Tiffany: 6 months. 3 suitcases.

If you aren't impressed by the title, then you must not know me very well. It is epic! I would usually take two suitcases home from school for the weekends. I patted myself on the back for this one! Let’s talk about how unbelievable this is. I had to pack a heavy wool coat, a trench length rain jacket, scarves, hats, boots, jewelry, makeup, and clothes for six months, and I made it with about 130 pounds! The two big suitcases are almost packed to the max 51 pounds, and my carry on suitcase is about 30 pounds at the moment. I spent a few days this week organizing and preparing for the big pack. I picked and organized my jewelry box and makeup bag, decided on which scarves, hats, gloves, and boots to take, and made piles of clothes that were “gotta go”, “need to go”, and “would be really cool if it fit.” “Would be really cool if it fit” pile sadly didn’t make the cut. After three days of strategically organizing, I laid my piles and piles of things in the floor and the magical packing wizard made it all fit. Thanks, Daddy! I’m going to have to fly him to London to pack me up to leave. Some days my over-planned, intensely organized, and extremely prepared tendencies come in handy.

Packing=Check!
Yes, we had Christmas last Saturday! Our tree has been up since October 1:)

Everyone has been asking me if I’m excited and/or nervous. I’m both! I’m extremely excited about starting this chapter of my life and for all of the fun memories ahead; however, if I wasn’t a little nervous I would be crazy. Moving to a foreign country without any family or friends for six months is a big deal, so of course I’m a little scared. I do have the peace of knowing that this is what I’m supposed to be doing and that God has big plans for me ahead!

My first real “see you in April” was a couple of weeks ago in Starkville. Half of my friends left and I just yelled bye like normal, but when they left I broke down crying in the parking lot. It hit me that I wouldn’t see them until the spring. Missing everyone is going to be the big challenge for this leg of my journey. I don’t think I would handle the distance as well if it wasn’t for technology. I have Facebook, Twitter, email, Skype, and this blog, so I won’t be out of touch with anyone with a computer. My parents are going to introduce my adorable, low-tech grandfather to Skype soon. I’m sure that I will have some great stories from that experience.

Pa is not pumped about my trip, but he's excited for me anyway.

Saying bye to my family Sunday is going to be difficult, but I’m positive that the next few months will fly by and my time away will be completely worth the trouble. Tab will be seven months pregnant when I get home, so she won’t even look the same! If anyone is bored in the next six months, please feel free to call my mother to chat about life, the family, or Christmas. I’m glad that Tab is pregnant to take mom’s mind off of me being gone! (Another example of God’s perfect timing!) I’m all packed, so now I get to hang out with my family until my flight Sunday!