annesleyisms
Today on the way to gym, Annesley burst out with the declaration, “Mama, you are a hard woman.” I could barely contain my giggling because she sounded so happy about it and yet, being a hard woman doesn’t seem like something positive. This is how our conversation proceeded.
Annesley: Mama, you are HARD woman.
Me: What? A hard woman?
Annesley: Yes! I mean you started iFAMILY. You started gym. You are a hard worker.
Me: Oh! I see what you mean.
Annesley: That took a lot of effort! I mean look at how hard you have worked to create iFAMILY.
Me: Hmmm, why do you think I worked that hard?
Annesley: To help children learn and have fun?
Me: Yep. And because I love you. So, so much.
Annesley: Yes! And you wanted your kids to get exercise. And you too. But you don’t really get much anymore, do you?
I guess our many talks on effort, process, and determination (instead of results) have made it into her psyche.
Tonight for prayer she said, “Dear Heavenly Father, thank thee that we can be together as a family. Please help us to be guided. Please bless my mama to be healed. And my grandma. And please help us be kind and do what we need to do. And please help my cough. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Ahhh, so precious. I love this girl. So, so, so very much. She cracks me up, reaches the deep places of my heart with her happy, joyful spirit, and reminds me of the good things in life.
I'm Tracy, a mama with big dreams, crazy ideas, loads of laughter, an insatiable desire to learn, and enormous piles of laundry.
Oh my GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so aDORable!!!!!!!!!!! So how was gym? I prayed for a healing day for you, and it came in the form of an Annesleyism!
Gym went quite well, especially since I didn’t do anything but stand around and cough!
Tracy, I have been meaning to write you and tell you the same thing (though not in such a cute way)! I admire so much what you have built and what you continue to build in your family and community despite many challenges. I have started a commonwealth and tried (only sometimes successfully to build community, and it was one of the hardest things I ever did. I see so much wisdom and foresight and endurance in the way you have built ifamily and laid its foundation. I haven’t even seen the other things you’ve done but that alone is huge. I’m grateful to finally be part of the kind of community I envisioned and that you persevered. I am looking forward to getting to know you better but I already learn a lot from you. Praying you’ll continue to have strength for the hard things and that they do get easier!
P.S. I went dancing the other day! Thanks for inspiring me!
Oh Alysia! Thank you for these words. I am glad you can see the fruit! It has been a pretty sad transition to not be serving on the board and in the thick of things, but it is what God asked me to do at this time.
Dancing! Wahoo! So, so proud of you! Tell me more!