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
I wanted to put you this little bit of remark so as to give many thanks as before for the breathtaking suggestions you’ve documented in this case. It has been really shockingly generous of you to grant unhampered just what a few people would have sold for an ebook in making some cash on their own, mostly since you could possibly have tried it in the event you wanted. Those basics additionally acted as the fantastic way to fully grasp someone else have the same zeal really like mine to find out lots more with reference to this issue. I am certain there are millions of more pleasurable opportunities ahead for folks who look into your blog.
Hey there. I discovered your site by the use of Google while looking for a related subject, your website came up. It looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I discovered your blog by the use of Google even as searching for a comparable topic, your web site came up. It appears to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Awesome write-up. I’m a normal visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is actually annoying. A good blog with exciting content, that 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 am really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is really frustrating. A good blog with exciting content, that is what I need. Thanks for making this web site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hey there. I found your blog via Google whilst looking for a similar subject, your site came up. It looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is actually annoying. A good website with exciting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good site with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for making this web-site, and I’ll 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 nice site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is really irritating. A good website 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?
Awesome write-up. I am 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 write-up. I am a normal visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really frustrating. A good web site with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for making this web site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome write-up. I’m a regular visitor of your site 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 am a normal 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’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is actually irritating. A good site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this web-site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hi there. I found your site by way of Google even as looking for a similar topic, your web site came up. It seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Awesome write-up. I’m a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hi there. I found your web site via Google while searching for a related subject, your web site came up. It seems good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I discovered your website by means of Google even as looking for a comparable subject, your web site got here up. It appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Awesome post. 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 long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a regular visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is really annoying. A good blog with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks 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 website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Hello there. I discovered your blog via Google whilst looking for a comparable subject, your site came up. It appears to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is really frustrating. A good website with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for making this web site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your website 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 normal visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hi there. I discovered your web site via Google while looking for a comparable matter, your website came up. It appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you¡¦ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a perfect web site.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and internet stuff and this is really annoying. A good blog with exciting content, that is what I need. Thanks for making this website, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
My spouse and i felt quite peaceful Raymond could finish up his basic research out of the precious recommendations he discovered using your web pages. It is now and again perplexing just to be releasing helpful hints which often people today have been selling. And we fully understand we have the writer to thank for this. Most of the explanations you made, the easy site navigation, the relationships you aid to promote – it’s everything exceptional, and it is facilitating our son in addition to us know that the subject matter is amusing, which is rather mandatory. Thank you for all the pieces!
Hey there. I discovered your site by way of Google whilst looking for a comparable matter, your website came up. It looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Awesome write-up. I’m a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is actually annoying. A good blog with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this website, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome write-up. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good site with interesting content, that is what I need. Thanks for making this web-site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hello there. I discovered your website by the use of Google even as looking for a similar subject, your site came up. It seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hey there. I discovered your blog via Google whilst looking for a similar matter, your site got here up. It appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hello there. I found your blog via Google at the same time as searching for a related matter, your web site came up. It seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really frustrating. A good blog with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?