Thanksgiving weekend

Well, Thanksgiving was fun this year. The two pictures above were taken at my aunt Nedra's house with her animals. I was lounging on the couch when the dogs one by one came and sat next to me until I had all three. It was really funny. And the bird is really nice. It just sat on my shoulder for a while. Of course, it preferred my cousin, Brian, but it was showing off and being rather social.

It was weird not having my great grandmother there this year. It's the first year that she wasn't. Of course, maybe she was, but as she's no longer alive, none of us would have been able to see her.

We went up after Christmas trees on Saturday and it took us a while to find the ones we wanted. We had to find three and maybe since we go up there every year, or maybe just cause they didn't like us, but either way, the trees weren't the best. But we were able to find some good ones, skinny, but full.

Well, this was kind of a short version of the four day weekend, but it ended up five for me because I'm now sick, and I don't feel like writing any more. Sorry!

My Odd Brother

Two years ago, when Richard got his mission call, he hadn't told anyone in the family that he was turning his papers in. I got an e-mail from him on Wednesday, August 31, 2005, with the subject line of "Yo sis, what up?" I thought it was weird that I was getting an e-mail from him, but opened it, without to much thought past that and began to read

Morning,

Just got a letter today...

"Dear Elder Bateman:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Russia Novosibirsk Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Missionary Training Center at Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 9 November 2005."

Thought you'd be interested,

Richard

I sat staring at my screen for a good thirty seconds as the words actually penetrated my brain. I also confused Whitney and Riley a lot as they didn't understand what was so shocking about my brother getting a mission call.

SO!

When I got my mission call, I wanted to do something crazy to try to get him back. The only problem is, he knew I was turning in my papers. So how do I tell him? The answer finally came, and this is how I did it. I copied his subject line, only mine was "yo bro, What up?" and sent him the picture you can see on the top of the page, along with one of my actual mission call to that he could see the date I'd be leaving. I then said

"Here's some pictures I thought you might enjoy."

And that was it. That's all I said. then I had to wait a week to see how it was received. I had wanted him to be surprised, and I wasn't disappointed. His response?

Julie! You little sneak! Not even telling me that you'd turned your papers in?? I should slap you (but I won't, because I'm sure there is a commandment somewhere about "thou shalt not slap your little sister"). I mean, honestly... who doesn't tell their brother who's on a mission when they turn in their mission papers??

yeah...

congrats! I'm so excited for you! It's going to be the most amazing experience of your life... I would honestly without a second thought stay out here for another 6 months if they let me.

For the record, I forgot to tell him about my mission papers. I had MEANT to tell him I'd turned them in, but I just forgot every time I had the chance.

Mission Call!

I finally got my mission call! (OK, so it's only been two and half weeks, but it felt forever and no time at all at the same time.) I am going to the Pennsylvania, Harrisburg Mission. And I report for the MTC on January 2, 2008! The butterflies in my stomach are much better now. This morning before I found out where I was going they were going absolutely crazy, because I knew I was getting my call today and I wanted to know where. My mom finally called me at about 3:30 and told me it had come. So I talked my supervisor into letting me run home and see it really quick and then come back. I think my mom was a little surprised at how fast I ran through the door. I also had to brace my self against the wall to make the sharp turn to run down the stairs so I could get to my room, where my mom had placed the life-changing envelope on my bed. (Wow, that was likely a VERY run-on sentence. Oh well.) As I had already planned, I read the letter by myself and then told everyone else. I, of course, told my mother first, as she was right there. Then I called my dad and told him. Then I called whoever I could think of. Some people didn't answer, but I left a message that I had news and to call me back. Most people knew what I was talking about, but some were a little confused until I clued them in. All in all, my afternoon was most eventful.