Dear Mom and Dad,

Stick with me through the song (Sugarland, "Baby Girl")....there's a point.

They say this town,
The stars stay up all night,
Don't know can't see'em,
For the glow of the neon lights.
And it's a long way from here,
To the place where the home fires burn,
Well it's 2,000 miles and one left turn.

[chorus]
Dear Mom and Dad,
Please send money,
I'm so broke that it ain't funny.
I don't need much just enough to get me through.
Please don't worry 'cause I'm alright.
(I'm playin here at the bar tonight)
This time I'm gonna make our dreams come true...
Well I love you more than anything in the world.
Love,
Your Baby Girl

Black top blue sky,
Big town full of little white lies,
Everybody's your friend you can never be sure.
They'll promise fancy cars and diamond rings,
All sorts of shiny things.
Girl, you'll remember what your knees are for.

[repeat chorus]

I know that I'm on my way,
When I can tell every time I play.
And I know it's worth all the dues I pay,
When I can write to you and say...

Dear Mom and Dad,
I'll send money. I'm so rich that It ain't funny.
Well it oughtta be more then enough to get you through.
Please don't worry cause I'm alright,
I'm stayin here at the Ritz tonight,
Whatta ya know we made our dreams come true!
And there are fancy cars and diamond rings,
But you know that they don't mean a thing,
Well they all add up to nothin compared to you,
Well, remember me in ribbons and curls...
I still love you more than anything in the world

Love,
Your Baby Girl

Ok, so replace playing music with becoming a missionary and living out the destiny that God created for me from the beginning of time...you catch the drift. Here's to a mom and dad who hang in there when their child follows a dream that doesn't seem safe, secure, or easy. More than that, here's to calling out things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). I pray that my parents see a full return on the investment they've made in my life, not only monetarily but in prayers and tears. It's coming mom and dad...(allow me a little poetic license)

"I know that I'm on my way,
When I can tell every time I pray,
And I know it's worth all the dues we pay,
When I can write to you and say...

The world has changed.


p.s. My Visa is in, my forms are complete, the plane ticket is in hand, and things are coming together. From $6000 down to $1000 and counting.