Saying Goodbye...

Well I am officially checked out of my classroom at ECS. This has been a sad and painful goodbye as it was not my choice and this place has become my home over the last three years. I had the privilege of leading the staff in devotions last week and I shared with them this verse:

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I will always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6

The staff that I have had the privilege of working with over the last three years is phenomenal. I truly feel like we are family and they will always be a part of me. I really appreciated what my dear friend Todd said in his closing prayer the other day about how those leaving would always feel a part of ECS and live in the knowledge that this will always be their home. That prayer helped me put things in perspective and realize that there are many people there that would love to see me from time to time and I am not going to let anything or anyone get in the way of me returning and visiting the people I call family.

As I have reflected on the last three years at ECS, I have been aware of the amount of growth that has taken place in my own life and I am truly grateful for that. I know that is because of the people God has placed in my life. Here is something else I shared with the staff:

Things I have Learned During My Time at ECS

• It is magical when you find someone to share cake with, one person who doesn't like frosting and the other person who doesn't like cake.
• Laughter truly is the best medicine. It's okay to snort and have an unusual/annoying laugh.
• The lunchoom is a place of letting your guard down and just being you.
• It is fun to make a fool of myself in front of my students and staff.
• It's okay to make mistakes, you live and you learn.
• It's okay to be myself (happy, sad, goofy, angry and frustrated) exactly in the moment and I shouldn't hide anything. I have to be honest with myself and others.
• God has gifted me as a teacher.
• I have truly come out of my shell. I am no longer this quiet, shy person. I have become comfortable with all of the staff. I am free to be goofy and speak my mind.
  
• I have found friends who celebrate me for who I am, not who they think I should be.
• God's grace and love is unconditional and complete.
• There is such a thing as having a family outside of your own.
  

It is hard packing up so many great memories (and SO much stuff) but I look forward to continuing the friendships I have started for a long time to come.

I will leave you with some pictures from the last week of school.

Some of my sweet kiddos who were celebrating their summer birthdays.

Me posing with the awesome kleenex box Julie gave me on the day I said goodbye to the staff.

Apparently I didn't get the memo that I needed to act sad for this picture, there sure were many tears after this though!

My "BFF" Julie. :) Love her!

Heather, Micah and Levi were so helpful in cleaning up and keeping me sane during one of the roughest times I have ever experienced!

I know that God has wonderful plans for me and I look forward to seeing what those are. In the meantime, I trust that He has me in the palm of His hand and will guide me to the perfect job.