dang, do i ever miss you guys. i miss waking up at 6:55 and trying to get into the bathroom at the same time as six other women before breakfast starts at 7:00; i miss hugging everyone before bed each night; i miss playing catan and monopoly deal and dutch blitz and enjoying the people even more than the game; i miss verbally processing with one person while the rest of the team ends up showing up anyway and being there for me; i miss worshipping with our whole hearts to the God who loves us and encouraging each other with the same Spirit inside all of us; i miss the crazy situations we’d find ourselves in while traveling from point a to point b; i miss the random jam sessions and screaming songs at the top of our lungs. i miss all of you. 

  but even more than i miss you, i’m thankful for you. i’m thankful for the good times, the hard times, the silly times, and all the in-between moments in which i got to know you crazy bunch of weirdos that i get to call family. y’all are insane and wonderful and beautiful and i love each one of you: josten and reed and marissa and lydia and eli and abby and erika and jason and cole and kayla and kourtney and gabby and emma and emily and nick and alex and quincy and hannah and and shanan and graceyn and kayci and brook and phil. 

  thank you guys for loving me, for giving me grace, for not giving up on me, and most of all for letting me love you. it’s been a privilege and an honor, and even though loving you looks different now, it’s a pleasure to continue. whatever each of you do next, i’m praying for you and cheering you on as you follow in the Father’s footsteps. 

  love you miss you mean it,

  claire