Here are a few pictures of the goings on over the past month-ish-
handsome in bowties | Sunday best |
It's hard to believe that a whole month has passed since I posted anything. The days fly by. The years are speeding past at a pace that makes me clutch my heart and want to hold on tighter to these children that are growing up before my very eyes. They grow and get bigger and love it. Every birthday is a much anticipated milestone that they count down for months in advance. Why rush it? Because that's what children do. They long to grow up quickly and I long to keep them small longer. I'm thankful that Pete shares my sentiment. That he isn't anxious to be an "empty nester." I pray that the Lord blesses each of our children with finding the love of their lives while they are young- that they marry early and are guarded from the world's pull to have long years of career successes before "settling down." And I look forward to our older children making us grandparents before our younger ones are out of the house- to always be surrounded by the energy and the exuberance of youth! Here are a few pictures of the goings on over the past month-ish- Silas turned one! Fun at the Children's Museum in Indy
we spent a day in Michigan visiting family and the Frederick Meijer Gardens
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When I first decided to knit sweaters for Ella and Charlotte I was going to try to have them done by fall. That was a safe goal. Then I got this big idea. Things were going fine until I washed and blocked Charlotte's sweater and the yarn, which I thought would shrink a bit, actually stretched out and got kind of funny. The sleeves are way too long now so I'm going to take them out and shorten them. Then last weekend I was going to begin a knitting marathon in order to get Ella's sweater done for Easter. But the kids started coming down with the stomach flu. Needless to say, my weekend included ZERO knitting. So I have changed my goal for the sweaters to have them done by fall. Then the dresses, which were done super fast by Kate and Nana and are ADORABLE, will last longer with tights and a sweater added. This just isn't a season of life when I can manage lots of knitting. I need to keep my goals attainable!
Today I am busy holding buckets close to kids with sick tummies and trying to convince them that they will feel better soon, that the Lord is with them and cares for them and that having a drink of water right now would not be a good idea. Three kids down, four to go? Hopefully everyone won't get it (especially Silas) but I have to gear myself up for that. I stayed up way too late knitting, finishing Charlotte's sweater and starting Ella's. I'm still hoping to get them done for Easter. I was planning on knitting for most of today. But at 1:45 am, less than an hour after I put away my knitting, Ella got sick. She continued to get sick about every 20-45 minutes through the rest of the night. Then later in the morning Maddie got it and now Kate is starting. I've never seen Maddie this sick. She is usually a tough little trooper, but this illness is really doing a number on her. It's not fun, that's for sure. I'm exhausted and probably running on adrenaline at this point. In the midst of it, here are some things that I'm thankful for -
-running water -vinegar -flushing toilets -we don't live in the Colonial period, the time we're studying in school these days -comfortable beds -pillows -girls who know how to aim for the bucket (most of the time) -Silas takes long naps -Pete isn't out of town and will be home with some groceries soon -a washer and dryer that has run well today -Silas isn't sick -I'm not sick -sunshine today -our kids are generally very healthy -the stomach flu doesn't last forever I always wanted to have a big family. I used to think 5 children would make for a big family. Then I had 5 and decided it wasn't really that many. Now I don't even feel like 7 is that many. Most of the time. I'll even look around sometimes, sure that someone is missing, and see that everyone is present and accounted for. When I talked about having a lot of children people would make comments about how much work it is, but they were referring to the physical labor. The diapers. The sleep deprivation. The laundry. The cooking. The dishes. And then they'd talk about how expensive it is. True, we spend a lot on groceries. As for the physical work, around here, everyone helps and they know that is just how it has to be. Of course we had the years with many littles that were exhausting in a deeply physical way. But now the kids do their own laundry, have daily chores, and clean the house on Saturday. All of those things are easily managed.
What nobody told me is how much time I would spend on discipline and training the hearts of these children. They are just at the beginning of learning what it means to be a Christian. They are learning the hard lessons of kindness and selflessness each day in this home. When they argue and fight, asserting their position and "rights" it can get ugly. And so I spend a lot of time talking. Talking about what the Bible says about how we must treat eachother. Talking about whether or not their words or actions towards a sibling were glorifying to God. That is what is most exhausting. All. the. talking. So if there was one thing I'd like to tell a future or new mother it would be to recognize and prepare for the work of character training. It isn't automatic. It takes much prayer, dedication to reading scripture and talking about it with the children. And so, when people discourage you from having many children, don't think about the diapers and the lack of sleep, the laundry and the cooking and the activities that make you busy. Those things are manageable. Think about the spiritual training and as you grow that baby, pray! Pray for wisdom and for the Spirit to guide you in the wonderful, weighty task of raising your children for the Lord. |
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December 2017
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