Goodbyes

Today was the departure day... It was nerve wracking, I felt sick to my stomach, but I remained calm. I'm now on the first of three flights that will take me to my first stop... those who know and love me know which stop that is. :) I love being paranoid and secretive - I feel like a spy. Alias, baby!

Well, I feel confident - at least more confident - that this is where I am supposed to be. This is where the adventure begins! I heard from several different sources that I will be so different when I come home again. Mixed feelings on that score. I know that I am happy with "me," but I don't know if there is a better (or worse) "me" after this adventure is over. That is enough worrying about that. I understand now more than ever that I need to be worrying about me in this moment and not worry about the future. God has it all laid out for me and if I worry I know I'll screw it all up. So, I will worry about the fact that my battery loses power much faster than I had hoped, which means that I will need to plug it in soon (where? my nose?) I will also worry about the fact that my tukas gets sore after only an hour or so of sitting in the same position. Considering the duration of this flight (2 hours) is only a fraction of my flight time, I'm in for a treat... Grrr... It's a good thing that mom made me pack that hot water bottle.

I don't feel much like a spy anymore. I'm sure spies have buns of steel. THAT would not be me. I think my buns are made of homemade cookies - its just a shame when you sit on them.

By the way, by the time this blog reaches you it is likely that I will already be past the Atlanta airport and on my way to the next layover (Grrr....). I decided that each blog will include an "Emily was here" clause, which I find reasonable and I'm not so paranoid that I'm not even going to tell the world that I'm going to some city located in that one country in the southern region of that one continent. See? Totally trusting. I think the world is a wonderful place where everyone is another's family.... "Hi stranger on the plane, we should exchange Christmas cards at the next stop, whaddya say? ... no? You're going to do what to my where? .. Oh, I know you don't mean that.... you don't have to take that tone with me, I'm only spending Christmas away from home and I will defintately miss the first snowfall of the season, and the single most wonderful ski trip on the planet! (Sorry again, Sis'!)

Since writing the above I have since arrived to my first destination. I am happy to see Che. He is one of those people that as soon as I see him I can’t help but want to reflect the bright happy smile he always has on his face. His parents are fabulous people too. We are going tomorrow to buy toys to give to the poor kids for Christmas – like Operation Christmas Child – so that should be interesting… toy shopping. J Maybe I will find something for myself!