Mind Numbing Work

I am finding that I cant be in all the places I need to be in order to protect my children in their own home. Last night I was not feeling well so I was on the couch with my feet up, but trying to keep an ear open to everything that was being said by Margaret (my mother) to the kids.

Apparently I was not doing a good enough job, because my just turned 7 year old came up to me and started asking me about the devil. Of course I knew exactly what had happened. I asked him a few starting questions like well what did she tell you. He proceeded to tell me what she told him, which some of it was disturbingly not true. Apparently they were talking about his school and how much he liked it and when she thought that the cost was clear...she asked "so do you know who the devil is?"

I asked him if she mentioned Jesus, he said no, just the devil. Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd? She did this before with Devon and scared the life out of him telling him that the devil can enter into people and possess them. I think she has an unhealthy obsession with Mr Lucifer and that she is trying to plant that in the kids when ever she sees I'm not listening.

I am not opposed to talking about the devil, but the context was weird and out of place. Her relegious beliefs do not line up with Rob and I's beliefs. Yet I cant seem to get her to stop talking to them about this stuff. Perhaps I just need to sit down with her this evening and let her know that if this doesnt stop she will have to leave before the two weeks is up.

Sigh

On another note is it just me or is Halloween completely flooding the airwaves and shopping arenas this year. For those of you who celebrate...I have no qwams (eat some candy for me) but for those of us who do not...you cant get away from it this year. Even my kids are so excited that today is Halloween...even though they know nothing comes of it for them....isnt that odd. They were walking around yesterday saying trick or treat to each other.

The Father has shown me over the past few days that we must buckle down and do more to protect our childrens minds and hearts and eyes and souls. TV needs to be a thing of the past, but in a house full of 6 fellas thats no mole hill.

Oh, Amish country.....please hold a spot for me!

Eve is going to start school without me so I guess I had better get moving LOL

Thank Goodness its Monday!

I made it through the weekend....barely. I guess it wasnt so bad. I handled myself pretty well on the outside, but still struggling on the inside. There were many situations that she (my mother) pushed buttons, but I tried to just shrug it off. Only 12 more days to go!! She is working "right now" so I have all day to find rest and peace.

We kept ourselves busy this weekend with sheet rocking, texturing and painting. It is starting to look really good. The color I picked for the dinning room seems a bit bold, but its growing on me. Once I buy the material for the drapes and get them sewn and put up it will tie it all together.

I feel like this day will drag on forever, its 8:45am yet it seems like it should be 10 by now. I guess I should enjoy the extra time in my day!!

Everyone have a great week!

Pictures of the weekend

Eve loves shoes!

The boys on the trampoline...yes, there is no net and they can jump with more than just one at a time. LOL

If you look closely you will see even more evidence of my Willy Nilly parenting style...yep one at the top and one on his way up. If we lived on a deserted island tree climbing for food would not be an issue.

Jordan is such a great big brother!

Real Beauty?

I found a link of a short film over at Give her the fruit of her hands Are you ladies ready for a pick-me-up? What we "see" presented to us by the media is truly a farce! Yes there are those woman who are just really beautiful.....they are you and me. We may not fit the worlds image and to that I say AMEN! Enjoy this film...show it to your children and your husband, so that they to can see that the things of this world are not as they seem! Outer beauty is a fading illusion. Inner beauty shines through us. I ask you to go one step further, for those of you who really put alot of stock in your lipstick and hair gel...put it away for one week!

www.campaignforrealbeauty.com

Update and Thanks!

I wanted to thank those of you who have been praying for me...please continue! I feel a measure of peace although I am fighting the anxiety. She will be here this evening after she gets off work. Wow, just writing that makes my heart race. Isnt that weird! I have been in some down right bad places in my life but never have I ever felt the way she makes me feel.

After some thought on Thursday morning, I asked the lord to make it very clear to me that I was supposed to let her stay here, if I heard nothing I was calling her up that evening and telling her I had reconsidered and just could not allow her to come.
I called my dh later that day after feeling very led to not allow her back and told him of my plans. He told me that we have to let her for two weeks, but no longer, simply because it is the right thing to do. So there it was *darnet* The Lord speaking to me through my dh that this was His will.

After quite a bit of sikeing (sp) myself up I realized a few things. There must be ground rules and boundaries.

The first being that she has ONLY 2 weeks and not one day longer, and beyond that, this will be her last time to stay here.

Secondly, she tends to spurt out the most hateful things (and feels its OK because the Bible says the tounge cannot be controled ???*what* ) Therefor for my safety spiritualy and mentally (and her physical safety LOL) She is not to say anything that is not uplifting and edifying to me. If she has a legitament complaint she is to hold her tongue and talk with Rob when he gets home and then he can talk with me.

Lastly, and this is the biggy and maybe a little harsh, but none the less important. She is not allowed alone with any of my oldest three children. After what she did to poor Devon I just can not allow it!

I am not making any special arrangments for her like I did last time, my life will go on as it needs to. Please PRAY! I will need it....she is a powerful adversary. The thing I struggle with the most is trying not to believe her lies. I know they are not true but it is still hard.

Everyone have a blessed weekend!

I know theres a reason for all this!?!

So if you have been reading this blog for the past 6 months or so you know what I have gone through with my mother who stayed with us for a few months earlier in the summer. I had thought she had moved back to Alabama when she left here, but she infact had stayed in Greenville.

She has come over about three times in the past few months and visited for about 20 minutes each time. I was uncomfortable around her, but figured she just needed to see a familiar face from time to time, so I let her come.

Well she showed up last night unannounced with "a favor" to ask. I knew she was either going to ask for money or to stay here again. In fact, the later is what she wanted. Part of me was shocked that she would ask after all that had happened. Then I realized she was about to have a laps in jobs and realized she was not going to be able to pay for her room she currently resides in.

I stood there silent for a moment and then said I will ask Rob when he gets home from work. She says "oh well, do you think he might object?" I said "I dont know what he will say" I guess I really was hoping that he would say "honey I saw how this affected you last time and I wont allow it to happen again, therefor she will not be able to stay here" That is what I wanted him to say, but I guess the reality is that I knew he would leave it up to me. The problem is that I am not emotionaly stable in this area, nor with her. She is the polar opposite of me and in a way toxic to me, if that makes any sense?

I really should have told her I would call her tomorrow with an answer but after talking with Rob on the phone I told her that was fine *shacking head* am I insane? Have I forgotten all the things she did to me and my family the last two times she has stayed here?

I think there is something in me that wants to help anyone who needs it, yet another part of me who thinks that turning my mother away is a sin in some way. Would God ever forgive me for something like that? Would He be ashamed of me if I told her no?
I know that there must be something He is trying to show me through this situation. But what is it? If she were a drug addict or some unexceptable thing would that be easier? She is only mentally unstable....but I think that is worse. I keep reminding myself of how she drug Devon into the middle of it last time. How low and awful that was of her. Will it be different this time? Probably not!

I guess what it all boils down to is that I would stand in front of oncoming traffic if that is what The Lord in heaven needed me to do. Yes, her being near me is like standing infront of oncoming traffic. You know that you are in an unsafe place...and you just pray that you can make it through the next hour without getting side swiped or flattened.

So, I am praying that He would show me what His will is in this by the end of today!
She will be here Friday after work unless I call her and tell her I've decided to not allow her here after all. Please pray with me that The Father will make His will completely obvious to me. That I can see through my hurt with an eternal perpective.

***Sigh***

Cute Game

I thought this was cute and I'm shocked I am the only one with my name in the whole US of A. Well with the exception of my lovely daughter who apparently is not on the radar yet.

HowManyOfMe.com

There is: 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Boy or Girl ?!?

I get asked a lot if I think its one over the other. I hesitate to answer, well, because I have been no good at guessing in the past LOL!

We had an ultrasound with the first 4 and of course found out of their gender before they entered this world. The last two we have been surprised. I guess I figured it would be easier to do a homebirth if I was working toward a goal "unwrapping the surprise."

I did not think Eve was a girl at all. Although others had pointed out to me that I was a bit sicker with that pregnancy. There are other things that were different just in the way I carried her. She was easier to carry. My back didn't hurt. Also no back labor (praise The Lord) With the boys toward the last few months they always felt so low, as if they would fall out at any moment. But I really took no stock in those things as I was only a mom to "boys" LOL and could surely only bring forth from my womb, those with much testosterone!

So what do I think this one is? I am really leaning toward another girl. I have had a very similar pregnancy this time as with Eve. No back pain, more sickness, baby is not low. Although there is that part of me that does not want to get my hopes up, and wants to stay down here in reality where I have a bad "girl" track record. In all honesty I would love another boy, but, I will say it out loud.......... my hope is for a girl!

Either way of course I just pray that this little one is nit together perfectly! I pray that everything is in its proper place, working and functioning in its proper fashion. I pray that the heart and brain and all other organs are where they where intended to be, and that every cell of this baby is acting as The Father wills it so. When you have an "un-tested" homebirth that is the biggest prayer.

I do have the boy name picked out already (it was our boy name for #6) its Lucas Madech. Girl names are hard for me, I'm not sure why, but if its a girl her name will be Ava Rose. I love the name Rose, and thought that Eve and Ava would be a cute fit.

So what have you noticed about your pregnancies? Have you been able to tell what you were carrying just by symptoms and differences in your pregnancy? What have been the major differences for you carrying different genders?

Bad Blogger... why do you spite me so?

I posted yesterday but blogger wasnt really in the mood to publish my post. It seems to be really difficult and time consuming (or wasting) lately to post. Wonder what the problem is? Oh well!

Today is Friday and around here that means deep cleaning, no school work and a fun jaunt to the park. We enjoy our Fridays! We turn the radio up and get to work. The house is usually done by 11:30 then its lunch and park.

The weather has gotten a bit chilly here. It was 36 this morning, but should warm up to the low 70's by mid day. My dear Rob had the flu on Wednesday and stayed home from work. Recovery was super quick, he was better by the next day! Thankfully he didnt share. Its pretty rare that we share things around here. I guess we have good immune systems! Thank The Lord!

I on the other hand must be getting a second round of the pregnancy yuks. I have never done this before, so I am a bit perplexed. I had about a good month of feeling great and now not so much. I am still taking my vitamins and orderd some raspberry tea and iron boosting herbs from Precious Arrows. So hopefully I can get to feeling better.

Have any of you ever expereinced a second helping of prego sickness. Did you determine the cause. I have heard that pregnancies with multiples tends to lend itself to more sickness, but I am measuring right on track so that is very unlikely. Oh well, this to shall pass!

If blogger feels up to it here are some more cute pictures of my youngest two, playing and being cute.

Thats the prettiest flower I have ever seen!
I cant believe she has gotten so big. She is saying new words every day. Yesterday she heard us say money in school and she kept saying it all day. When Rob got home, Miss Eve shared her newly learned word with daddy, he determined it is way to early for that word. LOL

Her favorite word is daddy, she just like to here herself say it. But if you ask her to say mommy she will smile at you and say NO!

Elijah and Eve going over the plan that will get them in the pond with the turtles!

An Eternal Perspective

"As we teach our children and lay a foundation of truth that will hold strong throughout their lives, they must hear, as Jesus disciples did, of the reality of eternity. Jesus said that this world is passing away, that we will live with Him in His kingdom for eternity, but also that eternity starts right now as we establish his spiritual kingdom in our hearts and learn to live with an eternal perspective.

How inportant is it that we give our children this perspective as we seek to lay the foundations of their lives. Jesus said; "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness"(Mathew6:33). We are to strain for heaven, to put our treasures there, and this means we must hold this world loosely.

If we teach our children through our actions or instruction, even subtly, that being succesfull in this world is some how a measure of their importance and succes, then we will miss the point of all the Lords teaching. We are given one chance to live on this earth, and the true measure of our success will be our faith, our faithfullness, and our obediance.

As I seek to teach my children all the biblical truths they will need to be equipped for life and also try and model for them a life of faith, eternal truth must always be the foundation of their understanding. If they can keep eternity before their eyes, they will be able to live in hope no matter what happens to them in this life.

And rest assured something always happens! Happiness, after all, is elusive in this life. It is a sure thing that all the people that our children love will die. All the material things they own will disintegrate. All the status that they achieve will pass away.

But Christ and His kingdom will never pass away. He will be with us always. With this knowledge as the foundation of faith, our children will never lose hope and will never fail, because they have a future, "an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven" for them (1peter 1:4)"
The ministry of motherhood

As I read this section of the chapter I began to ask myself have I done a good job in teaching my children of their eternal heritage? Yes they know that Heaven awaits them, but do they know why, do they know the details, the legacy, the real reason for this life? I think I have alot of work to do in this area, and a gazzilion other areas ;-)

Howdy Folks...

.....Welcome to the State Fair of Texas! I am just now getting around to posting pictures of the fair. The kids had a blast! We spent way to much money, ate way to much food...hey, sounds just like last year!

Jordan sliding down the huge slide

Eve's first fair game. She actually one a medium size toy!

My little cows Seth and Ethan

Elijah and Ethan riding in the coffee...thats what Elijah calls it...to cute!

Eve sharing her corn dog with momy.

The Stucker Bunch!

Games, Games and more Games!

Devon and I looking at the very first Dr Pepper bottles and cans!

Random thoughts

I am still waiting on the pictures from the MOMYS gathering from the MOMY who took them. She is supposed to email them to me sometime this week. So when she does I will post them. I couldn't believe I forgot my camera. That was the one thing I kept telling myself to grab. I guess I need to stick my old camera in my car and leave it there, for days I am forgetful.

Today we will be cleaning the house doing laundry and I need to take the car in and vacuum it out and wash it. Run a few errands and get ready for Thursday. We are going to the State Fair of Texas tomorrow. That is always a lot of fun. Hopefully by going during the week it wont be as crowded as last year.

I have been feeling fantastic lately. I have soooo much energy! So I am really trying to get as many projects done around the house, which is why I haven't been posting daily lately.

I did receive the Fall Teach Magazine a few days ago. I have to be honest and say that I have been waiting to post about it for a while now because I wanted to be able to say something good. I had received and read two prior magazines but for whatever reason could not connect with the articles. BUT this last issue was fantastic. There were articles that were inspiring, encouraging one that made me cry and another that I read to my husband and his words were simply "WOW"

Needless to say I was very impressed with the magazine this time around! A few of my favorite articles were these:

Angels in the Alley: This was an eye opening article, a true story, author not named. It is really neat to read things like this to bring back that strong understanding that if we belong to The Father we are protected, unless He sees fit otherwise. I truly think that this has happened to me many times throughout my life and I just never knew it! Great article!

Organized Chaos: This was an article that basically encouraged me to just keep going. That I was on the right track. To keep it up on a daily basis and it will be easier to manage. Here's an excerpt:

"First you must learn to live life AWARE. Many moms seem to just shuffle through their days unaware of what they could or should be doing to make things run more efficiently in their home. The Bible says that we should take captive every thought (11 Corinthians 10:5). I go one step further and say that we should take captive every moment. Don't let your life just randomly fly by. Be aware of the needs of the individuals living in your home. Be aware of what it takes to make your home run. Be aware of schedules and appointments. Be aware of preparing for the future as best you can. Begin to live life aware instead of drifting through life, hoping things will just work out." .....Be intentional about your life. Don't leave your life or the lives of your precious family to chance. Get intentional about how you live your life, how you run your home, and how you make sure things get done. This involves a shift in thinking and does not lend itself to laziness. It enables your family to reach into the cabinet and find food or toiletries. When you live intentionally , you weigh the cost of every scheduling decision and maximize your time at every turn.

This was a very convicting article for me. I am not a sloth, but I am not as consistent and deliberate as I know I need to be.

Oh Father please give me all that I need, to be all that I need to be!

Swinging on the back porch: This was written by a mom to 14 dc. This article made me cry. The precept is that "We have this moment, today!" She talks about a particular day where her children, 7 at the time where all little and playing in the back yard while she swang on the porch swing. How that moment was so special! I have had those moments, they are glorious! And I realize that they go so quickly. Here is the excerpt that made me cry ;-)

"I remember so clearly one warm sunny day in May. I had seven children at the time, one just two weeks old. The kids were outside playing in the sprinklers, laughing and making up games. God spoke so clearly to my heart that day saying, "Cherish this day. Bask in this moment" I did and I still do now! Today three of those little boys are married, two have children of their own, and one of those boys is in heaven, which makes that memory even more precious to me. "

There is a song by Doug Oldham that says this:

We have this moment to hold in our hands,

and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.

Yesterdays gone, and tomorrow may never come,

but we have this moment today!

There were many more articles that were lovely to read. You can find this magazine at TEACHmagazine.com

Vision Forum Contest!

For those of you who enjoy Vision Forum there is a contest being held over at Life In A Shoe
You have the chance at winning over 700 dollars in Vision Forum products. All you must do is guess the amount of products they will have in their NEW catalog that is coming out in a few weeks. You have until Oct. 13th to enter!

Enough beds to bunk a small army!

As I promised here are the pictures o fthe finished triple bunks we built last week. There are two identical triples in the boys room.





We moved the double bunk into the spare kids room, which in about 6 months when the new baby is ready to move into the nursery will become the "girls" room. Never thought I would have one of those. LOL




Lord willing in a few years we will have the 3rd floor completed and at that point it will become the boys room. It is about 1500 square feet up there, just one big room. Then we can move the girls room into the big room where the boys are now, where we hope there will be "at least" one more girl to share it with Eve.

I will post more later about the MOMYS gathering, it was a lot of fun! And my ticker baby has moved over to the next square!!! How exciting! Soon I will have a little bundle of heaven to hold! For now though its off to school the little bundles of heaven I already have!

Have a blessed week!

Still at it over here!

I thought I would post real quick. Its the Thursday before the MOMYS gathering here in town. I am excited to get to meet some other local MOMYS face to face ;-)

I have been busily readying my house for Tina, Skip and their children who will be staying here on Friday night. It will be nice to actually fellowship with them in person and get to know them a bit more. I admire Tina and appreciate the time she invests in MOMYS.

I will post pictures of all the ladies and children who are here tomorrow. As for now I am off to finish cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, ect. ect.

Have A Blessed Day!

Its been a while!

I have been so busy working around the house this past week. There is something great about being at the end of your 2nd trimester. You get all this wonderful energy. I got a wild hair last Tuesday and have been at it ever sense.

I decided that it was time to do something with the kitchen. We really have been ignoring it because one of these days we are taring that aweful addition off of the house and rebuilding a (matching) two story addition, complete with new kitchen. The problem is, that is another two years down the road at this point!

There is also that little incident we had a while back where the kitchen caught on fire, that has been very apparent every sense. So I got to work and my kitchen went from this:

To This:


Yes, we are still missing a cabinet door somewhere in the garage, need to get out there and find it. But it has been really nice having it look half way decent again. The whole kitchen got a fresh coat of paint and I sewed curtains for all the lower cabinets and windows. Everything is fresh and clean.

I am now building 2 sets of triple bunkbeds for the boys room. I will post pictures of that when we are finished, hopefully on Wed.