OMG she is almost 18

Wow. Just think back where we all were just a short 365 days ago. It was a Sunday, and I am sure we were saying our goodbye's as everyone was headed home from another long, but loving weekend. In fact, we were eagerly watching Jaque, hoping that she would stay calm enough to have surgery on January 17. As Prissy kept reminding us all of Jer 30:17 - we patiently waited.

We knew that the longer we went without surgery, the longer road of recovery we would be on. Just thinking about that occilator seems like it was not real at all. She literally had a machine forcing her lungs to stay open so that they would hold air. Seems weird now, doesn't it. As it was fast approaching, we were surprising all around us in the waiting room because we were all preparing ourselves for.......well.....for God's blessing.

Yes, we knew it was coming. Thinking of it now makes the hair on my neck stand up. She was literally one shorted out cord away from being with our maker. (or one drop of condensation) How awesome was it to experience what was going on in her room, the cards, the balloons, the banners, the pictures, the music.......all of it.

But think back for a moment the waiting room. What God did in that waiting room saved more lives than Jaque. He used our family to witness to others. To make people pray that have not ever prayed. Goodness, he brought so many friends and family that we were kicked from the waiting room. It is almost funny now. If we all knew what was happening, not with Jaque, but through her.

I always say that I know that she is an imperfect teenager, so with that said....can you believe that he picked her? Wow. And he picked our family too. As her 18 birthday approaches, it is so awesome to look back on the pictures that are her life story. In doing this I have realized one important thing.

When God made Jaque, imperfectly perfect, he indeed had a plan. There is not ONE THING that she has done in her life that is to our expectations. Whether it was climbing on the fridge before she could almost walk, learning to ride her bike, her first motorcycle, learning to swim, playing soccer, or playing baseball with the boys - one thing with her is for sure. Never to our expectations, always above and beyond, ALWAYS doing just beyond the reach set by anyone giving her limits.

Tell her she can't, and she will. Give her an inch, and she will not just take a mile, but smile at you and stick her tongue out while she does it. When a friend burns her, she is the first to forgive - and be on the phone with them at three in the morning when their boyfriend cheats on them.

As we approach her birthday, I feel blessed that she has kept my life exciting. I feel blessed that I was in line to be her mom. I know that God is preparing her right now, and she will be the one to set the "new age" recovery therapy method for spinal cord injuries. They will look at her and they will say WOW, attitude is everything. And we know Jaque is the queen of ATTITUDE. She comes by it naturally from all of us.

Love you all, and talk with you soon. Keep Grandma Kay in your prayers as she recoops. Love you spiky hair!