Before I go any further I just have to say... OH. MY. GOSH!!!!! Am I really on month 14??? Okay, so for me the 12th and 13th months dragged on a little too long, but I think the pace is starting to pick up speed. I mean, WHOA.
Now that I've gotten that out I can give an update on myself and my absolutely wonderful missionary, Elder Matthew Parks.
Let's just say over the past month I had my times of feeling down. Especially when it seemed like when he wrote letters he didn't really respond to what I had written to him. Any of you feel this way? I mean, I understand that they're busy and all and I know Matthew is not going to remember everything I told him about, but I just wanted to know he was actually getting my letters. Right after I got over feeling this way I got two postcards mailed in an envelope from him. They were sweet and he told me about his transfer to Blackfoot, Idaho. Of course I got really excited because I always love it when he gets transferred. So, that was a good thing. THEN, a week or two later I got another letter from him and it was so awesome! He basically acknowledged the many things I had written to him in a previous letter and it made all the difference! Of course him saying that he loves me and wants me to be happy made the letter extra special as well. It was exactly the type of letter I needed to read from him, and now I'm just soooo happy and re-read that letter often.
During this past month I asked Matthew's mom if I might come to their house on Christmas to talk to Matthew when he calls and she said it was fine and that she would let me know what time he would call. I had been feeling both nervous and excited for Christmas, but after reading that amazing letter I just told you about, I am only excited! I'm really beginning to think Christmas needs to hurry up and get here. :) As far as I know it will be a surprise for him to talk to me and I cannot wait!
As I mentoned before, Matthew is now in Blackfoot. After googling Blackfoot I found out that it is the "Potato Capital of the World", and my response was, "Blackfoot?" Yes, I guess it must be because they have a potato museum there with a giant potato in front. I wrote to Matthew in my last letter that the one thing I ask of him while he's in this area is that he get a picture in front of the big potato. :) I told his grandma at church on Sunday what I told him and she said, "Well, when you get that picture you better put it up on Facebook." His grandma is such a sweet lady and I enjoy talking to her every Sunday in primary (I'm the pianist and she is the secretary). In addition to Matthew being in a new area, I discovered that another MG's missionary is in the exact same area!! AND Elder Parks and Elder Mann (Bryton's missionary) know each other. How exciting is that?!!! I really believe no one is as thrilled about this as I am. :p
Now an update on myself:
I would say this was one of the many "big deal" months I've had in my life.
1. On November 6th I went with my mom to the local fire department and voted for my very first time. The older man officiating kept congratulating me and told other people that I was a first-time voter. It was really a great experience and I felt very important. :)
2. On November 9th I went to Toccoa with my dad to take my driving test. I was SO NERVOUS but I did well enought to pass, which I did. That was a big deal in and of itself, because I'd had my permit for almost 2 years!
3. On November 13th (four days after I got my license) I bought my very own car! Four days later, I tell you!!! I was not in any way expecting this to happen so soon, but the perfect opportunity came up, I had enough money saved up and so I paid for my own car in cash (of course Mom and Dad helped out a little bit). That experience was very surreal for me. It has been a great blessing with both my brother and sister playing basketball and having practices most nights out of the week. It allows my parents to be able to go to those without having to worry about taking me to and from work. Besides it's also another way for me to learn responsibility for something big like that.
4. On November 24th I officially became a college Sophomore! I am now up to 33 credits all from taking CLEP and DSST exams at Toccoa Falls College as well as Brenau University. I am really thankful for this way to do college.
Those are the major things that happened. Other little tidbits from the past month are: I was sick on Thanksgiving (not fun) and I had to work a 9 hr. shift at work the next day when I still wasn't fully recovered. Yuck. :p I've gotten back into the habit of reading my Book of Mormon everyday and I am now in Alma 21. I can really tell a difference in my day just from taking a couple minutes to read a chapter. Lastly, I began learning German, but I'm going at a very slow pace so I only know a couple basic words at the moment.
Most of all, the thing I've learned over the past 30 days is to not just count the days but to make the days count. It certainly makes the time go by faster too!! ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment