Who is in your sights?

Hunting season. Ah, yes, it is the time of year when everyone in McCurtain County shuts down to spend time in the woods and with family. Up at the lake, the leaves are turning, camp fires are burning, and the marshmellows are raosting.

Jaque called me from Payton's house a couple of nights ago. She was giggling and whispering. I asked her what in the world she was doing. She said I am standing at the counter in my leg braces. I said good, then asked what was so funny. She said that Payton had gone deer hunting and should be back anytime. I said what is funny about that? She said that she had a nerf gun, locked and loaded, and was going to shoot him right when he walked through the door. We laughed and I knew God was working. She was doing her theraphy, and God was making sure she was having fun doing it.

Yesterday was a PT day. She and Chance see to have wonderful conversation, so it is really good for both of them. A while back I told you all about a local preacher that was going to chances, and well.... lets just say our Jaque made him understand that you must keep everything in perspective. Yesterday, he was there at same time she was. YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS WORKING WITHIN HER, RIGHT? He was talking to her about yawning while she was walking. Sounds like they were all having a really enjoyable afternoon. She said then he told her that he wanted her to know that she had the most wonderful attitude of anyone that he had ever met. He told her that it was so great seeing her smile, and watching how she handled the struggle she had been given. He then said that he knew everyone had asked her, but he needed to ask if she, in her heart, thought that she would ever walk again. She said she told him that she knew she would, not sure when, but had no doubt. He just smiled and told her he admired her and her faith. I shared with her what I tell you all.... Through the gates of heaven, for sure, but in my heart I know that it will be here on earth.

As I listened to her talk about yesterday, I realized that she is starting to see her purpose. She said that she and Payton talked about praying. Up til now, I am sure they have..... but this is first time she and I had talked about it. See, Payton struggles with "Why Jaque." But he told her that he prays for her. She told him that she prays for him too. She prays hard when he travels, and hard when he is home. She shared with him that she has learned to pray for lots of things. She said that she even prays for those that she really does not like that well. He asked why, and she said that Jesus tells us to love everyone. Little and Big lessons that I am sure we can all learn from.

Wow. What an emotional and spiritual BIG step they have taken over the last few months. I really appreciate and respect this from both of them. We all make mistakes, and although it is hard to forget....God tells us to forgive. I try and keep everything in perspective. He makes her happy, and they seem to be trying hard this time to do things right, to respect one another, and to be friends above all else.

I thought about this all night, and then it hit me. My mom use to sing to me when I was little, and really sing to Jaque, Deanna, Doni, and Roxi. My favorite was This little light of mine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.....you all know it. "hide it under a bush, oh no......Don't let satan blow it out...." What a perfect song for Jaque.

Ok, so best example I can give is - have you been in the house for a week solid because of rain. Then one day the clouds break, and a ray of sunshine hits you? You just look up in awe. As you look toward the heavens, you close your eyes, and the sunlight is upon you and before you know it happiness has overtaken you and you smile. Even on a bad day, you still smile. Well, Jaque is my ray, she is my little light, she is shining.

When many would sit and be still. When many would point out all the things that they cannot do. When many would feel sorry for their current situation. She is getting up and going, she is point out all the things she can do, she is saying don't feel sorry for me, I am just fine.

I feel I must mention that she is what she is because of 1st - God, 2nd - Family, 3rd - friends. the 2nd is largely because her DADDY has been telling her her entire life that there is NOTHING she cannot do. He taught her that she only has limits that she sets upon herself. He has taught her that if you set a goal, don't stop at it. She knows that anything in life is possible if you work hard and have Faith. Chris also has made her believe that the only difference in being a girl or boy is that she looks better in camo.

Please think about your kids today. What do you stress that is important in their lives? What do you remember about your childhood? Remember when your parents said "I was that age once too?" How did you react? I am suspecting that you rolled your eyes a little too.

The balance of making life easier, and keeping right from wrong is always a little touchy. In Jaque's case, we want her happy and smiling, but we are learning to pick our battles.

When things happen as they did at Chance's, and her personality comes alive, I am seeing that she is truly growing into a wonderful young woman. Chris and I are trying to give her more leadway, and know that she must learn somethings on her own. It is hard, but, as I put it in perspective....it should be the easiest thing in the world. Our family has God in our life. Although it does not mean that we will not go through trials, it does mean that he will be with us every step of the way. One day when I see the footprints, it will not just be one - as it is in the pictures and poems. It will be two sets, she and Jesus walking together on the shore. When is one day? Who knows, but I will watch the little light shine until then......

Love you all.



As I drove into work this morning.

As the leaves begin to change - so do we all

What a beautiful time of year! What a testimony in God's glorious way of changing our lives, shedding the old, and preparing the new.

Jaque has been doing great. She has been working hard on those college classes. Studying until late at night, and even teaching ol' mom a thing or two. It has been stressful on her, but I see that she is trying to really give all she has.

So for those of you that know her, what else is new? We went to western OK last weekend and had a great time. She tagged her first deer with a bow, but was disappointed that it was a doe. It was a 41 yard shot, so Chris and Payton both told her that it was an impressive kill. But true to her nature, she was not satisfied with that. She strives to get the MONSTER buck.

She also got to see my new nephew Warren. He and his older brother Arian are doing well. Thank you all for the prayers. They truely are the one thing we can do to help anyone in a tough situation, medically and emotionally. My sister belinda and her husband cecil are trying hard to be the kind of parents and grandparents that God wants them to be. It is tough, I know, but I am proud of them.

Jaque said that they have to call her Aunt Jaque. She is adimate on this for all of her "Cousins" because she desperately wants to be an Aunt. Life is funny about labels. Where is it written that she just is a cousin? No where - so, Aunt Jaque is having little Chrystal Jo call her Aunt too!

I am so amazed at Jaque's attitude. She continues to be the ray of sunshine in each day that I am blessed here on earth. While we were in Elk, she, Deanna, Doni, and deanna's friend went to movies. Somehow Jaque's wallet did not make it home. And to top it all off, deanna and her friend were con'd into putting some handcuffs on. Yes, funny, but key was in Jaque's wallet. So - in true Jaque fashion, she got a bobbi pin and picked the lock. Too much CSI? Probably, but these were police grade handcuffs. When she told Payton what she did, he said NO WAY. But that's just Jaque. Right? Breaking all the rules, doing it her way, and always surprising us with resetting the limits that life puts on her. Yes, I can laugh now...but it was not so funny that night at 12:30 am..

We got her wallet the next day, and luckily, everything was in it. She was relieved, thinking how easy someone could have stolen not only her identity, but her CASH!

Identity. Got me to wondering what this really means. Is it what is on the outside and what people see, or is it really what is underneath that we keep hidden? What about our inside keeps us so scared that we do not let it shine?

I have learned over the past two years that one thing with our Jaque, what you see is what you get. She pretty much says what is on her mind, and gives off no false pretenses. She makes mistakes, and learns from them. Not the first time always, but usually by second or third. She constantly sees the good in others long after moest of us would have just filed them away. She understands that life is meant to be lived. She is a wild and carefree teenager, and most of the time accepts that consequences are sometimes worth it -- sometimes not.

Not much about these qualities in her have changed since the wreck. Mostly they are just more predominant because she is more still. I think.

Once we were building our first traveling softball team. She, of course, was the stud, and not bragging, but everyone knew that she was. We had a girl that she had not played with join the team. After a couple of practices, we were all standing around and this girl came up to us. She said, "Jaque, I just want you to know that I have always thought that you were arogant, and the biggest bi**h that i knew. But then I got on this team and played with you." We all just kind of blankly looked at her. Then she said "i just want you to know that you are the coolest and most fun girl I know, and I am glad we got a chance to be friends."

WOW. Just shows you how we all misjudge. She and Jaque are from different towns, but she made sure that her dad brought her up to hospital to see Jaque.

Thank you god for the moments in our lives that may seem a little "rough" at first, but turn out to be a blessing.

Bro. Jason said something that I know is true to my core. It is the reason that I do this blog, it is the reason that God works through me, and through all of you reading. He said that we must surround ourselves with those of faith. That if we seek the miracle, our faith will be stronger if we keep ourseleves surrounded with those that know it is possible.

Anyone that knows Jaque, and anyone that has already seen God's miracles through her life, know that HE IS ALVIE AND WELL IN ALL OF US.

Many with Jaque's injury know that it is not a matter of IF, it is when. We are ready. Jaque and Chance work hard each week to keep her body ready, and God is working on her soul. In his timing, all things are possible. Will it be here on earth? I have faith and a sense of peace that it will....but either way - she will walk through the gates of Heaven. And she is not just going to sit around and watch life walk by her. She is out, living it to its fulliest, and not missing out on ANYTHING that she loves. She is actually more active than most 18 year olds.

So, please, if you are struggling with something today, look up to God. Pray that he work his will in your life. Put your struggle in perspective, and do not try and face it alone. We all need support from time to time. I have had yours my entire life. Jaque and Chris have too. Thank you.