About Our Family

Wanna know who it is I’m writing about on this here blog?

Well, we’re a homeschooling family of nine who several years ago, felt led to move out of the city and onto a farm. We had two goals.

First, we wanted a simpler, saner and healthier life for our family, and believed it would be easier to achieve here in the country.

Next, we felt led by our Father to get Dad home. Although Dad is self-employed, and only away four days per week, we still believe it to be too much. YHWH told parents to raise their children, not just one frazzled Momma. We thought the farm would be a tool to help us do that, as well.

On to the story…

We bought fifteen acres, goats, cows, chickens, guineas and barn cats (OK, so the cats were free), and settled in to be Mr. and Mrs. Farmer with little farmer apprentices. We drastically remodeled and liberally added-on to our house, making it perfect for a large-and-growing-larger family. We made sure to keep most of it one story for when toddlers are little and the parents get old. Settling in for the long haul, our foreshadowing joke was, “After all this work, we aren’t moving from this house unless YHWH call us onto the mission field.”

We had known for some time that we felt led to do missionary work, but sometimes doubted it’s ever coming to fruition because of our convictions about the family being together. We truly believed that YHWH’s best for us was for Dad, Mom and the kids to all be ministering, serving, working, learning and worshiping together every day. Most mission opportunities, we realized, involved segregating us out of the unit that YHWH had created, and therefore we didn’t sense His calling.

Last year, we became convicted to get completely out of debt sooner rather than later. Since the only thing left is the mortgage, we had to eat those words about not moving. I have learned that being obedient to the Holy Spirit often involves eating one’s words. As we have been obedient to prepare to sell our home, YHWH has been opening the door to a family-based mission work for us. We are downsizing ruthlessly, simplifying tremendously, and planning to buy a smaller property with cash, set it up with solar power, and continue to pursue YHWH’s will for our family.
We invite you to join us, as together we embark on a new journey down an old path…for His glory!

Now for the introductions:

Mr. Visionary Age: 42 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our hero and fearless leader who guides and protects us; Chairman of the Fun Department; able to fight off seven children at once; gently leads his pregnant, emotional wife. A wise man who understands that it is better to bring home avocados and cilantro rather than Cheeto’s and chocolate during morning sickness. A true Man of Issachar who understands the times, and knows what we should do. He is a rock and stands on The Rock, knowing that all else will eventually fail. I have never known a man I respected so much.

The Mommy Age: younger than Mr. Visionary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Wearer-of-Many-Hats, I am officially cast in the role of a “Homeschooling Mom”. Unofficially, I am learning about a life of obedient trust in YHWH with my blessings every day. I recently discovered that I love to write (who knew?), and blogging fits the bill with my time table and my favorite subjects. How cool is that? I am expecting blessings #8 and #9 (twins!) and basking in the revelation that life seems to get better and better with each successive child.

Literary Lady Age: 13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Our thoroughly well-equipped first born. She is an emotionally stable, prudent young lady. She is steel and velvet, and nothing seems to shake her tree. Her compassion and strength are equally present and equally called upon. Her husband will one day do great things with this woman to back him. She loves to read, sew and cook, and is always… always… singing.

Flower Child Age: 11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Zany is the tamest of words to describe this lady ~ oh, what fun! She is the actress/comedienne of the family and relishes the role. Artistic and talented in any medium, she inspires us. Of course, she also makes us all laugh until stuff comes out our noses, but that is another matter. She often surprises us with acts of service done without being asked.

Engineer Age:10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is the guy who starts all the machinery around here when Dad is away. His spiritual gift involves duct tape and making things work. He is a patient leader to the younger boys, and a gentle servant to the younger girls. He is extremely sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and to his younger siblings, making him a great Big Brother. He is becoming a very godly young man with a strong sense of responsibility.

Dreamer Age:9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This boy’s imagination knows no bounds. He recently discovered he loves to read, and can recite paragraphs from audio books or movies (with the corresponding accents) after one listen. Sound effects is his middle name….unfortunately, even at bedtime. He has a very dry sense of humor, and for those on their toes, he keeps them in stitches.

Little Napoleon Age:7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Small in stature, but with a commanding presence: the others jump when he says. We can’t quite figure out how he gets the big kids to obey him without manipulation, but apparently, it too, is a gift. He swears he can’t read, but does. His laugh would make even a Scrooge break out in giggles ~ it is quite infectious!

Doodle Age: 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This young lady makes so many “pies”, we always have to check the oven before we turn it on. She loves to play with dough, and often rolls out the “snakes” for our braided sabbath bread. She is also the reason we check the settings on the sewing machine before beginning a project. Whatever Mommy and the big girls do, she does too ~ even when we aren’t looking. She also had Dad wrapped around her finger ~ she melts him, and he doesn’t deny it.

Dollbaby Age: 20 months ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The newest joy in our life! We all dote on her and she is constantly smothered with kisses and hugs. She talks just like the Hamburgler (”Robble, robble…”) but never lacks for interpreters. Loves the Ergo, especially when big brother Engineer carries her. She loves to spin herself in circles until she falls, to grab the cats by their hair and to get us each to chase her on all fours. This girl has a good life. If only all babies could be born into this much love!
Baby A and Baby B ~ Twins! Age: due August 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The thing most exciting to us, at present. The adventure in Israel doesn’t hold a candle to these special blessings. We’re looking forward to meeting you, Little Ones!