A Leap of Faith

As we close in on 7 weeks until I leave for Panama/Italy, I'm finally starting to stress out a little (okay, a lot). It's actually sinking in that I'm going to be on the other side of the world for almost a year, away from my family, my friends, my language, my culture, my dance scene, and everything familiar. This must be how missionaries feel....except I get the comfort that I'll be able to talk to my family whenever I want and I'm free to actually have a life over there. Don't get me wrong, the excitement far outweighs the stress, but the stress is just a new part of the ball game for me now.

I'm trying to go with as few possessions as possible, so thinking about how to fit everything I could possibly need in a foreign country in 2 backpacks and a messenger bag is freaking me out a little. But I can't think of a more reasonable way to do it. I want to feel light, yet prepared, and I think the perfect balance will work itself out. This website has been super helpful in researching which kinds of backpacks are best, what to pack, and how to travel smart. Check this chick out!

In the midst of the stress/excitement, there is an immense calm. I have never wanted something so badly or worked this hard for anything up to now, and as the weeks go by I only feel more and more right about it. My housing is falling into place, the tickets are being purchased, and soon I'll have a passport. The more I trust that God has it in hand, the easier things get. He's so awesome that way :)

Anyway, I just wanted to take a minute to express how grateful I am and keep you all in the loop of how things are progressing! Thank you for all the love and support you've been sending my way, you have no idea how good it makes me feel!

Happy Friday!!

Also, just to make you a little jealous ;) this is where I'll be in 7 weeks:

And a couple weeks after that, I'll be here: 

Yup, be jealous. 

Summer Rain

It's been raining almost every day in the afternoon for the past week, and it has been glorious! It's the kind of driving, window-clattering rain that is accompanied by thunder that makes the walls shiver and lightning that illuminates the whole sky from horizon to horizon. Nature is truly a magnificent, untamed creature that is all at once exhilarating and terrifying and at times makes you grateful to be behind glass.

Right now it's raining incredibly hard, but everything is light. Against the gray sky, the light is almost white; it's such an interesting, beautiful contrast. As the rain dissipates, the ground will glisten with little puddles, the snails will make their tiny windy trails of goo across the sidewalks, and the air will be heavy and fresh. And maybe later today I'll get to play the game of watching the droplets chase each other across the windows of the car...admit it, it's your favorite rain game ;)

Happy 4th of July!

This year for the 4th of July, I didn't actually get to see any fireworks, but it was still one of the best 4th of July celebrations I've ever had. A group of about 10 of us went up to my friend Griffin's cabin up Provo Canyon, which his great-great grandfather built for his wife way back in the day. It is GORGEOUS! I want my husband to love me enough to build me a cabin someday....I guess we'll see ;)

We took a hike in the twilight hours up to this incredible waterfall:

It wasn't gushing or anything, but it was misty, green, and had such a pleasant sound. I don't know if you can see the couple in the top right hand corner (they're wearing blue and yellow) but I climbed barefoot up to that ledge, and then a little higher to get closer to the water and look back over the valley. It was seriously a view out of Lord of the Rings; it was simply breathtaking. I got covered in mud and it was glorious :) 

Here's the 3 girls after I climbed the falls (me trying not to get mud on Miriam)

And a shot of the front part of our little Fellowship trekking through the greenery:

We spent the rest of the evening eating tin foil dinners, laughing until we cried, watching Juno, snuggling, and having philosophical discussions about super powers, atomic physics, and mid-life crises, just to name a few. We stayed up a little past midnight, cleaned up and drove back down the mountain to our respective homes, spent and full of the beauties of the day :) 

Special thanks to Glen Hinkle for the photos! 

Where Did June Go??

Guys...I leave for Italy in 10 weeks!!! Also, did I mention I'm stopping by Panama for 12 days on my way? I'm so excited! I get to visit Chancy, who, if you remember, is teaching English down there for the foreseeable future. I figured it would be easier to visit on my way to Europe now rather than waiting a couple years and making a whole separate trip. Plus, from the beginning, he has been by far the most supportive and excited about my trip, so it seemed appropriate that he should be the one to see me off :)

The time is flying by, which is wonderful, and aided by the fact that work takes up most of my time. Someone asked me yesterday what I do when I'm not working and the first thing that came to mind was dancing, of course, but beyond that, there's not much else haha. If I'm not working, I'm either dancing, on a train, or sleeping. I have been sneaking in a little reading on my lunch breaks and when I'm riding the train to Provo on the weekends, and that has been a lovely luxury. I like being so busy, though, it really makes the time go quickly. I just finished Life of Pi yesterday, and if you haven't read it or at least seen the movie, I highly recommend both. The extent of human creativity never ceases to amaze me.

Speaking of dancing, my new favorite place to dance is at The Green Pig on Monday nights downtown. The music is live, made up of a hodge-podge of local musicians who bring their instruments and sign up for slots throughout the night, and people who have never even met play incredible, soulful blues as if they've been playing together for years. Here's a great photo from last night's shenanigans: