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I have found myself in quite the dilemma recently.  I know this is the age-old problem and that I am not the first to wrestle with it, but I wanted an answer and I was determined to find it.  I know you are dying to know what I am talking about, so I’ll tell you.  I’m talking about HOW in the WORLD do I get it ALL done?!    There is laundry, cooking, cleaning, laundry, disciplining the children, dishes, finances, shopping, laundry, organizing, playing with the kids, homeschooling the kids, oh yeah, and laundry!  And then I need to try to get some blogging and Facebook time in there???  Also, did you notice that sleep didn’t even make the list?  That is because I don’t do much of that.  Figure I will sleep when all the kids leave (which will be never at the rate I keep having them). 

So, while I have been absent from the blogging and Facebook arena, I really have been a busy lady.  In the past few weeks, I have started  a new year of homeschooling and begun preparing  for our new Classical Conversations group in which I will have a role as tutor.  I have bought all of the kids clothes for the next year and redesigned our family closet.

I have driven (alone) with all of the children to visit family in Oklahoma, and I have incubated a baby a few more weeks.  Not only that, we have taken on a family of baby bunnies that were abandoned.  Feeding them my hard-earned breast milk no less! 

All-in-all a pretty productive month…but I still didn’t get everything done that I wanted to get done! 

Through this, I think I have solved my problem.  Inquiring minds want to know? 

Prayer. 

You may think this is a no-brainer answer that I came up with because no other answer would work.  Not so much.  Number one.  It takes diligence to offer your days up to the Lord.  When you have been up all night (again) with a sick child (and up even more peeing because somehow that baby in utero knows just where that bladder is), when the kids get up at the crack of dawn  a mere minutes after you laid you head on the pillow because they are “starving”, it is hard to find that moment to pray (especially without falling asleep). 

BUT.  If you can find a few, however brief moments, to get on your knees and ask the Lord to bless your day and to help you expand the moments, it will all get done.  It may not be everything that you have on my “to-do” list, or even half of what you think a “godly” wife should have gotten done, but it will be exactly what was supposed to get done.  Pray for peace for the type-A monster welling up inside of you and just let. it. go. 

A year ago, I was sitting in a hospital bed holding my newborn (missing the midnight showing of New Moon, I might add).  I thought, since I was a terrible mother then and never blogged about her birth, I should look back at her birth story.  Plus, its good to write it down so when I have 50 kids I will be able to read and remember!

All of my births have been planned.  After the first labor that was less than six hours (and not having time to get my antibiotics), they figured it was better to have a planned delivery than having a baby on the side of the road.  I tend to agree.  I have differing emotions about the whole “plan when your baby is to be born thing”, but the positive side is that I make sure that all of my other children are in good hands.  I have enough time to get my children to the grandparent’s house or have family come and stay for a day or so.  This is a good thing.  If it was unplanned, as short as my labors are, my kids might just witness the whole thing and be forever traumatized…and I would like them to have their own children someday. 

So, on June 29, 2010, I walked into the hospital.  I put my fancy hospital gown on and it began…

Oh, yeah.  I’m also not one to turn down the friendly anesthesia fellow roaming the halls.  He needs job security.  I, actually, have an extremely high tolerance for pain, but my life is crazy almost every other day of my life.  It is nice to have a peaceful delivery because when I go home the next day, it won’t be that peaceful again…until I have another baby. 

They broke my water at 6:30 am and I got my epidural…well kinda.  The only thing this particular epidural was good for was numbing my right leg.  The more drugs they added, the more numb my right leg became.  While all the other areas of my body felt everything.  There was no time to fix that because I was complete at 9:30 and at 9:35 I had a baby on my chest.  They actually called the doctor and told him to “run”.  He did. He barely made it. 

That was it.  So, I can actually say I have had a natural childbirth (I didn’t even scream once either!  I promise.  There are witnesses).  It’s checked it off my list.  Might do it again.  Might not.  You just never know with me.  Either way, it’s totally worth it!

6 lbs. 3 oz.  19 in.

Here she is today:

Happy birthday my sweet Mia Hadley!

Why is it that moms carry our children for NINE months (we won’t even get into all the throwing up, back aches, swollen feet, stretch marks…), birth our children, spend countless hours up nursing our children,wipe their bottoms, potty-train them, teach them to read and write, bathe them, care for their ailments…and ALL daddy has to do is take them to the ballpark, feed them cotton candy and other fine foods compliments of the concessions and he is the BEST DADDY EVER!  And I. Am. Just. Mommy. 

As a mom, I don’t always get the accolade that I deserve.  I don’t usually get to be the one who takes the kids on grand adventures.  However, when I look hard enough, I find fulfillment in the things that Ioften consider mundane … reading  a child a book … or a burst of laughter … are moments that can take your breath away.  All you have to do, though, is look for those momentous moments!  (Don’t complain even if you have to read the same book for the ten-thousandth time or the laughter is just too loud!)   It is in these moments that I  find God and I am continually humbled that I am here, allowed to live this fantastic, chaotic life! 

And the kids?  They will remember the adventure and the ordinary.

So, I feel we need to have “the talk”. 

Yes. I am pregnant.

Yes. On purpose. (I believe that “oops” babies are very rare…we know what causes it!)

Again, yes. I really do know what causes it.

No. I am NOT Catholic.

Believe it or not, I’m not crazy either (at least not certifiably).

No. my hands are not too full.

Yes. We are elated.

Now that I got all the FAQs out of the way (these are the most common I hear while at the store buying  $500+ in groceries dragging all 6 kids in 3 carts). Oh!  And YES they ARE all mine! 

We believe that children are in inheritance from the Lord.  We feel very honored that God has allowed them in our care during their stay here on earth.  Now, I’m not going to go all “Duggar” on you, but Matt and I have always talked about having a large family.  In fact, I have already told my family to expect at least 8! 

It’s amazing the rude comments/looks we get when we are out.  Why?  My children are very well-behaved (and beautiful too) . Why get offended because we are following God’s path for our life…even though it is different!

We have a crazy life and we LOVE it!  It is not always easy (but neither is parenting one child).  We would love prayers instead of judgment…that we can raise these blessings in a God-honoring way!

We had a wonderful woman visit our MOPS group recently.  Her name was Ashley Goertemiller and she has written some fun books to help encourage your child into positive behavior. Her books are called Behavior Boosters and she is a genius!  If you get a chance, check her out on her website http://behaviorboosters.com/dnn/.

One of her printables really excited me.  It is something she calls “Friendship Fish”.  It  is a great way to help your family remember to pray for your friends.  Prayer is so important and teaching your kids to look outside their own needs to the needs of others will benefit them throughout life.  When we focus on others more, we worry about ourselves less!

  Here is what it looks like:

It’s not the best picture, but this is hanging on the wall in the kitchen.  I had the kids color the picture and then laminated it.  Oh wait!  It gets better!  Ashley gave me the idea to use our old Christmas cards!  In December, when we receive cards, the kids tape them to the doors of our armoire.  Then, every Monday, a different child gets to pick  out the family of the week.  We pray for that family every morning in our family meeting time.  We take the picture off the armoire and attach the family to our colorful fish and it reminds us to lift that family up all week.  (So, if you forget us on your Christmas card list, we will still pray for you, you just might not get a week!)

It is a joy to pray for the people we love!  Thank you, Ashley, for your creativity in helping make a fun reminder to do so!

>Having a teenager is HARD. It doesn’t matter how much you have done for them the last twelve years, somehow their brain seems to fall out of their head during these years. They don’t remember how many times you sat up with them in the middle of the night, how many times you wiped their backside, or how many loads of laundry you have done in their honor.

My mother and I did not have a very good relationship growing up. She was a single, unbelieving mom, who had to work many hours to keep us fed. I don’t blame her…she did the best with what she had to work with! (Plus…look how I turned out! Ok. So not the best example…) But, I want so much more for my relationship with my children. I am blessed to stay at home with them so I can get to know just exactly who they are (both in strength and weakness).

I get so frustrated when my eldest and I butt heads because I feel like I’m hitting a brick wall (her head). Does it not really matter what I do?! Is all this work and prayer for nothing ? Well…the other day, I got the answer to those questions!

The teenager got very agitated about something I did. She got disrespectful and I got her phone. Piece. Of. Cake. Ha! She stormed out of the room and slammed her door. I very nicely told her that if she slammed her door again, the door would cease to exist. She got red.

I went on with my day discouraged…feeling that I was doing everything wrong, but later I walked into this:

It is written on one of my cake stands and in case you can’t read it, it says: “I’m sorry about my fit. I love spending time with you. I know you don’t like cake, so I made you some icing”

First of all, she got it right. I am a firm believer that cake’s only reason for existence is to hold up the icing on a pedestal.

Second of all, she got it right! I didn’t have to beat her over the head with a Bible, I just had to wait on the Lord…for the Holy Spirit to convict her!

So, take heart! Continue in constant prayer for your wee ones (especially if they have a teen in their age)! What your doing is important! You might not see the fruits of your labor right now, but you will! AND it will ALL be worth it in the end!

We recently decided that the T.V had to go. There are exceptions because we do watch family movies, but regular television and cartoons are almost non-existent. The kids have become creative geniuses during this television deprivation! It’s amazing to see their minds at work coming up with ways to entertain themselves. Anything goes as long as sharp objects are not involved. I have to admit, there is a trade-off. MY. HOUSE. IS. A. MESS. Sometimes I do wish they would sit down, be quiet and watch T.V. so I can at least have it clean for 3 seconds. When their minds were mushy from all the time in front of the tube, I must say my house was a beauty!
However, nothing can replace these moments:

This brings so much more meaning to “taking the baby for a ride in the car to put her to sleep”. Won’t be 16 for 2.5 more years and already driving the wee ones…little tear…

Human burrito?

This is an interesting one. I often find pictures in my phone that I never took. This being one of them…its okay Zorro…it puts me to sleep too…

I know she is meaty, but I’m pretty sure this is illegal, kids. Have you not learned about cannibalism? Are you homeschooled? I need to discuss this with your teacher…plus, I really wish you would have put a bow on her head (or even a nametag so I would remember which kid this is)

There are just no words. I love this girl…

What is it about mud that says, “All children within a 10-mile radius please come and ruin your clothes and make a mess in me”? You send your darling children outside to play for a few minutes so you can finish up dinner and they come in 15 seconds later looking like this:

They more kids I have, the less the little things bother me. Life is too short. Plus, Matt assures me that God MADE mud for only two reasons: to make kids happy and their mother cringe. I DO, however, wish that right before they stuck their beautiful chubby hands in the mud they thought, ‘My blessed mother works so very hard to ensure that we are dressed in beautiful clothing. We should be ever-so respectful and go and put our play clothes on so that we do not ruin our fabulous attire.’

Faith…not so much!

So, while our dinner got cold, we washed up…

And we have a few more clothes for the play-clothes bin…and memories that will last longer than the clothes ever would…even on a good day…

>1. I love that Dylan has never met a stranger. He calls everyone “my friend”.
He will also go up to any small child, say “hi baby!”, pat them on the head and give them a kiss. He doesn’t even care if they have a snotty nose…which really thrills me to no end.

2. I love that faith argues with you if you call her Alyssa (Alyssa Faith DeVries). She says, “I’m not Alyssa! I’m Faifer Debreez. Hey. Give us a break. We’re homeschooled here.

3. I love that no matter how long I was up with her in the middle of the night, how many hours I spend pumping, ( since she refuses to nurse), or how many diapers I change, Mia will ALWAYS smile at Matt first. I love that.

4. I love the constant state of randomness I live in, like partially chewed ham on the bathroom sink, toys in my 10 lb. flour bin, pictures on my iPhone of ME sleeping…which I, clearly, did not take.

5. I love that when I blame Dylan for something, it was Addy. When I blame Addy, it was Faith. When I blame Faith it was Jack. When I blame Jack, it was me.

6. I love that, even though my house was recently painted, every wall in the house has an artistic touch. My children believe that homeschooling is the most important thing…and it should be practiced on the walls.

Oh yeah, there is playdoh there too.

7. I love that, even though I am in the next room, Alie will text me to ask me something.

8. I love that my children found a $20 bag of pinon nuts that Matt brought back from New Mexico. They decided they did not like them, so they took them out in the backyard and scattered them because they wanted a garden to grow.

9. I love that Dylan teaches himself math (as well as various other subjects), then he corrects me when I round…I was telling someone that we had to buy 3 pair of soccer shoes that were $30 a piece. I said, “we spent $100.” Dylan looked at me and said, “Mom. Three times 30 is 90 NOT 100. YOU should know that. I know that and I am younger than you!”

10. I love that Alie has now read every parenting book that I own and then she tries to tell me how to parent. If I wasn’t so busy cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, diapering, nursing…I might have time to read the books too…then I would be as smart as her!

11. I love that Jack can always be found getting into something. We say he is out of one thing and into 50. On any given day, we find him swinging from the chandelier, pushing the “water” button on the refrigerator just to watch it flow and create a lake on my kitchen floor, standing on any surface that is 4+ feet off the floor, or playing in the toilet.

There are hundreds of things that I love about my big family (and even some that I don’t love so much). I just wanted to write a few down because time flies and we forget the little things about our kids that make them who they are.

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