Our daughter Josie turned 17 yesterday. She spent most of the day in a car, traveling back from the US Rugby high school national tourney. Our own State High girls rugby team was scrumming it up. They brought home the 6th place trophy, which is pretty stinking impressive.
The young ladies on the rugby team have become community for Josie. She loves them, and they love her. She stays after school almost every day of the year to work out because she wants to get better, stronger, faster…for them. They have taken her in, made her feel loved and welcomed and wanted, let her know that she belongs. One of the girls from last year’s team went with them to nationals last weekend. Without us knowing, she arranged to get a cake for Josie, lit the candles, and had the team sing, “Happy Birthday” to Josie.
As a dad who prays for his girls to find good friends, words seem pretty paltry when it comes to expressing how much that means.
Josie is a wonderful young lady–kind, thoughtful, always looking to help someone, diligent and determined, quick with a smile, and loyal to the hilt. She loves to laugh, and though most of the time she’s reserved, if you catch her at the right time, she can be flat-out silly.
We had no idea what to expect when we brought her into our home a few years ago. But we knew that the Lord brought her to us, and that we were committed to her. Now I can hardly imagine life without her.
We took Josie and most of the girls from her small group out tonight for dessert at IHOP. It was fun to see them laughing and having fun, knowing that God has placed her in our home, in our church, in our town to bless her, and to bless us. What a work God has done in all of us over the past 4 years…
Thank you, Jesus, for Josie!
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