Sweet 16 and never been.........better!!

At the nudging of my sister Peggy I'm posting a comment today about my daughter, Stefanie. Tomorrow, November 4th is her 16th birthday. Above are some pictures of her (she's the one in every photo with the huge cheesy smile and blonde very curly hair). Peg said I should post about my 16th birthday and then about Stef's. To be real honest, I can't remember much about my 16th birthday. I only remember I was a sophomore, in the middle of track season and probably VERY consumed by boys (or trying to obtain a boy) and getting my driver's license and what party to go to on Friday night. That was pretty much my life at that time.....Stef seems different...perhaps because I'm her mother and I see it from a different perspective. And yet in some ways it seems the same....

SAME: sophomore year and consumed with getting her driver's license.
DIFFERENT: the start of the basketball season, NOT consumed with boys or trying to obtain a boy and NOT what party to go to on Friday night

Stef seems more different than I was at this age. She seems to think deeper and think less of herself. She's realized after her most recent breakup with her boyfriend of 7 months that she doesn't need a guy to complete her. She realized that she didn't have any regrets about things she did with him because her standards were set so high and that true love waits......She's realized that friends will ALWAYS be there. She's discovered that dating is too complicated and she'll pass on that until she's ready to have God lead her to her future spouse. She's taught her mother a lot about forgiveness and unconditional love.

I've learned that she's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. She's a blessing in my life that I am very thankful for.

Last week, a Mary Kay friend of mine lost her 24 year old son in a single car accident. This was the email message we all received from her:

Hello Area - it is w/a heavy heart I write you tonight. Today I was
notified that my 24 yr/o son Russell was killed in a car accident. It has
been a day of mourning, prayer and phone calls. I'm sorry to let you know
in an email, but it's a blessing too to let you all know so easily. When
the 3 fully uniformed Coast Guard guys came to my doorstep - I knew. As
strange as this seems, my very 1st thought was "I'm so grateful!" Russ had
become so close to his Savior this past year and was faithful in the Word
and prayer. God is faithful and good - Russ made it "home" safe. He was to
be the best man at his brother's wedding on Nov 11... but now he is at the
wedding feast that we can only imagine! We are leaning on God's promises
and can feel the prayers that have already begun for our family. Time is
short - I've said it for years and I'm so grateful that I had 24 wonderful
years w/my precious son. I stayed home w/him (thank you God for the vehicle
Mary Kay) his entire childhood and was able to travel extensively w/him and
visit him often during his Coast Guard years.(thanks again God for giving
me the money and the time). The years have flown by - the Bible tells us
that our life is "but a mist" - I pray that through this tragedy in our
family, you will see God's love and faithfulness shining through... and
realize that our eternity offered freely through Jesus is truly "what
counts"! sharon

Now, I know that I, too am grateful for the vehicle of Mary Kay so I could be a stay-home Mom with Stefanie and Jake. I don't know if I could have written such a beautiful email after hearing such tragic news of my child's death. But then again, are they really our children or are they the Lord's and we're given stewardship of them? I've had 16 years with Stefanie.....16 wonderful years. I love her so much and pray that I will be able to enjoy MANY more years with her.

Thanks for tuning in.....