A weekend Away

    This girl...she's been hard to parent. Hard because she wants to do everything herself. Before she could even walk, she fought so hard to put her own seat belt on, make her own sandwich, and apply her own sunscreen. She defines the word independent. She's also really blunt. If she thinks it, she says it. Sometimes, I love this about her. I know exactly what she's thinking at all times. Other times, I wish I didn't know what she was thinking. I've had some hard conversations with other moms which led to some hard conversations with her. She's learning to be soft and give people grace. I'm working with her, while being aware that her strong spirit is a gift. I don't want to stifle that strength, or make her feel shamed for speaking her mind. It's a beautiful thing not to live in need of other's acceptance. In our own ways, we are both learning what it looks like to be strong, yet sensitive to other people's hearts. 

    I took her to the Dillon Reservoir to celebrate her next step into Junior High. We talked, laughed, argued, and played. She was so happy there, surrounded by blue jagged mountains, a big body of water, and no sibling interaction. She found such joy in the family of geese that squawked and hissed on the beach by our condo. She giggled as she dreamed of all the ways she would capture mini-moo on our great adventure. She talked about friends, asked really good questions, and begged to eat ice cream all day. I let her break all the rules; ice cream before breakfast, eating on the couch, and watching movies past 10. We opened the Bible together and talked about God's immense love for her. I could just see her love bucket getting filled. I just knew that this weekend did something for her heart, and for mine. 

    After we paddled out to the middle of the reservoir, admiring the mountains and large sail boats, we laid back in our boats and drifted into a cove. I asked her what her ideal day would be. She said maybe reading a book. I laughed, and told her that I was living my ideal day. The combination of beauty, activity, and good company was like magic for me. I loved the simplicity of our time. I loved making space to be together. I loved just sitting back and marveling at this little woman that God put in my care. I'm realizing that parenting is so much more than shepherding hearts. It's trusting, surrendering, and just being present.