T - 8 hours

Till I board Emirates flight 0954 for Dubai, and from Dubai on to Hyderabad! My bags are packed, minus a couple of last-minute necessities (toothbrush, etc...). I've said my goodbyes - some for three weeks, and some for a much longer period, as several of my good friends will be going back to America while I'm gone. Now all that's left is a final check of my apartment to make sure I haven't forgotten anything, and then several hours of restless anticipation until the time comes to catch a taxi to the airport.

I'm incredibly excited to have the privilege of going back to India and loving on the sweet kids at BIRDS and the orphanage in Bapatla. And to have the even greater privilege of sharing these beautiful places and people people with my parents, who will be coming for the last two weeks I'm in India.

But, let's be honest, I'm excited most of all for walking into the Hyderabad airport at nine o'clock tomorrow morning and seeing the beautiful smile of my best friend, the woman I love, my sweet precious habibti, shining once again in my direction. I can't wait to be with her in these places that are so dear to her heart, and make every bit of her come alive. It's a privilege just to stand next to her and watch the love that just pours out of her towards the kids. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with her in the first place!

So now, off to try to keep myself occupied somehow until I can jump on that plane and go to her. Next blog post from India!