Thankful Thursday

1.  Cold front.  I may be wishing it away at tomorrow night's football game when it's in the 30's and my little ones are all freezing!  But for today?  I love it.

2.  Going to try this recipe for the first time, tonight.  Yum!  Maybe Son (#3) will make us some chocolate chip pumpkin muffins when he gets home from school.

3.  Somewhat "final" diagnosis for Daughter (#6), yesterday.  Not serious.  Although it has a rather vague cause and treatment. The Lord knows.  Trusting Him for direction.

4.  A clean house.  The kids all pitched in a got it done, yesterday afternoon.  It was a zoo, but they worked hard and accomplished an amazing amount.

5.  The blowing leaves, the pots of pansies and mums, the cloudy sky.  Ahhhhh. . . Fall.

6.  Sweet friends who check up on us (Tuesday's post was just for them!) and pray for us.  We are so blessed.

7.  Coffee date with two of my boys on Tuesday.  I love them.  Even when they rope me into taking them to the pet store.

8.  Watching my girls play school together in the afternoons.  Watching the big kids play games together in the evenings after the littles are in bed.  Brings me joy.

Time to get my little home schoolers some hot cocoa and get in the shower.  I may or may not have completely missed getting a shower, yesterday.  Ugh.  And I may or may not have said (in the past), "I will never be one of THOSE moms who doesn't even take a SHOWER every day."  And now I have eaten my words, once again.

Not the first time.  I'm sure it won't be the last.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me another day to seek You, adore my husband, love on my kids, care for our home, cook a warm meal, fold fresh smelling clothes. . .

Blessed.

Life at the Troops. . .

It hasn't crossed my mind to post anything, lately.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe my creativity is stalled out.

But this blog is how I keep up with those of you who love and pray for us (and aren't on Facebook - ha!). . . so I figure an update is in order.  So for all of the Aunts AND the rest (that's you, Sara!). . .

We celebrated Daughters's (#7) EIGHTH birthday on the 13th.  My precious baby girl.  She's not so little, anymore.  Thankfully, after a rough illness and a tough transition back into school?  She's doing great.  Talking on the phone to her BFF every afternoon.  So cute.  I have pictures of her birthday.  Somewhere.

Last week was Fall Break.  We packed up and headed to the farm, in spite of multiple commitments in "town" each day.  Lots of driving, but the quiet moments out there were worth it.  Such a beautiful time of year!  And I didn't take one. single. picture.  (sigh)  Football was Thursday night last week, and son played well against a tough team.

On Thursday I finished a 10 day raw juice fast.  It was hard.  But good.  Glad I did it.

The kids had a friend's birthday on Saturday, so the younger five had pizza at Grandmother's and Granddad's house so the coach and I could have a date night.  Ahhhhh.  There are not words for how much that refreshes, encourages, and strengthens me.

I LOVE Fall.  I love the leaves on the ground (even though the Coach can't wait to rake/mow them!).  I love the pansies, mums, and ornamental kale that Son (#3) planted for me. I love the colors.  I love the cooler weather (not the wind - but we have that ALL year!).  It's my favorite season.

And this week?  Started at the hospital, yesterday morning, for Daughter's (#6) scope (EGD).  She was under general anesthesia, but all went well.  The scope was clear, the doctor and anesthesiologist were great, much to be thankful for.  We are both tired, today.

Yesterday was Daughter's (#2) first basketball practice of the season, and Son's (#3) last Jr. High game.  Not just for the season, but since he's an 8th grader. . . his VERY last Jr. High game.  Next year he'll be a freshman.  How is that possible?

All is well.  It's a busy, busy time of year, but we are enjoying it.  I'm grateful for the Lord's grace and strength.  Every moment of every day.

Now to get back to an abbreviated day of homeschooling from the sofa. . . while Daughter (#6) catches up on her rest.  I can't believe it, but I think ALL of the troops will be home for dinner tonight!  Yay!

Happy Tuesday!

Monday This and That

The sun is out this morning.

As much as I LOVE dreary weather, I'm grateful for the cheer of the sunshine, today.  We need it at the troops!

SO blessed to have my mother walk in, this morning, fold four loads of laundry, take the kids on a walk to look for leaves (while I put the laundry away and start dinner), iron four shirts, and remind me that I have the most wonderful husband.

Because I do.

Our playroom has been converted into a "nursery".  Over the weekend, we pulled all of the Bitty Babies out of storage and the girls have been playing non-stop.  Complete with a laptop to play iTunes and keep track of the babies "schedules".

Little Man just came in a said "I think this baby needs an antibiotic."  This may or may not be a result of the fact that we had some sort of doctor's appointment every. single. day. last week.  Yikes.

I am so very grateful for the Coach's help with Daughter's (#6) lesson planning.  And checking each evening to make sure the work is done.  Why didn't this occur to me the first time we home schooled?  Or the second?  He IS the teacher!

Friday night's football game was COLD.  Really too cold for comfort.  But homecoming was fun.  For those of you who haven't seen on Facebook, yet, here is a picture of Son (#1) as the Junior attendant.  This girl is a sweet friend of ours and it was fun to see them out there, together.  I have no idea how she handled the smell (since homecoming followed a very intense football game!).  Bless her heart.

I wish we had taken a picture with all of the troops, but alas. . . they are never all in the same place at the same time at football games.  I'm lucky if we get out of there without leaving someone behind!

Here are the Coach and I with our boy.  Love them both so much.

It seems like over the last few months, the Coach has had to carry more and more of the work load around here.  He's taken over the finances.  The bill paying.  Now the homeschooling.  Even helping with the majority of the discipline issues that arise.  All things I used to be responsible for.

I don't know why I can't seem to handle it all just now.  But I'm grateful for a husband who steps up and makes sacrifices to keep things going here at the troops.  On top of a job that is several full-time positions rolled into one. . . and coaching football and basketball. . . and teaching Sunday School.

And when I feel guilty that I need so much HELP to make it, he just smiles and says, "We're a team."

I love him.


Other than that, there's just the learning obedience part of life, the learning to get along part of life.  Lots of clothes to wash and food to cook and dishes to wash and messes to clean up. . . and a WHOLE lot of laughing (with some tears thrown in along with way).  

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

So I shouldn't grow weary.  But I do.  How grateful I am for these verses, too. . . (from last year's BSF Isaiah study. . . )

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint."

Thankful that MY GOD does not grow weary.  

Happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday

I could get used to this.

I mean it.

TWO FULL nights of sleep.

Now, granted, on Tuesday night, we had two little girls in our room, on our floor.  One with reflux, one recovering from strep.  But they SLEPT!  No, "Mom.  Mom.  Mom." beside my bed, all night.  Not even a, "Please sit up with me?  Please?"

Last night was even quieter.  Lots to be thankful for this morning.

1.  Thunderstorms the last two nights.  Love it.  And RAIN.

2.  Productive day yesterday.  Doctors appointment, coffee with Granddad, chapel at school, lunch with my kids, groceries, cooking, piano lesson, laundry, and a clean house.

3.  Shorter "To Do" list for today.  And more school work at home for my girl.

4.  Son's (#1) improving elbow.  He played last Friday and is continuing to get better.  Hoping the new brace will help, too.

5.  Volleyball season winding down for Daughter (#2).  So many nights I've felt torn between going to watch her and staying home with other kids who need to be HOME.  But she's played well and been sweet and understanding when we couldn't be there to watch.

6.  Friends who pray.  I can't begin to express my gratefulness for sweet friends, teachers, family. . . who have prayed us through these last few weeks.  There have been nights (like Monday) when I really didn't know how we could keep on with it all.  But God has continued to give His grace.  And day by day by day. . . we are seeing Him work and move on behalf of our girl.

7.  Our pediatrician.  We've spent a lot of time in his office since July.  Grateful, again, this week, as we found out that Daughter (#7) had strep.  Poor thing.  Hoping to find her MUCH better, today.  (And no, I won't win "mother of the year" for letting her be sick an entire week before taking her to the doctor.  Sigh.)

8.  Our school.  It makes my heart hurt that Daughter (#6) isn't there right now.  Because I know how much she is missing! We are so very blessed to be able to send our kids.

9. God's enabling to home school.  I'm just not good at it.  I don't even want to be good at it.  I don't want to DO it.  But when you know you are doing what you should be doing. . . well. . . you just do it.  It's given so many opportunities to work through things.  And I'm grateful for what we are both learning.

10.  New cordless phones for the house.  And the blessing of having kids (in this case, Son #3) who can get on Consumer Reports, find the best rated phone with what we need, get online and find the best deal, and order it.

11.  ALL of the kids help.  It's taken all of us working together to survive here at the troops, lately.  Daughter (#2) has taken over meal plans and they've ALL helped with laundry, schedules, rides, and making sure the Coach and I get a date night now and then.

12.  So much wonderful help and counsel from sweet friends who love us.  Trust me, I need the help!  I have been tremendously grateful for the words of advice.  We are trying it all!  Ha!  And some of it has been just what we've needed when we've needed it.

Can I ask for prayer, yet again, today?  We have now been referred to a Pediatric Gastrointestinal specialist.  Pray with us that the Lord will give the doctors discernment, insight, and wisdom and that test results will give clear direction.  Thank you.


Happy Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

In spite of all of the kind, loving, and soveryencouraging comments. . . as I reread yesterday's post, it sounded much more like "Whining Wednesday" than the update I was going for.

I apologize.

And to get my attitude back where it belongs, I spent my time trying to go back to sleep last night, after being awakened over and over, by a little girl who SHOULD NOT have eaten chili for dinner (duh!  whatwasithinking?), beginning to make a thankful list for today.

The only problem?

I could only think of one thing for my list.

Hopefully, that is only because every time I fell asleep and was wakened once again, I had to start all over.  Surely there is plenty to be thankful for.

1.  A hair cut.  After four months.  So nice.

2.  Chili for dinner last night (first time this Fall!).  9 of us enjoyed it.  Well, ten enjoyed it, but 9 seem capable of actually digesting it.

3.  A good long visit with a sweet friend, yesterday, who I have missed terribly.  And what happened to those days of talking on the phone while shushing my toddlers and cleaning the house?  I miss that.  I don't have time (to talk on the phone), toddlers, OR a clean house, anymore.

4.  "The A Team" on Netflix.  We are on our second trip through all five seasons.  They are oh-so-predictable.  And funny.  And it's even funnier that my 7 year old GIRL is the one wanting to watch them!

5.  Pumpkin muffins.  Son #3 made a batch on Sunday and they were gone sometime Monday.  I'm sure I didn't eat more than half of them, myself.  And for those of you who missed the post on FB, here's the recipe on my BFF's blog.  Just use the batter to make 3 doz muffins instead of loaves.  Or a combination of the two.

6.  A back-up pair of glasses.  Little Man decided to "try on" my favorite pair one morning this week, while I was in the shower and then set them by the chair and then hopped down ON them.  Oh well.  Glad I have another pair to put on in the mornings. . . those contacts just WILL NOT go in at 5:45.  Ugh.

7.  My hard-working husband/Coach.  I haven't been feeling great this week, and he has walked in the door every evening ready to help.  Dinner, homework (of the math variety, I can handle the rest), baths, bedtime.  It's all seemed a bit overwhelming to me since I'm a bit under the weather.  But he handles it all gracefully AND sends me to bed early while he waits up for the older kids.  I love my Coach!

8.  Parents who are back in town after two weeks away.  I missed them.

9.  Our sunroom.  I never would have guessed how USEFUL that room would be when we moved here 7 years ago.  It's school-room, play-room, craft-room, treadmill-room, extra dining-room, and this time of year it's SO pretty out there!

10.  The trampoline.  Dangerous, yes.  Wonderful at getting all that extra energy out of the kids after school?  YES!

11.  Along with that, the basketball court, swing set, big backyard.  So blessed.

12.  Cooler weather.  80's are better than 100's any day.


Now I'm off to tackle the laundry, dishes, and vacuuming, get dinner in the crockpot, and hide my glasses while I take a quick shower.  Ha!

Happy Thursday!

Leave me a comment and let me know one thing YOU are thankful for today. . .

Ready to move on. . .

Life is full of seasons.  Phases that come and go.  Things that in the moment seem huge, but later on seem so. . . well. . . temporary.  Like those days of diapers, or toys all over the floor, or keeping toddlers in their beds at night.

Before you have time to figure it all out, life has moved you on to the next thing.  Driving, high school, sports. . .

And as Fall (my favorite) is beginning to peak out a bit around the corner of the end of Summer, I grow sentimental.

I love Fall.

The cooler weather, the pumpkins, the Chai Tea (so perfect on a Fall morning), the pansies and mums in the pots on the porch, watching my boys play football on Mondays and Fridays, and ohmyheavens I'm ready to pull out the sweatshirts!

But this "life" season we are in?

I'm not a fan.

The Coach is busier than I can ever remember.  There's football, there's basketball, there are papers to grade and work to do at home every night he's here.  He got up and ran, early Monday morning, and I'm pretty sure it's the first time he's run since school started.  And I'm in the same boat.  Can't even remember how we trained for a half-marathon during football season?  Or any season?  Seems somewhat illusive at this point.  Kind of like regular blogging or keeping up with the laundry.

Son #1 is still out with the elbow situation.  Have sure missed seeing him play!  I'm extra thankful that he's driving, but I don't see him much.

Daughter #2 is tired.  T.I.R.E.D.  The girl is worn out.  Late nights at volleyball and a massive amount of homework.  And a friend of hers at school lost her mom this weekend.  That's a lot of pain to bear at 15 (for the friend) and a lot for my girl to comprehend.

Son #3 is doing well.  Early morning practice and homework in the evenings.  He's such a blessing to me, always pitching in and helping out when I'm tired and the Coach is gone.

Son #4.  Well.  I may or may not have googled "boarding schools for boys" this week.  Just to see.  I'm not serious, of course, but the kid is wearing me out.  He's fun, smart, athletic, hard-working, and has WAY too much energy.  I wonder if I could find a full-time job for a 12 year old?

Daughter #5 is precious and sweet and so easy to have around, be with, talk to. . . but then I start thinking I depend way too much on her consistency and howintheWORLD is she almost 11?

Daughter #6?  Well.  I could write volumes.  But I won't.  She's still sleeping in the hall, but I DO think we are making progress.  Real progress.  We brought her home from school.  For awhile.  She needed rest and the Coach and I needed a break, too.  And I'm really good at not making school at home fun.  She'll want to go back in no time!

Daughter #7 is sick.  Picked her up at school on Monday and she's yet to be back.  On the positive side, I'm thinking the first few weeks of struggle with Daughter #6 at school were her reflux AND whatever virus this is.  So there's hope in there somewhere.  In spite of the fact that I think I'm coming down with it, too.

And Little Man?  He's ready for some kind of normal schedule.  And maybe just a little ready for all of the big kids to LEAVE, already.  But in the meantime, we are working hard at obeying and speaking kindly.  It seems the more kids we have in the car, the uglier his words get.  Have NO idea where he gets that.

But at the end of the day?  I realize that each of these things will change.  Some quickly, some not.  And then there will be a new season and new "issues" and more things to work through and deal with and pray out on my knees.

And in the meantime, a batch of pumpkin muffins and some chai tea certainly wouldn't hurt, right?

My struggles fade as I think of dear friends who are grieving, suffering, fighting illness.  Some faced with a new perspective on eternity.

I can trust them to the Father's loving hand.  I can pray for the Lord's peace and comfort.  For them to reach out for the HOPE He offers.

That's a good reminder for me, as well.


Happy Wednesday!

Finding JOY. . .

With bleary eyes, I stepped over my 6th born this morning. . . asleep in the hall, where she's been every night for the last month or so, since we told her she couldn't sleep on the floor by our bed, anymore.

There's something so sad about her curled up little body sleeping outside our door.  As close as she can get without being IN the room with us.  Not to mention the fact that it can't be very comfortable.

How odd that in this moment, my mind wanders back to a trip to Taiwan way back when . . before I had the Coach or the troops.

We stayed in a youth hostel.  I can still remember he noise, the food (I've never quite understood how bread with a slice of cucumber you can see through is a "sandwich", but maybe it's why everyone is that culture is so thin!), the traffic outside our windows, and our constant campaign to get to a McDonald's for something to eat that we could recognize!

The room wasn't bad.  It wasn't great, either.  Three of us.  Bunks end to end on one wall.  Every night and every morning and sometimes during the dark in between, I'd hear my friend exclaim,

"YA'LL, THESE BEDS ARE SOOOO HAARRRRD!" in her Southern drawl.

She had a point.  I think our carpeted hall is probably softer.


And these last few weeks, I've found myself saying over and over (in my head, mostly),

"YA'LL, BEING A PARENT IS SOOOO HAARRRRD!"

I don't know what is wrong.

I don't know how to fix it.

I don't know what's causing the problem.

I don't know how much is emotional and how much is physical (can a little 9 year old girl even tell?).

I don't know WHAT TO DO.

I don't know how long I can go without decent sleep (we're heading into month 4, at this point).

I don't know why the Lord is allowing this.

I don't know how much to "push" her and how much to just comfort her.

Or how to do both at the same time.

I.  DON'T.  KNOW.

And in the dark early hours, I am sometimes frustrated with God for not making it all more clear.

As a mom, you try everything you know to try.  Then you try some more things you hadn't thought of before.  Then you keep going, even though you don't know where you are headed with the whole big mess.

We are so very tired.

I think of that quote (I should go hunt down the source, but thank you for giving me the grace to skip it just now),

"Oh the JOY of a trial, accepted."

The JOY.  Of a TRIAL.  ACCEPTED.

Maybe the joy is only possible when we accept (not fight against) this hard thing because it comes from the hand of a Loving, Sovereign Lord.

I trust Him.  With my self, my marriage, my troops, my hurting girl.

"Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Great is THY faithfulness, Lord until me."