Mother of Seven + 2

Dear Ryan, Wow, you are 21 today. I remember so well going to the hospital in the early morning hours because my water had broken.  You were two weeks past your due date. True to your nature, you were not in any hurry to make an entrance into this world.  Late afternoon we finally were able to hold you in our arms for the first time. I thought you were beautiful with all that dark hair.  You were bigger then the doctor had predicted weighing in at eight pounds even.  At 22 3/4 inches long, there wasn't a bit of fat on that long skinny body.  And your feet!  Your footprint didn't fit on the little card they stamped it on.  I thought then that you would some day grow into those feet and do big things for Jesus. You had beautiful big brown eyes with long eyelashes.   Eyes are a window to the soul.  From the time you were a toddler you took Jesus very seriously and were concerned that he was a part of your life.  You had heard i...

Dear Kaytlin, Nineteen years ago I awoke in the early morning on a day somewhat like today.  It was a bitter cold outside.  I was uncomfortable and couldn't sleep. I remember your dad got up with me and distracted me from contractions that were 7-8 minutes apart.  We played solitaire on our new computer.  After awhile I grew restless and so I made sure my bag was ready for the hospital and did some things around the house. I was pretty sure I was in labor, but I wasn't in pain.  I finally called the hospital when the contractions were about five minutes apart.  They advised me to do some walking for 30 minutes and then if the contractions were closer after that to come on in.  So I went next door to the church and walked around the auditorium.  My contractions did get closer together, but it sure didn't feel anything like my first labor. I decided to rest on the couch and play with your brother, Ryan, for a bit.  At about noon I sud...

Dear Michael, Today is your 14th birthday.  It seems like in this past year, you changed overnight.  We looked across the breakfast table one morning and wondered what happened.  That cute adorable 5 year old boy had turned into a handsome young man. As we look to this coming year, we pray for you.  You will be entering high school this year.  You will daily make decisions that could affect your future.   May you make those decisions with God and His ways in mind.    We were proud when you decided a month ago to start reading your Bible on your own.  It made tears come to this mom's eyes to find you up early diligently reading.  Don't give up just because you miss a few days or even weeks.  We understand.  God understands.  Our flesh is weak.  However, we have to remind ourselves that we don't live by our flesh but by the Spirit of God in us.  God's Word in you is power.  Satan does NOT want you to hav...

Our daughter, Kaytlin, has always been expressive with her words.  Thought I would share some of her classic quotes from early childhood. After sleeping in the car one day and having drooled, "Mom, my cheek is leaking." age 4 The more kosher way she came up with to describe having gas.  "I have bottom bubbles."  age 4 About eating a food she wasn't sure of, "Eating lasagna is like eating slugs with sauce on them."   age 5 Kayt at age 4. Kaytlin continues to delight us with her descriptive language.  Now she's 16, and practices her writing skills on her own blog.  I know she would love to have visitors.  Her blog is entitled We are Windows .  Sometime when you have a chance, you might drop over and visit her.  I know she would love to have you. Our dreamy, Kayt.  Always imagining a new story.  

Molding lives Building futures Shaping dreams Dependable in life Strong in character Steadfast in conviction My dad (with my mom and Amber) Loving God Loving family Loving people Leaders Providers Protectors My husband (with Ryan) Men above reproach Fathers with devotion  Christians with integrity My dad My husband My father-in-law My father-in-law (with Cory) This Father's Day giving thanks for three men who gave me riches for eternity Thank you for loving me Thank you for loving God Thank you for caring about the generations to come  Happy Father's Day! "O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-- what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, ...

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Laughter floats across the waves. Minnows tickle my legs As the sand squishes through my toes. The sun warms the top of my head. I watch two children creep up on the darting fish. Their eager hands grasp at the elusive shadows. Water sprays me suddenly. Two boys and their father boisterously dash past in the shallow water. Hand fulls of sand are being stashed down the backs of swim trunks. Further from shore three more children wrestle around, Dragging one another, Splashing and dunking, Enjoying life and laughter. Blessing envelopes me, Holds me in its warm embrace. My Creator's love enfolds me As I'm surrounded by my family and all He has made. Psalm 106:1 "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever."

Tomorrow is Graduation Day. I keep looking back and remembering... the excitement of expecting you, our first child, bringing you home from the hospital, snuggling you close in our bed and nursing you in the dark of night, all those firsts -- a smile, rolling over, crawling, walking, talking, and the toddler years through the school years. Those years slipped away each one sliding by faster than the last. You filled them with blessings, and gave us more than we've ever given you.    The joy and love and pride we feel when we look at you is something money will never buy. Now it is time to look forward. We pray for you as you venture out on your own. Your dad challenged you the other day.  He is a man of wisdom. "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction..." (Prov. 1:8a) His prayer for you is much the same as Paul's prayer for Timothy, and I join him in that prayer. "We thank God, whom we serve, as ni...

I wanted to share my favorite card that I got on Mother's Day.  It was a simple card cut out of purple construction paper.  Inside it was handwritten.  I'll type it exactly as it was written. From:  Cory To:  Mom Thank you for making my food. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for washing my clothes. Thank you for buying toys for me. Thank you for cheering me up when I'm sad. Thank you for being my cool mom. Thank you for the game time. Thank you for the cards. Ask me when you need anything done. Mom your the best mom ever. You have made a defrens in my life. Love you Mom This card meant so much to me because it comes from my boy who struggles with writing.  It is a lot of work for him.  Early on dyslexia was a challenge for us when it came to school.  Now at nearly twelve he has become an avid reader.  He still has to work extra hard in spelling and writing though.  For him to take ...

This has been a month of conflicting emotions for me.  I'm happy.  I'm sad.  I'm proud.  I'm teary.  I'm at peace.  I'm emotional.  How to explain it?  I'm not sure. My oldest son, Ryan, finishes high school next week.  I'm proud of him and his accomplishments.  He's finishing at the top of his class in his on-line high school.   He's way smarter then me when it comes to math, science, music, and computers. I'm happy because I have confidence that the choices he's made will take him far in life.  He's chosen to be a man of character.  Most importantly, he puts God first in his life.  There is nothing that could bring this mom greater happiness. Starting his life with Jesus. So, why the tears?  I guess they are mostly happy tears.  But there are sad tears there too.  There is a little selfish spot deep inside me that is sad for me.  Sad that life is changing.  Sad because I k...

Last week I asked Amber to help me scrub some potatoes for supper.  She jumped right to the task, and before I knew it those potatoes became a part of the family. Let me introduce to you Amber's children:  Diane, Sarah, Anna, Juliet, Bob, Alex, Peter, John, and Tom. Her children needed a bath because they had been playing outside in the dirt.  Notice that the potatoes are all standing in the water.  That was so they would not drown. Once they were bathed, she discovered that they all needed to have their appendix's removed.  So she performed laproscopic surgery (meaning she poked them all with a fork).  Then because they had dry skin she rubbed them all down with lotion (shortening).  Then they were all tucked in bed and put in a nice warm place to sleep (the oven). For supper we enjoyed the company of Diane, Sarah, Anna, Juliet, Bob, Alex, Peter, and John.  As we took our potatoes, Amber informed us who we had.  I asked her how s...

This is a poem I wrote one day several years ago when I still had toddlers. I had been on a walk and as I walked up the drive and entered our house these words came to me. The house stands tall. Its roof peak points to the heavens. Its majestic form seems to speak of treasure within. I’m drawn up the long drive by an irresistible force. There’s a hand print on the door. The imprint of a face pressed to glass beckons me inside. As I open the door a smudge of dirt left by a shoe points the way. At first glance elegance meets the eye. Rich woodwork, delicate stained glass, a sparkling chandelier all boast of glorious days from years long past. But it’s the common things that hold my gaze. Mirrors smudged by dirty fingers. Carpet worn by small feet. Floors scratched by toys. Walls made dingy by little hands. The house comes to life for me. Laughter fills the rooms. The trample of feet resound through the hall. Blocks crash to the floor. I can almost feel young arms wrapped around m...

Dear Michael, Today is your 11th birthday.  I remember when we first met you at just age five.  You had a twinkle in your eyes and a light sprinkling of freckles across your nose.  You ducked your head down, peeked up at me, and then gave me a shy half smile.  On the ride home, you were quiet, playing contentedly with a toy car.   Your brother, Troy, talked and talked, and your sister, Amber, cried and fussed.   But you just quietly took it all in. We soon learned that our little boy was resourceful and curious (and not so quiet).  Even though you were small, you accomplished whatever you set your mind to.  You took many things apart just to see how they worked.  If they didn't come apart easily, you still found a way.  Of course, we never could put them back together again. And boy were you determined.  That served you well when it came to riding a bike, skating, or playing ball.  However, it wasn't the best when yo...

I want to introduce you to my dad.  He was my hero when I was little. As a child I couldn't imagine anyone better then my dad.   I loved sitting on his lap and talking to him.  He was a good listener. I remember slipping my small hand into my daddy's hand.  It felt safe.  The warmth went straight to my heart reminding me I was loved.  Dad was fun to play with.  With the help of my brother and sister I would try to pull him off the couch.  We loved it when we succeeded.  Another challenge we enjoyed was pulling his socks off.  When we accomplished the task we would tickle his feet.  I'm not sure why because he wasn't ticklish.  But then he would tickle us until we begged for mercy. .     My dad is a quiet intellectual.  If I had to draw a picture of my dad it would be with a book in hand or sitting in front of the computer writing.  My love for writing I inherited from my father.  But the ...