Saying Goodbye. . or See You Later!!

I guess I've been procrastinating as much as possible all and any goodbyes. . . I don't like them!! I have been trying too hard to convince myself it's not a hard thing and i'm just fine and I've been in this denial quite a while (plus it's been a little hard to believe I really am leaving when I've been going on so many vacations). But the days are growing shorter and time is ending of living at home and having a phone to call and just chat. I soon will be serving a mission for my Savior Jesus Christ, and although I am so eager and exciting and feeling like this is the best decision I could make (with the peace and comfort it is the right decision) the emotions have caught up to me and the denial can no longer be present, I'm leaving for 18 months!!!

Tonight I have been going through pictures to put in a small book to take with me and writing my favorite memories down that make me laugh -I know I will want this often when I get feeling down. HaHa I have had the best life!!! O my heavens I've just cried and cried because I truly have been so blessed and had the best life! I love my life!! I love everything about it -my family, my friends, my school, my opportunities, my talents, ME!!! etc etc etc

I know a mission won't be easy. . really I can't even prepare for what's ahead because I don't know all that is ahead. . and that's scary!! Really I feel like I'm almost stepping into the dark, but I know the Savior is always with me and looking back on my life I have NEVER been left alone! Never!! I have so much support from everyone and so many people cheering me on and praying for me I think it's merely impossible for me to fail :) truly!! And I will do my best!! I'm going to put forth my all and work my hardest!!

Life hasn't always been lolipops and gum drops for me though, even just this summer things have happened that make me question 'why?', but it's for experience and it's life! Life is so up and down. . . and really I LOVE IT! I don't love times when my feelings get hurt or feel sad, but it makes me stronger and I can help others more easily that are going through similar hard times!! That's what I'm grateful for and LOVE!

I would love to receive letters and updates from everyone, so I'm going to add my address on here. It will be hard not to have a phone I can call anytime with, but I'm just a hop skip letter away!!

I'll be in the MTC Until around September 15th-ish
Sister Allison Cope
Arizona Tucson Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

Then here is the Mission Office's address
Sister Allison Cope
Arizona Tucson Mission
1840 E River Rd Ste 102
Tucson, AZ 85718

Thanks for all your love and support everyone! I love you all very much and will miss you very much! But I'm ready now and excited for this new adventure!! The tears I now cry are grateful tears and happy ones!! I feel overwhelmed with blessings!!

*See You All Later*

On a White Sandy Beach in Hawaii!

Hawaii was GREAT this year! We went Geo Cashing (spelling?), had walks on the beach, caught crabs on the beach, and Mark just would pull up a chair and watch the waves (the pic of him is my favorite! -he just looked so small all alone there on the beach haha). Jodi smuggled coconuts for us to husk and eat, we went deep sea fishing and caught 1 fish after 11 hours (me and dad were the only ones who threw up. . . ) but we did see sharks Ahhh that were HUGE, me and jodi and kelli performed a 4th of July program that brought the house down :) We went to church with Mark Eubank, ate lots o yummy food, caught waves, and just had a great time being together!
Thanks mom and dad for the great trip!!!