Change

I am still trying to grasp how much has changed over the past couple months! Two months ago today I made the decision to serve a mission! And here I am now, done with school for the next 18 months, and getting myself ready to go preach the gospel to the people of Cape Verde!! I could not be happier! I am still an emotional roller coaster at times, but things really could not be better! Letters and emails are my favorite things ever! This week I finally got the first letter from him since he found out where I'll be going. And can I just say that I love that boy?!? He is the sweetest. I am so excited that we get to (kind of) share the experience of going on a mission! And I was just thinking about how even though we'll get back just about the same time, he'll be the one at the airport anxiously waiting for ME to come home! And I seriously cannot wait until that moment :)

I Won't Give Up :)

This is pretty much my favorite song. Even if it makes me cry every time.

I sure love that red-headed missionary :)

I am going WHERE?!?!?

My mission call came yesterday!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!! It was the longest day OF MY LIFE!!! I had class and work most of the day and couldn't open it until 8pm! But then 8 came!!! I skyped my family and had at least 4 phones on speakerphone. And my little apartment was packed full of my roommates and friends and my sister!

I opened the big white envelope and pulled out my call!! My hands were shaking so much I could hardly read it! And it said.....

"Dear Sister Turley: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Cape Verde Praia Mission..."

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually didn't even know where in the world that was or how to pronounce the city! As it turns out, I will be spending 18 months on these 10 BEAUTIFUL islands off the coast of AFRICA!!!!!!!!

Yep. Pretty much I'll be living in PARADISE!!

I report to the Provo MTC January 9th! So soon!! And I'll be speaking Portuguese! Which is kind of a scary thought... but really I have no doubt that I can do it. It's going to be super challenging, but the Lord has obviously been guiding the entire last month of my life. He knows that I can do this, so I know I can do this!

I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity!!! I don't know how I'm going to finish out this semester when all I can think about now is going on a mission to Cape Verde!!! 

If mail wasn't exciting enough

My mission call is IN THE MAIL!!!!! My bishop just let me know that I've officially been assigned a mission and that I'll get the call in the mail any day now!!!! AAAHHHHH!!!! So on top of already checking the mail for letters from Daniel every time I get a chance, now I have my call coming too!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!

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 :)