Birthday

I turned 30 on March 1 and got some pretty awesome gifts. As many of you know, I like art. A few of my nieces and nephews made these originals for me as I turned the big 3-0:

Piece: The Red Dress
Artist: Naomi Bird, age 8

This is marker on paper. It is an original of me in a beautiful red dress knitting myself a forest green scarf, indicating that there is opposition in all things. Despite the fact that I am alone, there is no loneliness as I am watching my husband, Whit, perform his halftime act on television. This piece of art is a one-of-a-kind and lives now on my fridge.




Piece: The Baker Meg (oh yes, it came with this title)
Artist: Cael Child, age 10

Mixed medium marker and crayon on paper. There is no hidden agenda and the artist wants all to know why he created this piece and for whom. His colors are exquisite and I especially like the filled in bubble letters with the dark green and polka dots. Obviously the focal point of the piece is the main character (me) and the happiness exuding from me as I bake with my magically elongating arms. The backside shows the title "To The Baker Meg."

Only those closest to me know about these arms.

Interestingly, if you look closely, you can see another artist has added his special touch to this piece.


Piece: Cowgirl Meg
Artist: Vivian Bird, age 6

Sketch pencil and crayon on construction paper. Portrait of me - bodacious me. Obviously the artist, not only known for her artistry, is psychic and knew that I would be going to Wyoming the day after my birthday where I would be tempted to don this outfit and dance these moves in a real-life- dance club we passed called the "Saddle-Lite Bar and Dance Club.'



Piece: Meg-o-Mind
Artist: Flint Child, age 2

Mixed medium crayon and marker on paper. This new-age contemporary artist graciously gave me his newest abstract expressionist piece. The creative master got inside my head to reveal the thoughts I had as I turned 30.

...or maybe these are what my thoughts would look like every day...

Signage

So now my name's in lights above the title
(or it's not on the dotted line...)
On the back lots now, I call the shots now,
when there's a contract to sign!

Those are lyrics from "Big Time," a song I learned when I was 14 and taking voice lessons. And if having your name in lights above the title is the epitome of making it big, then I've made it!

Okay, okay. It's not in lights. And it's above the ad for the Institute Valentines Dance. But almost, baby. Almost.

Sitting Tall

You don't have to stand to stand tall!

That was the Miss Hotwheels 2011 platform from last year and I often think about it, it's quite inspiring. But now I have actual literal experience with standing "tall" while sitting - make that 6 feet tall!

I am very specific in detailing how the chairs in the room need to be set up when I speak. If there's a stage or platform, how the chairs are arranged doesn't matter as much, but if there's not, everyone needs to see me (otherwise it's definitely not as good an experience as it could be).

But a cabinet maker from Kaysville has fixed this problem!

I came to his ward to speak and he, having already known the dilemma, surprised me with a custom-built stage all for me! It comes apart in three sections and fits in my car and easily sets back up again! The best part about it is that when I'm on it, I'm about 6'3"!

This is me with a few young women after speaking at a breakout session during stake YW conference (I'm the one with the short hair). This event was very well attended because their keynote speakers were Sis Elaine Dalton and her daughter, Emmi. I did one of the breakout workshops after the keynote but I got to sit on the stand with the other workshop presenters during Sister Dalton's and Emmi's talk..

After Sister Dalton spoke, a rush of young women and their mothers started coming from the congregation. Before they got there, she turned to me and said, "You are so full of light, I have to know you."

I think I smiled for days.

Give us a break!

I broke Whit's toe. So he broke my nose. So I punched him in the face. True story.

We were watching the Jazz game and I was rubbing his feet and I guess I pushed too hard and broke his baby toe. I guess I don't know my own strength. I mean, I have been working out.

A night later, we were laughing really hard together and he came in close behind me and I swung my head toward him and broke my nose on his forehead. You can't really tell unless you feel it. But it still hurts!

I must still be miffed about it because this morning my tummy was spasming (flexing without my consent) and I flailed my arms to counter balance myself so I didn't fall off my chair and hit Whit in his face with my fist hand.

Serves him right for breaking my nose, which served me right for breaking his toes.

We now have a truce.

Chill

The semester just ended and I gave my seminary classes time to bear testimonies or just share what they learned this semester. One of my students got up and told the class how he and some of his buddies were talking about how Sister Johnson (me) is "so chill."

I guess "chill" is the new "cool." I love high school kids.

Christmas Wreath for Valentines

Taking down my Christmas decorations makes me a little sad. The season always seems too short to me. But what makes it better are the after-Christmas sales. I LOVE to go and get something(s) fun for next year and when I open my Christmas decoration boxes I surprise myself with my on-sale treasures from the year before.

But this year I found a red Christmas wreath ($5) and a bird ornament ($2.50) that I combined with a fake flower thing (craft-language illiterate) to create Valentines wreath!

Now I'm not missing my Christmas stuff at all.