Does absence really make the heart grow fonder?

Although I'll be moving away from some incredibly important people in my life over the course of this summer, the absence of which I'm speaking about in this blog title refers to things/memories I left behind in college.

It actually happened. I graduated college and have been a UF Alum for three weeks! And what a wonderful final few weeks in Gainesville it was! Of course, I had exams and projects to finish up, but there were lots of fun activities and celebrations, too.

My semester-long public relations campaign with the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce came to a close with a client presentation in the middle of April. Aly and I enjoyed precious days and nights finalizing wedding details for her big day on May 8. I experienced a Luke Bryan concert in Ocala with awesome people as a final ADPi function -- and then became a "Delta" sister during ADPi's jewel degree ceremony.

I enoyed (though bittersweet) lots of "lasts" around Gainesville to cap off my college career -- last stadium run in the Swamp; last night of tearin' up the dance floor at :08; last time living with best friend and the most incredible roommate any girl could ask for; last walk to class; last Swamp happy hour -- the list could go on and on.

Needless to say, I am a sentimental person. I analyzed each step of the "farewell, college!" process :)

Of course, along with all the precious celebrations and memories, there were also goodbyes. I said "see you soon" to the Ginder family. Lee and Dale have become part of my heart. Playing with them for the past two years has been an incredible time of fun and growth. I built a connection with these little boys that I will never forget. I am forever grateful that our lives collided, and they are in my prayers every night!

The rest of this post will consist of pictures that correlate to each above description. Thus, the title: Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? I hope you can see from the emotions and memories captured through these pictures that -- the answer is, undeniably, YES. Moving on to new phases of life is necessary and natural, but each day over the past several weeks gave me a greater appreciation and gratitude for the experiences and the people in my life over the last four years.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-6
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace and a time to refrain; a time to search and a time to give up; a time to keep and a time to throw away..."