the time has come, the walrus said...

to talk of many things, of shoes and ships and ceiling wax and cabbages and kings..."

wow. a week and a day from my departure to the land down under. my mind and heart are racing as i think about all that lies ahead for me these next 6 months. how do i prepare for something when i have no idea what to expect? these last few days have been happy days, but they've been hard days. i've cried SO much for things i'll miss... my family, one of my best friend's weddings, my friends, my girls, my job, my sweet sisters, my own room... and then i think of all the things i'll get to experience, one of the most beautiful places in the world, living in constant community, learning and growing into a woman after God's heart, becoming more confident and sure in who i am and who i'm not, learning how to love better and stronger... to look more like my Jesus. it's just tough. my heart hurts. i'm so excited but i'm so sad.

in my last few days at home i've really seen just how special my friends and family are to me. it's been difficult allotting enough time to spend with everyone... so many coffee dates and lunch and dinner dates. i want to see everyone before i leave, but also rest and have some time to soak things in. i have moved out of my apartment officially and seen how much crap i had accumulated over 4.5 years of college. i threw away a lot of stuff and downsized and simplified my life a little bit. feels nice. i can't wait to come home and have my own apartment and to stay put for awhile. but for now, the Lord has called me elsewhere. i am nervous, but i am rested and assured in my God.

i cannot wait to meet the people i will be doing life with for the next 6 months. i kinda hope they all remind me of my friends at home in different ways. might make the transition easier.

tomorrow i am having a spa day with my mom and then my going away party will occur! i always love my birthday parties because my friends all come from different phases of life and are all together in one place. tomorrow night will be the same thing... all friends from different places + my parents will be there. i cannot wait to spend some quality time loving on the people that i love the most. you don't get better friends than the one's i have. they're my family. my closest people. ahhhh i am going to miss them so!

anyways. i'm sure i'll be updating again soon, but for now, that's all i got.

much love