This week I hugged necks, exchanged letters, and said goodbye to some of the greatest people I have ever known. Our interning year is over, and though I still have Israel to look forward to in a few weeks, there was a bittersweet finality to this last week. In honor of the love that I have for these people, I would like to share some pictures with you from our end of the year banquet.
THE STAFF...
first year interns...
second year interns...
third year interns...
& our fearless directors.
A WINDOW INTO THE YEAR...
Youth Staff -- each week, the four of us met for 1 hour to encourage each other and better our ministries. We became life-long friends.
Wednesday night tear-down crew. Each week, we stuck it out to take down and pack up all of our sound equipment after our Wednesday night service. This was usually followed by a trip to Waffle House. I will miss our goofy songs and late-night 2nd dinners! Wrapping cords? Maybe not so much...
Cookie log small group. We made cookie dough, shared life together, and our time became one of my favorite things about Thursdays.
Athens First team. We double-timed it between Wesley and Athens First all year-- which simply makes us awesome.
My group discipleship. I have learned so much from these women-- I am unbelievably grateful for their hearts, their examples, and their love of Ike & Jane!
My group DT from last year. These ladies have seen my best and my worst-- God bless them for loving me well through it all!
We treat ourselves. To cookies. To clothes. If it's a guilty pleasure, we give each other permission to simply TREAT YO SELF.
The beautiful Bakers. It has been a privilege to live with such powerful, patient, loving, and gentle women this year. Beyond blessed by their example & their friendship!
Sweet friends! This is the kind of love Wesley is made of.
Dustin really likes to take a lot of pictures with people. Somehow, though, this is the only one of mine he's in.
Sweet friend! We were roommates last year and co-workers this year. I can't believe it's been 5 years since I met her at Glisson! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for her!
Roommates at their finest.
I love this guy-- he has taught me more about leadership, friendship, loyalty, honor, and wisdom in the past three years than I could have ever hoped or dreamed. He will do great things in life, and I am so grateful to know him!
My wonderful, beautiful, kind, generous, and patient discipler Autumn! Where would I be without her??
They knew what they were doing 3 years ago when they put us together for 2 years. Discipleship with Jessica is like getting a bucket of love poured on you. And then eating warm cookies It's that good.
Sweet Lora! From Glisson co's to Wesley co-workers. She truly lives Christ's example.
Holly is one of the Israel trip leaders for this summer. She treats everyone like the most important person on the planet-- and she has and will continue to change many lives with her influence and her love. Can't WAIT to experience the Holy Land with her!
This is my buddy, Holly. She's literally just one of the most amazing people ever. I wouldn't have made it through this year without her.
An ice sculpture of our faithful leader, Bob. He's such a good sport for letting us put his face on things!
And because these guys deserve two pictures, here they are-- the finest, the sassiest, the best youth staff I could have asked to be part of.
At the end of the night, the directors surprised us with these floating lanterns. They were symbolic of our launching into the world after interning-- ready to go where the Lord takes us!
The best worst goodbye of my life thus far. And even though I can't imagine it right now, I know that the best is yet to come! Thank you for your support, your prayers, your words of encouragement, and for always making me feel popular and important by reading this blog!
