Yesterday I think I understood what Mary must’ve felt when she realized she lost 10-year-old Jesus… because yesterday I lost 10-year-old Willow Grace at The Well (Church).

We were at an event, and I was working my table for Foster325, thinking Willow was just hanging out near the start and finish line, cheering people on. After I hadn’t seen her in a while. I started asking friends, “Hey, has anyone seen Willow?” One of the kids said, “Mrs. Ellison, she’s RUNNING!”

I laughed, “No, she went to WATCH. We didn’t sign up to run! She already rode her bike three miles today on the bike trail! She wouldn’t have?!” They were adamant. “No, she’s in the race, I passed her and she was booking it!” 😳

Sure enough… after searching and searching, I look up and see my daughter, chip timer on, running a 5K like she’d been training for it her whole life. (In loose purple crocks AND she wasn’t last🫣)😅 Oblivious to my worries and so proud, and thirsty!

Apparently she decided cheering wasn’t enough, so she marched over to the table and assertively said her name and signed herself up while hastily making her last name a little extra 😉, grabbed a bib, and ran an entire 5K while I was busy thinking she was sitting with friends somewhere near the finish-line eating her snacks.

I went from panic ➡️ disbelief ➡️ hysterical laughter ➡️ mom guilt ➡️ pure pride.

What ten-year-old does that?!
Mine, apparently. 🩷

Independent. Tenacious. Fearless. Mary had Jesus in the temple… I had Willow at the Well 5K. Glow Run for Jesus or like Jesus? 😂🫣💕🤪😳😭🎉!

Anyone interested in more info about foster care?😬