So many lists!

I'm working hard to fight my natural instincts of procrastination and being super last minute. It's hard. I'm such a procrastinator! It's not a good habit and it really makes life harder than it needs to be.

Moving to China for at least two years is a big deal and involves a lot of preparation. This is different than a month long mission trip, packing  to go back to school, or even six months in Kenya. This isn't a "trip", it's my life. I'm relocating my life. I'm still processing this. All this to say, there really is no way I could get away with my normal last minute process. I think my sub-conscious is also aware of this reality, because I've had this reoccurring dream where I completely forget to pack for China and I have to go to the airport and I only have an hour to throw things together and it's insanity. I always wake up from this dream in a sweat and panic and have to quickly remind myself I still have a couple months, but we all know how fast a couple months go by!

In the past I haven't been much of a list maker. I take that back, I've made a lot of lists in my life, but I usually lost them or forgot about them shortly after they were created. A list is pretty useless if you don't look at it after you make it. In preparation for China, I'm making lists and using them! It's a new concept, but so far it's working. I'm trying to stay organized. It really helps my anxiety level and keeps the nightmares away. Writing things down instead of having a million "to-do's" bouncing around in my head all the time is much better. 

In the spirit of list making, here's a list of my current lists:

1. The "Ultimate To-DO List"
This list includes an "ASAP" section and a "Within the Next Month" section.
2. The "Packing/Things to Get List"
This a very detailed packing list and I star the things that will need to be purchased.
3. The "Things to Return/Give to People List"
Going through all my stuff leads to finding other peoples treasures. Things I've borrowed or things I've got for people long along.  I've made a list of things and the people they belong too.
4. The "July Planning List"
I have the whole month of July off! I'm really looking forward to this time and I'm determined to make it count. This list includes people I want to connect with, places I want to go, family I must see. This list is fun!

How many times did I just type the word "list"? Haha. Probably way too many. That's the low-down on my preparations. I think things are starting to sink in. It's craziness.