18 is the magic number

The countdown begins! There are 18 days until I embark on one of the biggest journeys in life. August 6th I move into Ayers 1 at Union University. It is quite a bittersweet moment thinking about it. In a few short weeks I will be waking up in a strange room in a different city with people I hardly know. This past weekend I've been sick and had plenty of time just to sit and think alone, and WOW have I been thinking a lot.

Basically its time to start a whole new life. Recently I've lost my best friend/boyfriend of almost two years, but who knows, maybe it was just time to leave each other. I've realized you don't need a boy to make your life complete, so in a way this could be a good thing, I'm just not seeing that yet.

I've also noticed that I seem to be more patient than usual. I've started to slow down and actually see whats going on around me. I actually caught myself going under the speed limit the other day because I was just engulfed in my surroundings. If you were driving behind me you probably would have thought I was from out of town. I just seemed to be seeing everything in a new way. Not just in driving have I become more patient. I have really enjoyed slowing down the pace of my hectic life and taking in things I've always known, just in a different way.

This summer I read Redeeming Love, again for about the fourth or fifth time. I believe, however, every time I read it I learn something new. This past reading of it has shown me that I am obsessed with the word "beloved" I'm not sure why. Beloved is used all through the book and I basically fell in love with it, because for one I would love to have a husband like the main character in the book, and since he uses the word beloved a lot I'm guessing that's why I love the word.

As my summer is coming to an end I realize that this was probably the most packed summer I have ever had, but I have loved every second of it. I have met some pretty amazing people and grown closer to some friends that have touched me in different ways. From the 9 eighth grade girls that touched my life at Hillmont, to Maria my leader in New York and the random strangers I met on the streets there, to the hilarious people I met at YoungLife camp. Not only have I met new people, but grown closer to random people I never really thought I would hang out with. Every person I've come into contact with this summer has made and impact somehow on my life even if they don't realize it.

I'm excited and scared for the upcoming days. Its going to be a real struggle to change life as I know it and become an independent college kid. I know it won't be that bad, its just the pure thought of living on my own that terrifies me! And so the countdown continues...

Elizabeth
3:14