This is Goodnight and Not Goodbye

Two of my sorority sisters in my pledge class will be leaving after this semester for internships. Jenny will be close, just in Birmingham. I'm sure she will be in Tuscaloosa a lot and so... I'm just not even prepared to consider her not being around.

But Katie??? She will be hundreds of miles away in Philadelphia. A few days ago, the girls I pledged Theta with put aside the little bit of drama, the stress, and a night of studying for finals to be with each other! We talked, laughed and made plans. And at the end of the night, Katie spoke...

And I'm going to miss this girl. We're different in a lot of ways, but what happened 3 and 1/2 years ago make those differences completely irrelevant. During recruitment {on Preference Night} we sat right next to each other at the Kappa Alpha Theta house. I remember thinking to myself, as I watched tears fall down her cheek during the video: 

"If this is the kind of girl that's going to be in this house, this is the sorority I want to be a part of..." And it was! And she is.

Katie is steadfast.

 

Katie is loyal and hardworking.

She is thoughtful. 

And she writes me notes like this: 



And for Christmas, she bought me a book {Random Acts of Kindness} to remind me of: "the pure goodness in this world... you can read the stories of these strangers and be moved," she wrote.

Katie, I know we're not leaving Tuscaloosa for a few more days. And I know I will see you again in April/May. And I know I will see you A LOT after that! But you must know, now... thank you for ALWAYS being there! Thank you for letting me cry on your shoulder. And sit on your bed. Thank you for all of the laughs, walks, dinners, shopping trips and long conversations. Thank you for being consistent, always. Thank you for understanding me. You know my heart. You know that your letters mean the world to me! Thank you for coming to me, too. Thank you for reaching out to me. You practice faith, hope and love. You are one of the many reasons I LOVE THIS HOUSE SO SO SO MUCH! I would "buy" these SISTERS all over again! And if I thought I could make you stay, I would. But I know differently. I know you have BIG plans! You will go and do what it is that you love! Go. Be. Do!