Wow! I can't believe my oldest will be twelve in two weeks. I am truly a proud mama because of what a wonderful young women she is becoming. She inspires me each and every day with her perservance and how she challenges herself to try and do new things. We are alike in many ways, so I can relate with her when she is frustrated and I understand why she does certain things. She surprises me with how she challenges herself to try things that I would think would be unachievable based her personality.
About nine months ago, Victoria did a presentation in her Foundations class on being a vegeterian. Shortly after, she decided to try out a vegeterian diet. I think she lasted a little over a week and then stopped. But then, she decided she was going to give it her all and completely eat a vegeterian diet. There was no end date and honestly we weren't sure of the exact reason. I know that she has never cared for most meats. She has always been a really good eater by eating her fruits and vegetables and monitoring not just what she eats, but how much. One reason she decided to be a vegeterian was to prove to others, especially her dad, that she could do it. Friends and family question her, which is fine, but upsetting to her at times. She also has always been squeamish of many things including the killing of animals and seeing raw meat. I am proud of her for trying something that may be different from her friends and family and for sticking with it. Her health has been great and she has even gained weight this year.
Every year our church goes on a mission trip to Mexico to help families with their medical and dental needs, to fix cars, to do construction, to put on a carnival and to share the Gospel. If any of you know Victoria, you would know that she worries about many things. She has a fear of germs, so she steers clear of sick people. She does not like to use public bathrooms. She honestly doesn't like the outdoors because of dirt & dust. She really doesn't like being out of her comfort zone with people. I had heard about the Border Run mission trip to Mexico and casually mentioned it to her. She wasn't interested in it. Then one Sunday, she came home from church after the staff had promoted it in the Jr. High group. Victoria and the other Jr. Highers were allowed to go with the Jr. High staff where anyone younger has to have a parent accompany them. I was blown away when she told Allan and I that she wanted to go. She did not know if any of her friends were going or not. She decided on her own that she wanted to go. She was hesitant to ask us because the cost to go is $110. Allan and I talked about it and knew that even though money was really tight that we had to say yes because she was willing to trust God and do something that would be completely out of her comfort zone. It wasn't us wanting it for her but her willingness to go and be a disciple.
On the day before her trip to Mexico, she was so nervous and she wanted to back out. She was going to a foreign country without her parents. She was going on her first mission trip. She didn't speak the language. I was not nervous because she was traveling with many experienced Christians who had traveled to this location before. They had a plan. Her small group leader and many of her friends ended up going as well. When I picked her up after the trip, she gave me a big hug and said, "It was so much fun!" As we drove home, I asked her, "Would you go again?" She answered, "No, well, maybe, because Audrey will probably talk me into it." I laughed as she shared her experiences. First, I had spoken to several adults that she was a vegeterian, so if they could assist her if meat was primarily served. Thankfully, all the meals had something she could easily eat. She shared about the bathroom experience of having to use an outhouse. We laughed together as she explained that she was paired up with a little girl to play with and that little girl threw up after going on the merry go round. She told me about how fun it was working a carnival booth for the kids. I think she really learned that even though she has many fears and anxieties about life that she can manage those things and learn to overcome them with God's help. God will work through her and it isn't about how hard she tries, but how much she relies on the Lord for help. I am so proud of her for her willingness to be used by God.
My little girl is certainly growing up and I am enjoying watching her learn, grow and sometimes stumbling but then getting right back up.
