Posted by: Jenn
I can't believe it has come down to the final few days before we leave. It seems like we have been preparing for so long now and there hasn't been any outcome. Now the outcome is finally here, and it feels so surreal. I can't explain the emotions I am feeling right now! Excitement, nervousness, anxiety, overwhelmed...
How does one go from having a fully furnished apartment, an engineering job, and a pretty stable lifestyle, to having a few things packed in boxes to be stored for a year and specific belongings packed in one backpack to be carried around the world for a year? I am sitting here on this fluffy comforter, with goose down pillows staring at this one huge backpack, while smelling delicious country fried steak on the stove, wondering how I got to this point. I know for as long as we have been talking about this and planning I should be fully prepared mentally - but I don't think something like this really hits you until you start saying goodbye to family and wondering when you will feel this at home again. I know this trip will be amazing and I know it is an opportunity that can't be passed up. However, I can't help but feel a little, ok a lot, scared of what this adventure holds and how I will go this long without seeing my family and friends and feeling "stable". Therefore, all I can do right now is be as prepared as possible with what we are taking and where we plan on going, which I think that we are; and be excited for this amazing opportunity and enjoy these last few days in the comfort of our homes with our families and friends.
With that said, we would like to thank our friends in Virginia for throwing us an amazing going away party.
I can't believe it has come down to the final few days before we leave. It seems like we have been preparing for so long now and there hasn't been any outcome. Now the outcome is finally here, and it feels so surreal. I can't explain the emotions I am feeling right now! Excitement, nervousness, anxiety, overwhelmed...
How does one go from having a fully furnished apartment, an engineering job, and a pretty stable lifestyle, to having a few things packed in boxes to be stored for a year and specific belongings packed in one backpack to be carried around the world for a year? I am sitting here on this fluffy comforter, with goose down pillows staring at this one huge backpack, while smelling delicious country fried steak on the stove, wondering how I got to this point. I know for as long as we have been talking about this and planning I should be fully prepared mentally - but I don't think something like this really hits you until you start saying goodbye to family and wondering when you will feel this at home again. I know this trip will be amazing and I know it is an opportunity that can't be passed up. However, I can't help but feel a little, ok a lot, scared of what this adventure holds and how I will go this long without seeing my family and friends and feeling "stable". Therefore, all I can do right now is be as prepared as possible with what we are taking and where we plan on going, which I think that we are; and be excited for this amazing opportunity and enjoy these last few days in the comfort of our homes with our families and friends.
With that said, we would like to thank our friends in Virginia for throwing us an amazing going away party.
We are so happy that all you guys made it out to see us off on our last night in Blacksburg. You all will truly be missed and we really hope that you can come to visit us somewhere along the way!
Pudd and Fat...there are not many words to explain the party you guys threw for us in Wilmington... :-) However, we had so much fun hanging out and we are looking forward to each of your visits overseas. Thank you for being such wonderful friends to Jonathan and for being supportive and excited for our crazy decision to be unemployed vagabonds!
Ms. Williams - thank you so much for letting us take over a few of your closets for storage :-) We are so grateful for that! And we can't thank you enough for the wonderful home cooked meals that we could enjoy during some of our last few days in the states. Thank you for all your prayers and support and we are looking forward to a visit from you!!!
Ms. Williams - thank you so much for letting us take over a few of your closets for storage :-) We are so grateful for that! And we can't thank you enough for the wonderful home cooked meals that we could enjoy during some of our last few days in the states. Thank you for all your prayers and support and we are looking forward to a visit from you!!!
Mr. Williams and Mary Beth - we were pretty concerned about what to do with Rosco (Jonathan's 7-foot boa), so we are so thankful that we have you guys to take good care of him for us! Also, thank you for letting us take over some attic and closet space. Your support has been amazing and we are excited for you guys to be able to join us somewhere along the way.
I feel so blessed that Jonathan has such a wonderful family.
I feel so blessed that Jonathan has such a wonderful family.
And lastly to my whole famn damily :-) I know you are soooo excited for us but can't help to feel worried and nervous. I can't thank you enough for caring as much as you do because I wouldn't be who I was today if you hadn't. We will try to log into skype as often as we can - I promise!!! I am so glad we got to spend so much time at home before we left and I can't wait to tell you about all the amazing places that we go. I love you all so much and thank you for supporting me in this decision to "run away" with Jonathan for a little while. We will scope out a good place for you all to come visit!!