Just sitting here thinking about my daughter this morning. First of all, I can't believe she is 14 all ready. Time just truly flies. I wanted to post a cute baby picture, but there are not any on the computer right now; so here she is a couple years ago doing one of her favorite things-driving! She never misses a chance to help grandpa with his tractors!

Secondly, I am just so in awe of her sometimes. Often! I was a shy, awkward kid. I was happy, don't get me wrong. But I was nothing like she is. DD plays every sport she can, and always gives 110%. Doesn't matter that the girls she is up against are often six inches taller than she is, she's out to play her best. And if she has a question about the game or a call, she will walk right up to the referee and ask questions! I could have NEVER of done that! I don't think I spoke to my teachers until at least 3 months into the school year. I'm not afraid to speak to people now, but I had to ask the principal a serious question Friday, and I was shaking like a leaf! DD has no qualms about speaking up and doing it with respect.

Academically she is doing well too. I think this is what really got me thinking about the time she has left at home. We met with her guidance counselor Friday and planned out her high school schedule. She has worked hard and created a lot of opportunities for herself. And now, she has four years of high school left. She's thinking about college. Mostly the "where do I want to go" type of stuff. The conversation came up the other day and she said,
"Mom, I may want to go to school in California." she waited for my reaction, expecting me to beg her not to go. But this was a serious question, and I had to give her her wings.
"Hon, you go where ever you want because this is the time of your life to do it."
She was surprised. My kids both like to tease me about them growing up fast and I'll fake cry "ohhhhh my BABIES are growing up!" That's play though, and they do need to know that they can work hard and go wherever the Lord leads them.

The Lord. I haven't told you enough how much God has done for us. His love and grace is all over this family. Both of my children love and serve Him. When I look at the accomplishments of both of my beautiful children I know it was by the grace of God all those years ago that I got down on my knees and told Him that I can't raise these kids without Him. I wasn't capable at that point. I was a hurting confused barely grown up woman who thankfully came to the realization that I was madly in love with the two little gifts He had given me and I did not want to screw it up. When I surrendered to God like that, He did amazing things in our lives. He changed me, eventually, step by step our circumstances changed too. And again, by God's grace alone, I see my daughter has a servants heart; and I am in awe. Maybe it's not of her, but of God and what He has done.

For the second year in a row my daughter is giving up sleeping in and hanging out with friends to spend a week away from home over Easter break. She will stay at a church and spend her days working to fix up a person's house. Last year at 13 years old she tore down walls, put up dry wall, and sanded and painted! At the end of each day they return to the church, have meals and Bible study, off to bed and doing all again the next day.
I was so nervous to let her go last year. A week away from home, in the city, blah blah blah! But to see her face when I picked her up at the end of the week was unreal. She had served an elderly lady, and the lady just could not thank these kids enough, and it blessed my daughter. She knew she had shared Jesus with this woman and her family and she hungered to do more. She was immediately planning this years trip!

I have babbled on. But please don't take this as bragging. She's 14 for pete's sakes, she is normal. I began here just trying to put my feelings down about my little girl who is quickly becoming a young woman. But I end here realizing how much I have to praise God for. And for anyone out there wondering: IF HE CAN DO IT FOR ME, HE CAN DO IT FOR YOU!
~Blessings.