Accountability

The children and I have been memorizing individual Scriptures the past couple of months; now it is time to take it to the next level! I found just the challenge.

"But it is such a long Psalm for such little kids..." some may say. If they can memorize hand game rhymes, hymns, and entire musicals including The Sound of Music, they can most definitely memorize Scripture.

Although this was my idea, to start memorizing longer verses; entire chapters and eventually books of the Bible, the children will be right there with me, that is part of our life as homeschoolers. If I have get to learn review transitive, intransitive, and linking verbs and comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives, they can learn the Word of God.

We will work to keep each other accountable; each meal, every day. "But won't it become tiresome?" Not when we get to reward ourselves along the way...ice cream can make the impossible suddenly desirable.

Recovery and a Strange Feeling

I think I might make it ☺ I forgot to mention one of my other cold comfort measures, Vicks Vaporub...love it! If someone in the house starts feeling a little off; stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, congestion...I apply a layer of the Vicks to the soles of their feet and cover it with a pair of socks. Off to bed they go and by the next morning they are feeling much better, not to mention the good nights rest momma they got.

I am experiencing a feeling very new to me...I miss my treadmill. For the last week I have walked 30 minutes each morning. The kids are told not to bother me unless it is an emergency or a poopy diaper. I walk while they finish their breakfast and get ready for school. I have downloaded eight songs which totaled 31 minutes of music to walk to, so I do not have to set a timer or watch a clock. The benefit of my music/timer is motivation to keep going; "only four more songs to go...just three more songs..." In the evening, The Man and I take a 20 minute walk down down the road, more for together time than exercise.

Surprisingly, "they" aren't lying when "they" say exercise gives you more energy. I have had more energy, a clearer mind and more patience. Sadly, Sunday night my treadmill started acting up. The motor seizes up just long enough to scare me thinking I'm about to fall, then it starts again...sloowly, then speeds up. Repeat at any given moment. This was a hand me down, so it looks like I may need to go actually buy one via Craigslist.

I miss my treadmill so much, I actually thought about walking yesterday, while sick. It makes me feel that good.

I decided to take this week for some deep cleaning. I would thoroughly clean one or two rooms a day, and even the garage! I started with my bedroom yesterday. Thoroughly cleaned, an old couch moved out, a nice sitting chair moved in (with the help of my very strong nine year old).

I am now sick. I have a bad cold. To be specific, I awoke around 3ish and took some elderberry syrup and used the neti pot. Well, let me use the word "awoke" very loosely. I am not the type of person that can breath through their mouth to sleep. I strongly dislike the feeling of dry, crusted mouth...sorry. Since on any given moment I only have half a nostril keeping me alive, I didn't get much sleep. So, cold comfort for me involves lots of hot baths, lots of vitamin c, lots of water, neti pot and now elderberry syrup.

Speaking of neti pots, have you ever used one? They are wonderful! I am completely convinced use of the neti pot spared me a long drawn out cold related infection last time I was sick. Enough of the mundane..I'm wondering what the message here is?

Don't make your own plans without first seeing what God has in mind?

Don't deep clean?

No pictures by the way, you really don't want to know what I look like with a cold, after using the neti pot, or the condition of my house when I stay in bed all day (although the older girls do a fantastic job of keeping the mess to a minimum), or of my cheap, Walgreen's neti pot. (Have I convinced you to get one yet?)

Trust the Lord

Trusting in God is a given in the Christian community. I did a search for "trust the Lord" and 500 hits came up using the Revised Standard Translation. We hear stories about God providing just what a person, couple or family needed...just when they needed it. A common theme in any ones repertoire of counsel to a friend will include something along the lines, "Well, all you can do is trust..."

Years ago a friend was telling the story of a missionary couple she knew well. They had awesome stories about needing a certain amount of money for this mission trip or a need they became aware of while on the mission field. God had never let them down. Sometimes being so bold as to provide to the exact penny. Then she told me that God had even put a desire into the heart of a local OBGYN to supply this young married couple with birth control pills free of charge. I was stumped. They trusted God, down to the penny, for any financial need they encountered. They trusted God with where they should go spreading the Gospel. Yet, they trusted an OBGYN with the number of children they should have and when they should have these children. I asked my friend about this seemingly unequal trust. She said she would have to think about that; it was not covered in any missionary training she had received. We never resumed the conversation.

This is something very much in the front of our minds right now. I am 37 and have had six pregnancies in 11 years. We are a single income family. When do you say, "enough" or "I trust in you"? My husband, bearing the financial burden of supporting us, thinks he is at the point of saying "enough". I say almost, because he knows the power of God. We have prayed many times for needs, including a job. We have seen the mighty hand of God work substantially in our humble lives.






I am not sure where I am. I will say my heart feels a little heavy when I see the baby totter around and think he will be the last little set of chubby baby legs I may see. And I do realize there are risks with "advanced maternal pregnancies" which the doctors are so kind to emblazon across the front of our charts. I also know, anything can happen, at any time, to anyone; young or old(er).

I have never heard someone in their advanced years of this earthly life say, "I wish we would have had fewer children." As a matter fact, they are the occasional bright spot at the grocery store. They stop to admire a gaggle of children following me through the store. They tell me a story of when their kids were little and then tell me how many grandchildren they have and their ages...and more often than not, they sigh. "I wish they lived closer," or "I wish I saw them more." The brief conversation somewhere between the aisles of produce always ends the same, "Enjoy them. Time goes by so fast."

No answers in this post, only questioning thoughts bubbling forth from a mother's full heart.

edited to add: we are faithful to the teaching of the Church. Being "done" falls under that as well. You may read it here Humanae Vitae.

Benefits of Multiple Pregnancies

On an unusually warm afternoon in November, I venture to the park with my brood of six. Once the van has come to a complete stop and turned off, children climb out, careful for their younger siblings and then scatter to all corners of the play area. The giggle, run and play pretend games. They smile at all the younger children on the equipment, and offer helping hands to those smaller.

And then it hits me, like a bone cutting wind swirling around in all directions. I see them, other mothers in the park who think my multiple pregnancies have some how affected my senses. I would like to assure you my fellow mothers, because we are all mothers, that six pregnancies have not had a negative impact on my sight, hearing or thickness of skin.

When I walk by, I see you very indiscreetly get your friends attention so you can both roll your eyes at me. Nope, no vision problems here. As a matter of fact, my vision has probably improved. I can identify a small object in a toddlers mouth through clenched teeth. I can find socks and shoes lost to the naked eye. Just by a quick glance I can tell you approximately how many loads of laundry are stuffed in the hamper.

My hearing, aaah, my hearing has become super sensitive. I can hear you speak to your friends about me. Well, actually, everyone with in ear shot can hear you because you did not try to whisper. "I hope those aren't all her kids!" Heard it. As a matter of fact, they are all my kids. These are the children the Lord saw fit to bless me with. Did I pray for six? No, I prayed for healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. He heard my prayers and it is good; this life I lead.


You did not hurt my feelings. First, you would be full of pride if you think you are the first to stare, poke, roll and whisper at my family. Second, another blessing of multi pregnancies is the "I hope they like me" feelings are minimized. Now part of this is just common sense; I have too many other things to concern myself with; all children accounted for, shoes, clothes, etc...you're approval happens to be the last thing on my mind, if even at all. If anything, my skin has become thicker since the beginning of motherhood; I cannot please everyone with the type of mother I am, or how many children I have, or how they are dressed or educated...I could go on.

So I try to please Him, by serving those He has entrusted in my loving care. I am too busy enjoying where I am and with whom to be offended by you. You see, I am at the park to enjoy the abundant blessing God has given me: beautiful children on a glorious day.

I hope I have put to rest any myths that may seem elusive to my fellow mothers. You see, multiple pregnancies have increased who and what I am, not decreased.

Pthpt...Spthpth...

Fun!




Gone wrong...

Communication

109.

staying in jammies too long because you're busy doing better things

110.

then anticipation of a big kiss

111.

being able to say daddy without any words

Sometimes you do not need words to communicate your feelings and intentions: importance, security, love and affection.