Lindsay turns 24!

This was on my daughters facebook page on the morning of her 24th Birthday..it was so hard being 8 hours away but when I read this from her it made me realize how grown up she is...All the trials from our life has made her into someone special!

My birthday

Today at 8:40am
Today is my 24th Birthday and I can't help but look at where I have come over these years. All the things that I have been through made me who I am today. When I was taking care of my dad when he was sick it made me learn to have compassion and to care for someone. Through my difficult teenage years it made me strong. When I was 19 and moved out into my first apartment I learned to be independent.When I went to South Africa at 19 I learned how much God loves me, how much he wants so much better for me, I learned that week in 2005 that God has called me to a higher purpose.When I was 20 years old and got a job as a office manager at the pediatric office I learned how to be responsible, be a leader and a team player. The day at kid's camp I think in 2007 when I was a counselor God called me to CBC and I learned how to give things up for His Kingdom. When I had family members and my best friend died I learned to know what it is like to lose.The day I moved down to Springfield car all packed and my sister Natalie with me , I was so scared but I learned to trust and let God take care of details! The times in the dorms with my crazy friends I learned how to have fun again, I learned what it was like to have the Joy of the Lord. Yes and even the time with someone earlier this year (we all know who he is) I learned what it was like to be heart broken and how I let myself down and friends, I learned who my true friends are through that experience. The time when I decided to leave CBC and finish my nursing degree, I learned regret and what it feels like to mess up but God again picked me up and told me He loves me and only wants the best for me. The day I decided on this last Friday that there is no more looking back, no more going back to my past, only looking forward, pressing on until I win this race called life!

All that I have been through again made me who I am today. For these experiences are not made for me at all, they are made to be useful in his kingdom and so that I will understand what others go through. I am so thankful for this life God has called me to, I am scared because at times I do not know if I am worthy of what he has for me but I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. : )

I am strong, beautiful, caring, compassionate and most of all I am a child of Christ <3

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you thru a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all; they are meant to make you useful in His hands and to enable you to understand what happens in other souls so you will not be surprised at what you come across." 2 Cor. 1:3-5