Has it sunk in yet?

I am leaving in 8 days. Surreal much?? So I thought I would write one last blog post.

Oh, I have to tell you, I am big fan of Shannon Hale and last Saturday I got to meet her!!! I'm so grateful that my sisters came along, especially when I know that one particular sister wasn't really wanting to go (but she was glad she did because it was AWESOME)! If you do not know who Shannon Hale is or have not read any of her books I would recommend first and foremost Book of a Thousand Days. I almost cry every time I read that book (which is the equivalent of crying for me, since I don't really cry very much). And then once you've read it you can talk to me about it haha and we can gush over Khan Tegus. I would also recommend Princess Academy. That one is pretty sweet as well. And if you love Jane Austen then you should also read Austenland and Midnight in Austenland.

Okay, that's my Shannon Hale blurb. Enough said.

Also I went to the institute Valentine's Dance last Friday. I had very low expectations for that dance. I felt like I had been tricked into going when I didn't really want to go for several reasons.

1. I would be one of the few people there without a date.

2. Because it was a couple-ly dance, they would probably only play slow songs. And it's not very fun to dance to slow songs alone.

3. I am leaving on a mission, so even if I did HAPPEN to meet someone, what good would it do me?

So I wasn't really looking forward to it. When we first got to the dance, my suspicions that the dance would suck were confirmed when they were still eating dinner. About 30 minutes later (and after me saying, "Why are we here? We should blow this joint" about 10 times) the dance finally started. And again, my suspicions that they would only play slow dances were confirmed when the first two songs were slow ones. . . . But then the third dance was a fast one and the party began!!! It turned out to be one of the best dances I have ever been to! They played just as many fast songs as slow ones, and I even let myself have fun during the slow ones. And since I was going to be leaving in less than two weeks, I didn't care what anyone thought of me so I just partied it up! If you have not seen me at a good dance where I am having fun, you have not seen me! Hahahaha. Epic!

Okay, now I should maybe get to serious things like saying goodbye and all that. But it just hasn't really sunk in yet. I don't think it will sink in until I watch my parents drive away and abandon me at the MTC ;) The longest I have been away from home was the week I went to New York City. And I had two of my sisters with me then. I have suffered from homesickness in the past and I found a book in the library the other day that was all about hoomesickness. Did you know that in the Civil War, if a soldier was homesick they would let him go home?!?!? It was totally legit then whereas now it's like, buck up dude and get over it. I am very much a home body and I love the safety and comfort of being home. I'm also afraid to basically live out of suitcases for 18 months. But I need to remember that this is what Heavenly Father wants me to do. Maybe if I stop digging in my heels, this will be the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Maybe if I just have a little more faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to all these dumb worries will just melt away. And it's not like I'm dying or never going to come back. It is going to be challenging but it's also going to be the biggest adventure of my life so far. And I'll get to spend my time preaching something that is very dear to my heart. Something that I know is true and that has helped me tremendously throughout my life.

I hope everyone who reads this will write to me. I'll post my address on Facebook soon.

Until then, God be with you til we meet again ;) or in Maurie speak, peace out me hombres!