Seventeen…

My oldest daughter, Savannah, just turned 17 years old

It’s hard for me to believe…but it’s true!

Last year, I wrote a blog post about her 16th birthday

And how for the first time in years

We were able to go to the mall

One year ago, I had just gotten under 300 pounds

And I was finally able to take her shopping

Without having to wait in the car

Or get parked in a chair near the food court

While she shopped alone

So here we are last year on her 16th birthday

Conquering the mall ~!

It’s Texas…so of course we have boots outside our mall

And here we are last year WALKING the mall together for the first time in years!

For once I’m out of the car and by her side!!

I remember how exciting it was for me to finally be able to walk in the mall again

At that point it was still hurting my knee and it was tiring but I was able to do it

After years of having to just make it to the nearest chair and wait for her

Or wait in the car

It was amazing to finally “Rise and Walk!”

It felt like a miracle!

The progress I have made physically in the past year just amazes me

I remember thinking that the damage was done and I might never live a full life again

But with every pound I lose and every bit of strength I gain from exercising

I find that my body is bouncing back and it has not betrayed me after all!

I may not be 20 years old and things may not exactly look as they once did

But physically I can go and do and see…..and THAT is what I always wanted!!

This year for her birthday

We did something else I could never have done at 417 pounds

We had a spa day!!

And got a pedicure

Something  that for many years was an impossibility

Because I could not fit in the chair

Or even maneuver my way into it

So here we are enjoying our day

Enjoying our mother/daughter girl time!

And instead of waiting for her in the car

Because I don’t fit in any  chair there

I get to actually be there WITH her!

It’s hard for me to believe that my baby is now 17

Savannah has always been a blessing to my life

From the moment she entered the world

She was nothing less than a ray of sunshine

That God poured down

So the dark times could never get too dark

And the light would never shine too far from my face

Due to her motivation and determination

She graduated high school at age 16

And starts college this summer

While losing 218 pounds is certainly something I am proud of

Nothing could ever compare to how proud I am of my children

Savannah is my oldest

And she may only be 17

But she’s helped me raise her siblings

She held me by the arm when I could barely walk to the mailbox and back

And she has done it all with grace

There are some days I wonder why God saw fit to bless me with such a beautiful gift

But then I remember

His Mercy and Compassion knows no bounds

And within that generosity…..he gave me Savannah

When Savannah was younger, we used to listen to a lot of Shania Twain

And this song reminds me of her

But more than that

It reminds me of all of us!

Because this song says

“She’s got everything it takes!”

And that’s Savannah

That’s YOU

That’s ME!

We’ve got what it takes!

And let’s never forget it!