Dear Sister Jones. . .

Last Thursday was the day: the day I found out where I would be serving for the next 18 months of my life!  

Let me just tell you now that it was arguably one of the longest days of my life.  I didn't think  7:45 would ever come around.  I hadn't been nervous all week, but once I woke up Thursday morning, the butterflies in my stomach began.  They didn't leave me alone until I finally tore that envelope open and read those precious words.  

Upon arriving at my parents house, I was anxious as can be.  So many family and friends were already there, and that made me even more emotional!  My dad then gave me a priesthood blessing to help me feel calm and at peace.  Right when he started that blessing, a feeling of complete contentment fell upon me.  Complete trust in the Lord filled my heart.  I was ready.  

Finally, after hugging a few friends, it was time!  As I held back my tears, we gathered in the living room and I tore it open to read the words that will ultimately change my life forever:

Dear Sister Jones:
 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 Canada Edmonton Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 30, 2014.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.  

CANADA??!?  I can't even say that was the last place I expected..because I didn't expect it at all!  

I can hardly begin to describe my joy and complete peace that I have with this call to serve.  I know there's a reason I have been called to serve the people of Canada, and I'm so excited to share this wonderful gospel and happiness with the world!    THE CHURCH IS TRUE, MY FRIENDS.

 

xoxo

Sister Jones

one year.....WAIT WHAT?

Guess What.

This Thursday, April 10th, Adam will have been out for a whole year.

A YEAR!

I don't think it's quite hit me yet that I've been doing this whole waiting thing for a year.  It feels like yesterday that I was freaking out over his one month mark.  Boy am I glad those days are over!

Anyways, for his year mark and Easter, I'm sending him a package!

I'm pretty proud of it to be honest.  My creativity skills have definitely improved since he left.

It was both his and his companion's year mark, so I sent double the goods.

Contents:

Cadbury Eggs (of course, it's Easter)

Reese's Eggs (ditto that^^^)

Missionary Peeps (here's how to make them)

President Uchtdorf's "You Can Do It Now" talk (here's the link)

Tie

CD full of church songs

and a little "Easter Egg Hunt of Christ's Last Days"

I got the Easter Egg idea from another blog!  You can click here for the details and templates!

I also got the missionary peeps idea from the same blog above.  Kayci and I made some sister missionary peeps as well to send to some sister missionaries who are out in the field right now!  Here are some pictures:

 Thanks to Kayci for helping me with these, they actually turned out!

It's so crazy to me that Adam's been out a whole year.  I'll see him in less than two years by the time I get home from my mission!!! :)  We'll know for sure exactly how long it will be on Thursday night when I open my mission call.  

Happy year mark to my best friend and his companion! :) 

xoxo

brookelle