Mother of Seven + 2

Blogging is something I started because I love to write.  It is also my way of making sense out of life.  My husband likes to explain it to my children this way:  "All day long you pull crayons out of mom's box and throw them all over.  Mom needs time to pick them up, sort them out, and re-arrange them in her box."  In my blogging experience, I've been surprised at the number that were truly interested in following along my life's journey as I arrange and re-arrange my crayon box. :0) In an effort to make my blog a better ministry and more usable for my readers, I decided to get some help.  One thing I'm not good at is computers.  So, I desperately needed help.  I follow Amy over at Raising Arrows and she made a post on Growing a Blog that was helpful.  Through her post I discovered Wise Woman Consulting .  After consultation, I've found there are many, many things I can do to make my blog better.  However, I am slow at this comp...

Feelings of relief wash over me as I think, we did it!  We made it through another year.  Summer break is here.  It's time to camp, garden, swim, and play.  Time to do some much neglected housekeeping, cleaning out, and reorganizing.  It's most definitely time for a change of pace. I embrace this change with excitement, but at the same time it is bittersweet.  Each child will be starting school next year with another grade behind them.  They are growing up.  Ryan, our oldest, will be a senior.  Amber, our youngest, will be in third grade.  There are no longer babies in the house.  We don't need car seats anymore.  We are experiencing driving, working jobs, and discussing college and future plans. I absolutely loved my babies, but I've found my older children just as exciting and thrilling.  The only problem is that the years are slipping away so quickly.  My prayer for the summer is that I will take time to enjoy ...

Laundry piled up.  Children needing fed.  Dishes waiting to be washed.  Floors needing cleaned.  Rushing through the day, I try to accomplish so much.  Each evening exhausted I drop into my chair.  I sigh as I have to rouse myself to comb the tangles out of just washed hair.  Another child asks for a book.  "Not now, mom's too tired," I plead.  "Off to bed quickly," but it's never quick enough.  Peace and quiet at last.  But, no, someone's out of bed again.  "You're fine, now get back in bed," is my harsh reply.  Then adding as they disappear up the stairs, "And don't even think about waking me up in the morning, either!" Oh, Lord, please forgive me.  It is these simple little things with the children I would miss if I could not be with them.   I won't miss the piles of laundry, dishes, and cleaning-- all those things that I make a priority to accomplish each day.  What I will miss are the very things that...