walking thoughts...

This morning I went for walk...for an hour...it was nice. ;) West Palm Beach is so beautiful, at least along the intercoastal. The sky was perfectly blue, the breeze was blowing, and nice long walk gave me lots of time to think about my life, work, summer plans...I thought about "my kids" and everything I'm going to be leaving behind here in West Palm in less than a month. Instead of getting sad, I decided to think back over my time at PBA and celebrate the little things that have happend that affirmed me, my work, and gave me a sense of purpose at PBA. There are so many little things that add up to me feeling so loved by my PBA family. I have notes all over my office from athletes encouraging me or just telling me to smile or that they love me. I've had athletes bring me flowers, prizes, Plant City strawberries. Some of my former athletes have become some of my very best friends, in fact I have the honor of doing a reading at the wedding of two of my absolute favs in just a few months. The text messages I recieve from my kids have often been that little bit of encouragement I needed to get through a difficult day or struggle. I know that God blessed me with these amazing athletes to help guide and grow my faith. Not only have my athletes themselves amazed me with thier love and support, but even thier parents have shown me amazing kindness. Flowers, notes, financial support for my summer missions...I'm absolutely floored that they see me worthy of their time. Leaving PBA is hard. It really is. But it has been such a blessing to get a glimpse of the way I've impacted my athletes lives. I never anticipated the response I'm getting from them in the last month of my tenure at PBA. This is the final week of class...finals week is next week...that means I have just a few days left with most of "my kids". I will miss them immeasurably, I cannot express how much I will miss them, but I am going to focus of celebrating the love I have for them and the relationships I'll take away from my time here will last for a long time, many for eternity and I can't wait! If you are one of "my kids" and you are reading this....I love you! Thank you so much for 4 amazing years of memories! You will be missed!