  I didn't know what I wanted and I just needed something different.  It was the hardest thing I had ever done in my entire life! I was so lost and confused and I cried night and day.  I went home a short while later and went and talked, I thought I had things figured out and ready to go again, but things just weren't working out still, I didn't know what to do.  I fasted and prayed more than I ever have my entire life. Trust issues became a huge problem and things just kept going down hill, which eventually led him to asking for the ring and everything else.  He now has a beautiful girl and I hope and pray that he is happy because that is what he truly deserves, someone that will be his everything and someone that will be there when he needs them. 

This also leads me to where I am at in life...

David and I started dating a bit after Colton and I broke up.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would be engaged to him.  He is one really great man though.  He treats me like an angel and I know that I will always be taken care of.  He plans on going to BYU (I know YUCK)  next year and I'm going to UVU.  We are getting married on June 25, which will be so amazing!! I cant wait to go through the temple and be able to partake in that sacred experience.  

The proposal...

For our first date we had gone on this amazing hike up the mountains, at the top there was this beautiful waterfall with a cove behind the waterfall. So this is where he took me.  Of course it was a little bit of a difficult journey, since the snow came up to my mid thigh area in some places.  It was quite a great hike but none the less it was a blast!! After his persistence and diligence we finally made it to the spot.  It was just as beautiful as I remembered it.  We hiked up into the cove, and as I was taking pictures, he was fishing around in his pockets for something.  My heart was racing because I thought maybe just maybe something was going to happen.  When I sat down and finished taking pictures, I turned around and saw him down on one knee! It was so amazing! I really am so excited.  

So even though we may think we know exactly what is going to happen in our lives, EVERYTHING can change in just one instance! It sure has for me, and yeah most of it has been overwhelming yet I wouldn't change any of my experiences for anything! They have all made me such a stronger person and I have grown so much!

Thank you to everyone that has made all of these things possible!! 

The Little Things

Stop and think for a moment about the little things in life. The soft chirp of a bird, the sound of the crunching snow beneath your feet, the way the clouds move swiftly through the sky, and separate just enough to see the sun shine through, to let us get that one last ray of hope.  The beautiful evergreens that stand tall true all year through, The simplicity of a birds nest that brings safety and peach to the inhabitants thereof. The amazing rock formations that have been created throughout many years.  How simple yet meaningful a circle can be, there is no end and no beginning, it goes on and on forever.  The American flag, although it may only be pieces of cloth sewn together, the meaning is true and unchanging.  We have freedom, agency, the choice to do what we want when we want.  We can worship how we want and we can raise our families the way we choose, all because we are Americans and we have that great freedom. The significance of our amazing temple.  Its white outer outer shell and design, landscaped with many beautiful trees, and flowers. Yet on the inside it stands for so much more, it stands for testimonies, sacred ordinances, and things so powerful we on the outside cant see it.  It stands for truth in all nations. 
You are probably wondering where all this is coming from and why I even posted it on here, but this all came from the billings temple.  I was having a rough week and I decided to take a walk around the temple grounds when I noticed all these small and simple things that bring so much love and beauty around us.  I take for granted the small and simple things, even though its by small means that great things come to pass.  I'm grateful for the little things in life, because without them I don't know where I would be. 

Day 1

I recently came upon a 30 day blog challenge where I say something different about my life every day.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to try it out and see where it takes me.  So I guess here it goes, I don't know how well I'm going to be able to do but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

Day 1
15 different facts about myself:
1. My family means everything to me! They support me in everything I do and I love them so very much!
2. When you first get to know me I'm super shy, but once you get to know me I'm completely insane!
3. I have not read the Twilight saga only because that's what everyone else did.
4. I have a strong passion for soccer and I love playing it. 
5. I am a strong LDS member and I love being a part of it.  I love church and all it teaches me and prepares me for life.
6. I love being outside!! I love camping, 4-wheeling, throwing a frisby with my siblings, pretty much anything out doors and i'm there!
7. I love making people happy, I love to make them laugh. Even though half the time when I make a joke I'm the only one that laughs.
8. I have loved being in Powell Wyoming for College, the first month was probably the hardest and longest month of my life! Many tears were shed that first month and I almost just gave up and went home.  But then just in the nick of time I met some pretty amazing people that will probably be my life long friends.  It has been a huge growing experience for me and I have learned A LOT about myself!!
9. If I set my mind to something, it will get accomplished! I'm very determined and I will not back down to a challenge!
10. I'm very very stubborn and If I don't want to do something, I most likely wont do it.  I have always been very independent so its hard for me to rely on people to do things for me.
11. I learned how to water ski when I was five years old.  The very first time I tried it i fell down and the ski popped up and hit me in the nose and made it bleed.  I wanted to get out that second, but my dad made me get back in the water and try it again, even though I was crying super hard.  I got back out there and tried it again, and this time I got up and did pretty darn good!! Ever since then my dad has always pushed me and it has helped me in so many ways!
12. Music is my passion.  If I'm in a bad mood or if something is not going right for me, I can always rely on my ipod to cheer me up.  It seems that it always knows what songs I need to listen to for the day.
13.I have really bad road rage.  At times I will yell at the people in front of me even though they cant hear me.
14. When I was little I lived in Moab and we had the best neighbors ever there, I was given the name Mega moo and that nick name has stuck with me forever. 
15.  And last but not least I absolutely hate sea food!! The smell and texture and just everything about it makes me sick! I cant stand it!!

Well I hope you all enjoyed learning a little bit more about me!
Love always megan

Life!!

College life is starting to get so much better!! Its so much fun and just a blast! A couple days before Halloween our ward went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead in the Billings Temple. It felt so amazing being in that sacred place again! I loved every single second of it! I cant ways until the day when I can go to the temple more often and do temple sessions.  It was such an amazing experience! I'm hoping to go at least once a month with a couple of my friends! I love the Temple and the atmosphere it provides me with.  Right after the temple, Sean, Keesha, David and I went to a corn field.  There were two big corn mazes.  One was a haunted one and the other one was a really hard one to get through. We first went through the haunted one.  It scared the crap out of me on some of the parts.  Especially when they chased me with a chain saw! I absolutely HATE it when people chase me with big objects like that.  We finally made it out of there alive after I got invited to a zombie tea party! haha After the haunted one we went through the really big one!! It was so confusing but we made it out in pretty good timing.  At this place they also had a giant slide that went super fast and was super fun! Then we got to ride on these really cool bike things, we had a race and David won.  We wanted to have a rematch because I didn't think it was a fair race but there was a huge line and it was freezing so we just said forget it and let David win something for once!  For Halloween me and a couple of my friends dresses up like Zombies, we did a little halloween carnival for a bunch of kids in the powell area. I was part of the spook ally and man did I scare some of the little kids. I felt bad at first but then the same kids just kept coming in so I didn't feel bad any more. The best part was when David, Tyler and I would corner a group of kids and just scare the crap out of them. I got kicked, slapped and my hair got pulled out a couple times, but over all it was a great experience. I love dressing up and just having a great time. On monday I got to dress up again for Family Home Evening. It was 80's night and so of course I went all out and got dressed up! I had hot pink eyeshadow on and just went all out! There was a lip sync competition going on so I did it with Tyler and Durand. It was so much fun, I was the guitarist Tyler was a dancer and Durand was the singer. At the beginning I was just standing there playing my guitar and I decided that was super boring so I then decided to spice things up a bit. I jumped in the air and landed in the splits! It was so awesome and it didn't even hurt! I had everyone hooting and hollaring! It was pretty awesome!! Its been a great couple weeks, and I get to go home so soon so that makes it even better! I miss my family and friends so much and I can't wait to see them again!!

I have also been thinking alot lately about missionary work and how amazing it would be to get that opportunity to be a missionary. I know I still have a couple years, but to be able to serve the Lord completely and whole heartidly for a year and a half would be the most remarkable experience EVER!! I guess I'll see what happens down the road! If I cant be a missionary I would love to be an EFY counselor! I just really want to serve the Lord in a way that I can completely focus on Him! My Savior and Redeemer is a remarkable man He has helped me out in more ways than I can express. I have been reading the Book Of Mormon again daily to try and recieve some help in situations I have been having and man my testimony has grown so much!! I want to go and shout to the whole world that I know this gospel is true! I know it with all my whole heart!! Even though I have had some rough and challenging times I know Wyoming is the place I need to be right now! I have become a better stronger person and I have come to the realization that I am a truely remarkable daughter of God! I have a testimony that If you really want to accomplish something that you think is impossible, it is ALWAYS possible with the Lord. I'm grateful for this opportunity I have had and I wouldn't ever change it for anything!! I just hope one day I can impact someones life for the better by being a member of the Church! I love my Savior and Redeemer, I love my amazing Family especially my parents and all they have done for me!! They are truely my divine inspiration to never give up! To always keep trying and to endure to the end!!