Less than a month!

Well, it officially is less than one month until I leave for the Dominican Republic. I am seriously a mess of emotions and feelings. I am excited, nervous, confident, scared, and impatient, and that's only the beginning of it. I am really starting to get things together. I packed my first bag the other day to check my weight (50 pounds, so I am right on track), I purchased a few of the last electronic purchases I wanted, I've almost finished uploading DVDs onto an external hard drive. I've got some of my last fun things planned (trip to Busch Gardens, Jeff Dunham performance, family trip to Charleston). I can't believe after all the problems I've encountered, all the delays that have occurred, that I am finally going to actually go. I'm nervous about my limited Spanish skills, I'm concerned about how I will fit into my community. But I am also hopeful. This is going to be an adventure of a lifetime. I know I will learn more about myself, my limits, and how far I truly can go than I ever have. I am going to meet amazing individuals that can help inspire me, help me through the hard times, and share this amazing experience with me.

I ran a 15K on Saturday and it really made me think of the things we can accomplish when we put out minds to it. When I started running again, just running 3 miles was exhausting - I had to take walk breaks all the time, my muscles would get sore, I had shin splints. With hard work, perseverance, and simply believing in myself, I ran 9.3 miles in 1:29:53. I didn't have to take a walk break until around mile 7. I have continued to push my boundaries, and I will run a half marathon in 3 weeks. I will run 13.1 miles just because I believe that I can. Just because I pushed myself to train for something as insane as running 13.1 miles in a row. It's amazing what we can accomplish if we give everything to a goal and believe with all our hearts that we can do it.

I have officially gotten my staging information and will soon be booking flights. It's becoming so real. While nervous, I am so excited to move on to this next stage of my life!

Expect soon posts about my packing list, trips with friends and family, and more!