All my friends are Missionaries

Since the announcement in the October 2012 General Conference, lowering the missionary age to 18 for men and 19 for women, there has been an incredible amount of people turning in their papers. ALL my friends included. It was a really tough decision for me, but after much prayer and scripture study and personal reflections, I decided that serving a mission wasn't in my cards. I needed to continue with the plans I had already made. However, like I said, pretty much ALL my friends that fell into this age group decided to serve. Including my very best friend, Kaitlyn.

I met Kaitlyn over the summer of 2009 at Girls' Camp. I went with her stake because I would be attending Mesa High in the fall and wanted to meet some people before I went there. I knew 2 of the girls in her ward from elementary school so I hung out with them mostly, but got to know her as well. Since then, we've become much better friends and know each other a little too well. :) We've been through a LOT together...lots of bad times, bad friends, bad grades, dumb boys, etc, but also a lot of good times--good grades, big accomplishments, fun times, good friends, and happy experiences. No matter what, she's always been there for me. Even if it was only a text message or phone call. When she told me she wanted to serve a mission, I knew it was the right thing for her to do. She'll be GREAT! She got her call in March and will be serving in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As soon as she opened her call, I bough a plane ticket the next day & was able to come home for a week to spend some time with her and see her farewell.

I rarely cry anymore, but I have been a mess yesterday & today--I'm gonna miss her like CRAZY and it finally sunk in....But 18 months isn't that long. She'll be home before we know it! And we'll still write back & forth. And her cousin's going to keep a blog for her. Hakuna matata. But until then, I say, "Good luck out there, keep the faith, return with honor, & Carry On! See ya in 18 months, Sis. Crockett!" :)

(Pictures to come later...ha)

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good." --from the Broadway Show "Wicked"