Team USA!

After departing from my roommates last week, I feel it necessary to post a picture that perfectly represents us. Jenna, Mikayla, and I have all been called to the United States of America to serve our missions in Louisville, Kentucky, Federal Way, Washington, and Raleigh, North Carolina, respectively. I was so lucky and grateful to be able to room with these girls this year. I so glad that I got to be at both of their mission call openings in St. George and Las Vegas. I'm so glad they were able to attend my mission call opening as well.

These girls have really helped me through so much this year. We have been able to share so many hilarious and personal experiences. We talked about a million silly things and a lot of really deep things as well. We all came to know that we should serve missions in different ways. I think that is a great example of how God loves individually. All three of us had the opportunity to find our for ourselves that a mission was what was right for us.

From my point of view, Mikayla's decisions came so easily to her. She had a desire to serve pretty soon after the announcement and I really admired her for that decision. I later found out that she used to run to the temple and prayed so much about her decision. Once she had decided about going and I hadn't, we'd discuss pros and cons and talk about what we had learned in our mission prep classes. I really, really valued these conversations that I got to have with her. She seemed to be standing on such a firm ground. She knew she wanted to preach the gospel and she was willing to work a lot to prepare financially for it. She was such a great example because I had never (naively) thought about how I would pay for a mission. I'm not sure she knows this but she really inspired me to try to get a job in the summer. I started staying up late to apply online for summer jobs. We talked about how much more we'd be committed to our missions if we paid for it in part.

Jenna's decisions came as much more of a surprise to me, and to all of us. Jenna is one of the most unique people I know and so it is fitting that her decisions would be unlike anyone else's. As Mikayla and I speculated about serving missions, she never seemed to want to serve one. She didn't feel guilty (as she shouldn't) and she planned on going to school year round and graduating in two more years (instead of three). Even before she decided to go on a mission, I really admired her. I saw her studying (what seemed like constantly) and I knew how intense her classes were. They were classes that I could never imagine taking one of them, let alone a whole semester's worth (chemistry, physics, two math classes, and others). I admired her commitment and dedication to her school work so much.

One night when I was having a mental breakdown about what to over spring/summer before my mission, (work vs. go to school, reside in Vegas vs. Provo) I heard Mikayla and Jenna laughing in the other room. I wanted to be in there so badly with them having fun, so I tried to stop myself from crying and went to go talk to them. Like always, they cheered me up almost automatically. These girls are so great because they are so happy and upbeat and I love being around them. So, I got the courage to tell them my big news. I shared with them that I had my first appointment to go to the Bishop to start the mission paper process. I thought this was big news until Jenna interrupted me and casually said, "Can we talk about me for a second?" I was laughing and surprised when she said that because I knew I wasn't try to make this conversation all about me, despite my big news.

Jenna proceeded to tell us that she was almost done with her mission papers. It was the most amazing shock! She pulled up her account online and showed us she basically only had a physical appointment left. WOW! It completely threw me off guard but I was sooooooo happy! This, in a way, was an answer to my prayers. I'm not sure I ever told Jenna that either. The way it answered my prayers was it made me feel peaceful about just going home during the summer and not worrying too much about going to school. After that night, I felt so good about going home. Partly for myself, and partly because I knew she would be there too. Throughout high school and especially the time I have spent living with Jenna she has become one of my best friends. I always feel like telling her my long-winded stories (even if she gets bored) and she tries to give me the best advice possible. We have so many little inside jokes and living with her really helped me understand her more. Through living with her, I got to realize how close she is to her parents. This was such a cool thing for me to witness. She would call her parents a lot and talk with them and it really left an impression on me. Anyway, back to the point at hand..

These girls have done so much for me this year and this post to thank them even though I can't do my gratitude justice :)

Taking selfies is our favorite pastime

Shakes for dayzzz

                                              MIKAYLA'S MISSION CALL VIDEO

JENNA'S MISSION CALL VIDEO