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Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Love Sick

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , on May 3, 2013 | 2 Comments »

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a two day doula workshop. It was hard for me to go. I fretted about being gone so much and it was the longest that I’ve been away from my one year old.

The course was scheduled for 9 hours on Saturday and Sunday and then I had 3 hours of driving on top of that both days.  I’m so thankful that I was able to go though. It was an incredible group of women and we shared both laughter and tears.

Apparently, William asked for me throughout the weekend and both he and Joel started up a chant at one point, “Mama, Mama, Mama!” :) Oh, how sweet it was to come home and be surrounded by all their beautiful smiles. Kevin and I kept the little boys up a bit late on Saturday and we just snuggled and played on the floor together.

On Sunday, Kevin texted me a picture of William and Joel that he had taken that day. “The day in their lives that you missed!” my friend quipped, and I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes. “Two days!” I said with a pang. I longed to be home, but I also wanted to take the opportunity to visit some friends I don’t often get to see. I left their house at 8:00 pm and still had an hour drive before I got home. I tried not to drive too fast, but I was worried that the children would all be in bed.

I ran up to the house and joy flooded through me when I saw Joel quietly playing while Kevin played guitar. My baby… my sweet baby. “Joel,” I called to him softly. He turned and gave me a gentle smile. I gathered him into my arms and he just melted, his little body snuggling into my embrace. I danced around the room with him. He rarely cuddles now. There’s just so much to see and do! But that night he just wanted to be close. After a while I sat on the couch with him and he would jump into my arms and wriggle his little head into the nape of my neck and then jump up, laugh, and do it all over again.

Yes, absence does seem to make the heart grow fonder, or at least it makes us realize how precious our loved ones are. But, like taking too long of a break from exercise, I think that absence also weakens our stamina! I have found myself thinking, “Wow, six kids is a lot of kids!” But when I’m away… I know that there’s nowhere that I’d rather be than right here at home… surrounded by those that I love.

The day that I missed

The day that I missed

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My Littles

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , on April 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

I recently made up a little video for the grandparents who don’t get to see the children very often, and thought that I would share it here too. So here it is, my two youngest just having fun and enjoying each other. It’s just so precious how they light up when they’re together!

P.S. – if the video is low quality you can adjust it by clicking on the sprocket thingy. :)

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The Ache

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , , , on April 20, 2013 | 6 Comments »

Tonight was movie night. My husband tends to pick westerns and adventure films. I pick dramas and tear jerkers. It was my night to pick a movie. Yep, I’ve been crying.

We watched The Grace Card. It came across as somewhat low budget, but the acting was great and the story powerful. I won’t ruin the movie for you, but God took the repentance and forgiveness theme and brought it home to my heart.

“What’s wrong?” my husband asked as my tears made a damp spot on his jeans. “I just want to be a good mom,” I managed to sputter.

Really, I had no idea that being a mom would be this hard. I thought that “all we needed was love.” And now, 13 years into motherhood, I realize that I will never be “good enough.” I will make mistakes. I will fall short. I will hurt my children. And that… is why I was crying.

Wednesday I was exhausted and irritable. Thursday and today I was still feeling rundown and got caught up with homeschool and weight loss. In short, I’ve been a grumpy and distracted mom and my relationship with my children has suffered.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ~ 1 John 1:9

Is there anything as lovely as grace and forgiveness? Oh how sweet this is to me! I prayed, “Lord, please forgive me for hurting your little ones,” and He did, He does. Tomorrow, I will ask my precious children to forgive me. That’s the reset button… repentance.

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Today’s Crazy Adventure ~ The Conclusion

Posted in Family, Life, tagged on April 11, 2013 | 4 Comments »

Part of me was hoping for a dramatic ending to the day’s scenario. (Wouldn’t pictures of a splintered door make for an exciting blog post?!) But, as it happened, my son quietly appeared after an hour and a half and ran outside to play. He emerged calm and cheerful and we had a wonderful day.

Doesn’t it just give rest to your soul knowing that our sovereign and loving God, both opens, and closes the doors in our lives. His timing is perfect. His ways are perfect.

I’ll end with a few pictures from the day.

Joel helping Myra open presents.

Joel helping Myra open presents.

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The cake that Myra made and iced.

The cake that Myra made and iced.

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Today’s Crazy Adventure

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , on April 10, 2013 | 1 Comment »

April 10th 2013, 11:00 am

I’m curious about how this day will turn out and decided to write this journal style. I’m inwardly laughing and I know that I shouldn’t be!

It is Myra’s 13th birthday today. (Wow, thirteen years ago I became a mom!) One of my 8 year old sons tends to go wild when the routine changes and he doesn’t handle excitement very well. I noticed that he was starting to get really hyper over all the birthday excitement. “I’ve got to get things under control.” I said to myself.

Too late…

My son got in an argument with a sibling and stomped off to his room. I pushed against the door and found it wouldn’t budge. “Please move away from the door,” I said and then gave the door a harder shove.

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“I’m not against the door,” was the reply. That’s when I noticed that solitary seeking son had wedged screw drivers under the door, and that I, had gotten them stuck tight by pushing against the door.

I’ll admit. I really haven’t tried very hard to open the door. There was room under the door to pass some school work and pencils and I will be able to give him some food, (crackers anyway.) Things are wonderfully calm and peaceful and I think that it is a fitting consequence for the aforementioned outburst.

I find it absolutely hilarious and I’ve had a terrible time trying to keep a straight face around the children. I am reminded about being locked in a bathroom with a friend when I was about his age (maybe a little older.) We were there for hours and hours and my friend’s brother threw us cherries through the window, (that was unfortunately too small to get out of.) Finally we were rescued when a family friend broke down the door. It’s a good memory. Maybe that’s why I’m laughing inside. He’s making memories!

I also know that my husband will not see the humor in it, especially if he has to break down the door…

Oh my… I’m sure I’ll never grow up!

To be continued…

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Oh Lord, Help Me To Make The Most Of This Time

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , on March 8, 2013 | 6 Comments »

I’m writing this on the eve of my baby’s first birthday. Is it really a year since sweet baby Joel swept into our lives?

It feels like time has been playing tricks on me. It just doesn’t seem logical the way the days fly past like so many leaves in an autumn wind.

I remember when I only had two little ones and the days were so long. I loved playing with my babies and being a mom, but, I always found PIC_1543myself looking ahead. “It will be easier when she is six months old, a year, three years…” I would think to myself. And in many ways it was, but now that my little girl is almost thirteen, I realize that those years are all to short and I can never have them back.

God has a beautiful lesson for us to learn in this season of busyness, that of dying to oneself. I am tempted to chafe at times when the children are sick and I am up out of bed umpteen times in the night, but then I remember that it is just a season and I can redeem those sleepless nights with prayer.

Sometimes it’s hard to see past the trials and hardship of fulltime motherhood, but there is so very much more if we choose to look for the moments of joy. There is nothing like the thrill I get when I slip into Joel’s room to get him after his nap. Sometimes he’s lying down playing with his fingers or sitting looking expectantly for me, and then our eyes meet and his whole face lights up with delight. {dreamy sigh}

Life with little ones is filled with the unexpected. Three year olds are so wonderfully witty and curious. Giggles abound. A simple walk outside is filled with wonder: a bug, a rock, a cloud.

I don’t say to myself anymore, It will be easier when…

Now I pray, Oh Lord, help me to make the most of this time.

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P.S. I took most of these pictures on Tuesday. Yes, we still have that much snow! :)

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Snow Days

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , on January 9, 2013 | 7 Comments »

Winter Morning - Sun rising behind old Apple TreeIt is a winter wonderland outside my window today. We got fourteen inches of new snow overnight and it has been coming down heavily all day. The branches droop heavily under their mounds of snow and every once in a while a branch loses it load and there is a great shower of snow. The single branch then springs up light and bare.

It is a day that I am thankful for our toasty wood fire. I’m sorry, but electric heat just doesn’t come close to standing around a cozy stove with a “cuppa” hot cocoa. Today reminds me of a sweet story called “The Snowy Day”. Have you read it?

A little boy wakes up to find the world covered with snow. He is filled with joy as he spends his entire day playing in the white drifts. When he finally comes in, he brings a snow ball wedged in his pocket…to save for later. :) It is one of those sweet stories that capture the wide eyed wonder of childhood.

Plans for this afternoon: go sledding with the children, catch snowflakes (and examine with a magnifying glass), have fun. :)

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Everything Old is New Again

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , on September 15, 2012 | 2 Comments »

I looked out the window this week to see my children running down the driveway with a green tarp billowing behind them. They were having the greatest time and would all scream when the tarp would fill with air and lift off the ground. Children are so incredibly resourceful! The tarp had originally been the roof of a gazebo that was given to us (thanks Mom!) It had been great during the summer, but a storm had crippled it and I was happy the children were enjoying the remains.

The following day the children had it attached behind their bikes and took turns pulling it. Later on, I overheard plans to jump out of the fort with it! “That tarp will not have time to fill with air before you hit the ground! Don’t do it!” I admonished them.

“Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t work,” they agreed nodding.

“And it won’t work out of a tree either!” I added, remembering what I had been like as a child. It’s pretty important to stay one step ahead of these guys! I did actually jump out of my fort with an umbrella as a child, (I was under the influence of Mary Poppins. Believe me, movies do affect us!)  :)


Here’s a little video of my children trying to fly. :)

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A Time To Play

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , , , , on July 21, 2012 | 4 Comments »

I always find that I spend time in deep reflection on the eve of my children’s birthdays. It is a little painful to realize how quickly they are growing. It is when I become acutely aware of the passage of time, a lot like when the leaves fall from the trees and I say good-bye to a summer that will never be seen again.

William’s third birthday came and went a week and a half ago. He could remember Myra and Melanie’s birthdays and was delighted to know that the balloons were in celebration of his birthday. We sang “Happy Birthday” to him and he beamed. What a special three years it has been!

It is at times like this that I realize that this is, and will be, the pinnacle of my life. It is when I realize that the days, the weeks, the years, are slipping past like the sand in an hour glass.  For the rest of my time here I will look back on these crazy, busy, wonderful years with a smile in my eyes and an ache in my heart.

I am very privileged to have several dear friends whose children are grown. They have so much wisdom to share with me, but perhaps the thing that they most want me to know is that these years when I am surrounded by my little ones are short, so very short. Their message to me is to enjoy this time, and yet I often forget, and the realization that the time is passing quickly sneaks up on me and surprises me every time!

I have found that the best way to really enjoy my children is to be play with them. I don’t know why, but I find taking the time to play with my children is very hard to do. It feels like I’m not accomplishing anything, but in reality it is connecting the hearts of my children to mine and that is one of my most important tasks here on earth.

So here’s to a summer of tickling my baby, playing tag, building castles out of cushions and sheets and splashing in the water. I want to look back on this summer and know that we played together, that we laughed together, that we had fun together. :)

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The Mysterious Couch (and other random acts of kindness)

Posted in Family, Life, tagged , , on May 23, 2012 | 2 Comments »

We were returning home from church one Sunday, and Kevin could tell by looking at the driveway that someone had been to our house. (I really have no idea how he notices such things.) Sure enough, we could see something huge and dark in our porch. I opened the door and was astonished to see a couch standing on end! Kevin and I just looked at each other wide-eyed.

“Do you have any idea where it came from?” Kevin asked. I thought back to a conversation that I’d had earlier that day, and thought I might know who the secret gifter was.

I had been visiting with some friends, and had mentioned that our couch was so grungy and abused that my husband was embarrassed at the thought of taking it to the dump! One of the ladies said that we could have her couch if she could get the retro one that her Grandmother had.

I called the friend and told her that a couch had appeared in our porch. I asked if she might know anything about it. She laughed and I got the story out of her. “I just wanted to bless you with it,” she admitted. What really astonished me was that they managed to get it into their car. This is a full size couch! It’s a good thing that it is only a short distance, because they drove with the back door open and her husband’s face smushed against the windshield! (I am withholding names because some folks might be sticklers about such things. :) ) There isn’t a chance in a lifetime that I’d get my husband to agree to such a scheme!

The plan had been to sneak into our house and take away the old couch and replace it with the new. Our house is never left unlocked though, so they left it on the porch instead. I laughed at the thought of returning home to find that our couch had gone through metamorphosis. :) This family of five is now without a couch and I have a hard time imagining them all squeezed onto their lonely loveseat!

We were recently the recipients of yet another act of kindness. Kevin had been driving on the highway, when the engine in our van died. He managed to pull safely off the highway. He gave me a phone call and described the predicament. The girls and I prayed that all work out. It is a stressful thing to have our only vehicle die, and money was in short supply at the time.

While standing alongside of the van, unsure of what to do, a friend drove up alongside Kevin and asked if he could help. Incredibly, they leant us their vehicle to use until our van was fixed, and to top it off, it was an eight seater and could hold our huge family! (What are the chances?)

The next day was a special Sunday service at a local resort. We weren’t about to take a borrowed vehicle an hour into the bush, so we informed the others in the church that we wouldn’t make it that week. One family was bending over backwards trying to arrange it so that we could car pool with others. We ended up declining, but I felt thankful for friends who are so eager to bless and help. The same friend (a mechanic) ended up spending that Monday working on the van with Kevin. We are so thankful! Our van was fixed that day, and this family even refused to accept payment.

I am humbled as I think back to the countless ways that we have been blessed through others over the years. I know that it is one way that God shows us His love, through the hands of His children.

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