One thing I've always wanted to do was whitewater rafting. On vacations growing up, we would drive from California to Tennessee and Louisiana to see family for an extended time. Each year, my dad would drive us through a new course of towns, so we got to see so many things.The Grand Canyon. ghost towns, sugar cane fields, historic towns and monuments like New Orleans and lots of National Parks. Lots.
My absolute favorite part of the trips were when we were driving along the wild rivers. Watching the smooth currents turn into thrashing, crashing whitewater was fascinating to me. We would pull over time after time and we would throw rocks and sticks in to the river, sometimes being able to watch them float gently down until out of site, and sometimes watch them thrust to and fro by the strong currents. It was amazing.
Now, we're beginning to navigate new waters. Those called "The Teenage Years". Sometimes, the waters are still, peaceful. Sometimes still, but you can see the drawing undercurrent and know whitewater is ahead.
My teenage years were like this, as I'm sure most everyone's were. There were insecurities, wanting to fit in, be popular but not for the wrong reasons, grow up and be taken seriously, make my own decisions. It was never fast enough for me. I was heavily involved in my youth group, which was a blessing. And when things at home got too much, I had a refuge to run to.
Kati and I are learning to navigate these precious, tumultuous years. She's so grown up, so determined in what she wants to do, so sure of herself in so many ways. She is daddy's girl, through and through and will confide in him easily. With me? Well, we work on it. Daily. She is just like her mom was at that age. She is so, well, me.
The past few weeks have been abit bumpy, but not destructive. We have talked and talked about her schooling issues and made the hard decision to pull her out of her current situation and move her to the same homeschool academy Jonathan is attending. I've had to go to the may with two of her teachers, her advisor and the principal of her current homeschool academy over serious issues that they don't seem to get. We have had to come clean with her and just say "We made a mistake. We love you enough to correct it now, since the school has made it clear that they are not going to help".
So, we're in the process of enrollment, transfers, records, grades blah blah blah.
John's boss called in sick today, so John is out at work for the whole day. With that, we took a break this afternoon and made some Christmas ornaments. Simple recipe- 4c flour, 1c. salt and 2c water. Bake at 300 for 30 minutes.
But, for two hours, we just rolled, shaped, cut and decorated. Just my baby girl and I. laughed, listened to Christmas music and laughed some more.
She'll be 15 in 2 weeks. 15.
My baby.
Next summer, she'll get behind the wheel of a car.
My baby.
Next summer, she'll go somewhere far away on a mission trip to learn about other cultures.
My baby.
In three years, she'll be off to medical school to become a nurse. Then go to Mali, Africa and try to save a piece of the world. That piece that is so firmly embedded in her heart.
My baby.
But today, we sit on the life raft of her life and laugh. Roll. Cut. decorate. And I'll look at her and sees myself, just a few short years ago. And pray that I make it easier on her. That I'll think before I speak. Hug, when I want to clobber. Wait, when I want to decide. Listen, when she wants to explain.
My baby.
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