The Call

May 4, 2012

 

A few weeks back, Luke and I were out and about running errands when I decided it was the perfect time for some fro-yo. I asked Luke if he wanted to get some ice cream and of course he answered with an emphatic "YEAH!" 

Just as we were getting ready to turn down the street toward Menchie's, I got a much anticipated phone call. It was my favorite (and only) sister, Katrina, calling to tell me that her mission call had come in the mail and I needed to get on Skype so I could watch her open it (and find out where, when, and in what language she would be serving her mission)! 

I desperately told her I wasn't home, but I could be sitting at my computer in 10 minutes (in the back of my mind I was hoping really hard that it wouldn't take the 15 minutes that I knew it could). She said that should be okay because they were waiting for my grandparents and aunt and uncle (who live about 2 and 5 minutes away) to arrive. By the time I heard that, Luke and I were already jumping back on the freeway and speeding home as fast as we could without actually speeding enough to warrant a ticket (I think). Luke joined me in telling the other cars to get "out way."

Miraculously, we made it home in 9 minutes and as we were pulling into the garage, Luke wailed, "NOOOOOO! I-cream!!" Whoops, forgot about the ice cream I promised him. But there was no time! I quickly promised him we would go get some later that day, grabbed him and the diaper bag, and ran into the house, grabbing bread, a knife, and peanut butter on my way through the kitchen to make Luke a sandwich for lunch, and booked it up the stairs. 

We were only a minute or two late when we called Katrina on Skype and when she answered, the unopened envelope was still in her hand. Whew!

Even though I wasn't actually there in person, I couldn't help grabbing my camera and documenting what I could of the big moment ...

Enlarge this picture! Every single person in it looks like a fatty. Even Luke! Somehow, the web cam made all of our faces look extra round!

Reading the call. I was getting more and more excited, and therefore, less and less accurate with my camera ...

Whoops! I was too busy screaming and cheering to take a decent picture.

Called to serve for 18 months in Vanuatu (tiny islands near Fiji, Australia and New Zealand). Oh yeah, and it's French-speaking.

Trying to pronounce Vanuatu.

"Luuuuuuke"

Reading the rest of the letter from the first presidency.

Proud Mama.

Haha. Face.

Let the announcement texting commence!

Jared?

Jared! Bahahaha!

Luke was cracking up!

Beautiful Aunt Debi!

Papal! Love that guy!

I don't remember why Luke decided to hide under the desk.

I was minimized so that they could look up pictures of the islands. Me (excitedly): "What does it look like?" Mom: "Kira? Oh is Kira still there?" .. Tossed aside, like an old glove (name that movie).

I called Jeff at work and he was looking up pictures at the same time. Once he saw what a gorgeous tropical place it was, he told my dad to take on more work and start saving up to take us all out to pick her up in a year and a half!

I am just SO proud of that sister of mine! Going on a mission is not easy and Katrina never planned on going, but when she felt like it was the right thing for her to do, she stepped up and made the decision to go. That girl is amazing! And I know she will be an incredible missionary. Love you Trina!