Tonight...

I started to pack.

The strangest part now is turning to how to explain how I feel about it. The best word to describe it is probably "beautiful." Strange?

It's true though. For some reason as I'm packing all of my mission clothes and pining for my tag, I feel really pretty. I'm just in sweats with my hair back and no makeup, but as I'm preparing to give myself completely to the service of my Heavenly Father I feel beautiful. No alterations needed.

Part of the reason I started packing is because I'm antsy. The other part is to figure out what I'm missing. As it turns out I'm doing really well. I have just about everything sans bag and tiny things like tights and slips. My shoes came yesterday and they are PERFECT. Cute, comfortable, durable. Love them. I have a feeling I'll keep buying pairs like them after I get home.

(I think they look cuter on than in the picture. Never fear.)

So much is odd about this process. It's weird that I have to finish the next two months of schoolwork on my own within the next 2.5 weeks. It's strange that when I say goodbye to my coworkers it's unlikely that I'll ever see any of them again. It's odd that this has become a normal blog post. It's weird that at this moment I don't know any of the people who will surround me in a month, and I'll repeat the get-to-know-you thing another 7 weeks after that. It's weird and wonderful that once I am back in Provo Austin will be home in 2 months. I think I've done pretty well for myself while he's been gone, but being together again will be inexpressible. Especially after everything will we have gone through and learned by then. 

I am so grateful for everything. All of it. What a beautiful life.

Dear World!

I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New York Rochester Mission, Spanish speaking! I'll be working at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center! I leave November 30th for the MTC.
Might I add that Austin's guess was NY Spanish speaking? Really weird. Really cool, though.

I really don't think I could be more happy with this call. Allow me to list why, in no particular order:
-I'm going to be speaking Spanish! Since it's a visitors center, they wouldn't have called me Spanish speaking if I didn't already learn it. I KNEW there was a reason I've felt directed towards Spanish. It just felt right.
-I'll be involved in the Hill Cumorah Pageant!
-I'll be required to be super sharp and cute rather than wearing things just to get through the heat
-I'll be able to write and receive letters no problem
-No strange food experiences! Or at least limited strange food experiences
-I'll be able to hold leadership positions since there aren't any Elders in a Visitors Center mission
-Yet! I'll still be able to tract since I'm also assigned to labor within Rochester
-I'll be learning and teaching about the life of Joseph Smith and the birthplace of the Church (I'm a history buff- HELLO! PERFECT)
-I'll be able to go to the Palmyra Temple
-I'll be back on the East Coast
-I'll get a break from Utah
-I'm leaving and coming home almost EXACTLY in the middle of Austin's mission - 3 months before and after
-I get to layer cardigans and scarves, both of which I love so much
-My mission is the pilot mission for blogging missionaries! That's right, folks. I'll be able to keep up my own blog while I'm there
-I'll have opportunities to talk with and teach people from all over the world
-A good friend has informed me that missionaries in my mission start and end their missions in the Sacred Grove

Seriously, though. Best. Mission call. Ever.