ready or not

here we come...

be it, Ohio, camp, EA, KC or CO...

We circled the wagons tonight. We laughed. We cried.

We lifted each other up to the One who is going before us.

We came together one last time Monday night before we all go our separate ways for the summer. I am excited for the day when we are all back together again in my living room. This whole MNGP thing started last summer, so it's only fitting for us each to go this summer; to serve a different group of people, to love the new people that He places across our path.

I am trusting that HE will be huge,

expecting each of us to be changed,

to return different,

to come back together more like HIM.

feet

I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do with these feet this summer.

Coach

There are people that come into our lives that inspire us to be great. I believe that friendships are ordained by God because only He knows exactly who we need in our life, the exact moment we need them. Most of the time we are completely oblivious to the impact people are making on us until years later, if we ever realize it at all. Recently I have been very aware of the people in my life and the impact and influence they have made on me. Maybe it's because things are changing in regard to a friendship that I value very much that I began to think through the high value I place on my friendships with people.

Change is scary but this is a good change. It's a necessary change. It's an exciting change. It's a move in the right direction and I am excited to see how it all plays out. BUT it's a hard change because our daily interactions will be very different. My "hiding" place on the other side of the school will be no more. One of my trusted sounding boards will now be across town. I do know that this friend isn't really going anywhere. When I think about things rationally, proximity is really the only thing that is changing.

I am going to borrow some lyrics from my favorite musical to try to describe our unique friendship.

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today, Because I knew you..."

The only line I would change is, "Well, I don't know if I believe that's true." I would change it to say, "Well I DO know that because I believe that's true."

I have learned a lot from this friend. There are countless reasons why this friendship is so valuable to me. I have grown both personally and professionally as a result. He has been a sounding board during a rather challenging school year. He has provided wisdom. He has become a mentor and a dear friend. He offers good advice, a different perspective and speaks from years of experience of working with people. He has helped me process. He has reminded me time and time again that having high expectations is a GOOD thing. He laughs at my randomness, deals with my numerous opinions and allows me the opportunity to be creative and gives me the freedom to learn and to grow.

He's not a fan of purple but he puts up with this mess of a kid that loves all things purple and all things associated with K-State.

It is an honor to have Coach Guzman as a mentor and friend.

2 students, 4 years (8 semesters) . . . wow

It is WEIRD to think that these two rugrats won't be walking into my classroom again in August.

I have had the privilege of being their teacher every semester that they have been in high school. It seems strange to say but I am SO proud of them. I have enjoyed watching them grow up and mature over the course of the past four years. We have laughed (A LOT) together and even shed a few tears. We have had countless discussions about life, girls, relationships, college decisions, sports, you name it, we have probably talked about it. They give me a hard time about loving K-State so much, but all that purple paid off in the end when Alex decided to enroll at the finest institution in the land.

They put up with the crazy things that I dream up.
"Hey, guys. I have this trophy, let's take a class picture."

They demonstrated their "decorating" skills last year on my birthday.

They challenge my creativity. They sometimes refer to me as, "Miss Call me crazy." They laugh at my randomness, wonder about the strange sayings that I say ALL the time, deal with my craziness and have actually learned a few things along the way. They surprise me on a daily basis. They show up with a "big fluffy pink heart" because through it all they know that I do sincerely heart them with a big fluffy pink heart.

They have allowed me the opportunity to be involved in their life and for that I am grateful.

I am a better teacher because of Alex & Jake.

may day