Blessings

Hello. My name is Anne...and I am a control freak.

...(I think this is where you all say: Hello, Anne)

Ok. There, I have said it. For those of you who know me...even if only for a short while, I'm sure this comes as a complete shock. If I could give you some insight into my crazy mental world for just a few minutes:

1. I spent several hours trying to decide whether or not to create my most recent blog background using my own digital scrapbooking software, or to scrap my pride and choose one from some of the very talented blog sites online. Obviously, the online people won...(but only because it was after midnight and I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to hit the Photoshop icon)...but I did do my own header :)

2. I get my panties in a bunch and fret like a mother hen over just about anything that requires me to give up control in a given situation...how do you like that mental image?

3. It has taken me almost 45 minutes just to START typing this blog entry because it HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!!! :)

4. Please, don't help me...I promise I can do it ALL myself.

...tell me, am I the only one who is like this?

But I am desperately trying to learn to let go...it's going VERY slow...I have been this way for an extremely long time, after all.

It's funny, because I pray for the ability to give up control to The One who controls it all, and have the faith to know that His plan is in place. Unfortunately what I've learned is that God does not send faith down from heaven in a lightning bolt to our brains...I know because I've prayed for this too.

Instead, He gives us "opportunities" to have faith..."opportunities" to throw our hands up in the air and say, Ok, Lord, this one is all yours! And recently, God has been giving me LOTS and LOTS of "opportunities". Or rather, beating me over the head in the hopes that I will take advantage of these "opportunities".

Clearly, it has taken me a while to figure this out....like I said, I'm learning!

I thank the Lord everyday for a husband who helps to keep me grounded in the reality that I cannot be in charge all the time, and that I was never REALLY the one in charge in the first place. I also have three sweet and precious little kiddos that remind me of the very same thing with their crazy antics, tantrums, silliness, and wonderment, EVERYDAY.

So, instead of worrying about all the things I could worry about, I am stealing an idea from a bloggy friend of mine (thank you K!), and will be listing all the amazing, wonderful blessings that God has given to me....one blog post at a time.

Blessing #1: Emily

Emily, my monkey moo, the big sister, lover of frogs, centipedes, roly-poly's, lizards, and just about anything else that crawls around in the grass. She loves singing, swimming, gymnastics, eating crab legs (yes, it's true), playing outside, and anything that might involve ice cream.

She is very independent and self-confident, which I LOVE about her, and is such a champion for God at the ripe old age of five it is awe-inspiring. She is absolutely not afraid to tell you exactly what she believes in. She is hilarious, cracks me up with the brutally honest things that tend to come out of her mouth. Her heart is so sweet and loving, she wants nothing more than for us to be proud of her...which we are more than she will ever know!

She has just embarked on that new and scary journey (for mom and dad as well!) called school, and is doing so great. Kindergarten has been a blast for her so far, and although she comes home everyday and claims to have had amnesia for the entire 7 hours she was there...I know better.

My prayer is that she always remembers who she is and what she believes in, and what a blessing she is in our lives. We love you so much, baby girl!!