A year ago and then some...

I can no longer say "A year ago today I was knocking on doors in humid, sweaty Mississippi." July 30th marked 1 year since I was released from being a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And now, all I can say is "A year ago today I was a normal person." But wait a minute...we, as Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people, right? So, I guess I'm not "normal." I'm peculiar. :) I want to do better with spreading the gospel as a member missionary. I've done some things here and there, helped a few people on my merry little way, but I want to do much, MUCH more. I MISS being a missionary A LOT. And in some ways, it doesn't really feel like a whole year has passed. I'll always cherish the memories and eternal friendships I made during that year and a half. This last year hasn't been easy. In fact, the transition back was a very hard and painful process, and every once in a while I'm swept back to those same feelings of loss and heart-ache I had when I laid my head on my pillow the night of July 30th, 2008 and realized that the next morning would be the start of the first day I would not wear my name tag. Tears streamed down my cheeks that night as I realized how much harder it was going to be to keep my personal relationship with my Savior and Heavenly Father strong and connected. It has been a battle, but I've felt their comfort and support through every trial I've had to face during this last year. And I'm happy to say, I still know that the Gospel is true; it was restored by Jesus Christ himself through the boy, Joseph Smith, who was chosen to be the first prophet in this last dispensation. I know that through the Gospel of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end we will get back to our Savior and Father in Heaven. I know the Book of Mormon, Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price are true and each testify of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. And I will not let the world convince me otherwise.