This morning I slept in... wonderful!  Then I made muffins for breakfast.  And then after a nice shower, I bundled up to go out into the wonderful Fall day.  I drove to Garden of the Gods.  It was sprinkling off and on, but not enough to stop me from doing some hiking and taking some pictures.  And just sitting and listening.  Garden of the Gods is special to me - its not the first time I've been there and its always been a place where the Lord has spoken to me and refreshed me.  After hiking and driving around a bit, I decided to check out Old Colorado City, sort of the old town of CO Springs.  Lots of cool shops, trees that are changing color.  The air is crisp today.  I love that.  Found a great little ma 'n' pa cafe to have lunch in.  After an awesome cob salad, it was raining pretty hard.  So I decided to find my way to a (preferably) neat little one-of-a-kind coffee shop.  When I couldn't find one, I headed to the Starbucks I saw.  However, much to my delight, on my way I passed a really cool coffee shop!  So, that is where I sit now.  There is a group of 4 girls next to me... obviously beginning college students, probably who haven't seen each other in a while, catching up on school and their travels.  One girl was just in Uganda.  All of them talk of their dreams and their ideas and the fears they have on getting there.  Ah, its wonderful to listen to! :)  This is a great day!

staring at the pile of things I have to try to fit in my car tomorrow.  Tomorrow is my last day in AZ - ah!  I can't believe it - it almost feels like I'm going on vacation, minus the fact that I'm taking everything with me and my room is basically empty now.  Weird.  I think its hit my friends more than its hit me that I'm actually moving.  I can tell they are sad (some have even verbalized this ;) ).  I think it will probably hit me as I'm on the road... but part of me wonders if I am actually just very ready for this change.  Usually by this time in change of seasons I have cried quite a bit or at least reflected, wondered, etc.  Not so much this time.  I almost feel bad.  Its not that I won't miss this, and everyone here.  It's that I am so certain of this next season, this next step, and so excited about what God is doing right now, I just am so sure!  I have nothing to worry about, nothing to be sad about.  I am leaving this place, these relationships, with nothing undone, no regrets.  And for that I am incredibly thankful.  I have learned and grown so much in the last 7 years here in AZ.  And now it is time for me to move on, to allow God to take me somewhere (physically, spiritually, mentally) new.  Even though I really don't know all of what God is doing or has for my future, it all looks so familiar.... because I have seen it before... in the secret place of prayer with the Father.  I have waited a long time for some things, prayed much, seeked hard and I can see them in front of me now... not neccessarily in the physical yet (though, some are), but in the spiritual, they are so clearly here.  I am just in awe...  can't wait to write about all the new adventures God takes me on.  What an amazing time, what an amazing life!