green apron cards.

i've been mulling over some thoughts as of late.

the end of our time at oasis/old union is approaching

and i wonder how devastating it will actually be.

i find myself worrying about who will step up to lead these kids.

i hope the Holy Spirit inspires

these kids need more adults to look up to

some of them have come from broken families,

many of them families who don't value faith so much.

then i wonder who i'm really worrying about

i think that deep down i know that God will protect the hearts of these kids

that even if they don't stay and find somewhere else to go, He will continue to work in them.

i think that really,

i worry that i am going to have an empty spot in my heart for everyone i will miss at church

i mean, i know i will.

there are people in my life in the past who have broken me a bit.

friendships that ended without anger or a fight,

endings with no clear reason or spoken understanding.

i'll admit it's possible i contributed...

it's just strange that there are people i used to be so close to

people who participated in my wedding...

that i no longer talk to or see.

and although facebook will help me to keep up with some people in the church

(and hopefully we'll have visits from and to a few couples we love...)

there are others i really won't get to see much anymore.

it's making me a bit sad :(

specifically today, i realize that even if i lack the relationships with people i used to

that doesn't erase who they were to me and the time that we shared

it doesn't erase the friendship.

it's impossible to keep the same people in your life forever and ever

but it is possible to remember the good, remember the growth

be thankful for God allowing them to be a part of your life :)

so with that being rambled, i had to share something with you.

a good friend of mine who i used to work with in Lebanon brings a smile to my face regularly. let me start this all by saying that at each store, partners have an area of "pockets" that usually have names on them. they are ways to communicate and for me, places to put my drinks when i'm at work :) we also have little cards called "green apron cards" that we are encouraged to use as ways of saying "thank you" or "good job" or whatever the heck we want. there are 5 "green apron" behaviors... Considerate, Knowledgable, Involved, Genuine, Welcoming. I have pretty much kept every card I ever received and brought them along to my new store so that I could have a piece of my Lebanon store with me here in Lake Forest. now while I won't list every card I received (although some of them melt me, the little notes from fellow partners were more encouraging than you might realize) I'll list here the "love notes" I received from one "Edward Cullen" while working in Lebanon.

Two words.

You, me.

Love.

My Love,

You don't know how long I've waited for you... your kiss is the reason for my existence. Forever, eternally yours, Edward

Misty...

You're beautiful. I could watch you move and the form of your body for eternity.

Beauty you are.

My Love,

The world is a waste without your life.

Yours, Edward

now i know you all are rolling your eyes at how weird this is, these little notes cracked me up and always made my day... you do that sometimes when you can bring a smile to someone's face. this person also left me these notes:

Your winks and laugh is nice.

The bathrooms were super nice! You're cute and I like your teeth.

Thanks for leaving the store pretty for me! Love you.

to YOU, if you still read this blog.

i miss and love you.

thanks for being in my life when you were.

i think of you often.

♥