One Month Down

One month ago today we packed up our oldest child and dropped her off at the MTC.  It's already been a whole month, and yet it's only been a month! It's strange how you can feel both feelings at the same time.  It's a frenzy of shopping, packing, and planning... until you drop them off...and then you're suspended in this kind of "what do I do now" limbo.  I imagine it's like training for a marathon and then wondering what do do when the race is over.

I'll tell you what I've been doing.  I've been living from Monday to Monday...and I love it.  Monday is P day when the emails come in, and it's my new favorite day of the week.  I heart Monday!! But as much as I love it, even Monday poses a unique challenge to my life now. 

It begins on Thursday night when the anticipation begins to build.  By Friday I am excited! It's the weekend...and we all know what follows the weekend, right? Monday! (Da Da Daaaa!!) Saturday is busy and Sunday is my spirit filled day, being with my ward family, many of whom are in my same tempermental boat! Regardless of whether I've already sent something that week, each Sunday night finds me sending an email, so Missionary Girl will have something in her inbox when she gets to the library on Monday.  I have a hard time sleeping on Sunday nights, because I know...I know, that tomorrow's the day! I don't have an email waiting for me when I get up  in the morning, but it comes soon enough, and it makes me smile for days afterward.

So wherein lies the challenging part, you ask? Well,  let me explain.  No, that takes too long, let me sum up! (Ten points if you can name the movie that line is from!)  The challenge is in  the email itself.  I anticipate it's arrival for days, and yet, when the inbox lights up, I am both ecstatic and let down.  Ecstatic because it's here...news from my girl...a happy, funny, heart felt, spirit filled letter, full of ups and downs, and love.  Love for us, love for the people of Saratoga Springs, love for the missionaries and love for the Lord.  I'm all good once I hear from her and know she's okay.  The only thing that steals a sliver of joy from me is the fact that that's it...until next Monday.  The anticipation begins nearly as soon as it ends. 

Now don't get me wrong, I live on each email for days, reading and rereading each thing she says.  I send them to her grandparents and aunts and uncles.  I edit them and post them on her blog.  I deal with my husband giving me a hard time about getting nothing else done because it's P day, and I start composing in my head the next letter or package I'll be sending.  I'm on an email high for a few days, and then I begin waiting for the next one.

 I would not have been good in the days of old, when letters came every few months, if they came at all.  Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when he placed me in this age of technological advancement.  (He probably just didn't want to deal with my whining about letters!)  When she was set apart as a missionary, Missionary Girl was counseled to be faithful in her letter writing and to 'never miss a week.'  So I am thankful.  I have been incredibly blessed to get wonderful, descriptive letters and to hear her thoughts and feelings.  This way I get to with her on this amazing missionary journey.