What will this year hold for us?

Last year was one of many changes.  I am sure this one will be also.  We have continued to lay all that we have at Jesus feet and my "goal" this year will be to do the same.  I am reading on my Nook-color, that I received for Christmas, (yes, way too cool and I am bragging just a touch!), a book by Oswald Chambers.  It is one of the most life changing books I have read with the exception of the bible.  It is about prayer and I realize I may have been looking at prayer in a way that may be hindering my relationship with my creator. 

Chambers states this:
"Prayer nourishes the life of God.  Our Lord nourished the life of God in Him by prayer.  He was continually in contact with His Father.  WE generally look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical idea of prayer is that God's holiness, purpose, and wise order may be brought about.  Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the new Testament."

I don't know how many times I go to God in distress without reasoning.  I have just cried out to Him.  Which is not all bad.  However, the purpose of prayer is to reveal the presence of God, equally present at all times and in every condition.  So, I should understand that whether times are really tough, or going pretty well, God is there just the same and my need for Him is no different! 

With that being said, I have been really been re-evaluating my idea of what I want for my life attempting to lay the hour, day, month, and year before Him and resting in knowing that He has gone before me and will guide me.  I am a control "freak" by nature so this is not easy!  From having a clean house to allowing my children to make mistakes and learn from them are things that I battle daily sometimes hourly!  It has been a process of listening and obeying that I have not mastered yet!  I can listen pretty well and even obey, but usually it is in my time!  I also worry and fret WAY more than I should.  And that is an understatement! 

Chambers also quotes: "...prayer  deals with the nourishment of life.  It is nourished by refusing to worry over anything, for worry means there is something over which we cannot have our own way, and in reality is personal irritation with God.  Jesus Christ says, "Don't worry about your life.  Don't fear them which kill the body.  Be afraid only of not doing what the Spirit of God indicates to you."

With this, I have no choice but to quit trying to control things that I am not to take on anyway!  Let go and let God know I am not irritated with Him and I DO trust Him!  (That even means trusting Him knowing my daughter my be going this summer to AFRICA on a mission trip!)  Even my most valued thing on earth, my beautiful children!  My biggest fear in life is they will not choose to follow Christ and also fearing that one of them will physically die!  I literally have built my life at times, around those two fears!  I can't control either if them!  Wow, how much internal struggle I could have and will prevent when I let go of that! 

To get back to what our year will hold...I have no clue!  EXCEPT, I am going to let God take over and rest knowing that He will sustain me no matter what!  Oh, to trust Him more and give up MY plan and control to the giver and author of MY life!  No New Year resolution, just a decision to give up and turn over to Him what was never supposed to be mine anyway! 

I am excited to see what God is going to do in 2011 and I will welcome (okay, with much prayer), whatever it is knowing my need for Him is no different this year than it was last year!  I hope you will come along with me and watch as I enjoy the ride!

An update and signing off for 2010

An update~

I have taken a little break from the blog world.  Just my choice to do so and lots of other things that fill my time and sometimes, something just has to give!  So, although I will not be involving myself much for the rest of the year in the blog world, I thought I would leave you for the year with a little update.

My husband found a job.  Not the ideal job for our family.  It is commision based which when raising 12 children, rather a scary thought!  However, at this point, it is something and that seems to be hard to come by right now.  We will continue to lay all that we have at Jesus feet and depend on Him which is where we should be anyway.  So tomorrow, a new normal begins!  Lots more hours with dad away from home here and there and not sure of what our income will be but God is good and has NEVER let us down!  He has continued to bless us and provide these past 10 weeks abundantly and we are so thankful for all that we have!  Learning more and more to live one day at a time.  That is biblical you know! :)  Sometimes I forget that those simple truths are to benefit me and to give me a hope and a future!  Speaking of future.......

I am more than half-way through my pregnancy and found out after 7 boys in a row, we are having a little GIRL in April!  The infant department is no longer safe and I am sure I am sleeping and breathing pink!  The girls are ecstatic and the boys can't wait to have a baby sister because as my 8 year old said, "I want to have a baby sister so bad because I have never seen one!" 

I will be signing out for the rest of the year unless something really exciting happens like twins!  :)  (No, I am not having twins...this time!)

Enjoy your Christmas and I will be back in 2011! 

Foto Friday

After the excitement of the holiday preperations,

my boys needed some down/brain time!

The running around like turkeys,

had to come to a hault!

So we took some play-dough,

 

raw spaghetti noodles,

 

and cereal to make some really fun sculptures!

I will posting of some other fun activies to do with your children soon!

Stay tuned...

Thankful for potty-trained 2 year olds!

We have been doing this in our home this week...


It has been a family affair!
 It is nice to have an entire cheering squad of 12 when you trying to accomplish something as great as this
at the age of 2!

It has been 5 days and he has total control of his bladder already!
Even dry after 2 naps
AND drumroll please...
...woke up DRY this morning and ran downstairs straight to his plastic throne,
and filled it half way!

(okay, WAY to much info, but this mom cannot contain her excitement!)

I have NEVER had potty-training happen this quick in my life as a mother!

I really cannot take the credit,

He really did it himself with his GREAT support system of brother's and sister's
cheering him on!

Now,

for this I am thankful! :)

I really am so thankful for WAY  many more things,

 but this post just does not have enough room to fill all the blessings I am have been given!

Have a beautiful day tomorrow and weekend with the people you love!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Foto Friday

I seem to post lots about my boys!
But I guess when you have 8 of them and 7 of them are under your feet ALL day,
they tend to be the ones you have sight of often!
And let me tell you,
I have learned the hard way,
I NEED to have sight of them every moment! :)
Because what one does not think of,
another one will!
We have had a long couple weeks of strep throat going around and it is NOT over yet!
Just think if you will,
13 people passing it around and THEN the ones who got it first,
are getting it AGAIN!
So, yes we have cabin fever and winter has not even hit yet!
But I did catch these sweet little things playing together so
a-d-o-r-a-b-l-y!
And believe me when I say,
I NEED SOMETING ADORABLE TO LOOK AT!

Have a GREAT weekend and PLEASE stay healthy!

Thankful for food Thursday!

Okay, don't think about the calories as you make this!  Who really cares this time of year anyway, right?!  Yes, as you read this recipe, it does have CHEESE in it!  It is simply delish!  It is a great thing for kids to help with also!  They love to cut up the cheese and dump the stuff in.  Try it! ENJOY!

No-Cook Never-Fail Fudge

Ingredients:

1 pound Velveeta, cubed
1 pound butter
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 pounds confectioners' sugar
3 cups chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.Melt cheese and butter together in a nonstick saucepan; stir until smooth. Keep this mixture over a low heat. In a mixing bowl, sift confectioners' sugar and cocoa together until thoroughly mixed and no lumps remain.

2.Combine the sugar mixture with the melted butter and cheese. Stir until very smooth. Stir in nuts and vanilla. Press mixture into 2 lightly sprayed or buttered 9x13 inch pans; let cool until firm. Cut into small squares. This fudge can be frozen.

If you came to my house...

We just had family visit for the weekend and it always amazes me how little I notice things in our home when "outsiders" are not around OR maybe it's when "outsiders" are around, I notice just how much we have going on in our busy home!  What ever the case, here are some things you may encounter if you take the brave attempt to visit us!  Be afraid, VERY afriad!

• you will not go hungry!
• don't worry about cleaning up after meal times! We don't let our guests help with that, we want you to enjoy your time at our home. HOWEVER, it may be a good excuse to visit with the ladies of the home!
• more than likely, your plate and cup won't match your neighbors unless you want to eat off of a seperated plastic plate and drink from a sippee cup! 
• Don't look for a beautifully set table but you will find lots of beautiful little faces!
• be prepared to have LOTS of conversations and answer LOTS of questions!  Some more than once!
• get your game face ready!  We love to play all kinds of games!
• hope you don't mind changing a diaper or two
• your lap will be climbed on and your cheek will be kissed
• if you need to use the bathroom, you might want to check with us first!  We are still learning how to flush after we use the toilet! AND how to replace the empty toilet paper roll! 
• no fancy towels and you might have to search for the soap in the shower somewhere when you wash your hands
• go to the bathroom with out interuptions? Doubtful!
• hope you like to read books and build with lego's!
• if you decide to stay overnight, you will have your bed warmed up with a heated mattress pad, but please bring your own pillow! Never sure if there will be extra's!
• can't promise you won't find a hotwheel, or some other toy when you you crawl into bed! Hopefully it will be not be something slimy and alive! (Can't promise that however!)
• hope you don't like to sleep in!
• don't worry though, we go to bed early, so getting up usually is not a problem!
• if it is, don't worry, the troops will be in plenty early to wake you up!
• hope you don't like getting dressed alone!
• we do make sure the shower curtain stays closed at all times, so you should be safe there!
• quiet, peaceful mornings? NEVER!
• lots of fun conversation? ALWAYS!
• breakfast is at 7 am, otherwise you may not eat simply because your portion may get ate!
• if you decide to look out the window at the beautiful sunrise, it may look clouded because of all the fingerprints
• get your bible out at 9am for bible time and make sure your singing voice is ready!
• please bring your wisdom to help with questions about science, math, english, etc...
• beware for balls being thrown in the house now that dad is home, get ready to duck!
• if you don't like watching kids wrestle, you may want to reconsider the room you are in when the kids are around!
• willing to fold laundry?
• what about running a washing machine?
• any objections to washing kids?
• bring your play clothes! You WILL be asked to go out and play!
• be prepared to hear lots of bodily sounds coming from little ones! (we are working on that one also!)
• you will find yourself amazed of the things you hear coming from a mother's mouth! I am still amazed!
• don't worry about bringing anything to do! YOU WILL NOT BE BORED!
• you will be LOVED! (whether you want to be or not!)
• more than likely, on your way home, your ears will hurt because of the quietness in your car!
• hopefully you will want to come back for more!

Foto Friday

Boys raking leaves is all work and NO play...

And more work with nothing else in mind...

Yeah, right!!!!!