These winter months are difficult no doubt, long, dark and cold. By the time February rolls around everyone in my house is ready for Spring, but here in the Midwest we still have almost two months of winter left. Caden has been asking almost daily how many more sleeps until Spring and Summer. Being a stay at home mom can make winter even more isolating. Feeling like we are locked in, living in a cave and cabin fever times ten. After the "bug" hitting our house in January everyone at home, quarantining and at home learning left the reality hit even a little harder. So here we are into February and I am trying ... view the post
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Wishing you all a joyous Christmas season and a blessed New Year from our family!! Sneaking this in on the Twelfth Day of Christmas! Still celebrating in our house, even if it means we are the only ones left on our block with our Christmas lights still on. The Christmas octave was a bit of a whirlwind and I feel like we just need a recovery day of sleep, which is currently happening this week as everyone is taking turns being sick. Nonetheless, it was all so incredibly joyful and beautiful! We traveled out of state to visit my family, celebrated my birthday and Kolbe and Ethan's adoption day, attended a nephew's ... view the post
A Half Dozen
Well, there it is. The big news! Baby number six is coming in May! Six kids in seven years! Never did I imagine this is how the story would write after eight years of infertility and loss. I guess we are living proof that nothing is impossible with God, absolutely nothing. His plan is perfect, His providence is generous and His grace is always enough. We are all very excited and as soon as we told our kids the next day the entire school knew. They were bursting at the seams to share the gift of new life. So much, that Baby has its own placement, an ultrasound picture on the 5th grade bulletin board right next to ... view the post
Letting Go of Their Hand
As we are about to embark on a new school year, I am sitting here wishing summer would stay around just a little longer. With a blink, these golden months are gone and now three of my children will be starting school and a piece of my heart will be leaving with them. To be honest, at the beginning of summer I was nervous about how I would manage with the transition of all five kids home and now I am wondering how I will manage without them. Yes, there were moments of chaos during the summer. Times when all five kiddos needed me at once and times I felt like pulling my hair out. The reality of motherhood. But those ... view the post
Praying for Afghanistan
I usually find myself writing about motherhood and family life, but this was weighing heavy on my heart and felt the need to put it into words this afternoon. So going a little outside my wheelhouse. As I hustle preparing everyone’s breakfast and getting kids dressed trying to make it out the door on time for swimming lessons, my mind is clouded with thoughts of the Afghan people. Here in the comfort of my own home, not questioning my security, going about the day to day tasks in raising a family. Out of sight, out of mind I just continue per usual with my day. The thing is what is happening to our brothers and ... view the post