Dear Delongs,

Dear Delongs,

I wanted to write this to you all mainly because i'm going to miss you a lot. You told us you're leaving in a week, so i'm only going to get to see you two more times. I doubt you'll ever see this, but things like this really help me for some reason. I'm going to write to each on of you specifically though, but overall it's to everyone. So here we go:

Jolene, I wanted to thank you first because you mean a lot to me. When you and Jon took over as youth pastors after Jim left, it meant a lot to each of us to have someone take on that job. We knew we were a lot to handle, and we didn't think someone would be that willing to spend time with us. You made youth group fun for all of us; you made all of us feel special, not just the older kids. You were amazing and always had fun activities to do. You were also our female chaperon on the first mission trip. That seems like nothing to you, but to me (and the rest of us) it was a lot. I adored you at that point. You were so sweet, so interesting, so kind and loving. You had good suggestions, it was just a lot of fun being with you on that trip. You put up with the excessive talking at night, and you were kind enough to wake us up each day. You even helped Stefani out when some girl shoved peanut butter down her throat, and you saved our flooding toilet all in that SAME night. One thing you did specifically for me though, was showing me to trust. We did a youth exercise, and i was too scared to let someone try to catch me. But you told me it was okay. Even though i didn't let anyone catch me, you still showed me how much i could trust you. You also called me beautiful. And Jolene, i couldn't thank you enough for those things alone. You are amazing, and i love you. I will be incredibly heart broken to see you go.

Jon, I wanted to say thank you for putting up with all four of us loud girls. You drove us all over (to concerts, different events, even donuts in the parking lot) even though we sang loudly, talked constantly and giggled way too much. We always picked to go with you, and you always graciously said yes. I can't tell you how excited we were to get in the car with you. I can't tell you how fun it was just to have you as a youth pastor. You pushed me like Jolene did. Making sure i really think about doing things before i shot them down. You let me know even if i chose not to do something, you were still proud. You did a lot to make youth group fun. I love you and i'll miss you too. Did i mention you are an amazing drummer? And your mullet was amazing? Because both are true. I'll miss you teasing me a little, and i'll miss you talking to me. Even more, i'll miss having someone listen to me play piano. You were the only one who told me i did amazing even when i messed up. I couldn't appreciate you more.

Jake, i know we were never really close. So i really don't have much to say except for two things: You were always so enlightening. I couldn't get enough of what you had to say, especially when it came to religion. The second thing was when i told stefani to tell you hi, even though you wouldn't care. Your response? "Of course i care, it's olivia!" I couldn't ever express how great that made me feel. That made my day. It still does.

Josh, we weren't always very close either. But you were so funny. And you stood up for me a lot. You were so nice to me even though i was so shy. When we did the nursery for the crittenden girls, it was the first time we actually spent time together. I look back on that moment and all i can do is smile. It just made me so happy. I was looking forward to being able to have time with you during your last year in youth group. Not in some romantic way, but to get to know you because i had always been too shy to. It makes me really sad that you won't be here anymore. I just can't thank you for being so nice to me all the time. That night on the mission trip when i was crying, you offered to stay with me while waiting for stefani. That meant a lot to me too. Just to know you cared, it made me happy. My favorite thing you ever did though, was tell stefani you were happy to have me in the group. I have always been so worried that i was so quiet that i was hardly apart of the group. But you didn't think that. Josh, i really do love you for all you've done. You're an amazing person. Very nice and smart, and so funny. It's going to be a major loss not having you around anymore.

I wanted to say i really do love you all. You all are my family. My church family. Those countless sundays when i was there by myself, you still made an effort to smile, be nice, etc. You treated me like family. I will miss you a lot. I really will. I know you'll visit from time to time, but it won't be the same. I hope for all of you that you are happy with all that comes in your life. I hope you find another church you love. More than anything i hope you don't forget me. Even if i don't see you all constantly, and even if you move away, I know i will see you again one day. I really love you guys. Maybe things didn't pan out like i had always planned (because yes i do plan how my life will be when i'm older, and naturally all my church family is included in those plans in some way or another) but they will work out.

Lots of love and best of luck,

Olivia.