The Opening!
January 9, 2013
So when I got the call I was actually out of town, visiting my friend Emily in AZ. I was fairly sure it would come while I was gone though I was hoping otherwise. Anyhow it just so happen to come on my Mom's birthday! (January 9th) Shortly after I woke up that morning my Mom called which I found odd at first because isn't it my job to call on her birthday!? But I could tell by her voice that she was just giddy, and the phone call went as follows:
Mom: It's a Wednesday!!...
Me: Yeah hey happy birthday!
(Mom vaguely acknowledges my birthday wish.)
Me: Did my call come?
Mom: Yes!
Me: Don't open it.
Mom: Well here's my thinking..
Me: Mom. No.
Mom: Just listen, what if we skype each other and I hold it up to the camera so that you can still be the first one to see it but then we don't have to wait.
After explaining to her that this is something that I want to do and after only minimal begging from her, though I think the guilt trip of "It's my birthday" was mentioned once. We agreed that we would wait another week (Of agony!) until I was home to open it. She actually had to hide it from herself.
January 16, 2013
So Strubes and I left Emily's early in the morning and began the long drive home. Thinking we were lost several times, witnessing a hit and run,and almost getting arrested for speeding; it turned into quite the trek. But we did eventually get home and since I'd been keeping in contact with my friends all day everybody who could be there was waiting for me to walk in the door, so all I had to do was walk in the door call up the pops (pose for the above picture) and with trembling hands rip open that envelope telling me where I would be spending the next year and 1/2 of my life in the service of the Lord.
I remember as I was opening it I was just afraid that I would be staying in the west that Pennsylvania seemed like such a relief! I was so excited! Although all I really know about PA is their sports team so all I could say is... "well I might come back a Steelers fan?" Then we got out the map and started to check it out some more. And disappointment kind of hit me.
I was pretty bummed that I was staying stateside and speaking English but after thinking about it I mean, how blessed am I honestly I probably never would have gone to Pittsburgh because there are so many places I would visit before that so how blessed am I that I get to go to a place I never would have thought to visit and also that I am able to speak the language that I know and I will be able to express myself, without having to worry about my wording, the best that I possibly can.
