Leaving...

Hello one and all for the last time! This is the last post that I, Erin Page, will post since I leave for the MTC tomorrow. Its crazy how fast that went! I can't believe its here. It certainly doesn't feel real. But, as today goes on I am more and more excited to go! I honestly can't wait! I'm not saying the last 5 days hasn't been hard...they have been WAY hard. But I have so much support around me that its made it easier just knowing that those I love are supporting me! I was able to see "The Last Song" on Saturday with some friends and go to Conference on Sunday morning with Matt...so I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Its been a great last week!!! My mom will continue to update my blog while I'm gone (at least I've told her to...I hope she remembers...I'll continue to remind her) so you won't be completely out of the loop for 18 months! I hope you all have a wonderful 18 months...I know I will!!! Love you!!!!!!!!!

Time flies......WAY TOO FAST!!

I can't believe that my last post I had 72 days left!!!!! Turn that around and minus a few and that's all I have left now...NUTS! I honestly try not to think too much about it cause then I just get a teary eyed and emotional. Don't get me wrong I am WAY excited...Vacouver isn't going to know what hit them! But the anxiety about leaving for 18 months is definitely starting to hit! I am trying my darndest to spend time with family, friends, Matt, and everyone else that I care about and its starting to get harder and harder the more that, my family especially, demands my time. We are DONE with shopping, which is a HUGE releif. I never thought that day would come...I thought we'd be busy, busy, busy right up until the last moment. But now I get and entire 3 1/2 week break! And more time to spend with those I love. I know the 18 months will go by faster than I can even imagine and that when it ends I'll be thinking "didn't I just get out here???!!!" I really am so grateful for all that I have and all the blessings that I have received since deciding to go on a mission. I look back over the last 3 1/2 months and I can see the Lord's hand in everything. I wouldn't change a thing right now...other than more time. But I can't be too picky and I am on the Lord's errand, not my own. I can't wait to start serving and being immersed in the Gospel...its going to ROCK! I do have pictures to post too from the last little bit but that is going to have to wait for when I can get internet on my laptop...But SOON I promise! Thank you all for being there for me and being great friends! I couldn't ask for more!!!

Seventy-Two Days

That's how much time I have to get everything ready to go on my mission. A friend of mine asked me yesterday "Are you feeling a little overwhelmed?" and I replied back "A LITTLE???????? Try... A lot." Its all so much to take in! Don't get me wrong I am SO excited! But I have to keep reminding myself: one week at a time. That's all I have to do. Once this week is over I'll worry about next week. And so on, and so on. This whole process is going to teach me even more patience. Especially when it comes to my parents and answering questions from them. "Have you done this? When are you taking care of this? Are you reading this? What needs to be done next?" And so on, and so on. I guess the questions don't really bug all that much...its the fact that they never seem to be able to coordinate WHEN they are asking questions so I always feel like I'm answering them a billion times over...No worries though, I still haven't ruled out setting up a weekly press conference so that they can get all their questions out at once :) There is so much that needs to be done that I hadn't thought about before. Passport, clothing, going through the temple, pictures (family AND mission), luggage, shoes, coats, and so on, and so on. Thats not even half the list! One week at a time...One week at a time. I thought it would be LESS stressful once I got my call...HA! It'll be less stressful once I'm actually IN Canada :) 14 weeks until then though...patience is DEFINITELY a virtue!

Eh?

So I got my mission call this week and I know you all have been dying to know :) I had the call for 24 hours before I opened it and to be honest...it wasn't that hard. I just kept myself busy today and made sure I had no down time. Worked perfect. As people started showing up to my house, I got REALLY nervous and by the time 7:30 rolled around I was shaking so bad! I could barely even open up the envelope. Everyone kept yelling "don't read ahead" so I didn't. I was a good girl and covered up what I wasn't reading and as I got to the part where it reads where I get to serve I read it...and busted up laughing! I just could not believe it! NOT what I was expecting AT ALL! But I'm way excited anyway! So without further ado...Here it is. Not only will the Olympics be there in a couple weeks...but in 11 weeks (April 7 to be exact) I will be headed to the.......
CANADA VANCOUVER MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited I can hardly stand it!!!!!! So Vancouver 2010 is right! I can't wait! My bishop AND his wife both served there so they are super excited! Like I said, not what I was expecting...its EVEN better!

Life is good with bad moments, not bad with good moments...

I got this quote from a friend and I really liked it. Although the bad moments tend to stick out more than the good ones sometimes, in 20 years I hope I'm able to look back and see the good ones instead of the bad ones. Life has not been nice to me lately. I've tried so hard to put on a brave face and move forward but its so hard. I don't understand. I talked to a friend of mine yesterday who has been through almost the same crap lately and she and I came to the conclusion that we may never understand and that it takes a really cold person to just stop caring. There is tiny part of me that wonders what I would do if I got the opportunity again...but I promised myself I wouldn't go there again. I hate free agency. All it took was a decision that I had no control over. And my world felt like it was shattered forever. I don't know if I'll be able to put my heart out there again. It doesn't seem worth it to me. The next guy is really going to have to prove himself if he's even going to think about seeing the other side of a first date. Moving on hasn't always been easy for me...but its never been especially difficult. This one was so different. We talked about forever...how can you say those things and then take them all back. I know its over, but even I'm having a hard time taking it all back. I only say things if I mean them...so does that make it wrong if I don't have the heart to take them all back even after he broke my heart? I meant every word...and I still do. I know I shouldn't but I do. Maybe one day it'll change. I do have a lot to be grateful for. I'm going on a mission and that will be the best experience of my life. I have a wonderful family who love me. I have some of the greatest friends in the world. And I have the Gospel. With out these three things I don't know how I would have made it through the last 2 months. It would have been impossible. I'm still trucking through and wondering if life will ever go as planned. Cat-lady-dom is looking very nice right now...too bad I'm allergic. Maybe I'll be the first dog lady...

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE PAPERS ARE IN! STAKE PRESIDENT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON TODAY AND NOW ALL I GET TO DO IS WAIT!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!! IT'S ABOUT DANG TIME! IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT DELAYS FOR 2 MONTHS! I SERIOUSLY AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The call...

Isn't going to come this week as planned. There has been yet ANOTHER delay due to some missing medical information and I am just barely finding out about it. I just want this over with...

Women of Faith

There are so many people in my life that I look up to, that without, I wouldn't be in the place I am now. Most of them are the women in my life.

My Mom: Has amazing strenth that I draw on a lot in my life. She is my best friend. Sam Page is an amazing women. She is always trying to be better and she teaches by example more than she realizes. I would not be the woman I am today without her

My Grandma Shirley: What a wise woman. Whenever I need advice I go staight to her. She has been through a lot in life and always has something to give. She is the most giving person I know and doesn't think twice about giving what she doesn't have to others. She'll cook a gormet meal and get no thanks for it other than it was devoured by everyone in the room and that's all she needs. And she makes the best dinner rolls hands down :)

My best Friend Sara Hansen: Man have we been through a lot but no matter what she has always been there for me. She is the kindest person I know and always has a smile on her face and knows what to say to help me feel better. She'll call just to say hi and its always an answer to prayers. No one has a bigger heart than her.

Melissa Henrie: What an incredible woman. She is strong and faithful no matter what comes her way and is always trying harder to be better. She faces the music with a smile on her face and a bring-it-on attitude that I admire tons. She lights up a room and has a sense of humor that can make any Scrooge crack a grin. No matter what's going on in life she is happy and loving and always willing to give.

Teigan Benson: What a woman. She's beautiful. She's loving. She's talented. She has a good fashion sense. She's letting me use her wedding dress (sometime VERY far in the future). And she's the cutest little mom I've ever seen! I look up to her SO much and wish very much that her and her cute family lived here in Utah. She's always willing to lend a listening ear no matter what and always knows what to say to help you feel better about life. She is a Scoffield to the T and I hope when I grow up I can be more like her.

Heidi Madsen: One of my first roommates at Oakcrest LDS girl's camp and I must say I was VERY intimidated by her when I first met her. But what an incredible woman. She has by far the kindest heart of anyone I know. I was also very priviledged to teach a class with her our second year and loved every minute! She is amazing and whenever I think about how I what I want my husband and family to be like, her little family always comes to mind. She is giving, loving and the most Christ-like person I know.

Emily Pugh: We didn't get along at first but after spending a summer together as Crafties at Oakcrest we realized we are WAY more alike than we thought and our lives followed very similar patterns. We liked the same shows growing up (most of which NO ONE else could remember but us...including Alex Mack), we like the same foods, and our dating lives have been way similar. One day I will find my Zack Pugh after getting over my Bret West. I was very sad to have that summer end and not have Liberty there at my side 24/7. I definitly went through withdrawals. I look up to her a lot and she is always there for me. Especially when she knew I needed ice cream and a good talk. I love her tons!

Hailey Jones: Otherwise known as the infamous Goosey. What an incredible woman! She has a smile on her face no matter what! Her attitude about life is one that I have tried hard to adopt! She is such a strong woman no matter what life throws her way. She truly is amazing! I remember her ALWAYS being there for me through the tough times at Oakcrest. What a great friend!

Katie Hansen: Probably my most favorite cousin ever. Even though there is an almost 8 year age difference between us we are way close. She lets me come play with her kids, knows when I need to talk and when I don't, knows when I need a night out, or just a place to crash. And she is a phenomenal cook! I look up to her so much and she is an incredible example to me! She is an amazing mom and I hope one day when I have kids that I will be half the mom that she is!

These are just a few of the women in my life that I look up to. What amazing examples I have in my life and I hope that I can be half the woman that they are. I am so grateful for all the examples that I have in my life and I want each and every one of you to know that I love you. Even if you aren't specifically named either...know that I love you and look up to you! Thank you all for being there for me and for being the strong Women of Faith that you are!

The Call...

should come next week. I'm starting to get really anxious the closer it gets and I just want the day to be here already! AHHHHH!!!!!