And here she is. Brittany Allen no longer exists, from now on it's Sister Allen
(or Sister Crister as I have affectionately chosen to call her).That's right. Sister Crister left January 6, 2010. A day I have now proclaimed as Doom's Day. The day that's been dreaded for the last four months. According to me anyway. I know she feels differently about it. In fact, she was so ready to go she wouldn't even let us stop in front of the Spirit Prison, I mean MTC, to take pictures. We were waiting at the light to turn into it and while we (and by we I mostly mean my mother) were trying to persuade her to park and take pictures in front, her response was "I'll be here for a while and have plenty of chances to take pictures in front of the sign myself and send them to you." Yeah. Rude. If I'm being honest though, it was just another one of our efforts to prolong the sendoff and I think she just saw right through that. She's too good.
(Right before we got in the car to drop her off. It's not the best picture of us but it will have to do.)
In effort to give myself an attitude adjustment about the whole ordeal I've decided to make a list. A list of 10 reasons why Britt serving a mission is a wonderful thing. So here goes:
10. I won't have constantly be giving her bites and tastes of my food for the next 18 months. As she likes to say, she's a Bite Person, which I hate.
9. It gives me the chance to have my own room. Which is awesome.
8. It'll force me to finally go out of my way to meet new peeps.
7. I will take more pictures because now I have the reason to send them to her. I constantly say how I want to take more pictures and document things, but never do.
6. I'll get to recieve actual mail and have someone to literally write too. Which is fun because we're in the generation of instant gratification so no one does that anymore. There's nothing like opening an envelope personally addressed to YOU.
5. I'll get to hear funny stories told by her about the Black Jacks and other southern adventures. I hear it feels like a whole different country down south.
4. I'll have my own personal eye-witness to the Gospel is changing people's lives. Hearing stories like that always strengthens my own testimony.I know there are people in Mississippi waiting just for her.
3. The Lord will bless my family in many ways while we give her our full support. Missionary family blessings are the greatest. I already know because of when Dan was in Thailand. This time around we're hoping one blessing might come in the form of a new sister-in-law.
2. It will make me grow into a better person and move forward to a new phase of life, while having an amazing example to look to, Sister Crister/Allen. It is something that I personally needed to help me keep progressing.
1. Brittany will grow so much it's almost unbelievable because she's already one of the very best people I know. She is the light I look to guide me when I'm uncertain or wavering. She's the best sister but more importantly, my best friend. And this is all pre-mission. By the time she get's back, I swear she'll have to be translated.
Now I have to say, I think that actually helped. I guess her serving a mission in such a horrible thing. In fact, I would go as far as saying it's a great and amazing thing. (You should try it Dad.)
Okay I swear I'm almost finished. I just want to say thanks to everyone who has supported and is supporting Sister Allen and our family. I personally have felt lots of love from a lot of wonderful people (you know who you are). Thanks for making this bittersweet time seem more sweet than bitter.
