moving on...

Twenty-one years ago, when the doctor

 I work for decided to open his own practice,

 he asked this lady to be his office manager.

She said "yes" and has served him faithfully

 all these years. She has been looking forward

 to retirement for several years.

Well, it finally happened...Thursday was her

 last day as our "F.L.-Fearless Leader"!

 We had her retirement dinner at Doc's house...

which is lovelier than any restaurant

 we could have chosen.

(That's Doc in the white shirt!)

The food was delicious and the atmosphere

... relaxed and comfortable.

Everyone was happy to be there to celebrate 

this momentous occasion!

 Here's my girl and her special buddy

 from the office. She worked in the office

 for two years and, since having Little E,

she is working for the Doc from home.

 One of the neat things about our office

 is that the  medical assistants and the

 front office staff are all friends

 and enjoy each other.

 We all just work together

 to get the job done!

 After dinner, we gathered in the basement

 to watch a video one of the girls made...

about 30 seconds in, we were all teary!

Since my girl worked through her

 entire pregnancy, Little E has been dubbed

 the "office baby"!

So, she attended and made the rounds...

 ...trying to give everyone equal time...

...especially the guest of honor!

"Wow, Mom, all this socializing is exhausting!"

 After the video, there were gifts...

...and more gifts...

 ...and speeches and tears,

 and more speeches and more tears!

It was a special time of expressing appreciation

for a job "more than well done",

 for friendship, for loyalty,

for 21 years of memories!

I failed to get a picture of us
 together at the party. This is one taken at a
 Braves game two years ago.

I didn't make a speech...

knew I wouldn't get through it.

So, I wrote what I would have said in the

card we signed for her...

"Who knew that when I interviewed with you

 twelve years ago, that not only would

 I get the job, but also a precious friend

 and a sweet sister? God knew! 

And I will be eternally grateful to Him for that!

You have been a special gift from God

 to me and to my family.

It won't be the same here without you,

 but I am so happy that God is giving you

 the desire of your heart!

I love you, Debbie"

She loves her God and she loves people. 

As a result, she has had a huge impact

 on the lives of everyone who has been a part

 of our office over the years.

 I am confidant that God will continue

 to use her to bless the people she encounters

 in this new phase of her life. 

I know her well enough to know that

she may be retiring from work, but

she most definitely is not retiring from life!