the final countdown

Welp, the time is finally approaching.  After talking about it for what seems like endless months, the reality of heading back over the Atlantic is starting to hit me.  I feel ready, excited, scared, sad, and crazy from the roller coaster of emotions constantly playing through my head.  These are the hardest days for me - packing, getting everything squared away, and saying goodbye.  I am leaving Saturday to travel with my lovely family for a mini-vaca in beautiful Dallas, Texas before they drop me with Angie's family on Tuesday night.  Then Wednesday through Saturday will involve some packing, computer work, freaking out, and hopefully resting and relaxing before me and Angie board a plane to fly half way across the world to beautiful Africa on Saturday evening.  We have our visas (yay!), plane tickets (kind of....long story), and somehow I managed to fit most of this stuff into those two suitcases.  

Be praying that God makes mine and Angie's bags light as feathers so we don't have to pull anything out at the airport!  

I've been doing pretty good this week.  I feel a little more emotional than normal, but I've held it together pretty well.  That is until today.  I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I ended up in a heap on the kitchen floor bawling my eyes out.  Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to be going and I absolutely know it's what I'm supposed to do!  That doesn't mean I won't miss everyone at home terribly though.  I've been away for a year before, I know the feeling of missing important events in people's lives and even just the little things like going to the movies and indulging in popcorn and Raisinets with your favorite roomies (aka mom and dad).  It hurts my heart.  One thing I realized though was that I am beyond blessed with some of the most spectacular people in my life!  God definitely outdid Himself giving me the most amazing friends and family.  As I've been nostalgic and reflected on my life thus far, I've seen Him do this time and time again.  He just keeps giving me the most amazing mentors, friends, and church families through every twist and turn.  I am so undeserving and so grateful!!! I cannot gush enough about how much I appreciate every person who has impacted my life even if it's just through a kind word of encouragement.  I definitely would not be the person I am today if it weren't for all of you (and Jesus of course)!  I love you all and am already missing everyone!!  Please keep me in your prayers as traveling begins in just a couple days (Saturday), and I won't actually be in Africa until March 17th.  I will be missing and praying for each of you!!

P.S. - Why not cut off the rest of my hair before I go to Africa?!  I'm not a fan of selfies, but I wanted to share my new 'do with all of you.