Goodbyes

I'm not ready for them yet.

The beauty of my job is that it is built on relationships. Yes, I plan lessons and Bible studies, but I can only affect people if I have a relationship with them.

Last summer it was easier to leave. I was ready to let go and move on.

This summer I'm attached.

To the girls I have had a Bible study with for 3 years now.

To beautiful high school girls I wish I had spent more time with when I was in high school.

To incredible 5th-8th grade girls who are so young and so wise.

To my brother, who probably saw way more of me than he expected to this summer :)

To my sister, who I'm pretty sure only comes to youth group events to hang out with me. (I'm not complaining.)

And everyone else in between.

All of my relationships have gotten so much stronger this summer, and I can't figure out why.

But it's a good thing so I'm just going with it. 

Like my college girls Bible study (our official group name is Bible Babes/Call your Girlfriend, which you really can't understand unless you sit in one week, but this might clarify things a little http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_aJHJdCHAo). I have known some of these girls for about 7 years now and I think I have learned more about them this summer than all of the years I have known them.

Pretty much all of our colleges are in a circle and I am in the middle. I keep telling them they need to come visit me because big schools scare me. I think I might have to just conquer that fear though.

The last few weeks of summer seem to be flying by and I am so torn.

I finally got excited to go back, but I also don't want to leave.

These relationships are holding me.