15

Well yesterday came and went.  Sunday they were 14 and Monday they were 15.  I did a little reflecting here and there as the day approached.  Smiling at what beautiful, amazing young ladies they have become. Reminiscing at funny little stories of the past.  But then it hit me. I began to think about how different my life is 15 years later.  How different OUR life is 15 years later.
I don't think back much.  I don't even think about last week to much.  I have learned to live life looking forward.  The only time I look backwards is to take notice, small glances, at the stones of remembrance that I have left in my past.


Some of those stones are past hardships that now help me to press on when we have tough times.
Some are stones of people (wretched people :-) that now stand to remind me of the kindness I should always show people.
Some are stones of places that we have lived, and loved.
Some are stones of bad choices that stand to remind me of God's grace and mercy in my life.

All of my stones stand to remind me of something great, that God has allowed in my life. Good or bad, but all great.  When I pause to glance back at the stone that was placed in my life 15 years ago, I can't help but to shake my head.  I am still dumb founded at what God allowed into my life to show His grace to me.  I glance at our beautiful daughters and I can't believe that He would entrust them to us.  Despite my choices.

The girls are now 10th graders.  Six months from a learners permit, two years from graduating.  Both love life in their own ways.
B loves horses.  She is compassionate and heartfelt.  She is giving and kind.  She reads anything she can get her hands on.  She is a dreamer.  She dreams of a horse farm and a cowboy to run it :-)  She is the kindness I want to be.
S loves the arts.  She is passionate and driven. She is already planning her move to a film school and then out of the country.  She is kind to people when they wouldn't even notice it.  She reads like crazy but it is always for information not fiction. She is grounded and a planner.  She is the curiosity I wish I had.

Fifteen. Wow!  Fifteen.

~LL


I can't even begin to express my awe for the life God has allowed us to walk over the past years.  We (a family of 6) are truly blessed beyond measure.