Boy are they ever worth it.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks! Back in the Spring Robby and I began to pray for help with the kids' schooling. It was difficult for us to keep up with everything prior to the twins being born, but after they arrived we quickly realized that we needed help. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to do, I think- admit your weaknesses and reach out for help. Soon enough, God had orchestrated our discovering a brand new, private Christian school in our area and had provided a way for two of my three school age children to receive scholarships to attend (we're paying for one child). It was and is such a blessing to us! I am volunteering some of my time each weekend to clean the school and also helping with school fundraising endeavors in order to help offset some of our tuition costs. The school is tiny; a total of eight children in the K-6th grade. They use a Christian curriculum that I am familiar with and like. Ireland, Jasper, and Amos started Monday, August 18th, and they love it. I get up with them at 7 AM to help them get ready and out the door and their daddy drops them off at the school on his way to work. I'm then home with Lincoln, Scotland, and Jubilee until we pick them up in the afternoons at 3:00. Believe it or not, I feel even busier with half of my children at school every day! Ha! The time really flies while they're gone.


Adoption fundraising is progressing! This week alone we've gotten $500.00 in donations! Our most recent t-shirt sale was a success and by the time I've sold each and every last one of them, we'll have raised about an extra $230.00. Speaking of which, I still have five left up for grabs, in case anyone is interested. Currently I have three size small and two size large. Each shirt is $17.00 plus $5.00 to ship to any US state (if you're international, I can get a shipping quote for you). Here's a photo of the shirts:

If interested, leave a comment letting me know!


I am blessed. Do I get frustrated? Every day. Do I ever feel overwhelmed? Yes, a lot. Having such a large family is constant work; most days I'm on my feet far more than I'm sitting down eating or relaxing. But do you know what? It's worth it. It's worth it even when I (unfortunately) sometimes yell at my kids, even when I want to rip my hair out in giant clumps, even when people look at us in public like we're a bunch of circus freaks. That's okay because I know that despite how painful it can be to give up myself, my needs, and my wants every single day in order to be a good mother (the kind of mother God wants me to be), our future is exceedingly bright. I often think of what Christmases will be like when all of my kids are grown, married, and have children of their own. Can you imagine it? It EXCITES me! Big get-togethers with lots of food and love and cheerful banter. I think about family vacations- paying for everyone (yes, everyone) to fly to Mexico to spend a week together in the Caribbean. I think of all of the talent that will come out of my family... all of the miracles... all of the great acts for God and His Kingdom. It's hard now, but it won't always be this way. I can clearly see what is to come and on days when I feel like five of me wouldn't be enough to get everything done and take care of everyone's needs, I remind myself that now is the season of sowing and later the harvest will come.