Finding Joy in the Chaos

This year I really want to focus on being thankful and joyful. I want my children to see me happy more than stressed, happy more than angry, and if they see tears I want them to be tears of joy. Yes, I know being a christian we face trials but some of them we bring on ourselves. My problem is trying to be perfect. I am really trying this year to just LET Go and Let God take the wheel. These past few weeks I have been trying to get organized, we started a new diet, AND have been doing our taxes so it has been a bit crazy . I have to MAKE myself take time to read to my little ones or hold the 2 yr old. Just because she can walk and is pretty independent does not mean she does not want some mommy time. I want to stop and watch my children smile, I want to not only watch them dance around but to dance with them. These years pass by so fast and in these brief years I want to make them count. Not every day is chaotic but every day there is a part of the day that is and I can either decide to let that dictate how I feel that day or just pray and move through it and remember all the blessings God has given us and just find the joy in everything. IF I didn't have the fights to break up then that would mean I didn't have these precious children. IF I didn't have menus to plan or clothes to wash that would mean I would not have my precious family. So for anyone who reads this I also challenge you to find JOY in EVERYTHING. It makes a difference in the way your whole outlook on things are. I have really been working on this and hope by the end of this year I will be the wife and mother that I really want to be.

How selfishness sneaks in

The other day was a super busy day for me . I had so much to do and everyone wanting me to do something for them. I got to thinking nobody every thanks me for anything I do, does anyone notice. I got kind of angry when I started thinking of my husband and all the credit he gets for his work he does( I know very bad thing but that is how sin creeps in). The devil was really working on me and for that few minutes I let him. And then I got to thinking about all the rewards that I do get and also what I was put on earth for. I am not put here for my pleasure but to be a soldier for the Lord. I am raising up arrows to be able to hopefully one day shoot out and be a light in this world, to be children who love the Lord so much and want to shout it from the roof tops. I was put here to be a wife, a HELPMEET to my husband. A helper, not someone who stands out and gets praised for what she does. My reward will be in heaven and my reward is that I do have a husband who loves me and takes care of me and our wonderful blessings from above. I quickly changed my attitude from anger to joy. Joy at all the Lord has given me. Who cares if nobody ever thanks me. But then later in a small voice I heard one of my little boys say thank you for reading to him. Wonderful words especially at that moment. YOu can NOT tell me God does not hear us and does not give us what we need at the very moments we need it.
This society is filled with such selfishness that I hear so many women say (including yours truly) that I just need my me time. Just on a christian radio station yesterday I heard the anouncer lady talking about how glad she is her children went back to school just so she could have some me time. That made me sad. We miss so much when we want our "me time". One of my resolutions for this year is to read to my children every day. I started it and you would not believe the difference in their behavior and how happy they are to have their mama for those few minutes. Time goes so fast we need to take time with those precious little ones the Lord has given to us. We are never promised tommorrow and never promised we will have those children another minute. I just really felt the need to address this because I just hear it more and more. Yes, it is harder to stay home with my kids than to send them off and have some time for myself but then I get to thinking about it and I think I disagree. It would be extremely hard for me to send the kids off now, I love them to be at home with me. I know what they are learning, seeing, hearing, and who is teaching it to them. NO life is not always easy but the Lord never promised us it would be easy. It was not easy for Jesus to take up that cross for us and die so that we may live. I also hope in this new year I will remember not to be selfish and not let the devil have anger to use against me, I want to replace it all with JOY!

The Blessing of Nursing

I cannot believe our ninth child is already 6 weeks old today. We had many first this time around with him. Our first time having a homebirth, our first time not getting shots right away, and I think the biggest of it all our first time nursing!!!! At first I did not think I would be able to continue nursing. I write this post to encourage other moms who are even considering it. It has been a very beautiful yet trying experience but one I am so glad I have had the priviledge of knowing. IT is so nice to not have to worry about finding the right bottle that baby will like or changing formulas when it does not agree with him! While I support any moms decision on how she wants to feed her baby I now see why so many mom's are so supportive of nursing. It is so sweet to see my baby face when he is fully content from being full. While at first it was not easy and still makes me nervous having to think about doing it out in public even though I will definately have my nursing cover on I am so glad we decided to try it this time and fully see that it is what God intended! i am so in love with this newest bundle the Lord has blessed us with! And so very thankful he has blessed us in so many ways.

Vision Forum giveaway!!!!

This is a awsome giveaway and visionforum.com is a great place to get christian books. I have purchased several encouraging books from there in the past few months. Do not miss this awsome giveaway, go here to check it out. http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2011/11/600-vision-forum-give-away.html

Jericho Isaiah is here!

I am sure most of you know that our precious baby boy is here. He was born 10-28-11 at 10:57 weighing in at 7 pounds 10 ounces. He was born at home which was so peaceful and sweet! He looks like his daddy and is doing awsome. He is our ninth and the first one that I have breastfed. He took right to it and has done awsome. We have been so blessed with our children and I am realizing more and more how often I have took them for granted. First before I go any further I am going to post some pictures.
I think this has been the biggest adjustment for me in a while. NOt sure why baby number 9 would make any difference but he did and that is okay. God's grace is sufficient for all my needs. I have had to just rely on the Lord more and isn't that what it is all about anyway. Alot probably has to do with having 5 that are 4 and under, even sometimes my 8 yr old adds some hard times to it all, so maybe I should say 6 that are 8 and under. And then there are the pre-teen and teens I have in the house, that adds a WHOLE NEW LEVEL of difficulty as well. i would not trade it for the world though. I see all the negative comments about the Duggars and others with large families and I am saddened. The saddness is for many many reasons. The number one reason is the way our society looks at babies and children. another reason is people just do not realize what they are missing. Yes, it is hard work but having a large family teaches you so many things you might otherwise miss. IT always teaches your children many things. I see all the negative comments of how children in a large family have to raise their siblings. Man, I must of missed that memo and I am sure the Duggars would say the same thing. Yes, our children do have more responsibilities but in that they have also learned patience, unselfishness, love, and kindness. They have learned good work ethics and so much more. So what is so wrong with that. I have saw how their peers act and I am so glad we do not have to deal with that stuff. Don't get me wrong we do have to deal with things that come up like attitudes and things like that. Anyway, I am thankful to God for giving me each child he has. My grandmother came to see the baby today and the kids got excited and were running around the living room and I was just watching them and thought to myself most of them would not be here if I had not given everything over to the Lord. Man, what I would of missed. Each brings something into this family and hopefully one day bring blessings to our society. Even if they reach only one soul for Christ their time here on earth meant life for that one person!!! I hope my little arrows one day reach many souls! i hope to write more later but for now I have to do some laundry! Rejoice with us at the birth of our new blessing ,Jericho Isaiah

Yes, we are still alive

Only 4 more weeks to my due date!! I cannot believe it. Before we know it we will welcome into this world our 9th child. Trully a blessing from the Lord. I cannot wait for Jericho to be here. IT has been busy around here and I have also had days where I have not felt well so I don't know if there will be much blogging till after he is here. We are doing well, just wanted to let everyone know and we are so thankful for all the Lord has blessed us with. Let me know if you have a prayer request and our family will definately pray for you.

Single digit countdown

WE have 8 weeks or thereabouts before our new baby boy will arrive. So excited but just have some anxiety about some things. I am just gonna keep quoting to myself Phil.4:13~~~