hamilton high school senior | joey

last night the boys went to the batting cages and I needed to be away from my desk and simply be outside.so I went on a walk with my little girl last night.more and more I am realizing that the "little" part of who she is is almost completely faded.I have always loved our conversations when it's just me and her and I'm glad she feels the freedom to just be herwithout fear of judgement around me.I'll always be her mom, but the friendship part of our relationship is steadily growing and I'm praying it continues.but I was struck and I'm still dwelling on some of the things she wondered and said last night.her first few loaded questions (I say loaded because she asks in such a way that tears are almost in her eyes and her emotions are stuck in her throat and she's almost afraid to ask it...loaded.) ;) came out in a fast stream of emotion:"mom, why do there seem to be so many boys at my school that don't ever seem to think about being men...like ever? when does that happen for them?  because I feel like you're always telling me about how to be a lady and to care about what God says is good...and I can see the good in being that way and that it makes beautiful girls even more beautiful because of their hearts and I'm super thankful for you + daddy telling me that.  but I feel like I'm surrounded by a bunch of boys - some of them even smell really good (apparently high on her list) ;) and are cute!  but none of them care about anything more than arguing on the football field or lately saying curse words and making fun of each other and us.  and I'm pretty sure none of them ever think about what it means to be a good man...I'm serious mom, like ever." (thank you, taylor swift for her vocabulary.) ;)I smiled.and tried really hard to hold back my laugh.so I simply asked her what a good looking, godly man looks like.we must have walked a good quarter mile before she answered back."you know what, mom? I don't really know.  I can tell you I know some good men.  daddy, micah, the men that daddy work with, brett, grampa...sunday school teachers.  but I have no idea what a good looking godly guy looks like."again, I smiled and looked down at her "little" face and said:"you know, God talks a lot about good godly men...all the way down to what they look like, don't you?"she looked like a huge burden had been lifted and a light bulb went off in her head."I THOUGHT He might of...but looks, mom?  really?"really, mad. :)take david...shoot, people even sculpted "him" centuries later after he was long gone...he was ruddy (or tan from being outside a lot/healthy), he had bright eyes and was handsome. 1 samuel 16:12.he had a good heart and wasn't particularly huge in comparison to his older brother. 1 samuel 16:6-7he was musical...he could play the lyre or modern day version - guitar. 1 samuel 16:17-18he was strong and brave...even killing a lion or bear! 1 samuel 17:34-36he gave his victories back to God as a young man...not arrogant in himself. 1 samuel 17:37 and then even more in 17:45-47I told her about joseph who was "well built and good looking and wise" in spite of a crappy life and wanting to be killed by his family.I told her about daniel and his buddies who were "strong, healthy, and good looking...and brave."and I told her about joshua who was as nuts as he was brave...the kind of guy to jump in first swinging bravely! ;)oh my gosh, you should have seen her eyes and her countenance was visibly lighter."okay, then I will wait...I see good godly guys every once and while and I'll wait for them to care.if God can make these men brave and wise and godly...I will keep waiting for someone like them."*enter in today's guy.*dear mr. + mrs. loudenslager, good freaking job and thank you for raising a guy that someday a girl like my maddie can admire wholeheartedly in her world filled mostly with "boys." :)I talk to my son a lot about what not to be like...they are unfortunately easy to point out...arrogant, lazy, run their mouths...your son, is one of the few that I can point to and say him, be like this guy. :)athletic, cute (yup, you are joey...and it's been verified by a few girls who would know.) ;), loves Jesus, hard working, musical...and someone who I loved getting to spend time with for an afternoon.thank you for the afternoon jan + joey!  I can't wait to hear what the next season holds for you, joey! :)