Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 {NIV}
My firstborn turns 18 years old today. I know it’d be very cliche to ask where the time went … yet, as I look at this photo and reflect over the years we traveled together, I can’t help but think … where did the time go?!
The other day, Taylor was riding a different horse at the barn — for reasons I won’t go into as it’d be a whole different post — but right now she’s riding a couple different lesson horses to just have some fun and get her own riding back on track.
As she poked around the arena on a verrryyyy slowwww guy, her mood was light, she had a smile on her face {few and far between these days}, and commented, “He feels just like Clover.”
I was immediately struck by the thought, “Sometimes to start fresh, you have to start at the beginning.”
You see, Taylor basically found her riding passion on that trusty ol’ mount. Even today, Clover holds a irreplaceable and special place in our hearts.
Clover was Taylor’s beginning.
Lately, she’s had some crazy trouble with her horse and needs a fresh start in riding. She needs to have fun again.
Taylor’s been struggling … with a whole lotta stuff going on in her life, she’s been struggling. And right now, as she’s turning eighteen, she feels like she needs a fresh start.
Hold on … I’m not planning on going into a “whoa-is-Taylor-she’s-had-it-so-rough” thing. Truth is, I’ve been chastised for not “letting her get over it.” Along that line and as a side note, I would like to share something about my parenting …
When my children are walking through a valley in life, I don’t stand outside of that valley and shout down to them, “Put your big girl panties on and get over it already!”
No. That wouldn’t do us any good.
Instead, I walk down into that valley with them. I take them, I guide them, I encourage them, and we put their big girl panties on together.
Meaning … I don’t sit in their valley with them. I don’t allow them to sit in their own valleys. But in order to get them out of the valley, I need to meet them where they’re at, take them by the heart, and walk them through it.
How can a child — or anyone for that matter — “get over something” when they don’t have a guide out?
Anyway.
That said, I’ve been walking Taylor through quite a few valley’s as of late and she’s desperately searching for a fresh start in her life.
Eighteen years old. A milestone birthday. Adulthood? Gaaaa … this momma isn’t too sure about that one! Talking with a friend the other day, we agreed adulthood should be changed to twenty-one or thirty-five!
Tay … my sweet Tay … I want you to know I hear you. I see you. I feel you. I pray for you. And as much as this mommy loves you with all of her heart … your Father in heaven loves you THAT much more. I can only imagine how proud He must be of you Taylor.
He’s allowed almost every trial imaginable. And you’ve persevered. Yes, it’s been through tears and anguish you’ve persevered, but you’ve also done it with unimaginable grace.
Baby, I heard this song the other day and you immediately came to mind. Sweet girl, please let your heart be wide open as you listen to each word and let God speak into your life. Listen to His promises for you …
What if every tear you cry, seeds the ground where joy will grow? Fields … acres and acres of fields of joy are what He has in store for you. I believe it Taylor.
You can lean on me and I’ll believe for you … and in time you will believe it too.
Happy birthday love. There’s no way I could be more proud of you …
Nothing Is Wasted
:: Jason Gray ::
The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope’s a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow
{chorus}
Nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted
It’s from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what’s lost will be found again
{chorus}
When hope is more than you can bear
And it’s too hard to believe it could be true
And your strength fails you half way there
You can lean on me & I’ll believe for you
And in time you will believe it too
Sometimes we are waiting
In the sorrow we have tasted
But joy will replace it
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our redeemer
Nothing is wasted
hello there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this web site, since I experienced to reload the web site lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again soon..
wonderful publish, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not understand this. You must continue your writing. I am sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!
obviously like your web site however you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth however I¡¦ll definitely come again again.
I have been examinating out a few of your articles and i can claim pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your site.
Very nice post and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is in fact the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance :)
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Wow! Thank you! I permanently needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I implement a part of your post to my blog?
My spouse and i felt so more than happy when Jordan could deal with his basic research by way of the precious recommendations he grabbed in your site. It’s not at all simplistic just to happen to be giving out helpful hints which often people today may have been making money from. So we consider we’ve got the blog owner to appreciate for that. All the explanations you’ve made, the easy web site navigation, the relationships your site give support to engender – it’s mostly fabulous, and it’s leading our son and the family recognize that that topic is interesting, which is certainly unbelievably vital. Thank you for the whole lot!
Hello! I simply want to give you a huge thumbs up for the excellent info you have right here on this post. I am returning to your site for more soon.
Hi there, I discovered your blog via Google while looking for a comparable subject, your website got here up, it appears to be like good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Normally I do not learn article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great post.
Great ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task..
Somebody essentially help to make critically posts I might state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this particular put up extraordinary. Excellent task!
My wife and i have been absolutely glad when Michael could carry out his researching with the precious recommendations he grabbed from your very own web page. It is now and again perplexing just to continually be giving out secrets which often others have been trying to sell. And now we acknowledge we’ve got the blog owner to give thanks to because of that. The type of explanations you made, the simple website menu, the friendships you will give support to foster – it is most astounding, and it’s helping our son and us understand the subject matter is awesome, and that’s wonderfully important. Thanks for all!
There is clearly a bundle to know about this. I think you made certain nice points in features also.
I cling on to listening to the newscast lecture about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?
Very well written article. It will be useful to anybody who employess it, including myself. Keep up the good work – looking forward to more posts.
Simply desire to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your post is simply cool and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.
It¡¦s really a great and useful piece of information. I¡¦m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I¡¦d like to peer extra posts like this .
I¡¦ve learn several just right stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you put to make this kind of great informative site.
I do consider all of the ideas you have offered in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very brief for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
hi!,I love your writing very much! share we keep up a correspondence more about your post on AOL? I need a specialist in this area to unravel my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to peer you.
Howdy very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also¡KI’m satisfied to search out numerous helpful info right here in the put up, we want develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
I enjoy studying an article that may get people to feel. Furthermore, thank you for allowing me in order to remark!
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
As I website possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling magnificent , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
of course like your website however you have to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the reality then again I¡¦ll surely come back again.
Hey there. I discovered your web site by way of Google while searching for a related topic, your site got here up. It seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really frustrating. A good site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this web-site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and internet stuff and this is really annoying. A good web site with interesting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this web-site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is actually irritating. A good web site with interesting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this website, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I’m a normal visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Hey there. I discovered your site by the use of Google whilst looking for a similar matter, your website got here up. It appears good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is really frustrating. A good website with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for making this website, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal web site.
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks!
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m quite sure I’ll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!