Hey everyone! It is seriously crunch time! I have 20 days until the world race…TWENTY!! So I decided to list 20 things I am going to miss the most while I am gone on the world race. This is not in order of importance by the way.
1. My wardrobe. I really love clothes and shopping for new clothes and barrowing clothes. I used to be the girl who would almost never wear the same outfit twice. Thankfully I grew out of that stage and now I am happy to wear whatever I have, but I do have a whole lot of clothes.
BUT I am excited to find a new style and wear clothes from other countries that I will be visiting.
2. My bed. I am not going to lie…I love my sleep and I really love my nice, comfy, queen size bed with all my pillows and blankets and stuffed animals. (YES, I still have stuffed animals on my bed…no shame at all.)
BUT I am excited to get out of my comfort zone and sleep on my nice comfy sleeping pad full of my hot air. Shout out to my awesome big brother who bought it for me for Christmas!
3. Netflix. Yes, I do enjoy binge watching all 10 seasons of Friends in two weeks…for the millionth time. And yes I do love watching every captivating episode of Grey’s Anatomy while clinging to my roommate as we cry over a fictional character. I love watching TV series and movies on Netflix.
BUT I am excited to spend my time outside and with new people. I am excited to play soccer with local children and make a complete fool of myself because this girl does not have an athletic bone in her body. As Ross from Friends would say…I’M FINE. (But I actually mean it unlike Ross.)
4. Air conditioner. I recently got a new car and it has a working air conditioner in it! I have NEVER had a car with air conditioner! So now I have spoiled myself with a car with air. Also every single place I go has air conditioner inside.
BUT I am excited to sweat and be uncomfortable for the sake of sharing the Gospel. God called us to go, not to be comfortable.
5. Holidays, especially Christmas. I love celebrating holidays with my family and friends. I love eating turkey and ham with my family while we celebrate how thankful we are at Thanksgiving. I also adore Christmas time. EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT! I will not be home to celebrate Christmas and spend time with my family and sing carols.
BUT I get to experience Christmas in a new and fun way. I will experience Christmas in a new culture and celebrate with a new family.
6. Working. As much as I have enjoyed not having a job this summer, I also really miss working. I miss waking up every morning and getting to go to a classroom and be with children all day and then going to Cracker Barrel at night to work.
BUT I will be doing a whole different job. My job every single day will be to share with the people around me what the LORD has done and is doing in my life. I will also get to teach in some countries which is just a huge bonus!
7. Tennessee. Man oh man do I take advantage of this beautiful state that I get to call home. Tennessee is one of the most beautiful places in the world and I will miss it so very much.
BUT I get to see some new and incredible views all around the world. I get to experience new sunrises and new sunsets, new mountains, and new oceans. I am pumped.
8. College. The world race didn’t really cause me to miss this, but I am no longer a college student and I am really going to miss it! I will miss the long nights studying and the even longer nights spent with the most amazing friends. College was a stretching and growing time in my life and I am really going to miss it.
BUT I am going to be stretched even more and I will grow even more through the world race and I am so excited to see what the LORD has planned for me in this new season of life.
9. Chai tea lattes. I LOVE CHAI. I will miss Poets and Sourdough Cuppa Joe while I am on the world race. I really loved visiting these two coffee shops and all the long days and nights spent in each doing homework or sipping on chai with friends. I will miss them both.
BUT I will get to drink new drinks and go to new coffee shop! I know chai is international so I will just have to try it in all these new places!
10. Chick-fil-a. Man do I love me some Chick-fil-a. Grilled nuggets, waffle fries, sweet tea, and chick-fil-a sauce is my go to when I am craving it and I already know that craving is going to hit me hard in a couple of months.
BUT I get to find new foods that I will crave even more when I am back in the States after the race. I already know it is going to happen.
11. Flushing toilets. We are so blessed here the USA and our toilets are just one of the many examples of this. We can go without any thought and flush it all away. That will not be the case when I am gone.
BUT I am sure some funny bathroom stories will make their way home with me in a year.
12. Showers. Most places I go will not have showers or running water so I will be taking bucket showers or washing myself down at the river. Whatever the shower looks like I am sure it will not be the hot, high pressure shower I get to use every day here at home.
BUT I will get to experience new ways to get clean. Plus I will probably have a fun time doing it. I will have some fun stories from showers as well as the bathroom haha.
13. Going to the movie theater to see a new movie. I love going to the movies with family and friends. I love movie theater popcorn and sitting in a dark freezing theater watching a movie I’ve never seen on a HUGE movie screen. It is such a blast.
BUT I will get to watch movies every now and then and it will be just as fun because it will be a blessing in a time when I need it most.
14. Bella. My little fur baby means the world to me. She makes me laugh and she knows when I need a good snuggle. I love that sweet baby.
BUT I don’t have to worry about giving her a bath or feeding her. Plus I know she will be in good hands while I am gone.
15. My friends. Friends are your chosen family and I couldn’t have chosen better. These people make my life so happy. They bring me joy and always know what to say. They are always pushing me towards the cross and I am so blessed to have them in my life.
BUT I am excited to meet new people and make new friends to add to my chosen family. People from all over the country and from all over the world. It is going to be amazing.
16. My family. God blessed me with some absolutely amazing people to call my family. I have such a big family that they take up the biggest place in my heart. You guys are the best and I am so very blessed to get to call you family.
BUT I know you are all here supporting me with smiles and tears. I know this journey will be hard without you guys holding my hand, but this is what you prepared me for my whole life.
17. My mom. I am going to miss our long phone calls and nightly prayers. I am going to miss your smiling face and kind heart. I am going to miss your little notes you leave me every morning. And most of all I am going to miss your crazy, hilarious laugh.
BUT I will always be your sunshine and I will never forget all the things you have taught me. (PS. You are number 17 because it is your favorite number.)
18. My daddy. I am going to miss your strong, ruff hands in mine. I am going to miss your laugh because it is always real…never fake. I am going to miss your deep hugs and proud eyes. And most of all I am going to miss your simple but sweet messages on my phone.
BUT I will always be your favorite little girl and I will never forget all the things you have taught me.
19. My car. As I mentioned previously, I recently got a new car. It is adorable and I really love it. I am going to miss the freedom I have here to jump in my car and go where ever I need to or want to go. I will miss riding around with the windows down, singing at the top of lungs.
BUT I will get to travel in new and different modes of transportation all around the world and I will still sing at the top of my lungs…we all know it is going to happen.
20. Everything. I am going to miss a whole lot, but I know that this is what the LORD has planned for me. I know I am doing what HE has called me to do and that is all that matters. We are called to drop everything and go tell the world about Him. That is what I am doing. So I can live with a little bit of uncomfortable and with a little bit of home sickness because I am living for the Kingdom and my eternal home.
I hope you all know that although this is a sacrifice, it is nowhere near the sacrifice Jesus made for me and you. He loved you enough to die and I love Him enough to live my life the way He commanded me to. I am excited for these next 20 days spent with these 20 things I love and will miss, but I am even more excited for the 11 months to follow where I will get to experience life in a new way.
Blessings,
Niki Ables
