Hello February!

So now it is February, not sure when it snuck up on me but it is here none the less. From today there are 50 days until I enter the MTC. Yes I am counting down, and yes preparing and going on my mission is pretty much all I think about. I am getting really excited and a little nervous. Recently I have done some shopping, gotten some shots, read/studied preparing to go to the temple book, already been assigned to speak in church before I leave, and other odds and ends here and there.

Other than mission stuff I have been working at the preschool that I worked at before. I am so grateful that they let me work there again knowing I wouldn't be here for very long. They have been great to give me a many hours as possible. It has been so much fun working with kids again, also to see all my two year olds from my class before growing taller and talking a whole lot more. They look at me and think they know me but they can't remember why they know me. A few of them remember me though so it has been fun.

So a really cool coincidence at work is that a little by from my class last year started at the preschool without speaking any English. I spent a lot of time with him and trying to make him feel comfortable and safe in a new strange environment. So once he was at school he was attached to me for several weeks before he was really comfortable. I also talked with his parents a lot and well the cool part is that they are from ROMANIA! I was so excited when I remembered that. When I was working in my old classroom the other day his mom dropped him off and it was the first time I had seen her since being back and she got so excited when I told her how I was going to Romania. She has offered to help me and said that she will answer any questions I have. It is very comforting that the only Romanians I know just happen to be some of the nicest people I know.

I'm so excited for my opportunity to go on a mission and serve the Lord. I am really blessed to have so much support and encouragement from everyone around me! Thanks

The Mail Came with a Big Envelope!

So today I walked to the mail box thinking to myself... I at least hope the mail is here so then even if my call isn't here I don't have to worry about it for two more days... well so much for that thought! There was a big envelope addressed to Sister Amanda Dawn Holman. So I will be serving in the Romania Bucharest Mission. I Report to the MTC in Provo, UT on March 24th! The mission is Romanian Speaking and here is a map for you viewing pleasure.



From the look on the map that I got in my little mission book it, the mission includes Moldova also.

So now I have a whole lot of preparation to get going on because I only have about 2 months! I'm not sure when it will really sink in because right now Romania doesn't quite seem real to me.

Baby Evelyn!

Here are a few pictures from my visit up to my brother's. This is my niece Evelyn she is 10 months old now, and the cutest little thing ever! She is a very smiley baby and can really turn it on for a camera.

Sorry... Finally an Update!

So I don't do very well with keeping up with this blog. So here is a quick update on where my life is right now. Since my last post quite a bit has been going on. So here is a list of some of the things that have gone on...

~Came back from Japan (went through withdrawal)
~Started my 6th Semester at BYU-Idaho
~Worked at the Copy Spot on Campus
~Went to class and did lots of homework
~Lived in a house this semester instead of an apartment (had a yard and everything)
~Went to Oregon for the first time
~Performed Japanese Traditional Puppets with our teachers from Japan in Oregon
~Hung out with friends and had lots of fun
~Went to Princeton, New Jersey to perform puppets
~Visited my cousin Jenna (in NJ) and met her baby Carter (who was absolutely adorable)
~Went to class and did lots homework
~Practiced making new Japanese foods from this summer
~Went to Utah for Thanksgiving and stayed with family and ate lots of wonderful food
~Submitted my MISSION PAPERS!
~Survived finals and projects
~Finished my 6th semester at BYU-Idaho
~Visited family in Utah for a few days
~Flew home to Missouri
~Shopped for last minute Christmas presents
~Put up and decorated a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve (in true Holman fashion)
~Had Christmas with my mom, dad and lil' brother
~Flew to Massachusetts and visited friends
~Drove up to New Hampshire to stay with my older brother and meet my niece Evelyn
~Flew to Kentucky and stayed one night with my sister and her family
~Drove home with my mom to Missouri

... and that brings us to now I am back in Missouri hoping to start work soon and waiting for my mission call to come in the mail. I promise I will post where I am going when I get it. I will try hard to keep this more up to date.