More Pics For Now

Celebrating Daddy!

Taken after attending Wake County's EMS graduation ceremony. Despite firefighting/paramedic husband's 13 years of experience he was required to attend their 5 week academy in order to learn NC's protocols. And despite the fact the miniature academy was a mere 5 weeks long it seemed like an eternity for us. Graduation ceremony was quite the formal event. Except for the random and exuberant, "Hi Daddy!!!!" with an eagerly waving hand by excited Ivye girl in the middle of absolute silence while husband stood up front and was commissioned, children were amazing.....sitting quietly and perfectly still, quite mesmerized by all the uniforms and men in honor guard. They amaze me. It was our first attempt of several this week of being on time with 11 children. Children and I successfully managed to leave the house 1 minute early with baby fed, all shirts tucked in, and all shoes on....as husband was required to be there 2 hour before we arrived. There was no time for a picture beforehand so this was taken after shirts worked their way out and a shoe or two was abandoned in the van floor. The remainder of the week we managed to actually make it out the door at 8:55 am....5 minutes early each morning....with good attitudes and happy spirits. This is always considered an absolutely massive accomplishment in my mind as each and every newborn brings with them the added dimension of needing to sit and nurse a baby, deal with the inevitable diaper blowout as we load up....and still having to have girls hair done, everybody presentable and me ready to go.

Out running errands. The sea of heads makes me laugh every time. This was our first attempt at changing up the seating arrangements. It only took a day to figure out that when husband is not present somebody is required to sit on the 4th row seat alone, as the front seat becomes occupied with an older one. So, we now have Garrrison, Grant and Garrett in their carseats on the 4th row. Gavin and Ivye occupy 3rd in their seats, little twins occupy 2nd row in their seats, and Gates is on 1st row in his infant seat so that two open older seats are now up front and everybody has a riding companion whether husband is with us or working. And, no...Ivye's hair did not get done that day...and it's just looking a little scary. Personally, I'm a little partial to the gun being aimed at the camera while this was being taken.

One of the days it was proving absolutely impossible to get anything done for all of the crap he refused to stay out of. Since neither baby is even remotely interested by anything on a tv screen this assured that he was that day. It worked.

Since his bed was located directly under the tv in our bedroom and I could never shake the thought of it falling off the wall and landing on him....this is his new little space. Nothing quite like a closet baby.

Boy play starts early in life around here. Baby A, on top, thought it was outrageously funny, however, Baby B...on bottom....was not entirely of the same mindset about it.

Utter perfection in every way.

To dream the dream. Located on the 10 acres we are hoping to buy.

The funny things I walk in to discover....

It never proves too difficult to find the culprit.

My sweet girl that marches to the beat of her own drum. Independent, fascinatingly intelligent and forever breaking the mold of society's "normal". How much I love her individuality.

A little bit tired.

3 weeks post partum. I'll take one in running gear to document the journey back to goal. But, as of now, this'll have to suffice since I keep forgetting about it and I've already begun the journey. Back in a size 8 but abs need work after baby. Journey to the 8K and 90 days of P90! Fun stuff!

Wide awake boy. How he spends the majority of his days. Happily observing the world from an Ergo, the swing or his crib.

It is finished!!! Back to shifts and our first paycheck in 6 months. Through it all we have been sustained. God is good and His mercies endure forever. It hasn't always been fun and I am continually.....forever...learning to lay it all down at the feet of Him...but He sustains and supernaturally provides. Our little family is testimony to the fact He still lives and breathes and works on behalf of those that love Him, are called according to His purpose and are willing to walk in obedience to what He is asking one to do. Forsake it all and be the ones that are the radical.....the ones that look absolutely insane and crazy to the "sensible"....the ones that the "responsible" and "educated" talk about and say it can't be done...it shouldn't be done. The ones that God can work through because His hand is so overwhelmingly evident in their life. It is only because of Him we have been provided for and we have made it 6 entire months with no income whatsoever and with 10....and 11...children walking the journey with us. It really seriously truly hasn't been fun the entire time....much of the time....and I still struggle.....but He is here and we have seen Him in ways we would've never seen. The depth of His love, His provision and the level of trust that He has required of us has been worth it all...and continues to be as we walk the rest of this out. This journey is far....very far....from over. My heart still yearns for a place to call home here....a place to settle.....and it will take an absolute act of God working on our behalf to get there. I have a dream and He knows the desires of our heart and those of our children. He is a big, big God and He works and He still performs miracles on behalf of His people. Tears flow...absolutely humbled at the feet of him. His presence overwhelms our life and when I feel Him this present in our life I discover that it is absolutely impossible to stand before Him...and our children know what it is too experience the presence of the one true living God and how He saves and preserves those that He loves and that serve Him. Amazing grace. How sweet it is.