28: The Climb

1 Corinthians 13

Only faith, hope and Love will Last
And the greatest of these is LOVE.

Nov. 22, 2010
Dearest Daughter,

As I write this, you are sleeping safely next to me.  You are holding your favorite bear, whom you have named "Beary", your first true teddy.

I am sitting in my car, in front of a beautiful scene, I'm sitting out front of a georgeous home and across the street, is a children's park equipped with a new playground and swings.  The house, and the spot I sit at, overlooks the West end of the Murrieta Valley, a long range of rolling mountains, with scattered new homes, and a sky filled with gorgeous clouds that the Sun is beaming through.

This is the kind of home I'd love to raise you in.

A home large enough, that you'll stop complaining about it's size. (not your fault we lived in our Del Torino, 3500 sq ft home) and a safe enjoyable park just across the street, with a beautiful neighborhood, good neighbors and friends to love.

That is my dream for you.  And I hope I can make it happen for you.  There's no reason you can't have everything you desire, we are blessed beyond measure, and our hope remains in the Lord.

Why do I tell you these things?

Because I want to let you know.  I am telling you my dreams outloud, not fearful that they won't happen, but confident that it will!

This morning you told me,

"My dreams will never come true."
"...why?"
"Because I always tell them."

The Disney movie, Cinderella has it wrong.

She says if you tell your dreams , they won't come true.  - Maybe she felt that way, because she had such a horrible step-mother and step-sisters, but not you Alanna.

Darling,
You can be confident that when you share your dreams with me, I will do my best to support you, and encourage you.

Most of all, tell the Lord your dreams.

Tell him your desires, your hopes, your vision.

All good things come from Him.

If that is true, then He will be proud of you for trusting Him.

Trusting Him to come through for you, to complete what he has begun in you.

You say as a 4 year old, that you want to be a doctor. Because you want to help people feel better.  Whether you become a pediatrician, a physiologist, or a mommy putting a bandage on your baby's boo-boo I know if you want it, you'll be the best you can be at it. 

(my good friend Linda Evans always dreamed of being a physical therapist, and after she graduated, she got her PhD in 5 1/2 years)

Growing up, I was good at things I tried, and so because, I was already good without trying very hard, I was satisfied with myself, with my "good" job done, despite my effortless attempts.

Darling, please don't be like me!

I always did a "good" job but not my "best" job.

GOOD is the opposite of GREAT.

Imagine if I had actually tried!!

How much more knowledge I'd have!!

How much more wisdom I'd have!

I'd have more talent and skills.  I'd be Fit, play the piano like a master artist... most of all, I'd be able to say I gave it my best.

Sometimes, others might tell you "Great job!" "awesome work" "100% A+"

But inside, do you feel you gave it your best?

I believe your Father, Joseph, is one thee hardest persons to please, and also the best person to please.

He won't ever give you an "awesome job!" if you don't deserve it.  He might crust you and tell you how horrible it was, but only because he knows how much BETTER you CAN do.

To reach your dreams, your goals, TELL THEM! 
DECLARE THEM!

Make them known and do your best to get them done.

Pray. Pray. Pray. And seek God's help, wisdom and counsel.

Put yourself around people like your dad, that will honestly encourage you, tell you "You Can do better!" and push you for greater things.

You might hate these people in the moment, because sometimes, it hurts to hear the truth, but only if you've been believing a lie.  So appreciate them, and keep them close in your life.

Keep those great encouragers close too. You need a balance of both. Just cuz some people, and friends, might say everything you do is awesome.  It doesn't mean they're a bad person, it's because they honestly believe you're awesome.  And believe me, this WILL be the majority of people!! You'll need them around to encourage you too! 

And most of all, do YOUR best.

Don't do someone else's best.  Don't grade yourself by someone elses's standards.  Be the Best YOU can be.  Don't lie to yourself about it.

Run farther
Swim harder
Sing Stronger
Read Longer
Study Harder
Love Stronger

You can jump as high as you can.  But if you try, you can jump higher.

Don't say "someday" do it today.


"I've got one life to live this life.
I've got one chance to get it Right.
I've got one chance to change a life.
I've got one life, one life.

My someday's have come and gone.
My someday's before me now.
My today's while I'm alive, I've got one life, One life!"


-PressPlay LA Dream Center"


Miley Cirus:
You got in my head the clouds
You got me thinking out loud
The more you dream about me the more that I believe
That nothing's ever out of reach
So dream, dream, dream

Keep dreamers close to you Alanna


Daddy's favorite song right now is "The Climb"

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

I love you darling.

I can only hope that you have faith in the Lord, and in the blessings He's given you, to dream digger, strive for more, and aim for greatness.

Don't get lost on the way to your dream, those are the moments that make you who you are.

It's about the climb.

I love you.

Have a good climb.