Thanksgiving, Joy, Full Heart

Living in the moment is something I strive after, some days successful, but not every day.

Whenever you are faced with trials in life though, all of a sudden that moment becomes crystal clear and the fog drifts away and you see where your focus should be. I kinda hate this. Why can't I see clearly every day and live in these fleeting moments? I really do know the answer to that, nonetheless I can't change my mind set quick enough. 

These are the moments I am talking of. It may not have lasted but a second or two, but it was there and I am thankful and I want to see it!

So many of the "living in the moment" memories embedded in my mind are around a table. Eating, drinking, talking and living. I cherish these moments - truly! And over the Thanksgiving Table this year, I clung a little tighter to all around that table knowing next years table will look different. The differences will bring great joy and great sorrow (most likely), but I know my God holds each of those moments already in is strong hands and will give them to us in his perfect time.

See that apron there in the background my dad is wearing…just another memory from when we were little. All of my siblings and I were puffed-chest proud when we gave that to him. And still 20+ years later, it still graces his chest - years of stains and all. Years of memories and all.

It is crazy to think of where we are now when it seems that just a bit ago we were all living at home, single, childless. I love where am I now, but I just cannot believe I am here! I am sure my grandma would say the same.

I tend to have a hard time letting go, I guess you could say. The ache of losing loved ones rings true and we have been so blessed in our lifetime to have lost very few (so far). Something for which I am truly thankful. It just means that we have had more time to visit with them, talk with them, glean from their years of life lived before us.  However, all of the above has to be done when you live intentionally otherwise, the years will pass and then you will be standing at an open casket wishing you would have called,  visited more.

I'm not trying to be morbid, just trying to live wide-eyed. We all know it will happen and like so many, with no forewarning.

So this is a way of reminding myself to not take for granted what I cherish and hold dear.

"But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." (Matthew 6:33,34)

Every day I let worries crowd my view, but this year, my deepest desire is to take great strides in not worrying about tomorrow. Let Jehovah-Jireh fulfill his name, my Provider! There are lessons to be learned from generations before us…many a lesson!

And I want to be the one to take the time to learn.

So I think this year will be a learning year and one full of stopping to just say, "Thank you!" to the giver of each moment!

How we catch our Zzzzz's over here

I had a sweet friend email me a few questions about our sleeping arrangements at our humble abode...Other than the obvious of our master being occupied by the Mister and I.
I thought her questions were really great questions that I so should have thought of a bit ago. We are in our groove now, content with what kids are in what rooms and it is working really well, but not to say there isn't room for improvement. Because there is always room for that lovely thing!

 So here is how we work it out.

When we moved into this house we only had our three oldest and they each had their own room. Honestly, I didn't love it because I wanted our kids to share rooms. My sister and I shared a room for almost our entire life before we wed. Even when we did have our own rooms, most nights we slept in the same bed because we just loved to chat into the late hours of the evening. I longed for that for my kids. And DJ & I feel very strongly that we are raising our kids to be best buds. Yes, they fight…like cats and dogs sometimes. Yes, they disagree…we have many chiefs in our tribe. Yes, they giggle and laugh late into the evening some nights, but I am so thankful for that laughter. Yes, they get out of their beds at least 1, 2, 3, 6…9 times a night - and we are still working on this one.

I know this is hard to see - iphoneography at it's best in low light - but this is how the girls sleep in their queen…like spaghetti and it melts me.

So we have the 5 year old and almost 8 year old boys together - bunked two high in their beds.
We have the 3 year old and freshly 10 year old in the same room and SAME bed. They had separate twin beds but slept together every night (amazingly enough no one was hurt from falling out of bed) so we decided to give them our Queen bed and now we have a KING…yes a KING!
And littlest boy, almost 1 now has his own bedroom. However, I am hopeful he can bunk with the boys in this  house... we'll see. None of our rooms are huge so I am not sure if that will work or not in this house.

We have always observed early bed times. I feel VERY strongly kids NEED sleep - for health, happiness and because they are growing like weeds. So they are in bed early but that doesn't always mean go to sleep right away. Even when they don't though, they talk and DJ & I have overhead some conversations which are absolutely precious. And I know they are making memories they will cherish someday.
The two oldest ones are able to stay up later reading or doing puzzles together now that they are getting older. And they do this often…I love seeing and hearing them read to each other. This does mean that little siblings are at times woken up when they hop in bed, but typically they just go back to sleep - I guess this is just part of it.

When all of our babes were new in our arms (with the exception of Arae because I didn't think I was "supposed" to do that…however the more babies we had the more I realized what a bonding experience it was and so convenient for nursing moms and good for babies who spit up), they slept the first 3 weeks or so in our bed, in my arms propped with pillows all around me (we so could have used the KING bed then). I LOVE these days so much! (side note, I know not everyone agrees with this…it's just how we do it)

After that, they slept the next 4-5 months in our room in a pack and play - again for ease of nursing and having them close by. We also have spitter-uppers - some severe and on more than one occasion we had to suction a baby's mouth in the middle of the night - which is so scary! Those are the nights that I am extremely thankful they were in our bedroom as close to me as possible so I could hear and help them.

Between 5-6 months of age our babies, typically, were sleeping through the night and then in their cribs in their own rooms.

After that point, they do not sleep in our bed again (with the exception of a sick child). I don't think it is healthy for them or us to have babies in our bed to the point they then don't want to sleep in their own bed (again, personal decision). If our kids are sick or have bad dreams or growing pains, as one particular son has often, and we cannot comfort them in their own room then we make a sweet little place of slumber on our bedroom floor. We have established this early on so honestly, they don't even ask to sleep in our bed. For them, the floor is where they want to be. I have held many a sweet little fingers over the side of our bed as they fell asleep.

This is just how we do it…what about you? Any novel ideas for having little ones sleep peacefully in their own room?

Knock, knock…anyone there??

One word - LIFE.

Life has happened in full force and I have thought about it, thought some more about it…then thought more but just never sat down to update this dear blog of ours.
New Years Resolution…blog often…will it happen? - I don't know, but I hope so.

Today is a good day. Yesterday was a good day. I take them in stride - because I don't know what tomorrow will bring. Cherish this moment (is what I remind myself of often) because the next we may be falling apart. That is just the truth in any family, isn't it (no matter the size)? Hormones, emotions, twists and turns, fits or anger, disappointment, changed schedules - they all affect each second that is lived. But today - today is good!

Here it is…Life unscripted :

Our homeschool journey continues on with great effort, but even greater joy.  We finally have two STRONG readers - one came easy…okay so easy it was like eating ice-cream - it took no effort.

 The other, well let's just say more like eating lima beans (if you strongly dislike them). I had a sweet friend give me the most valuable advice with this feat…"Read to him and pray the Lord would give him a strong desire to read." So that is what we have been doing and finally - like the click of a light switch  - he loves to read. Thank you Jesus! I am so thankful we are able to homeschool and I am able to witness first hand these HUGE milestones. What a privilege!

The most fantastic part of it all - it has been the fuel or kick in the pants to get us all reading more. I love to read but I don't always make the time every day to read more than the captions under my Facebook feed. Pathetic to say the least and just sad! 

 I am cherishing these winter days of being home more, eating out less - another New Years resolution as we are on a journey to financial freedom, cooking much more which I LOVE and finally reaping the benefits of our kids actually loving good food. Cooking/baking is a passion of mine from growing up in a  foodie family but up til now, no one has cared a whole lot (which is very typical I know)  it so it took the joy out of it a bit. No longer!! In fact,  I have a couple really amazing recipes I will share soon!

Our days have been filled with football loving boys and ballet plie'ing girls - so extremely opposite it just makes us laugh. We experienced the Nutcracker in a totally new way to us this year - Arae performing…that was an experience she will never forget and a post for another time. Bitty girl was convinced she was in the Nutcracker as well - such a vividly amazing imagination she has!
The boys, despite my great opposition to, LOVE football - and I don't just mean a little. They really LOVE it. I was hoping for more  golf loving boys (no offense to my brother Michael - it's just a little less head pounding than football). But it is a football they play catch with in our yard. However, they do have golf clubs as well…maybe just maybe they will love that as well.

And yes, we are all longing for the dog days of summer again. Longing to be outside, barefoot, splashing in the Lexington Pool, walking on the delightfully warm, sandy beaches of Lake Michigan…oh how I long for that!!

Until then we will continue to bundle up on these bitter cold, every so windy Illinois winters days.

and enjoy footsie PJs

Incase you are in need of a good book to give you a kick in the pants as a Momma or Daddy :
Here is one of my favorites I have been reading  - here's the thing…I fail daily at giving them grace, but after reading this I was totally and completely rejuvenated in the way we parent. DJ is reading it next. It's so good!




One more little side note - I thought I liked reading real, paper filled books until I started reading on a kindle - I think I'm hooked now. I love our kindle and I am reading a ton more - go figure.

Screen reader users, click here to turn off Google Instant.

We are over here today....

A few months ago, right before I delivered RJ - a sweet friend of mine, Katie, asked if I would write a post along with a bunch of other women, for her "Intentional Mothering" series she is having this month on her blog....I was humbled by this asking and honored! Time went by and lots of thinking & prayer went into what should be written. So from my momma's heart to yours - catch the Glorious in the Mundane and let it change your view!  Let it make you joyful & thankful!

Todays the day...check out her blog!

Echoes of My Heart

Craziness! Kids! And more kids!

I'm sure there are many people who think we are crazy for having more than the average amount of kids. And there are probably even more that would say I am out of my mind for even entertaining the idea of wanting to have more kids. (I am sure my husband may fall into this category!  heehee!)
However I wanted to share this, just from my heart. I do NOT think that having a large family is for everyone. I understand that it is a very personal decision. I understand why some make the decision to not have big family.
I also am not claiming that it is always fabulously, wonderful every second of the day or that I maintain my cool all of the time. If you follow this journey we call life you will see that clear as day. We have great days and we have absolutely insane days. What I will tell you is every day it brings me to my knees. To my knees in thankfulness, in fear, in joy, in apologies, in frustration and in moments of thinking "there is no way I can do this". And every day I am reminded God's love and grace is enough. Period. He is enough. And HE is all I need.

So if you are one of the many wondering why we have "more than the average" kids - here is why :

This is it. The first time since we started having kids that even I fully see how wonderful it is. This little one adores this bigger one. He fully trusts her, he fully loves her. And these moments here are why. She loves him, I love them. Yes she is an amazing helper - I cannot imagine this journey without her, but more than that she loves him differently than I have seen her before. She's that much older. She's that much more capable. She's trustworthy and gets it. And this little one has changed her view, her outlook and even her love for her other siblings. She sees the value in a living, breathing, precious human life and how in a second that can be gone if God so wills just because she is old enough to "get it".

So this is it - yes I believe children are a blessing, yes I LOVE having a bigger family, yes I even love the craziness it inevitably brings. But even more than that, I love what is brings about it them! I love seeing it transform each one just a little bit more every day. 

From Arae :

"I love being the leader of the kids because they look up to me. It makes me feel very special! I like being old enough so I can take care of RJ. I like when my mom calls me the "baby whisperer" because I can get him to fall asleep. 

Having a little sister is really fun because she always says "I wuv you Arae!"She likes to do the things I like to do...wearing my sunglasses - upside down, pretending to go to school like me, and changing her babies diapers like I sometimes do with RJ. 

Having a lot of siblings is cool!"

Opposites attract...and opposite children we have

We are learning over here on Cherry Street...learning new things about ourselves and each other.  The little ones are growing and getting bigger. The bigger ones are growing and changing and getting older. Which means DJ and I are definitely getting older and hopefully wiser along the way. Wisdom...something I long for more and more every day - the ability to judge what is true, right and lasting. 

I have been praying lately for this very thing. Wisdom in handling life as it comes some days without warning. Don't you just love those days...the ones without warning?? We've had a lot recently. I need wisdom in raising the little kids and bigger kids all at the same time. This is truly proving to be an interesting endeavor. One that I have to consciously breathe through.

Here is what I am learning along the way : 

-No two children are the same no matter how much they may be alike. 

-Different kids will struggle with completely different things....just when I feel like I have taught one, one thing I am turning around teaching the next one the same thing in a different way because...

-...The way one learns most likely is not the way the other learns. (We have opposite learners in our household)

-Each child has a bend in a direction - how they learn, how the move about the day, how they pick up (or don't), how they eat (honestly, my 2 year old is a cleaner eater than my 7 year old...he is what we fondly call a "two fister") and how they do the things they love to do, their desires and wants.

-Some days they just need me - to sit on a lap; be with them. Bitty has told me often lately, "I need Mommy" and all she wants is my attention and lap. She doesn't need help with anything just ME. I'm learning to listen for these cues.

-Some days I just need them - to hold them close

-What the world expects them to go through and when is NOT always when it happens because what "they" don't factor in is life; circumstances out of our control and ultimately in our Master's hands.

When I really sit and think about where I am as a Mom right now I'm realizing I have 5 balls I am juggling high in the air at the same time. And every once in awhile I see I have dropped a ball or some days all of them. While other days, moments I am juggling well. This is why I pray deeply for wisdom! Each day proves to be a different day, a different challenge and full of different joys. Then for a split second I see a little progress made, a little more independence gained, a little wing that grew a touch more and I breath in deep the achievement they have made and praise them for that accomplishment. Ahhh, these are good moments!

What keeps me sane some days is writing down this thankfulness I store up inside...sometimes too deep that I need to be reminded and that thankfulness needs to come out in penned down. It allows me to see some of the beauty around me in the very little things. And realizing nothing is random to our God. Everything happens for a purpose, a reason for those who love HIM.  I get so caught up in the little things that I need to be reminded those days to trust and be thankful. Every day I need to have my God "antennae" out to pick up the faintest glimmer of HIM, His finger prints, His moving about in our lives, conscious of HIM in all of my daily routine. 

This is our daily routine, life as we know it....I am thankful!

She's becoming a very thought provoking person. Which is keeping me and her daddy on our toes and knees. In many ways, way beyond her years. In many ways her age. 

Bitty, in a totally different way, keeps us on our toes. She is something!! Almost daily sporting her little "Cindy-Lou-Who" sprout. This little independent girl enjoys doing everything on her own. 

This Man is "mister dependence" - so opposite of his little sister. He likes everyone to do everything for him. While Bitty gets dressed all on her own, he is very content to have me help him. 

Sweet sleeping baby - if you follow me on instagram you know how often I post these...he melts me just as they all did when they slept at this age...okay I still love watching them all sleep. 

If she isn't sporting a "sprout" she has crazy, ragamuffin hair.

Science Fair day - they worked so hard...okay so this Momma worked hard too...but they LOVED their topics and knew them well.
This is why I pray for wisdom...they are all SO different. This project alone gave me great insight into just that.

Crazy Kobo - he wants to be a zoologist & police man ...some how he thinks he can do both! This project only made his love of animals grow. He only sleeps with about 50 in his bed...knowing when one is missing. We tried narrowing them down for him without him knowing...unsuccessful! He "sensed" some were gone.

This girls was fascinated with birds nest this year. We collected them for a year and did lots of research on ALL the different kinds. Who knew there were SO many different nests. What a creative God! 

Typical...just typical!