1 more week to prepare

Hard to believe, but I only have one more week to prepare (my bags, my body, my mental state...) for my Kilimanjaro adventure.

After the time and effort that has gone in to raising the funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation (and not on my own - with a lot of support from many) and strengthening my body - this trip is going to take me much farther outside of my comfort zone than anything else in the last several months. 

I'm anxious. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm a little scared. And some days... I'm a lot scared.

I know I'm not the first to do something like this. Nor will I be the last. Kilimanjaro is big, but it's not that big. Raising over $16000 is big, but it's not that big. But as far as my personal life experiences go, this will be one of my biggest adventures yet.

And I'm humbled by the support of people around me.

I've already started receiving "best wishes" from many friends and colleagues who I won't be seeing again until it's all said and done. I've been prayed for at church. But it's not just "have a nice trip" kind of send offs. It's "I'm rooting for you", "we'll be thinking of you", and even "I admire what you're doing".

And I'm holding on to all these comments and all that support, so that I can pull it up if and when things get rough on that mountain.

I'll also be holding on to a few "tactile" objets to remind me of important reasons for taking on this project in the first place.

- a little pendant with emerald and diamond like gems that will remind me of my husband and girls (May and April birthstones).  Not that I'll need a reminder. I don't want to leave my family for 2 weeks. I do want to take this time for me and make them proud.  And even though my girls are very young, I hope that this is something that will speak to them as they get older.
- a picture of a special little boy - Justin Guestier - the son of one of Brandon's colleagues who was born barely a month before Layla. We nominated Justin for a wish and found out very recently that he was accepted. I'm very excited to see (so close) the power of a wish - for a child and their family.
- a "Kids in the park" tuque. This children's weeknight "club" raised $100 for the Wish Foundation over the fall.
- a picture of little Layla Grace... the little girl whose story started me down this road last year.

... and all my gear. Girl "pee" aid and all (!)