My family went camping this weekend for my birthday. We have not taken them in a long time... we have only been one time and only had 4 kids at that time. Now, having 10 kids I was to say the least a little apprehensive . But I am so thankful we went!! I learned so much and realized so much from it and we will be going back LONGER next time. I will be doing another post soon about tips and tricks I learned and what worked well but that is a later post. Here are some of the things I discovered....
Number 1- God is soooo very good. We are blessed beyond measure. I think we take sunsets, sunrises, just life in general for granted and while camping you have time to kind of focus on that. You have time to actually absorb all the Lord has blessed you with. What a great reminder.
Number 2- We miss so much in our day to day lives. Doing chores, being on the internet, our phones, living our everyday lives we miss a lot of things. WE miss important things. We miss some awesome conversations between our kids. We miss some silly things they say. Now, I KNOW we have to do daily things and do what needs to be done but that is why camping and these sorts of trips are so important. I think my kids will remember this trip more than Disney or anything else we have done. They have said over and over again how they loved camping and time we spent as a family.
Number 3- I realized how much my kids like to be together doing things. I saw them have so much fun together and hardly ever argue. I realized how grown up my sons actually were while they were helping their dad put up the tent, helping back the boat in the water, taking us on the many trips to the bathroom, and helping pack up... They are truly men!!
Number 4- I do not actually NEED all the things at home but they do make things nice. And I always said I could never live back in the old days but actually now I think I could!! Yes, I loved coming home and taking my nice warm bath and using my washer and dryer BUT actually things were not that bad. I realize I do not NEED or really WANT some of things I use to.
Number 5- I realized how much I truly love my husband and how much he invest in our children and for that I am grateful. This birthday was one of the best ever because of this trip. I got to just focus on my children and be with them. We got to get away and just love on one another. I really believe God put this trip together for me. I needed it and I am thankful we were able to make these memories with our precious children.
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Our screen free week!
What's a no screen week you might ask. Well, I was really tired of the kids constantly playing OR asking to play video games. I want my kids to enjoy life and you miss out on SO MUCH just staring at a screen. So we got together talked about some things they would like to do and prepared for our week. As you know with lots of little ones preparation is key! So how did it go? Well today is Friday , the kids are napping and I am exhausted but I think I have heard the most thank you moms ever since having children,lol. They got to see their mama jump rope and was amazed when I got in on a water balloon fight! We also learned SO MUCH this week and that was not even planned. Today we visited a local place and they got to learn about how bees make honey!!! Those bees were just as busy as all my little bees. So I encourage you, no I challenge you to plan a no screen week with your kids , you will be thankful you did!!( btw- my husband and I did get on our emails and Facebook some but for various reasons we needed to but it did make us step away from our screens a whole lot more too
) Also a huge thank you to my husband for working so hard and being such a wonderful provider so I can stay home and enjoy our children!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The Highest Calling
First I want to say I mean no disrespect by this post and realize SOME women have to work . But sadly, our society brainwashes young girls and women and robs many of the highest calling there is. That is the calling of motherhood! Many people ask me so did you plan on having 10 children. Well, of course not!!! But I did not plan a lot of things that have happened in my life. God's ways are better and if we go out on our fleshly desires we miss SO MANY BLESSINGS.
There is a calling that pays little. And the hours, well.... it is pretty much a job that is 24-7. The days are long and the nights sometimes even longer. You are on call everyday , all day. And you do not get overtime pay. The job requires you constantly teach and correct and also have to clean up some huge messes and sometimes that means some not so nice smelling messes. If this was a job I was reading about I would say NO WAY! I would run the other way. But... I have been called to this job!!! It IS what I was put here for. It IS what God has called me to do. The job also has huge rewards! But the biggest reward that is many times overlooked is preparing souls for God's glory. Do you mother of all those little ones realize what impact you are having on future generations? WOW!! That is a mighty job and a high calling. I have no higher joy than when I hear my kids quote bible scripture and hear them send praise hymns. My heart soars when my littles tell me of how they love the Lord and want to serve him.
Motherhood is the greatest vocation there is. It is who God divinely created us to be. Do not be lured away by humanistic voices around you, including in the church. The church has failed women , where they should be supporting them in their role. Big families a lot of times are looked down upon even in churches as if they are being irresponsible. Trust me, we have heard comments before. But... the church is suppose to be there to lift one another up. So sweet young women, please listen to the Bible. Listen to your heart. No one else will ever take care of and love your children like you can.
Satan detest mothers!! They stand in his way. He wants their children out of the home, in day cares, public school, and so forth. The public school is becoming more and more foreign to things that are biblical and Satan is eating it up. Deut. 11:19 -And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
This job is not meant to be done alone , nor is it intended to be. A strong, godly father is very important to the family as well . But mother, you are what keeps the family ticking. It is your job and what a important job it is. When times are hard call on the Lord. He will sustain you. My go to verse a lot of times is 2 Cor. 12:9 . You will hear me quote this verse ALOT in my post.(It was a huge encouragement to me when I went through several miscarriages) Stand on the promises of God to make it through and remember motherhood is the highest calling you could ask for.
There is a calling that pays little. And the hours, well.... it is pretty much a job that is 24-7. The days are long and the nights sometimes even longer. You are on call everyday , all day. And you do not get overtime pay. The job requires you constantly teach and correct and also have to clean up some huge messes and sometimes that means some not so nice smelling messes. If this was a job I was reading about I would say NO WAY! I would run the other way. But... I have been called to this job!!! It IS what I was put here for. It IS what God has called me to do. The job also has huge rewards! But the biggest reward that is many times overlooked is preparing souls for God's glory. Do you mother of all those little ones realize what impact you are having on future generations? WOW!! That is a mighty job and a high calling. I have no higher joy than when I hear my kids quote bible scripture and hear them send praise hymns. My heart soars when my littles tell me of how they love the Lord and want to serve him.
Motherhood is the greatest vocation there is. It is who God divinely created us to be. Do not be lured away by humanistic voices around you, including in the church. The church has failed women , where they should be supporting them in their role. Big families a lot of times are looked down upon even in churches as if they are being irresponsible. Trust me, we have heard comments before. But... the church is suppose to be there to lift one another up. So sweet young women, please listen to the Bible. Listen to your heart. No one else will ever take care of and love your children like you can.
Satan detest mothers!! They stand in his way. He wants their children out of the home, in day cares, public school, and so forth. The public school is becoming more and more foreign to things that are biblical and Satan is eating it up. Deut. 11:19 -And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
This job is not meant to be done alone , nor is it intended to be. A strong, godly father is very important to the family as well . But mother, you are what keeps the family ticking. It is your job and what a important job it is. When times are hard call on the Lord. He will sustain you. My go to verse a lot of times is 2 Cor. 12:9 . You will hear me quote this verse ALOT in my post.(It was a huge encouragement to me when I went through several miscarriages) Stand on the promises of God to make it through and remember motherhood is the highest calling you could ask for.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Update on my health
Here is a update on my health blog.
http://healthierfamiliesforus.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/update-on-my-health-thyroid-and-adrenals/
http://healthierfamiliesforus.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/update-on-my-health-thyroid-and-adrenals/
Thursday, April 24, 2014
To The Mama With All Littles
First thing I want to tell you is you can do it!!! :) I am sitting her for the first time all day and hoping I can get through this post. Right now everyone is happy and satisfied and the littlest is asleep. You see I have 10 kids but I have older ones now. It wasn't always like that though and today reminded me just how things were when I didn't have older ones. Having older ones ARE a blessing but also sometimes you really miss out. So here are some things I wished someone would of told me AND that I wished I would of listened to.
- Enjoy them!! Plain and simple. They grow up. I know when you have a bunch of littles it never seems like they will be anything but little but it really happens fast. It is true. My "babies" , my first born twin sons, turned 17 in March! IT does happen in the blink of a eye. One thing I kept hearing when I had just littles is the housework will wait and to enjoy them but all I could see was the dirty laundry, dirty babies, and dirty house. I have some regrets about not just enjoying them.
-Having older ones is a HUGE blessing but also adds more. Yes, I finished the sentence. They just add more everything. I know how to parent little ones, parenting older ones is HARD work. Letting go some is HARD! So, again enjoy this time with only littles because there will be a season where you add older ones in the mix and for me that has been so.much.harder. I love my teens and it is not that the teen years are this hard time that it is made out to be but it is a time where you are preparing them to go out into the world and that is scary. Plus they have their own problems, questions, and need a different kind of attention.
-Littles can help more than I ever imagined. They are smart and absorbed tons. But don't expect a ton out of them. :) One minute they are all ready to help , the next not so much. But do teach as a family we work together and it is important to help. MAKE IT FUN! They will cooperate a lot more if it doesn't really seem like work. Encourage them also. This is something I am working on for everyone in my home. Instead of barking orders, encourage them when they do something right.
-Littles are fun and innocent. Sit back and just watch them play. Take pictures, lots of pictures. You will love looking back at the silly things they did. I wished I had more pics of some of my older ones. I also wished I would of slowed down and just talked with them and just watched them. So slow down, I know it is hard in this fast pace society but it will be so worth it.
-Lastly, I understand in our society little ones are not looked on for much . But they are the future. They are little souls you are hopefully raising up for the glory of the Lord. That is HUGE in my book!
******I hope this is not filled with huge errors and that it makes sense. My 2 year old was sitting her singing while I was trying to type this. But I took my advice and didn't tell him to stop and just listened.
- Enjoy them!! Plain and simple. They grow up. I know when you have a bunch of littles it never seems like they will be anything but little but it really happens fast. It is true. My "babies" , my first born twin sons, turned 17 in March! IT does happen in the blink of a eye. One thing I kept hearing when I had just littles is the housework will wait and to enjoy them but all I could see was the dirty laundry, dirty babies, and dirty house. I have some regrets about not just enjoying them.
-Having older ones is a HUGE blessing but also adds more. Yes, I finished the sentence. They just add more everything. I know how to parent little ones, parenting older ones is HARD work. Letting go some is HARD! So, again enjoy this time with only littles because there will be a season where you add older ones in the mix and for me that has been so.much.harder. I love my teens and it is not that the teen years are this hard time that it is made out to be but it is a time where you are preparing them to go out into the world and that is scary. Plus they have their own problems, questions, and need a different kind of attention.
-Littles can help more than I ever imagined. They are smart and absorbed tons. But don't expect a ton out of them. :) One minute they are all ready to help , the next not so much. But do teach as a family we work together and it is important to help. MAKE IT FUN! They will cooperate a lot more if it doesn't really seem like work. Encourage them also. This is something I am working on for everyone in my home. Instead of barking orders, encourage them when they do something right.
-Littles are fun and innocent. Sit back and just watch them play. Take pictures, lots of pictures. You will love looking back at the silly things they did. I wished I had more pics of some of my older ones. I also wished I would of slowed down and just talked with them and just watched them. So slow down, I know it is hard in this fast pace society but it will be so worth it.
-Lastly, I understand in our society little ones are not looked on for much . But they are the future. They are little souls you are hopefully raising up for the glory of the Lord. That is HUGE in my book!
******I hope this is not filled with huge errors and that it makes sense. My 2 year old was sitting her singing while I was trying to type this. But I took my advice and didn't tell him to stop and just listened.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Being A Wife and Mother IS Enough
I am not sure when the lie started that women need to be more than JUST a wife and mother but I do know it is what has changed our society and I do not think it has changed it for the better. Children NEED their mother and a man NEEDS his wife. I have went through times where I felt bad for not contributing to the family financially and because my husband has to work so hard but then I remember what I am commanded in the bible. Here is what the bible says about being a wife:
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
In this verse I realize that being a wife IS enough. This is what my husband expects of me, to be home and content on keeping the home. Taking care of his children and just caring for his needs.
Proverbs 31:10-31
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
In this verse it reminds me that doing household task and taking care of the home IS my job.
****Before I go any further I want to say I know and understand some women have to work. I am not judging anyone so please do not think this. I do believe however SOME women COULD be at home and SHOULD be.
Bearing a new liberated identity, many women have devoted themselves to ambitious busyness everywhere but in the home. We want recognition and being a mother will NOT get you much of that. Nobody sees the countless hours you pour into your family and it is downplayed as ,"just a stay at home mom". Women have been brainwashed to believe that the absence of a payroll occupation enslaves a woman to failure, boredom, and imprisonment within the confines of home. While we may not get huge recognition the knowledge of knowing we did what the Lord commanded in teaching our children when they rise and when they lay down is enough. That we took care of our husband and loved him as commanded. Our goal is not in temporal things but in eternal. Raising a soul to follow the Lord is much more important than making those dollars. Training your daughter to be able to take care of her household is important and so is preparing your son to provide for his future family.
Being a wife and especially a mother you have to practice a lot of unselfishness and in our society for many that is a hard pill to swallow. It is sometimes for this mama as well. The Lord is really doing a work on me in this department. Motherhood is a rewarding job but many times the biggest rewards are seen much later! But the Lord gives us small rewards along the way like the innocent smile of a 4 month old , a child reading for the first time, the I love you mama's, the huge hugs out of no where, or the 17 year old son that loves the Lord and has grown into a awesome young man. Also the reward of being able to be there for your husband. Plan special occasions and really put thought into them. Being home when he comes home. Having dinner prepared. Being here just when he needs me IS enough.
I want you to know those that are reading this: The mom that has had no sleep or the wife who feels unappreciated that Someone sees you. Someone sees what you are doing, that you are doing your best and sometimes feel nobody cares. There is someone who cares very much so for you. So much so He gave His one and ONLY son. Someone sees the drudgery of everyday life and it DOES matter. The clean laundry, the clean dishes, the diaper changes, the cooked meals, clean house, snotty noses wiped, etc. are all for eternal things. These are things that are not temporal but for eternity and THAT is what is important. YOU MATTER AND BEING A WIFE AND MOTHER IS ENOUGH AFTER ALL THAT IS WHAT WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE!
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
In this verse I realize that being a wife IS enough. This is what my husband expects of me, to be home and content on keeping the home. Taking care of his children and just caring for his needs.
Proverbs 31:10-31
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
In this verse it reminds me that doing household task and taking care of the home IS my job.
****Before I go any further I want to say I know and understand some women have to work. I am not judging anyone so please do not think this. I do believe however SOME women COULD be at home and SHOULD be.
Bearing a new liberated identity, many women have devoted themselves to ambitious busyness everywhere but in the home. We want recognition and being a mother will NOT get you much of that. Nobody sees the countless hours you pour into your family and it is downplayed as ,"just a stay at home mom". Women have been brainwashed to believe that the absence of a payroll occupation enslaves a woman to failure, boredom, and imprisonment within the confines of home. While we may not get huge recognition the knowledge of knowing we did what the Lord commanded in teaching our children when they rise and when they lay down is enough. That we took care of our husband and loved him as commanded. Our goal is not in temporal things but in eternal. Raising a soul to follow the Lord is much more important than making those dollars. Training your daughter to be able to take care of her household is important and so is preparing your son to provide for his future family.
Being a wife and especially a mother you have to practice a lot of unselfishness and in our society for many that is a hard pill to swallow. It is sometimes for this mama as well. The Lord is really doing a work on me in this department. Motherhood is a rewarding job but many times the biggest rewards are seen much later! But the Lord gives us small rewards along the way like the innocent smile of a 4 month old , a child reading for the first time, the I love you mama's, the huge hugs out of no where, or the 17 year old son that loves the Lord and has grown into a awesome young man. Also the reward of being able to be there for your husband. Plan special occasions and really put thought into them. Being home when he comes home. Having dinner prepared. Being here just when he needs me IS enough.
I want you to know those that are reading this: The mom that has had no sleep or the wife who feels unappreciated that Someone sees you. Someone sees what you are doing, that you are doing your best and sometimes feel nobody cares. There is someone who cares very much so for you. So much so He gave His one and ONLY son. Someone sees the drudgery of everyday life and it DOES matter. The clean laundry, the clean dishes, the diaper changes, the cooked meals, clean house, snotty noses wiped, etc. are all for eternal things. These are things that are not temporal but for eternity and THAT is what is important. YOU MATTER AND BEING A WIFE AND MOTHER IS ENOUGH AFTER ALL THAT IS WHAT WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Lies and Truth
There is so much that fill our heads these days. So many lies that it is hard to find the truth. Sometimes it gets so confusing that what you thought was the truth turns out to be nothing but lies. But there is HOPE- my hope is in Jesus- the way , the TRUTH, and the life.
There is the lie that if you become saved and follow Jesus that things will be all peaches and cream(yes, I am from GA. :) ) but in reality sometimes that is further from the truth. Following Jesus means we may lose things, suffer, go through sickness, heartache, pain. We may never understand this side of heaven why on earth we had to suffer so greatly BUT there is the TRUTH. The truth is that God never leaves our sides, He is always there and He is our hope. It DOES all end well but for a season times may be hard.
Then there is a lie that you will have health, wealth , and such. Not sure where in the world that came from either but this is not true either. IF God has given you wealth then He is probably giving it to you so you can help others and reach out and be His hands and feet. There is a LIE going around that we keep it for ourselves , see how much we can buy and how fancy of things we can get. The TRUTH is you will fall and lose in this game. The TRUTH is you may have nothing, be sick, and be all alone BUT IF you have Jesus you have EVERYTHING!
There is a lie that you are not enough . That God is not enough. But you know what God IS enough and He made you so you are enough. 2 Cor. 12:9 says, for His Grace is sufficient. Grace is a beautiful thing and there goes into another lie. Many have heard and have in their heads that grace is not for them. That they have done such horrible things that God could never love them. That is a LIE. The Truth is Jesus died FOR ALL! And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord and follows Him shall be saved. That my friends is TRUTH.
Life is HARD. People will come and go out of your life and times will get lonely but continue to follow TRUTH. In the end it is so worth everything you ever went through. God is so good and we are so blessed. In this day and time it is hard to find the truth for the lies so that is why it is so important to stay in the Word and not listen to man! In Christ we are a new creation! Thank goodness for that!
There is the lie that if you become saved and follow Jesus that things will be all peaches and cream(yes, I am from GA. :) ) but in reality sometimes that is further from the truth. Following Jesus means we may lose things, suffer, go through sickness, heartache, pain. We may never understand this side of heaven why on earth we had to suffer so greatly BUT there is the TRUTH. The truth is that God never leaves our sides, He is always there and He is our hope. It DOES all end well but for a season times may be hard.
Then there is a lie that you will have health, wealth , and such. Not sure where in the world that came from either but this is not true either. IF God has given you wealth then He is probably giving it to you so you can help others and reach out and be His hands and feet. There is a LIE going around that we keep it for ourselves , see how much we can buy and how fancy of things we can get. The TRUTH is you will fall and lose in this game. The TRUTH is you may have nothing, be sick, and be all alone BUT IF you have Jesus you have EVERYTHING!
There is a lie that you are not enough . That God is not enough. But you know what God IS enough and He made you so you are enough. 2 Cor. 12:9 says, for His Grace is sufficient. Grace is a beautiful thing and there goes into another lie. Many have heard and have in their heads that grace is not for them. That they have done such horrible things that God could never love them. That is a LIE. The Truth is Jesus died FOR ALL! And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord and follows Him shall be saved. That my friends is TRUTH.
Life is HARD. People will come and go out of your life and times will get lonely but continue to follow TRUTH. In the end it is so worth everything you ever went through. God is so good and we are so blessed. In this day and time it is hard to find the truth for the lies so that is why it is so important to stay in the Word and not listen to man! In Christ we are a new creation! Thank goodness for that!
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