36 miles!

I cannot even believe it. Taylor has hiked over 36 miles this weekend with Janie & Abba in the Smoky Mountains....(And for a boy who would probably not rank hiking in his top five things to do, this is amazing). This song below by Andrew Peterson captures what my heart has been for his 13th birthday and what we've called his “Crossing”—Taylor got to soak up the beauty of that place and got to hear words of affirmation and wisdom from the letters we sent with him from family and friends to mark this new chapter, and I'm confident that he will never forget this time and that these words will sink in over time...

You'll Find Your Way 

When I look at you, boy

I can see the road that lies ahead

I can see the love and the sorrow

Bright fields of joy

Dark nights awake in a stormy bed

I want to go with you, but I can’t follow

So keep to the old roads

Keep to the old roads

And you’ll find your way

Your first kiss, your first crush

The first time you know you’re not enough

The first time there’s no one there to hold you

The first time you pack it all up

And drive alone across America

Please remember the words that I told you

Keep to the old roads

Keep to the old roads

And you’ll find your way

You’ll find your way

If love is what you’re looking for

The old roads lead to an open door

And you’ll find your way

You’ll find your way

Back home

And I know you'll be scared when you take up that cross

And I know it'll hurt, 'cause I know what it costs

And I love you so much and it's so hard to watch

But you're gonna grow up and you're gonna get lost

Just go back, go back

Go back, go back to the ancient paths

Lash your heart to the ancient mast

And hold on, boy, whatever you do

To the hope that's taken hold of you

And you'll find your way

You'll find your way

If love is what you’re looking for

The old roads lead to an open door

And you’ll find your way

You’ll find your way

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