Keely received her mission call on Friday, June 20, 2014. She had been waiting for the last few days for it to arrive. Actually she has been waiting for it to arrive since she was about 6 years old but after submitting the paperwork and being interviewed by our Bishop and Stake President, she knew it was due anytime now. She checked the mail box diligently on Wednesday and Thursday but agonizingly,the packet wasn't there. Friday morning she urged herself out of bed to go check the mailbox.Imagine her surprise when the mail box itself was gone. She found our mail box in a ditch in front of our house, the apparent victim of a random baseball bat attack. Keely was heartbroken.She tried to fix the mail box but to no avail.What if the mail lady had already driven by and seeing no box available, had simply continued on her route? What if when she did arrive she would see no way to deliver the letter and ignore our place? Keely then called me at work. I did my best to calm her fears and offer a few suggestions. In the midst of our conversation, a little miracle happened. The mail lady drove up at that moment. Keely was able to greet her at the roadside. I could hear Keely through the phone, "I've been waiting all week for this and now we don't have a mailbox." At that moment I knew my daughter was holding "the call". I could hear the change in her voice, not to calm but to enthusiasm. There was a lilt in her tone. After all these years of wanting and waiting for this moment, it was finally here. So there stood Keely, amidst a broken mailbox and strewn garbage from the night before pranksters, clutching the most precious piece of mail she has ever received. In my mind's eye, I see her there looking radiant among the worldly garbage tossed carelessly around her as she holds the white envelope that she has longed to have. And in my heart, I feel proud, scared, excited, hopeful and overwhelming love for my daughter.And in my head, I realize a new chapter has begun.
