And so it has begun!

Today on February 24th, 2013....

{I STARTED MY MISSION PAPERS!!!!!!}

(finally)

You will not believe how long I have been waiting for this to happen. It is unreal and I feel like I'm in a dream almost - good thing I'm not or I'd be REALLY mad when I'd wake up. This process is amazing and I'm already loving every second. 

My plan is ...

1. Send them in June

2. Wait

3. Receive my glorious mission call

4. Turn 19 on October 13th (Sunday) and have my farewell the same day

5. Leave October 16th 2013

6. Return April 16th 2015

I use to pray to Heavenly Father (I still do, don't worry) asking Him to send me to anywhere out of the USA. But now, I honestly would be stoked if I was called to like...Maine or Ohio. I would LOVE to be called to Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Palmyra, etc. All of those states are associated with Church History and if there's anything I love studying about, it's Church History. Even if I was called to Salt Lake City - I would be SO excited!! I mean, heck, I was born there and I don't remember anything about it. Soooo, why not?

BUT.

I would be "extra" excited if I got sent to a different country. :)

Here are some countries I'd LOVE to be called to and why:

-- Norway Oslo Mission, my great great great Aunt Antoinette was born there and crossed the plains with the pioneers.

-- Some mission in Australia, I had an ancestor who was from there as well.

-- Canada Halifax Mission, Pa Winsor served his mission there. 

-- Scotland/Ireland Mission, ever since I was little I've wanted to go to Ireland.

But like I said, I will be happy with anything because that is where the Lord needs me to be. I found this quote on how mission calls are assigned:

“I have had [many] experiences feeling of the Holy Ghost…But I’ve never felt what I have felt as I have…participated in the assigning of missionaries…Because of technology, it is possible for us to have your picture and the information about you displayed. And then quickly, on that same screen, all the missions of the Church with all of their needs are displayed. Within minutes, and sometimes less than a minute, the impression comes so powerfully that it would be, if it were a single instance, something that you would never forget. Can you imagine sitting there for hours at a time, having that happen time after time without interruption? I testify to you that it is real…[The Lord] somehow not only knows you but loves you enough to ensure that your call is where He needs you to go to teach the children of our Heavenly Father.” (Pres. Henry B. Eyring, “Called of God,” address delivered at the Missionary Training Center, Aug. 26, 1997).

Well, I just wanted to share this AMAZING news and crazy beginning. I am so excited to be called to who knows where and bring the Gospel to people's lives for 18 months. 

Somebody is tuggin' at my heart strings..

Elder Jordan Brimley
February 13th 2013 - February 13th 2015

And just like that, another one is off. Seeing/saying "Elder" just really gets me now, it's such a bittersweet word to say. It's going to be about 3 years until I see him again, along with many other of my friends since I'm hopefully leaving in October 2013.  BUT. I'm so proud of this man and what strength he is going to bring to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 2 years of teaching, preaching, testimony bearing, bicycle riding, gator wrestling ... it's amazing what he is going to do. I was Honor Choir President and he was Vice President during our senior year of high school. I couldn't have been more lucky to have such a great VP by my side. I can't wait to come back from my mission and be greeted by this future RM.

Go get em Elder!!!

Then I thought somebody was barbecuin' ....

If you are having a rough day, watch this over and over...

I seriously can watch this over and over and over - and I can still almost die from laughing.

Bah Humbug.

"But Aubri! It's not Christmas!"

Well, Psh. Yeah I know that.

If you have been reading my blog for a while now, you'd notice how much I love Christmas. But it is February and we ALL know what that means...

"Single Awareness Day"

"Forever Alone Day"

"Watch Chick Flicks while eating terrible junk food Day"

...

A.K.A

Valentine's Day

(hence the 'Bah Humbug')

Yes, in exactly a week...everyone will start makin' out with each other, buying ridiculously HUGE teddy bears, 200 dozen roses and 30 boxes of chocolates. Yeah, I get it. Love is not a bad thing - I know that. Love is SUPER stellar. But why dedicate ONE day to showing that "certain someone" how much you love them through worldly things and Facebook? Go tell the person, face to face, how much you love/appreciate them... EVERYDAY. Even if you're single, go tell your mom/dad/goldfish how much you love them... it doesn't have to be a "boyfriend/girlfriend/lover" type of deal. 

Is it obvious Valentine's Day is NOT my favorite holiday?

No, I didn't have some traumatic experience with Valentine's Day - and I DO like candy...don't get me wrong. But even since I was little, I just never saw the point of this "holiday". Why is it called a "Holiday" anyways? I mean, a day dedicated to love? Shouldn't everyday be dedicated to love and appreciation? 

(I sounded SUPER hippie-like right there) 

*Insert "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles here*

Ok, enough with my Valentine's Day rant. I promise I am a happy, loving person.

In 3 months, I'm going to spend 3 days at the Happiest Place On Earth (besides the Temple). That's right folks, 

May 19th - 24th will be pure happiness. My brother, his girlfriend, Ma Winsor and I are all going! This will be the third year IN A ROW we've gone and this will be the last if I go on a mission. 

I cannot wait :)

Subconscious. Go away.

Ever since more than half of my missionary friends left, I've been quite lonely. Guess what? I STILL have more to send off. -cries- Can October come ANY faster?

It all started with Jacob Black leaving in April 2012, then Sam Dampt July 2012, Rusty Burbank August 2012, Hyrum Layton October 2012, Bethany Cluff and Colton Bond December 2012, Todd Leavitt December 2012, Jacob Peterson January 2013, Natalie Lewis January 2013 .... and now Jordan Brimley leaves on February 13th 2013.... Why must they all leave me?!

(Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of them and SUPER happy they are gone....but then I'm not happy.... Is it super obvious how stubborn I am?)

So the point of this post was, I had the worst AND best dream ever last night. I was at a YSA (young single adult) Activity with Brimley. We were sitting on one of the pews in the Sacrament meeting area and he turns to me asking, "What if Sam was back from his mission?" Naturally I answered, "That'd be super stellar." THEN out of no where, Sam decides to pop up right next to Brimley. 

My thoughts were:

1) Wow, two years went by really fast.

2) Why didn't I know that he was already back?!?! -anger-

3) I'M NOT ALONE!!! If he's back already, then my other missionary friends won't be far behind.

4) What is that beeping sound? Oh ... it's my alarm ... and I'm about to wake up to a harsh reality.

And my #4 thought couldn't have been anymore correct, I woke up to reality. My subconscious likes to play CRUEL tricks on me and it's been conducting these type of tricks for the last 2 months. And this dream was WAY too realistic, that it's scary. 

{Basically the moral of this story is;}

Become a cat lady, then you won't be alone.

Pocket Protector

I think I'm a nerd. Part of my Astronomy homework was converting a PARSEC into a LIGHT-YEAR and I did all the problems correctly....

Who am I?!

Also I am passing my College Math class with flying colors. Math...Me...Passing.... Whaaa - ?!

Yeah, I'm confused too. My mom and dad call me "Pocket Protector Girl" now. I struggled with Math, Junior High to High School and I always thought things would never change. Boy, was I wrong OR WHAT! 

This week over in good ol' Mesa has been kind of rough for me. So, I'm sure you know that I'm definitely a freshman in College, right? I mean...you have to graduate HIGH SCHOOL before you go to College, right? I'm no genius (well, apparently I'm some sort of genius) but I graduated in May 2012... but I found out some rumors have been spreading at my high school. Those rumors turned into some "not nice texts" because those rumors were OH SO believable.. sarcasm people.. pure sarcasm. So this was on my shoulders this whole week and school, like I said before, is a little more intimidating and so the stress has just been insane. I've noticed that as I get closer and closer to my mission, life gets harder. And I'm NOT going to give up my mission... Heavenly Father wants me to go and I'm going to go. I won't give up!

Besides, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. :) I'm thankful for those handful of people who have been supporting me and have been there. Despite all the stress, I'm surrounded by amazing people.