A early Christmas Present!

AFter 3 miscarriages I am happy to announce that MOnday we went for a ultrasound and saw a sweet baby with a beautiful heartbeat!! So we are expecting a precious gift the middle of July. :)

Christmas

I love this time a year, not for the same reasons I did as a kid or even for the same reasons as I did when I was unsaved. I love this time of year and all it stands for and no matter how politically correct you are it is still CHRISTmas! I find it ironic as I am writing this I am also thinking of the poor people that were just out with their children and shopping with friends and such when that guy in Oregon decided to take away their feeling of safety last night at that mall. I heard on Fox News earlier them talking about the guy that was killed and they said a life taken too soon but was it really. All our days are numbered. Each and every one of them God knows. In all of this we can find peace and joy knowing that if we are saved Christ came as a baby and was born , And was born to DIE!! Christmas is about hope. WE have hope in knowing where we are going after this life, this whole life is just temporary! Everything in it, IS JUST TEMPORARY. So, this year please remember to keep it about what it should be about. yes, as a family we give our kids presents but we also daily remind our kids what it is all about. And these politically correct people may say Happy Holidays or call it a Holiday Tree but as we know and have heard several times YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID. (oops , if my kids were reading this they would say mamaaaaaaaaaaaaa you said the s word,lol). But, on a ETERNAL SERIOUS note- if you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour the biggest gift you can give your family and yourself this year is you turning your life over to Jesus. To be saved and also have the hope in knowing where you will go after this life is over because NO MATTER WHAT YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR-the best gift already came and it can be freely yours. All you have to do is ask Jesus in your heart, have faith in Him, and live your life for Him. I am so thankful for all that God has done in my life, for all he has given me,it is all so undeserving! So.. during this time a year I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and I hope your New Year will be blessed.

Living a Less Toxic Lifestyle

IT is amazing to me how many toxins are in everything we eat and use daily. From the food we eat to the cleaners we use to the make up we slather on our faces. It was not until I suffered 3 miscarriages and found out it was due to thyroid as well as progesterone issues that I decided to dig deeper into what might be the cause for those hormonal imbalances at my age. I knew there must be some reason I as well as many many other women were suffering from different hormonal/health issues. I already was trying to fix healthier foods for my family for weight loss purposes as well as just overall health but it was not until the Lord led me to a website that I ultimately understood how toxic of a life we live. We are a society of make things quick and make them easy to use no matter what the results might be in the long run. We are now getting rid of all our non stick cookware as I have learned so much of how toxic it is especially if it is chipped and scratched. Using cast iron is the best but also stainless steel is good. Stoneware is also good to use. Also getting rid of all the plastics in the house or as much as possible and going to glass storage contaniners, I will probably still use plastic zip lock bags from time to time but they are not as bad if you do not put hot stuff in them. The toxins in the plastic seep into your food. We also have changed our cleaners . From using Windex to Norwex towels to clean our windows. WE make our cleaners with essential oils as well as use Seventh Generation. We are also trying to make our own soaps. WE also are changing the soaps we use, toothpaste, mouthwash , etc.. you get the point. (there is SOME resistance in the house so I will go as far as I am allowed :) )ALso changing the baby wipes we use, baby supplies, we have not changed our diapers over yet but we plan too. As many as we have in diapers that is a biggie that is hard since the non clorine diapers are more pricey and I can get really good deals on huggies and pampers from CVS with couponing and such. This change is a slow one , it is too expensive to change everything at once and also overwhelming but I am doing it a little at a time. Also the meat we eat is a big one!!! So many hormones are pushed in our foods these days due to trying to get as many and as big of chickens out as possible. So... I have been trying to buy organic meat which is expensive BUT since we are not buying as much junk food that part of our grocery bill can go to more whole foods- organic chicken and beef. WE have our own chickens for eggs so that helps and my husband and older sons hunt so we have plenty of venison which is very organic! You also have to be careful with your fruits and veggies, they have tons of toxins on them and sometimes buying organic is best with those too. Also drinking whole raw milk is best. I could tell you so much but I would be here writing all day. As the more I learn I plan to blog more and more about how to live a toxin free or less toxic life I should say. I want others to know how toxic thing are, what is causing all these health issues that are running rampant in our society and how mad it makes me that this is happening to us for a large part for the name of making money. I am not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice just stuff I am learning about and want others to be aware of. If you have any questions please feel free to leave me a comment or if you want to know more. Also much of the infertility in our society is due to the fact of all the hormones in our food as well as places you would never dream of. I know that is funny me talking about infertility but this is very true and even though I have 9 children, having 3 miscarriages was very devastating to us. But the Lord is in control and I put my trust in Him!

The election

Yes, I know I don't want to even think of Mitt or Obama, so tired of hearing those names and I was going to refrain from posting about the election but I have saw several comments and heard lots of talking about how desperate everything will be now. And yes, while our family was quite upset as well at the outcome(even though we really did not have much to pick from) we know that God is still God. Obama may be in the White House but God is STILL on his thrown. THey may continue to try to take away our religious freedoms by I know whom I serve! While many feel there is no hope my family has hope , we have hope in our Lord Jesus who was sent to die for us. How much more hope do you need?!? Yes, I get down sometimes while reading what Obama is trying to do(that is why I try to not read much news lol) but then I can pick up my bible and come back to reality. So when you get down and out just remember this hymn: My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. Refrain On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. Refrain His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. Refrain When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. Refrain

Thankfulness

Well it is the season, the season for thankfulness. I got to thinking today how sad it is that alot of times we really only are truly thankful, reflecting on the things we are thankful for during this month. WE should be thankful all throughout the year but how I love this season. A time where we get together with family and are just thankful for what we have been given. This year has been a very different year that I totally expected. I did not expect to have several miscarriages, have health issues, etc... But in all of this I am truly thankful. Do not get me wrong my heart still aches for the little ones lost but I am thankful with all my soul for what I have learned through these trials. I love the family that I have been blessed with and with alot of heartache you realize how much you take for granted. God has given me this family and in stead of looking to the next thing I have learned to live in the moment. I have tried to cherish more of the moments. I have been so richly blessed!!! God is soooooooooo good. He has given me far more than I ever deserved. God sent a young man to me almost 12 years ago who totally changed my life and I know it was all in God's wonderful plan. I am so very thankful he gave Billy to me and those 3 little kids back then. Boy has he done a work in us since then, I am not who I used to be but who the Lord knew I would be. I am thankful I am bought with a price and have been redeemed. I am very thankful the Lord chose me, me of all people, to bless with the 9 children I have. What a true blessing they have all been in my life ,each one for different reasons. Even down to little Jericho, he has not been on this earth long but has sure blessed me in so many ways. I have been blessed with wonderful parents, a wonderful church family , a roof over my head and so much more. I am hoping to carry on this thankfulness throughout the rest of this year and next, not only during this month. WE all too often forget during the mundane things in our lives to just sit back and be thankful. WE all have something to be thankful for if it is only that we were born in the USA, how so well we have it and do not even know it. But the biggest thing if you are a christian that we should be thankful for is that we have been bought by the blood of Jesus, we are a new creation. That no matter what we are going through, what we may be facing the Lord is always the same, he is always there. God is so good! And he is bigger than anything we are facing. So be thankful and if you have not asked the Lord into your life please think about your future and what God has done for you. I hope everyone who reads this has a awsome November and remember to be thankful!!!

The Importance of a Church Family

This post is not to argue against families that home church or anything. That is not what it is intended to be. And I know that sometimes for families, especially like ours, it is hard to find a church . But I want to talk about the importance of finding a church and having the church family. Since joining the church we have been at we have had several things go on. We have had two babies and have had recently 3 miscarriages. They have shared in our joy and also our sadness. During the last miscarriage I am not sure what I would of done without my church family, especially a few very special ladies. The importance of a church family is to encourage you in your walk with the Lord, to remind you of what is important, and sometimes to just know that I you are not alone in this journey. God wants his children to support each other, to encourage each other. I think the importance of a church family also means that the church needs to be small enough that members can fellowship, that you will know if someone is not there. I think that is also important. I just want someone who is maybe reading this that is hurting or going through a trial that you really need to find a good church. NOt only for times of hurting but times of joy. It is so beautiful to see how members in our church love our children almost as much as we do. I could feel the prayers being prayed for our family during this last storm in our life. Sometimes maybe when I just have no words , someone else is interceding for me in prayer. And just for everday life, the church is just so encouraging . Starting off your week with such encouragement,love, and faith of God's people really makes a difference in your week. I am so thankful God has led us to the church we are at, that we are at a place that there are so many that are so selfless that thinks of others first. It is very important to find a church and have that kind of church family. I think that is the way God intended his children to be. I am so thankful that we are a part of a church also that views life as we do. :) I ask that you continue to pray for me and for my family during this time. God gives and God takes away. God is good in all things!

God is still there!!

Well the past few days have been needless to say pretty rotten for me. I debated even writing this but I got to thinking that maybe it could actually help someone else maybe going through something similar. I do not even know where to start because all my thoughts and feelings are all in a mess right now. ONe thing that does not change is God though and for that I am thankful. A few months ago I was not feeling well and we experience a couple of early miscarriages but we found out my thyroid was way off ( I am hypothyroid)so we thought okay we get that straightened out and we will be fine. Started on meds and started feeling better. Then the wonderful news of another life on the way. I was careful at first not to get too excited but when my pregnancy test were definately positive and continue to stayed that way I allowed myself to get excited and starting thinking about our 10th child. And for a month I have gotten to be excited and to love the little one that was not to be. Tuesday night before I went to bed I got really nauseated and then throughout the night the nausea turned to terrible cramping. When I woke up Wendsday morning I was spotting but I thought okay there are several things that could cause this. I had what we thought was a UTI but now I think was just part of all the miscarriage. Anyway as the day went on it was clear that things were not right and a ultrasound confirmed my fears. Even though I had prepared myself on the way to the ultrasound it still was not enough I was so devastated. STill kind of am but I know the Lord is good and there are always reasons for things. Knowing that still does not really always make it much easier. Anyway, after testing it was found that my progeserone is really low. I mean really low. It was suppose to be around 20 and it was 1.6!! Hence why I cannot hang on to my pregnancies. I just want to say I have went through so many emotions. First I was just so angry. I told myself if I am gonna write this blog post I am gonna be completely honest and real . so yes I was mad, I asked God why he gave me this baby, let me believe everything was gonna be okay and then just took it. But God gives and God takes away and while I am still very sad I am very thankful to God. Thankful for all the things I am learning through these experiences. This all still cuts deep and I am sure there will be more tears. For me the more I carry a child the more I bond. Doesn't matter if I never see it or know it, I know it was my child. Sometimes in this journey I feel kind of lonely and then some sweet friend or maybe my sister or mom will call and I know the Lord is letting me know I am not alone. Being honest I do feel nobody else is affected by this more than I am. But I people have gone through much much worse. I am thankful , so very thankful for the 9 children he has blessed me with. I am thankful for the husband, family, and friends he has blessed me with. I am just thankful. But in that thankfulness I also am fighting sadness and hurt. It is a hurt that cuts all the way through. I am praying that I can find a good doctor that can help me with my hormone problems, not just for potential future pregnancies but also for my overall health. All of this is adding up now. I have not been myself for a few years now, and have not felt "well". Also I think some people get a different view on my belief than is really true. I do not or shall I say we do not (Billy and I) strive to see how many kids we will have,we ONLY WANT TO TRUST IN THE LORD. But losing a baby is HARD FOR ME no matter if I am 2 4 weeks pregnant or 7 or 12. I would ask for your prayers during this time and for wisdom to know what to do. God bless!