Today I sit centrally located in our 1800's log home, formerly a schoolhouse, working on my computer. One daughter, age 16, with birthday today, is upstairs jamming on her Fender Telecaster and with the "tunnel of sound" in the oldest part of our home, it is quite overwhelming. My 14 year old is in the 1915 addition (kitchen), lovingly preparing cupcakes for about 40 kids at youth group this evening, listening to Fireflight, a Christian band. I always know when she's in a baking mood, as the music in the kitchen cranks up. Some fellow homeschooler's were just here to deliver fresh baked blueberry muffins for the birthday girl. What an awesome gift to be able to see the creativity in my daughter's and observe how God uses them to touch lives. Homeschooling has been a blessing. It is also a challenge in these high school years, as I'm not as diligent as I need to be as the subjects get more advanced.
Megs, 16, is in driver's ed in an adjacent town public high school. She knows some of the kids there, but, apparently the grape vine is fast and furious in that school and, with her being the "new" girl, there is much buzz. Her girlfriend, who goes to school there, says Megs is the source of much conversation. One of the boys who rode with her one day told the story of how they got to drive down our road! And they drove in our driveway! And they saw one of our alpacas!
It seems, that Megs does not fit in the instructors mold of what a homeschooler or a Christian should be. He has lots of questions for her. She turned the radio on a Christian station when the instructor was out of the car. A bit later, he asked her if she had turned it on that station. She said yes. He said, "I thought so, it was religious."
The class got a late start yesterday and Megs had a small group Bible study she has been involved in and didn't want to be late, so she asked if they could drop her off somewhere and I'd pick her up. So the instructor wanted to know if it was a church thing. She told him, yes. He wondered if she wanted to get something to eat, as the group often stops somewhere. She said no, thank you. He said, "so, you're going to a church thing AND you're going to eat?" He has lots of questions and I think she is a real curiosity to all of them.
Megs is very intelligent, a leader, wearing traditional jeans with holes, Christian tees, she leads the youth band, so plays contemporary Christian music and has strong boundaries and faith. She is jazzed by the challenge and interest.
Megs was standing in the hall at school, waiting for class and a girl came up to her and asked, "Are you the girl from driver's ed? You are! You're Megan!"
Megs said, "yeah....." and was taken aback. Very interesting, very curious. So far, very good, too.
All through my daughter's lives, I have encouraged them to look at the people around them and to be a missionary right where you are and that just one person can make a big difference. This has been a hands-on time to be on her own as a missionary. She went to New Orleans with a rebuilding committee after Katrina, but she was with a group. Now she is going on her own and her light is shining. How very cool to see how God uses one person - just one person. How blessed we are.
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