100% Prep time.

It's time. In fact, it's past time. I am beginning to fill out my papers this Sunday starting with a bishops meeting. My goal is to send them in on the twenty-eighth of this month. Very very soon. Now I'm finishing the Book of Mormon, studying vigorously in Preach My Gospel. It's all happening so fast.

This time last year, I was on vacation from high school, and the thought of leaving on my mission was not the first thing on my mind. I was very much caught up in the social high school life. Wanting to be with friends, and dating really hot girls. And now that I am filling out my papers to be put in later this month, all of that seems far off in the distance.

I was falling asleep last night, and I looked over at a bright light on my couch. Knowing my roommate, he was probably playing his Nintendo DS. So I told him to go to bed because it was four in the morning and I had to get up and go to work in a few hours. I turned over, and had an immediate soft heart. I sat up, and gently asked "What are you doing?" And he responded, "I'm reading my scriptures. It's my new years resolution." I quickly found out the reason for my immediate soft heart. My roommate was doing more to prepare for his mission than I was, and he was trying not to keep me awake in the process. So I got my scriptures out, and began to read the Testimonies of the three witnesses, eight witnesses, and our prophet Joseph Smith. I am pretty sure that after I was done, I said my prayers. I don't fully remember. After all, it was four in the morning.

I woke up before my alarm went off, I got up well-rested, read more of Joseph Smith's testimony and said my prayers. I got to work fifteen minutes early prepared for the day, and I've had a positive attitude all day. I truly believe that simply reading my scriptures, and saying my prayers greatly bless me with the little things in life.

I was then blessed with two elderly missionaries coming in to pay their phone bill. They brought with them such a strong spirit. I told them about my mission papers going in on the twenty eighth, and their eyes lit up like chirstmas trees. They were so happy to hear that I was serving a mission. The sister (I wish I had gotten their names) had told me that they had requested to go to St George, and to only serve part-time because she had been sick a lot. But they had been called to serve in Salt Lake City doing family history on a full time mission. Because it was what the Lord wanted them to do, they came and they are serving with all their hearts. What wonderful examples.

This is the start of a wonderful year. The year I leave for my mission. The year that I have been looking forward to ever since I was in primary singing songs about going on my mission. I am more excited than I have been in a very long time.

Thank you all for the wonderful examples you've been to me. The incredible spirits you have bring great joy to my life, and the life of many, many others.