Here is the next entry in Alexis' journal. It was the next to the last one and I wish I could find more. She didn't date this one, it came after 1/11/12 and before 2/22/12 because that is the date of her last entry.

All I know is after she started working  at the church she felt better about herself and her life . That makes me happy. She was so happy to get this job at the church and she did what she had to do. It was a hard job, she cleaned the church: rooms, windows, toilets, and whatever needed to be cleaned. It was hard physical work but hard work builds character and you can see by her writing that she felt good about becoming responsible.

Thanking God that she got this job, it was the platform for the change in her life. There were times she would cry to me that it was hard and she didn't like cleaning toilets and I would just tell her I was proud of her and to keep doing the best she could and things would get better, it might take awhile but it would happen. God would bless her if she was humble  and if her heart was in the right place, a place of gratitude for the job she had , our attitude is so important. 

She was truly thankful for this opportunity even though is was so very hard and  she loved the women she worked with, she was even learning Spanish.

At her Memorial Service over 20 people showed up from First Baptist Allen to remember Alexis and I will never forget them hugging me with tears in their eyes letting me know how much they thought of her. She said it best " they see the best in me"  She had been in a rut for awhile, we all go through ruts in our lives but she had emerged from that slump having hope about her future. I would always tell her I knew God had a great plan for her life and would claim Jeremiah 29:11 for her as I recited it to her.

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I can tell by her writings that she listened soaking in God's words and promises. Things were always  hard for Alexis and she tried so hard but now there is no more pain or sorrow because she is in Heaven probably amazed at the impact her life and death have made on so many lives.  I tried to let her know how special she was and now I know she believes me and sees herself through God's eyes knowing she was more than the choices that she  made,  she was more than the sum of her past mistakes,  and she was more than the problems she created,  She was remade and then called home.

She must have been having some trouble with her friends at this time, as we all do. But I know those issues got better because I think she was coming to a realization at a very young age that it shouldn't matter was "man" thinks about us we need to be concerned about what God thinks about us. I believe God was so very proud of his beautiful, spirited, strong willed, loving, daughter. All I know is I admire her.

We just never realized her future on this earth would be so short. Thanking God for my time with her and so thankful HE sent HIS Son so we could have eternal life. Knowing I will see her again brings me such happiness. Our time on this earth is a blink of an eye compared to eternity. God is so GOOD !!!