sunshine state

I'm down in Florida and it is fantastic. I don't want to leave. I wish I could retire already. This is the life for me, except for everyone around me being old... they all talk about their health and whats going on with all the people who are slowly dieing around them. It's quite sad. But as grandmama always informs me, its life, you get old and you die. and thats what happens when you have friends who are old, your friends die.
Sorry, something more cheerful... Their house is awesome. It looks like there is a pool in the living room, kinda.

the sun is constantly bright and shining. I can sit all day and read my book or watch NCIS which seems to always be on here. and if i get hot, i just jumpin the pool for a second. ok, more than a second. being underwater is one of my favorite things. i like to sink down and just sit on the bottom of the pool and watch the water, and how the sunlight dances around through the water. it fascinates me. i wish i didn't have to interrupt it by breathing so often.

I don't swim all that well. mom made us be on the swim team in elementary school for at least one summer. i dreaded it. i do not have technique. i can't seem to breathe while doing freestyle without getting my mouth filled with water. breaststroke was more fun, being underwater and all, but i seemed to always get disqualified... poor form or something. we always called mk the dolphin swimmer. she swims like a dolphin, just glides through the water like them. its the best way to swim, hands down.

I don't want to go home tomorrow. I'm not ready. i want to relax more. i told myself that i'd analyze my mission when i was down here, but instead i just want to escape into the beauty of being here.
This is the life.

Mission

I'm leaving today for the MTC which i'll enter tomorrow. I'm going off on my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Russsia, St. Petersburg.

You can write me on dearelder.com or send me a letter at the MTC until mid November when i'll be in Russia.

Sister Elizabeth Anne Wise
Russia St. Petersburg Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center box # [i dont know yet]
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

I am sad to be leaving my family for so long but am so excited for the adventure that is ahead.

love beth

summer so far

Being home is nice, I spend my days doing errands with mom and John comes along sometimes too. I don't feel like I have downtime like I was hoping for but we get stuff done and I have read two books for fun already and thats nice.

John and I hiked the Billy Goat Trail last week...

and it was Mary Kates birthday...

and Daves is today. Yesterday we picked him up from scout camp where he's been working for a couple months...

and we went on a hike...

I got some new skirts and my favorite one is the only one i can't take on my mission with me. lame. but its ok, emma will take care of it.

I had raspberries on my cereal this morning mmmm.

I've been very emotional lately.

18 months is a long time. thats like going through the whole baby thing twice, not that I know what that feels like but timewise it works.

stressing stressing stressing out. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER HARRY POTTER

HARRY POTTER VI COMES OUT TONIGHT!!!!! [the half blood prince]

and in honor, please watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4

SISTER WISE!

I got my call on Thursday this past week, the 11th. What is awesome is that when I wrote the previous entry about being anxiously waiting...that was the day they did it all! how awesome?!

So, I'm headed to the Russia St. Petersburg mission! and am soooo excited!!!

"Have you heard? Theres a rumor in St. Petersburg! Have you heard? Sister Wise is preaching through the streets!"

I report to the MTC on August 26th [which is the same day I left for Ukraine last summer] Ukraine has prepared me a lot for this call, I wont have culture shock, I know I love Borsch and some foood, I love tea. haha its great! and I know a little russian, I can read and write in it, i just dont understand much. But thats what the MTC is for.

When I got my call I was sooo excited and freaking out and just shaking. The spirit was so strong. It was a beautiful moment to have so many people who care about me there, even my family through skype :)

So now afterwards I have this awesome little speech I wish I'd said but at the time I was just too excited and anxious and only said like three things. BUT it goes like this: On Tuesday we had a devo with Pres. Eyring and he talked about how the climbs that God gives us aren't meant for us to climb alone. [And then I'd add] that all you have been with me on this climb and I am so grateful for the help and company because you were needed. And now its time to move on to another climb. I love you all.

something like that. oh well. whoever goes on here will get to hear it now.

I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but now I have to study for my Physiology Exam on Respiration and Digestion. ahhhhhh