Happy Birthday, Baby...

So another year has rolled around.  Today is my daughter's birthday.  She is 17 years old.

Say what?!  How, on God's green earth, am I old enough to have a 17 year old and an almost 19 year old?  Is this real life??

T'is true.  Almost to the hour, 17 years ago my daughter was born.  She was born via scheduled C-section.  Going into it, I figured it would be a piece of cake.  My son's was.  Boy was I wrong.  I was miserable, sick, in and out of consciousness and didn't even get to hold her until about 12 hours after she was born.  Little did I know then that was a foreshadowing of her personality.

She was 9 pounds 7 ounces of perfection.  She had so much hair that I could put it into a bow and brush it.  Her little round face was all squishy and kissable.  Ugh, I can't stand it now that I think about it.

She was a cute toddler too.  She had such a sweet, tiny voice and when she got excited she would hop up and down and her voice would go an octave only dogs could hear.  She had a speech impediment that was a form of verbal dyslexia.  She would switch letters in words around or omit them all together.  For example, she would say an "r" instead of a "b".  When she said the world "like", she omitted the "l" entirely.  We would affectionately call it "Chey-nese".  No one could understand her except us and even then there were times I had to ask her brother what she was saying.  I can remember her getting so frustrated with us.  It wasn't until she started school and took 3 years of therapy before she could speak properly and even today there are times she stumbles over her words.

She loved her pacifier......dear Lord, we made many midnight trips to Walmart or the drug store because a screaming toddler couldn't find her "nuk".  She had it until she was almost 4 years old.  She would talk to me and I remember saying - "Cheyenne, take the nuk out."  She would and then say what she needed to before popping it back into her mouth.

She loved playing in the dryer, loved Blue's Clues, loved Teletubbies (LaLa - which she called Ya-Ya, was her fave), loved to play hide-and-seek, love to dance and sing.

I miss that.

She has grown into an amazing young woman.  She is smart and witty, still loves to dance and sing and has a heart of gold.  Does she have attitude?  Dear Lord she has enough to span the globe, but that is what can be expected from a teenage girl. (haha).

Going into her senior year this fall, she has felt a calling to become a missionary.  She plans to go to a missionary school before being placed in the field.  This freaks me out a little bit.  Granted, I want her to do amazing things and have amazing adventures....and of course do what God lays on her heart......but going to college is one thing.  I am dealing with that currently with my son and trying to get a handle on my emotions.  However, to go to another country?!  That's prosperous!  I can't jump and get her when she cries because she is homesick, I can't rush to her when she has something coming against her and I can't sit and watch a movie with her wrapped up in blankets.  Skype will be my friend.  It will be hard and it freaks me out but I have to be strong and encouraging.

She has so much to offer the world.  She is not afraid to be her own person.  She colors her hair extreme colors (it is currently teal), wears clothes that make me question her sanity and dances like no one is watching.  She has a heart for all animals and if I let her, I am pretty sure I would own every stray animal we see.  She loves photography and old typewriters.  She loves Disney and isn't afraid to show it.  She would rather watch cartoons than anything else.  She gets excited over the small things and isn't afraid to make plans with her momma.

Now that I think about it, we could learn a lot from her.....

It has been a rough 17 years.  I was 21 and had a baby and a toddler and no clue what I was doing.  I was getting out of one marriage and into another.  I was heavily into drugs and alcohol the first 8 years of her life.  If it wasn't for her, it would have taken me a lot longer to find Christ....if at all.  Life wasn't easy, I was young......but I did the best I could and I think that is pretty dang good.  I have two amazing kids - one going to Purdue this fall and one wanting to become a missionary.  I never worry about where they are and they aren't afraid to come hang out with me.

I am going to miss them.  Terribly.

Enough of that!  Today is a day of celebration!!!!  So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHEYENNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Today we shall eat cake and go to the mall!!!

My prayer for you is that you follow your heart, seek after God and live a life with no regrets.  Enjoy the moment and never lose that child-like innocence.  Love with your whole heart and only give it away to the one you know that God has given you.  Be strong and courageous and know that I am your number 1 fan.

Love you!

3rd bday

getting baptized, 8 yrs old

silly monkey, 1 year old

camping, 5 yrs old

in her favorite place with her favorite things, 2 yrs old

1 day old

buddies

Practice What You Preach

Another year is flying by.

Yesterday was our 5th year of Built for Battle - our annual youth rally.  I am sore, tired and feel blah but it was so worth it.

This year's theme was "Armed & Dangerous".  The whole concept this year was to empower the young people of this generation.  We wanted to awaken something inside of them and show them that regardless of their circumstance, they were created with a purpose.

Every year we have a youth/young adult speaker.  We feel it is vital for those attending to see a peer and hear them speak about what God has laid on their hearts.  This year, Antonio Porras volunteered.  For being such a quiet young man, he definitely did a fantastic job!  His sermon involved live fish (which may or may not have been alive at the end of the night.....) and his point was made in a way that I am betting no one will soon forget.

Mike Feagans was another speaker who spoke on having faith the size of a mustard seed and being "all in".  He was very interactive and required participation - you could tell he is a teacher by trade.

Music this year was done by Alias and friends, a hip hop artist out of Michigan.  We have been blessed by our entertainers year after year.  In choosing them, I take it to prayer and God always delivers.  Alias was no exception.  He was a fantastic individual, loved performing, loved interacting with the crowd and an all around great guy.  Check him out on Facebook and give him some love.

Once Ascended took the stage again.  They have performed several times for us and a great group.  While we were anticipating a more upbeat set, their hearts were in their worship and they did great.

Matt and I closed it out.  I spoke on Gideon and our tokens this year were small glass jars with a light inside.  While I had this elaborate stage design planned, unfortunately I had to scrap the idea due to lack of space once equipment was was set up.  I'm not going to lie - I was disappointed.....but the message was still delivered and went forth.

Matt closed out the night with a story that brought the point home and an altar call.  The most anticipated part of the event.

Not to mention - concessions, loads of give - aways, dinner, photo booth, J-Walkers Drama Group and merchandise.  I wish I could thank everyone who volunteered or donated but I am afraid I will miss someone.  Therefore, I hope everyone knows how truly grateful I am for your help, encouragement and support!

Now the moment of truth......

This year was a rough one.  I had so many things come against me, I was feeling out of sorts and just not with it.  I tossed around the idea of making this year the last.  *gasp*   I know.....  It is hard and a lot of work and things got the best of me.  No matter how much I prayed, no matter how much I sought God...I still felt defeated.  I felt like a hypocrite.  I was pumping everyone up on being built for battle and created for war and I, myself, felt like I had lost the fight.

Typically, before B4B is even over, I have the tagline for next year.  The event is called Built for Battle but each year there is a tagline - this year's was "Armed & Dangerous".  I have noticed, over the years, the taglines have almost created a story.  God's cool like that!  But this year - I didn't have one.  I always like to blog about the event while it is fresh.  Therefore, I try to the following day (which is today).  It has been a tradition that I announce the tagline for next year but I didn't have one.  So I thought - maybe this *is* it!?

So, while I sat in the sanctuary today as Pastor Mark gave his sermon....my mind began to wander (sorry, Pastor!).  As it did, I was thinking - "Ok, God.....you gotta give me something.  What do you want me to do?  Hang up the shield or continue on?  If you want me to continue on......"  that is as far as I got and the words came as clear as water. 

God is good.

So....without further ado......


*drum roll*

BUILT FOR BATTLE '15

"Comrade in Arms"

Two are better than one...If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Pictures for B4B '14