My dad’s team is 11-0! They’ve had six straight shut outs…it helps that one of their defensive guys is ranked like #1 in the country (and he’s a junior!!). Anyway, Josiah has a message for my dad and “the guys.”
You can also hear Liam cheering them on in the background!
Tonight, my good-natured grumbling got a check. I have nursery duty rotation on Wednesday nights and have been doing it with a friend for well over a year now. I got to know this particular friend when she started coming to our church almost three years ago and I greeted her at the door (another nursery duty I volunteer for) and saw she had a daughter the same age as Liam. I directed her to our Sunday school class and talked a little bit. She said I dragged her in there and have held them captive…so be it…gotta get people in church somehow.
Anyway, as I got to know her and her husband, I soon found out that the “daughter” she had was not really hers but a foster child and that they were foster parents. I got so excited about that, but my heart ached when she told me why they were foster parents. She was unable to have children.
Since the time they first came to our church, we’ve met many a kid through them. And, they were blessed with a finalization on a adoption of a beautiful daughter who is a mere four days younger than Josiah (she’s adorable I must say…although very much a toddler as is Josiah).
Back to tonight…We love doing nursery together so we can catch up and talk and grumble about our misbehavin’ kids…and what cute things they are doing, etc. Anyway, tonight Ceili Rain decided to do her normal evening acrobatics of flipping completely around. It kind of takes my breath when she does this but I’m getting used to it. I remarked about how I can feel her twisting and turning completely around. K got completely silent and then asked, “Is it amazing being able to feel another living human being inside you?”
Wow! Definitely puts my past grumblings in perspective. I thought about it and thought about how amazing it truly is and what a blessing I’ve had to feel not one nor two but five little ones moving and grooving inside me. And with Ceili Rain, not just her kicks, but her pushes and flips and turns. I am so blessed and wish so much I could give that same feeling to some of my friends who long to be pregnant either again or at all.
We’ve been witness to a lot of parents losing their children, babies really, lately, and my heart aches so much for them. I’ve taken this pregnancy at less of a grumbling stage. Even when Ceili Rain uses my bladder as a trampoline, I just grin and giggle and rush to the bathroom…I think I took that more for granted my last pregnancies. Not this time. Life is too precious.
So, when people look at me sympathetically and ask how I’m feeling I’m not lying when I say great. I really do feel good and not huge and not bloated and not uncomfortable (unless you see me flying to the bathroom…you know what’s going on then)…I just feel blessed.
1. Zoe’s (or should I say, “the girls”) room is getting a redo this week! I’m so excited that we are able to paint and rearrange for Zoe and Ceili Rain. Right now, it looks as though we’ll start Josiah in the “big boy bed” with big brother the first of December. Zoe’s getting a flowery girly room with lots of bright girly colors. I think she’s pumped. Of course, we’re painting it pink. We’ll get the paint sometime before Friday and start painting on Friday. Mark got Ceili Rain’s closet converted into a changing table/closet for her. Still some rearranging with other things in there (mainly Zoe’s toys) and it’ll be good to go for her. For those that don’t know, Zoe has two closets. One is rather large and the other is a smaller, standard size. Ceili Rain will use the standard size for now.
2. Ceili Rain is very low. I mean extremely low. Yes, I know that according to old wives’ tales that babies carried low are boys, but apparently Ceili Rain didn’t get the message…or she’s grown another appendage since the ultrasound a few weeks ago. I can feel when she squeezes by my bladder and that warrents an immediate trip to the bathroom. I feel kind of bad for my friends and family, but sorry, you guys, you’re not allowed to rub my belly to feel her move. I’ve had a couple of acquaintances at church ask if she’s moving and then put their hand on my belly. I either tell them, no, or I just say yep, and she’s way down there…and try not to actually show them as that would be inappropriate to show in public! Mark has felt her move and so has Zoe…which thrilled her to death. On the plus side of having a low carrying baby, she isn’t kicking me in the ribs (like three of the others did) and I can actually breathe fairly easily!
3. In one of Zoe’s creative writing assignments last week, she was asked to draw a picture of a blessing from God. She drew a picture of her holding Ceili Rain. To say this girl is excited about her little sister is putting it mildly!
I’m going to do a real series of blog posts. They are probably going to sporadic, but I’ll do my best to keep up. I get the comment, from the title a lot. Either they think I’m a freak or they are just curious how in the world I manage a home with four children under the age of six with one on the way and homeschool and work on adoption (which now that just involves waiting). I know I’m not the only mom who has more than 2.5 children, but my friends that have that many or less have been curious…especially my friends who are new moms. I’m not tooting my own horn, I just want them to see that I’m a real mom who makes sacrifices in some areas and works hard in others.
So, how do I do it? Really??? Well, to start these posts off, I’ll have to say I don’t! My house was last cleaned…to my satisfaction before I had children. To the satisfaction that my mother-in-law wouldn’t freak out when she brought the kids over while we were in Canada…the night before we left for Canada. Oh, I did finally clean the toilets and dust the bedrooms last week because, I didn’t want my kids using the bathroom in gray toilets…call me crazy!?!
Cleaning is not my strong suit and still a struggle for me to maintain on top of everything else.
As I said earlier, I don’t do it all, all of the time. I just can’t. So some things we sacrifice…like a cleaning routine for now. Somedays we sacrifice supper for my sanity. Mark just prefers sanity over a hot meal.
So for my mom friends who try to figure out how to do it all and you may just have a newbie…stop trying to figure it out. Concentrate on your family and meet those needs first…then as you get comfortable work from there.
And point number two, unfortunately, there is no set formula for how to manage a household. What works for some, doesn’t work for others. So, this series is just full of ideas. Take what you think might work and try it. If it doesn’t work then chunk it or adjust it to fit your family and your needs. I have been very blessed to have several women at church who have more children than the “average American.” I love to listen to them talk about how they manage their homes. I also am addicted to the Duggars series and the Gosselins series on TLC and get a lot of ideas from them. My sister-in-law is also fun to be around because I can see how she does things differently. Some ideas from all of these families I take and can apply to my home and my personality…some, I just smile and am glad it works for them. And some, I try and readjust and make work for my family. So, if you aren’t doing something the way I am, either you’ve found a way that works for you or you can use my ideas and apply them to your family.
Now some of things I want to share about in this series includes household stuff like laundry, cooking, (not cleaning), organizing and home schooling. The homeschooling one should be fun since there are some people, who don’t read my blog, who seem pretty skeptical that I actually get any schooling done with two to three little ones running underfoot…just watch…it can be done (and again, sometimes it’s just not). I have proof too…ask Zoe to read any book up to 3rd grade level and she’ll outread almost any kid! Tada!
So enjoy, or just know when to skip a day reading. I’m labeling these posts Family Management for easy access. Offer your tips too when you have them. I know some moms would enjoy reading them. I know I do!
I’ve really heard a lot lately, through Bible study and a Bible conference at church and now this, about living differently. You may know what I’m talking about, but I know I need reminding a lot. It’s about living for Christ… set apart…”in the world/not of the world.” I want people to look at my life and not just question whether I’m a Christian but know it. I guess I can whine and complain about how hard it is to live differently in a country so saturated with whatever we need and want right at our fingertips. But I’ve been challenged. And Ali’s post has challenged me even more. I started reading this blog over a week ago and I get something from each of her humble posts. Ali is a nurse on a Mercy ship. Mercy ships are all over the world and are the largest non-military hospital ships made. They share Jesus through treating the sick and those in need. She has served this past year off the coast of Liberia. All I have to say is, may people be able to really look at my life and say, “And that is how I know you are Chrisitans. This is God’s work here.” Read it if you get a chance. It’s not too long.
“They say it’s your birthday…”
Well, today it actually is my birthday! I’m having a fun day. I got to laze around in bed listening to the thunderstorm. Mark brought me breakfast in bed…that man can make a mean french toast (something I haven’t been able to do, I must admit). We then rushed through the thunderstorm to get to the dentist for Zoe, Ace, and Liam. Then back home for school, lunch and now the kids and Mark are making my cake. I feel thoroughly pampered. However, this afternoon Zoe and I are going on a little shopping trip since tonight she’ll be attending a friend’s birthday party. And then to supper with a couple of friends and who knows what else we’ll do. Mark had planned a manicure for tonight, but after talking to him, we canceled it. The last thing I wanted to do was rush through and not spend time with my family.
Last weekend, we celebrated with my parents. That was a lot of fun and besides the best gift certificate in the world (to Micheal’s of course), I also got these dishes from my parents. I am now almost completely teflon/aluminum free and “large” family ready.
Mark got me my much needed apron…my belly is always covered in flour when I bake and I’m tired of splashing stuff all over my clothes. Now I’ll be clean and in style thanks to Lisa and Holly! It says “Abbie, head chef!” And it’s a pretty pink and brown.
Oh yeah, I’m blessed!!
Two weeks ago today, we found out that our fifth (actually sixth) blessing would be a girl! Yippee, Ceili Rain is on her way. Now we are busily preparing “the girls” room for a new little girl…more on that next week.
Also, two weeks ago, I was busy at a ladies’ night at church, when Zoe accepted Christ! Calling home to tell Mark I was on my way, he exclaimed, “Your daughter’s heading to heaven.”
My first thoughts were not good ones and I didn’t associate his statement with her eternal state but just her present physical state. After catching my breath and stepping back on the gas, and Mark apologizing profusely, I realized what he meant.
He told me that after family worship that night, she told him that she needed to ask Jesus in her heart. That took him by surprise, but he quickly put the boys to bed and sat down with her to talk about all the reasons she felt she needed to do this now. According to Mark, she was pretty firm on the sin in her heart and her great need for Jesus to fill up her life and for God to forgive her of her sins.
We are still feeling so blessed by God that He called her out at such a young age to follow Him. Definitely nothing, we’ve done. We’ve shared Christ with her when she’s asked about salvation, eternal life, and the most important to a little girl…how she can be a princess like mommy (we are adopted by Jesus, the King of Kings…see…princess).
I talked with her in the morning and she was pretty set that she had accepted Christ. She shared with me what that meant and was so excited.
So, we’re giving God all the glory for our sweet girl’s eternal decision to follow Christ. I’ve waited for two weeks to share, because I thought Mark might want to share, but then I finally asked him and he said I could share.
She has a new Bible and a real Bible cover which she thinks is cool. We are seeing little fruits coming up as she is learning more about self-control and already growing in Christ. She is being discipled by us through a neat study called, I’m a Christian Now. Our church requires children to complete this study before being baptized, which we are glad that she isn’t just “dunked” and moves on. She is learning what a life changing decision she has made and how important it is to follow through with God’s commands, including baptism.
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for her as He reveals His glory and presence in her life!
I know I’m posting a lot about Liam, but he’s being really cute lately…
He announced tonight that his belly was getting bigger because there was a baby in it. I asked him what the baby’s name was.
“Ceili Rain.”
“Well, what’s my baby’s name in my belly?” I inquired.
“It’s Ceili Rain too.”
He then poked his belly out for me to tickle and pat like he does mine (except I don’t have to poke my belly out).
Hello all!
Well, it has finally happened. We are changing e-mail addresses after
almost 10 years at this address.OLD: realcharacters@comcast.net
NEW: realcharacters@gmail.comReal original, huh?
Please update so we won't lose track of you!
Mark
One bag of dried beans does not make the same amount as a can of beans. Sixty four ounces of dried beans made about TEN cans of beans!
Totally didn’t know that. I only needed 140 ounces of beans for white chicken chili…I got more than I bargained for…but now I have beans ready to go in the freezer for that ever impressive Great Northern Bean side dish (always a fav in my house, by the way…I hope you realize I’m joking).
Just so you know…