Loving Iowa

Iowa was a success!  Although I didn’t run through a corn field (it wasn’t harvest time so there was little corn, who knew?) or run into Harold Hill, I had an amazing time with the Hodgman family in good ol’ Marion.  (*Maaaaarrriaaan, madam librariaaaan*) (Megan loved that I sang Music Man not only this whole weekend, but every time she mentioned Iowa this year.)  Iowa certainly converted me to the Midwest.  It is so beautiful, and I honestly wonder why more people don’t live there.   (Maybe it’s because California may be just a bit better…) One of the best parts about our Iowa trip was the food, whether it was the food in different restaurants or the food that Mama Hodgman made.  Bike rides, Nauvoo, movies, dessert, arts and crafts, the fun Hodgman clan, so many different things that I’ll never forget.  But the best thing about Iowa that I will certainly never forget is Megan Rose Hodgman.  Yes, this is a cheesy gratitude post, but I love Megan Hodgman, so, in her same fashion (seehere), here are ten reasons why Megan Hodgman is one of my very best friends:

 

1. She is always conscious of whatever I’m feeling and always asks me how I’m doing.  I love that she asks me this because she says it in a way that really cares.  I know I can always tell her how I’m really feeling and that she’ll have some good advice for however I’m feeling. 

2. She is a gracious tease, and she has the best sense of humor.  I will admit, before I came to BYU, I absolutely hated puns.  Who in the world would ever think those were funny?!  As soon as I met Megan, by attitude about puns changed.  I think I’m addicted to punny humor, and I don’t think I can ever change.  Thanks, Megan!  But her sense of humor extends further than cheesy puns.  When we’re in Provo alone (provolone?  I love my cheesy puns), don’t even send us to D.I.! (A trip we should never mention again.)

 

3. Megan is so spiritual and so in tune with the Spirit.  I loved the spiritual discussions we had this year because I was able to bear my testimony to her, which helped me strengthen it.  Hearing her testimony helped me understand different gospel principles and helped strengthen my own testimony. 

4. Boggle.  Like puns, I hated this game.  Who would want to play a stupid word game for fun?  Megan would, that’s who.  (Just joking Megan, you’re the opposite of boring.)  I think I am also addicted to Boggle now, especially after I beat Megan that one time.  Just one time, don’t worry, Megan is still the Boggle Queen in my heart. 

5. Pranks.  I have learned a great deal from the pranking master, Megan Hodgman.  She knows how to pull a good prank on someone, and I enjoyed pranking our friends Faith and Lindsay (we’ll have to do posts on them later) with her.  Megan trained me so well that Lindsay and I got her pretty good when we wrapped her and Faith’s whole room in wrapping paper.  Enjoy these pics.  Megan, you did this to yourself.  You trained me so well that it backfired on you. 

Megan in her despair after realizing her room was wrapped

6. Megan literally has the best outfits.  I take inspiration for my own clothes every time I see her outfit for the day.  She can even pull off her sweats, T-shirt, glasses look.  Megan always literally looks so cute and so beautiful.  How is she not married yet?? (Sorry, Megan, you knew I had to throw in a single joke there.)

7. Speaking of being single, for a time, Megan and I were the only single friends in our group.  Faith had her Canadian boyfriend, and Lindsay had her secret lover who shall remain unnamed.  Many a-nights, Megan and I would hang out in room 3221 and try to do homework.  (That never got done.)  I grew a lot closer to Megan then, but I do wish one of us could also have secret lovers.  Maybe she’ll find one in London!  Only a little jealous.  Like 90% excited for her, and only 10% jealous.

8. London!  I like Megan just because she’s going to London.  JK.  But she is a great academic example.  Megan studies so diligently and makes the most of her education.  She inspires me to do my best academically and to try my best in each class.  I also appreciate that she is an English major.  And that’s she’s going to London.  Not only do I appreciate that, but, like I said, I am a little jealous.  Like maybe I’m only 20% jealous and 80% excited. 

crafts in Iowa: a J decorated for all our friends

9. Megan is so crafty.  I’m gonna be honest here, I strongly dislike crafts.  Simply not my talent.  But Megan is so cute and crafty.  She’s forced me (in the nicest way possible) a couple times to go paint a mug or do something else crafty.  I know I’ve done more things, but I honestly have no idea what they’re called.  It’s all torture (I mean fun) to me.  Anyway, Megan has helped me really appreciate the arts, and I actually do kind of enjoy them now... (Did I really just type that..?!)  Megan is so talented at crafts, but she’s humble about it to.  She is always so humble about everything, which is another quality I admire in her. 

 

10. Ahhh, there’s so many more things I love about Megan, but my final point is that she is such an example of being genuinely kind.  I can sincerely say that she is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  She has a sincere desire to serve and help others.  I’m not sure if that’s because she works at the Y-serve office and gets paid to serve…but we’ll just say it is her sincere desire and love for anyone and everyone. 

I’ll miss Megan Rose a lot (I may or may not be tearing up right now), but I hope she has an amazing time in London on her study abroad (I’m really only 30% jealous and 70% excited for her) and on her mission, and I’ll see her and Iowa in two years!