New Blog

Dustin and I have a new blog. It is:

http://hancockhappiness.blogspot.com/

I'll be adding to the other one now instead of this site so that it is more of a "Dustin and Meagan thing" instead of a "Meagan thing" so check there for updates!

Cactus Blossoms

Here in Southern AZ, Spring flowers are all about cactus...here are a few from our neck of the woods. And no, they aren't all red, but the red ones are my favorite! Click on the picture to see it better. :)

Just for you, Mom...

My Mom has mentioned a couple of times (again) that I need to update my blog, but I just can't think of anything grand to write about. My life right now consists of working three twelve hour shifts a week, then finding things to do with all this new found free time that I have. Not that finding things to do is really a chore, but it's so weird to be free after having so much to do for school for a lot of years!

So for the update...work is good. It's a lot more stressful than I could have ever imagined, but at the same time I'm learning a ton each day. I feel pretty good about my nursing skills while I'm at work, but when I come home at night I can't sleep as I lay in bed stressing about things I forgot to do during the day that probably should've been done or what I did wrong during the day. Not that I've done anything terribly wrong, but it's little things that happen and once I start thinking of them I just can't find a way to let them go. All the other nurses I've talked to say that their first few months as nurses were super stressful, too, and that it gets better over time. I'll hold on to that hope. This week was my first week on my own as a nurse after being with a preceptor for six weeks. Needless to say, I survived and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but still scary!

As far as when I'm not at work, I've enjoyed finding some different hobbies to start learning. I'm taking full advantage of this "Meagan time" as I know that I won't always have time to myself to do whatever I please (Selfish? Perhaps, but it's been wonderful!). I've found that my real sanity right now is learning how to use my new camera and taking pictures. Although I am very much an amateur in photography, I absolutely love it. It's through taking pictures that I am reminded of all the blessings around me. Whether it's a picture of a loved one or something brilliant in nature, finding the hidden elements of God's love for me and making those elements stand out among all the stresses of life is my passion. I guess that's why I love the country song "I Saw God Today". It says:

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know He's here, but I don't look
Near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I'd just slow down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

Sorry about all the writing and my random thoughts...here's some pictures for fun. :)

This one's from Christmas, but it's the most recent picture of Dustin and I that I have. Oh well!



Dustin's super swollen stye!



Yet another flower from our yard!

Spring!

I absolutely love this time of year and all the pretty flowers that are starting to bloom everywhere! I am especially excited that my calla lily plant finally bloomed again. Dustin gave the plant to me for Valentine's Day two years ago and it hasn't bloomed since. The other night as I was about to fall asleep Dustin said he had a pretty surprise for me outside and drug me out of bed to see this gorgeous blossom!

Here's just another pretty flower from our yard...

The other thing I love about March is the awesome Arizona weather (70's) and BLUE skies! A cute hubby to add to the mix just makes life amazing!

In Memory of Nauvoo...

Okay Nauvoo girls, this picture came up on my screen saver today and I couldn't help but laugh. Good memories! Can you believe how many times we got busted for being too loud late at night in that silly bathroom? I'm almost embarrassed to think about it! Saturday night showers talking through the stalls? Bringing back any memories for you?! :)

Thank You, Grammy...

The other day I was kind of wondering why I had to work on an oncology unit when I thought my love was labor and delivery. I have absolutely LOVED working with new moms at the Women's Center for the past few months and really felt like that was the job for me, yet my Heavenly Father must have had a different plan in mind for me. You know how it is when you have a passion for something and feel like you're good at it and because of the combination, feel that you can really make a difference when you do that thing? Well, that's how I felt about labor and delivery and I haven't been able to figure out why nothing worked out for me to be able to work in that department. Everyone, and I mean everyone, at the Women's Center tried to make things work for me, but due to budget cuts, there was no such luck and I was pretty bummed.

The other day I was talking to Grammy on the phone and the conversation was an answer to prayers for me. She was telling me about her experience when her son, Jim, was diagnosed with cancer. Grammy said that when he was first admitted to the hospital they had a great experience with the nursing staff, who were wonderful to Jim, and became great friends to the family. When her son was transferred to a new hospital the nurses there were distant, totally different from the first set of nurses. She said that it almost seemed as if they were afraid to connect or get close to Jim because they knew he didn't have a long time left on earth. I was appalled as I listened to her talk about her experience to think that nurses could be so uncaring, especially nurses whose careers revolved around patients with cancer, when a family needed nothing more than absolute love.

As I listened to her story, I realized that oncology is the place for me. From that short conversation with Grammy I realized what kind of nurse I need to be in order to make a difference, not only in patient's lives, but also for me to become a better person. Oncology is where my Heavenly Father wants me to be right now. I can be that nurse who connects with her patients and treats them as if they were family. I can be that nurse who makes one of the toughest experiences of a lifetime a little bit easier to cope with. I can smile and make someone's day. I can give a hug to a patient or family in need. I can be there when someone needs a shoulder to cry on or when a family rejoices for remission. I can do my best to show love for some of Heavenly Father's most precious children by the way I choose practice as a nurse. Thank you, Grammy, for opening my eyes to this great blessing and opportunity.

I'm a Nurse!

On Monday I took the NCLEX, which is the exam you have to pass in order to become a licensed nurse...Talk about one of the scariest days of my life! I'd been studying for it since I graduated in December, but I'm not sure how you can ever feel ready for a test like that and I was SO nervous. The test only took me an hour and I had the minimum amount of questions, which could've meant that I did really well and passed quickly, or that I didn't do well at all. I went home not feeling really great about the test, but loving the fact that it was over! Dustin was so wonderful to me and I came home to a note and everything I needed to make a big mug of hot chocolate set out on the kitchen counter for me. He is way too good to me! I was only home for a bit and Dustin came home early from class and took me out to lunch at Macaroni Grill to celebrate being done. It was really nice, but I was still so nervous to find out the results before I felt like I could really celebrate. Tuesday morning Dustin's sister DawnSheree called to see if I wanted to go play in the snow with them and I was so excited for an escape from the house! When we were almost to my sister-in-law's house I got a text from my friend that said I PASSED (you can go online to check the results and she must've been looking for me)! I was so excited that I called Dustin to have him double check for me, and yep, it's true, I'm a NURSE! Reality finally hit a little bit more when I got my license in the mail yesterday. Yeah! All I can say is that I am so grateful for an out of this world husband, great family, and a loving Heavenly Father who helped me every step of the way.

Yesterday was so nice because it was the first day I didn't have to stress about studying or whether I passed the test. I finally felt like a human again! I did laundry, read a book, went out to lunch, ran errands, cooked dinner, exercised, and just chilled. It was wonderful! I know it doesn't seem exciting, but trust me, when your life has revolved around school for a few years anything but school to think about is amazing!

I start my new job on Tuesday and I am both excited and nervous about that. I will be working at a hospital here in town on an oncology unit. The new job will bring lots of challenges and adventures with it, but I suppose I'm ready to tackle them.

Sorry this is so long, but my Mom requested an update so she would have something to read, so here it is!

"Nothing in Particular"

For some reason, I had this story about Helen Keller (who was both blind and deaf) from a past young women's lesson come to mind this morning and wanted to share it. Makes me wonder what joys we are missing out on as we walk through life and forget to take the time to notice the blessings and gifts, the tender mercies, from our Heavenly Father that are constantly before us.

President David O. McKay once told an experience of Helen Keller’s. He said:

“Have you ever read Helen Keller’s comment on a girl who had just taken a walk in the woods, who in answer to Helen’s question, ‘What did you observe?’ replied, ‘Nothing in particular.’

“ ‘How is it possible,’ Helen asked herself, ‘to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In the spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winter’s sleep. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song.

“ ‘At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things with physical eyes, but if I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. And I have imagined what I should most like to see if I were granted the use of my eyes—even for just three days!’ ” (Treasures of Life [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1962], pp. 394–95).

"New" Car!

Our car broke down a while ago and we have been so frustrated trying to find a new car that fits our budget and is something we could enjoy. On Friday we finally found the winner! We bought a 2003 Mazda Tribute and so far we absolutely love it. It's almost like new and we were so blessed to find it for a great price. All I can say is that we are grateful for answers to prayers!

Pictures!

I promise I won't always post a lot in one day, but otherwise there wouldn't be anything for people to read on a brand new blog. With money from graduation gifts I decided to buy a new camera. Taking pictures is one of my favorite hobbies and I have always dreamed of having a good camera. I absolutely love my new camera and am excited to learn how to use it better. Here are some pictures of my first attempt to use the camera around the yard (without knowing how to use any of the fancy features...that will come in time). You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Macaroni Grill Bread

Okay, so we all know how much I love to COOK....I love it almost as much as I love to EAT! I enjoy finding random recipes online and trying them out. Our most recent adventure was making chicken alfredo pizza (very yummy) with rosemary bread like the bread they make at Macaroni Grill. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought I'd share the recipe because it was delicious!

Macaroni Grill Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1 T. Dry Yeast
1 T. Sugar
1 Cup warm water (105 - 115 degrees)
2 1/2 Cup white flour
1 t. salt
2 T fresh rosemary, chopped
1 T. canola oil, peanut oil or olive oil
nonstick cooking spray
2 T. butter

Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly. Mix in 2 cups of flour and the salt. Add one tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 30 seconds until smooth and elastic. Add flour if necessary. Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled. Punch down dough and divide in half. Let dough rest about 5 – 10 minutes. Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray. Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves. Melt margarine or butter. Brush over the top of the loaves. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly sprinkle coarse salt over the loaves. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until lightly browned. This makes 2 loaves. YOU MUST USE FRESH ROSEMARY! You can dip it in olive oil and balsamic vinegar like they do at the restaurant.

Giving it a Shot!

So this whole setting up a blog thing is completely new for me, but I enjoy reading other people's blogs so I thought perhaps someone out there might enjoy reading mine. This is all an experiment and if it works, then I'll set up a Hancock Family blog for Dustin and I one of these days. For now, this is my blog to share the things that make me happy!