It's Worth It!

Whew! Keeping this blog updated is becoming a full-time job, but I am so grateful to have a place to document the moments of our lives. Without this record, I doubt if I would be as aware of where my time is being invested.

Saturday was a day of recovery after the excitement of graduation. Tom was out showing houses at 9:00, so he didn't get much rest, but Chelcie got to sleep in until about 11.

Addie went to Morgan's house for an hour or two, while Sam and I went shopping for art supplies from which to make a dorm room sign for Chelcie and Delaney. Morgan is spending the night with us tonight. Tom, Scotty, and Drake went to Kentucky to work on a job site, while I worked on painting the first dorm room sign. It will be Chelcie's sign. I'll post a picture of it once I complete it. The text is,

"I want to leave a legacy.

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Did I point to you enough

To make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering.

A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed your name unapologetically,

And leave that kind of legacy." -Nicole Nordeman

What powerful words! I want those lyrics to be the theme song of my life. I must live every day in such a way as to please God, not man. Every day, every hour, every minute. Starting now. Lord, help me to leave a legacy.

Along those lines, I received a letter yesterday from a young man that I will share here in its entirety.

Dear Mrs. Crawford,

I know this letter is a little late, but I don't know if you remember in 8th grade in our final letter to you I said something along the lines of, "it would mean the world to me, " when referring to you coming to my graduation. And even though this letter is late, it would still mean a lot to me. After 13 years of school i can still say that you have been my favorite teacher the whole time. I have yet to have anyone that taught me so much and made it so fun at the same time. I have so many memories of being in your classroom not only in 8th grade, but in third grade as well. Every once in a while your name will come up in conversation with my friends and we will talk about a great time we had in your class. Believe it or not I am still good friends with the majority of the friends I made in your class in 3rd grade. Anyway, thank you so much for everything you have done for me over the years. I owe so much to you. If it were possible I would have you live in a dorm with me next year and teach me all of my classes because I know you could do it better than the professors. I hope to still occasionally see you around. Seeing you more would be even better.

Again thank you,

Dylan Wood

So, now you know why I HAD to attend the second graduation of the weekend. Sam and I met Chelcie at McCallister's for a quick bite to eat before heading back down to Thompson-Boling arena. She leaves Sunday for a Royal Caribbean Cruise with her friends and Young Life leader, so any moments that I can spend with her before she's officially moved out are precious to me, and hopefully, they are to her too.

The FHS Graduation speakers were excellent. Two of the three received a well-deserved standing ovation. But I wasn't there to listen to speeches. I was there to see a young man who took the time to say I mattered to him. Fortunately, I was able to find Dylan in the sea of blue caps and gowns. I gave him a hug and told him congratulations. When I mentioned his letter, he smiled and said, "So that WAS your house." Apparently, he hand delivered the letter the very day of graduation. He told me it meant so much to him that I was there and said, "I love you, Mrs. Crawford. You have no idea how much you mean to me." When I shrugged it off and told him he better stop saying things like that or he was going to make me cry, he said that he would cry too because he's kinda soft on the inside. It was moment in time in which I knew that what I do each day in the classroom is "WORTH IT!"

The Lord knows just what I need, just when I need it! As my heart is breaking, He knows. He knows.

Sunday morning was hectic as Chelcie, Morgan, Addie, Sam and I were up early. Chelcie had to meet her group at Taylor's house at 8:30 a.m. for their departure to Orlando. After quick hugs good-bye, the remaining kids and I headed to NorthStar. I am in need of someone to "point the way home" to me as I am dealing with some tough personal issues. I sat with Mom and Dad and Anderson and Deron. Scott preached another excellent message on repentance. One point that particularly stuck me was that we should make our decisions on pleasing God, not on pleasing men. Not coincidentally, Drew approached me about a beach trip with a friend whose mother and mother's boyfriend were taking next week. I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit tell me to take a stand. I tried to explain to Drew the reason why I could not say yes to the trip. I want to leave a legacy...How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering. A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name UNAPOLOGETICALLY, and leave THAT KIND of legacy...

Now Drew is upset with me. Tom said the trip was okay with him, so now I'm torn. Show me, Lord. Strengthen me and sustain me. This is hard.

We had a Reach Them Board Meeting today at Ed's house. We met in his "office/basement." Jo Bruce, Dave Gorden, Anderson, Ed, of course, and my dad showed up. We were missing Scott. It was a productive meeting and we are concentrating on structuring the organization in preparation of our independence next year.

Thankfully, Tom and the boys made it back home safely from their trip. I know he's tired. Speaking of tired...I'm calling it a weekend!