As I sit here typing, I hear AnnElise in her bedroom loudly singing and clapping to Patty Cake, Oh God you are my God, ABC's, and Jesus Loves Me interchangeably. Its a routine that we hear most nights after we put her to bed. She doesn't go to sleep quietly. Some nights she talks to her animals and yells "no" at them over and over and sometimes she's yelling that at us. She'll go on and on yelling, "Mommy! NOoooo!" and switch out Mommy for Daddy or add in Hardy. Its really cute to me. She's so content talking and singing to herself. I know I say this all of the time, but she really does have such a sweet spirit.
AnnElise does not always exude her sweet spirit especially during errands to the grocery store. We were at Kroger yesterday when we passed up those huge carts with driving cars in the front. The carts at Kroger are not great (the ones a Publix don't feel like a bus so I never mind using it and AE can't climb out of it). They are low to the ground with a buckle that AnnElise can get out of repeatedly so we always get a regular one even when I have both of the kids. When we passed up the fun cart AnnElise threw a fit ALL through the store! I knew I couldn't make her happy so we hurried along and only got 4 things. Two different people who work for Kroger brought her a sucker and stickers and she was happy. Hardy doesn't ever mind. He's usually content and doesn't know much of a difference, for now. The employees talked and smiled at them. Hardy was eating it up and giggling, and AnnElise just kept on eating her sucker with no sign of a smile. Not everybody gets to see AnnElise's sweet spirit. Sometimes they see her tired, stubborn spirit. I'm happy to see both. I appreciate it and love her more wholly for it.
Just tonight, she had me in tears as she threw out prayer requests. She mentioned EVERY single person on Daniel's side of the family and a couple from my side, as well as Daniel, Hardy and me. Here's the surprise, AnnElise even remembered to pray for Hannah's belly baby, a baby girl due in Sept. I'm shocked that she was listening to me when I told her about Hannah having a girl and even wanted to include her in prayer. Sometimes AnnElise's tired, stubborn spirit wears thin on my nerves after a day of tantrums, but her sweet spirit always wins when its time for prayer, Bible story, and singing.
