"Let the tears fall like rain...

and let the Lord's blessings wash over you. "  That is what an Encino Park parent told me the last day of school when I was "sweating through my eyes" as the kids like to tell me.  The tears fall because it's extremely hard to say goodbye and close a chapter in my life that has changed me forever.  It was a goal of mine to work in a school for 6 years so I would be able to see my first class of kindergartners all the way through to the end of 5th grade.  My goal was completed at the end of this year and how lucky am I that I was able to see that happen at Encino Park?  So many blessings came from there....I was hired after 3 awful years at another school when I put in for a transfer and  Colleen Bohrmann hired this wounded music teacher.  Crazy thing is, the day I was hired at Encino Park in 2006 was the day I had officially submitted all of my paperwork to the New York Department of Education because I was done teaching and moving to New York!.  HAHAHA the Lord knew better than I did and clearly had other plans for me at that time. I am so thankful!  My first two years at EP I had the privilege of being mentored by the great Janie Kolmann, AKA, my Jewish mother.  She taught me everything I needed to know to take over and be the best I could be. Then came Cindy David....I love her with all my heart.  Together we were able to conquer three all school musicals and so much more.  Wow, who knew those musicals would turn out to be the thing in my career that brought me the most joy and stir up a new dream in my heart.
The last few days of school were the hardest because I finally had the guts to tell everyone what I had known from the first day I got back last summer.  I told the Wizard parents first, then the teachers and the last two days I told the students!  Oh my goodness, I had no idea how hard that would be and how encouraged I would be either.   Some of the most precious moments are these...A parent came in to pray over me and a group of  amazing fifth graders set themselves up in Cindy's room in choir formation and sang Like an Eagle to me.  Of course I cried and when they got to "You taught me well, you gave me strength, I'll not forget you,"  I completely lost it!  There were hugs and tears all around when that moment was over.  What a priceless memory.  So many parents gave hugs, shed tears with me, and said some of the kindest words I've ever heard. I wrote them down in a journal so I can remember them forever.  The relationships with the kids, parents, teachers and admin are precious, and treasured and I will hold them close to my heart forever. What  an amazing 6 years.  
Tomorrow I leave for the big city and I'm so excited but if I'm 100% honest I am scared to death as well.  Yes, I'm following my dreams and taking a leap of faith but I know it's going to be full of rejection, heartbreak, loneliness and so many other things I can only hope and pray I'm prepared for.  I don't know what the future holds for me but I know who holds the future and he holds me in his hands.  I am fully depending on my Savior to lead me, guide me, provide for me and hold me when I hurt.  Right now I'm clinging to 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  So as my tears continue to fall uncontrollably I remember that home is a place in my heart and my friends will be friends whether I'm in San Antonio or in NYC and I can always come back.  However, this door has stayed open and I have to go.  




No day but today my friends...
Miss Gulley in Manhattan