Here is a update on my health blog.
http://healthierfamiliesforus.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/update-on-my-health-thyroid-and-adrenals/
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
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!
Monday, February 17, 2014
Those Horrible Teenagers!!
I have written about this before but feel the need to do it again. I am very sad about the comments I hear like, " Just wait until they are teenagers". Or just the talk in general about having teenagers and how horrible they are. Yes, I have made the same comments just trying to be funny but really it isn't funny. Teenagers should be viewed and treated like young adults. We should be raising them on a strong foundation so that they may go out and share the gospel. If we did that then we would never have to worry about saying those things.
I have to be honest I LOVE my teens and they are much easier than my younger ones most days. I have 3 teenagers in this house at this time. Twin 16 year old sons (who will be 17 in March) and a 15 year old daughter. Yes, they add some added issues in the house and sometimes the hormones are flying but they are so helpful. They make it where I can have time with my husband, try to work on healing my adrenals, or just have time to get my thoughts. They keep us laughing and remind us how life should be fun. They have amazing faith and we could actually learn a lot about how hardworking they are. They are always ready to learn.
Maybe we should start saying look at those horrible adults. Don't you think a lot of times things might fall back on the parents or adults in their lives. Now, don't misunderstand me. I do believe some teens can backslide from their beliefs and turn away from their parents for a time. I KNOW this happens. Happened to me but I do see even Christian parents just trying to shove their kids off to someone else and speaking horribly about their children. Think about how you would feel if someone talked about you constantly, you would have a horrible attitude as well. Think about going through the changes of hormones without a Christian foundation. Maybe we need to start rethinking things. Maybe they are not all the cause of the name they have but the affect of how they have been treated. So , next time that teen is sitting in their room by themselves or they slam that door another time , just maybe you should go ask them why. Talk to them! They will after all be gone very soon. Time is fleeting. WE should be reaching our teens NOW and love them NOW.
I have some of the best teens around and am so thankful for them. They keep me on my toes. They make me laugh, cry, dance, sing, run, get angry, worry, and LOVE. They teach me so much and I am thankful the Lord gave me these children. While at the time they might not have been viewed as the blessings they are , I am thankful the Lord knows much better about what we need. ;)
I have to be honest I LOVE my teens and they are much easier than my younger ones most days. I have 3 teenagers in this house at this time. Twin 16 year old sons (who will be 17 in March) and a 15 year old daughter. Yes, they add some added issues in the house and sometimes the hormones are flying but they are so helpful. They make it where I can have time with my husband, try to work on healing my adrenals, or just have time to get my thoughts. They keep us laughing and remind us how life should be fun. They have amazing faith and we could actually learn a lot about how hardworking they are. They are always ready to learn.
Maybe we should start saying look at those horrible adults. Don't you think a lot of times things might fall back on the parents or adults in their lives. Now, don't misunderstand me. I do believe some teens can backslide from their beliefs and turn away from their parents for a time. I KNOW this happens. Happened to me but I do see even Christian parents just trying to shove their kids off to someone else and speaking horribly about their children. Think about how you would feel if someone talked about you constantly, you would have a horrible attitude as well. Think about going through the changes of hormones without a Christian foundation. Maybe we need to start rethinking things. Maybe they are not all the cause of the name they have but the affect of how they have been treated. So , next time that teen is sitting in their room by themselves or they slam that door another time , just maybe you should go ask them why. Talk to them! They will after all be gone very soon. Time is fleeting. WE should be reaching our teens NOW and love them NOW.
I have some of the best teens around and am so thankful for them. They keep me on my toes. They make me laugh, cry, dance, sing, run, get angry, worry, and LOVE. They teach me so much and I am thankful the Lord gave me these children. While at the time they might not have been viewed as the blessings they are , I am thankful the Lord knows much better about what we need. ;)
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Valentine's Day
While for the most part I believe Valentines' Day is just a another day where businesses try to make extra money by exploiting certain things. I believe stuff is overpriced and that we should treat everyday like Valentine's Day. Do I? No, but I should. But while I do not necessarily agree with it I can use the "holiday" to put my husband first and make sure he knows how much he is loved.
You do not have to spend a ton of money on stuffed animals , overpriced candy, or chemical laden food. You can plan out a time for you and your spouse without spending tons of money. I cannot mention yet what I have planned because my sweetie reads this but I hope he ends up feeling very special.
Most importantly I want to remember the ultimate Valentine gift and that was Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says , For God so loved the world He gave his one and only son!!! Wow! Oh how much He must love us! What a precious gift of love! That is what I want to remember this Valentine's Day. That is what I want to teach my children. And that is what I want to give others. God is soooo very good and I just want to put my focus on him.
While many will not celebrate Valentine's Day at all I see no problem in showing your spouse just how much you love them. WE should be doing that anyway. I see no problem in a holiday that reminds us of that. So, what are you planning this Valentine's Day?
You do not have to spend a ton of money on stuffed animals , overpriced candy, or chemical laden food. You can plan out a time for you and your spouse without spending tons of money. I cannot mention yet what I have planned because my sweetie reads this but I hope he ends up feeling very special.
Most importantly I want to remember the ultimate Valentine gift and that was Jesus Christ. John 3:16 says , For God so loved the world He gave his one and only son!!! Wow! Oh how much He must love us! What a precious gift of love! That is what I want to remember this Valentine's Day. That is what I want to teach my children. And that is what I want to give others. God is soooo very good and I just want to put my focus on him.
While many will not celebrate Valentine's Day at all I see no problem in showing your spouse just how much you love them. WE should be doing that anyway. I see no problem in a holiday that reminds us of that. So, what are you planning this Valentine's Day?
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