In life, so often we think we know it all. Really.

Before I married my husband, I was always very honest about having children. I let him know from the start that I wanted at least four. He always seemed perfectly agreeable.

My husband grew up in a family of two kids, him and his sister. Once our eldest two were born, we had a girl, and a boy. A son, and a daughter/ At this time, he let me know that he was perfectly happy with the two we had, and as far as he was concerned, our family was complete. Needless to say, I was a little miffed at the idea (little miffed is putting it nicely, in case you didn't know. lol)

We argued a bit, but finally I said, "You know what? I'm not going to argue with you about this. I know that if we are meant to have four children, we WILL have four children. If God wants us to have FIVE children, He'll find a way!"

Truer words have never come out of my lips. 6 years later, after never arguing about it again, I gave birth to our fourth AND fifth baby.

Her middle name was to be Blessing, because that's what she was, and is. The blessing we never planned on, the blessing we didn't even know we wanted, yet the blessing that brings SO much joy into our lives daily. She's one of those 'perfect' children. She rarely ever argues, or makes a fuss. She's always been that way, right since birth. Even in the womb, she was squashed all backwards because her sister was sprawled out in there, well as sprawled out as you can be with a sister next to you in the womb. lol

When she was born, she had a very large mark on one leg, where her other pressed hard against it while she was growing inside in that tight space.

When it was feeding time, she always waited patiently for her turn, even as an infant! Daddy could soothe her while she waited for her turn. Her sister always had to go first, always. lol Her sister is getting much better at waiting though, and is learning patience.

One time when they were about a year old and had been moved into their own room, I sat nursing and rocking her twin sister one night while she lay quietly waiting in her crib. I prayed to God and told Him that it wasn't fair that her sister was ALWAYS getting the attention, simply because she demanded it. I felt God telling me, very clearly, that I was not to worry, her time would come. That I was to take care of the child that needed me at THAT time, and not to worry about the inconsistencies of the attention spent on each one, each day.

Sure enough, now they are 9.5 years old, and 'big sister' doesn't demand much attention at all anymore. She's quite happy to be busy gathering and collecting things, exploring insects, doing lots of writing, drawing and reading. Where as "Blessing" is a very 'there' child. She LOVES to be right 'there', always by my side or her Daddy's side, or even her brother's side or her twin sister's side. She's always helping, always hugging, and always, ALWAYS, conversing. She loves to chit chat, about anything and everything and she's not selfish in her chit chat. She'll talk all about anything that interests you, as much as things that interest her. I find that quite impressive at such a young age. She's all about everyone, not just about herself. I love that about her. She's teaching me lots in life, how to become less selfish, less self centered.

Don't get me wrong, this post isn't saying she's more of a blessing then our other four children. ALL our children are blessings, ALL of them! Each one in their own ways. God made them all special, and He made them all perfect, in their own ways, in His way. I love them all equally, not one is more special then the other. However, Blessing is the 'extra' blessing we never even knew we wanted, but God knew we needed.

Speaking of being special, the way God created us. He spoke something to me just yesterday as I was pondering why it is that I continue to do that which I do not want to do, yet that which I want to do, I do not do... (sound familiar?)

He spoke directly to my heart and said,

"Stop trying to change yourself, simply BETTER who you already are."

God is good... ALL the time.