Celebrating the return of my child
![Celebrating the return of my child 1 return of my child](/wp-content/themes/yootheme/cache/eb/img-resize5-eb287a88.jpeg)
After a year repeating Magellan’s feat – circumnavigating the globe – our first-born daughter, Talia, has returned home. To have her back is poignant and marvelous. She arrived last night having spent a month or so in the following countries:
Along the way, she tested everything inside herself – her faith, her character, her vision – and proved what was real and what was phony. She had a hundred adventures, beginning with the Mayan ruins of Palenque, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, the Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat, and ending on the Mandarin ruins of the Great Wall.
Talia held orphans, cared for the poor, proclaimed good news to the homeless, set the captives free, and incarnated Jesus’ Luke 10 model of discipleship. She slept in a sleeping bag most nights, leaving friends and the comforts of home behind. She reached down inside herself and discovered steel.
In sum, she left a young woman in search of herself and returned as a woman of God with a sturdy worldview, a compassionate heart, and a deep understanding of community – along the way, as a by-product, she found herself.
Today, her first day back, we’ll unpack her backpack and begin unpacking her stories. We’ll sip lattes at Starbucks, stuff a turkey, throw a football on the lawn, and look at pictures. We’ll put on loud music and dance.
Talia put everything we call valuable at risk and amazed us all along the way. She and her teammates are heroes. In 45 World Racer homes around the country, it’s a day of triumph – of dreams brought to a floral and scintillating reality. We’ve been waiting a year for this day. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving a day early at the Barnes house.
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Seth, What a wonderful description of your girl. If we all could be so selfless, loving, and inspiring… what an example she is. I love the photos too. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving together again.
How did you get her to participate in this wonderful experience ? I ,too have a 17 year old daughter who is so inibited and does not want to experience anything beyond the house walls. I have been praying….. do you have any suggestions. I pray that she would follow the Lord footsteps one day and step out into his marvelous mercy and grace. i have been on several STM trips but it excites to be more like Jesus every time I come back. PRAISE THE LORD….I must continue to pray and fast for my daughter. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Your daughter is a beautiful woman of God.
Not to mention she left a piece of herself on the Great Wall of China forever!!!
Dance long with your family, Talia, you deserve it… love you, welcome home!
Welcome home, Talia! We can’t wait to see you. Love you guys. Happy Thanksgiving [we’re celebrating early here too]!
Yeah! My baby’s home!
yeah thats my sis
Welcome Home, Dear One.
Looking forward to hearing stories in person someday.
Love you.
why am i crying?
the writing is engaging…
the story inspiring…
thank you Lord for the courageous encouragers who go to the front lines
… i am cheering !!!
though you gave many a home in your arms along the way, welcome back to your home.
may you find rest… and peace.
Glad she is home safe and sound. God is good. Happy Thanksgiving.
Iam very glad to hear that you are safe.our Godis good all the time. Have a nice thankgiving.
Iam very glad to hear that you are safe.our God is good all the time Talia!!. Have a nice thankgiving! love you.
Iam very glad to hear that you are safe.our God is good all the time Talia!!. Have a nice thankgiving! love you.
thanks everyone – it’s great to be loved and to be able to love! have a great Thanksgiving.
I love you talia! I’m a fan. seth, maybe you can give her an extra hug for me…Oh yeah, I also have her coffee drip thingy. She can some to Iowa if she wants it:)
Allison,
I’d be happy to have my 19 year-old email her and encourage her. If you’re interested, let me know how you want to set it up.
seth
Talia,
We’re thanking God for the gift that He gave us all when He created you. Can’t wait to see you and hear your stories!
Much love
so cool
happy thanksgiving!