10 years ago today . . . . .

I was in the Sacramento Airport ready to board my plane to fly to Utah because the next day I was entering the MTC. I was in the terminal with my family, remember that we could do that, and we saw the 2nd plane hit on the television. My Dad announced to our family that the country was now at war. WHAT? I was so confused. Well my plane boarded and my family left before it took off. This was also the days before cell phones. My plane was then unboarded because all flights were grounded. So my parents got home and then came back and got me. I was one of the last souls in the Sacramento Airport. Crazy. And then I got to drive to the MTC.

I wish I could bottle up what I was feeling as I was leaving for my mission. To this day it is the most brave thing I have ever done. I was so nervous and scared. I kept thinking this was crazy you don't just sign-up to put your life on hold for a year and a half. If I was not so prideful I probably would not have gone, really I was that anxious. I really was scared. I told that to no one. But I also new that it is what the Lord wanted little me to do. I had received a powerful confirmation that a mission was for me. I had not always planned on a mission but here I was. And I went. And there were reasons to be afraid because it was HARD, exhausting, frustrating, heartbreaking (I seriously have never had my heart broken so many times), sad.....but you know it was also beautiful, amazing, I grew so much, I learned so much, it was to this day one of the best experiences of my life, did I mention it was HARD! Yet I was willing to trade it all in because of fear. Needless to say 9/11 is a little weird for me because I never really watched the footage. I was already set apart, so no TV for me. I spent the day in a rental car getting to the MTC. It almost feels like it didn't happen even though I obviously know it did. The day after I arrived home from my mission President Bush announced that we were going to war. So I missed a lot in 18 months.

Fast forward 10 years. I went on a really nice walk this morning and enjoyed the fall air. I realized I still 10 years later have some of those same feelings I had about leaving on a mission 10 years ago. My life plan is different than I anticipated. If I worry too much I am nervous and scared and sad. However I have learned that Heavenly Father knows best and he is in charge. He knows the beautiful amazing life I am supposed to have and is guiding me there. In the end I know I will look back on my life like I do my mission and realize it was worth it, awesome, HARD, and amazing. So there you go.

I remember as I was leaving Taiwan my mission president telling me that I would think about my mission everyday for the rest of my life. I thought that was kind of crazy and I really didn't know that I would. I can report that so far I have. It really was a beautiful time in my life and I do think about it at least once everyday. Maybe that will change but who knows.

I am so thankful for the country in which we live. One of the things I love is freedom of religion. I love the gospel and I know it is true. I love my family and know we can be together forever. I know Heavenly Father lives and loves us. I know Jesus Christ sacrificed for all our sins so that we can return to Heavenly Father again someday. Thank heavens for all the people that sacrifice their lives every day for our country. So that we can enjoy so many freedoms. GOD BLESS THE USA!