Gina the Warrior

I got this from big sis the other day, when I asked for a baby picture for the senior video this year.  I didn't want to pull a Leann Tuohy and find a cute little "Blasian" baby on the internet, so I took a chance and got this adorable little gem.

When I moved on the ranch last January, I took a huge risk.   I moved my kids away from their friends, their security, my mom, our lives as they knew it with me, and moved them to a new school, new community, new friends.

While Peppers Ranch was and is a HUGE blessing, and we have SO MANY FRIENDS here, the school that Gina was going to as a Junior, was a struggle.  She is a very ardent Christian girl and has zero filter so she didn't fit in at the very party school.

The only heartburn I had about everything, was how unhappy and miserably sad my Gina was.  It was very very hard on my heart.

Then I did the interview with OCS.   (oklahoma christian school for those of you that don't read my blog on the regular).  And heard how much it cost.   And prayed and prayed.   And then Bill Junk through the Methodist Foundation paid their tuition.... and something huge and significant happened in our family.

People, I never stop being amazed on the daily by the blessings that come your way by being obedient to God's calling.

For the first couple of weeks at OCS, it was pretty standard issue for my Gina.  Couldn't really find a group, as a Senior it is grueling to try to find a niche.  And at a private school, it can be even harder.  I prayed so hard for her every day.  Praying over her for peace and acceptance.   It is very hard to parent a different kid.  You want to FIX everything and sometimes if you just let go of the wheel and hand them over to God....He handles all the details.

Teachers friended the new kid, sitting by herself eating her lunch.  She had lunch and shared her story with several of her teachers and by week 6 of school, they had asked her to share her story.   You guys know this.  Check out my blog in September if you want to remember that story.  It was just the most anointed moment of my life.

And guys, Transparency here.   I didn't want her to do it.   I was too scared of what the outcome might be.  I was afraid she might say the wrong thing, go "rogue" if you will.  She would never practice her talk with me.  Because she talked about me in it, I think.

But what she did in that room of her peers, and the impact she  made on everyone that day....her life shifted.  She had friends in every face.  Everyone smiled at her.  Most everyone included her.  She found friends on the basketball team.....again, something I wasn't sure I wanted her to try.  She showed me.   Over and Over.

I haven't been thinking seriously about college for Gina, because I know how she struggles with school, and how hard college is going to be.   But she has been adamant about wanting to go, so I swallowed my worries again, and researched colleges and remedial programs and scholarship potential, and landed on Rose State.  I got my associates from Rose State and I really loved it.  I was much older when I went back but I liked the teachers, the classroom size, everything.   So we went for it, and took a tour and in a blog I wrote, one of my oldest friend's daughter is going to Rose and we found a roommate, because that's just how good my God is.

We applied for the President's Leadership Scholarship because it was a full ride of tuition and books, and I knew it would be a long shot because private school ain't playing when it comes to grades and expectations and whereas public school always gave her A's and B's and passed this social butterfly on her merry way, she has really had to work and dig to make the grades this year.

And she has.  I've watched my girl blossom this year.  She has come into her own, and when she won Homecoming Queen, she was greeted with honest and from the heart cheers and yells.  There was no pity, no token "Blasian" winner, she won because she won their hearts.

When I sent her senior pictures in the other day, I apologized for the grainyness of the photo and asked her to please just use it.  She replied,  "We could have a gray screen with her name on it, and everyone would scream their faces off for her, because she has everyone's heart.  " 

Remember that speech she gave, and I was so on the fence for??  The president of Rose State College's daughter just happens to go to OCS and was present for Gina's talk.  Told her mom.  What are the odds?    Again,   WHAT  are  THE odds??  God knew the ODDS, because HE Orchestrated EVERYTHING.

ALL  The Things.

Peppers Ranch

Oklahoma Christian School

Bill Junk

Precious teachers

Gina's willing heartfelt testimony

All the student's response

Sharing her story at home with parents and the right parent hearing that story, so that when that kid applied for a scholarship, she knew her name and her story and knew that she was more than her grades.  That Gina is one for the kingdom, and a world changer, and IQ's and grades will never define her, because her power comes from something that is limitless.

Her power comes from her love and overabundant grace that only comes from a special close walk with the Father.

When I see all the pieces of this beautiful tapestry taking shape before my eyes, it still has the power to bring me to my knees.

So, of course, she was awarded the scholarship.   A full stinking ride to Rose State. 

So when people ask me  "How do you do it?"  or "Are you kind of crazy?"  I have to say,  "Yes, I am crazy, and how can I not do it?"

Because, friends,  Every  Single  Day  I see the hand of God at work.

And what can top that? 

Look out World, this Warrior is coming for you.