Final Preparations

I'm getting excited!!

Though a lot is going to happen in these final days ...

Recently, I've been chatting with a new friend who is helping prepare for my arrival and will help with my transition to life in Chiang Mai.  She's given me some great advice about what to bring/pack and been a wonderful encouragement for these final days. Besides taking vitamin C and taking good care of myself the next couple of days, she recommending building my RAFT with people by ... 

Reconciling with anyone I need to clear the air with

Affirming people and the significance of my relationship with them

saying Farewell ... be sure to say goodbye to people, places and stuff (and pets) that I will miss, and finally

Thinking destination (because, to quote my new friend, "we are waiting for you and we already love you and can't wait to know you!")

so that's the RAFT and I truly think that it is a constructive way to say goodbye USA, hello Thailand.  I also believe that I have already been trying to do these, without really thinking about it.  My dear friends, I hope I have reached out to you recently to do the first 3 ... if I haven't, I sincerely apologize and time is getting away from me ... please don't hesitate to reach out to me instead.

I love you all so much!!!

10 days and Counting

Well, it's beginning to feel like crunch time for me as in 10 short days I'll be flying towards my new life in Thailand. Part of me just wants to curl up in bed, fall asleep, and then wake up all settled in in Chiang Mai. Unfortunately life doesn't work like that (at least that I'm aware of), so I'll just keep sorting through, organizing, and packing stuff to either take or put in storage.  

I know that this is where God wants me for the next 2 years ... too much has fallen into the right place to write off as just 'coincidence' or 'wishful thinking.' Sure there have been some bumps in the road (my torn acl, my brother's kidney disease, the ongoing struggle to raise financial support ...), but God continues to provide for my needs, and the needs of my family, in His timing. As the butterflies in my stomach try to wreck their havoc today, and in the coming days, I look to God to calm them and me as I make final preparations.

To God be the glory!