Mother of Seven + 2

I remember hating Valentine's Day when I was in high school.  So many of the girls received flowers from their boyfriends.  I never did.  Feelings of loneliness and longing consumed me.  I often went home and cried. Everyone needs to feel special and loved.  It doesn't matter how young or how old.  This afternoon I was thinking about those who might find Valentine's Day difficult.  It occurred to me that we knew several single older ladies who just might dread this day as much as I did in high school. My boys and I worked together to make the day special for them.  I ordered carnations wrapped in paper from the flower shop.  Then we made a card.  This was the front:    Every woman dreams of a handsome young man bringing her flowers on Valentine's Day. Inside the card it said:   Well, I am here to make your dreams come true. Happy Valentine's Day! Each of my boys had a lady to deliver their special ...

I was out shopping yesterday looking for that perfect gift for Valentine's Day.  As I picked up a big box of Queen Anne Chocolate Covered Cherries I thought about how thankful I am that my husband is easy to please.  A little bit of sugar makes him a happy man.  Next I head over to the card aisle.  I always feel like I have to get a card.  I look through several and finally find one that meets my criteria.  I turn it over.  $5.00!!!!!  That's crazy.  I put it back.  No way can I pay five dollars for something that has no practical use and will just get thrown in the trash.  My husband would prefer another box of chocolates to an expensive card anyway. I admit I'm not gifted at being romantic.  Sometimes my practical nature overrules spending money on sentiment.  However, I don't think it's my lack of romanticism that has caused me to reject many of the "expected" gestures of love.  I've been thinking a lot about the...

Every year around Christmas time, my husband and I would end up in the same discussion.  What to buy the children for Christmas?  I'm the ever practical one who wants to buy them new clothing, shoes, socks and underwear.  And to splurge we then could buy them some books.  My husband groans.  He says that they need something fun.  You know--a new game, video, or toy.  I protest.  It just becomes more junk around the house.  And the discussion goes on and on.  Finally, I get to buy something practical while he rolls his eyes, and he buys something totally impractical while I roll my eyes.  And usually neither one of us quite feels satisfied. Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Last year we didn't buy any presents to put under the tree.  Well, my husband and I didn't.  The kids just bought gifts for each other.  Instead, we went on our first ever Christmas trip.  We only went a couple hours away, but...

Each year we have a family project of making gifts to give away to our friends.  I like to choose budget friendly gift ideas that involve the children giving of their time to make them. This year we made and decorated sugar cookies, and we made snowman gift jars.    Everyone took their turn rolling out dough and cutting cookie shapes.   Our oldest daughter, Kayt, was babysitting for the evening so we had extra help.  Only problem was that Jace discovered that the dough tasted good. Briggs shows off some of the decorated cookies while enjoying the head off one of them.  We enjoyed these precious boys for the evening. Finished off the evening with over 200 cookies made.  Whew!  But it was fun.  To deliver with our plates of cookies we made gift jars with hot chocolate mix and snowman marshmallows. The kids used edible markers to draw faces on the...

Friday evening we enjoyed our traditional family decorating for Christmas. The children all enjoy putting their favorite ornaments on the tree. I got caught on the floor after putting on the tree skirt.  Someone should take that camera away from my husband. This year Grandma and Grandpa joined in the fun since their apartment adjoins our house. Putting the finishing touches on our tree.  We headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's to do their tree. Even Grandpa helped decorate. Adding the finishing touches to Grandma's tree. After decorating we had our traditional hot chocolate and cookies.  This year we had homemade gingersnaps. ( I'll share the recipe tomorrow.) Then we wrapped the evening up by beginning our Christmas book that we've read every year since Ryan was three.  Tis the season, and I love it!

Image: Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net I sat at her bedside feeling helpless.  She sat cradling her infant son in her arms.  Tears streamed down her face.  The love for her child was apparent.  Yet she knew she must give him up.  Unable to care for him as a young single mother, she was doing what was best for him.  A Christian couple was waiting in a room just down the hall-- waiting to adopt this precious little boy. The night had been long and emotional as we waited for this little one to make his appearance.  The excitement, the birth, the bittersweet joy, the sorrow, the pain was all packaged together.  The following day stretched even longer as the young mother said her good-bye.  There wasn't much I could do but pray quietly and offer support. Finally needing some rest, I left.  As I drove to the home where I was staying the night, the pain of what I had just witnessed overwhelmed me.  My e...

Snowflake I tatted one year.  I went through a time when I felt jealous of those who had beautifully decorated Christmas trees.  You know -- those trees that were decorated meticulously, every ornament spaced just so, and the colors all coordinating.  The trees were so elegant and beautiful.  My little tree couldn't compare.  It was just filled with a variety of cheap little ornaments from here and there. Christmas mouse made by an adopted Grandma. Those were the first few years my husband and I were married.  As time went by, we gradually began collecting ornaments that were given to us by friends and family.  This year as I watched the children decorate the tree, I realized just how special it was.  The children would exclaim over and and discuss each of the ornaments as they hung them.  Such warm memories filled their hearts. Honduran ornament from Jim & Teri Riley, missionaries. Birdhouse from Grandma "Vada". N...

I love traditions.  That is probably why this time of year is one of my favorites.  Our family traditions leading up to Christmas Day start with the setting up of our Christmas tree.  The two oldest children drug the big box holding our seven foot after-Christmas bargain down from the attic.  After supper we turned on Christmas music and began the assembling process.  With seven children helping re-shape the branches, and Dad putting the branches on, it didn't take too long to get the large tree up. This year the putting on of the lights proved to be the challenge.  Two of our three strings were not working.  Being of a frugal nature my husband and I began checking each little bulb.  I gave up after about twenty minutes, and told my husband we should just go buy new lights.  He was convinced that would be too expensive.  So, we continued to check each little bulb for the next 30 minutes, but with no success.  By this time, the chi...

As a mother, I'm continually hearing from the children what they want.  It seems their birthday is just a few days past, and they are planning what they want to get the next year.  It makes me want to scream, "Why can't you just be grateful for the nice gifts you just received rather then wanting something else!" Amber writes a thank you. I believed thankfulness needed to be taught.  What better time to teach this attitude then at Thanksgiving.  This week we invited some adult friends over that are special to our children.  The children were all involved in planning a special dinner to honor them. Alex and Troy scrub sweet potatoes They made a banner, wrote thank you letters, wrote a song, helped clean the house, and prepared and served the food.  The children had a great time planning and preparing, and they came up with good ideas to make our guests feel special.   The evening ended up being a memory that they'll remem...