Refining Fire

So, cheerleading wasn't God's plan for Torrey next year. She was (and still is) devastated. We have had a difficult night/day/night working through this. Dean and I are so sad for her ... she truly worked hard and was ready. In a few days, this will become part of the story of how Torrey became Torrey. Oh, just wait world, she is going to be amazing!

Torrey stayed home from school today. She spent the day with Dean ... there is nothing like a sweet Daddy's love! I, on the other hand, went to school. Boy howdy was it hard. I struggled with knowing that I pour my heart into 19 kiddos and I don't feel like that is being done for Tor. I so want her to not lose her confidence. I want her to believe that she can do anything she sets her mind and heart to. I would love to keep her in a bubble, but, there is an episode of Seinfeld which shows that bubble living isn't all it's cracked up to be!

Oh, and my day was made even more perfect when we discovered that my little buddy has ringworm. Um, he has had it for 2 weeks. And, he just got medicine for it today. Please re-read the above paragraph and pay special attention to the part where I say that I love on my kiddos. Did you become itchy or is it just me?

So, our family went from feeling like we were in the valley last night to feeling like we are in the Refiner's fire today. My prayer is that Torrey will not be a ho-hum Christian. That she won't be a girl who takes God for granted. That she will not just view Him as her best friend, but as her EVERYTHING. I want her to be a girl who is sold out to Jesus. Who seeks Him to guide her in every part of her life. That when strangers see her they will wonder what it is that makes her so amazing ... and, they shouldn't wonder what, they should wonder WHO! To get to that point, you have to go through a refining fire. Difficult? Yes, but at the other end is a life worth its weight in gold. Pure gold.