Life

Isn't this the truth.  This is just a little quote I came across on a blog that I follow.  It is so true.  We do this.  I find myself doing this even today.  We have a house full of sick kids and a couple of sleep deprived parents.  I find my fuse very short this round of illness.  I'm usually right on task as helping people that are sick was my lifes work for so long.  My nighttime shift has always been a little hard but this one seems nearly impossible.  I'm out of sync.  For some reason, my body just won't adjust to this one.  And our youngest is trying me to the moon and back.

And I think I'm being tempted, tempted to be less Christ-like than I desire... and I'm not winning.  I want to be kind and loving but my words and actions just are not there sometimes.  I'm studying James; I want my life to reflect the words in this book of the Bible.  I also want my husband's work at our church to be fruitful and give him the time he needs for that to be guilt-free.  I want my husband to also be able to full fill his dream of having a productive adventure with animals on our farm.  And I want to be an active part of saving the lives of unborn babies and the lives of their families.  I want to be a great wife and mom.  I believe God desires all these things for us too and I think because our desire to bring glory to God in all these things, we are being tempted... being tempted to give up.  But I won't.

I really want my whole life to be a wonderful story.  Even the darkest of nights.  But I have to remember that everyone has challenges and struggles and that I'm not in this alone and I don't need to compare especially my struggles with everyone's triumphs.  I need to LEARN to give thanks in every situation. 

I will go back now to my puking kids, baskets of laundry and be grateful.  Grateful that I have a family. And be thankful that my behind-the-scenes acts with ultimately one day be the best hightlight reel I could ever hope for!

LIFE.... Fight for it!

LIFE.  When does it begin?  I guess I have never questioned that life began at the moment of conception but I really never planned to have such a heart for saving a life from that moment until the moment a child is born and beyond.

I know of people who have had abortions but not anyone close enough to me to talk about it.  I really have always wanted to know why or how it felt or how it felt when the did carry a baby to term.  All of these are not even questions that would be right to ask but I've thought about them.

Then a couple of years ago my husband and I attended a banquet for a local clinic to help women and families in crisis with a pregnancy.  At the time I was pregnant with our fourth child.  The pregnancy that was really not any less planned that our last but was more overwhelming due to the number and ages of our other children.  At that time we had a 2 year old and 7 month old twins.  I was an emotional basket case and didn't think this was the way it was supposed to be.  Which it was completely how it was supposed to be because God is good and she was part of His perfect plan.  Even though abortion NEVER crossed our minds, I felt like I could relate to women who were pregnant and felt hopeless.

We have financially supported this clinic ever since and continue to attend fund raising banquets however recently I have felt such a heart tucking from the Lord to become more involved.  Just after Christmas my friend gave me this book.  I couldn't put it down.  It answered some of my questions and I so feel Abby's passion!  Yesterday I gave the clinic a call and left a message stating that I have a heart to serve at the clinic personally.  I have no idea where this will lead but I am so excited to serve the Lord in this way.  Help save His creations and help their moms and families along the way!

Expanding Family

Hvidsten Christmas 2011, a photo by janelleh1 on Flickr.

I write this post as a person who is pretty sure I make a plan and then pray about it. I heard on the radio the other day, that rather than that we should pray about something first and then come up with a plan. It seems like a minor difference with huge differences in outcomes.

I love this picture of the cousins at Chistmas! They had such a good time together. You see get togethers are hard for me because I feel like I am always on alert.... which I am even if we are not in a group setting but anyway. This year seemed more relaxed. The kids came be trusted a little more, chairs aren't really an issue at this point and everyone can eat on there own and some even at their own table! Gift opening even went better, at least for me. There was one adult for every child so it didn't seem so chaotic; which was so nice!

Anyway, back to my previous thought. I am quite sure this group will be expanding. I can be pretty confident in this as my sister-in-law is expecting her third child at the end of April. Hopes are that Jack will have a boy to help him out with all these girls but one never knows; we could have the next cheerleading squad on our hands.... or basketball team.
Then there are Jay's two sister who will probably add to the numbers at some point too so it will be quite a group someday, as it is already.

This is where my planning then praying comes in. I have a plan... I thought. And I was all ready to pray about it and then I heard the message on the radio. Pray then plan. Oh my word. This should not be eye opening to me but it was. I think I very often plan and then pray. I knew I was to have our next child between February 2013 and February of 2014. I was quite sure. And now I'm back to the drawing board. But really I'm so much farther ahead... I know God already knows and I just have to pray to find out. What a relief!

So even though I'm clueless to whether or not I personally will add to these numbers; I do know that most importantly I have a heavenly Father to represent to the ones we already have and to continue to grow and mature in the relationship I have with him.

So enjoy gazing at these beautiful children and pray for me if you think about it as we continue to pray about God's plan for our family.