Life is flying by…at an increasing speed!
Tomorrow morning my fun loving, beautiful, crazy, blonde baby….my “Amy Girl” will begin her first year of high school. As she opens up her lunch bag she will find this note (along with some homemade cookies!)….may it inspire, encourage & challenge you today in whatever season of life you are speeding thru. (and yes…it will be going into the scrapbook!)
My dearest “Amy Girl”,
Today is a milestone! You are beginning your freshman year at Jim Elliot Christian High School. Ten years ago this week (when you were just a playful, carefree adorable four year old!) your Dad and I set out on a journey that was bigger than anything we could have ever dreamed of accomplishing. We decided to start a Christian high school that would glorify God, while training & discipling young people to graduate and make a profound difference in the world!
We began with prayer. We asked for wisdom, guidance and Gods blessing on this endeavor.
We surrounded ourselves with people who would inspire, encourage, support & pray for our success!
We knew it was going to cost us our time, our talent & our treasure. We worked HARD round the clock using the skills & talents we were blessed with & our experience of a combined 20 years in Christian education. We sacrificed our incomes & job security…stepping out in faith to make this dream a reality.
We faced fear, doubt & discouragement. We were even ridiculed. (Comments like – “It will never happen”, “How do you think you are going to start a high school?”, “No one is going to sign up for a school that doesn’t exist!”, “You’ll never raise enough money”)
We kept the faith and pressed on toward the goal and….
….one year later, on September 2, 1998…the vision became a reality! Jim Elliot Christian High School began their first day of school with 42 students! It was one stellar day!
Now today …you are joining a student body of over 200 hundred students at a fabulous & successful Christian High School with the dream of graduating in four years with a good education, a strong vibrant faith & a clear direction for Gods plan for your life! I want to encourage you today to follow the same plan & principles that were instrumental in starting the school you now attend.
Begin with prayer! Pray for wisdom, guidance & success. Give each & every day, semester & year to God. Know that Dad & I along with all your sisters are praying for you as well.
Surround yourself with positive friends who will encourage, inspire, motivate & support you! We do become like the company we keep. Choose wisely! Amy, you are such a shining example of having a positive attitude & seeing things on the bright side of life. You are always quoting Zig Ziglar or Amanda Gore…this is so impressive for a young person your age. Don’t lose your zest & enthusiasm for life! It is contagious.
If you are going to be successful it will cost you something. Work hard to be everything you were created to be. This requires sacrifice, self discipline & determination. Don’t look back with regret & wish you would have done things differently. Strive for excellence in everything you do.
You will face fear, doubts & discouragement….you may even be ridiculed along the way. Fight your fears with faith. Drive the doubt away with hope. Do not give in to discouragement…. keep trying despite what may come your way. Pray for those who ridicule or make fun of you and don’t let others stand in the way of your dreams!
Have faith and press on towards the goal! We believe in you Amy & know that your four years of high school will be everything you hope & dream of them being and more. You are a strong leader, smart, talented, athletic, super creative and an incredible actress! 
You are fun, energetic & enthusiastic! You are kind, compassionate, friendly and loving! You love the Lord & want to please Him in everything. You are my awesome #2 Amy girl (which we both know is the best number! 😉 )
Know that I love you dearly & am so very proud of who you are & who you are going to become during the next four years. I will miss having you here everyday.
Zoot! Zoot! Zoot!
Always,
Mommy
Inspire Ministries 
Thanks for this advice for your daughter. I am a Student Pastor and plan on using some of your advice to challenge our students for their first week of school. (If that’s ok with you!)
joe