Mission to Romance to Mission... Again!

In 8 months I went from Pre-missionary to Fiance of Will to Pre-missionary.

WHAT?!

I'm sure that's what you were thinking. Because almost everyone I've told has had that reaction. So here's the brief version.

Will and I quickly became best friends in March. I was able to be very open with him and we had a lot of fun together. The end of April we made a very quick decision to start dating... per my request. That choice meant that I wouldn't go home to prepare for a mission. I would date Will and prepare for a mission at the same time, with the intent of making a decision about a mission closer to my report date, June 6th. Sister missionaries are allowed to postpone their mission for up to 6 months for situations just like these, where a choice between missionary service and marriage need to be made.

Two weeks after we started dating we started talking about marriage. With a fast approaching dead line for my decision, the need to talk about it was big. At the end of May Will put a ring on my finger and I was a happy camper :)

Now is where I don't know how much to tell.

It's not like every part of our engaged relationship was horrific. Calm down your imaginations. But some parts bring up some hurt emotions on both ends and I don't want to air dirty laundry. Please be okay with my vagueness.

We had our things to work out just like every couple. The hurdles came. (Wow, I really like metaphors.) But we were working them out. For lots of reasons, we stopped talking. We were scared to open up again. With a lack of communication we couldn't work out those knots. And I couldn't fix it. It wasn't just me. With no communication, I didn't feel close to him, even though he was right next to me.

I started realizing that I still had a desire to serve a full-time mission. So I made the choice. We both had growing to do. Especially healing. I knew time would help. But the ultimate healer is Christ. What better way to heal than to represent Him and have the time away? I can't think of one.

So by October I had my mission call reinstated to serve in the Las Vegas West mission to report January 2nd.

Will and I still talk as friends. I really don't know what's going to happen in a year and a half about my feelings towards him... or his towards me.... or my feelings towards anyone else. But I do know that I am headed in a right direction and it feels good. I have a certain comfort in this choice that I didn't have with choosing to stay. That comfort is the Holy Ghost, the 3rd member of the Godhead. I'm very grateful for my communication with Him.

I'm now 2 weeks and a day from reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT. It's a bit unreal still. But I'm getting more and more prepared with temporal things. I don't know if I'll ever be ready with spirituality. I guess that's why the Holy Ghost is the teacher and I'm just the conductor.

Anywho, other random things I should have told you all:
 - I GRADUATED!!!!

Erik and Kristen and the kids came to see! Aren't they sweet?!

 - I got into rock climbing. I'm loving how I feel and that I look forward to it every time.
 - I worked 6 weeks of EFY this summer in Provo. 2 weeks in particular stand out as miraculous... even by EFY standards ;)

The Chosen. First week of the summer. They hold a special place in my heart. :)

 - I worked in a warehouse this winter. I started working with one defined calf muscle on my legs... and now I have two. It feels great!
 - I thoroughly enjoy Christmas... and the last two weeks I have with my family before I leave.

MTC OR BUST!!!