Core Scripture: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Message: I can’t believe it is over.  My tenure in Osawatomie has come to and end.  I poured my thoughts into my journal this past week, attempting to recap the year but even more to discover why God planted me there.  I will say that I will never fully understand God’s ways, but I do have a much firmer grasp on His timing. 

The pieces of the puzzle have slowly begun to slide together.

I finished my end of the year scrapbook in record timing this year.  All the pictures of my sweet Osawatomie kids decorated through a plethora of pages.  The memories came rushing over me like a tidal wave …

Forever friendships … goofy class pictures … PJ day … the day my folks came as guest speakers … the skating party … amazing colleagues … the bowling field trip … the 6^th grade track meet …

I look back on these memories with a smile.  I laugh at pictures of students that gave me a few headaches.  Why is it they are always the ones I struggle to say goodbye to the most?  God works in mysterious ways. 

His work in planting me in Osawatomie was … oh, how would my 6^th graders say it?  A little “sus?”  That means suspicious.  I know better than to call God’s plans suspicious though.  Mysterious might be a better choice of words, and at times they can be completely foreign to this teacher here.

Isaiah 55:8-9 confirms that God’s thoughts are indeed NOTHING like my own thoughts.  But, holding true to Romans 8:28, I likewise know that God works everything for my good.  I have learned all over again to trust in Him, leaning not on my own understanding.  Acknowledging His mighty, mysterious ways as He straightens my path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God grew me this year as a teacher.  More than you would ever know.  That little town of Osawatomie worked its way into my heart, and Trojan Pride will always be in my blood.

I will miss my drive.  At first, I only saw how long it was.  Looking back now, I see the beauty and sereneness of the country, allowing me the extra time to fill my heart with Christian music, pray, and ready myself for the upcoming day.

I will miss the Jumpstarts.  Getting to see ALL my kids together as one and watching them enjoy games like Slam Ball and Yoshi.  And of course those Red Days, where the kids dressed in Trojan red ran out to pick the teacher they thought would win the spinney wheel.

I will miss the PLC time.  Never before have I seen a more productive PLC, weaving in positives, concerns, and preparing our hearts for the day. 

I will miss the students.  Oh, will I miss the students!  The smiles.  The friendships.  The times we guided them in patching up those friendships.  They were life lessons at their finest.

I will miss my colleagues.  I leaned on their wisdom daily to navigate the giants that opposed me.  Together we made it through.  Together we conquered.

I will miss my teacher prayer group.  We were small but mighty.  Only three regulars came but it gave us an opportunity to be a bit vulnerable, share our faith, and lift one another up in prayer.

I will miss my 6^th grade team.  God used our natural personalities and gifts to mesh well.  Two of us more toward the loving and caring side.  Two of us providing the structure and discipline the kids needed.  We all played our roles well.

I will miss our trips to the library.  One day a week I was not responsible for the lesson.  Our amazing librarian was, and she did a phenomenal job through read alouds, fun lessons, and even teaching them a bit of character.

I will miss my trips to Casey’s after school.  Nothing helps fill that mid-afternoon snack craving like a slice of Casey’s pizza.  Or two slices.  Or two slices and a 32-ounce Diet Coke. 

I will miss my building principal.  His first year as an administrator taught him so much, and I learned from him every day.  I wish him well as he returns to California to care for his family.

More than anything, I will miss the feeling of unity and togetherness.  The feeling of family.  Through the staff and through the town of Osawatomie, they welcomed me in with open arms.  Talk about Trojan Pride!

Although I am excited about my new opportunity to move to Heritage Christian Academy and share my faith with my students and colleagues more openly, I will indeed miss Osawatomie.  Once a Trojan, always a trojan.

Three on me … ONE, TWO, THREE (clap, clap, clap) … TROJAN PRIDE!

Challenge: What did you learn from teaching the 2023-2024 school year?  Is there anything you would change?  How did you grow?  What mistakes did you learn from?  Where were your successes?  Journal and/or discuss these questions with trusted colleagues. 

Bible study: Read through the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) and journal or discuss the following questions …

• Was Joseph’s plan the same as God’s plan?
• How did Joseph react to the different setbacks in his life?
• How does Romans 8:28 tie into Joseph’s story?
• How can we apply the lessons from Joseph to our own lives?

Prayer points: Lift up the following areas to the Lord …

• Praise God for the opportunity to teach and make a difference with our students this year! 
• Pray that we can reflect on this school year to grow as Christian educators.
• Pray for the transition into summer and that God would lead us purposefully. 

Just for fun: One of the students I will miss this year entered my room every day with a weird smile on his face, saying “hamburger.”  Not sure why.  It was somewhat odd, but I rolled with it.  He was in my Creative Writing class and wrote often about hamburgers, but when his final essay for The Man Who Loved Clowns was only about hamburgers, I drew the line.  No points.  The young man never did rewrite his essay.  His admiration of hamburgers must have been too great.  Touche. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for using me to impact our children and point them toward Christ through our actions.  Amen.