The Call

It has been a whirlwind weekend! First of all, apologies for not posting for awhile. I've have a tough couple of weeks waiting for my mission call. I had a lot of doubts and negative thoughts creeping into my mind and I definitely felt Satan working on me, trying to discourage me about my life. But finally, it came! Four weeks after submitting my papers...and here is the story:

I had taken to heading to the front door everyday between 3 and 4 PM to ask if anyone had checked the mail yet. It was actually after four but I had been out with my sister earlier and asked my mom and brothers anyway. They hadn't so I walked down the front lawn, not excited or anything; I was getting used to disappointment. I opened the mailbox without fanfare, saw a larger package for my dad and a folded senior portrait ad with the rest of our mail inside. I took the whole bundle inside to expectant eyes. Unfolding the mail to sort through, my mom and I simultaneously noticed another large envelope between the picture ad and the rest of the mail. It was white. I dropped the other mail and turned it over. It was addressed to me, from the Office of the First Presidency. I grabbed my cell phone and called my dad. He was at Kanesville rehearsal (you should all go see him perform!) and his phone went to voicemail. I looked at my mom in panic. She jumped on the computer saying she could find the emergency phone number for rehearsals. Meanwhile, Chris was calling Liesel and everyone was calling Kate from upstairs. She rushed down and grabbed the camera. I called the emergency number and stuttered out that I needed to talk to David Gill. Kate and the boys were trying to collect bets about where I would go and I was telling them to stop because I didn't want to wait for everyone to bet! Mom called Ben and I had already ripped the top of the envelope open while we were still trying to get three different people on speakerphone. Finally everyone quieted down. I was so excited I could barely pull the letter out. I also knew that if I wasn't careful, I might skip down and glimpse where I was going without even reading the first few lines! I covered everything except for the first line. I started to read with a grin spread across my face as I moved my hand down, line by line. And there it was. "Oregon Portland Mission." I stopped and just laughed! I hadn't been knowing what to expect but it wasn't that! I scanned the rest of the letter looking for the date I was to report to the MTC. I couldn't find it. A flutter of activity happened all at once; hugs, saying goodbye to my dad who had to go back to rehearsal, searching frantically for a date and trying to call my Bishop to see if he knew anything! While my call to the bishop was connecting, mom found the date in the middle of a random page. October 9, 2013. I was relieved to know I had a lot of time to get things done, but I finished calling my bishop so I could set up my temple interview. The rest of the day was crazy because I was trying to call or contact various family and friends and help run my little brother's birthday party.

Sunday was just as busy and exciting. I got to church early to see Matt set apart but had to see anyone and everyone who knows me and tell them where I got called. I was on cloud nine all day only able to say "Portland, Oregon. I'm so excited!" and giggle a lot. I had my interview after church and am now waiting on a call from my stake president so I can have another interview with him and be ready to go to the temple. Unfortunately, I still need to set my temple date (I have a 3-day period that I can do it with my parents and Jon before Ben's wedding) but they are closed Sunday and Monday so I can't even set it up until Tuesday! I sat down and made a list of all the things I need to do in preparation for the trip mom just planned to Nauvoo next weekend, Ben's wedding, the receptions, and my mission! Add to all of that a possible nanny job that has been very confusing and I really hope I will even be in town the days I am needed!

Now that all that is out, I feel peaceful. I know what I'll be doing for approxamitely the next two years of my life and that is a wonderful feeling. I also am so excited to go to Portland and meet the people that the Lord needs me to see. Did I mention the Portland temple is gorgeous? And I finally get to go shopping! I will try to update more as I go through the process of preparing for various things but for now, I need to get some sleep!

P.S. A video of me opening my call is on Facebook but I wanted to write everything out here. If you care haha!