Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Proudest Mom of ALL???

I AM!!! It's me!!!

Tonight my daughter is officially an East Central University Tiger GOLFER!!! Now obtaining an athletic scholarship is definitely something to be proud of but there is so much more and I. AM. HERE. TO. TELL. YOU all of it!

Here is a conversation I had with my son about my daughter tonight:

Me: I do not think she realizes how brave she is!
Reece: I don't think she knows how intimidating she is when she plays.
Me: Can you imagine in your Sophomore year dropping all that you know and picking up a new sport?
Reece: She just doesn't know how good she is!

Bottom line - My brave young lady at the age of 15 decided that Volleyball, Softball, and Cheerleading was no longer for her and she thought she might have a swagger or at least a little swing! (pun intended) She picked up a golf club and here we are today!

One very minor tidbit about me: I have two favorite colors, odd combo yes but they do not necessarily have to go together at the same time! I love purple and I love orange! My daughter is ORANGE now and my son has his sights on purple (TCU)! - and yes for golf too!

And for those of you who know me from my teenage years - I STILL HAVE AND FIT AND WEAR MY ORANGE ESPRIT SHOES!!! Now I have a great reason, cuz orange is gonna stay in season!
So now while the house is quiet, a gentle reminder of what is to come all too soon, I sit here to share this with you! Now to the nitty gritty - join me in my thoughts!

Can you remember when you were 15? How daring were you? I think I was in very stupid matters but not daring enough when it came to excelling.

When I first signed Sara into day care in Tulsa, Ok I would receive calls with statements like this:
Do you know that instead of playing "in" the doll house she climbs on it and jumps off?
Did you know that she can scale a tree like a monkey?
etc etc. That is my daughter - the Sky ISN'T A Limit at all!

So at 15 after years of cheering, softball, and volleyball she decides that she is going to play golf and obtain a scholarship. Ok, Sara - whatever you want to do you will have our full support!! Love Mom and Dad

So swing away she did, and swing, and swing, and swing. I would be remiss if I did not give credit where it is due.

My son Reece was already a member of the First Tee of Fort Worth (best chapter ever) and it was natural for Sara to do the same. After a few months she was already showing great signs of leadership and began to help younger beginners. They have given her many opportunities to grow not just in golf but in life skills through their 9 Core Values. You can check out the First Tee website for yourself.

Next, is her high school coach: Coach Richard Norman! You can see the pride is in his eyes as if she were his own granddaughter! He has allowed Sara to be Sara and she has grown through his undying dedication and encouragement!

By the way, ECU is his Alma mater!

And of course, last but not least, her dad. He has skipped sleep to be there for both the kids when I have to work. His tireless dedication will be appreciated even more in years to come when she has a child of her own and sees the sacrifice to help make dreams come true.

Well I am on cloud 9 tonight with pride for my daughter and praise for my FATHER!

The ultimate praise belongs to the Lord who equipped this child for this good work, which happens to be fun and paying for college! Great gifts have great benefits when used properly!

Go Sara Go! I can't wait to watch you grow just wish you did not have to go! If I was not so excited I would be a lot more upset about this! But with all the pride and love I can even muster I support you and I am your biggest fan! I love you baby girl!!!

Even in this Abiding Still,

Chel

Just another manic mama

Wish it wasn't such a close day...

Ever have days like this? Me too! Cherish them! All too soon your home will become entirely too quiet. With as busy as my princess has been this year my head is spinning with merely the thought of she will be packing her bags entirely too soon!

This was our princess in middle school!

I had to use this pic as she was the first & best Christmas gift I ever received.

My son's observation of the whole thing is best summarized in his response, "The house is sure going to be quiet." He is a young man of few words, that is until you ask him to act upon something. Boy, do his words find their way then! lol

Yep! and this was really close to the look on his face when he said it.

This was taken in October 2010.

And this was the princess 2 days ago!

The very day she graduates, which is a month away, she will pack her bags and head north to teach kids from an Indian reservation about golf. And this is her first week of many that requires a void in my home and heart this summer.

If I wasn't so excited for her I would be absolutely miserable! Clearly I have very weighted emotions at this moment. I know once August hits and we make that final trek to deliver her necessities I will likely melt into a puddle of nothingness. My husband says he will have to scoop me up and pour me into the car. Personally, I think I will be ok until we are about half way home.

But again, if I were not so crazy excited for her I would think of how all this is making me feel. But I just remind myself like I do every single day of my life...it is not about me.

I, we, are very proud of her! And in this I am searching out - IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE - IF ANYTHING IS PRAISEWORTHY OR EXCELLENT....Lord help me but her leaving hardly seems this way now...

But I am certain that He will show me that this too is excellent and worthy of praise!

I know that in her birth and her life HE is worthy of all praise!

Just another manic mama Abiding Still,

Chel