For Today...

Today, I pray you have a blessed time in the coming week preparing for whatever you are preparing for

Today, I am so thankful for my warm home, loving family and food to eat

Today, I am thankful for my loving husband and beautiful, healthy children

Today, I realize that the world is looking for that missing link

Today, I realize that the only one that can fill that searching is Christ!

Christ is...

waiting for us to seek him

know Him

wait on Him

love Him

die to ourselves so other's will see Him in us

He does not NEED us but he WANTS us because it is best for us!

But...

We need Him!  Our very being depends on it for survival!

I don't want to just survive, I want to thrive!  And with Him and ONLY Him, that is possible!

Please continue to seek Christ and know that He is ALL you need now and in the coming year! 

Merry Christmas to you my blog friends and your family!

  May God continue to share His everloving presence in your heart today and always!

Until Next year...

A whole lott'a love!

6 months in review...
Can't believe the love he has brought into our hearts and home!

We are in love with you sweet little one!

Happy 1/2 birthday!

Baby's First Christmas...

Our little guy is juuuust starting to sit up and watch all the activity on his first Christmas! Where did the past 6 months go?

Did you say JOYS of motherhood?

The joys of motherhood, I will be honest are sometimes hidden by the stresses of life!  Should that be the case?  NO!  But lately, I have failed to see the joys and concentrated on the work!  I usually do not struggle with this!  I more than not, concentrate on being content and try not to grumble!  The last couple weeks, not so much!  The worst part of that problem is, I have not been able to come to grips with why I am so impatient, uptight, and just plain miserable the past few weeks!   I don't have more to do than any other time of the year.  Yes, Christmas is upon us, but I enjoy so much, baking with the kids, passing out goodies to the neighbors and getting prepared for the special day itself.  So that is not it!  Finances?  Well, we always have to be frugal and live on a TIGHT budget, so that has not changed either!

Yesterday it came to a head!  I was cooking dinner after being in the kitchen ALL day and my 22 month old was standing at the gate with arms up in the air reaching out for me saying, "Belp mommeee, belp mommeee!  Peeeeaaassee!"   (That is not uncommon!)  What was uncommon was my tendency to want to entice him into the living room where DAD could entertain him!  I wanted to just get dinner made and move on to the next task at hand.  Happily grudgingly, I lifted him over the gate and sat him up on the counter as he patiently watched me cutting up potato's.  I then proceeded to show him how to put the sliced potato's in the baggie with seasoning.  Great help, right?  UM, not really!  I would put them in a handful at a time and be done more quickly.  A 22 month old, nope!  ONE SLICE, BY ONE SLICE, BY ONE SLICE!  So I tried to wait patiently, (but that did not last more than one or two slices!).  So I asked him in a calm impatient  voice, "Can mommy help you?" 

"NOOOOO, me DO it!"  He stated to me in a VERY clear tone!  So there I stood, for what seemed like forever!  12 minutes later, (after I did sneak in a few slices myself), the potato's were in the baggie!  Does not seem too long, I know!   (You try standing there watching somebody do something so meticulously and slow that would take YOU seconds to achieve!)  Throughout this process, sad to say,  I had to do a lot of self talking!  Did it really matter that we would eat 10 minutes later than I planned on?  Did it really matter that I would be in the kitchen a little longer than I wanted to be?  NO!  What DID matter, is my sweet little boy was feeling valuable and learning an important thing.  That he IS valuable!  Boy, did I want to shoo him out of there and hurry up!  BUT thankfully, God quietly whispered to my heart, "That is not MY way Heather!"  God wanted me to give up of myself and MY wants!  So the journey of God teaching ME a valuable lesson continued...

Later that night, my oldest son was leaving to his grandparents to go hunting the next day.  He gave me a hug and left.  I went down to the washing maching to wash the babies diapers and began weeping!  I had a tinge of helplessness and reality!  A realization of things to come!  I was crying to God telling Him that I don't want things to change!  I want to pause my life right now!  All of my kids live under the same roof!  They are all safe and my husband and I can monitor where they go!  Waaaayyy to soon, that will change!  Where did the time go when my oldest wanted to help me in the kitchen?  Where did the time go when he was standing at the kitchen gate with his arms outstretched wanting to help ME!  (Now I'm usually asking for HIS help!)  As the years have gone on, we still have a great relationship, but those sweet moments are gone!  I know that there will still be other sweet moments to share as he grows, but the years have gone by so fast!  And soon, he will be leaving to start his own life!  That is what we are raising him to do, but because of my mommy heart, it is sad for me to think of him leaving of our home!  That being said, I walked up the stairs, gave my 22 month old a hug and went to bed...

Then the phone rings!  A dear life-long friend calls.  We literally do not remember life without each other!  I think I was 2 when we met and she was 18 months!  We are hundreds of miles apart now but have continued to share with each other and keep in touch often.  She did not sound so good!  I asked if she was doing okay and she said, "No, I'm really not!"  She began to tell me of the struggles she had been going through with being a mom!  How she just felt like lately she was going to ruin her kids forever because of all the snappy answers, worrying to much about a clean house instead of letting the kids just play, and just all those mommy things!  I began to tell her of the things that had began to unfold that day with my life and what God had been speaking to me!  We cried together, laughed together and sometimes just sighed!  The only answer we could give each other is we cannot do it alone and God is the ONLY one who can help us!  Coincidence she called me?  No way!  Coincidence that I had been going through the EXACT same things in my life and heart!  Nope!  Sometimes I love to give advice and have all the answers!  And sometimes God has been gracious to impart wisdom to my heart and share wonderful things to others, but not this time! 

Why?  I think He wanted me to see that HE is the one with the answers.  He is the one to comfort me.  He is the one that is along side of me day in and day out when this job of motherhood becomes just plain hard!  I am not alone! 

Isaiah 43:1&2 ~ ...Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;  you are MINE.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you...

As a mother, I have walked through many moments of fear!  I have also walked through the "rivers" of being overwhelmed!  But God has told me to not fear, and do not be overwhelmed!  I can walk through FIRE and He will uphold me and I will not be burned!  WOW!  What peace that has brought me!   He has given me these beautiful children, and yes, He is all I need to bring them up in the way that they should go!  And when they are old, they shall not depart from it!  (Proverbs 22:6) 

I am so thankful for a loving God who knows my struggles and all I have to do is call to Him and He is there!  Now, I must go and make cookies with my children!  Maybe today, the mess won't bother me as much and I will see the joy on their faces and not the flour! 

*A little sidenote ~ At lunch, the day my oldest son went hunting, he took time to call his mom, ahem...(that would be me!) just to tell me he was safe and having fun!  Oh, and I got a quick, "I love you too!" on the other end!  I WILL savor those times more too!  Before I know it, his wife will be the one he is hopefully calling at lunch but until then, I will take what I can get!  :)

Baby it's cold outside!

But it's warm inside with just my diaper!

I could not peel my kids eyes away from the windows this week! We got our first snow storm and were snowed in for 2 days! With the exception of running out of toilet paper, ( the first day, I might add!), it was a wonderful time! Baking, playing games (not uncommon in our home!), and playing in the snow! However, the idea of not having the ability to go out, was calming to me! My hubby could not even get into work! So, for a couple days, we did not think about where we had to go or what was waiting for us outside of our 4 walls! And I liked it that way! But now, it is back to running errands, buying toilet paper :) and piano lessons! And I like that too!

Brainwashed!

See what happens when you are almost 6 months old in house with 8 boys (well, 9 including daddy!)

However....

He does not seem to mind!

Melt in your mouth recipe

Melt in the Mouth Caramels:
(Makes about 2 1/2 pounds)  You can cut it in half!

1 cup butter or margarine

1 pound brown sugar

Dash salt

1 cup light corn syrup

1 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Add brown sugar and salt. Stir until thoroughly combined. Stir in corn syrup and mix well. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.

-Cook and stir over medium heat until candy reaches firm ball stage. 245 on candy thermometer. about 12 to 15 min.

-Remove from heat, stir in vanilla. Pour into a buttered 9 inch square pan. Cool and cut into squares.

*Recipe from a 1974 cookbook
http://oldrecipebook.com/caramels.shtml


Note:  We cut the pieces with scissors and wrapped each piece in wax paper.

You asked for it!

You asked for the recipes so here is the first one!

My  EASY recipe for my infamous English toffee!  (okay, maybe just infamous to our family!:)


ENGLISH TOFFEE CANDY


1 c. sugar

1 c. butter NO SUBSTITUTES!

2 c. finely chopped nuts (optional)

4 plain Hershey bars (I use a bag of Chocolate Chips instead of the bars!  Melts more evenly!)

Melt butter over low flame (use a heavy pot). Add sugar and stir until butter is absorbed by butter. Turn heat on high and stir constantly until mixture turns light brown  (about 300 degrees). Grease a 9x12 inch pan well, put chopped nuts, 1 cup on bottom of pan. Pour mixture over them. Place Hershey bars on top and allow them to melt. Then spread and sprinkle rest of the nuts on top. When cold, break in pieces.

Wasn't that easy!  And ohhhh so yummy!

What are we going to do?

This week in our town, we are going to get our first taste of winter!  Snow and COLD!!!  So what are we going to do about it?  Stay inside and bake! 
Here is the list:

• Monday- Christmas Cut-outs
• Tuesday- English Toffee and party mix
• Wendesday- Caramels and Divinity
• Thursdays- Chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz  (My ABSOLUTE favorite)
• Friday- Fudge and Puppy Chow
• Saturday- A BREAK!  And maybe some fasting! :)

And no, we will not be eating all of that, it will be going into the freezer for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!  However, I am sure some tasting will be going on! :)

What are you baking in your kitchen to prepare for Christmas? 

"Tell me big brother!"

"So just how many brothers do we have?"

"I have to use more than just one hand! I know it takes lots more fingers to show you!"

"I will show you as soon as I figure it out, okay?!"

Do you know who you are?

 
I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)

I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

I belong to God

Do you know

Who you are?

Getting ready for.........

...CHRISTMAS!

The most important thing to be thankful for!

Watch this incredible short video.  You will be blessed!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883230?bctid=1509297822

Thank you Jesus for setting us free and filling the hole in our hearts!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Bullet Boy- one year aniversary!

I had to post this to remind some of you and maybe new to some of you, that this REALLY did happen to MY child!  This is the week that one year ago, a bullet was swallowed by my son!  Being a mother of boys is really a dose of excitement daily!  Here was my post a year ago!:

Okay, here it is! The bullet boy, aka my little B.B. :) This is proof that the bullet was there! It is no longer in him and lead levels are coming down! (If a sewer explodes somewhere, I'm genuinely sorry!) Call the Today Show and everyone else you know and don't know, to show that a bullet really can go through you without exploding your entire being! We can now laugh because this is now BEHIND us and has PASSED! (No puns intended! Okay, maybe they were intended!) With 7 boys, I'm sure this is the first of many ingestions I will face. I'll chalk this one up for experience!

Ideas for cutting costs

Here are some simple ways I save money:

• use cloth diapers (they ARE NOT what they used to be!  So much better!)www.natureslove.net 
• washable wipes that I make myself out of flannel  (I sell these if you are interested!)
• reuse bread baggies and cereal bags to store other items
• I use extra pasta and less meat in my casseroles since it is more expensive to buy meat
• make my own greeting cards
• make our own gifts
• make things from scratch
• eat lots of soups
• I use 1/4 of what the detergent box says for laundry (Charlie's soap is what I use and it uses very little anyway!  All natural and NO chemicals!)http://www.beyondbeds.com/index.asp?pmc=CharliesSo&PageAction=Custom&ID=155&source=Charlies_Soap_Google&gclid=CKmhoZK7z50CFQjyDAodGDWnsw
• I don't but snack foods.  My kids are not snackers because I never started that habit.  We eat 3 meals a day and that's it!  They don't even think about it!
• We drink lots of water!  Cheap and good for you!
• keep paper products to a minimum!  We don't use paper plates unless on picnics or I get them for free!
• emptied yogurt cups make GREAT cups for serving jello, ice-cream, homemade frozen smoothies, and just plain water to little kids! The kids think it's great they have their own little portion!  They are also great to stick in a baggie that you can just throw away after you use them while on long car trips, the park or grandma's!  (They do wash up great in the dishwasher too!)
• use coupons and LOTS of them!
• holiday and birthday gifts are simple and budgeted!
• I use cash when I shop and I don't bring anything besides cash!
• Don't go to the store to often!  I can't spend if I don't go!  Also saves on gas!
• Buy in quantity when things are on sale
• Make lists, this includes wish lists and priority lists so I can keep things in perspective
• We hardly EVER eat out!!  I do not want to feed fast food to our kids anyway!  I am laying a foundation for them while they are young!  We do have a restaurant in our town where kids eat free on Tuesdays and we have been known to go there but they have healthy food options! 
• We have special meals that we set the table really fancy and get a movie to watch and have family dates in the comfort of our own home!
• I go to discount day old bread stores for some items and can get loaves of bread for $.79! 

These are some things I use.  My grocery bill every two weeks is around $150 for a family of 13.  My extra's such as soaps, shampoos, and other items comes to around $50 monthly.  Sometimes I can even do less than that if I get really good coupon leads!  :)  My kids are healthy and they NEVER go hungry!:)

Hope this helps you and pleeeasssseee if you have any other ideas I could use, leave a comment!   I need advice!:)

Coupon clippings

Some people have always used coupons. Me, not so much! I always thought it was to much work and usually after trying to REMEMBER to bring them to the store, I would forget to use them at the check-out. Therefore, I just made the decision NOT to use them all these years. UNTIL…I decided to subscribe to www.savingsangel.com. I was a skeptic at first. I read how people have literally cut their food bill in half! I thought NO WAY! I always buy at discount grocery stores anyway so there is no way I could save money just clipping coupons! I will say this, after using their services for 3 weeks, I have saved over $100! On their websight, they show me all the sales for the week and what coupons to use. I have learned how to stack coupons, only buy when things are on sale and how to use the coupons with the sale items. I have gotten many things for free like Glade Candles, Ziploc Baggies, Chinet plates and other things just by using their services and the coupons they direct me to. I now have to really NEED something before I will buy it without a coupon! Here are some ways to save by using coupons and in store sales:

  -Clip as many as you can from newspapers (Sunday papers are best)

 -Get them from the dispenser at the stores, even if you are not buying the product at that time

 -Have a file folder to keep them in so you can grab it whenever you go out

 -Look for sales to go WITH your coupons

 -Buy in quantity if something is on sale, stock up! This is a GREAT time of year to save on baking items!      Summer holidays are great for ketchup, sauces, paper kitchen items and similar things!

 -Make a list of what you need before you go and attach coupons on your paper so you don’t have to dig!

- Make a little symbol beside the item on your list that you have a coupon for so your remember to use it

 -Ask others to save coupons for you (my mom is great at this!)

 -Swap coupons with other people that you know

 -Get online to check for coupons. Just, google “free coupons” (My coupon service does this for me!)

 -Although kind of annoying to get e-mails from different companies, I have found they have GREAT recipes and lots of free trials and great coupons to print off! I actually enjoy receiving them now!

 -Don’t forget to use them and bring them with you!:)

These may seem obvious to you or hopefully give you some new ideas. This is another way God has been blessing the work of my hands! Using some scissors and typing on the computer for about 2 hours a week to gather coupons has helped us with our grocery bill! It is also nice to be able to go to my pantry to get something instead of running to the store! I have gotten a pretty good supply of things because I am able to buy many things at once! That also saves me money because a trip for me to the store for 2 things, turns into 20!

Some websights I use:
http://www.pillsbury.com/
http://www.couponmom.com/
http://www.scjohnson.com/
http://www.bettycrocker.com/
http://www.smartsource.com/
http://www.coolsavings.com/
http://www.printable-coupons.blogspot.com/

If you don't see coupons come up on the first page, go to the search and type in 'coupons' and that will take you to their coupons that are available.  Some of these sights have great recipe idea's also!

If you have any other ideas using coupons, please let me know! Happy clipping!

Saving money tips -Impulse Buying

In this process of God blessing the work of my hands, He has allowed many things to surface that I need to change. The one I will cover today, is something that costs us a lot during the year! Just in one week, I added what up what was NOT on my lists and it totaled almost $80! That multiplied by 4 is $360! Now I realize it may not always be that much, but I was shocked! That was a great lesson for me!  Welcome to my life as an impluse buyer! I can go to the store for 3 things and come home with 30! Here are some things I use to help me stick to my list:

• PRAY before you go! I cannot emphasize this enough!
• USE a list!
• use coupons (I usually will not buy an item if I don't have a coupon for it!)
• bring cash ONLY!
• Do not go to the grocery store when you are hungry!
• go when you don' t have lots of time BUT enough time NOT to get grumpy!
• be accountable to somebody, tell them where you are going and how much you are spending (I choose my husband!)
• Leave your kids at home! (I actually am not serious about this one, HOWEVER kids do ask for things so I make my point to tell them WHAT we are going for and they may not ask for ANYTHING because I can't get it anyway!)
• Take your little kids WITH you! (It will make you want to get out of the store QUICK! ) Kind-of kidding about this one too! My little ones actually help me put things in the cart and I use it for school for math and problem solving!)

Hopefully you don't have any trouble with impulse buying like I do! If you do, hope these things will help you to spend less!  I also strongly recommend that you do what I did for one week and keep track of the things you buy that you don't need or did not plan on.  It will surprise you! 

I am still a work in progress and am not perfect at this yet, but these things have helped me!  It has also brought much blessing to our finances and in return, brings blessing to my husband!  God continues to bless the work of my hands by making lists and sticking to it!

Any ideas you have for sticking to your lists would be great!

Simplicity and spending less

Here it goes!  Another thing God has been teaching me these past few weeks is how to be a blessing to my husband.  Some of you may deal with other issues, mine is money.  I am an impulsive buyer.  Now the things I buy on impulse, may not cost much, however, many things not costing much add up!  So I have been asking God these past few weeks to bless the work of my hands!  Little did I know all that would be included in that prayer!  I will be sharing some ideas and giving you a little peek into my life in the coming posts!

In the past, I never really knew of any GOOD ways to spend less, it was just a way of thinking that I would try to find the best deals and most economical way to live.  Usually out of necessity not just for the fun of it!  From the worlds standards, we don't have much. 

We have a 4 bedroom house that is about 2000 square feet at best!  My kids all have their own beds, but own rooms, NOT!  One bedroom has 2 bunkbeds and 2 dressers, the girls room has a double bunkbed, 2 desks and a dresser (also lots of closet space!), and the 3rd kids room has a bunk bed, single bed, desk and a dresser.  Our room has a crib in it for now but that will soon change when we move the baby into the other boys room.  The kids don't have toys in their rooms.  We have very few toys (by choice)  unless they are lego's, lincoln logs or blocks and a rubbermaid with trucks, tractors and trains.  We have a walk-in-closet/toy room on the main floor where toys are kept and up above are shelves with our books and school stuff.  We prefer the kids to be together, so they don't play in their rooms unless they are having room time and then they can take a toy to their room and then bring it back when they are done.  That keeps messes at a mimimum too!  Our dining room has a table that sits 12-15 people and the piano is in there also, and the only other room we have besides the kitchen is our living/family room.  Inspite of what people think, this works just fine for us!  I have said at this stage in my life, I don't want any bigger of a home because little boys left alone is well, plainly put, just asking for trouble!  (I have 7 boys under 9 years old!)  So where we are, they are also, and that is how we like it!  My husband  always says to people when they ask how he can afford allllll those kids, "Well, we can afford them, just not 3 brand new cars, a huge house, big vacations and other extra's!"  Our kids also appreciate the simple things which now days is very hard to do!  An afternoon at grandma and grandpa's or pizza delivered to our home is a HUGE deal!  Going to the park is more fun than you can imagine!  They REALLY appreciate going to a hotel to swim and staying overnight once a year!  In that, we are hoping that we are teaching them that the things of this world will pass away but being together and building relationships is what is of true value! 

Christmas is another thing that we have always been very limited financially and for that I am truly grateful! I really mean that!  We have never used credit cards during the holidays because we knew we would regret it later!  So for all of our 11 kids combined, we never spend more than what we can afford.  Usually that means about $25 a piece for the bigger kids and about $15 for the little ones.  For them that is a big deal because we don't buy them gifts or toys during the year except for birthdays.  So getting gifts worth $25 is HUGE in their eyes!  Another great thing about simplicity!  The things we buy them are also things they will use!  Blankets, sleeping bags, and building toys are ALWAYS favorites that can be used all year through and you don't see them 2 days after Christmas laying around because they are bored with them already!  Wasted money in my eyes!    We also never buy them more than 3 gifts a piece!  We always said Jesus only got three, why should we get more than him?!  Santa is never acknowledged in our home either!  I never have believed in him as a child and I never wanted  my kids to believe in him either!  And they don't!  Guess what?  I don't even feel scarred by that!  :)  In fact:, I am grateful!  As far as extended family goes, we usually make something and a $15 gift to go with it. 

Birthdays are also celebrated in our home but not with material things.  They always get a meal of their choice and a gift of about $10. And if everyone complies, a day off of their serving chart because the others chip in to help!  That usuallly beats the gift part in their eyes!  :)  Daddy ALWAYS prays a blessing over them during evening bible time and dessert of their choice is always on the agenda too!  We have also started a tradition way back when our oldest turned one, that we would watch the movie of the day they were born.  It is so fun to watch how everyone has changed!  They always get a few laughs at mom's changing hair styles!  (And I thought I was so hip!)  HUH!  Fun, inexpensive way to enjoy each other!  We don't ever have birthday parties with friends.  Just never started that and don't regret it!  Now, they have enough "friends" in their own living room on a daily basis to make any birthday party goer jealous! :)  What we have done at times is let them pick a place they want a friend to go and take them with us.  Grandma and Grandpa's house is always a favorite.  They lives outside of town and have land to hike and run around on.  The girls always decorate their room and have a little slumber party the night of each of their birthdays.  Good memories!

This is just the beginning of some ways we save money through the year.  I will be sharing some practical daily and weekly ways to cut costs next week. 

How do you save money throughout the year?  Any simple ideas on birthdays and Christmas to make them special without all the material "stuff"? 

Fall football fun for Foto Friday (how about that for a tongue twister!)

Being Frugal

Doing a post on ways to save money in the coming week.  First, I would like some ideas from my readers on simple ways they cut costs!  I would like to include them in my coming post!  Thank you! 

Off to the store I go! 

Children should be seen AND heard!

I write this post today with excitement and a fire under my belt!  The past few weeks have been a journey for me in walking closer to my loving savior.  So many things have been happening "behind" the scenes that I never knew were happening and now as I have been watching things unfold before my eyes, I am thrilled to begin sharing them with you!  The next few posts will in greater detail describe some of the things God is doing in my heart and life!  The first one I will share with you today.

As I visited my "home" church that I wrote about the other day, a dear lady that I knew quite well came up to me and I innocently gave her my blog address so she could catch up with our family because there is just not enough time to cover what 13 people have been up to in the past 10 years!  Well, God had a greater plan and began to plant a seed in her heart for something else to do with my blog address. 

For years, since I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I have had a PASSION to minister to young girls and young mothers about the value of life and that children are a blessing NOT a burden!  The world today sees that as just the opposite and it disgusts me!  That is a harsh way to say it but that is truth!!  Why does the world see children as a burden, well simply because of selfishness!  It is WORK to raise children, it is expensive to raise children, and it is time consuming to raise children!  So therefore, it is considered a negative thing to have more than one or MAYBE 2 children.  The "cost" is to great!  (For those of you who cannot have children or have only one or two, please don't write me how unsypathetic I am! I am talking about the idea of  children being a burden not attacking personal reasons for having 1 or 2 children.)  It's all about attitudes and trust!  There are vacations to take, jobs to do outside of the home, new cars to drive, big huge houses to acquire, and the list goes on and on!  Not that those things in itself are ALWAYS bad, just when they become priority over God's plan to have more children. 

If God's word says, "be fruitful and multiply", "the fruit of the womb is your reward", "children are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord",  and other verses that explain children are GOOD and a blessing, then WHY should we consider them any different!  Jesus even said, "Let the little children come to me!"  He knew how important they were!  As a mother of 11 children, with 7 of them 8 and under (and boys at that!), I understand how trying children can be BUT I also thoroughly understand the blessings they bring and they far outweigh the trying part!  The extra laughter, hugs, kisses, and the lessons we ALL have to learn in being selfless!

With that being said, I will continue on with the rest of the story.  I recieved a phone call yesterday from a well known representative from Iowa Right To Life.  She had heard of me through the lady I had seen at church and wanted to know if I would have any interest in helping get a new campaign off and running about populating Iowa!  I said I have done a great job of that already!:)  I would be thrilled to take part!  The new journey in releasing the passion God has placed in my heart to share with others has begun!  HE found a way for me to share my heart!  I did not search IT out, He brought it to me!  I hope to be used in a way that can be a blessing to others and His glory can be seen.  I will update you more on things to come as I begin to write and publicize this campaign that children are to be seen AND heard!  They are gifts and blessings that only God can give! 

Pray for me as I seek His desire and plan for me while on this new journey!

Just sharing a smile or two!