Pippin: "It's so quiet..."
Gandalf: "It's the deep breath before the plunge."

Ok, so if you know me a little, you perhaps know that I am a Lord of the Rings fan. Nothing overboard or crazy, mind you, I just like the movies and even better, the books. There are some great quotes from those movies...and this is one of my favorites.

It also happens to hit me where I am right now. 18 days. I leave home again in 18 days to make SC my home for the next 2 years at least. It's so quiet here. It's funny to hear people say to me, "Why do you have to leave again?" and then I don't see them again for weeks. It's all fine and good, it just gets real quiet here sometimes. I guess that is the "downer" side of things. The wonderful side, things are so quiet in my heart. For the first time in months...nearly one year to be exact, things are quiet in my heart. Joy has again come in and filled it...it's such a foreign feeling, yet so welcome. But it's a quiet joy that surrounds me...a certain peace that transcends my understanding. Perhaps it is the "deep breath before the plunge" at this point in my life...but I welcome it...this quietness of heart. The plunge will be here soon...a new start. New opportunities that I crave. New things to learn. New people. New surroundings. This plunge is well worth it, whatever may come, I'm so thankful for this opportunity. I love rollercoasters...there is that split second at the top of the hill where you intake as much air as you can before you plummet down...it gets me everytime, but I love the thrill of it all. I love the thrill of this new adventure that is just starting.