Today's the day!

Happy Graduation day!!!!  Happy 18th Birthday!!!!  I love you and am so very proud of you!

When you were just a little girl there were times that you would cry.  It seems like it was so easy to make those tears go away ... a hug, feed you, tickle the tears away.  Now that you're older there are bigger disappointments or things that can't just be tickled away but it warms my heart that you still don't mind the hugs ... or the tears when I just join in.  

I know in life we are sometimes asked to go through chapters that we wished we weren't asked to go through.  It's those times that we learn..those times that we become equipped .. those times that make it possible to experience things and meet people we would otherwise not have an opportunity to do.  There's a lot we won't understand about the reason behind such things but we are confident that God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11) and He will make good come out of it (Romans 8:28).  

You are strong ... I know when I hear those words I think of all the tears I have cried and that I sometimes don't feel so strong ... but I have watched you transform before my very eyes.  You are equipped to enter this new chapter of your life and chase that dream that God has placed on your heart.  Tonight you will walk across that stage, in your cap and gown and together we will be starting a new chapter.  Enjoy your day, Princess!

You know what it is like to trust the Lord.  There were times when you had no idea what to do or how to handle a situation.  I encouraged you to pray and to trust.  Baby, I know how hard that is sometimes ... especially when you don't see the answers right away.  It is so easy to trust when things are going great and we get the answers we want.  There are times, however, when God says "no" or He asks us to wait ... keep trusting and praying during those times.  He knows what we need better than we do and we need to remain confident in this.  I won't be going to college with you (you told me I couldn't go be your roommate, lol) but I am always here for you ... there are so many people who love you and your "cloud of witnesses" are waving their pom poms (yeah, I'll explain all that).

The Words I Would Say 

Until next time ... you blink and they grow up ... keep hugging ... keep loving ... always pray!