Here I Go!

Well, now that it's been 8 months since I decided to go on a mission, and five months since I got my mission call...

It is finally my turn. 

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

And I am surprisingly calm. Like, I feel really normal.

Since I've spent a lot of the day packing, I've been thinking about the things each of us carry. What we decide to bring, and what we decide to leave behind.

I have always been a light packer. When you go on a mission, you're allowed to pack two huge suitcases, plus one carry-on suitcase and one backpack. Each suitcase can weigh 50 pounds.

I packed everything I can think to pack (11 outfits, even though they told me to bring 6-8) and I still only have one suitcase. It weighs 23 pounds and could probably fit about 11 more outfits.

The more things you own, the more things own you.

I have another suitcase I could take and I could easily fill it with STUFF. But the thing is... I am actually really excited to leave all of my STUFF behind and focus on what really matters to me.

Of course, it is hard and scary to leave my family behind, especially since I don't really know when all eight of us will be together again. But we are BFFs. It feels like we are running out of time together, but that is not possible.

I had a wonderful "last" weekend with my family and friends. I got to go to a really fun concert in a beautiful place...

....and I came home late at night to find that the tradition of stealing the balloons from seminary graduation is alive and well.

We sold my car, which is a huge blessing and will help cover the cost of my mission. Between that and extremely generous surprise contributions from LOTS of family members, both Abbie's and my missions are all but taken care of.

I helped out at the elementary school carnival so I got to see my baby sisters running around like crazies.

I went swimming with my sisters, which is one of my all-time favorite activities and something I won't be able to do for a while! These two always think of the funniest things to do in the water and had me laughing all day. Plus, we stopped at the taco truck on our way home and I realized how much I have taken the taco truck for granted all this time. What if I can't get tamales in Australia!

Anyway. I also went to the RSL soccer game with my family, which was a ton of fun.

Rachel was recognized during halftime for being in the top 2% of students in Utah, or some ridiculous thing like that. I am so proud of everything she's done and excited for her to graduate... the day after I leave.

Today my dad made Abelskivers for dinner just for me, and Lauren, Rachel and I went on a sunset walk in the mountains.

It was so gorgeous and peaceful. When we were standing in this tall grass, we saw a deer leaping through the field right in front of us. Beautiful!

We came home and watched one of my favorite movies, The Endless Summer. I am pleased to say that the last two movies I watched before going to the mtc were both surfing movies.

Tomorrow I'm taking my baby sister to the zoo and then I'm going to the Salt Lake temple and visiting a few friends. I've been promised a firepit and sparklers after getting set apart on Tuesday night. And then the next morning my family will take me to the MTC!

I feel good! I can't wait to get started and find out why everyone loves being a missionary so much.

I've made a lot of plans during my young life. Some have worked out, some haven't. And I think the reason why this plan feels so right is because it wasn't my plan at all.

PEACE AND LOVE!