So my very first blog post (since I got rid of my xanga in jr. high! ha ha!) I want to thank everyone for their yarps as I've been preparing to go on this journey. I keep telling everyone I'm excited because I don't really know what to say. Its probably closer to overwhelmed, but no one likes to hear that. :) I am thankful that this week I was able to help with VBS at my parents' church even though it was somewhat stressful and time consuming. It was a good distraction from how much I'm freaking out about leaving and how hard it is going to be to say goodbye to my family. I think it was a good distraction for my mom, too. I know this is going to be really hard on my family, especially when you think about how I will be graduated in less than a year and hopefully moved out.
Anyway, other firsts that I'm nervous about are my first international flight, being practically on my own in a foreign country for the first time, etc. This will also be the longest I've been away from my family, ever. Last summer was 3 months, and I've done that long before. It wasn't too bad, even though I was a little homesick. It may be harder this time because this will also be the first time I've missed Thanksgiving ever with my family and this will also be my family's first Thanksgiving without my grandpa. He passed away the first of May and I have a feeling that I will have to deal with a lot of emotions I suppressed when the funeral and everything were happening while I'm abroad. I'm confident that the Father will help me through that when the time comes, though.
On a lighter note, I am really excited for the new experiences and the new food and really fun clothes that I'll get to wear all the time. I'm also looking forward to making new friends. I keep marveling at the fact that when I pray for the new friends I'm going to make, the Father already knows who they are! Things to yarp for if you think about it: packing (that everything fits and I don't over-pack!), saying goodbye (especially for my dad because he has to work and can't take me to the airport), and obviously for unexciting and safe travel (hopefully no catastrophes!)
Love,
Kallie-Jo
