21...21...21

"Twenty one, Twenty one, only days left better get it done! Twenty one, Twenty one, Twenty one plus days get ready, I'm on!"

Okay so maybe making my own lyrics to High School Musical 3 isn't the most reverent way to be getting ready for my mission...but I keep thinking about the number 21. (and I saw HSM3 again last night) I will be turning 21 on January 16th and leaving on January 21st! CRAZY!!! I don't have much time left. I'm not sure of my exact assignment...like how long I'll be in the visitor's center or how long I'll be proselyting...but I'll do what ever they ask me. Am I nervous? of course...because so much is unknown until you are actually doing it. BUT I don't doubt that I can do it...I just have this reassuring feeling that Heavenly Father will be with me every step of the way.

So what have I been up to? I came home and went full speed ahead! I had two parties to go to the day I got back and gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting the next day. I started work that Monday...and have been torn in many different places but have been trying to spend most of my time with the family. Christmas was great! Arin was my secret santa and I was hers! haha We bought each other the Taylor Swift cd...but I like that I have my own copy. :P If you've been around me at all lately you'll know that I'm OBSESSED with it. I love it. I made a playlist on youtube to listen to before I got the cd so when I got it I knew the words and it made so awesome because now I don't have to be at a computer to listen to it. My sisters and Mom have been listening to it too. If you look at facebook you'll see that most of my recent status' are lyrics from that cd. I also got a new DIGITAL CAMERA! It's a Cannon...8 mp, video with audio, zoom, and more features than I even know right now. (ps. those features were all things my other camera couldn't do.) My parents got me that gift...plus a butt load of mission stuff! Arin also gave me this way cute quote note book...soooo if you have a favorite quote or three let me know and I'll put them in there...if I deem them as worthy. What was really awesome about Christmas was having the Sister Missionaries over. Well they come over quite often anyways for dinner and such but they were there for Christmas breakfast so that was fun! Having them around makes me even more excited...they give me advice and ask me to come on appointments with them. Though every time I go out with them the appointment falls through or the people aren't there. It's taught me a lot! I know that not every appointment is going to end in baptism and that maybe you have to work a little harder for people to hear the message!

Now I'm just working to get everything done by the time I leave. I've been shopping A LOT! It's fun to be able to spend money but it's hard to find somethings...but ladies if you're ever looking for good skirts that are longer...CATO! Best store I've been to yet. I don't even know what else I need to do...I mean I do, I just don't want to think about it. AHHH! I'll tell you what...I need to get used to early to bed, early to rise..probably not this week because of New Years...but ya know.

Anyways just wanted to give people an update. I'll probably have my mom put my emails up here while I'm on my mission. Love y'all! :)

Mission Call

Sister Arica Taylor Page has been called to serve in the Utah Provo Mission. In addition to this call she will be assigned to serve in the St. George Temple Visitors' Center. She is to report on March 4th, 2009.

I did, indeed, get my mission call!!! After all of the paper work, appointments, and worries of things not getting in on time...it has come! I was on my way home from Thanksgiving Break and I kept getting asked by multiple people "when are you getting home?" I kept telling them when I estimated I'd be there. Then I got a text from my very good married friend Brielle who asked the same thing...I knew something was up. Why would she be anxious for me to get home?? My roommates I can understand why they want me home so much...it's fun when we all get back together...so I got suspicious. Emily and I pretty much guessed that my call had come. We drive up and there's a sign on the door saying "Arica...it's HERE!!" I walked in and everyone is all smiles...and yes Brielle and Jared were there waiting. I put my stuff down...my roommate gets my luggage and Emily helps....I fell disgusting. (I got sick over the break and still do not feel well...) I hadn't done my hair...I had no makeup on...I was in loungy clothes....and my teeth were dirty from sleeping. So I call my family who was asleep. 

Arin: "Hello.." 

Me: "Hey Arin...are you sleeping.."

Arin: "yeah it's like almost 10 here Arica..."

Me: "Oh well I got my mission call...."

Arin: "YOU'RE MISSION CALL...oh (speech that I am not able to comprehend.) Ashleigh wake up wake up...let me get every one." 

(She gets everyone...)

Me: "Okay we're waiting for a couple people here so I'll call back when everyone's gathered."

Arin: "HURRY!"

Emily runs home to unload her car and get her roomies. Lindley and Brad come down, we call our FHE bros who are driving home from Utah, Emily and her roomies start running to our apartment, Brielle's ready with the video camera. I brush my teeth to gain some of my dignity back. I call my family back and Emily calls her family. I open the envelope and start to read...I keep reading...and it doesn't make sense...I keep waiting to read where I'm going but it doesn't come. I READ FROM THE BOOKLET! haha I look in the envelope again and get out the paper I was really looking for...my letter from the Prophet. I read it out loud and everyone screams and hugs and is excited. I don't know if there were people who were thinking "oh UTAH..." or anything like that....but I never thought that...I thought..."this is right..." it just made sense!! I was also happy that I'll be working in a visitors' center which is something I was looking forward too. I hear the St. George visitors center is beautiful and awesome! I'm super excited and can't wait to go home and spend the holidays with my family...but then get to work and find all of the things I need! If you know me...you know I like to plan things...and this is something I'm going to enjoy planning. I know the Lord needs me here and that I'll be in the right place. I'm thankful for all of those people who have helped me get to where I am today and have never doubted me...even when I doubted myself. I love you all...thanks for the encouragement. 

Addresses and such will be given when it is closer to the time of my departure. I would greatly appreciate mail while I'm gone! Thank you! :)