To all of you....

There's a quiet group of people I'd like to shout out to. People that are a group not because they consciously band together but because what they do is the same wherever and however they happen to do it.

They work alone many times hidden away in cobwebbed corners taking care of what remains after the filth of the world takes its toll.

Their living is a form of ministry although they'll never admit it or probably even know it until they get their reward in another world.

The ones that work for nothing and rarely if ever get the proper thanks they deserve....

But they don't care because it's not about getting anything back.

It's about service and care and giving and loving like there's no tomorrow.

It's about sacrifice. Sacrificed sleep and emotions and energy and money and their own pleasure.

You know who I'm talking about....

The silent encouragers.

Encouragers isn't even a word in the dictionary. But we all know who they are even though we never think about them unless we need them.

The people that pick up our pieces.
The people that listen to our midnight rants and pour the balm on our broken hearts.
The person that smiles at you and makes that moment a little better.
The mom that gives you that one sentence that gets you back up on your horse and going.
The little sibling that says "you're the best" when we know we're not.
The dad that says he'll finance yet another wild venture because he believes in you.
And then the whole family and church family prays our head stays together while we go off and do it.
The friend that we always end up dumping on.
The other friend that tells us the "hard" truth because they love us and all they get is an angry outburst for their trouble.
The person that takes the slack when we "need" someone to yell at...

If you've ever stayed up til 2 or 4am.... If you've ever not known what to do, but you did something anyway because you couldn't leave a horrible situation without at least trying.... If you've ever swallowed your feelings to comfort someone else.... If you've ever sacrificed a grade because study wasn't as important as a person....If you've ever done the hard thing because it was the right  thing.... If you've ever held on to a sobbing idiot and felt even more idiotic because you couldn't think of any way to fix it... If you've ever not walked away when that seemed to be the only option.... If you've ever walked away because someone depended on you too much and you loved them too much to let them... If you've ever given advice or withheld it for the same reason...

This post is for you. To say thanks for the tears, the frustration, the times you couldn't think of anything to say but you dug around until you found an old cliche that fit better than all the fancy language in the world could have.

I know you beat yourself up. I know you look back and think of a million things you think you should have done or said or looked for or seen coming or been prepared for. A thousand pieces of advice you wish you'd given or not given. A hundred nights when you wished you'd actually been a bit more prepared instead of not even knowing where the tissue box or the Bible was. Or maybe you just wish you weren't there at all. And then feel guilty for thinking such a thing. Hey, listen. It's ok. I'm so glad you aren't like so many that advert their eyes from the grime. I'm so grateful that you roll up your sleeves when you see a problem. I'm so glad your pants have holes in them from kneeling.  I'm so glad you were there. Even if it wasn't for me. I'm glad you were there for whoever it was you were there for. And chances are just being there and doing something was the right thing.

So thank you. Whether you ever get told this or not the world wouldn't be the same way without you.

Happy Birthday!!!!

“I picked up a pen and started saying just what I’d say to you if we were face to face….these are the words I would say”  -  Sidewalk Prophets “The Words I would Say”

Daddy,

I know, I know, grown up girls don’t always say daddy. It’s what I’ve called you since I could talk so I don’t see any reason to stop now. You seem to like it ok… and besides, when did I ever promise to be grown up? :P You’ll get a card when you come home today. But here’s the message that wouldn’t fit in it. Besides, I want the whole world to know how awesome you are.

-  Thank you for being there, Daddy.  You know how whenever we travel you just let me ramble about everything and nothing up in the front seat with you? Well… that really means a lot. How you take it I don’t know. I tell you about everything from school to music to guys to what annoys me on social media.  Yes, people, he lets this go on for 6 hours straight sometimes. Nobody listens to me for 6 hour straight. :P He even invited me on another trip this spring. And if I have to stay up from here ‘til then finishing up this class, I want to go with you!

- Daddy, thank you for never half doing things. Whenever you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it, and do it right. Whenever one of us kids is interested in something you and mom always try to find the best teacher, the best supplies, the best whatever it is.

- Thank you, Dad and Mom, for sharing the truth with us but never throwing us out there to get beat up by it. Remember all the Nonwestern lit stuff you read for me? It made the nasty material so much easier to handle/come to grips with by having you to discuss things with. Your notes and comments were invaluable for that class.

- Thanks for being interested in so many aspects of life. You’ve exposed Rebekah and me to so many things, from cowboys to symphonies. I feel sorry for the girls whose dads  don’t walk them over “the land” or give them a chance to drag a couple little trees to brush piles (btw we should do that again sometime) or make a dozen wheel barrow trips. I feel sorry for the girls who never held a snake, albeit for only 2 split seconds. ;) I feel sorry for the girls who never are taught the rules of football. Thanks for never making your girly girl be a tomboy – but instead just letting me experience it all.

- Thank you for watching all those girly movies. (Yes, folks does he get a medal or what?)

- Thank you for driving half way around the world every summer for Truth School and CP ambassadorships. And for all the other trips we don’t talk about much - all the medical ones that cost way more than I ever want to know. For all the money, time, energy, and prayer you dump into your girls.

- Thank you for saying way back in October and repeating as necessary the following: My life if my life. That you want me free to choose. Free from the burden of pleasing everyone.And most of all... that you and mom will be pleased with me no matter what. Really for true - to quote a family saying.  

They say we have bunches in common. And they’re right. Same eyes, same actions when stressed, same GPA, similar way of processing certain bits of information, both student body presidents, etc, etc. and did I say etc.?  We joke about it… but I just want you to know here and now I think you’re a swell person to be like.

I love you, Daddy! So glad I'm your daughter. Happy Birthday!