cristina

cristina's last day was yesterday.. still processing what everything is actually going to look like without getting to be with her every week.

having worked for makarios since 2006, she holds a lot of history. she is a constant source of reminders about how everything has grown and of wisdom about how everything is. i was incredibly blessed to have her at the school with me as the other teacher. there are countless things i learned from her.. a ton, of course, about my kids and how to love and work with them, but there is so much more.

i have been trying for days to figure out how to accurately explain the woman she is. i always get stuck at the inadequacy of my words, but if i had to try..

cristina is deeply respected by EVERYONE who knows her. she really just has to open her mouth and people will listen. she is a pillar of wisdom. strength. passion. love. her strength is rooted in her unwavering faith in the Lord. she knows the Lord so deeply an listens to Him about everything. oh my gosh, you should hear her talk about the Lord and pray. she's brought me to tears so many times with the fire in her. she has been through so much pain but has only been strengthened and deepened in her trust in the Lord.

in everything she does or says, she carries herself and speaks with so much grace. so much beauty. her face brings joy and i swear her hugs are magic. cristina can walk up to me in the morning and just know exactly how i am.. and how to respond with so much love. she just knows.

i am so thankful for her tight hugs. laughter. listening ear. wisdom. pulling me aside to pray. bold questions. inside jokes. unspoken thoughts. trust. friendship. love.

i am sad. we know the Lord is calling her to move to the capital and just have to trust Him in that. trust Him with her family, a home, a job.. she is going to be a blessing for so many people. the Lord is going to use her to do beautiful things. i know that. i mean, she's cristina.. i'm just really going to miss her. my coworker. my friend. my sister.

here's a picture of her i really love:


i hope you all get to have a cristina sometime in your lives.

pray with me for her and her family and what this will all mean for them.

i love her. oh gosh, i will miss her..