saying goodbye

I started this blog because I was coming out of a funk and I was ready to see my dimples again. I have to say the funk has made a re-appearance lately but with good reason.

And for those of you who know and those of you who don’t know, I am moving to Dallas at the end of June. My time in Austin is coming to an end rather quickly and it’s been hitting me a lot lately how much I am going to miss being around some amazing people I have met during my stint here. I have been so blessed to have spent the last 7 years of my life in Austin. They have gone so fast!

So, this is kind of my send off/thank you letter to the many people I have encountered during my time here in Austin. I know I don’t leave until June but this is on my heart now so I decided to write it.

First, I had never had a job for more than two years, before I became a teacher in the Hays school district. I am still shocked that I have been teaching for five years in Hays at the same school. It seems so crazy to me, but it has felt so right. Having had parents and a sister who are and were teachers, I knew that the faculty that you work with can make all the difference in the world. I could not have predicted the amazing people and friends I have made throughout my five years here. I have had this awesome group of ladies who have been praying with me for the last five years (we prayed for 2 of my friends struggling with infertility to have babies, and they both have had 2 healthy babies). They have prayed for my husband, has yet to be answered, but we will see. I hang out with these co-workers/ friends on the weekends, mid-week happy hours, lunches, and during the summer when we don’t have to see each other. These co-workers/friends have been my cheerleaders, mentors, sounding boards, hug givers, and most of an inspiration on how to love our students well. I wish all of my friends outside my school world could see these amazing people at work on a daily basis. Most of all I wish our legislators could see what an incredible job each of these people do for our students on a daily basis. My prayer for you friends that you will continuously see the profound impact you have on our students, and know what an awesome job you do on a daily basis!!!!!!!! You have such an important job!!!

I have been blessed with an awesome Christian community here. I have been involved in three different churches while I have lived here in Austin. The first was Austin Stone. I was only there a year, but I made such awesome friends who I stayed in touch with over the years. Thank you for being my first church experience in Austin.

The second was First EV Free. I moved there when I started working there in their middle school ministry as an intern. It was a profound year for me. Most of all the love and support I received that year that I worked there was nothing short of life giving. Specifically, thank you Shack, Ainsley, Flor, Brian, Kevin, Emily and BJ- y’all were amazing to work with!! Thank you again to the awesome Taylor family who let me live with them for a year. They are such a great family.

Then, for some crazy reason I decided to be part of this group of people who were going to start a church. Granted I had known Robie and Jonathan, a married couple who I had known since college. Jonathan and I even went to seminary together in Boston. It still seemed like such a crazy risk. But I learned you have to trust that God is always with you, especially in the risky crazy things. He was with us in the good times and the really hard times of starting this church. It has been amazing to see it grow from 7 people sitting in Jonathan and Robie’s living room to about 100 or so people sitting in the Austin Ballet. And the many babies that have been born and are about to be born just shows that life is happening there! There are way too many people in this community for me to name specifically. I am just so thankful for so many people in this church community. I hope you know who you are you know how much I love you and so very thankful for each one of you!!!! Blessings upon each of you as you continue to reach out and love the city of Austin with the love of Jesus!

And for all the friends who I have met in various places, the students I have had, the roommates, and everyone in between I leave with wonderful memories of all of you!

I truly leave Austin a changed woman. I do feel like a woman now- maybe its being in my thirties, but I feel like Austin has grown me and shaped me in ways I never thought it could. I came to Austin not knowing how long I would stay and with the attitude that it’s going to be a fun city to enjoy. I have left more stretched, transformed, full of grace for myself and others, feeling a little more free, and I won’t lie a little fearful of what is to come. But, as I have seen time and time again in my life God has never failed me or left me in my journey. I have truly felt His timing is all over this move despite how sad I am to leave really good friends behind I am excited about the next step. I feel like my life and I am sure all of yours are little trust exercises, how much are we going to trust that the God of the universe loves us, delights in us, and desires us to go deeper into our relationships with Him.

Everyone keeps asking if I have a job yet and the answer is no not yet. I do have some strong leads. But, I am excited about what I am thinking about doing in about a year from now. I am the process of developing a non-profit organization where I could work with special needs students individually. I would ask for your prayers on that as I develop a business plan, write grants, and begin developing relationships with the community for which I hope to work with.

I am hoping to live with my mom for a month so I can get my bearings and figure out what part of Dallas to live in that would best for work and life. Prayer for both of us on that!

So I am so excited about the next step and I feel so loved and supported! Thank you for having such an impact on my life!!!!!!! And yes I will come visit on a fairly regular basis…don’t worry about that…and know that you will always have a place to visit in Dallas! Love! Love! Love you friends!!!!

I think I am going to have to come up with a Dallas to-do list.. oh by the way I have done all but 2 things on my list and they are in the works for those of you who read my first blog! Again love!