Seriouisly-what is the big deal about having patience?

Since a was a VERY little girl when people would ask me about a trait that I did not like about myself, I would ALWAYS say-I have no patience. I get frustrated by slow processes, slow thinking, slow actions, slow people, slow movies and anything else you can think of that is not 100% efficient. As a result, I thrive in finding ways to make all chores and tasks done as quickly as possible. I think before I act, most of the time, but I also only give myself so long to think before I do something. But, for some reason-God has been trying to teach me patience OVER and OVER again. Right now it is dealing with HOURS of contractions EVERY day for a week with absolutely NO PROGRESS into labor. What is the point? I would have been fine to wait patiently for my scheduled c-section and not go through all of this pain. So-why do I need to have all of these contractions and not be able to do anything about them. With Annabelle's pregnancy, I was more than content to wait until things progressed but then the Drs kept telling me it would be ANY DAY because I was dilating (never felt a single contraction with her)--so I started to get inpatient. Now, the opposite is happening, I am having contractions and NO DILATION. Ridiculous!

Over the years there have been so many things that have happened in my life that I would say are teaching me patience-from jobs to relationships etc. etc. etc. I think about what all this is supposed to be good for and I can't think of the answer. I mean-really if we live with an eternal perspective, why do we need patience in heaven. We will have all the answers in moments and will not have to struggle with wanting something we can't have or even being frustrated. So-what is the reason that God cares if I have patience now....really....what is the big deal about having patience? And more importantly-when can I just finally stop struggling with everything that does not go as I think it will go.

I am so tired from not sleeping and am not in the mood for a life lesson right now! Frustration leads to impatience once again......story of my life :(

Easter!

Annabelle has an awesome book about an Easter Basket that she got last year for Easter. So this year I decided to try to recreate the colors in the basket so we could read it while she looked at the new treasures. Each item in the basket represents a part of the Easter story:

-The green is representing the palms that lay upon the ground for Jesus' arrival on Palm Sunday.

-The purple is representing the wine that Jesus and his disciples drank at the last Supper.

-The red is the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross-PRAISE HIS NAME!

-The Brown represents the dark place that was His grave.

-The white represents the bright Angel who said "HE IS RISEN".

-The yellow is like the bright sun that reminds us of this Easter and all that our Lord has done!

Annabelle's favorite was the white bunny that hops everywhere and the yellow bunny that is really bubbles! She has grown to LOVE bubbles!

We had a great morning eating breakfast and playing with the items in the easter basket. We then got dressed in her pretty easter dress and drove 45 minutes to church---just to get turned away from the service---we were the next to the last car to make it into the parking lot :( So we drove 45 minutes back home and waited until it was time to go to my grandparents house for Easter lunch. Annabelle was happy because I broke down and gave her a paci and blankie on the way home---9 months pregnant and a SCREAMING toddler don't go well for me so I decided it was an Easter treat! I wish she would decide that she can tolerate the car for more than 2 minutes without fussing-but after 2 yrs of this-I have all but given up on that dream!

We had a wonderful Easter lunch with the family at my grandparents house. Annabelle was entertained by lots of folks while we tried to play a game of Catan. The good news is that we have more family members hooked on the game-the bad news is that I lost the game! O well, it was worth it to have more people to play with!

I then spent the evening having contradations and thinking I was really going to get an Easter baby after all-but after 3 hrs, I decided it was just a tease and went to sleep. 10 more days of contradactions for nothing is going to get really old---Come on Maggie---Let me know you want to meet me as bad as I want to meet you!!!!!!

Annabelle' 2nd Birthday!

We had a wonderful time celebrating Annabelle's 2nd Birthday! We started the morning off by getting some pictures taken. Since I am 2 weeks away from delivering Maggie, we decided to get some "maternity" pics with me and Annabelle as well as her birthday pictures! They will not be ready until April 22nd so you will have to wait to see them, but they turned out really cute!

Then we went to meet Daddy for lunch, but this time Annabelle was OVER hungry and OVER tired so I can't say that the lunch was enjoyed by all-but Annabelle did LOVE seeing her Daddy in the middle of the day!

Shortly after Annabelle woke up from her nap, her birthday party quests starting to arrive and we had a WONDERFUL evening celebrating our little 2 yr old with family and friends! I made a couple of different kinds of pasta and then we had some cupcakes that all the kids seemed to really enjoy! I realized later-I never really got to eat the food or the cupcakes so I hope they were good :)

After eating, we opened presents....OH MY GOODNESS---this was a chore! I was Exhausted by the end of the experience but Annabelle seemed to have a great time discovering new treasures! It has been sooooooo fun the last few days watching her play with new toys! It is so neat to see what comes out of her personality when a new toy is given to her. She is pretty intense about figuring things out at first and then she starts to play and imagine. I love watching her. She has so many new spring clothes and Pjs and awesome "big girl" toys! THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping get her stocked for fun in the coming months!

She was so tired by the time she finally got to go to bed-but we had a great day celebrating her life and all that God has blessed us with in our lives! SO GRATEFUL for all that the gifts he bestows on us!

Which Dress???

Annabelle needs a fashion vote! Which dress do you like better as her Easter dress? This dress will also double as her 2 yr old picture dress so there is a lot of pressure to get the right one! :) - BTW-please pardon the tags-the loser has to be returned!

Things to do with a Box

We have been leaving a box in the living room for a while because Annabelle has been enjoying playing with it. Today, we videoed her favorites: