Happy Trails!

Well.........as typical for this pregnancy this is my once a week entry...or more like once a month entry at the rate I am going these days. Since all of my precious blogging hours were between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am I seem to have lost those. It's amazing if I can make it past 10 these days and I sleep til 9. So, why in the world do I find a need for a nap too??????? I know my iron is probably low but despite the 2 slow release pills I am on a day they don't seem to be phasing this aspect of it. Next stop is the Chlorophyll stop. My body doesn't seem to like breaking down the pills very well despite the massive amounts of folic acid I am on to aid the process and Chlorophyll is always the ever wonderful wonder worker that can get it back up where it belongs. So, while blowing through Fort Worth I'll be stopping to pick it up since I've procrastinated and can no longer wait for mail delivery of the liquid gold.

Anyway, there is much to say and as always, the story of my life, I have left much off over the weeks I have fallen so miserably behind at this. It seems the biggest and most obvious at this point is that I will now go missing even longer. The children and I are taking a spontaneous, crazily fun vacation to the Smoky Mountains. Brad is staying here to limit the number of days he uses up before the baby comes and to man the menagerie we have going. I begged him to go and he's begged me to stay. Due to the fact that we do absolutely everything together this is something new and foreign and oddly strange to us. He is already dreading the time we are gone and has no clue what to do with himself. Being the organizer and list maker that I am I have supplied him with a long list of to-do's to keep his boredom at bay. Things he would grow easily frustrated by when trying to do it with 15 little boys in tow. I am hoping very much that he will have the backyard leveled and the swingset put together as a welcome home surprise but I am thinking that is a little too far out there as far as expectations go. So, I will keep my expectations at a minimum and actually be very surprised if he does anything except mope and whine and go stir crazy during our absence. I know that the one time the older 5 were gone right after I had Gavin I cried after they left. The house seemed so empty and so eerily and wrongly quiet. The time that should've been my most savored became the longest, hardest time to survive. Won't be doing that one again.

So, the plan is for the children and I to leave here around 9 Saturday morning and stop in Fort Worth to have lunch with Mother and pick up Chlorophyll and whatever we've already discovered got left behind.....which is inevitable. Then we will keep going on to Little Rock. We'll find a place there to stay for the night and then pick back up the next morning and hit the road again.....bound for our Smoky Mountain destination, located on the far eastern tip of TN. Somehow we went from looking in Memphis to crossing the entire state for a better view. Suffice it to say I didn't quite realize we would have to go across the entire state for a view. But we are all ecstatic...well, if you leave Brad out of the equation....and I am about as excited as the children. It is the 1st time I have been out of the state in 4 years and the first vacation the older ones have experienced at an age they are old enough to remember and truly enjoy. We have already heard the "You're absolutely crazy, wacked-out insane" comments for taking the 7 of them and doing this but it blows people's minds when one is confident to do it "alone". I am far from alone as I have Grayson who is more helpful than most adults I know at aiding a person, focusing on the task at hand and getting the job done. And then Evye has become quite the pro at dealing with and manning the little ones while in the van and holding or occupying one or all when I can't meet an immediate need. I figured out what it would take to stay organized and limit what comes out of the van for our night in Ark and so far I don't have a doubt that this will be one of the most fun things we've done in a very long while. But, oh how my heart aches for Brad's company already. He'll be on shift Saturday when we leave and I'm actually kind of glad he won't be here to see us off. I think it'd be too depressing leaving him standing behind. So it is that I will wake with him early Sat and he will leave for work and the children and I will get on the road.

So, after spending 5 days getting to, staying in and leaving TN we will return to Fort Worth and stay with Mother for a little over a week while our floors are refinished here. The time there will fly by quickly, as we have a trip to the zoo planned, an appt with my midwife and probably 2 days to spend hanging out with Jackie, seeing and holding Baby Cyrus and letting the children play. It will be a full week full of fun and stuff to see and do.

Oh.......did I mention that I'm meeting 3 of my dearest friends in TN for our vacation??? We rented a massive cabin and will fill it up with children between the 4 of us. One is due with her 5th anyday, another has 5, the other 8 and then my crew of 7. To save myself dragging out the calculator in years to come......that totals up to 24 children. And I think 9 of them are something like 4 and under. So, I'm not the only crazy one making this trip. We are coming from north, south, east and west and decided this was our desired vacation place. So, we're all traveling from our different sides of the US with our children in tow to make this happen.

I think the worst part is trying to get everybody ready and packed. If we could just get on the road and get the details over with my joy would have a hard time being rivaled by much. But, as it is, the packing and the list making and the odds and ends for hair, baths and stuff is kind of taxing. Although, this year for the 1st time Grayson and Evye packed everything on their own and then Evye went on to pack Aubrey's entire suitcase. When left up to Aubrey on her own she just packs 94 pair of underwear and says she's ready to go. I made out a list, printed it off and gave them each their own. They were able to pack their entire suitcase up and each one has already been set by the door. That was a new milestone in making a trip easier. I managed to get Garrison and Grant packed up 2 days ago and then after packing Garrett up yesterday he lovingly unzipped his suitcase and dumped it all back out today. Evye was the lifesaver on that one and packed it all back up. I still have to go back through his and make sure nothing got left or shoved under the couch in the repacking of it. So, now at 12:20 am I am left with myself and Gavin to pack. Tomorrow will be spent in town grocery shopping for snacks and needed items and picking up produce from co op. All suitcases should be packed by the dawn of tomorrow morning........or at least that's the goal so that Brad is free to load the van up tomorrow evening so that we can set sail on time Sat morning.

We return on the 2nd of May only to repack and take the whole crew camping the very next day, the 3rd, and will be gone through the 5th. Our church is doing a family campout that weekend so we timed it in order to make it home for that......just barely, as we're unsure if the floors will be treadable at that point. So, our time here needs to be limited. But I'm sure the children will take no time in breaking the floors back in for the short 15 hrs we are here. I think by the time we end this 3 wk sojourn that they will be very ready to be tucked warmly and comfortably back into their own beds. It is the 1st time any will have been gone from home for this amount of time. But given where we are staying and the comforts of the TN cabin and Mother's house I think they'll do great. TN is huge and Mother's house is just like another home to them. I'm not exactly sure how the camping part will go just yet but I guess we'll know soon enough. Brad and I will be sleeping inside the trailer with Gavin and Garrett and the rest of them will be housed in a tent outside of the trailer.

I will have no computer access while in TN and my time at Mother's computer will be entirely limited. So, my blogging for April may have come to an end with this post. If I grow bored while Mother works and the children nap I may try to catch up on our sojourning details then. If not, I will write my book of traveling the world over with 7 children in tow when we return the 1st week of May!!!

At This Point......

I think we can just save space and put his bed back up in storage. These have been taken over the course of the last 10 wks.....and there's been just as many times, if not more, we haven't gotten pics of it! Oh, the joys of having many siblings and being worn out at naptime's arrival and day's end.

Sweet Slumber Sweet Garrett!!

We Have a Heartbeat!!!!

Sweet Baby Bettis has an audible heartbeat. A dear friend sent me her doppler to use for a little while. On the 1st attempt I tried only to come up with my own pulsing femoral arteries. I was quite disappointed and as much as I tried not to let it bother me it still did. And then of course you go into the guessing game of wondering if all is well. My midwife says that she only tries at 12 wks given the fact it is definitely not a guarantee of hearing it before then. I think we tried with Garrett fairly early and came up with nothing though when I returned at 12 wks it was a hard and thumping little beat. So, with my own personal doppler-on-loan in hand I set out the next day to find it and alas a rhythmic thumping little beat could be heard in a very large way. It just never gets old. Hearing anew heartbeat for the 1st time is like hearing your 1st baby's all over again. It is an absolutely amazing experience in every way. There are no words. The children were gathered around and once it was heard the house was filled with glee and a happy chaos celebrating this new life that will join us in only a matter of months. Garrison and Grant now come to me and press their ear into the growing little baby bump and tell me they can't hear the baby. So, then excitedly they ask for me to go get the "baby thing".

I love the sound of a beating heart.

While out picking up some stuff for Garrett's birthday I ran across this shirt. I laughed when I saw it and knew it was a must have for our little family. It's cute but I think the size of our family and combined with the looks and comments make it a hysterical addition to our outings. So I finally wore it out a couple of days ago. Brad was on shift and the children and I headed in to get some grocery stuff done. I've had Rosa's stuck on the brain for a week now. It is a rarity that I will ever take the children out to eat alone. I figure we only do it every so often so we might as well wait until Brad can accompany us and make a fun day out of it. So it is a pretty much non existent thing for me to do any kind of sit down restaurant without the companionship of Brad. But with the children growing older they are quite the entertainment and quite the source of company...even on those shift days. So with Rosa's deeply embedded into the gestating hormonal brain we set out that way.....with me wearing my new attire. The children were so proud and could not wait to hear the comments. I think they're old enough now to really get some entertainment out of the entertainment the world thinks we provide. So, upon entering Rosa's I held Garrett, Evye held Gavin and Grayson kept track of Garrison and Grant while Aubrey had strict instructions to stay close to me. It didn't take me long to forget about what I wore and focus in on what we were going to order and making sure everybody was corralled since it was packed and everywhere we turned there were people. A group of 3 women stood behind us and said they loved the shirt and wanted to know where to get one. I laughed and said it was a good way to have some fun. I told them how I thought it would be cute anyway but with our brood it just made it funny. This horrified look shadowed their faces as they tried putting it all together. The older one in the group said, "Well, honey.......there not all your's are they? You are babysitting , aren't you?" I laughed lightheartedly and said, "Oh no. They're all mine. That's the fun of the shirt." Then one of the others asked, "So, it's true then?!" Grayson chimed in and said he is hoping for twin boys. The air filled with all kinds of remarks and praises of the children and then one spoke up, "Ok..now I just have to count them". Grayson, OUT LOUD, just spouted out, "Well, there's the 1st one of the night." I gave him a stern, be quiet look and he grinned knowing full well he was having his own fun.

So, we get up to the register and then girl ringing us up is 7 months pregnant so she comments about how bad she needs the shirt. We talked babies and when she was due and eventually we got around to the exact same conversation I had just ended with the group of ladies standing behind us. So, then she has to start counting. Once we were finally finished there we filed through the seating area and out to the patio where we could breathe and be away from the crowds. Grayson and Evye were given the responsibility of getting drinks for everyone and then Evye sat with them while I got the food. The looks we got were worth every cent the shirt cost! We had looks from complete and utter disdain to absolute stares following us every step we took and then turning to watch us walk the rest of the way by. Some people huffed and grunted while others praised. All seemed to want to know Grayson's age. And he was quite comfortable being in the spotlight of so many questions. I started feeling kind of odd after awhile though since the attention it got was more than I ever anticipated as I laughed at the thought of wearing it. I just figured it'd be a funny joke for all of the crass comments we get about "Can you possibly have another?" Little did I know what we were in for. It didn't help that I chose to wear it when I actually take everybody out without Brad. For whatever reason people feel much more freedom in speaking out....be it good or bad....with Brad absent. We still get tons of comments with him there but when he is not the comments probably triple.

By the end of it the same group of ladies that were so full of praise ended up sitting on the patio at a nearby table. The children and I ate and our table was full of obnoxious laughter and interesting conversations. It was a normal meal for us with everyone eating, talking and laughing with the older ones instructed to help the smaller ones to help make it all work and make it go a little faster. By the end of it Aubrey was feeding Garrett. I even laughed at that one and she was quite proud of herself...Garrett quite intrigued by the fact he was being fed by Aubrey and his fork had begun to be a moving target in her hands. This seemed to get the attention of everyone who sat even remotely near us. It was quite the scene though and it had all of us laughing. Once we were done the children cleaned off the table and gathered everything together in a neat little pile, something that we have always taught them. Grayson, Evye and Aubrey always go around and gather plates and stack them neatly on the tray or table and then gather the cups up and put them neatly with the plates. All napkins are gathered that were dropped and any large chunks of food dropped by the younger ones are picked up and put on plates so that it does not look quite like the disaster zone that one expects with that many kids. We have taught them that this is one way in which we can minister unexpectedly to employees and bless them for the job they do. NO one wants to be treated like hired help and when you treat someone like royalty then you may be opening up the door to minister to them later on or lift their day when they are having a really bad one. You just never know what a person is going through and if we can ease their pain or lift their day in some small way. And they are old enough now to also realize the attention that that many children in one family draw. We have told them that someone's decision to have more kids may lie in the impression our's make and watching their behaviour. With all of that in mind that is what they have been taught at home and what becomes most apparent when we are out.

These 3 ladies turned to us and we gathered everything up to leave and told us of how they had intentionally followed us out there and sat beside us because they were so intrigued by the children and how well behaved they seemed. They figured they would go sit near us and watch us while they ate. They went on to say how amazed they were by them and that they were the most well behaved group of children they had seen. They complimented each of them on certain things they had seen them do, how they were dressed, what help they were and how incredible their behaviour was. Each of them said a polite thank you except for, of course, Aubrey who hung her head upside down until she was eye to eye with them in a very upside down way. Then said thank you after bringing attention to her black patton shoes that she wore.

My heart was encouraged and we set out to conquer the rest of our to-do's. I said all of that to lead into our trip into Wal Mart. Now wearing the shirt with pride I walked in with my entourage. We only had a few things to get so it was supposed to be a quick trip in and out. I wore Gavin on my back and Grant and Garrett were in the double stroller. Garrison has proven himself to be quite the walker that can keep up responsibly so he is allowed to walk now on certain occasions and when there are no crowds so he can easily be kept track of. Of course, Grant is jealous of this fact. But Grant being Grant lolligags around and trails behind by a mile as he browses his way through at his own pace and convenience. So his freedom has not yet come. In Garrett's sleep deprived state growing agitation has now set in. Being behind Grant he takes to bopping him on the head with anything and everything he can find or reach. Grant, in his huffy state over being pinned up in the stroller, is now outraged at the injustices of life and that he has to be imprisoned with Garrett. So, they take off and start an all out war. I gently and quietly seek to reprimand while speeding up the process of getting through. In the meantime Brad has gotten a call to await an incoming flight crew, taxi them to the hospital and then deposit them back at their plane and doesn't know when he will be able to talk again. So, he tried giving me his list of needed items for the next day's OT shift on the medic out at the Eldorado situation. At this point they were requiring a fully staffed medic be out there at all times and he was one of the ones to sign up for it. We went through a hurriedly put together list of needed items to get through his upcoming 12 hr day stationed there all while I was trying to reign in Evye and Aubrey who were now tearing up and down the isles with glee and Grayson was picking anything and everything up asking to get it. Garrett was still beating the crap out of Grant with everything he could find and Grant was smacking him back. Having longer arms he could just reach far enough to bop his head and send him into fits of helacious cries. At this point I am looking for anything and everything that will somewhat cover up on my shirt what it broadcasts in bright pink bold letters. The looks we were getting now were far from the precious adoring looks that were given in Rosa's. I deposited a rowdy Aubrey into the toddler seat of the grocery cart and pushed her closely in an effort to kind of blur the words on my shirt. I backed Gavin up into some hanging pans on the kitchen isle and I'm sure all 7 million square feet of Wal Mart heard the pan hit the tile floor just as Grayson and Garrison were yelling back and forth to each other from one isle to another thinking for some reason it was hysterically funny and for some unknown reason would send the two of them along with Evye and Aubrey into fits of laughter. It was funny enough and obnoxious enough that I finally started laughing. I reigned them all in and gave them the "within an inch of you life" talk and all seemed to quiet down a little. We finally checked out as the same familiar conversation started up with the register lady. Read shirt, count kids watch in awe...or horror depending on who you ask....and then the life long story of her parenting journey and how off track it has gotten. She went back to work just to get away from her 4 yr old. It was so sad to me. Despite the ups and downs and harried moments there is still something within me that longs to be with them and raise them up to be the absolute best they can be, not only for me but for the rest of their entire lives. To give them the tools to make the most of themselves and to equip them with the confidence, level headedness, values and ethics to make it all happen. She went on to say that her husband gives in to her son's every whim, need and want and they have now raised a nightmare. And she thinks the damage is irreversible. So we stood and talked and I offered her what comfort and encouragement I could, praying all the while that the Lord would speak through me in a way that would lift her heart up and minister in ways that I could not. It was now nearing 10 and Grant had released himself from the stroller, with permission from Grayson, so that he could share as the gum passing out made its rounds. Having grown bored with chewing his new gum he now chased his little Rosa's car all over the floor. I talked patiently and focused on this woman's needs as I watched out of the corner of my eye in sheer horror as he touched and sat on the nasty tile. He, Garrison and Aubrey were now in fits of rolling giggles and they played. As the conversation came to a close they lady looked at them all and said in awe, "And they're all so well behaved." I laughed and just said, "Ohhhhhhh..........you should've seen us shopping." With Gavin now wearing thin and wanting his last meal of the day and no bottle on hand I ran back into Wal Mart with Evye and grabbed a few jars of baby food. We headed for the station despite Brad's absence and I fed Gavin while Grayson and Evye ran around the parking lot like wild little orphans and the others screamed that they couldn't get out too.

I couldn't help but look back at the day and laugh. I just figure from here on out that I'll wear my shirt with pride but then take a change of clothes for the 1/2 way point.

Happy Birthday Sweet Garrett!

In all of the stuff that is going on and my excessive need for sleep these days I wasn't able to post anything on his actual birthday so here we are 2 days later. We had our little...or well, ever growing....family birthday party with just us. I am beginning to love these. After years of feeling like we had to go out of our way to make every birthday a huge bash I am coming to love the fact that we now have so many children that even our intimate parties are quite the celebration. He had plenty of siblings around celebrating with him and aiding him in his unwrapping attempts.

I love watching them grow. It is amazing to me to see the differences between them all and watch each of them develop their own personalities and character yet fit so intricately into the family structure. I love how even at 2 Garrett is becoming the family clown with quite the vocabulary. I love how once you have this many that the little ones just turning 2 can balance and jump on the trampoline like a pro and out jump many of Grayson's and Evye's friends. I love how surrounded they are by siblings and built in best friends within our family. It is amazing. It is amazing to me to see the difference between who he is at 2 compared to who Grayson and Evye were at 2 given their different lifestyles and the different number of people that surrounded each. Grayson and Evye were limited mostly to each other. Grayson had a ton of social exposure due to my working in the church nursery and going everywhere he did with us. Evye's was more limited and she mostly just hung out with Brad, Grayson and me. Both were in an apartment until we finally got our 1st house right before she turned 2. So when I see Garrett at this wonder filled age and I see his freedom and the freedom that he has been given due to older brothers and sisters who not only let him tag along but care for him and watch out for him I am filled with wonder at how God's miraculous plan works and how much better life becomes as a family grows. THings that were wonderful with Grayson and Evye and the freedom that I had to go and do then has been exchanged with things that are wonderful now and a freedom to let them wander and discover all of life and experience things that the 1st few children never get to experience at that age.

Ok....yes....that is Christmas paper but a 2 year old just doesn't care.

I decided I will start writing letters to each of them on their birthdays instead of just blogging about the day's events and who they are as people. AS they get old enough these letters will eventually be given to them on each of their birthdays to read. But for now at the ripe old age of 2, his letter will be held here, dear to my heart as I seek to capture this quickly fading, swiftly passing time of life. How is that the more children one has the more overwhelmingly in love you fall with each of your children and with what we have been so blessed with. There truly are no words...there is absolutely nothing....that can convey where we are in life and the contentment and peace that reigns. The absolutely incomprehensible amount of love that flows between us all is actually the very thing that drives each of us and gives each of the children the joy and security they have and us as parents the blessed and fulfilled life that only those that dare go the distance will ever know. Surely it is an incredible thing to discover such deep truths of the Bible that have been so overlooked in modern society. Everywhere in the Bible is states that children are a blessing. I don't think I ever...in fact I know I never.....would fully understand this until reaching the place that we are in today. It was hard with the 1st 3 as I struggled to figure out what parenting was all about and I fumbled my way through it but I have realized that with each one it gets easier. There is definitely more work and more of a need for organization and structure but the actual parenting part is becoming less strained and harried. There is a joy in it and an absolute awe and ability to sit and revel at the wonder of how God's plan does work.

Helping Celebrate

As Garrett turned 2 I again pondered on these things. I wondered why in the world it was so amazing to see him turn 2 when 5 previous children had gone before him and turned 2. We've seen it over and again and we know the "milestones" and development that have, and are going, to take place but each and every time it becomes more of a miracle to me. It is such a truly amazing thing watching your children grow...and with each one the fascination and the realization of a miracle are only multiplied.

Seen after bedtime when they are not allowed out of the room. I walked by and saw this. Brad was on shift. I heard his little giggles and then every once in awhile he'd say "Daddy? Daddy! I yuv you. Daaaaddy? What're you doin? Where are yoooou????"

I love you sweet Garrett. You are my little tank that is so entirely all boy. You can run, romp and wrestle with the best of them and hold your own on all accounts but you still are the cuddle bug that is not so old that you have strayed from the hugs, kisses and sweet quiet rocking chair time. I love how much you adore Gavin and how you would go out of your way to do anything for him...including powerhug him over until he is prostrate on the floor when he had been happy sitting up playing. I love how you can make him laugh like nobody else can. You are our sweet funny entertainer that knows everyone is watching as you share the stage with Garrison and entertain the crowds. I love how you absolutely adore Daddy and look into his eyes with lovestruck awe. You are his shadow in every way and gave a whole new meaning to being "Daddy's little boy". I love how you march out the door with him, unafraid to take on the world with him by your side. It is amazing to me to watch you and Garrison and Grant grow together and establish your own relationships with each other. I love how you and Grant can play cars together for hours and be totally consumed in your own little world. I love how you follow Garrison around everywhere and obey every command he gives as long as it means you can continue following him. You are amazing to me. I cannot imagine life without you or having chosen to have stopped before we were so blessed to welcome you into our lives. You are such an incredible gift to us. Your huge see through, crystal clear blue eyes melt my heart when I look at you and when you wrap yourself around me and I am hugged by your pudgy arms and your chubby hands grab my face to plant a huge kiss on me I know that I am in heaven and that we have been blessed more than I ever expected to be in a lifetime. Your wonder filled eyes and your contagious love for life is overwhelming and our family would never be the same without you. I love you sweet baby and God has used you to bless me and fulfill me as a mother more than you will ever be able to understand.

Still here

......and starting to feel really guilty about this blogging thing. There is so much to say and so many of the children's funnies I want to capture but I am exhausted. Yep....same ole story. At night I just want to fall into bed and after spending some time just being still and laying there with Brad I am asleep. I started my iron back up in hopes that it will help quell the extreme exhaustion thing going on. I don't remember being this tired with Gavin at all. It's incapacitating at times. I don't think I had taken on nearly as much stuff then as what I have going right now either though. I finally got the JBF sale off. Brad even helped bail me out and hung clothes up with me only hours before it was time to head into town to drop them off. I was supposed to work it for 4 hrs Wed night and then 4 hrs today but it just wasn't happening. Plans were for us to leave for TN today so I originally told her I couldn't work it due to being out of town...but those plans changed but the thought of working it was still overwhelming to me. So, instead of getting the 75% had I worked it I now just get 70%. Not too much of a loss I hope. It feels sooooo good to have it gone though and to finally have this part of stuff over with. We got rid of mounds of boxes, clothes and unused items that were acquired for the children over the years. Now if I can just keep it this paired down we'll be doing great at clutter control. And after all of my work and the anticipation I had for the sale when the sale finally did get underway I had no energy to pick up and go. I had a pass for the presale but no children were allowed. Since Brad was on shift I wasn't really in favor of leaving the children in the van and I didn't feel comfy with Grayson babysitting for that. It's been done at times in needed situations when he has been in charge of the Garrison and Grant but not for shopping. I would've taken Garrett and Gavin with me despite the no kids rule but given my lack of energy and the fact I would've had to get a babysitter or leave them in the van it just wasn't worth it. I could've gone today but am so tired of gong and having to meet a deadline. We've been to town almost every day this week between dealing with finances, the van and flooring. I just wanted a down day. Being Friday the kids roamed free and played in the sun, mud and on the trampoline all day while I slept on the couch. I eventually pulled it together enough to summon them in and detail the house. By the end of the day the house was straight and organized and all was well. But...no shopping the sale that i have worked my butt off for. I think I had nightmares of bringing stuff home with me after working so hard to get rid of stuff.

Oh there is so much to say and write but I fear I am becoming quite the boring writer these days. I have had several really good days of fighting only mild morning sickness but it does come back with a vengeance at unexpected times. And I think as I write I shall go puke. Is 12 wks here yet???? We have received so many incredible compliments on the children lately and I am just longing to log them all on here before I forget them. I have come to love the little boosts that come and remind one of what you're really in it for. I love what i see in my children and I am loving what others are seeing now too. It is so incredible to receive a compliment on your children's behaviour. It just never grows old. And when so many compliments are showered so lavishly upon all of them for such a long period of time it just does my heart good. It encourages my heart and their's and makes this parenting journey that much more fulfilling than it already was. WE have some really great children. Despite some of the mortal sinful stuff I see on a daily basis and that we work so hard to wage against and develop true character I know that we have been blessed with a really great group of kids. I stand in awe of what God has done and the work that He continues to do within our little family.

Ok....puke time. Oh....sweet Garrett turned 2 yesterday. Happy Birthday Garrett! More on that later.