I still need...a wand.

The anticipation of this call might kill me. 

I'm trying to enjoy this "waiting" stage as much as I can,

because it'll end all too soon, 

but man. 

 You'd think my parents want me out asap.
I feel like Harry on his first trip to Diagon Alley,
buying all the items for his first year at Hogwarts.
I've already got:
Two suits.
Lots of pants.
Ties.
Shoes.
Belts.
Luggage.
Camera.
Sunglasses.
Socks.
Journel.
and I don't even know where I'm going yet.

[Lots of love for McGraw]
I still need:
A watch.
But if my wait time is anything like Mitchell's,
I've still got about another five more months to get it.

Jump right in.

Cassie invited Cody to church today. 

This is one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind. 

 Not because she invited him.
Not even because he came.
But because he survived.
My parents.
The three hour block.
Our ward.
Aye. 
It's nothing short of a miracle.

I've been super busy.
With work and photoshop and waiting.
Waiting.
and waiting.
I'm just so excited slash nervous for that letter!

Let's see.
I've made Aleksi a few photoshops for her ward:
Nothing too fancy,
just easy stuff.

And some for Kate and her brand new apartment:

And I've incredibly managed to teach my mom photoshop,
the beginners stage basics.
We're getting there.
I'm so proud of her,
look how far she's come!
Madre's first photoshops:

So talented.

 I'm over this header.
Time for change.

and of course,
making Jennie into the chucabra she is.

Beautiful.

Orange Chicken.

On this day, 

I guessed my mission call would come. 

I was wrong.

 

Woke up. 

Spent the day at the beach. 

Went out to dinner with the Rose's. 

You know, the usual. 

Her family is hilarious. 

Like - laughing until the tears come - funny. 

Great times. 

Kate joined us back at Alexa's and together 

we picked out and printed photos for her two giant frames to help 

cover the nakedness of her new apartment.

It was so much harder than you would think. 

It took one college dropout and two UF second years an hour to figure out the jig-saw puzzle.

We're smart!

 Not so cute though...

Don't lie, 

you know they look good. 

It was nice having friends for a day. 

Back to reality.

New Camera.

My new mission camera came today!

Naturally, I can't take my dslr on my mission, 

so I was really worried about my whole camera situation for the next two years.

But then I saw her. 

I pretty much love her as much as you can love a point and shoot. 

She takes good photos, 

so that's all that really matters. 

 Surfers at Coral Cove? 

I never thought I'd see the day. 

Because of Hurricane Irene, 

the waves were huge and most of the entire reef was buried under the sand. 

So crazy.

"Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher. 

There was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort

sticking out of the back of his head!"

It's been a week.

One entire week, 

since my Stake President's interview, 

since my papers were officially submitted.
Since I started the wait. 

I mean,
I can't believe I'm at this stage already.
Waiting for my mission call.
What?!
I sort of like the mystery of wondering where I'll be sent,
because once I know,
I'll never unknow.
You know?
So I'm taking the time to enjoy not knowing. 

We took the little Snider's to school today.
It's Rye-Rye's first day!
Kindergarten.
Whoo-hoo.
[Rye isn't crying in this photo, he's covering his eyes from the sun,
but for real,
he was a champ - he loved it, no tears shed - not from him at least,
Eva...]
Three down, one to go.

Poor, sad Rita.
All alone.
There's only one cure for a feeling like this,

The Serpentarium.
You'll be so scared, you won't have time to feel sad that you're siblings aren't around.
Honestly,
there are hundreds of snakes here.
and some are huge and venomous.
But first,
turtles:

At first,
we didn't even have food.
They just saw us and swarmed over.
Insane, right?

 And now for the snakes:

Look at that hand to snake size comparison!
There were so many snakes.
Vipers.
Cobras.
Coral snakes.
Cotton-mouths.
Rat snakes.
So many.
I particularly liked the boa constrictor because it's obviously the same one used in HP1
when Harry speaks parseltongue and uses magic to make the glass vanish,
 releasing the snake.   

Crocs and alligators too,
I know,
this Serpentarium had it all.
This photo doesn't do the alligator justice,
this mama was HUGE.
On our way out,
the lady serpent worker asked us [in parseltongue] if we wanted to hold a snake.
I understood,
but Eva didn't.
It took me a few minutes for me to understand why.
You see,
when Voldemort attacked me as a child,
he unknowingly stored a part of his soul in me - giving me some of his powers.
I was nine when I learned I could talk to snakes.
We accepted.
[After I translated for Eva, of course]

Siiahasse Heth.
Seessaa Ahhassee
Excuse me,
the serpent lady let us hold two snakes!

Rita didn't know what to think of them.
Sssiiaahhnorraaahhh. 
We left.
Then I left.
Now I'm home.
Working and waiting.
One week down.