It has been a while since I’ve written. In fact I meet up with N Squad in Washington, DC in one week, before we head down to Ecuador. This means I leave my home here in Oregon on Sunday, after a long day of goodbyes to my parents, cats and church family. I can't help but wonder how much I will cry. I will then fly across the country to see one of my favorite people of all time (AMY, I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!) for a day and a half before saying my final goodbye before meeting my Squad on Tuesday, January 8th. 
It is crazy to think that this is my last week at home! I am so excited for this journey to begin, but slightly apprehensive at the same time. After all this will be a year that will forever change me and challenge me. I know there will be numerous challenges, but that they will only serve to change me for Christ and deepen my relationship with God.
It is hitting me more and more as I say goodbye to friends and family and attempt to pack (Lets be real I haven’t really started packing yet), there is still a lot to do, but the time to do it decreases. It seems like I was just accepted to the World Race, and that the months haven’t passed since then, yet it has. In reality so much has happened in since I was accepted to the race and since Training Camp in October.
Since Training Camp, I have participated in my best friend’s wedding, and watched her move across the country. We went from having plans to see each other in 2014 when she was supposed to be living in Florida, to seeing each other next week because she now lives in the DC area. I taught as a student teacher and was blessed by a group of AMAZING 1st and 2nd graders. I had to trust in God and His plans for my life, when it looked like I wouldn’t finish my degrees before Launch. I was blessed by my advisor who had to talk to me ASAP so she could tell me I would graduate after all. (We met on a Saturday in Starbucks) So now I have officially graduated from Oregon State, with two majors and my ESOL endorsement! (Such a relief to be done!)
I have spent time with friends, those I see frequently and those I don’t. I have fundraised and cried when the results turned out better than I could imagine. I have spent time with my church family and have been so blessed by them (Providence peeps, keep an eye out for my next blog which is all about YOU!). I have
traveled to the coast and up and down the valley. I have seen family and said my goodbyes to most of them. I have read a few books and snuggled with my cats as much as possible. In reality that is only a small portion of what has happened in the last few months.
There is still so much to do, but I look forward to most of it and I know that it is going to be worth it to spend the next year serving God. 2013 will be a year to remember, one to learn from and one that will forever change me.
