Month 1

I really hope that you aren't stuck home on summer vacation when your missionary leaves. I really do. Sometimes the best way to deal with change is to have some sort of distraction. No no, I don't mean find a rebound for a month, I mean do something totally different in your life that you either need to or want to and focus on that. For me, I had to get ready for my freshman year in college, and I left about 2 weeks after my missionary. There was so much going on that I had to deal with more directly that got my mind off things. So, go and change your life. Get off the couch ya bum and do something with purpose. Learn to play a musical instrument. Go to a singles ward instead of a family ward. Give service during the extra hours you have on your hands. Or do as I did and go away to college.

Month 2 - Poetry

Aaah...mushy, mushy, mushy. So much fun to write sappy love poetry about the future, about the past, about possibilities. Because isn't that what your missionary is? A wonderful possibility. So write a poem and keep a copy.

Month 3 - Saturday Night Freedom

For all those dramatic, yet sincerely emotional girls in the world, stop making a missionary shrine, stop staying at home and dreaming. I know, I really do know that that is something you just want to do, but hey, its the real world. He has a long way to go, and I'm sorry, but you'll make yourself tired of him faster. Unbelievable, right? Nope, all too true. Most girls who are obsessive with their missionaries get hitched within the first 6 months. Solution? Live your life! Go out every single Saturday night this month, whether its with girlfriends, guy friends, family or *gasp* a date. Welcome to the real world...a human heart will die pining...which means your love will die along with it. Keep your heart strong by letting it enjoy life. Have fun!

Month 4 - What Will I Wait For?

Oh my heck, 4 months is so long...ugh...do I really have to do this for 20 more months? Yep...but its an easier pill to take if you recognize what exactly you are willing to wait for. 2 years is a long time, and you now have a glimpse of what it is really like. So, make a list this month. Everytime you think of something that is worth waiting for, write it down. Make some things generic, like true love, eternal happiness; then some things specific like: a free car, a man who does the dishes after dinner. Or my favorite...all those little qualities that only your missionary has. I promise that there will be some things that will change in the next 20 months, but the essentials will stay. Its easier to wait when you know exactly what you are waiting for, and trust me...it will get hazy.

Month 5 - Baby Missionary

Ain't he cute?? Stay in touch with your missionary's family, and learn some embarassing stories that you've been dying to hear. Ask your missionary's family if you can see his baby pictures, and get stories of him as a baby, toddler, little boy, etc. Sometimes the best way of understanding a person is knowing who they were before they got to where they are now. Month 

6 - Premie Favorites

Do you remember all those favorite things your missionary loved to do, to eat, to watch, to experience? Well, get a list of as many things as you can recall, then spend this month doing as many of them as possible, even if it isn't really your thing. Its a pyschological way of staying in tune with him.

Month 7 - Mission Research

Want to know more about your missionary's mission?? Guess what, every mission has their own website. You can find any of them at LDS Missions.net. Now, learn away.

Month 8 - The Sound of My Voice

I'm pretty sure your missionary is forgetting the beautiful sound of your voice by now. So send him a tape recording. Talk, sing, laugh, walk around and introduce him to people, or even do kariokie (sp?). Word of warning though, not all mission presidents allow this sort of contact, so find out before hand to prevent any disapointments.

Month 9 - Missionary Movie Night

Maybe you shouldn't watch these all in one sitting, but you can watch and enjoy. Invite your friends, or indulge all alone. Here are some missionary/sappy Mormon movies you could watch. 

Other Side of Heaven
God's Army
The Best Two Years
The RM
Charly (...lotsa tissues)
Work and the Glory

Month 10 - Sappy Love Songs

Make a collection of sappy love songs to play on those melancholy, I want to be loved days. Be sure to include...The Song that you and your missionary share. Here are some ideas:

Month 11 - Walk Down Memory Lane

All those times we've spent together....*sigh. Its time to do those things you used to do with your missionary. Go to that favorite spot, favorite restaurant, the place where you shared your first kiss...and if its on the living room couch, so be it. As you do all these things, just think of how wonderful it would be to do them again. Promise yourself that if its possible, you will.

Month 12 - Wrist Reminders

Yay! One year! Write your missionary one long...anniversary type letter. And, its time to buy yourself something. Wrist Bands..the silicone kind. These may not be your style, but they are so much fun to make, and totally cheap. Just go to Shanrene and design your own. 

Month 13 - Celebrate Good Times to Come

Its what I like to call a party of toasts. Party for optimists. A Hope party. A Here's-to-the-Future Party. Yes, you got it, throw a party. Big, small, family, friends, who cares. Its all about celebrating life, and more especially, all the good things life has in store. Discover what your family and friends look forward to, or dream about. Then remember all those things you look forward to and dream about.

Month 14 - Beginning to End

Find a slow weekend, sit down with a bowl of some sort of treat and read all the letters your missionary has sent you, from start to finish. Don't skim, read all of it. Things will pop out at you that you never paid attention to before, or you'll remember how you felt when you recieved some of them. This might take a while, even a few days of on and off reading. But do it all, then afterward, thank your lucky stars you don't have to go back and relive any of those past months again.

Month 15 - Do You Remember When...

 Yay! Group reminicing. Great fun. Get together with old friends, your family, your missionary's family, or whomever at different times, and play the Remember-When game. I've noticed that if you put multiple memories together, you can recall more things, or at least recall things in better detail.

Month 16 - Adopt a Missionary

There are a lot of fellas out there who don't have girls waiting for them. Guys where their family's aren't behind them, and they are sacrificing all they love for a higher love for the gospel. This month, do something good for one of those missionaries. Go to LDS Missionary Care.com and do some good for someone else.

Month 17 - Delayed Letter

I have done lots of these. You know how you aren't really supposed to be all mushy and lovey and distracting? But you really really want to? Well, go ahead and write a long sappy letter full of pet names and when-you-get-home's. Just don't send it. Tuck it away until your missionary comes home and let him read it then. I'm sure he'll appreciate it just as much even if it is delayed.

Month 18 - Chocolate Goodbye

Wow..3/4 of the way done. I'm impressed. It is time to do something that technically you could have been doing the last year and a half, but if you are like me, you didn't try too hard. It is time to get buff, lose those extra pounds, put on some muscle, flatten your stomach, or whatever you personally feel you need to work on to improve yourself physically. 6 months is a good time to start working out, because there is time to reach perfection before your missionary gets back. Besides, its nice to have a goal...and what is a better goal than knocking the socks off a wonderful guy who hasn't seen you in, like...forever?

So go...grab an apple instead of chocolate, the mourning period is over, the Lets-Get-More-Beautiful-Than-Before period has begun.

I'm no expert, but you should probably start with 3 things.

Measure your body fat %.
Set up a work out routine.Clean out the refrigerator.t


Month 19 - Hallmark Moment

Have you every gone the the card section of the grocery store and just browsed? Well, find all the cute miss you cards that you want to send him and send him one...don't go overboard. You might have already done this, but its fun to go and look through cards with the full purpose of finding the "missing you" ones....so I'm a tad cheesy...what girl isn't?

Month 20 - Book of Mormon Heaven

So...I didn't do this, but I know it is not too late. Let us read the entire Book of Mormon this month. There's a few months left and its time to refocus on the spiritual side of things. He is coming home soon, sure, but don't forget the whole point to why he's been gone, and why you had to wait in the first place. Read! Enjoy! Think! Grow! Remember!

Month 21 - Go on Vacation

I decided to go on a two-week road trip after my winter semester in college got over with one of my best girl friends. We drove hundreds of miles and remembered how big the world was. I think that oftentimes our worlds get so small and all consuming that we forget that there are bigger things out there. Your missionary is almost done, but his work, and Christ's work, are not over yet. Go out and spend a few days getting reconnected with the bigger picture. Somehow it makes the past 20 months seem so insignificant. (And don't kid yourself, when compared to more important things...your wait really is)

Month 22 - Work Work Work

So vacations over, and you have TIME on your hands. Time to kill because your missionary comes home soon. Time that will move ever so slowly...like always. Never fear...work is here! So basically your only hope is throwing yourself into something that gives monetary results...for two reasons: you have the time...and for month 23.

Month 23 - One Sweet Baby Doll

So, you have $$$. Good for you. It is time girls to dress up and spruce up. Go out and go shopping! It is really girly I know, but I for one want to look especially attractive...even...hot...when my missionary gets back. So go get a new outfit or two. Indulge in a manicure. Plan the perfect look. And if this is too early for you, work some more and go shopping next month. Just don't procrastinate too long.

Month 24 - Freak Out

Two words:

freak out.....its over...the end...all done...two years...hello missionary....he's mine....so long....kiss me now,