Goodbye 600's!

599 DAYS LEFT!!! I have officially made it out of the 600's! Here's hoping the next 599 go by quickly!

Happy moments

Today I was standing in the wilk waiting for my Jamba Juice to be ready. All of a sudden someone came up from behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and didn't see anyone and for just a split second I really hoped it was Daniel. That is something he'd do to me ALL the time :) Tap my shoulder and duck out of the way before I saw him. And for just that split second I was so happy. For just that second, it was like I forgot he ever left. Turns out it was Cosmo... I was so confused...

That was probably brought about because of a dream I had last night. It was the best dream I've had for a long time. The kind that your alarm interrupts and you try so hard to go back to sleep to make it come back. I dreamed I was at school just finishing up work. Then, for some reason, a bunch of missionaries were helping at work day. And Daniel was there. He was a missionary still and I didn't want him to see me. Maybe I thought he wasn't allowed to see me? I'm not really sure why... But anyway... I just watched him for a while, so happy that he was there :) And then as I was leaving, he saw me. As soon as he saw me, the biggest smile I have ever seen in my life flashed onto his face. We both knew we couldn't even hug or anything, but I can't even describe how good it was to see him... even though it was just a dream... I know there was more to it after that, but I can't remember the rest. But it put me in such a happy (but kind of bittersweet) mood this morning :)

And then today is friday! Which means, today is the day the Quorum of the 12 (usually) look at mission applications!!!! So right now, Elder Holland or Elder Oaks could be looking at MY picture next to all of MY information and deciding just where Sister Turley should go!!! They probably won't actually look at my application until next week since it just went in a few days ago, but there is a small chance!

Oh happy day!

ANOTHER LETTER CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!!!! Oh my goodness!! So exciting!! 2 letters in 3 days?? And this one was written two weeks ago today! Which is the fastest one has come so far- the past ones have taken at least 3 and sometimes at least 4 weeks to get here! So it was a VERY nice surprise today :)

Also, I have my stake president interview TOMORROW!!!! I was really nervous about what in the world I was going to do- because the only time they could fit me in for an interview was 6pm tomorrow. The problem is, I have a class until 6:30 that usually I'd be totally fine leaving just a few minutes early. But tomorrow I have a quiz AND a presentation! I emailed my professor and told him the whole story. And guess what!! He says the quiz will be at the beginning of class and I can present first! So I'll be done by around 5 and can leave when I need to!!

And then tonight we had a bonfire in the canyon for FHE. It was so much fun! I wasn't planning on going because I have SO much work to do this week, but right as they were all leaving, I got an email from one of my TAs. The quiz in my living prophets class (which also means the huge reading assignment is due) was put in wrong on the schedule- it is not until next week!!

And then if all of that didn't make for a good enough day, we played with the parachute in my elementary PE class this morning :)

Thumb Wrestling

One of my favorite things about Daniel is that we'd always act totally crazy and silly together. Some times we would imagine what other people might think of these two ridiculous looking people skipping (while trying to out jump each other!) across the sidewalk. Or once I was pointing out how Daniel always knows EVERYONE's name and always says hi to them. I'm pretty sure he knew half the BYU freshman class last year. I am terrible with names, plus I really just didn't know as many people as he did. So he dared me to just make up names of people we'd walk past and very loudly say hi and try to make conversation with them. So I did. :)

Well yesterday I saw a couple thumb wrestling each other. It made me smile because that is something we did ALL the time! We'd be holding hands and then one of us would stick our thumb on top and then before we knew it it was like we were full on wrestling each other trying to just win the thumb war. He is my favorite :)


P.S. I have an interview with the Stake President THIS TUESDAY!!!! AAHHHH!!! Which means my mission papers will be officially in this week!!!

I love mail!

This morning I was really missing Daniel. Like a lot. I had a little bit of a breakdown.

But then the mail came... and THERE WAS A LETTER!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I pretty much turned into a smiling and laughing and crying mess. He is the best. The. Best. He told me all about a couple of his investigators and how things are going with them and how much he loves being a missionary. Then he said (in a VERY long and round about way... haha...) how exciting it is that in just a couple months I'll be in China (since he wrote this letter right before conference)! And that not many people get to send letters from Chile to China or visa versa. And that especially considering the small number of letters that go between those two countries, he is pretty darn lucky to get letters from me and that I am the best :) At the end he said "I am not completely sure if that made very much sense. But I am sure that if you read over it, maybe backwards, it might make a little bit of sense :)" haha... 

He just makes me so happy :)

Venting...

I've never understood the people who think they know so much more about my life and my decisions than I do. Just because so many other girls have not waited for their missionary, does not mean that is always the case. And that definitely does not mean that has to be my case. Don't think for one second that this has been easy, or that I don't care about what happens, or that you know more about me than I do. It might seem like a silly or stupid or hopeless thing to do to wait two years for a boy who things may or may not end up working out with. But if you have found someone you truly want to spend eternity with and cannot image it any other way, two years is nothing. And stupid, ignorant, thoughtless comments from others may make things so much harder than they should be, but those comments and those people could not possibly matter less. What those people say or think does not change who you are or the happiness and joy you have felt and will feel when those two years are over.

Mission Papers!

MY MISSION PAPERS ARE IN!!!!!

Check out all those lovely little check marks in every box. And those lovely red words at the bottom. Who finished her papers in less than a week?? This girl!!! Now I just have to have my interview with the bishop and then with the stake president!!

"Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies"

Everything is just falling right into place! With the announcement of 19 year old girls being able to serve missions, I feel like I need to go. There is no where else I need to be more right now. And by right now, I mean exactly that! I can't believe I am saying this, but I am no longer going to China. I got an email from the program director this morning, explaining how because my visa, airfare, etc hadn't been purchased yet, I am able to get a full refund, minus the $150 application fee. What a huge blessing!! I also realized that by not going to China, and by serving a mission, my half-tuition scholarship for next semester (that I was planning on completely losing) is able to be deferred!! BYU allows students to defer scholarships basically only for missions or extreme circumstances, so this way I don't lose that huge amount of money! The money situation was really the biggest thing stopping me from putting in my papers as soon as I possibly can, so now I do not have to worry at all about that! Even the China experience itself I am just fine missing. Which is crazy!! I didn't think there could be anything that could convince me not to go teach in China for a semester, and yet here I am!

But really, as I look back on my *almost* China experience, it has absolutely prepared me for a mission. I have a passport. I have immunizations. I have sold my winter housing contract. I have my wisdom teeth out and dentist's and doctor's appointments already taken care of. I have been working and saving money. And I am simply in the mindset to leave school.

Also, the timing works out perfectly! I'm not sure exactly when I will leave, but Daniel and I will both serve missions at the same time, and then come home at almost exactly the same time!

So now I have an interview with my bishop tomorrow!! I honestly cannot believe this is all actually happening!! As of two days ago, I had my life all planned out! A mission never even crossed my mind! But apparently Heavenly Father has other plans for me. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is where I need to be for the next 18 months. And I am so excited!!!

Called To Serve

So pretty much I went into conference this weekend with the next several years of my life all planned out and ready to go. Crazy how one statement can change ALL of that!! Worthy boys are now able to serve a mission at 18, and girls are now able to serve at 19!!! I have never seriously thought about or considered serving a mission until I was old and married and serving a senior mission. But now that is all I can see myself doing! And getting to serve at the same time Daniel is serving a mission! I am SO SO SO excited for this opportunity!!!

The only thing is, I have already been accepted into and paid for the China Horizons program. Which as of Saturday morning at 9:59am I could not have been more excited for! Now, going to China means not being able to leave for a mission until after next June which is Daniel's halfway mark. That puts me with 6 months left of a mission (at least!) when he gets home :( Either that or losing the money I've spent on the program.

So I've got some big decisions to make over the next few weeks. I know I want to and am supposed to serve a mission. (Which by the way I am still trying to wrap my head around that!) It is really just a matter of when.


****Update!!!****

I just realized I have a half-tuition scholarship going un-used for this next semester. Because I am (was?) planning on going to China, I was going to lose that (BYU doesn't let you take online classes with that money or wait until a later semester to use it). BUT!!!! BYU lets missionaries defer scholarships!!!! (Or at least I'm like 95% sure) SOOOO if I go on a mission instead of China, I lose $825. If I go to China, I lose $2500. So basically money is no longer a factor!! AHHH!!!!!!

Life is good :)

This week has just been so great so far! Everything is just going so well, and life is just so great!

Here's just a few of the things that have made me happy over the past few days :)

• I got three (THREE!) emails from Daniel (and hopefully some pictures are coming soon!)
• I have made it through over 100 days of waiting that I never have to see again
• Got a 36/35 on my Living Prophets quiz
• Played drums and danced like a crazy person in my Elementary Music class
• My family is coming this week
• General conference is this weekend
• It is absolutely beautiful outside. I love fall here.
• I have the best roommates ever
• BYU devotionals every tuesday
• Seeing a huge group of missionaries bowling in the Wilk (Is that totally weird that can make me so happy?)
• Writing letters to Daniel
• We finally won a football game
• My ward is so great
• We have Christmas lights up in our apartment
• BYU creamery ice cream is the best. And creamery chocolate milk. I could pretty much live off of those.