this week

This week hasn't been the best week of my life. I've been really stressed out. I'm still stressed out...but thanks to last night...my perspective has changed :) Last night was the Rose Ceremony for Simmons Hall. The Rose Ceremony is where the current RAs pass on their wings to the new RAs for next year. It was really nice. It was also really sad for the current staff. I think it's starting to set in that this is the end. This has been an amazing semester. And last night I was reminded of how I absolutely love every single woman on my staff. They have blessed me beyond imagination. They took me in with open arms and made me feel like I had been a part of their staff this whole year. These girls became my sisters. As cliche and corny as that sounds, it's true. We have a sisterhood. The fact that we're not going to be on staff together next year, the fact that the end is just days away, brings tears to my eyes. I don't want this to end. I don't want my residents to leave. I don't want to leave my staff. This semester has changed my life, for the better. A lot of that has to do with my staff. Those 11 women encouraged me and challenged me every day. They have laughed with me and they have cried with me. They have held me when I had a breakdown. They have prayed with me and for me. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to serve on this staff. I love each one of those girls dearly. I am so so so blessed to have them in my life. And while I know that I will still see them next year, it's not going to be the same. And that makes my heart hurt at the moment. I'm not ready for it to end.

SO thankful for Hannah, Holly, Kelly, Laura, Carissa, Ashley, Kristin, Whitney, Sarah, Jana, and Merea.

A couple pictures from the Rose Ceremony:


I'm so thankful for Jana. I wouldn't have been able to get through this semester without her. She's been so encouraging. And she just gets me. And she loves Glee :)


Kell has been such an amazing friend to me. I just adore her. She's returning to Simmons staff next year...I've already called hall aunt :)


Bekah is on staff in Simmons next year. But, as a current resident of Simmons, and as a friend, she's been such an encouragement to me. I have no doubt that she'll be an amazing RA.


So, the reason my perspective on this week has changed is because last night, at the Rose Ceremony, I realized that our staff doesn't have much longer together. Our residents are starting to pack up and getting ready to move back home. We've passed our wings down to the new staff. Like I said, I'm not ready for this to be over. But, the end is coming and I can't stop it. The only thing I can do is to make the most of the time that we do have left together. Therefore, I will have a positive attitude the rest of the time that I am here, regardless of how stressed I am. I will be positive because I want these last few days with my girls and my staff to be happy ones. I want to look back on these last days and remember how much fun we had together. I'm not ready for this to end...but it's going to, so I'm going to enjoy it :)