But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them. You must love God like a little child if you want to enter heaven.” Matthew 19:13-15
Since I started this blog (nearly two years ago), I’ve wanted to share this video. I’ve been waiting for the right moment and I think I’ve finally found it! I realize that the meaning this video has to me will never be able to be fully translated to anyone else; Nevertheless, I would love to at least try to explain! As I round the corner to my 25th birthday I, of course, go all sentimental and can’t help but think about where I was just one year ago. To say I was on the brink of disaster would be an understatement. I wasn’t in a great place. I had just moved back home to Michigan from my short stay in Texas, I was jobless and a little lost. Though I was no longer babysitting for the sweet girls in the video above regularly (like I did in my college days), I did babysit here and there and I actually spent my 24th birthday overnight babysitting. My time with the girls is always sweet. Whether there are tears or dirty diapers, the feeling of inner joy never fades. After my overnight babysitting weekend, I had some boy drama and with a build up of brokenness, I ultimately cracked. It led to the first post on my blog (see: It’s Ok to Not be Ok) that I opened up about what I was going through. Some real mental struggles that I wrote off as “not a big deal”. Well, as it turns out, they were a big deal and about one year ago I took the first step in the right direction to get myself to a better place. So what does all of this have to do with a video of happy babysitting memories?! I started babysitting when there were two girls and I “offically” stopped when there were four. I met my best friend Karrie, the beautiful mom of the four girls and was blessed with the gift of having Steve in my life. A busy husband and Dad, Steve has also taken me under his wing, looking out for me since my own Dad isn’t here to do so. As neighbors and friends, we continue to live A LOT of life together. We laugh, we cry and most importantly, we live in mutual understanding that together, we can get through anything. This video is special to me because I can promise you that without this family, I wouldn’t be who I am today. As for the little girls, they are my favorite reminder that we have a God who loves us and cares for us through it all! I am forever thankful for them and incredibly grateful to have a life long second family! Who in your life pushes you to be the absolute best version of yourself?!
Xoxo, Anna
p.s. I realize the video is incredibly long! Please don’t feel obligated to watch!