Mission call has arrived!

On Saturday, Jan 2, I received my mission call. The day was like this. I woke up fairly early. It was a nice sunny day and I opened the curtains to let the light in. I wasn't thinking about my mission call at all. I made breakfast. As I was eating, the phone rang. My dad answered it and it was my sister calling to tell me she had my mission call. I was happy. At 3 pm we had a nice dinner my mom prepared and about 4:30 with family surrounding, I opened my call. I read the first line and didn't look at where I was called until I read it aloud, "the Nicaragua Managua Mission." I was surprized by it but also very excited. I read on to learn that I get my wish and I will be a mission medical specialist. I enter the MTC March 3. This is a long awaited dream come true.

Update on Mission

Hello Folks! One more interview to go-this Sunday. My bishop said it's been taking about 10 days after that until the call comes. Woohoo! It's getting exciting! I'm expecting to see it coming in Dec 3 or 4. I am planning on having a dinner before I open my call for all of you who are able to come. It will be back home. Yay!

October

Whew! I did it! I submitted my online missionary recommendation! What a relief. I have had access to the papers for just over one month. I had a good portion of them filled out the night I got them and the day after. Then, I had to wait a month to get in to my eye doctor. On Monday I had my eye appointment and I said I wanted to try contacts. They sent me home with a pair. I've only had them less than I week and it is great. I think I'll stick with them. My sight has improved so much. Over the time between my glasses not being usable and now I think I didn't know what I was missing. Yay for contacts. Yay for good eye doctors. I got my physical on Wednesday. My doctor said I'm pretty healthy. On my papers I told them about my nursing experience and that I am interested in serving a part medical mission. It will be exciting to get my assignment and find out what they give me. Today I opened a fortune cookie that read, "You will step on the soil of many countries." I'm not superstitious like that and I don't belive in fortune telling. It was funny that I got that fortune two days after I submitted my mission papers though! So, my papers are in. I have two interviews to go and then I'll really be doing the anxious waiting and wondering. I have wanted to go on a mission for so long and I have waited at least 2 years. What's another 2 months or so? As for my kitty, Dad and Alyse have agreed to keep her while I'm gone.

My comings and goings in September

I was just offered full time day shifts! Working nights can get difficult. We'll see how this month goes. I'm going to do 1 day and 2 nights per week for October. If my days go well, I may switch over to just days. We'll see how it goes. Being with family is oh so nice. I've still been driving over to the singles ward which I really enjoy. I didn't expect that my housing I chose wouldn't work out. The owner was very flexible though and gave me a full refund for all that I put into the house. My kitty is getting long but is still skinny. I have had her for almost 5 months! I have some cute pictures of her I'd like to post but am having difficulty getting in to them-I'll have to try again later.
I started working on my mission papers! If all goes well and according to plan, I will be on my way by January. I have my dentist appointment set for Monday. I have to wait longer to get my eye appointment because my optometrist is booked until the last week of October. Then after I get my glasses, I can go to my regular doctor for an appointment. Waiting for my regular doctor turns out to be good because I have just done something to my back. I think time, exercise, stretching, and not lifting a lot will help it to heal. I don't want it to still be a problem when I go in to get my check up. Going on a mission has been something I have wanted to do so much. It's crazy that the day has come. If it is right for me it will work out. Otherwise, something else may come about.

lilly pads in Salt Lake

2 months later...

I was on a mad house hunt for too long. I finally found something in my ward. I signed the contract and was planning on officially being in sooner. There were some problems needing real fixing with the house. Hopefully they will be completely resolved. At the end of July, I received my document saying I was eligible to test the NCLEX, tested last Wednesday and passed! Woohoo! Now what's next? We will see. I get to spend more time with my cat and family-this housing situation could be a blessing in disguise.

My work schedule

I will now be working only three days per week! What a nice cut back. My three shifts will be a little longer and I'll be getting a decent amount of hours. I'm shooting for a well rounded life. I now have Monday and Friday nights off. Now I can go to the fun FHE activities and other ward Friday night activities. My ward is so much fun! They went hiking last Monday but I wasn't able to make it. The Friday before that they had dinner and games at the park. I feel like I'm getting settled in Salt Lake now. My housing contract expires Aug. 1. In relief society people are often announcing housing available or people needing roommates. For sure I want to find housing and stay in this ward. I hope I can also get lucky enough to find roomies who don't mind having a cat around. There's a possibility that I can stay in my current housing but I'm not very certain about that yet. Life is going really well here in Salt Lake and the move was worth it!