More About My Mission

Okay, in the last few hours I have found out more about the area I will be serving. I figured Palmyra wouldn't be in my mission. . . I was hoping Fayette would be, but no. I am still okay with it. These two areas are actually pretty close to my mission and I am hoping I will be able to go to them. The mission in area is pretty big. It goes from Lake Ontario and Finger Lakes area on the west, Vermont on the east. The northern border is Canada, and the New York, New York North mission makes the South. There is a little bit of Vermont in the mission and a little of Pennsylvania. Falls are gorgeous, winters cold, summers humid.
I am so excited, and I cannot wait. October 6th is going to be a long time, only because I don't have much to do in my life. I know it is going to get busy and quickly. I will post more as things get moving and I know more.

Mission Call

Okay, it came. Yes, finally after waiting for one month I got my call. I was told on Sunday it was mailed on Wednesday. Knowing the reliability of US mail I realized it should have come on Saturday, which it hadn't. So, that meant it would come Monday, it didn't. It didn't come Tuesday either. Today at 11 o'clock the call came. My mom was home and I opened it. However, I also opened it again for all my family and friends later today. I am going to the New York Utica mission. I report to the MTC on October 6th. This mission is in upstate New York. I wanted to be at a visitors center. However, this is close enough. I will be in the center of the beginnings of the church. I will also be in New England in the Fall. I am so excited! I am excited to see this beautiful area again. I am also excited to be serving the Lord and teaching in a different capacity then I ever thought I would. I know it isn't going to be easy, and let's face it everything about what is going on hasn't been easy. But, I know I will be blessed because I was willing to do this for the Lord when it really isn't what I thought I would be doing with my time.
“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 361).

What I Wish I Was Doing

This is the time of year I start to get excited about everything. I start to look at regular items in a new light. I begin thinking, How can I use this in my classroom? But, this year is different. This year I won't be heading back into the classroom in August. I don't have any need for the catalogs, teacher stores, and the hours I spend shopping. And I don't like it. I really do feel like going on a mission is what I should be doing. Doesn't mean it is my first choice. I prayed for months to keep my job and when that didn't work out I prayed for months to find a new job. And when that fell through only then did I realize what I should be doing. And that stalling and hoping that things would workout the way I want it to pushed back my end of the paper work. I think I have been fighting this for a long time. Hoping that the Lord would change his mind and allow me to do what I want to do. I'm even begging that my time-line of when I need to get home (to find a new job) will be fulfilled. I keep wondering how much of what I want will be taken into consideration by the Lord for when I finally get assigned a call. (Oh yeah, did I forget to tell you, the papers are in but July is vacation time and calls aren't issued for a while.) I've decided he might consider it, laugh and then assign me for where and when he really wants me to go.
To top things off, one of the 6th grade teachers in my old school is leaving. She has decided to stop teaching. I am looking back. Thinking my life was so great, and I had to leave it. Wouldn't it be nice if the district said my principal could hire me back. I would be happy again. I would be so willing to take that path in a heartbeat. But, I know better. I know I am not supposed to be there anymore. I know Ogden isn't the place the Lord wants me. If it was, I would still be teaching 3rd grade. I would still be at my old school. And I wouldn't be here, waiting for The Brethren to come home from their vacations, just so I could get my mission call.
I wish I was getting ready for a new school year. I wish there wasn't uncertainty in my life. I wish I didn't have to sell my car or worry about my student loans, and my phone. Ok. That is enough. Because wishing isn't going to get me anywhere. I'm going to look forward.

What Do You Do in the Summer Time?

This summer has been kind of interesting. I cleaned out my classroom. Turned in my keys. Went to a writing class (which I LOVED). Sent my mission papers in.
Went to Core Academy and got pattern blocks, and made this:

And this:

This:

This:

And This:

This:

This one:

This:

This:

And a few more but these are my favorites.
When I get my call, I will let you all know where I am going. If you want to make guesses go ahead, just so you know there are somewhere around 370 missions. That is a lot of places to try and guess from.