Two weeks and counting

After a quick prayer and a deep breath I clicked the "complete transaction" button to buy the flight that will take me from here to Madrid in just over two weeks. On Wednesday, October 17th I will be on my way to Europe for the first time in my life.

I received an email on Friday notifying me that my Spanish visa has been approved! They said it would take two to three weeks for this to happen but in a surprising, unnatural show of Spanish timeliness they approved my visa within 4 days. So, with one trip to Chicago down (to turn in the paperwork), I will be making one last trip back there only days before I leave the country to pick up my passport with its very official visa stamped on it :)

Everything seems to be wrapping up nicely here at home, with my last day of work being yesterday, lunch dates scheduled with friends and family to catch up and say goodbye, and a packing list slowly coming together. It can be stressful, overwhelming and emotional to get ready to leave for so long, but I plan on relishing every moment. After all, how often in life do we get to anticipate such a life-changing, exciting new adventure? These are the times I can only dream about all the other boring, predictable days of the year, so I'll be doing my best to be thankful for every tiny, wonderful, stressful, lovely, over-planned moment. Here's to proving that half the fun really is getting there ;)