I didn't really tell you about my 2 days of travel to the Ukraine, did I?

Let's play a game of "I Spy"

 

I Spy....

-obnoxious JFK workers (sorry if you know one)

-many Russians

-a couple headed to Saint Petersburg

-a 4 hour flight delay to Moscow

-cankles (mine, really)

-puffy eyes (again, those were mine)

-Milano cookies (..praise the Lert)

-a blonde haired, blue eyed flight attendant named Svetlana

-a confused Raegan

- 2 creepy businessmen hitting on 2 Ukrainian girls

-5 (or more ) stations inside the Moscow airport (cough,cough)

-1 and a half hour plane ride to Kiev, Ukraine

-Raegan falling down the steps on the way to customs (story of my life)

-2 customs workers laughing at my passport :(

-Raegan hauling a backpack, computer bag, and 2 large suitcases through security

-Sasha waiting for me in the airport :)

-Teens openly doing drugs in the streets of Kiev

-Raegan, Sasha, and Uncle Roma driving for 4 hours to Mohyliv

-Home.

It's quite possible that I'm falling more in love with you everyday.

(talking about Ukraine, of course).

  It really is amazing how one decision can change your life...and your heart. Yesterday was pretty rough, no lies. I felt alone, heart-broken, confused, and everything in between. I had the opportunity to sit down with Archie and discuss my life. Let's just say it ended up with tears. I felt as if I were talking to a woman who had been my mentor for years; I felt peace. She gave me incredible words of encouragement along with practical thoughts about life, love, Jesus, etc.

   When I went to bed last night, I felt as if a wall had been torn down. I can't tell you exactly where this wall came from, how long it had been there, and how strong it was. All I knew was that it came down. I closed my eyes and felt consumed by the feeling of newness. I woke up this morning with a change of heart, mind, and overall attitude. Today, I have smiled and laughed more than I have for a long time. A new Raegan is in the making....and I'm not going against it.

  --for those who have been praying for me for days, weeks, months, years...they're being answered.

*How to donate money through PayPal 

(which can be found on the right side of this post)

1. Click on the Donate button (which will automatically take you into PayPal)

2. If you have a PayPal account, you can donate through this (if you have one, you won't have any issues doing so)

3. If you don't have an account, you can donate through credit or debit card

4. Most importantly, when prompted, first put in the word "Donation" in the purpose box. Then, proceed to put in amount that you wish to give

5. Then enter your information after you have done step #4

6. Danke, Grazi, Thanks, Dyakuju (thanks in Ukrainian, of course)

Yesterday...was a very difficult day, to say the least.

   For a few weeks now I've been bottling up all my emotions to make people believe I was as cool as a cucumber about the overwhelming mounds of stress I had resting upon my shoulders. Let's have some real talk. For the past several months: I haven't slept well, I've cried multiples times before bed, I've been angry, I've been disappointed, the list goes on. No-this isn't a plead for pity...it's just being honest.

  Well, yesterday was my breaking point. I came to the place of what seemed to be a cosmic mental/physical/spiritual explosion. It seemed to be that I cried just about everything. Whether I was happy or upset or tired or whatever.

*crying over my last day in Knoxville (for awhile)

*crying over having Chick-fil-A ice cream for the last time

*crying over saying 'see you later' to my precious precious brother and best friend

*crying due to general stress

*crying over pictures of my friends and family

*having a huge breakdown over saying 'see you later' to: Shannon, Matt, Cristen, Spencer, Rachel...oof.

*crying over leaving my childhood home (for awhile)

*crying over the emptiness of my room

....I'm sure by now, you're thinking 'Raegan, shut up. You're being obnox." For reals though, I believe I had to push through that wall of overwhelming grief (even for stupid reasons) to prepare me for what's to come. Yes, I'm fully aware I'll have more days like this. I'm not going to play dumb and convince myself that it's going to be all rainbows and sunshine. Talk about unrealistic.

  I must remember that change is what allows us to grow...therefore, change is good. I never said change doesn't hurt, doesn't cause anger, doesn't cause worry, etc. However, change must happen. It's a part of life.

   Like the weirdo that I am, I went back to my high school this morning to spend some time there. Yeah, yeah, I know...I have my diploma. Why would I ever want to go back there? My purpose for being there was to say goodbye to some of my favorite teachers, spend some time with my Ensemble "family", prance through the new addition of the building, so on and so forth.    

   I thought I was going to be the only fool who work up early enough to be at school at 7:10 (when Ensemble begins)...however, I was not the only one who decided this would be a great idea too. I ended up spending the morning with three of my former classmates. On the way home, I began to think of my class. What is happening in their lives? What college are they going to? Where do they live now? 

   The more I thought about them, I began to recall our last semester in high school. Our lives consisted of Senior paper, college applications, acceptance letters, counting down the days until we received our diplomas, the list goes on...All of us had dreams of where we would be in the fall. We were on our ways to a college of some sort...or so we thought.

   I never ever ever would have thought that I would be living in Ukraine for 9 months. In my own controlled, perfect, normal world, I was headed off to Middle Tennessee State University. I was going to major in psychology, travel abroad, meet some news friends (and maybe an attractive guy too), and live a simple expected life. However, Abba brought me back to the depths of my heart...where I kept memories of China, Thailand, Ukraine,and Germany. I was tenderly nudged by the Holy Spirit at the very thought of those countries I have invested my life into. 

....this tender touch is what brought me to that special place of realization. I had realized that there was something outside of my "expected life", far too great for my own mind to conceive. These next few months will be a tool to discover who I am, but more of who my God is. So, here I am, ready to begin this new life in Mohyliv, Ukraine. Let's go.

Crazy awesome goodness. Yes.

    So, just two nights ago I was writing on how I worried about the Visa situation and the possibility that I was not going to be flying out on August 21st. I believe Abba looks at time (if that even exists in His vocabulary), throws His head back and chuckles a bit.

  I received an e-mail on Tuesday morning that basically said I could live in Ukraine for 4 months on just my passport. This would save time, stress, and money trying to get a document to the United States, and other information sent by the 21st. Also, I will be taking a side trip to Poland to get my passport later on this year. Yes. Another country my friends. Sweet action. 

 August 21st, I will be leaving to go live in the Ukraine for 9 months. I'm tearing up right now as I'm writing this...

*I will be writing more this week and next to talk about packing, 'see you laters', family breakdowns, my breakdowns, crazy airport workers, strange sights, and so much more. Keep readin'.

I have been incredibly blessed to have everything go so smoothly so far before I leave. I'm finally getting close to the big day where I'll be heading to my second home in Ukraine. My family is in the process of working on my Visa which is somewhat task that makes you anxious. We are going to be sending my paperwork, passport, and official letter from the Ukrainian government to Washington, D.C. this week to get approved. I am asking that you pray that this all goes well and if I need to stay "home" longer...may it be done. One of the many things I have learned from this experience is that Papa controls time, not us.

To keep my viewers highly entertained I will have:

 

Picture of the Week (POTW: pronounced "pot-wa")

Quote of the Week (QOTW)

Video of the Week (VOTW)

and...Mullet of the Week (MOTW)

 

Well, friends. I already have a quote. My dear friend Rachel was explaining to me the length of time I will be away...in a very interesting way.

"Raegan, your arrival will be waited for anxiously like a baby who has been in the womb for 9 months."

 

  

For chuckles and giggles.

I love Kramer, Risk, ...and furry hats.

Do enjoy

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLtF_PxbYw

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
-Dr. Seuss (sure do love him)

Thanks, Seuss for reminding me that there is a season for everything, including 'see you laters' (notice I didn't say goodbye).
Today, I had to say goodbye to a childhood friend. Shannon Smith. We started crying just a little bit in the Panera Bread parking lot. When we hugged each other tightly, the tears began to flow. Most of my day has been spent tearing up at the thought that my sweet Shannon is going to college in less than two weeks. 


To my college friends--What an extraordinary time in your life. You all are about to start on the journey that we've been preparing for, for quite awhile now. Sometimes I wish I could be joining you, but I'll have my time soon enough. The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. Go,live out your passions. Travel, see the world. Love, let your heart be open to new relationships. Live, absorb every opportunity that comes in a day. Stress, don't let it consume you :). I cannot wait to see all the pictures of the dorms, new friends, new cities, new life! Don't ever forget who you are and where you come from. "Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away." (yes, this is Oh, The Places You'll Go).
 

 ^{*Provers 4:23 (The Message)}

^23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
   that's where life starts.
Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth;
   avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
   ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
   and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
   leave evil in the dust.