A weekend to remember

The first weekend of November was a busy one and hopefully one that will have a lasting impact. 

My brother and nephew came into town so there was a lot of cousin silliness which involved boxes.

 

On Saturday morning Katie danced down Polk Street with her dance class from school for the Veterans Parade. I didn't even know we had a veterans day parade. She did fabulous, it was cold and her asthmatic lungs took a beating,  We were sitting at the end of the parade route and when I saw her face and cheeks I knew she was hurting, but she stuck it out!

 (notice a familiar monkey and handsome red head in the background)

That afternoon Jacob went to PawPaw's and we began to get ready for a very special banquet. Katie had been attending a mentoring group called Pearls. It's a 8 week program provided by Carenet. The focus was relationships, purity, modesty etc. There were shopping trips, photo shoots, a weekend retreat at a Bed and Breakfast and many words of encouragement and affirmation. Katie and I talk a lot. Maybe that's one of the bonuses to the step-mom/daughter relationship, but we are very open. However, when certain topics are discussed with college age mentors (who are way cooler than me) they are received and processed with more heaviness. The last event for Pearls was a banquet. Nails were done, hair was fixed (thanks Edna!) and off we went. Aside from a great meal in a beautiful room each girl was given a verse the mentor's had been praying over them and there was a special sideshow featuring baby and recent pictures of the girls. The parents were asked to write and read a letter to their daughter. Brancent and I decided for our situation (Dad/step-mom, deaf/hearing) it would be best to each write Katie a letter. I'm not gonna lie-tears flowed. Afterward Brancent presented Katie with a purity ring to remind her of the commitments she has made. Being a parent is such an awesome responsibility, and seeing this beautiful young lady begin to spread her wings knowing the world can be so harsh is such a scary thing. Without the peace of Christ I would be a basket case. Katie has made several stands at school when friends have tried to push her in a direction she knows is wrong. We are so proud of her. I think one of my favorite things I was able to put in her letter was this "Stand secure in that your Creator delights in his creation, and that is YOU! Don't ever let anyone tell or lead you to feel otherwise." I have just now began to come to this realization myself. My heart aches for my children to know how precious they are to the Creator and in turn to know how absolutely amazing and loving He is. 

Side note: A few weeks later there was a Thanksgiving program in which my wild Indian pulled up his shirt and scratched his little pot belly for all to see and of course he was on the front row. We have so much to be thankful for!