She arrived amidst parades, fireworks and cookouts.
There was fanfare and hurrying around as the birthing process took a turn for the worse.
After the miracle of surgeons and modern technology there she was!
Pink, tiny and holy.
Our firecracker.
Our last.
Not that I knew it at the time.
But somewhere inside, I knew.
The last time.
I held her longer; tried to take mental pictures to remember the moments.
I didn’t want to forget.
I wanted to be intentional and slow time.
She helped by being a child who cried. . . all the time.
So, I held her.
Held her longer and tried not to blink.
We would ask, “Honey, what is wrong?”
Her reply, “I don’t know.”
The tears would fall.
We would never know.
And now she is 18.
The last 17.
The last of this holy brood to turn 18.
Except for the one who never saw that birthday.
Who remains forever 17.
She is beauty and spunk.
Confident and adventurous.
She has been a light when darkness threatened to overtake me.
How a holy God could bless us with such a gift is humbling.
She lights up a room with her smile and very presence.
Often she rises long before dawn to coax frothy milk from sleepy bovines.
She and my farmer can be found conspiring over a project list a mile long.
Horses are her true passion.
She rode a calf as a child.
Willing that calf to move with milk as the incentive.
Creative.
Determined.
Beautiful.
Longing for a horse.
Praying.
Waiting.
Until a family offered an opportunity that would light a spark in her.
An unquenchable thirst to ride and race.
She has worked endless hours to pay her way.
My farmer and I not in a position to support this sport.
Yet that did not deter her.
With a passion and drive she has made her way.
Later this summer she will take that confident, adventurous spirit and head to Colorado,
where she will begin, step by step, to see where God is leading her.
Her future is unknown.
A path not yet chosen.
I have peace.
I know that our Heavenly Father will guide her steps.
I know that her life will impact others for the Lord.
She will be His light.
She will be the hands and feet of Christ where ever she goes.
She is her Father’s child.
There is nothing she can’t do.
So, my baby girl.
As you begin this new and exciting chapter in your life-
Remember, the door will always be open and the light on.
