Living on a Prayer

Tanner had Disciple Now this weekend so we decided to join in and go with him to First Baptist. Sam grew up going to church there so we decided to visit, The sermon was great, music was ok and the time was good!
The sermon was about seeking God's provision and depending on God daily. We as humans have a tendency to worry about things that we cannot control and I am a HUGE WORRYWORT! I probably spend 40 % of my day worrying or questioning things, it's who i am! The pastor said something that is soooo true. Spend more time as a child and don't control and worry so, leave it to God! I would love to be a 2 year old and rely on the "big people" to do all the work and feed me, clothe me, etc... Im going to work on that, letting God, my father do all the "worrying"

"So do not worry about tommorrow;for tommorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:34

"So do not worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows your needs." Matthew 6:31-32

Cry out to Jesus

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus


"I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not because I can look directly at it, but by it I can see everything else." -Author Unknown

Please join me in praying for my cousin Robyn as she has surgery today!

Why Big Families Might Be Easier

Share by Matthew Archbold

A woman said to me recently that my five children were very well behaved. It’s one of the best things I can hear so I thanked her. Then she asked me “how do you do it with so many?”

I told her that I don’t think I’d be a very good parent of one child or two. She didn’t believe my answer but honest to goodness, I sometimes think that having many children is easier than just one.

Why big families are easier:

Patience. I never have to teach patience. My children know that I can’t drop everything for them if I have a baby in my arms.

Work Ethic. My children have learned to work because there are always chores to do in a small house packed with little messy lunatics. And they all learn quickly that sometimes they have to clean up a mess even though they didn’t make it.

Humility. My children have learned it’s not always their turn. They’ve accepted they can’t always get their way because other people have to get their way sometimes. They’ve learned that some children are better at certain things than they are.

Foreign language skills. You can learn a lot of Spanish by watching ten years of Dora the Explorer that you just can’t pick up in two. And now with the Diego spin off I’m practically fluent.

Laughter. The children have learned to laugh at the insane non sequiturs of younger siblings. They’ve learned that laughing just feels better when seven people are doing it along with you.

Competition. Do I really need to go into this? Everything is a competition in big families. The children compete over who reads faster, who drinks their milk faster, who gets to the bathroom first…etc. Everything is a competition and they’re all keeping score.

Balance. The floor of the front room of my home is a minefield of toys and childhood paraphernalia. Just walking through the room requires great skill and balance. I’m absolutely convinced my two year old will be a favorite for Gold on the balance beam in the 2016 Olympics. (She might have to lay off the cookies a little but I’ll deal with that later.)

Life isn’t fair. Sometimes you just give it to the baby because you want a little quiet. Not all the time. But sometimes.

Just say “No.” Being able to say “no” may be the most undervalued skill in this world. The need to be liked is pervasive. The need to be cool even more so. Having brothers and sisters teaches children to say “no” about 143 times a day. It’s a good skill.

Praying. They learn that nothing beats praying together as a family.

Nature/Nurture. Having many children has taught me that nature has a lot more to do with who my kids are than nurture. This is helpful, especially when your children misbehave you don’t have to feel bad about it. Just say “Stupid nature!!!” and blame your spouse’s genes.

Namecalling. You can occasionally call your child by the wrong name and still not be considered a terrible parent. They know who you mean just from your tone. Sometimes if you need something done you can call the wrong name and someone will still show up. That helps.

Spying. My children have learned that they can’t get away with anything. I have spies who look a lot like them who are willing to drop the dime on them for anything. Even at school I’ve got a child in just about every grade. If they do something I’ll hear. That keeps them nervous. And I like keeping my kids a little nervous.

Friendship. The children have many friends. They’ve got girly friends, crying friends, fun loving friends, consoling friends, and crazy friends. And they all have the same last name. And they’ll be there forever for each other. No matter what.

Love. I think my children have learned to love because there are others around them to love and who love them. I honestly can think of no better way to teach children to love than siblings.

I so agree with this post and for all of you that look at me like I am crazy, well Sam and I are, but we just wouldn't have it any other way......We love kids and will do what God calls us to do! CRAZY for some NORMAL for US!

M E M O R A N D U M

To: My employers
Jake CEO of Crying For No Reason
Spencer, President of Being Extremely Sensitive and Emotional
Patrick, Vice President of Being Overly Demanding and Loving
Tanner, Director of All Things Smelly and Senior Drama King
From: Your dedicated, hard-working employee (aka - MOM)

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First, let me start this memo off by saying how wonderful it has been working for you all. When I was hired for the position of "Mother", I truly underestimated just how fulfilling and rewarding it would be. Each day is full of new adventures, among other things (yeah, let's just leave it at that, shall we?).

There are some things I've been wanting to address with you and I feel now is as good a time as any. I mean, it's not like you all could fire me.....right?

1) My hours: When I was initially hired, I understood the position called for 24-hour shifts. I had no problem with that. It was a new job for me...one that I had never done before and I welcomed the hours with open arms. However, over time, I feel like you all have been taking advantage of me. You never mentioned that the 24-hour shifts would be never-ending. I'm being paged at odd hours almost every single night and I'm expected to work overtime quite frequently (although is there such a thing as overtime when I'm working never ending 24-hr shifts?)

I am proposing a change in my hours (don't you love how I make it sound as if it's your decision but we all know it's really not). I would appreciate not being expected to clock in any earlier than 7:00 am and I'd like to complete my work day by at least 8:00 pm, if not earlier. I'd also like to only be on-call at night for emergencies only, like when you have a nightmare in the middle of the night or if you wet your bed.....emergencies that do not constitute paging me: you have a booger in your nose that's not quite within your reach or because you're scared that your eyelashes are going to disappear if you close your eyes for too long. I haven't decided if "my butt itches" is considered an emergency....I suppose it depends on WHY your butt itches but, chances are, it's something that can wait until the next morning.

2) My benefits: This falls right in line with my hours (see above). I would like to be able to take personal days here and there, as needed. Of course, I would give you advance notice so you could find a temporary replacement (might I suggest your father, who is perfectly capable of filling in for me). Oh, and you are no longer allowed to cry, whine and scream to me "Mom, I want or need you...." as I'm running out the door. Guilt trips will no longer be acceptable. I also would appreciate regular 15-minute meal breaks and 5-minute potty breaks for every 2 hours that I work. I think that's very reasonable. Furthermore, I will be taking sick days, as needed. Nothing excessive but if I should come down with a blinding migraine (that, chances are, you all caused...and I say that with all due respect of course), I'd like to know that I won't have the added pressure of having to work that day. Again, your father is a willing and able substitute in my absence (he may not be aware that he's willing and able but, trust me, he is).
Even though this is not a paid position, it would be nice every once in awhile to receive a gift certificate from you for a massage or a mani/pedi (just to show your appreciation of all my hard work).

3) My job responsibilities: While my job responsibilities were never really clearly discussed in detail, I did have an idea of what the position would entail. With that said, as time has gone by, I've taken on so many more responsibilities that have left me feeling overwhelmed. I feel like I'm not able to give my full attention and devotion to other aspects of my job because I just have so much on my plate on a daily basis.

The following is a list of jobs I will no longer be doing:

wiping the butts of those of you who are potty trained
running around like a chicken with my head cut off at meal times fetching "this and that" for you all that I never get a chance to sit down myself and eat
providing constant and never-ending entertainment
cleaning up the toys that you take out but never seem to put away (I'm not buying the whole, "But I don't know where to put it away" excuse anymore)
no longer responsible for scissor mishaps....you cut your own hair, it's your problem; oh, and no longer protecting any of you from chopping off your own fingers....one less finger means less nose-picking, or butt picking, which you already know annoys me
breaking up fights 24 hours a day (one can only say "use your words" and "we don't hit your brother" so many times a day before she is deemed legally insane)
warming your food twice a day in the microwave (man-up already....from what I know, cold food has never killed anyone)
fighting with you all to brush your teeth twice a day (if your teeth rot and fall out, you'll just have to drink all your food through a straw).
4) My right to privacy: Now this is something I feel very strongly about and I feel that it's gone on for way too long. I am now requiring total and complete privacy when I'm in the bathroom (that includes going to the bathroom, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc). The harrassment that I'm subjected to on a daily basis is just inappropriate and downright rude. No employee should ever have to sit there while the bosses ogle her and scream out, "Look at her boobies". Last time I checked I was no longer required to fulfill the job responsibility of stripper.

From now on, you are no longer allowed to enter the bathroom when I'm in it (including sticking your hands under the door and yelling, "how many fingers can you see now?" over and over until I scream "leave me alone please", banging on the door repeatedly with the hopes that I will eventually cave and let you in, and beating each other up outside the door with the expectation that I will be able to hold my pee long enough to break up the fight).

Lastly, I would like to thank you for the wonderful learning opportunity you have provided me with. While I'm sometimes guilty of making mistakes and not performing tasks to the best of my abilities, I appreciate that you all have continued to encourage me with your never-ending smiles, hugs and kisses.

Someday, I hope to be promoted to the coveted position of "grandma".

Take the Plunge

So I finally took the inevitable plunge and bought me a mini-van. My husband tells me to look at it as a rite of passage, a plunge of fun, but I see it as I am old and finally a true soccer mom! I like the amenities and additions, but it still is a minivan. I also told him that if i had to drive this piece of machinery it would need to be loaded, and it is. It is great for the kids and Tanner is fine with me picking him up from junior high in it so I guess it works for our growing family. We still need a name for her, I think i will go with Shamu for now!

I most certainly did not literally argue with a woman last Tuesday morning and tell her that I was not pregnant, just fat, and her ask me two times if I was sure. I did not squeezze my fat *** into a way too small under armor undershirt yesterday and go for a walk ( the shirt was so small that i felt like i was going to choke or throw up)....and I most certainly did not take the kids to school in my robe (naked underneath) again this week, nope not me....

Lazy

I felt very lazy yesterday and so we had fend for yourself last night! Whoever thought of this (Kari) was a genious! My kids love it they each get to eat and make whatever they want for dinner, (examples cereal, leftovers, ramen, sandwich, corndog) I was so tired last night that I went to bed around 8, (never happens)! Sam got everyone to bed and homework done! I was relieved as I woke up at 4:30 for a out of town work trip, uggh. Tanner and Spencer fight relentlessly, it's so annoying! I thought when they got their own rooms it would get better, nope. They argue and are caddy to one another. I keep having them do pushups and picking a chore, but it does not help. Does anyone out there have a space cadet child? One that never brings home homework, never gets his binder signed and doesn't really care about punishment, join me, i do i do! Tonight will once again be busy....track started today for Tanner, soccer practice, school play, different school mtg., dinner, homework, play date, oh and karate....Im going to lay down for a nap...just kidding!

Stomach BUG

Jake had the stomach bug yesterday and I hate vomit! I ditest vomit, it usually makes me vomit. In fact i tried to call Sam to come home and deal with it but he could not. I did deal with it, pretty well, I think, and we made it through. I had many complaints about what I pay for chores yesterday. I pay 25c per chore, they are not the "usual" everyday chores that are required. they are pretty simple stuff like sweeping one room, windexing the tv's, etc. Well I also use them as punishment. You can draw one if you are misbehaving or talking back. What do you think, too much, too little? Hey if you want some extra money do the chores, that's what I have to say! Happy FAT Tuesday, eat something fattening like I do daily!

Not ME Monday

I am participating in NOT ME MONDAYS! Join in you know you do embarrasing stuff daily if not weekly! I certainly did not wake up late and take the kids to school in my robe and UGGS fresh out of the shower with nothing underneath. I most certainly did not dig through dirty clothes to find my dirty jeans to wear on jean day at work, no not me. I most certainly did not want to sleep in and let my kids eat all the valentines candy they got for breakfast, no not me, I am never lazy and let my kids eat crap for breakfast!

Valentines

Patrick and I made a snowwoman named Bethany yesterday. She was lovely with her bikini tube top, carrot head, and grenadine smile. Needless to say, Bethany was knocked over today by Spencer...short lived...i know.
So today is Valentines Day, the day of romance, love, and admiration. Sam took me to Pelicans' last night for dinner and the boys went to the YMCA for some activities. We didn't have much to do after dinner (because of time constraints) and so I pondered what will it be like in ten or fifteen years when we don't have kids at home, fun or boring......I wonder what will keep us occupied and what we will do with all of our free time and money?? I'm sure we will still be spending our money on them, but my nest will be very empty! Oh well i'll enjoy the time I have them and Sam will continue counting down the days until they leave, just kidding....pondering

Lucky

I feel lucky to have such a wonderful family! We have been busy trying to get the new house together and I feel JOY that the boys have their own space...finally! Do you ever catch yourself in a rut...im not sure if it is weather or what lately, but I am so sleepy and love my bed these days..ok everyday! I wish i had energy to do more with the boys the last two weeks, but im just well....exhausted! It kinda makes feel like Im not a very good mom when I am so ready for bed at like 6 PM! I'm very busy at work and struggling with 27 cases. Tanner had his first Valentines dance tonight. He went with Blythe Culley, a family friend. He reports that it was a "blast"! I miss those carefree days of junior high. Jake and Patrick are dealing with a upper respitory infection and ear infections, uggh! Spencer told me today he's sick of the snow already, me too! Sam started district last week and has two wins under his belt, so were off to success so far, or at least a happy hubby in the evenings.