Well, for those of you who have known me for more than a minute, you know I’m a bit intense.  No, you say.  Well, yes, yes indeed.  And I kind of plan ahead & strategize & stuff.  Really I know you already are aware.  So, it should come as no surprise that I have thought about & tried to map out all of what I want/need done prior to leaving the country.
 
Right now I’m packing boxes like I’m moving next month.  I’ve sent several over to my gracious parents’ house for storage already-thanks mom & dad!  I’ve got a dining room full of empty boxes stacked on top of empty boxes.  I have a few really sweet friends that have been looking out for me & collecting boxes for me.  So, I am working to fill them & get done what I can.  Let me tell you-if you ever really want to spring clean, just think if you will need/want/touch an object in the next 6 months.  If the answer is no, why keep it?  (Don’t go & tell me I don’t need to box anything up so soon if that’s really my advice…I am getting rid of more stuff too…I just know the stuff that I really will need/want/touch again in the future & I can’t need/want/touch everything in the next 6 months…I gotta start somewhere).
 
 
Today I realized I need to get a Will & an advanced healthcare directive (or whatever it’s called) put into place just in case.  I’d already planned for the POA & stuff.  There are really a lot of decisions on what to do while away…good grief.  I’ve had a bunch of immunizations already…need to get the rest done/scheduled.
Then last weekend I had another realization when I was pulling up weeds in the backyard (yes, that covers the entire property I think…good thing it’s small…though it sure feels huge when pulling up one weed at a time).  There were 3 or 4 boards that were falling down on my side of the fence & I realized it may be a safety hazard to have such an old fence & boards up while I have people (hopefully, let’s pray about the details on this one too) renting my place while I’m out of the country.  So, game on.  I am attempting to tackle the project with my folks Memorial Day weekend.  It should promise to be interesting.  And if God sends rain that whole weekend, I guess I can take the hint.  🙂  So, I then devised a game plan to take care of the ground in the backyard for next year…it’s a temporary fix involving black plastic, Round Up, & mulch.  My neighbor with the AWESOME garden/yard on the corner approves, so I’m moving forward with that too.  I figure if I never want to cut the grass/weeds, why would anyone else want to either?  I have a long term, pretty game plan with some bushes, flowers, stones, etc, but that’s for one day in the future, Lord willing.
 
Oh, yes & I’m planning to view the Cambodia mission trip as a bit of a trial run of sorts.  I intend to use the backpack, sleeping bag, tent and everything I have for the World Race trip so far.  I figure if I need to make any changes to my game plan, I will have a couple of months left back in the states to work out the details.
 
Hopefully that let’s you know a little bit about where my kooky brain is now in the planning process.  I just noticed that my fellow Squad mates (the other folks leaving on the October World Race team) are having a challenging time getting used to blogging too.  I guess it will be a learned/developed thing.  I will figure out photos/videos eventually.  For now, it’s feast or famine with the words.  Tonight we feast.  I guess I really need to cut out now since I do have to get up for work in a few hours.
 
Anyone with thoughts/suggestions on things to blog about, I am open to it & will try to hit the topics you suggest.  Love to my people!!