It's time....

We can hardly believe that it's time for Ashley to leave for YWAM! All the months of praying, planning, making lists, and packing have finally come to an end and we are fast approaching the departure day!

I'm taking off of work in a few minutes for the rest of the week so that we can spend the last 38 hours together. ( I know, very pathetic that I'm now counting down the hours until she leaves)

Tomorrow, Ashley and I will spend our last Mother/Daughter day together enjoying some pampering, lunch and one last trek to Target to pick up a few last minute things. Then we'll enjoy a final family dinner (I'm guessing...that she'll want to do a DQ run..oh...say about 10:30pm...) before she heads to her youth/college group to say her final good-byes!!

So many people keep asking me, "How are you doing"? Honestly, we are doing well! How can we be sad when Ashley is choosing to follow God's heart???? How could we want to keep her with us, when God has AMAZING plans for her life and her future??

We are truly blessed that God is providing Ashley with this opportunity to follow her heart....to follow his heart...and we can HARDLY wait to read her updates on her blog. To hear the amazing things that God is, and will do in her heart and she *runs after him*!!!

I truly believe the greatest blessing a parent can have, is watching their child..deny the world...and follow Christ. I know this brings amazing joy to our Heavenly Father's heart!!!

I've heard that we need to give our children two things: roots..and wings. We've made it through the *root* times in our lives...and now, we are focused on the wings!!!

Ash, your Dad and I have prayed for you....long before you were born!! We prayed that God would bless us with a sweet baby girl....and he did!! You were ALWAYS such a happy, and enjoyable child! You'd sit in the front row of church from the time you could hardly sit up...and you'd clap your little hands and sing in your baby talk...all through the worship service..as you'd watch your Dad and I as we'd lead worship! You'd carry your little bible under your arm, and you were ALWAYS prepared at a moment notice to sing a song about Jesus and his love for you!!

God truly blessed you with a gentle spirit...a heart that is always kinds.....supports the under-dog....and hates to see people treated poorly!! God's shaped and molded you in his image....ALWAYS seek the road God has for you! Knowing that NO matter what you may face or go through....a bad day with Jesus...is FAR better than a good day without him!!

We may not know where the road ahead may lead.....but with God leading us...we can walk each step with great anticipation! Spread your wings Ash...and fly!!!