Thank you's

Today is my last day in Italy, wow! Last day....

I am currently making my way up the coast of Italy and back to Roma. Tonight I will stay in a hostel and then get up very early for my flight to DC, then its DC to Portland.

Without a doubt, I will not have an opportunity like this again. It has been amazing!!!

I am eternally grateful to everyone in the US who helped make this trip happen for me. For starters, my roommate Aaron. Without Aaron I would have never been able to leave. He has been taking care of my cats for six weeks now. I am so lucky to have a roommate and friend whom I can trust with my cats and beyond that, who willingly guarded them for me. Thank you Aar!

My boss Steve and all of my co-workers. While I was willing to quit my job to travel, I really didn't want to and it would have been financially disastrous. I am so blessed to have a supportive employer. An employer that saw that I both needed to do this and the value I will bring to the workplace upon my return. It has touched my heart to have my co-workers follow my travels, your supportive words have blown me away. So thank you Steve for allowing me to leave and thank you everyone at STVA!

My family. For you there are no words. Always know that I love you all (despite when you drive me nuts) to the moon and back. It doesn't matter what country I am in, you all are my world.

I could name off so many people that are important to me and who have significantly helped-- but in the fear of forgetting someone, I will leave it here.

Lastly and most importantly, I must give thanks to God. Ive had a roller coaster ride in my relationship with God. Part of me has never wanted to accept his existence and part of me will always wonder about life's biggest question "where do we go from here?". Regardless of heaven or hell. Regardless of the religious institutions. Regardless of the bible and whether I believe the stories in it... I feel God in my heart. I know God is real. For the first time in my life, I am actually listening to God.

Even in my new found "faith", I know God will not make things happen for me. I am a simple human being. I make choices. If I want something--I need to go for it. However, I do believe that things happen for a reason. That people stumble into on upon our paths for a purpose. That you really can see the hand of God in a sunset. I don't think my life has already been written, but I know that God is helping me to write my story. I have spent a lot of time alone in Italy. It was the first time I've really ever been completely alone and completely indpendent...but it will be the last. I will never be alone again. There can be no glory without God...at least not for me.

Thank you God. Thank you for helping me see. Thank you for loving me.

I have many more thanks left...a lot of thanks to all the generous and loving people here. I will have to save those thanks for another day though...