Sitting on the floor of my room I look around at the chaos I have managed to create consisting of books, clothes, converters, maps, luggage tags, shoes (probably too many), neck pillows, stationary, scarves, lists, half packed suitcases, handbooks, journals, my bible, passport, and visa (which are probably the three most important items I will be packing).

 I am not sure yet if the state of denial in which i have so comfortably positioned myself in is a good or bad thing. The reality of seeing myself going to school in a different country that speaks a different language with not one person I know for an entire semester has just not settled in yet. I imagine it may hit me when I get to the airport and when it does I will be running full speed ahead right into a brick wall! Maybe it will just be like when Harry Potter and Ron are about to go to Hogwarts for the first time. I will be running for the brick wall and just before I hit it running as fast as my feet will take me, I will be landing in Pisa for my 2 week long orientation. Its not that I am not exited about going because I most definitely am, the whole concept just seems surreal to me at this point. Considering I will be on a plane to London three days from this exact moment I am sure reality will kick in soon enough.

I have enjoyed so much being home in Prescott and spending time with family and friends and just relaxing. Soaking up all the joy of Christmas and birthdays I could not have asked for a more special holiday season. I wanted to focus on my time here and not worry about where I would be or what I would be doing three weeks into the future. I have thought a lot about what school in Florence will be like or the people I will meet and the anxieties I will have. Doing this does not help very much at all. I should not project about the future as I only have a faint idea as to what the future has in store for me and I am trying hard to be okay with that. This is a challenge that I have been trying very hard to overcome. I do not like feeling unprepared for anything and i am trying to come to terms with the fact that I will most likely never feel prepared for this trip. I have been putting my worries and anxieties in God's hands, as he has called us to do.
I have feelings of wonder, excitement, nervousness, fear, anxiety, anticipation, and joy all mixed into one! I am trying to take it day by day and one step at a time :)