Today is a big day for America. It's eclipse day! In my hometown I saw the partial eclipse, and it became pretty dark and the bugs became very loud! It was cool, but today is exciting for me because it's my last full day in America for three months! Yikes! I'm sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by my mostly packed bags and feeling slightly calm and slightly freaking out. It's an internal battle. I've been preparing for this trip for quite some time now. Day one of freshman year I was picking out my classes and keeping in mind to save a few in order to be able to go on this trip. I originally planned to go my sophomore year, but since I am a Biochemistry major, senior year was the only time it would work. I've been thinking about where to travel and what to pack for about 8 months, so yeah, the fact that I'm leaving tomorrow is a little unbelievable. So here I am, a senior in college and missing my first semester of senior year. It's weird for sure. Monday (today) is the day I normally move back to Henderson, TN to prepare to return to classes on Wednesday. This year, I am still at home. It makes me slightly sad to see pictures and videos of all my friends and the incoming freshman already on campus and making memories. I feel like I should be there with them!

Fall semester is my favorite by far. Meeting new students, revealing social clubs to those same new students, fall retreat, homecoming, flag football, and the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas themed meetings. The list is pretty long. Fall in general is my favorite season. Alabama football games with my Benjamin, sweaters, leaves, pumpkin spice lattes (basic, I know), pumpkin patches, bonfires, and again, the list goes on and on. Spring semester is not even near as exciting. Makin Music? Ugh. Gross. I know, I know. You can't believe I just said that. But really, I just don't get it. Anyway, enough of my sadness. Yes, I am missing a semester at Freed-Hardeman with all my besties, but I am spending it in EUROPE! How cool is that? I am super blessed for sure. I am thankful that my parents encourage and support this decision and thankful for the opportunity to do it now before crazy adult life sets in. (Ansley has been home for a few days and hearing about how terrible adult life is, makes me want to stay in college for a bit longer, or maybe a lot longer.) I am excited to hear about all the things that go on at Freed and hopefully, keep in touch as much as possible. Maybe I can FaceTime here and there during exciting events to still feel involved:) I am excited to keep others in the loop with my thoughts and doings through this journal too! (Sorry for the terrible grammar and/or punctuation that may occur)

Lastly, but most importantly, I am thankful to God for providing opportunities like this in my life and the lives of others. He is the great gift giver, and He sure does give. Wow! I know this trip will open my eyes to more of His creation and more of His souls. I hope this to be a growing experience in my faith and in my relationship with Him. I am so thankful to be a child of God and be confident in my salvation. I know that no matter what I value as important in this life or worry about or get excited about, the only thing that matters is Him. And that brings me peace.