I am smiling ear to ear right now.  I just took a sneak-peek of Holly’s rough draft essay for her college English class, and I love seeing her write.   (No, you’re not confused, she is a junior in high school, but she’s taking dual enrollment classes.)
Holly and I often talk about her future.  She is one who loves to travel, learn history, be adventurous, and (even though she won’t admit it) is a talented writer.  (Maybe a travel show or magazine will be in her future.)
How can she not love to travel?  We’ve been blessed with the ability to afford our children the opportunities to travel many places that most people only dream of.
I believe Holly acquired her thirst for history from her grandmama.  When Holly was a wee-little thing, her and her grandmama would get caught up in the History channel.   Even while just watching old classic movies together, Jany would make Holly feel like she was back in time with her many “not-so-silent” movie watching time.
Holly sure has her thrills for adventure.  (See her essay below)  I must take stock in claiming a little bit of her courageous spirit.  With an adrenaline rush mother like me “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.
Writing has been something that I’ve always recognized Holly having a knack for.  I remember her sitting in her room writing songs as young as seven years of age.  She lost confidence in her skill when she would have to complete “timed writing” assessments in school.  Holly is one who likes to ponder on a subject for a while, and then breathe onto the page, not write within a specific time limit. But through it all, I just kept being an encourager in her untapped talent.
When she was reading the unfinished version to me last night before I retired for the evening, I could see her passion for what she was writing about in her expressions. She was questioning me about grammar, and I said, “Lordy, please don’t let your professor read my writings.  I’m not the ‘grammatically correct’ writer.”  Holly was so precious and replied, “Mom, you write from the heart, not for a grade in class.”  You’ve got it, sista!
In Isaiah 55:8 the Lord declared, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.”   I may have thoughts as to what Holly could become in the future, but only God knows the plans He has for Holly.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11.
One thing I do know is that I have complete confidence that if Holly always seeks the Lord with all her heart, she will be and do fabulous!  Proverbs 16:3 states, “Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.”
The same goes for you.  Turn to the Lord for everything!  He will see you through.
I pray God’s abundant love and blessings for y’all.
Here’s Holly rough-draft.  I believe she is a much more talented writer than I am.  But hey, like she said, “Mom, you write from the heart, not for a grade in class.”
Life’s an Adventure
According to Websters.com the word adventure means “an exciting or very unusual experience.”  Typically people associate adventure with doing things out of the ordinary or conquering fears. Continually surfing after spotting sharks in the water, traveling around Greece, and jumping off cliffs are adventures that might appeal to one’s eye. Adventure is pushing oneself to do new things that excite them.
Some might think it is idiotic others may admire it as being brave. Surfing after spotting sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, is one of my definitions of being adventurous.  As a shark enthusiast I jumped at the fact that I was diving into a shark’s habitat to do something I thoroughly enjoyed. On the contrary many beach goers or sea Landers would have gone the other way trying to avoid a possible shark encounter. A personal example that I’ve exhibited was when I just got off a wave, starting to head back, looked down and saw a four foot black tip shark inches away from my feet. At first I hesitated trying to soak in what just happened and then proceeded to go back out to continue my daily surf. Commonly people would have not gone out and would have headed for the safe shores of the beach. Taking a risk not knowing the outcome is just one way to explain what an adventure is.
Exploring a new destination and culture is exactly what one gets when traveling Greece. Visiting Olympia, where the first Olympics were ever held, and running the same tracks as the first Olympians is considered to tons of people an unforgettable adventure. Being in the same place where Aristotle shared his teachings, democracy began, and monuments were built are just few things Greece has to offer. Adventure might not always be an adrenaline rush but an exciting knowledgeable experience seeing ancient perspective and life. For historians or travelers visiting all of Greece might be the ultimate quest to accomplish. From personal experience, eating the food and meeting the locals of the country was an adventure of its own. Everywhere one looks there is history and beauty surrounding the country of Greece. Traveling an ancient world in modern time is exactly the adventure Greece can offer.
Whether it is head first or feet first jumping off of a cliff is an adrenaline rush near its peak. The anxiety builds up while one is climbing to reach the top. Taking the jump and hoping to land safely in water, moments in air regretting the jump only to finally land in the cool water. Once the unknowing factor is over one is filled with joy and proud of their leap of faith in gravity. Jumping off of a twenty-six, forty, or maybe even an eighty foot cliff is enough adventure for one to have. I personally have never hit the forty foot mark but that does not mean one is not as petrified or adventurous versus the eighty foot jumper. There is just something about risking one’s life to be adventurous that is unique. Some people may conquer a fear of heights by doing this very jump. Bravery comes hand in hand with adventures, especially jumping off cliffs. When I took the jump I did not think about it I just went for it. For most adventures one simply cannot spend an excessive amount of thinking about it or else it might just ruin the adventure part of it.
An adventure can be something bold or a memorable experience. It has many definitions that can go along with it. Life alone is a new adventure every day. The little things or activities we do that are unique lead up to the great adventures life gives us the opportunity to have.

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