My final days at CSB/SJU of Junior year!

Preparing for exams, birthdays, papers, presentation, portfolios due, Christmas dinners, baby sitting, Christmas shopping, wanting to be with friends... it's that crazy time of the year!  But at midnight tonight as I begin to feel the pressures of the end of the semester mounting I want to take a moment to breathe and appreciate my last bit of time in this college community that I'm so thankful for that is filled with friends that I love and care so much about.  Yet it's nearly impossible not to think that the next finals week I experience will be in a completely different country free of any psychology or theology courses like I've become accustomed too.

Truthfully I expected to feel much more anxious and sad during my last bit of time at school.  Instead I feel content, not too anxious to leave here, but fully aware that when my last final ends I will take off running for home! That's not to say that tears won't be shed when I leave some of my best friends but that won't take away from my excitement.  All of that is just another sign that I really am prepared to go.  My family and some of my close friends have helped me to grow and prepare for this experience and I really am ready to dive in.  It still feel surreal that I will be leaving so soon but I'm no longer taken aback when I think about studying abroad in South Africa, instead it feels so natural and makes complete sense because it seems like the perfect experience for me!

Both a year and two years ago at this time all I could think about was the future and going home or whatever was coming next that would make things better than where I currently was in life... and now I have quickly approaching probably one of the most exciting experiences ever to look forward to but I'm content and smiling to myself.  Before I would be near tears overwhelmed convinced I couldn't do it all, but I know I can, I won't be given more than I can handle and I have such a great support system!  It's so incredible to see where I am now, where I'm going, and where I have been!  Going away in January right after the Advent season and Christmas could not be more fitting.  What a great time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ and all that is ahead of me!

Our first official group shot!  This picture is being submitted to a READ campaign at our school... clearly my friend Katie and I missed the memo to stand straight and smile :-D