2022 - What a whirlwind of a year. God has pruned my branches this year. Removing the dying pieces to make room for the living blooms to come. 1. After 5 years as foster parents, we celebrated the official adoption of our son and daughter. This is the first time our home has not been an open foster home, and it’s been a bittersweet but necessary season for our family. 2. Losing my mom has been the most searing pain I’ve ever felt. I know there is glory to be revealed in the suffering, and that is the hope I cling to. 3. God moved our family to the Nashville area as JR and I both joined the @cotcspringhill family. I also felt the Lord press me to pause and take a step back from releasing any music on my own. This has given me space to champion friends’ projects, serve in my local church, and experience more intimacy with the Lord. I cannot create music for His people if I’m not first meeting him in the secret place, alone. Looking forward to new music this year. 4. I watched my husband heal and grow in some beautiful ways. I’m so proud of Jr and all he has accomplished this year. What a father and friend he is! 5. We welcomed our son, Samuel! Last December, jr and I prayed that God would bless my womb so that my mom could see me pregnant while she was still healthy. God answered that prayer and my mom got to see my big round belly before he called her home. 🥺 6. So many other blessings I can’t count. Our family. Our friends. God’s provision. This year has truly stretched us, and I’m expectant for the year to come.

My mom and I loved to daydream at the beach together. I’ve been thinking often about the many moments we shared together at Tybee. The wind blowing her beautiful hair, brushing strands across her warm cheeks. Drops of wisdom seeping into her deep belly laugh. I would do anything to have one more day of sandy toes with my mom. At my mom’s funeral, one of her best friends shared about grief being like the waves. I’ve mulled it over throughout these past few months, and I couldn’t agree more. Grief is so similar to the ocean. One day you are fine. You’re standing on the shore and the water is gently lapping at your feet. The warmth of the sun is setting and dancing across your face. Then in a moment, without notice, a huge wave comes crashing in and knocks you into the water. It pulls you under. The weight is so heavy - it feels like you can’t breathe. But then the ocean graciously spits you out, and once again you’re looking at the beautiful sunset and feeling ok. Waves of grief come in unexpectedly. It’s walking past someone wearing the same perfume she wore. It’s hearing a mother and daughter laughing at your favorite coffee shop. It’s calling her number and waiting for her to pick-up but suddenly you remember she won’t. What I would do to hear that “hey baby”, one more time. I’m learning it’s good to pen these feelings. I’m not the only one grieving in this world, and maybe you needed to read this. I hope you find the sunset again.

Asked my friend to help me write a song for my mom who is fighting cancer. Believing He is greater than all sickness and for her healing, but if not God is still good. Maybe you need to hear this too 🧡 #worship #songwriting #healing

Happy 3rd Birthday Tia Grace Benton!! 🥹🧡 Tia, you are every bit of your name. Grace upon grace. What a gift you are! You are kind, compassionate, fiery, love a good laugh, and a professional cheese cube eater. We are so thankful that God’s plan for you included us! May the Lord bless you and keep you, all of your days Tia Grace.

Today you are 5. 🥹 I still remember the phone call from our caseworker almost 3 years ago, asking if we had room for a precious little boy. We were taking a “break” from foster care but the Lord knew that you were meant to be ours. I thank God for his sovereign plan over your life, Emmanuel. I thank God for your birthmother. I praise Him for the testimony that is being woven throughout the days of your life. I declare that you are an overcomer, in Jesus Name. My sweet boy. Let’s go find some bugs that make me scream! 😂

Powerful moment from service this morning. The King of Glory was in the room. All of my sin nailed to the cross All of Your love there on the cross All of my shame nailed to the cross Thank you JESUS #KingJesus #worship #spontaneousworship

Hewwo everybody! It’s been a month off of social media, and here I am with some photos and also some nuggets of knowledge I learned about myself. A few days into this digital detox, I learned that I use social media to cope from basically any stressful or sad situation. I caught myself trying to scroll on Realtor.com because it was the only app I hadn’t deleted yall! 😂 Without social media and Netflix as distractions - I read books, I played with my kids and made really messy crafts, I wrote songs from the deep banks of grief and didn’t worry about what people would think in a 90 second reel, I rode in my Toyota with my old dog and 90s country blaring, I made space for the voice of the Lord where I would usually try to fill it. There’s a photo in here of me sitting in a hammock with hot coffee spilled on my pants. I was sitting in my favorite spot (my parent’s back porch) and spilled my hot coffee all over myself. I was frustrated but then I realized that this was a picture of how I’ve been doing life lately. So caught up in an error that I rush to fix, and miss the beauty of being fully present. The beauty of embracing flaws and imperfection because that’s the only way to grow. Savoring the book through the symphony of tantrums. Letting the sticky little fingers hold my face. Playing the song for someone before it’s done. I’m going to live more this year. It might look messy but I believe my Father will delight in it.

Jesus is Risen! 🪨☀️ Honestly, our kiddos were barely holding it together for this pic but they were such troopers this weekend. I’m so thankful for all of our kidcity helpers who make it possible for JR and I to serve the Lord together. What a weekend at @cotcspringhill 🙌🏼

Photo dump of life lately. Blessed and thankful.

Celebrating 8 years of marriage with my best friend! I can genuinely say I love you now more than I ever have, JR. My safe place to land. My encourager. My partner in the trenches. I’m convinced that God made you with me in mind. If there’s any advice I could give, it would be to choose to forgive daily. Don’t let the little things build up. Those little things can turn into mountains of bitterness quickly. Younger Anna should have said sorry a lot more. Thank you God for growth, and JR’s patience over the years. I love you baby! 🧡

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭84:10‬ ‭ Worthy is Your Name 🧡 #worship #KingJesus

Happy Birthday to my jr benton. We met at 18 and 19, and I had no idea that I was hitting the jackpot. You are kind and slow to anger. Your hazel eyes still make me melt. You are the most amazing father. You are an incredible friend. You are generous. You are a good time. You are patient. I wuv you, babe! 🧡