Seth and I had a great time visiting with my cousin Lori in Grand Saline, TX. A town with less than 3100 in population. Who knew we could find some interesting sights?
Once we got back from Grand Saline I needed to get ready to attend a celebration in honor of the engagement of one of the young men who was in my youth ministry program back in the day. This was a group of teens that have captured my heart from day one. They are my younger brothers (or kids, whichever way you want to look at it). 😉 I get to catch up with one or another at least once a year and find out about their journey’s but this nice I got to see them all at one time.
And the gang below with the soon to be bride and groom Thomas and Andrea. Love these young men! So proud of them all!!
I listened to them each tell me about their new careers, their aspirations and dreams, and for some I got to meet the young women that have captured their hearts. For me it was a full circle moment. I knew them as young 14 year old men and women, traveled across the world to New Zealand and Australia with most all of them, slept outside during World Youth Day and had ‘deep discussions’ about God and where they felt they were called in life. I cried along with their parents as they left home and ventured off to college only knowing my time of seeing them would soon become scarce.
As I watched them gather up on the dance floor I smiled at the memories and then a few of them looked over at me and waved me over to join them. It was a simple gesture and yet I felt loved. That was a period of my life that brought with it many challenges but also a great amount of accomplishments and a bond with these souls that will never be broken.
Never underestimate each step in your journey and the people who flavor it along the way.
Blessings
Shannon