The journey is starting...almost

It is now 10:45pm Saturday, August 18th and I am done packing for my year long endeavor to London, England. Pretty good I might say. Tomorrow is the big day when I leave for Chicago and start a week of orientation. I ACTUALLY leave for London on the 27th. This evening I said goodbye to my girlfriend, Abby, a very emotional time indeed that is a prelude to saying goodbye to the parents. I will be comissioned at my church (Westwood Lutheran Church) tomorrow AND sing a trio with my bother and father at the service. Crazy huh?! It is also crazy that it has now finally hit me that I AM going to London for a year. I know that before these big events in your life, you talk and talk but never truly believe that you are really going until the night before. That has arrived for me most definitely! I have such an incredible mix of emotions that I don't know where to begin in describing how I feel. It certainly is a new feeling that I haven't quite felt before in my life. No matter, I probably will feel many new things in these incredible months. I ask that God help me and guide me through this crazy transitional time and grant me safe travels this coming week. Hang on folks, it's going to be an incredible ride!