Eight is NOT Enough!

May. 12, 2006 - What's New Here

I got up early this morning just so I could take a few minutes and write something for all you poor, pathetic people who have nothing better to do than ckeck everyday to see what is new in this neck of the woods. I won't say your names but you know who you are Karen and Tammey. Just remember, you asked to know.

I have spent the last week chasing little ones to the bathroom so that when "nature explodes", we are at least on the toilet and not the living room floor. Just so you don't think that is all I have done, I have also washed bedding, cleaned toilets and pails, disinfected and educated the children on staying away from the sick ones at all cost. This has been a little challenging considering it has poured for a week straight. (If this isn't enough information, we could discuss my dogs disgusting eating habits that have banished him to the barn:) My mother in law came up earlier this week to bring the much needed sick supplies. You know, ginger-ale, popsicles, lysol, gas masks, etc. She drove in the yard and left everything on the front step and left. And people say we are past the days of quarentine. What ever happened to helping out those in need and bearing one another's burdens???? The sixth victim came down with this bug during the night.(The real reason I am up early--the truth always comes out!) I already have his bedding in washing and he is now sleeping in my bed contaiminating my room all over again. The things we do for our children. Only three more to go and we are free and clear!!!!!!

As I mentioned earlier, it has rained heavily for the last week, off and on. However, even in all this rain God has brought something good. I looked out this morning to see this rain has produced some beautiful blossoms in Caroline's flower garden. Isn't that just like our Lord. Only He can take something dreary, soggy and miserable and make something lovely out of it. Just imagine what He can do with our lives.

Today I have to balance my husbands checkbook. You can only appreciate the magnitude of this task if you know Kevin. For those of you who do, fall on your knees and beg God for wisdom and guidance and patience on my part.

We have been working on obedience training with the two youngest ones. It has gone quite well for the most part. Our two year old is now up to five minutes of quiet,still sitting in a chair. He is really funny and takes this quite seriously. If anyone uses the word chair, ie; clean the chair, move the chair, it's under the chair, etc; he makes a beeline to the nearest available chair and scrambles up like there is a mad dog after him. I just pray, noone ever uses the word in public.

The three middle boys, ages 5, 7, and 8, have taken over feeding the baby calves with the bottles. These bottles are huge and my five year old is not. The calves, like most of the animals at this funny farm, run free. Every morning and evening the children go outside with their big bottles and yell to the calves. If you are looking out the window you will see three little boys running as fast as they can for the front steps with three hungry calves hot on their trails. It is always good for a good belly laugh. They race to see who's calf eats the fastest. I think the current score buts Betsy in the lead with Angel and Baby close behind. And peole say this isn't school. Where else are children going to learn how to take care of other's needs, consider others above themselves, and the most important lesson, watch your butt when you are walking.

Surely, this is enough information for you people. I want you to know, I know the real reason you visit me here. It's just so you can read about my crazy, abnormal life and thank God it is not you living it!!!!!!! Hey, but thats okay, we all have to do our parts to brighten the day for others. Have a wonderful, sick-free day and thank God for all the blessings in your life. Don't forget the rain.

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Apr. 29, 2006 - I'm Back!

wow! I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted. I apologize to the faithful few who have continued to visit me and wonder about my where-a-bouts. The truth is, I have simply been consumed by a web of fatigue that has taken control of my life and I am just now breaking free. Homeschool is going very well and everyone is healthy. We are all enjoying the newness of spring and waiting for warmer weather. We have added three baby calves and a new lamb to our little farm this spring. Chicks are on their way. It is time for the day to begin, and its another busy one, so I will stop for now. I hope to write something a little more intelligent in the next couple of days. Have a wonderful day in Christ.

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Mar. 28, 2006 - Spring

Is it spring at your house? How do you know? Are the flowers starting to bloom? The grass starting to grow? At our house, we know it is spring by the amount of dirt everywhere, better yet, the mud everywhere. However, I am trying to keep an attitude of contentment and not complain about the overwhelming mess everywhere. So, I wrote a poem last night to remind me to be thankful for everything, even dirt. I thought I would share it with you:

SPRING
The dirt is on the perlins,
on the mantle, on the floor,
give me just a minute,
I'm sure I'll find some more

Muddy handprints on the door
Muddy pawprints on the tile
I really should clean the floor
but I think I'll wait awhile

For surely if I scrub the floors
and get it clean inside
3 dogs, 2 cats, 8 children,
will run inside to hide.

The children went outside to play
they should have stayed in here,
for now they're little mud-monsters
with dirt stuck in their ears.

I suppose I should put them in the tub
but I fear I'll clog the drain,
Perhaps I'll set them on the step
and simply pray for rain.

I thank you Lord, for the Spring
for the dirt that you have sent
I promise to be thankful,
and in everything, Content.

Have a wonderful, dirt-filled day!!!!!

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Mar. 21, 2006 - Birthday Tribute

Today is my sister's birthday. I won't tell you her age, because that isn't proper and all, but I will tell you I was born on her second birthday and I turned 37 today. I was her best gift that year and as a present to me she gave me silverware. Of course, this was thrown at me in my bassinet, but it was the thought that counts. Since that time, she became very protective of me. As young girls we shared a bedroom and she would tell me to crawl past the bedroom window so that the witch that lived in the abandend house across the road would not see me and kill me. Not many sisters would care that much about their little sisters, do you think?

Besides being so protective, she was also very proud of me. She would brag about my cleaning abilities when Mom and Dad would go to town, then she would tell Mom she did the cleaning.

When it came to babysitting, she was the best. Her favorite way to watch me was to help me climb the big Maple tree in the front yard and then leave me there until our parents came home.

However, now that we are grown she has become my best friend. She was there to encourage me to homeschool when most people thought I was crazy. She is also one of the few who loved to hear about any new pregnancies. Actually,she laughs hysterically everytime I tell her a new one is on the way. I have actually helped her spiritual relationship with God as she is able to repeatedly thank Him it is me and not her expecting again.

All kidding aside, I thank God everyday for the relationship I have with my older sister and for the love of God I am able to see in her live. She is a blessing to all of us.

I love you with all my heart Tammy, have a wonderful birthday.

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Mar. 17, 2006 - More on the Laundry Monster

Okay, so I can't get the laundry monster off my mind. The children always tell me I overkill everything, but the truth of the matter is, I have so very little brain, and if something is consuming it, I must free it up for more important things, you know, like how to use knives, how to do drive a car, etc.

Now, that we have determined we do not want to tame the ugly beast I wanted to talk about key points on how to get the dragon to leave your home.

Step One--Know your enemy. This beast after all is really just Satan trying to take away our joy and thanksgiving. Instead of being thankful for the eight little bodies , one medium body, and slightly large body(this is not me, give me a few months before you refer to me as large), that are healthy enough to dirty all these clothes, we find ourselves complaining for the extra work and mess. This is not from God, of course, as He tells us to give thanks for everything. I am not certain, but I believe that includes laundry. (Although probably not ironing!)

Step Two--Organization. An organized and functional laundry room will frustrate the little demon and he won't want to stay as,with all beasts, he thrives in messes and chaos. My laundry room is located in the back corner of the basement. Above my washer and dryer hangs a rod with coathangers to hang things as soon as they come out of the dryer. This isn't actually a rod, but a sapling cut from the back yard. I like to keep things rustic you know. Next to the washer and dryer is an ironing board with iron. This is not merely for putting things on but for ironing. I also have six white kitchen garbage cans that are labeled: Work, darks, brights, whites, lights, and towels. If you live in a town with a little more to choose from you could actually get a differant color for each load, our Wal-mart carried white. Even the younger children can sort the laundry. If you put pictures on each basket, they like to make it a game. In the corner stands a stack of large stacking drawers labeled with each child's name. These are their laundry baskets. Last, is a little dish of small colored elastics that I use to match socks. (These are in every room of the house and my apron pocket, all socks are washed,dryed and sorted this way.) If you don't have a laundry room, I am afraid there is no hope for you and I can't help. Check another site for wisdom.

Step Three--Be diligent. In the morning, I start a load and then set the timer,(which I carry in my apron pocket as well because I cannot hear the buzzer upstairs.) When the load is done, I move to the dryer, without the timer, I get sidetracked and it's afternoon before I get back to it. My particular dryer has a wrinkle gaurd, (Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!!!), just in case I happen to be busy and can't get to it. When a load is done drying I turn on the iron as I open the door. I shake out and neatly fold or hang up everything as it comes out of the dryer. If something needs to be ironed or rubbed off, I do it then or the children will outgrow it before I ever get back to it. Now, before you get the idea that I don't like ironing let me clarify. Ironing is actually my second favorite job. My first being, banging my head against the wall until I pass out. (HaHa, I read this a couple of years ago and I still laugh hysterically everytime I hear it.) At the end of each laundry cycle, individual piles are placed in the appropriate baskets. The children empty their baskets and hanging items in the afternoon as part of their work schedules. (I keep the five youngest's ironing on a seperate rod in the laundry room. On Thursday we prepare their clothes for church and hang them upstairs).

Now tell me, what monster would want to live with such inane organization. Even my children don't want to live around it.

I cannot neglect to say as well, that a lot of people use this time to pray for their family. I find that God meets me more in the laundry room than anywhere else in the house. Maybe it's because this is the one room that the children will not come looking for you. They could have a limb hanging from a piece of skin and they will go three miles to the nearest neighbor before they will step foot in this room. You don't suppose they are afraid they will be asked to help??? Have a great day and enjoy your laundry.

( I just finished reading this and had to edit. Before you get the idea that I am always this organized and on top of things, let me tell you, I am not!! Some days I can get very lazy and nothing gets done, the beast moves back in. I confess my sin, shoot the animal and get back up off my butt and go to work. (however, now I can call my laziness pregnancy:). Aren't you thankful for new days?)

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Mar. 15, 2006 - The Laundry Monster

I keep reading post about taming the laundry monster and I have to ask, "Why would anyoe want to tame this ugly beast?" Are we hoping to make a pet of the thing? I don't know about you, but I cannot figure out why anyone would want to keep this thing that is always making messes on my laundry room floor, eating all my free time and feeding the grumpy bugs that grow inside of me! I don't want to tame it, I want to shoot it!!!!!!!!

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Mar. 10, 2006 - Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!!!!!!!!!

We are having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!. It's been one year since we lost Caroline and God is sending us another blessing. All looks well, but we have a long road ahead of us. I would appreciate your prayers....oh, and WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mar. 8, 2006 - Missing the "good things" in life

It has come to my attention that there are people who feel that my children are missing out on life because I homeschool them. They seem to feel this most strongly in the case of my thirteen year old daughter. I have done a lot of soul-seaching and have decided that perhaps they are correct. No, really, listen, I'm all for homeschooling but what if there is some truth to what everyone is saying. I am a loving, devoted mother who wants what is best for her children, and what good mother would want to deprive their child from the "good things" in life.

I just read an article last night about a young 14-year old boy who was assigned a book to read for his English class. The book repeatedly used vulgar language, talked of a father's longings of incest, and how to commit suicide. What a shame, all my poor girl gets to learn in English is proper grammar and how to diagram a sentence. Sorry dear, for what you have missed.

There is currently a young girl, about my daughters age, at the local public school who is expecting her first baby. She really wanted an abortion but her mother said no, because she had already had two. Too bad my daughter is missing out.

Surely with all they are missing in life, there is no possible way they will ever grow up to be decent, hard-working, honest, God-fearing, productive assets to our community.

I guess some of us just really don't love our children. I mean, while other little 13 year old girls are living life this way, my poor daughter is stuck at home teaching three of her younger brothers elementary school. Here she only learns how to consider others, the value of a soft answer, how to be creative, lesson planning, problem solving, encouragement, organization and other boring, useless things that have absolutely no value in the real world. I guess that there is no reason for her to know how to cook, clean, do laundry, iron, bathe babies, sooth a child, handle sibling rivalry, bake bread, etc. Of course, in today's society we would never want our little girls to grow up to be good wives and mothers. They need a career to be whole and complete, don't you agree?

I know that she probably isn't very normal. Maybe she should go to a public school. How many thirteen year olds do you know who have a good attitude, respect her parents, get along with her brothers and actually enjoys the babies in the family. Definately not normal.

I hope that someday my children and others will realize that I love them too much to ever wish them to be normal. I hope they realize that the "good things" aren't of this world but of our Fathers'world.

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Mar. 8, 2006 - Goodwife

The children and I have been studying the early settlers of our country. I especially liked learning that the English settlers in the early 1600's referred to the women of the house as "goodwife". Of course, this was providing that she was a good cook, mom, fire-tender, cleaner, worker, etc. I couldn't wait to inform my husband of this wonderful term when he arrived home. Being the smart man that he is it didn't take him long to see that I would like to have this title of "goodwife". (Not much gets by him

. Feeling this was settled, I was feeling pretty smug with my new title. However, pride goeth before a fall, and I soon had a fall. I commenced to burn his supper because I was checking for comments on the computer. The earlier "goodwives" didn't have such distractions mind you, so this should have been overlooked, don't you think?????

I probably would have been shown grace but I failed to make the needed phone calls for him and didn't have the pants hemmed he asked me to do six months ago.

. Maybe tomorrow I will be a "goodwife". It could happen!!!!!

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Mar. 1, 2006 - Warning!!!!!

Do not, I repeat, do not put three boys in the tub together. I don't know what I was thinking.

I hope the water will recede in a couple of days and I will find the bathroom. Check back for an update.

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Mar. 1, 2006 - It's A Caroline Day

Some days no matter how hard I try I can't get her out of my mind and I seem to stand still in time and pain, unable to move. Today is one of those days.

A little over a year ago, my oldest and only daughter and I went to visit my mid-wife for an ultra-sound. Didd was absolutely convinced that God was sending us her long awaited sister, Caroline Grace. However, after seven boys, we were more inclined to believe another boy was to bless our family. Wonder of Wonders, Didd was right and I cried with joy for two days. She had to do all the announcing because I couldn't stop the tears every time I thought of our little Caroline finally coming. I had been planning and dreaming of her for twelve years, and like a long awaited reunion with a loved one I could not contain my joy and excitement. I wasn't the only one. A few weeks later I called Didd at home and asked what she was doing and she had put 11 month old Caleb into Caroline's waiting pink dress from Mom. Exactly one month later our whole lives changed. On February 25, 2005, Caroline went home to be with Jesus. Seven weeks before she was to come home. That was a year ago. Since then everything has been in Caroline time. Birthdays without Caroline, Holidays without Caroline, Homeschool without Caroline....The world around me seems to go on without her, so why is mine standing still? How can everyone act like she was never a part of us, how can they not feel her and yearn you her as I do? I know in my heart that friends and family try to share my pain. I know they love me and Caroline but some days I feel so alone. Some days satan attacks and tells me God took Caroline home because I didn't deserve her, I wasn't a good enough mom. I know these are lies of the emeny and they must be rebuked. How he attacks!!! But in the midst of all this pain, I have a redeemer who holds me in the hollow of his hand. When I was holding my little girl and I couldn't find the words to even cry out to God, I know He was there. Even now, when I don't want to face a new day, I know God knows my pain. I can see His hand in so many things, "Because of Caroline". I know she lived every day she was suppose to live. I know that she is safe in the arms of Jesus and He controls all things. I know He doesn't make mistakes and above all, I know that I will have a lot of Caroline days.

( For whoever is reading this, please forgive my ramblings. Sometime I just need to talk about her. Sometimes I just need to hear her name and say it.)

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Feb. 28, 2006 - Basic Training

Yesterday was the first day of basic training. I had noticed that the children had gotten slack with their work, schedule, manners and service so we decided to take some time to retrain. So far, it has gone real well. We have fine tuned our schedule, implementing personal alarm clocks. We have set four key goals throughout the day that earns the children tokens to be used for various free-time and activities. I have always tried to have the older children serve the younger children before themselves, this is usually very nice, but somewhere we have gotten lazy with it so we have clamped back down on that as well.

This morning everyone was dressed and at the breakfast table by 7 o'clock. After a breakfast of eggs, toast, hotchocolate and o.j. everyone got their work done quickly and efficiently. Before school started the farm chores were done, wood box filled, both fires fed, pets taken care of, entire first floor vacuumed and cleaned, including the kitchen, all the beds were made the family room was cleaned and vacuumed, personal devotions and family devotions were done and everyone actually got dressed and had their teeth brushed, faces washed and hair combed. If this keeps up I might let the boys grow out their crew cuts.

We also cleaned both bathrooms and did a load of laundry. Today is good, tomorrow you may have to dig me out from beneath the woodpile, but God says to not worry about tomorrow, so today is good, right.?

We are back to school after a little break and it seems to be running much smoother. Everyone seems to be more motiviated and focused. Maybe it is just me who is more focused but all in all I am pleased with the results. Of course, this could change tomorrow.

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Feb. 24, 2006 - Homeschool-Noschool

Posted in Homeschool

Some days I wonder if I am really a homeschool mom or a noschool mom. We do really well for a while and then seem to hit a glitch where we can't seem to accomplish anything. I read other moms telling about what they are learning, field-trips, projects and I can easily feel defeated. Some days our schooling consist of housework and baking bread, battle intervention and problem solving. I am probably in the middle of a severe case of spring fever. Who knows? I usually follow the Rod and Staff studies, which I love, but on a typical day, Caleb,(almost 2) can undo just about anything we seem to have accomplished and throw a caleb-wrench in the whole organized operation. For instance, in the middle of Math, he found the milk,(inadvertently left on the table) and poured out half a gallon on the table and floor. He then proceeded to give all his "moonies" a bath. (Stuffed lions. He has two and then we bought himtwo more for Christmas as an emergency back up when the first two were missing or in the laundry.) I found him in the bathroom with all four moonies in the sink and water covering the entire floor. I could go on all day with examples but if this is homeschooling with a two-year old I am ready to quit. Not really, I know God is my strength. I guess I am having a pity party. Want to come? I keep repeating to myself, "They that wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength and mount up with wings of eagles." Lord, I sure could use those wings right about now.

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Feb. 10, 2006 - Insanity is hereditary

Tell me, how long does it take to clean out a vehicle? I sent Jonathan out a week ago and he still hasn't come in. I went out once and he was sleeping in the front seat. I cannot for the life of me figure out how he can spend a day out there and find nothing to clean.
"Is it all clean Jonathan?"
"Yes Mom"
"Good, where did you put the garbage?"
"What garbage?"
"The garbage in the front seat Jonathan."
"What front seat?"
I swear this is not an exaggeration. And my husband is no help because when I complain he asks, "Well, where do you think he gets it?" I don't know Kevin, mine is hereditary, I get it from the kids, Mom said so."

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Feb. 10, 2006 - Am I normal?

Okay, So maybe I am crazy. Maybe everyone doesn't feel the need to color-code their children or their clothesline, but I really am getting better. I no longer have to take the clothes down if I find a shirt when I am in the skirt section. I just wait and hang it up in the next load. Thats improvement, right? Am I normal? I know it may be a little unrealistic to expect everything to be just so with eight children, but I can't seem to stop spacing my coathangers exactly half an inch apart when I walk by the closet, which of course is color-coded. I am big white.(Caleb is little white as we have run out of colors) Did you ever realize how hard it is to find multiple colors for things. It was fine with the first four, pink, red,blue and green, yellow is even okay, but do you know how hard it is to find orange. I may sound like a lost cause but the Bible says that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, so I will get better. I probably will always color-code though because it really makes life easier, unless of course, my red child is wearing blue, and then I don't know who he is.

The Bible also says to let others know your weakness so they can pray for you. So............

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Feb. 6, 2006 - Potty Training

We just finished potty training Caleb a couple of months ago. We were a couple of months behind schedule with him, but I was waiting, hoping he would at least learn to SAY "pee" and "poop" before he learned to DO it. The last time I trained a non-speaking toddler to the potty, I found it somewhat embarrassing to take him to the church nursery and say, "If he flaps his arms like a bird, it means he has to go to the bathroom." However, it retrospect, that is far more desirable than Calebs sign-langauge which includes clucking like a chicken, holding on to his "private area" and dancing. The problem with this is that he has found it to be so effective he uses it whenever he fails to get our attention or wants a story read. The up side of this is that there are very few grumpy bugs left in the house as Caleb is always sure to bring a smile to your face, the down side is, I don't dare to take him in public. Perhaps God is trying to teach me a lesson in humility.

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Feb. 5, 2006 - Introduction

Hello, I am just starting out in this. It is all very new and a little scary but Iam excited about the prospect of being able to share some of my everyday life. God has blessed me with a wonderful, patient husband of 14 years and eight energetic children. My oldest and only girl is Mary-Elizabeth(from this point on Didd). She is 13. It was my intention to continue on with girls, as I had always said I would have eight. This was God's first laugh and he commenced to send me seven boys. Paul is 12, Jonathan10, Benjamin 8, Matthew (Boo) 7,
Andrew 5, Nathan 3 and Caleb is 22 months.

Our children had been in a private Christian school for several years but we decided a little over a year ago to homeschool. The first year has been trial and errors but all in all a success.

It is my prayer and desire that somehow through this blogger I will be able to give God the glory for all He has done and continues to do in our lives. Although we like to believe we are quite normal, some seem to think there is something unusual about more than three children and they seem to think I have a story to tell. If you happen to agree, check back to learn more about this crazy family. I will post more as time allows. May you have a wonderful God-filled day.

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