Peyton, My First Born

This week has been very exciting for us!  For two Sunday afternoons in a row, Peyton has been putting 110% on the soccer field in tryouts for the DII U12G soccer team.  We got the call on Tuesday that she was one of 13 girls selected for the team.  (17 tried out.) 

On Wednesday, Peyton attended her first meeting of the National Junior Beta Club.  :o)  She was invited to become a member based on her outstanding academic achievements and her positive attitude. 

On Thursday, (as I was home sick) I got a text from one of the organizer's for the middle school's Dog Jam event that Peyton needed her music.  While I knew that Peyton had auditioned for the talent contest portion of Dog Jam, I had no idea that over 150 students had auditioned.  To top that off, Peyton was the 1st alternate!  (Or #11 in the long line of auditioners...)  So, to make a long story longer, Peyton was asked to fill a space that was vacated by another act at the tailgate party prior to Dog Jam.  She sang Love Story by Taylor Swift and she did great!  She has a lot to learn, but noting the effort she puts into everything else she does - she's gonna be unstoppable on the stage as well! 

I am so very proud of Peyton!  She is beautiful, smart, athletic, and she gives her all in everything she does.  She loves to learn and she's constantly challenging herself.  I believe she'll be President one day - whether it's President of the U.S.A. or President of a major corporation (hers or an already established one) - she is going places people!  And I couldn't be more excited to see what God has in store for her.

Reminiscing...

So, last week an acquaintance of mine lost her husband in a tragic car accident.  She is now a single mom and widow at a very young age.  Saturday, as Jeff and I watched football, all I could think about was how she must really be missing her husband that day.  And I didn't know him at all... I knew nothing about him.  I really don't know much about her, except that she loves her little boy and she loves her husband.  As I said, we were just acquaintances.  So why is she on my mind so much?  And why does my heart ache for her so hard? 

I realized that over the years, as I've gone through the most awful scenarios in my mind (from losing my husband, to tripping as I walked down the hall with my newborns), that I'm not invincible.  I would NOT be okay if something happened to my wonderful husband and my children - at least, not at first. 

My friend may not understand what her "silver lining" is in the loss of someone so precious to her, but I understand what it is for those of us that take what we have for granted on a day-to-day basis. 

Father God, I have not been the wife and mother You want me to be.  I sin daily and I beg your forgiveness.  You grant me so many blessings that are undeserved.  Before You now, I ask for peace for my friend, Sarah, and comfort for the Payne family.  I thank You for the lesson this tragedy has taught me, and so many others, even as I grieve with Sarah and her family in their time of loss.  I thank You most of all for the Cross!  Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ.  It's in His Name I pray, Amen.