Aug. 9, 2009 - Home Making
We are well into our busy season and Darin and I are counting down the days until November. ;-) We are homebodies deep down and all the going is really stretching us! It's funny...in high school and college I was always extremely busy. I was one of those girls who was too busy to do much dating. I loved it. It was easy to juggle everything since I was a single gal. Now that we have five kids and one on the way, I've had to readjust my mental frame of mind to realize that it's okay to not be so busy with outside activities because I have replaced the outside stuff with my children, husband, homeschooling and housework. It's really sad to me to hear other mothers denigrate the importance of what there is to be done at home in favor of outside activities.
I love what J.R. Miller wrote in Home-Making:
"We are fast moving on through this world. Soon all that will remain of us will be the memories of our lives. No part of our work will then afford such a true test of our living as the memorials we leave behind us in our homes. No other work that God gives any of us to do is so important, so sacred, so far-reaching in its influence, so delicate and easily marred as our home-making. This is the work of all our life that is most divine. The carpenter works in wood, the mason works in stone, the smith works in iron, the artist works on canvas, but the home-maker works on immortal lives. The wood or the stone or the iron or the canvas may be marred, and it will not matter greatly in fifty years; but let a tender human soul be marred in its early training, and ages hence the effects will still be seen. whatever else we slight, let it never be our home-making. If we do nothing else well in this world, let us at least build well within our own doors."
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Jul. 16, 2009 - Bizzeee, bizzeee, bizzeee!
Darin and I are entering a time of life that we never truly realized we would be entering. We started out a very busy family. Co-Op, tons of church activities, playdates & etc. After two or three years of that whirlwind we were happy to get off. The negative impact all that had on our family was not what Darin and I were looking for. A lot of people might say it was "normal kid stuff." We don't think there has to be such a thing as normal kid stuff. So we went the total opposite way and have been accused on more than one occaision of sheltering our kids too much. So be it. We have been able to focus on other "normal human stuff" with our kids - i.e. sin. It's been nice to have the time to work on character issues with our kids that we didn't have time for before because of all our running around.
But life with a big family constantly changes. The things we have been able to do for our older children we are probably not going to be able to do in the same way for the younger set. Ben is going to be playing football this fall which will take us out of the house three or four times each week. Add in AWANA at church on Sunday nights, chiropractor visits, piano lessons and other misc. committments and we're back in the busy life again. I went to DonnaYoung.org and downloaded some calendar pages for the rest of the year and filled them out. Once AWANA starts, we will have somewhere to be every day of the week!
We just don't want to be so busy outside the home, but Ben is at the age (he'll be a Freshman in high school this year) where he truly needs to start exploring his interests and working out just what he wants to do. Right now he has a list of things he wants to "be." We're hoping to help him narrow that down. One of the things on his list is Football Coach. So we're gonna let him go get all roughed up every week to see how he likes it. ;-)
It should be an interesting fall! The great thing is that everything seems to come to an end all at once in the first week of November. Good thing. I will be in the last month of pregnancy by then, doing my Jabba the Hut impersonation, and not moving too quickly. Just TRY to get me off the couch by then. ;-)
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Jul. 11, 2009 - Random
I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30. Darin woke me up at 11:30 to go to bed, but now I can't sleep. There's so much going on in my head. Thinking about our new baby. In NINE days we will know if this baby is a boy or girl. The name will be Stephen if it's a boy, but we're still haggling over a girl name. Darin still likes Beatrice. I like Helen. At this point, we're sick of talking about it. ;-) Really, in the past, when we've been able to settle on a name for a boy or girl first, the baby ends up being the gender of that name. It has worked with every baby so far. We'll see in nine days!
Ben is in Colorado with his Aunt, Uncle and Cuz. We miss him. Henry especially. Poor Henry. He's just 3 and doesn't get it. He thinks Ben should "come home now." So do I, but I guess we'll survive till he gets back. I know he's going to have a load of fun on this trip.
I'm craving a chai from Starbucks.
We are going to a new chiropractor! This guy is the cat's meow, man. We have benefitted from chiropractic adjustments for three years now and are excited, thinking that we will benefit even more with this new doctor. Darin has begun to experience some numbness and weakness in his hands and I am especially anxious for him to get better. Our new chiro said the section of spine that this is related to is in Darin's neck and also relates to heart issues and high blood pressure. Darin has been diagnosed with high blood pressure which we've kept in check with cod liver oil. I'm praying hard that these issues are worked out for him with this new chiropractor.
Today I was cleaning up in the office - toys everywhere. Sophia (19 mos) came in the room and backed into my lap for some cuddling. I can't resist that.
This pregnancy has left me highly sensitive to noise. Hmmmmm. Not a good thing with five other kids in the house! My impulse is to take all of them up to our bed and for us to all nap the day away. But you know, they don't want to take naps all day! LoL In fact, we are in a phase where the boys cannot stop roughhousing, and they are all very testy with each other and each seems to want to be the parent of all the others. I have to call out to God for every bit of patience He can spare. Spending hours at the pool three times each week has helped a little because it wears them out, but I'm concerned about their hearts. Darin and I keep telling each other, "just be water over the rock. Water over the rock. Make their rough edges smooth."
My niece has been able to hook up with her birth father's family and I'm so glad for her.
Okay. I think I can probably go to sleep now. Yawwwwwwwn.
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Jul. 7, 2009 - 10 Years Ago
On the 4th of July we bought a month-long membership to our local Community Activity Center. We're taking the month off from school - sorta - so we thought it would be a fun thing for the kids. They've got the indoor/outdoor pool thing going with all the slides, lazy river and stuff.
When we arrived at the pool, Darin and I couldn't believe the TATOOS all over the place! We live in a fairly conservative suburb of Dallas. Anywhere ya go, you're gonna see khaki shorts and boat shoes. It's inevitable. Little did we realize what everyone was covering up with their khakis! Oh my. I mean, these people kind of scared us a little. And it wasn't just the men. It was the women, too. I think we saw just about every symbol of the Chinese alphabet. The only thing missing was the heart tatoo with "Mom" written in the middle. But I guess that was another generation.
As I looked around, I noticed that all of the peeps with tatoos looked to be in their early 30's. They mostly had one or two very young kids. They were in the same place Darin I were in....er....10 years ago.
It just made me think of all the things that can happen in 10 years. 10 years ago it was not at all common, as far as I know, for women to cover themselves with tatoos like I saw at the pool on Saturday. I mean, really. I wish I had pictures!!!!!
10 years ago, Darin and I only had two children. A three and one year old.
10 years ago, Darin and I were at the beginnings of understanding what it really means to live our lives for Christ. Thank God, He's still teaching us all that.
10 years ago, although Darin and I loved our babies, we did not truly understand yet what REAL blessings they are.
10 years ago, Darin was still finding his way in the Web World. He taught himself everything he knows. He's our first homeschooler in the family. Now he's a pro and has even written a book with a friend about it.
10 years ago, we were just gearing up to begin homeschooling Ben. I started with him when he was 4 because I was just so darn excited. We did Preschool three times a week until I got pregnant with Jack. Then we took it down to two days. ;-) Oh, am I ever glad to be out of the homeschooling newbie stage. Life is so much more manageable these days.
10 years ago, my car was a 2-door Honda Civic. Today I tool around in a Chevy Suburban and once this baby is born, it will officially be FULL.
10 years ago we were able to sing Prince's "1999" and really mean it. Although, really, I never partied "like it's 1999" because I got pregnant with Jack in October and I slept from then on. But we had fun singing it!
Okay, okay. I guess I could go on forever. It's just interesting, thinking of all that happens in 10 years. Gets me started thinking about 10 years from NOW. Oyve. I don't want to go there yet! :-)
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Jul. 3, 2009 - Tetanus Vaccine
One of my favorite blogs is written by Kelly at Generation Cedar. That woman is constantly passionate and interested in issues and I love it. I visited her this morning and HAVE to share her latest entry with you. Here's a snip:
Reports have been widely revealed that a population control “program” in some countries has been implemented–unbeknown to its citizens– which laces a free tetanus vaccine with an abortifacient level of hCG hormone. In a nutshell, young women are being given a vaccine–repeatedly–that makes them infertile or causes multiple miscarriages.
Go to Generation Cedar to read more.
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Jun. 29, 2009 - High Hopes
We are all hung over here this morning from a visit with friends that we had last night. The kids played in the pool for hours. Lydia can barely move this morning. Henry and Jack are spaced out to Little Bear on Noggin, Ben is stil sleeping and Sophia is asleep in our bed. She was crying early this morning so Darin brought her in with us. I think she fell back asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. I stayed with Sophia until Darin left for work. When I came down, he had finished cleaning the kitchen from last night and since the kids were in the pool all night, our house is still Company-Clean. I just love that. It's a rare thing around here these days! I have become very adept at stepping over the train track and doll house toys in the dark.
Ben was such a big help to me last night. He's of the age where he prefers to hang out and listen to all the adult chatter rather than play with all the kids. He helped me wrestle Sophia from the table and everyone's plates and cups. She was constantly drawn to all that fun. She has also discovered the water in the toilet bowl. sigh. ;-)
Back when Ben was a little guy I had high hopes brought on by the occaisional teen boys we would run into who were so sweet to him. They would play with him, have fun conversations with him - you know, just generally be Real People - not Freaky Teens. I always hoped and prayed that Ben would turn into one of those Real People. So far, so good. ;-) He is such a good big brother to Henry and Sophia. So SWEET to them and at least once a day Henry will say to Ben, "Ben, let's spend some time together." And then Ben will wrestle around with Henry and all will be right with the world.
There really is so much good to look forward to as our kids mature. I feel as if Darin and I are at the very beginning stages of reaping the harvest of the things we have sown as Ben is coming into his own as a young adult. Of course we're a long way from done, but I'm starting to get real optimistic. ;-)
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Jun. 27, 2009 - Pregnancy Update
I've decided that I really don't know my husband as well as I thought I did. I mean, WHO has actually been with me on the other side of the bed? Who is this stranger that I eat meals with, watch movies late at night and go to Marble Slab with on date nights????? For a little background...
Lydia wants us to have all the girl's names end in "ia" since that's how she and Sophia's names end. We didn't do that on purpose. It just worked out that way. We really considered it, but after awhile, Darin and I agreed that we didn't want to fence ourselves in with something like that. So we've been going back and forth over girl names for this baby (because really, I think it IS a girl. If it's a boy - sorry, Boy! ;-). For every 100 names I read out to Darin, he might say yes to one of them. Well. For a joke, I read out "Beatrice."
HE LOVES IT.
He wants to name our daughter Beatrice, and I'm left wondering if I really ever knew him. He's so passive/agressive....we will probably end up calling her Beatrice. Oh. More. He said we could call her "B.D." I have nothing else to say. God bless us, every one.
I'm 16 weeks along now. Next month we will find out if this baby is a boy or girl! Can't wait for that!
I looked at maternity swim suits today. Oyve. They are so low-cut and I'm so VERY modest. ;-) It kills me that I never learned to sew, and now am stuck with not enough time to learn to sew.
When I went for my monthly check-up with my OB, I tried to explain my overwhelming exhaustion to him, but I'm not anemic (the only time I'm not anemic is when I'm pregnant. Weird) so he basically told me to buck up. Waaaahhh-ha-haaaaaaaaaa. I just want to not be so exhausted.
Darin and Ben are off at a birthday party-type deal today. They are doing an outdoor Ropes Course. God bless them. It's 103 today. I loaded up Lydia, Jack, Henry and Sophia and we went to the grocery store. What a crazy trip! It took us two hours, two carts and a stop at the Starbucks there in Target before we made it through. The cutest thing was when Henry, who is 3, asked, "Can I ride on the cart like a fireman?" I let him ride inside the cart like the Captain of all the firemen. ;-) While we were making our way through the store, I heard someone say, "She's got four little kids with her here at the grocery store and she's pregnant with another one!" That just makes me grin from ear to ear and feel so blessed. I wish more could experience it!
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Jun. 26, 2009 - Potty TRAINING???
Last Friday, exactly one week ago, Henry decided that he would no longer wear a diaper. We were sitting at lunch, and I was looking right at him when I literally saw his lightbulb moment. His face brightened a bit and he said, "Mama, I'm going to start going potty on the toilet and wear big boy underwear!"
I wasn't about to waste a minute. We got right up from the table and went to the bathroom. He went potty, and we headed up the stairs to my bedroom to get down the storage bin of 2T-3T clothes and we dug out some big boy underwear. He has been wearing them ever since with not a bit of trouble. I forgot to put him in a pull-up for his nap on Tuesday, but he woke up dry! So now he takes his nap without a pull-up. And this morning, the one week anniversary of his big decision, he showed up in mine and Darin's room with a dry pull-up. We are amazed. :-)
With our first three, I pushed potty-training on them and it was a difficult process. I decided that with Henry, I was going to let him tell me when he was ready, and man, it worked!
Peace in the house, and less diapers to buy!
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Jun. 25, 2009 - Personality
I used to love to take personality tests. I liked having the things I thought about myself confirmed. Looking back, I realize it was just a form of self-absorption and a way for me to excuse my character flaws by quoting my test results to anyone who had a problem.
Then God's Word became real to me and I realized that God does not give personality tests. He gives character-improving tests so that we can resemble Him. The Fruits of the Spirit are not just a laundry list of what the perfect person looks like, but really, a description of the person that God can teach us to be if we submit to His teaching/rod of correction/leading.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
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Jun. 18, 2009 - Baby Machine
An acquaintance told me that I am a "Baby Machine." She said, "You know what I mean."
Well, I sorta know what she means, but I just can't go all the way with her line of thinking because the LAST thing I feel like these days is a Baby Machine. I am exhausted and queasy even now, into the Second Trimester. I'm struggling!
I'll bet I'm not the only Mom of a large family who struggles during pregnancy. There's this strange perception of Mom's of large families out there. We are Baby Machines - pregnancy is easy - and we can really "crank 'em out!"
First to the "cranking them out" believers. Labor still hurts, no matter how many children we already have. Well. I do have to put a disclaimer in here. My last labor was literally pain-free. You can go HERE to read about it. I mean, it was every woman's dream! At least it was my dream delivery. You see, I showed up to be induced, was already dilated to a 4, so went ahead and asked for an epidural right way and got it.
Ooooo - that leads to another common misperception of Mom's with large families. We do not all give birth at home, in our bathtubs. It sounds really groovy and all, but that route is just not for me.
Back to the Baby Machine/pregnancy is easy for you thing....pregnancy is a marathon for anyone. I have had great pregnancies. I might have even felt like a Baby Machine every now and then. But I have also had difficult pregnancies. Just like every child is different, so is every pregnancy.
What it boils down to is that I don't choose to continue to have children because it's easy for me. I do it because children are a blessing from the Lord. It's worth it to go through anything that comes up during a pregnancy, knowing that no matter what, my husband and I are being blessed by God with a new life to care for. Children are not a nuisance, or a drain on my "me-time." They are interesting, funny, insightful, challenging, they grow my character as I strive to be a good parent, and most of all, a BLESSING from God. Our culture believes otherwise, but I'm not buyin' it.
P.S. I found that really nice picture frame HERE.
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