"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.

100 DAYS!!!

Daniel has been out 100 days!!!!

Crazy!!! It feels like forever since I've seen him, but at the same time I can't believe it's already been 100 days!

And only 630 more days to go!!

I haven't heard from him for a while... but that is ok. Between him being super busy and the mail taking forever to get here from Chile, I can't expect a letter every week. Although my roommates say I am a little obsessed with checking the mail... haha :)


On a side note, I get to see my family in less than a week! They are driving down for general conference and a football game. I am so excited!! Pretty much I have the best family ever :)

Temple Dedication

Today my roommates and I went to the Brigham City temple dedication. It was SO AMAZING! I honestly don't have words to describe it. I have never gotten to go to a temple dedication before (at least one that I was old enough to remember...) so this was a new experience for me. We watched a broadcast of it in the Marriot Center, and let me just say that I can not remember a time that I have felt the spirit that strong. And when we all stood and shouted hosanna and then sang The Spirit of God! Oh my goodness! It was all just so beautiful and peaceful and just amazing!

Birthday!

I finally got Daniel's birthday package mailed off today! I am so excited!! I basically sent him a birthday in a box- complete with birthday tiaras (one for him and one for his companion), spongebob noise-maker thingies, balloons, a pin the tail on the donkey game, and some other great birthday goodies. I also got a little photo book full of quotes/scriptures and pictures of the two of us... just in case he forgot what I look like ;) 

And then I attacked the outside of the box with "Feliz Cumpleanos" and "Happy Birthday". 

The guy at the post office said, "Woah! This is one happy package!" haha :)

Happy almost 20th birthday Elder Kelly! :)

Get baptized maybe?

I got Daniel's first letter from Chile!!!!!! Well actually I got TWO letters!!!!

 Pretty much made my whole day. Or week. Or past 2 weeks. But anywho... He is doing so great!!! He is absolutely loving being there and it is so much fun getting to hear all his stories. He says the food is absolutely delicious! Which for anyone who knows Daniel is crazy!! He is pretty much the pickiest eater on the planet... haha :) He also says he is in the "gangsta part of town with lots of interesting people and graffiti".... But he loves the ward and his companion is great and he just sounds so happy to be there :) And I am just so happy for him! :)

And I found a pretty great meme to send in next week's letter... haha :)