#2 - Fill your days with things that matter

12 hours...12 hours and I will be at the airport boarding the plane with Logan. It is so unreal...I can't believe it! I feel like I'm trying to squeeze everything I can into this last day before I leave. I still have lots of pictures to edit before I go...and emails to send...and things to pack...but everything seems to have taken a backseat to things that have to do with other people. And really, I don't mind that at all. I have had a great last two days here!

Yesterday, I...
- Said goodbye to everyone at work. It will feel so weird not going to work for three weeks and I will miss it!
- Said goodbye to my little sister (BBBS), Nyla, who turns 8 on Monday. I brought chocolate sundaes for her birthday, but I forgot to bring spoons, so as you can imagine, it was an interesting experience! Haha!
- Went to my Granny's to tell her Happy Mother's Day!
- Went to school to finalize things for class...woohoo!
- Took pictures for my cousin's middle school prom...yes, prom...in middle school!
- Went to my Granny Wanda's house to visit her and tell her Happy Mother's Day!
- Watched "Monster In Law" with my mom and fell asleep on the couch...and didn't wake up until this morning!

Today, I...
- Worked at the gallery downtown and my best friend Amy brought me lunch. I restocked my pictures...about 20 new photos are in! I met some other people who had traveled to Italy and one lady who is going in July, who has some great travel photos on display at the library.
- Went to church, where I hit people with a blow-up guitar and talked about relationships. Sounds fun, right? It definitely was. What a great place to end your day with.
- Went to visit my aunt and tell her Happy Mother's Day.
- Drank a milkshake my dad made...YUMMM.

Amy visited me at the gallery and brought me lunch!

I feel like I've accomplished a lot, except one thing...I might need to finish packing! Haha! It's kind of important.

*Tooooooomorrow, tomorrow, I'm leaving, tomorrow...it's only a day awayyyy!*
- BriAnnie. Lol, get it? Like Annie?...

AAAAH, it's so close! 

Love you all! Buonanotte!

Briana

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"The most important things in life aren't things." - Unknown

#1 - Change is inevitable

Yes, I have the things I need for my trip. Have I opened my suitcase to pack them? Nope.

Today, as I walked downtown, as I ate my lunch, and as I sat on the couch this afternoon, I kind of "took everything in." As I spent time with the band, Jeff, Mark, and Jordan at church, and even as I drove home tonight with my windows down, I thought about how different things would be for the next three weeks. I'm so blessed to live here; I'm really going to miss this place while I'm gone.

I've never been away from home for three weeks, and I've never been out of the country for more than nine days. I'm sure it will go by so quickly, but it will definitely be different than what I am used to. It's funny how change is so hard for us as humans, because we should be used to it by now...life is full of change!

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty nervous about the whole airport situation, just getting to the right places at the right times and not missing flights and not getting mugged and not losing my baggage and what-not. But, I am super excited to travel, to take pictures, to see the sky from above - it's breath-taking - and to experience another culture.

I want and need to do so much before I leave so I better get some sleep!

And you, be thinking of some doits - random things for me to do on my trip - because I will start them on Sunday as I leave.

Love you guys! Buonanotte! - Briana

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"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." - Jackson Brown

Intro to "Doit."

My Rome trip - it's in 3 days, considering it's past midnight already! I can't believe it's so close! I can't even express how excited, nervous...and unprepared I am!

I am readily awaiting the flights and sights - and the cheesiness that I will impart on you with sayings like flights and sights - throughout the duration of this trip.

I will be blogging about my travels from the US to Italy (and back) and the things I experience and learn along the way. I will include pictures or videos from my trip and hopefully be able to tell some entertaining stories - I'm sure I will have some stories...!

Each post will be a "life lesson," some serious and some silly and comical - because we all know that laughter is vital to a well-lived life.

Here's your part: I want you to give me something interesting, fun, or random to do each day!
We can call it "Doit." You must include "doit" in your comment.

Here's an example of what you can post on this blog:
"Take a picture with a stranger at the airport. Doit."

Yes, that says "Doit." Initially, this started out as "Do it." but I left out the space. I was about to erase it, but then I pronounced it...and I liked "doit" quite a lot. When you comment, you must - in your mind (or out loud...it's more fun) - say "doit."

I can't wait to see what my challenges are...I will choose one each day! I have to admit, I'm a little scared. But, you know, life is - for me - one giant collection of awkward moments. You are helping me build my collection, and I must learn to embrace that. ;-)

And here I go...

Getting ready to publish...

Love you guys! Buonanotte! - Briana

--

"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." - Jackson Brown