On Sunday night, I learned that my cousin Natalie is engaged to her Navy boyfriend Nathan. This is shocking news for several reasons. First, she is only one month older than me, which means that she is only eighteen years old at the moment. Second, her sister just barely got married in July of this year. Third, as far as I know, Natalie has met her fiance only a few times in person; he has been stationed in Florida for the past several months. They communicated by text message until he came home to Utah recently for a few weeks - and now she's got The Rock. And last, she and Nathan are moving to Washington State after they get married.
Now here's the good news: they are getting married on January 24th, 2009 - the day after my nineteenth birthday! You may be wondering why that's news at all, not to mention good news. It is good news because I have decided to not serve a mission; I may serve later, but I will not be serving from age nineteen to twenty-one. Therefore, her marriage will be a distraction for my relatives, and I may not receive as much (negative) attention for not serving! When I heard this, I breathed a sweet sigh of relief.
But it gets even better. My mother and her sisters went to "Swiss Days" (a craft fair of sorts) this weekend, and this is where the news of Natalie's impending wedding was divulged. Other family topics were discussed as well - including me and a possible mission. My mother said to her sisters, "Actually, Drew doesn't really want to go on a mission. In fact, he has decided to not go." All I can say is that I never would've had the courage to admit that to my relatives until the time came that it was already obvious that I wouldn't be serving. It's something that I stress and think about alot, and I especially worry about telling friends and neighbors in my ward. Judgment, it sometimes seems, is inevitable. Anyway, the reaction? My aunts responded positively; not positively as in they don't want me to serve, but as in they support my right to make my own decision. "I wish for him to go, but I don't think that any young man should be serving if he doesn't have his whole heart in it; I don't want to force him, because that's not a good situation," was my mother's follow-up statement. According to my mom, her sisters concurred. Obviously, this is great news because now that my relatives (at least my aunts, who will predictably inform their families) know that I won't be serving they most likely won't bother or badger me about the 'Why?" question. I'm frustrated that I'm not able to divulge certain information now, but I have full confidence that all will be revealed (and work out) in the end.
Isn't that just great news?!
Remember Remember
8 years ago
3 comments:
Welcome to the blogosphere!
I had some good experiences on my mission and I would hesitate to say that I wouldn't go if I could do it all over again, but at the same time I envy you up-and-coming young folk who seem to be figuring yourselves out a lot sooner than I did.
Best wishes for the future! I'm looking forward to getting to know you better through your blog.
It is always good when family either understands or supports our decisions in life.
Drew I am flattered that you would like to use me as a distraction! As you probably already know though I will not be getting married in the temple. Therefore, the pressure for you to serve anyways is going to be completly off your shoulders. It will all be on mine. I'm sorry I didn't tell you on my own. I wanted too tell the whole family in person at a party it just didn't happen that way so I am apologizing now. Another thing, when my mom told the sisters that we wouldn't be getting married in the temple she also got a good response. It makes me feel like our family actually cares about us!!! I love you Drew, you always have been and always will be my best friend and favorite cousin. Don't tell the others!
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