this is tough

Momma looks like a maniac, and Sawyer's hair is out of control (as always) but we sure love each other. I really hope that we can hold onto the feelings we have for each other right now. Actually I hope it grows deeper as Sawyer & I grow & learn. I've been thinking about how to teach Sawyer so many different things; how to eat healthfully, how to love to be active, how to be kind and share, how to be honest in all she does, how to know how much her Heavenly Father loves her, how to receive answers to prayers, etc. I think I've realized that all I can do is teach her and set a good example (very important), but I've got to be able to give up the control that is so easy to want to have over your kids. You can't force them to learn these things, they are going to make tons of mistakes, and will definataley have to learn things by screwing up and dealing with the consequences. That's true parental love, being able to have the self-control to put aside your desire to force them to do right, and only guide them. That's the example that God has set for us. Think about it, don't you imagine any parent would have pulled out of the deal as they saw their child suffering like Christ did for us? But he knew that it would be a disservice of the hugest porportions to force any of us to do anything. To take away our free agency would be counterproductive. As a parent, that is probably the hardest thing we'll ever have to do, to sit by and watch as our kids make poor choices, knowing that it will cause them pain. Looking back though, I know I would never have become the person I am (who I kinda like) if my parents hadn't allowed me to make a certain number of mistakes (whether they actually knew about them or not). Because they have set such fantastic examples I was able to figure things out with before I really screwed things up. I can already tell that it's gonna be hard though.