As I sit here watching my kids take their final elementary school achievement test, I cannot help but wonder what exactly did they achieve during our journey together? I still don’t understand why my time at this school / school district was cut so short, but I pray and hope that my impact far outlast the days I was their teacher. Will they remember everything I taught them? Will they go on to pursue their dreams of being the next great rapper, an Olympian, artist/designer for the next great hip hop label, and an Academy Award winning actress in Hollywood? I hope they can muster through all the blows that life brings to them and become the people I believe they can.

I hate to let them go, but I know that it is time. One verse in the latest Rascal Flatts song says, “Here comes goodbye, here comes the last time. The first of every tear I’m gonna cry. Here comes the pain.” It is going to be tough to say goodbye, but it is time to go. Time to look forward and follow where God is leading me. I thank God for these children as they have brought me back to life. They have shown me that everyone has obstacles, hurdles in life, but we all just want to be loved. Thank you God for this time with them as it has left a footprint on my heart that cannot be washed away. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 says, “According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds on it.” The foundation has been laid and now I await to see what masterpiece will be created.

Love in Christ,

Nichole