Farewell, sunshine state!
I'm sitting here in the bedroom of my youth, surrounded by *hopefully* everything I'll need for an entire year...yikes! So far, I only have two huge bags and one carry-on bag. How is it that all of my clothes fit into these things? Witchcraft, I tell ya. Well, witchcraft AND those air-suction-tight bags! Pretty sweet invention.
My farewell tour was a good time. I went to Panama City for the Babbinos, Alabama for the Braswells (my sister, bro-in-law and niece), Jacksonville, FCC, and good ole home. I'm amazed at how many hugs I've gotten...and a lot from people who don't normally do the whole "hug" thing. I feel quite encouraged :) My grandparents were a lot of fun to visit. They both officially forbid me to marry a British fellow. I think my grandpa said something like: "don't even bring one of them over back with you." My parents were with me, and my Dad started joking around about how I'm a terrible daughter to leave him for a year, to which Vera (my grandmother) quickly and sternly added, "Well, at least she isn't shipping off to Vietnam getting shot at for 14 months, Jim!!!" Haha...I guess Dad forgot about his stint in the Marines. Silly Dad. So yes, it's true. I'll be gone for less time, and hopefully be shot at far less than my father when he was my age.
So...am I ready to go? I think so. Am I excited? YESSS! The more I sit here in Florida, the more I think "sheesh...I can't wait to get out of this heat!" If in nothing else, I find encouragement in the fact that I'm leaving this oven of a state.
Right after I post this, I'm closing down all of my computer-ish things, packing up the last tidbits of my life, and heading to my parents amazing Southern Baptist church. After that, we're headed to VIncent's Italian Restaurant (it's a Sunday lunch family fave) and then....Orlando International Airport! I'll have a layover in DC, then I'll be in Indianapolis until September 12. On that day, Amy from Montana and I will fly to AMSTERDAM (!!!!!!) for like an hour layover, and then go on to Manchester, England where we will then transfer all of our junk to a train to Nottingham. For a year. Yowza!
Guess I better go finish packing. I love you all!
My farewell tour was a good time. I went to Panama City for the Babbinos, Alabama for the Braswells (my sister, bro-in-law and niece), Jacksonville, FCC, and good ole home. I'm amazed at how many hugs I've gotten...and a lot from people who don't normally do the whole "hug" thing. I feel quite encouraged :) My grandparents were a lot of fun to visit. They both officially forbid me to marry a British fellow. I think my grandpa said something like: "don't even bring one of them over back with you." My parents were with me, and my Dad started joking around about how I'm a terrible daughter to leave him for a year, to which Vera (my grandmother) quickly and sternly added, "Well, at least she isn't shipping off to Vietnam getting shot at for 14 months, Jim!!!" Haha...I guess Dad forgot about his stint in the Marines. Silly Dad. So yes, it's true. I'll be gone for less time, and hopefully be shot at far less than my father when he was my age.
So...am I ready to go? I think so. Am I excited? YESSS! The more I sit here in Florida, the more I think "sheesh...I can't wait to get out of this heat!" If in nothing else, I find encouragement in the fact that I'm leaving this oven of a state.
Right after I post this, I'm closing down all of my computer-ish things, packing up the last tidbits of my life, and heading to my parents amazing Southern Baptist church. After that, we're headed to VIncent's Italian Restaurant (it's a Sunday lunch family fave) and then....Orlando International Airport! I'll have a layover in DC, then I'll be in Indianapolis until September 12. On that day, Amy from Montana and I will fly to AMSTERDAM (!!!!!!) for like an hour layover, and then go on to Manchester, England where we will then transfer all of our junk to a train to Nottingham. For a year. Yowza!
Guess I better go finish packing. I love you all!