An experience like no other happened to me the other day. i was putting Elias to bed at night and we were doing our usual read a book, sing, then go to bed. i typically sing worship songs, and it often becomes more of a time of worship with me and the Lord. the lights are dim, we are rocking, and it is quiet. so the atmosphere is perfect! i began a song i have been singing to Elias for over 8 months now...

Worthy is the
Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He.
Sing a new song
to Him who sits on
heaven's mercy seat.
Holy Holy Holy
is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come.
To all creation i sing
priase to the king of kings
you are my everything and i will
adore YOU!...

because this is often a time i use for my own personal worship, my eyes were closed as they ofen are. all i could hear was Elias saying "louder, louder..." and him singing each word along with me. we are belting out the song and i open my eyes to see my son, hands raised in the air to God singing "holy, holy holy!"

i sat there in awe, rocking my baby, crying. thinking of all the responsibility i have in these little ones. i so often think of the check list i have to do to make sure they "come to know Jesus". i get down on myself wondering "did i do enough today? did we read enough scripture today? did i get in all the life lessons when the opportunities were presented to me?" the list is endless. but my sweet Elias showed me, yet again, that it is in my life that shows my children who Jesus is. all the other stuff is extremely important too. but Jesus said "let the little children come to me" and i must remember to consistently lead each one to Him.

take some time today to worship the Lord in the midst of your children. Your example will lead to their emulation!

you can start right now by sitting back and listening to this song. then take that worship into your life today...

just scroll down to turn off background music then enjoy...

I Can't Handle This!...

"then He said to the man, "stetch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other"

Matthew 12: 13

Has fear ever paralyzed you? Has it ever defined you? Have you ever been in a situation that you knew you had to do, but the fear kept you from truly reaching out? I am not sure i could ever count how many times that has occured in my life. I would say as much as people see me as leader, fear cripples me much of the time. there is really no telling what God really has for me if i would truly surrender that fear to Him.

Yesterday i was swinging Ian on the swingset in the back yard. He wanted to go high like the other two kids were. He was incessantly screaming "higher, higher"...but just about when his feet became level with the fence his excitement turned to fear. He suddenly began screaming, while laughing in trepidation... " I CAN'T HANDLE THIS...I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!!" He was serious...and he was scared. but once he slowed down and we tried again...and again...he began to get stretched and before you know it...he was higher than a kite having the time of his life.

you see, it is in the stretching that our fear turns into faith.

What is it in your life God is trying to stretch you in, but you are resisting due to fear. Stretch your arms out to Him just a little more and watch that fear turn into faith!

My Hearts at Home...

A few years ago I found myself in the midst of a neighborhood with no one to truly connect with. There were no young mothers, no small kids, and very little support if any for a young mom with 4 kids all under the age of 2. i became desperate for companionship as i found myself more and more trapped in my house or yard with so many small children. Well suddenly about a year ago many houses began going up for sale around my house. so i started a journey full of selfish desperation...i told God that each time i looked at a house for sale i would pray that He was sending me someone to share this journey with. that was a big undertaking since 3 of these houses i could see at any time i so much as looked out my window! But after much fervent prayer, my prayers availeth much! not only has He given me support, but great friends. People I can count on, trust, lean on, and even ask for help. It is becoming the neighborhood of which i always dreamed. Last weekend we all went to Hearts at Home together. I was greatly anticipating my time with these women and eagerly inviting the Lord to reveal my shortcomings as a wife, mother and friend. i always go to this conference Knowing full well that God will reveal much to me. He has never disappointed me yet.

The story of Mary and Martha kept coming up in many (if not all) the sessions i chose to attend. it was obvious the Lord was trying to show me something here. then, saturday morning, as he always does, He revealed to me what it was. i have become so busy with my kids...so uninterruptable. there are always other things i could be doing and often seem more important. i have succombed to the "oh, you're fine" phrase with my children as i hurry them to scurry away while i attend to my important things.

The problem with that is that it is in the interruptions that life occurs. i had become uninterruptable. then God really hit me...he showed me that i was fully interruptable in my relationship with Him. i seem to have little problem scurrying off to a child that "needs" me when i am sitting at the feet of Jesus. There is always time later i hear my brain say to me. but i have it all backwards. I must be completely interruptable...for my Lord, for my kids, for my friends. It will take some work for this type A, list making, gotta get it done gal, but God is faithful to complete the good work in me that He has begun.

Are you interruptable for your family? For your God? Or has your agenda, your life, become more important than that which God has intrusted you?

Spring has Sprung...

Spring has finally sprung here and this morning the kids were ecstatic to get outside before even 8am! i love it when my kids are in picture taking moods so i made the most of it although it did not last long. If only I had had all 5 of them...it was great lighting and a great time of day for them...maybe next time.



such a little man...

this one looks like he just breathed a fresh sigh of relief and calmness...

What's Your Ripple?

The ripple your little pebble in life makes can reach far beyond your wildest dreams...

A few weeks ago I was discussing adoption with a friend on facebook via our facebook walls. Often when doing that I forget the world ( or at least all 400 + friends) can see it. But that tiny little discussion led to me being up past 2 am talking to other friends on facebook that saw that discourse between us and wanted to know more about adoption and foster care. Most of you know i am passionate about foster care and adoption as is my husband. But to step back and realized that my little world, with my little words can effect so many people was suddenly astounding to me all over again. We must be so careful as to what our words, our stances, our beliefs convey to others. God WILL hold us accountable. But just think what you can do with your little corner of the world just by being vocal about the passion God has set inside you. that night i reached so many that would and had never thought about foster care in that light. and who knows....my little pebble could make a ripple far beyond my wildest dreams...actually it already has! so, go make a splash and see where your ripples go!

Matthew 12:34 says ,"out of the heart the mouth speaks". what is your mouth speaking today? What or Whom do you need to fill it with so your mouth will help proclaim the longings of the Lord?

houseguests!!!

a few weeks ago my mother moved into the basement of our house. not only are my kids in heaven...but she is too. they just adore getting to run downstairs in the morning and crawl up in her chair to read or just snuggle with thier mamalane! it has been a great transition for all of us. the plan was for a year, but at this rate..she's so happy i am not sure she will ever leave!

Life as Planned???

kid's first day of school jan. 2010. they were so excited!

Sometimes life just goes as planned....then there is my life...! recently after much pain, strange symptoms and guessed at diagnosis like lumphoma and lupus, doctors finally figured out what was wrong with me: fibromyalgia. not the best diagnosis considering it is one with no cure, and no real treatment. but i am working through the process...denial, anger, a little bargaining...now attempting to settle in with it all in the midst of my real life. i am trying desperately to deal with it all as naturally as i can; doing as much preventative therpies as possible that my wallet will allow. and now i am about to delve into a slew of supplements and even acupuncture. so...i am praying help is on the way. but if the Lord keeps me at just this stage or i seem to worsen, i think i am ready to deal with that now. then again maybe tomorrow i will be right back at anger and sadness once again! apparently i have not learned a valuable lesson that God has been attempting to teach me for quite some time now. it all started with having 4 kids under 2. i needed help due to a shattered shoulder of my moms immediately after the babies were born, then my newborn's emergency surgery followed by my own emergency surgery one week later. not only did we need help, we needed 24 hour help in shifts. i was mortified to tell you the truth. i hate...did you get that...HATE asking for help. so after that whole mess was over in about 6 months, i thought, "ok God, i have learned my lesson...ask for help...give into my pride and just do it". then i had to go on bed rest for 3 months with our unexpected 5th child. can't really raise 4 toddlers and keep a house while laying on complete bed rest and 8 hospital stays with severe pain. so again...we had to get help. someone else (many someones) had to completely run and manage my children for 3 months straight. i was allowed the complete freedom to pee whenever i wanted though! so...once again..i thought "ok, ok God, i really have learned this time....i must put aside my pride and ask for help". then....Fibromyalgia happened. immediately i was back in the mode of doing it all on my own. i endured flu-like aching all over everyday with migraines, back pain, sleepless nights and the insanity of it all ensuing. then i had a day. a day that i cried all day. it hurt to put my coat on. it hurt to turn my steering wheel. it hurt just being awake. i had to ask for help, but i didn't. instead i failed miserably at my test from the Lord. but today was a whole new test. and so far i have passed. i called a friend (even one i barely know) and asked for her help. i cried doing so, but not only did God treat me graciously, He made it abundantly clear to her once i stated making excuses as to why i didn't think i needed her that much that she just needed to come over without my permission. i am praying that i get it this time. i mean really...who wants to be put in such a test again. i am not guranteed that this will halt the hurdles coming my way, but i am guaranteed my obedience will make them smaller to jump!

my first huge hurdle was that i knew with all my heart i had to place the kids in school until i got a handle on this illness. i am not sure how long that will be, but i know God has my kids in His hand. This is so not how i saw my children's schooling going, but it is just one more process in the test for me. God wants to me to completely surrender to Him even that which i so desperatly believe i right for my children. so, no longer am i homeschooling this year. and as i mourn the loss of my children's main influence in thier lives, the Lord reminds me to not live in fear.

Future Olympian...

Makenna was fascinated by the Olympics this year! i caught her outside one day attempting a "downhill ski". now mind you her skis were two rulers, her hill was a very small mound, and her poles were two baseball bats! hard though she tried...it did not turn out well for her!

She steadied her "skis"

and prepared for the "long ride down"

however, as she fell miserably and subsequently got very upset with me (not sure how i fit into the picture), i realized she does not yet fully understand the concept of attempting something even if it does turn into failure. This was supposed tobe fun activity for her. i mean, no one on tv fell! she wasn't supposed to either! but when she did, she really did not get what went wrong. it turned out to be a great lesson in perseverance and just plain ol' havin' fun!

A Father's Eyes...

There's something about the anticpation of a girl with her father. My daughters' were getting ready for the daddy daughter banquet and it was sheer anticipation of how daddy would say they looked. it was so beatuiful and healthy to see. below is the exact look on kenna's face as she waited in grand anticipation for her dad to open his eyes as she stood before him. The fact is...he loves her no matter how she looks and always finds her beautiful. sometimes i wish i could be that way with God. "just close your eyes God, i'm almost ready...ok..now you can open...how do i look?" But He always sees me, his daughter, and although i may be disappointing Him miserably at the time, He never fails to see me as beautful in His eyes. I see my children that way, if only i could see my God that way!

I love this picture because of Bella's intentionality on placing her hands on his shoulders and eagery awaiting her daddy's kiss. She loves him so!

Daddy and Kenna ready for thier date.






such a daddy's girl!

So today has been amazing!!! it was naptime and my 5 year old (6 in 3 days) usually just rests on his bed a while then plays til i come get him. today was different. he had been playing quietly when he comes out of him room and says, "mommy come here."

, "mommy, i just saw God. i was on my bed, i looked up and he was just looking at me and smiled...so i hugged Him". then he says, "mommy, when can i get baptized?' i told him that he could get baptized any time he wanted to as long as you know why you are getting baptized. he said, " iknow why mommy, becuase Jesus came to earth to die on a cross to take away all my sins...and i want my sins taken away...and i will go to heaven then too...and if i don't have jesus in my life it will always be yucky!"

WOW!!! that is really all i can say. we will be spending some time talking to him in the very near future. I can't wait until he is ready! although...it sounds like he is pretty close!!! Please be praying for my sweet baby boy! I can't wait to see where his life leads!

Sometimes our children are sent as rescuers from heaven! mine was today. i am having a terrible day. i got news that has kinda rocked my world a little today and i have had a hard time dealing with it most of the day. I have been crying a lot, and trying to hide it from the kids. but my mood has come through. came through so much that I was really thinking myself a horrid mom in the midst of all this. It is hard to be emotionally spent and still care effectively for 5 chilren (at least and do so happily). But God sent me my rescuer....again! Mat 7:9 says, "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" I asked the Lord for comfort this day and this is what he sent me....

Kenna approaches me and says, "mommy, there is never a better mommy than you! you can even do things my daddy can't do. like make all my clothes clean, play with me, laugh and snuggle with me, clean our dishes and make us dinner. i love you mommy!" The Lord sent me exactly what i asked for in the form of my daughter...my rescuer today! Thank you Jesus!

It's a new dawn...a new day... a new year!

The year of 2009 has been interesting! As I prepare for the new year, I find myself reflecting on what has passed as much as what is to come. This will always be the year the Lord taught me to practice being an “esther” and waiting on Him in all things. I learned that God will not leave me hanging. He will always follow through. And in that I was able to see my family come together and my son’s life greatly enhanced all due to the Lord teaching me to wait on Him and not do things in my own timing or rely on my husband. It is a lesson I pray I never forget!

This will always be the year I was reunited with my dearest friend, Carmen! She brings special something to my life that no other friend has ever been able to bring me in my lifetime. I am so thankful God showed us favor and brought restoration and forgiveness our way.

This is the year that Makenna blossomed into an amazing, creative, empathetic, sweet-hearted, God loving child. To hear her pray humbles me daily!

This year I keep attempting to grow in my homeschooling and find our home’s niche. I think that may be what is in store for us in 2010!

But most of all this is the year the Lord returned my husband’s heart home. Dirk has spent the last few years really working himself to the bone. He suffered personally in a tremendous way. In waiting on the Lord, He chose to turn Dirk’s heart back to the basics of life…we are sooo grateful! He now stays home until 1pm everyday, does breakfast, bible reading, reading lessons and homeschool with me. It makes our day so smooth and easy with errands, appts, etc come up. he will start teaching and a home group this year too. I am so thankful for this man God has given me. He’s the kind that makes submitting to easy because of how he loves me!

Bring on 2010!!!

Let it Snow...

It snowed for Christmas this year...how fun is that? so, after the 20 minutes of bundling up, hats, boots, gloves, scarves, layered socks, snow pants...the whole shabang, we went out...for a few minutes! we had our first snowball fight, snow angels on the trampoline, sledding on what proved to be not a good hill, and attempted a snowman with snow that was nothing but powder.

In true bella form..she ate it...a lot of it!

this was Elias after the enduring the torture of being bundled...ecstatic to explore the world of snow...

this was Elias hating every moment of the snow....and yes, he has pink pants on! he's gonna really regret hand-me-downs one day!

On our trip to Tupelo last month, we were reunited with some old friends there. they now have 2 children, Anders (6) and John Michael (8). They were in much need of some rest and reuniting themselves so we decided thier kids were spending a week with us. i mean, what's two more kids after you have 5 anyway, right? so...the fun began. first, they woke up to snow....more snow than they had ever seen in thier lives, as John Michael said. by 8:45 am they were all already bundled up and out in it having the time of their lives. the trampoline just proved too enticing to avoid...i loved seeing them play on it. the week went great! we even added another one to the mix one day just to make things interesting. 8 is fun i must say. i will say that 7 kids is really really loud. due to the fact that i added 2 more boys...it was astronomically loud!! there is something about boys! but overall...the kids and i are all better for it. i hope this was a time their parents were able to enjoy as much as we did. now if i can just get Isaiah to stop talking with a southern accent!!!

Can't you hear it??? just imagine all the noise at my house last week!! 8 children!!!

So the 8 kids decided to make a band. there was no actual singing...because when asked why they weren't singing teh visiting Xavier said, "because people in rock bands only scream because thier music is too loud"!

Christmas techies...

Christmas was fun this year. the kids are getting older and are getting to understand it more. i can only pray we raise children that truly understand the meaning of why we actually celebrate such a season. of course they still love getting presents, but i do see glimpses here and there of thier maturing minds really contemplating the reason for the celebrations of the season.

can you tell what they all got for Christmas???

Too Funny!...

This kid cracks us up! he is always playing little jokes just waiting for someone to look at him. here is one of them. you turn around and he has pink glasses on and knows it is funny! he is so funny. you will just look over and he has a pot on his head and he is just waiting for you to look at him then he busts up laughing. he adds so much joy to our house. it really is fun having a little one with others that are older just because we can all find him so funny. when 4 were under 2, no one but me laughed....i like it this way!

I love this kid!!!

Elias is special! truly special. I mean, not only was he a huge surprise in our lives,but this child is amazing! he just brightens up your day each time he walks in a room. His daddy is so enthralled with him too. He has the power to bring all the siblings together as the all love on him constantly. Elias and all his siblings are blessed because they have a father who adores them and adores his God! Dirk is a model I love for my children to follow. He shows them unconditional love, odebience to the Word, and a very hearty work ethic for his family. He is one who takes correction to heart ever wanting to be better in his walk with the Lord, and his place as a husband and father. I have much to learn from him. the bible says in Deuteronomy 6:2 "so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life." Dirk does his best to instill this in his children. i am a blessed wife!

Psa 127:3
"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him."

children are so literal!...

The change in weather, water, etc in Mississippi made Ian's face really dry. so Dirk says, "go put some moisturizer on your forehead, Ian". he comes in my room looking just like this. i found this profoundly funny and a perfect example of children's ability to be completely literal! i love kids.

Reunited...

Dirk and I were blessed this year to return to our first place of ministry...Tupelo, Mississippi! we had not been back for 10 years. we took all our children (lucky Josh and Carmen!) and we really had a blast. i was really needing this time away and to get to spend it with my best friend was precious to me. Dirk is always really wonderful about letting me go and spend time away from the kids and him when i need to. but not only does he "let" me, he does so makign sure i don't feel guilty at all about it. actually one one outing with Carmen, we came home only to have my wonderful husband tell us to leave, that we were home just too early for a girl's night out! he really does love me as Christ loves the church! i am so blessed.
Josh's mom, Janice, was so thoughtful as to stay with all 6 kids so that we could all go out and enjoy an evening together as couples. it was a relaxing, joyous time had by all! great food, great company, and a wonderful sitter for the kids. visiting with Janice was good for my soul! i truly enjoyed getting to see her again and remembering why i loved her so! the kids (especially Isaiah) really loved her. she is a natural!

If any of you know bella, you know that if you hold her, she is your friend for life. well...Josh made that mistake the first day we were there. and on his shoulders she stayed almost incessantly! but seriously could you resist a face like that? occasionally she did give Josh a break to go pee...but that was about it!

My best friend Carmie!!! She does my heart good!

Thanksgiving...

thanksgiving this year was spent in dallas...yes, that is a 12 hour drive for us. yes, we have 5 kids, all in one minivan, all 5 and under....for 12 hours in a car!!! it was interesting to say the least. the way there was quite fun...the way back..not so much!!! however, for the first time in about 15 years, my family was able to be together for a holiday. it was really fun and we have decided every three years will be a great tradition for us all...

here are some of the cousins in dallas right before a really fun walk to the park and into the river bottom for exploring.

this picture is out of order, but i just can't seem to figure out how to get them where i want them. after our tree was up after thanksgiving, we had cookies and hot cocoa to christmas music by the tree...it was a great treat! but of course it started a precident for the rest of the season!

here were the cousins all lined up at Olive Garden ready to scream "thank you for our meal!"

daddy and his boys!

on one of our "we were bored days" in dallas we went to a bounce house gym. Elias really had fun. and Kenna got her first tooth knocked out! even with blood it was enjoyable!

daddy raked the leaves in unlce don's yard and kids got to jump in them. kenna had a particularly good time!

daddy and Isaiah

Bella and Mommy on Thanksgiving

Halloween 09

Halloween is my least favorite day of the whole year! usually i am good throwing together "costumes" from the dress up trunk at our house. but this year, i actually started planning in September! big deal for me! now, i still don't go way out, make my own or anything time consuming like that! however, each child was actually dressed up this year. Elias technically wasn't, but he looked so cute in his cable knit sweater we decided he was actually a scottish boy. we had lots of fun in the freezing cold going to a church festival. rode horses, had carmel apples, played games and then did a little trick or treating on our own. good times had by all...