Posted in Family Life

Life has been a bit hectic lately (what else is summer for?), but one of the most important evens to happen in the past few days was the birthday of my second son.  As of Sunday, we now officially have an 8 year old in the family.  And what a boy he is!  I am constantly amazed by my son's abilities.  His outstanding character quality is most definitely diligence.  He is truly the most hard-working child I have ever known.  He simply loves work.  And I love to watch him love it.  He tackles work with enthusiasm and doesn't quit until the task is complete.  It is such a joy to see how much joy he gets from serving others.  He is a true blessing and gift of the Lord.

(We call him "the chicken man" because from the moment we got our first batch of chicks, he took upon himself the responsibility of their care, and has been consistently faithful in fulfilling that responsibility since.)

Posted in Family Life

As I sat nursing the baby this morning, going over my lengthy to-do list in my mind, something occured to me which stopped my busy thought process dead in its mental tracks.  Looking down at the contented face of my sweet baby boy, I suddenly had a flashback to the time when my oldest son was still a nursling.  Though almost a dozen years have passed since then, it doesn't seem all that long ago.  I realized as I watched baby number five drawing his nourishment, still so dependent upon me, that much too soon another 12 years would have passed and he would be nearly as tall as me and beginning to show signs of becoming a young man, just as his older brother is now.  That thought caused me to want to stop and savor the precious moment before me.  Babies don't stay little for long.  Childhood is a fleeting time.  Sometimes the to-do list must wait--this moment will be gone much too quickly.

Posted in Family Life

It must be hard being second-born.  I wouldn't know personally--I'm the baby of the family (and was stereotypically spoiled to boot).  I have observed plenty of second-borns, though, and in particular second sons.  My observations lead me to the conclusion that it is not easy to be second-born.  First-borns, by virtue of their place in the family, are usually indepent leaders.  Second-born sometimes ends up playing second fiddle.  This is not necessarily a bad thing; God in His infinite wisdom places us each in the family we are in and in the birth order we have for a reason.  Without someone playing second fiddle, there would be no harmony.

  Years ago, I read The Birth Order Book.  To be completely honest, though I believe the author had some good insights, I think too many people would find it an easy excuse for bad behavior: "I'm the youngest, so I am a people-pleaser and have trouble with minipulating others.  I can't help it, it's my birth order."  (Incidentally, I have found myself thinking the previous statement, if not actually saying it.  See, I told you I found the book insightful though easy to use as an excuse.)

I have noticed that second-born sons are often quiet.  My own second son is by nature diligent and perseverent, though at times rather introspecitve and lacking confidence.  He has a thoughtful and kind spirit, but he often feels left out, even when he isn't actually being left out of anything.  This very morning, his older brother had an opportunity to be involved in a "big kid" activity, which he was not able to participate in.  This was quite a blow.  Apparently, having a brother almost four years older can cause much emotional distress.  The great thing about this second born son of mine is that he doesn't let anything get him down for long.  Within less than an hour, he was back to his cheerful self, making plans for what he would do with his brother and father when they returned.

Every lot in life has its ups and downs.  Best to take both the advantages and disadvantages as gifts from the sovereign hand of God, knowing He will use both for His own glory and to work His own will.  What an honor to teach and guide my children in learning that truth, even while I am learning it myself.

(Second-born really isn't so bad.  My son got to have ice cream and peanut butter cups while his brother was gone.  There aren't many disappointments in life chocolate can't fix.)

Posted in Family Life

My little girl turns three years old today.  I can hardly believe she is already that old, and yet it seems like she has been in our family forever.  What a bright ray of sunshine she is in my life!  She is sunny, sweet, kind, and a true delight to all who know her.  She is a wonderful gift from the Lord, a precious blessing for which I am so very thankful.  It is a joy to see her grow and begin to become the person God means her to be.  She is very feminine, delighting in pretty dresses, babies, and all things little girlish.  She is dainty and delicate and simply delightful!

Happy Birthday to my precious little sweetie!

Posted in Family Life

Tomorrow is Father's Day, a wonderful opportunity to honor the fathers in each of our lives.  I am blessed to have two men in my life who are both wonderful, godly men and excellent fathers. 

The first is my own father.  My father is such a special man.  He is a man of great wisdom and kindness, a man with an honest and compassionate heart.  He is a quiet man, but he has such depth of soul and strength of character.  I am so very blessed to call him Daddy, and to be able to say that I have a sweet, loving relationship with him.  I trust him and look to him as an example of righteousness.  I love to watch him interact with my children, his grandchildren, teaching them about life and the things of God.  What a truly wonderful father I have.

The other father in my life is the father of my children.  My husband is a man of vision. passion, and sincerity.  He is one in a million.  His humor, his courage, his strength of conviction, his optimism, all of these traits reveal his godly character.  He is a wonderful father to our children.  He loves them so greatly and with such ferver.  He has a deep desire to see each of his children walking closely with the Lord and following the Scriptures in their own lives, and he has committed himself to seeing that desire come to pass.  I am so blessed to be married to this vibrant, passionate, intelligent man of God.

This Father's Day, as I honor the daddys in my life (my own and my children's), I can say that I have been tremendously blessed by God in His giving me my father and my husband, the two most important men in my life.

Posted in Family Life

Sweetness personified

Posted in Family Life

We don't hear much about callings anymore (unless we're talking about a "call to the ministry").  We certainly don't hear motherhood referred to as a calling.  And yet, it is the highest and most noble calling a woman can aspire to.  Motherhood is arguably the most influential profession there is.  The impact of dedicated, self-sacrificial motherhood on subsequent generations is tremendous.  What profession has more far-reaching affect on the future than that of motherhood?

Those of us who are mothers know the work involved in motherhood.  We also know the rewards that are gained in pouring out our own lives for our families.  We know the joys in bearing and raising children.  Christian mothers know the glory in serving God by bringing up children in the nuture and admonition of the Lord.

Motherhood is a blessed opportunity to minister to the Body of Christ right in our very own homes.  It is a beautiful way of serving the Lord as we serve our families.

Bearing and raising children is an important work.  There is great nobility in motherhood.  Mothers do something no one else on earth can do.

"Only a woman can carry in her body an eternal being which bears the very image of God. Only she is the recipient of the miracle of life. Only a woman can conceive and nurture this life using her own flesh and blood, and then deliver a living soul into the world. God has bestowed upon her alone a genuine miracle — the creation of life, and the fusing of an eternal soul with mortal flesh. This fact alone establishes the glory of motherhood.

Despite the most creative plans of humanist scientists and lawmakers to redefine the sexes, no man will ever conceive and give birth to a child. The fruitful womb is a holy gift given by God to women alone. This is one reason why the office of wife and mother is the highest calling to which a woman can aspire."

                                                                                                  ~Doug Phillips

Let us celebrate the high calling of motherhood.  It is a blessed gift from the Heavenly Father.

Posted in Family Life

In honor of the fact that my newest son is now six weeks old, and because I have had a number of requests for it (yes, Lyn, this is for you!), I am going to share my fifth baby's birth story.

My four previous birth experiences varied widely, so I really had no idea what to expect this time.  I wasn't even sure if I had a better chance of going into labor before my due date or after.  Two of my children had been born "early", two "late", so I had a fifty-fifty chance either way.  (As it turns out, the scales tipped in favor of going after my due date--not what I had been hoping for.)  Each delivery itself had been very different as well.  I was induced with my first baby, which if given the choice I would not do again (it's much more intense than natural labor, at least for me).  My second baby came after my having to be on bed-rest for six weeks because of pre-term labor--but the birth itself was fairly easy.  My third child was the nightmare delivery--she was born in posterior presentation (facing up), which is not a pleasant way to have a baby.  My fourth baby came after fourteen hours of labor....'nuf said on that one.  So, early on in my fifth pregnancy, I began praying that if God willed, I would have a quick, easy labor and delivery.  I also happened to be close friends with a real, honest-to-goodness prayer warrior.  I mean, when this lady prays, things happen.  She and her sons began praying fervently for me and the baby as the time for the birth drew nearer.  Still, I really didn't know what to expect this time.

For the last three weeks of my pregnancy, I had been having frequent "nuisance contractions".  Actually, these kind of mild contractions are the only truly consistent thing about each of my pregnancies.  I was just sure that I would go into labor anytime.  At 37 weeks, I began dialating, and by week 40, I was more than two centimeters dialated.  I eventually became very tired of waking up each morning thinking "Today could be the day."

Two days after my due date, we made a visit to the hospital because I was having quite a few mild, fairly painless contractions.  After being examined, I was told that I was still only about 2.5 centimeters along.  The midwife advised us to go home and get some rest.  My husband took the next day off from work so that I could rest, and by about ten o'clock that night, I began having some occasional moderately strong contractions.  I took a bath at 10:30, then went to bed.  I woke up at just before midnight with a very strong contraction, and then another came soon after.  At just after 12 am, the contractions closed in at about two minutes apart and were very strong.  At 12:15, I woke up my husband, who called the hospital to let them know it was definitely "the time".  He called again on our way to the hospital to ask them to have a wheelchair ready at the door--there was no way I was going to be able to walk anywhere, let alone all the way to the elevator (my husband had to help me get out of the car and into the wheelchair).  By the time I was finally settled into a birthing room, I was eight centimeters dialated and entering transition (that was at around 1:45am).  After about five minutes of pushing, my fifth child and third son made his entrance into this world.  That was at 2:17 on the morning of January 22nd.  He was a beautiful, healthy baby boy, my biggest yet at 7lbs. 13 oz.  The entire experience of his birth was such an answer to prayer, and I felt the Lord's presence throughout it.

Having a two hour labor certainly wasn't what I expected.  But it sure was a blessing.  In fact, I consider it a miracle.  But then, aren't all births miracles?

Posted in Family Life

Bookend boys--my oldest son holding my youngest son

My girls love their little brother....

Few things in life are quite as sweet as this.

Posted in Family Life

After the long weeks of waiting, we have finally welcomed our new baby into our family.  Our newest little blessing was born early on the morning of January 22 after just two hours of labor.  He is a sweet, easy-going little guy who is well-loved by his big brothers and sisters (and Mommy and Daddy, too, of course!)  We are all so thankful to the Lord to finally be able to hold and cuddle this newest addition to our family.  May he grow up to love and serve the Lord with all his heart.