MADNESS I tell you!!

JOURNAL 6/23 Writing this on airline wifi!! So sweet. So. Holy adventure. We were delayed in Salt Lake City FOREVER. RANNN to the connection to Amsterdam but we missed it!!  Nightmare. There were thousands of people delayed and missed flights because of the weather in JFK. Lightening had even struck the airport and their systems were down. We were all on the phone with Delta reps because the line was FOREVER long and not moving an inch. Everyone was SO mad. It was hard. But really we were just all laughing at how ridiculous it is!! Finally we found the ONE AND ONLY flight we could take before Monday (Julia and I have plane tickets to Ireland on Monday!!). So here's where we're at-- in the nicest taxi of my life. Huge SUV with leather seats. Where are we going you might ask?? Scranton, PA. Why not?! JFK to Scranton. Scranton to DTW, DTW to Toronto, Toronto to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Cardiff! We will HOPEFULLY be there by 8:30am Sunday morning. So this cab... Crazy nice. Intense rain. A view of Manhattan. Just chillin. So before we even get to Wales we'll be in SLC, New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Toronto, Amsterdam, and finally Wales! Holy cow. We're DEAD tired! Literally we are just sleeping wherever we can.  The best part of the trip so far was definitely Scranton! The ppl were all so friendly and we couldn't get over how gorgeous it was! The look out our plane window. Pictures to come!

Starting Out

Recently, "firsts" have become a way of life for me. This is my first blog! In a day I travel to a foreign country for the first  time! For the first  time ever I'll be across an ocean from all the people I love. I am feeling so excited and blessed... and nervous.

First:  I've realized ((again)) that packing is AWFUL. What's a better way to make an anxious traveler even MORE panicked?! Answer:  Have them pack 2 months of clothes, etc. in one bag. Nightmare. I think it wouldn't be so hard except for the fact that the weather over there is wacky. Example:  Last night I checked the weather in Dublin-- 100% humidity and 45 degrees around 10 pm. Super duper.

During the packing insanity/almost breakdown:

I know my mother will say, "Brookie don't show your room so messy!" However... it's fine. Just take this in.

After the packing party:

Thank you world for vacuum bags.

My girlfriends have been so sweet and patient with me in running frantically around trying to get everything ready!! I never knew how many little things there were to think about. Christian has been keeping me calm as well while listening to me vent about all my worries!! It's starting to get a little more real... 

Even though I'm nervous and I'll miss seeing people like crazy, God has given me such a great gift in this trip to Europe. T - 36 hours.