4 More Days!

So here I am sitting in my dad & step mom's media room while they all watch some old Star Trek movie. My dad, little sister & I have just drove all the way from Seattle, WA. to San Diego, CA. - in 21 hours! All I can say is that I am sooo grateful that I got the A/C fixed in my car last week.

All last week was filled with me packing up my room & packing up my bags for Aussie. Have I ever mentioned that I hate packing? Because I do, it's awful. Saturday Ben & I loaded up his truck full of everything in my room that I was not taking to Aussie with me & took it to my aunt's to be stored while I'm gone.

After that we headed to his house to have a going away dinner for me with his family & a couple people from our church. It was an odd feeling knowing that I would be going home to a practically empty room & that this would be my last night here at home with those that I love for the rest of the year - but it still hadn't fully sunk in yet.

The following morning at church our pastor brought me up front to pray for me during my time away - still not really real feeling. After service when I had to say goodbye to Ben's parents, my pastor, & my friends - that's when it hit me. Every time I looked at one of them I would cry. It was horrible.

Then Ben & I went back to my place to finish packing my bags & clean up my room. It was then that Ben gave me the best surprise he has ever given me: he told me that he was able to get the time off work to come down here to San Diego & spend Christmas with me & my family! I was so shocked that all I could say was "REALLY?" & then cry some more. Working at UPS makes the holiday season the most difficult time of the year to request vacation time off so I couldn't believe he got it. I am so happy & cannot wait to see that handsome face again in December (:

Now comes the really hard goodbyes. I had to say goodbye to the family that I have been living with for almost 2 years now. They have done so much for me over the last 2 years & it was so hard to say goodbye to them. But no matter how hard this goodbye was, it was nothing compared to the next one I had to make - Ben.

Hardest thing I've had to do thus far in my life. I have had so many mixed feelings about leaving him for 4 1/2 months - excited, scared, nervous, at peace, anxious, guilty - you name it. But no matter what the enemy tries to convince me of, I know that this is exactly where God wants me to go right now in my life, & staying at home is exactly where God wants Ben to be right now in his life. It doesn't make it less scary, it just brings me peace & comfort.

I have faith that God will change us, mold us, & push us, to be stronger people, stronger Christians, & a stronger couple. 

I have yet to say goodbye to my dad, step mom, little sister, & step brother - we shall see how those goodbyes go. I've got the rest of this week with them full of fun things to do to make this a special vacation.

Have a great week!