This is Kristin(right) with her friend Lindsey(left)

Don't you get tired of hearing other people talk about their children, extoling the wonderful virtues that you know just can't be true? May I just take a few moments to brag, extol if you will? I couldn't be prouder of my daughter, Kristin. You see, she is on a mission trip this week to a camp in Missouri called Camp Barnabas. It is a camp for special needs children. Kristin is a counselor this week. She is with a little girl that she takes care of 24/7 that is high functioning autistc. Kristin has a huge heart for special needs kids! But I think this has been harder than she thought it would be. You see, Kristin has only ever been responsible for Kristin. God is stretching my baby girl. He has asked her to not only step out of her comfort zone, but also to rely on Him alone. It astounds me that I have such a sweet hearted daughter, but I am understanding that it took just as much courage as anything. Like most teenagers, Kristin hates to be outside of her world of "Kristin". That world consists of Lindsey, and Lana, and play practice, and texting her numerous other friends, and church, and on, and on, and on. But this week, Kristin stepped so far outside of her "bubble" that it required courage from somewhere other than herself. She has had to rely on her Lord, because He is literally the only one she knows at this camp. I don't know about you, but when God asks me to trust Him with my comfort zone, I get very nervous. Why? Because maybe I'm not as brave as I would like to think I am. Maybe my 16 year old is showing her mother what it is to be scared but brave. Without fear, there can't be any courage. But often, we don't get beyond the fear. My Kristin is going beyond her fear and learning that there is more to her than she thought. She is learning that the waves aren't as scary and that the thunder is not as loud when you can claim the One who calms the storms. It was hard to hear her struggle with tears when she called today. But I would rather she learn to trust Him at 16 years of age than to be 30 and still not know how to see Him through the storm.