In a biblical preparation for marriage class I took in college, my wise Bible professor told us that "in marriage you get what you deserve."

I've been pondering these words lately and I believe them to be true.  There are a few women who believe they are not worthy of their amazing husbands.  And while this may seem noble, it could be due to an unbiblical self-image.  "You get what you deserve."   If he truly is as amazing as she believes, she may be forgetting that he saw great worth in her to have married her in the first place.  Such women should take care not to boast about their husbands as they could be indirectly praising themselves. They deserve such a man and should be both thankful and humble.

Sadly, I often hear Christian women criticizing their husbands and complaining about the many faults they see in their spouses.   But "you get what you deserve."  This should make women take a step back and carefully examine themselves and their own sins.  For all his gifts and strengths, you have gifts and strengths.  And for all his weaknesses and faults, you have weaknesses and faults.  (Now, lest anyone is being abused in a relationship, please take note:  abuse is biblical grounds to LEAVE a relationship and you should seek godly counsel from your church leadership immediately.  You do not deserve to be abused!)

But as a general rule for most people,  I say "amen" to these words.  Thank you, Professor, for the warning and reminder that in marriage, we get what we deserve.

Giving thanks to God for His abundant love,

We welcome with joy each gift from above.

It is God who gives children, and His ways are GREAT!

Growing right now is baby number EIGHT!

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Yes, our eighth baby is due to arrive in January 2010!

I wrote this poem and sent it in to both the Quiverfull and MOMYS (Mothers of Many Young Siblings) digests.  Please feel free to edit the wording to fit your family and use to share your good news!

It's a BOY!  Baby number seven arrived on the Fourth of July weighing 7 lbs. 9 oz. and measuring 20 inches.

We left home at 11p Thursday night and baby was born at 3:03a Friday morning, July 4th, 2008.    I was 5 cm when we arrived at the hospital, so all those annoying contractions the days before must've done some good after all. 

The hospital stay was like a luxury vacation and I was able to get lots of rest.   We are home now and the kids are ecstatic about their new baby.

We are so thankful for a successful VBAC and a healthy little boy! 

(The book "Mulkeys of America" is no longer in print. However, xerox copies of the book are available from the author's nephew.) Contact: Chris Houghton at cvh@twofirs.com

My great-grandmother left a typewritten booklet of fun family facts for us.   It is such a treasure to have this careful recording of our family's history.  I wish my ancestors could have been bloggers so I would know what daily life was like for them!

With the family tree info she recorded and a bit of searching on the internet I've been able to marvel at God's Covenant blessings throughout the generations of one side of my family. 

FAMILY LINEAGE:

Lila Gearheart was the daughter of Ollie Quinby(daughter of John Quinby) and James Haden Gearheart.  James Haden Gearheart was the youngest of the eleven children of Valentine Alexander Gearheart and Harriet Jane Mulkey.  Harriet Jane Mulkey was the daughter of Sarah Martin and James Harlan Mulkey.  James Harlan Mulkey was one of the sons of the Pioneer Preacher, the Reverend John Mulkey and Elizabeth Hays.  The Reverend John Mulkey was the son of Jonathan Mulkey and Nancy Howard.

SOLDIERS:

Jonathan Mulkey (1752) was a soldier in the American Revolution.  His grandson James Harlan Mulkey was a chaplain and a physician for the Confederate Army in the War Between the States.  One of James Harlan Mulkey's sons was in the Confederate Army and one of his sons was a Union soldier!  Val Gearheart and John Quinby were Union soldiers.  So Harriet Mulkey Gearheart had her husband and one brother on the Union side and her father and one brother on the Confederate side.

MEN OF FAITH:

According to ncbible.org, the Puritan John Newton personally taught and greatly influenced Philip Mulkey, the father figure for the largest known branch of the Mulkey family.   (Throughout my family line, the influence of John Newton can be see as many male children were named after him.)  Philip's preaching son, Jonathan is referred to as the first Baptist minister in the state of Tennessee.  Jonathan's son, John, began preaching by the age of 20.  (Two other brothers also became Baptist preachers.)  Several Mulkeys were Pioneer Preachers with the wagon trains heading west to Oregon.  John did not go west, but had a great influence preaching to many who did.

My great-grandmother records that her father told her of going with his grandfather, James Harlan Mulkey, as he ministered to the people of the Ozarks "both spiritually and physically."  She writes "he learned a great deal from him that was never forgotten.  He could quote Scripture, chapter and verse, till the day he died.  He also knew every kind of medicine (except newly discovered), where it came from, and what its use was."

COVENANTAL BLESSINGS THROUGH THE GENERATIONS:

It is such a blessing to be able to trace men and women of faith back several generations in my family.  The Bible tells us that the Lord works in families and promises to bless those who love Him to a thousand generations. 

May we always remember . . . to live and to think . . . generationally and covenantally!

The kids and I made a banner that says "We Love Dad!"  It is decorated with stickers, drawings, handprints, and quotes the kids wanted me to write for him.  Our two year old's quote is "Where Daddy Go?" and the three year old said "Thank you for giving me food."  The four year old said "I play with Dad so much he gets tired every day."

They told me to put it on the kitchen wall near the ceiling.  Dad seemed very tickled and surprised when he came home to find a banner just for him that was made just because . . . We Love Dad!

My six year old was telling me about the X-Ray machine at the airport.  "They X-Ray you to see if you have a gun or knife or toothpaste.  Because you could have a bullet in the toothpaste and squeeze it out to shoot someone."

For more of our favorite family quotes click the link on the sidebar for Our Family Blog.

I usually put in a video for the children while I nurse the baby, prepare a meal, or need a few minutes of peace and quiet.  We do not have cable  so the only kid-friendly channel we pick up is PBS (and we watch it, too).

Over the years we have acquired a collection of DVDs that the children (and I) enjoy watching over and over and over again:

For the younger ones: 

Baby Einstein DVDs

Richard Scarry's Busytown DVDs

For the middle ones:

Madeline DVDs

Looney Toons classic collection

3-2-1 Penguins

The Adventures of Larry Boy

Adventures in Odyssey

For the older ones:

Flushed Away (NEW!)

Toy Story 1 and 2

Finding Nemo

Spy Kids (1,2, and 3)

The Incredibles

For the past few years my husband has taken the kids for one weekend per year so that I could get away to rest and relax.  This weekend I am joining another homeschooling mom friend for time away on a mountain!  Of course, as we have type-A personalities, we are each bringing multiple projects to work on while in the room (Christmas cards, recipes, homeschooling materials).  But we will enjoy not having to cook or clean or take care of children as a nice break from our usual routines.  And we intend to eat well at some local restaurants.  :o)

I try to have all the laundry caught up as well as several meals prepared before I leave.  And I have always come home to a tidy house, clean kids, and an exhausted saint of a husband.

Thank you, Honey!