Bill writes about his daughter, Barbara, and how she has changed during the past several years. As she grows, her brash, tomboyish ways are slowly waning, and she is emerging into a fine young lady with a heart of gold.
I look at our gangly, fourteen-year-old daughter, Barbara, and at once my heart is filled with sadness and joy.
Sadness because her childhood is quickly ending, and joy because she is becoming quite the mature young lady.
Barbara came to us from the Bayou Country of South Louisiana five years ago, and ever since, she has brought us nothing but joy (and even some exasperation). Barbara proved to be a veritable handful, and she was not the young lady we had hoped for. She was brash, very opinionated, and had some habits that made people frown at her whenever they were around her. She was one of those types of kids who thought it was okay to pick their nose in public, yell dirty insults at fellow teammates or laughing at their mistakes, spit on the street at any opportunity, or let you know just what she thought about something; and if she didn't like something or somebody, she let you know about it in a hurry. She would also burp (and very loudly) in public, and people were often embarrassed about it (mainly ME and Louie, my wife).
We were often at ends with this girl, because she was so crass in her behavior, and we were embarrassed to be seen with her. She wasn't the young lady we had hoped she would be, and it drove us crazy.
But when she reached the age of 12, something happened that still can't be explained. Once she accepted the Lord into her life, there were changes that still can't be explained today. She is now losing her tomboyish and crass ways, and things that aggravated us in the past are now (thankfully) becomning few and far between. She isn't nearly as wild as she used to be, and she will now be wearing dresses or nice clothes if the occasion calls for it (but still won't make it a regular habit; she is still somewhat uncomfortable at wearing dresses or skirts, or even bras or pantyhose). She is scared someone will see her "points" or her knobby knees, and she hates the way she looks: she feels she is ugly as sin, and she is anything BUT ugly.
Barbara used to be content with hanging out with the guys or playing any contact sports with regularity, and she wouldn't really have anything to do with her little brothers or sisters, as they drove her crazy, but now one may find her sitting in the livingroom chair, holding Jodie on her lap, feeding her her Iso-Cal through her stomach tube, a look of genuine tenderness and concern on her young face, or she may be found by Johnny's side as he thrashes about in a seizure, and she won't leave him until the seizure is over and done; and she makes sure he is okay before she even THINKS of leaving him. If he isn't, she will immediately call for 9-1-1 and call for an ambulance.
She used to be embarrassed about being seen with her disabled brothers and sisters, but now she is more than proud to be with them, and she loves them fiercely. She will do anything to defend them, and she has been known to get into fights in the past because kids had been teasing her brothers and sisters.
Barbara has saved the lives of several of her younger brothers and sisters (she has received several commendations and awards for her bravery and courage); and her little brothers and sisters are still alive today, thanks to her quick and lifesaving actions. She has recently been nominated for 2003 Young Citizen of the Year for the city of Nashville, Tennessee, and we are extremely proud for her.
I look at her now, and I see the maturity that has blossomed; and my heart absolutely bursts with pride because she has exceeded our wildest dreams, and she has finally become the well-mannered, caring, and thoughtful young lady we had always hoped she woudl become.
Barbara is a very busy young lady. When she isn't participating in some form of contact sports, she will spend her days writing poetry or stories, playing her Cajun accordion (she is also talented at playing the guitar and fiddle, but her accordion is her favorite instrument), and going to concerts (country, Cajun, and now southern gospel). She also loves to play with her brothers and sisters, and she will do anything to make them laugh.
If anything, Barbara has taught us the meanings of determination, stubborn (Cajun) pride, faith, love for those who are downtrodden or less fortunate than herself, fair play, sportsmanship, and learning to let go of past hurts through her activities. She used to be rather quiet and shy, but now you can hardly get a word in edgewise: she can talk your ear off if you give her the chance!
Barbara is still somewhat of a handful, but as she matures, her caring nature is becoming all the more evident, and we thank God each and every day for her. She has certainly made our lives memorable and very interesting, and she is a force to be reckoned with at times. But even with all her quirks, she is still special, and we couldn't have been blessed with a better daughter. Barbara is that, and so much more. She is a bona-fide Miracle, and we are definitely better for it.
The familiar lament of dual-career parents raising children is, "I just can't do it all." The Libra Solution provides an alternative - a more satisfying and sustainable work and life approach - to the overwrought modern day norm.
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
I look at our gangly, fourteen-year-old daughter, Barbara, and at once my heart is filled with sadness and joy.
