Just when I thought I was doing fine with not feeling obligated to blog, I learned a reason why I should - at least every once in a while - check in with some manner of post. My Mom and Sisters-In-Law have convinced me that it just is not proper that I leave them hanging […]

This is Part Three of a series with advice for large families who are expecting twins. You may read Part One Here and Part Two Here.
Some practical thoughts from Susanna:
Don’t put any preparations off! I cannot stress this strongly enough! Start now and feel urgent about it! Do the most physical tasks first […]

This is Part Two in a series with advice for large families who are expecting twins. You can read Part One Here.
Susanna’s family was arranged like this at the time their twins were born: their other children were Boy 13, Boy 11, Boy 9.5, Girl 7.5, Girl almost 5, and Boy 14 months. Here is […]

Every time a new circumstance occurs in life, I feel compelled to do new research. It is my signature move. Funky worm on the tomato plants? Research. Unidentified stain on the carpet? Research. Illness? Rash? Research. Twins? Research.
My modus operandi regarding the twins phenomenon involved asking (discreetly- as I didn’t want to get flamed!) on […]

I hate to read them at night. I never get a pinch of sleep. Those books with so many twists and turns in the plot that draw you deeper and still deeper into the complex lives of the characters make me edgy. When will their lives settle down into a logical pattern? When can I […]

I stopped taking prenatal vitamins a few pregnancies ago because I don’t really feel comfortable with singled-out vitamins (out of their naturally occurring form, i.e. “food”). I looked around for a natural supplement as well, reading lots of ingredient lists and testimonials, but I either didn’t like the company well enough to buy from […]

There is an unwritten rule that mothers of large families know. The ones who do not know this rule, figure it out on their own pretty quickly, as there are no shortages of situations in which it will need to be applied. Any stranger in the grocery store, most relatives, casual acquaintances, pastors, and even […]

I’ve been asked several times recently about nutrition and supplements for pregnancy, and have also been reviewing my own notes for my own pregnancy, so I thought I’d share here about this timely-for-me topic for my own benefit, too. I have done much research on this and had a bit of experiential data (i.e. I’ve […]

As much as I’d love to say that things are back to normal now that Momma has left the couch, I am realizing that is not quite accurate. There does seems to be a new normal developing, though. It seems to be the usual plan after any season of crisis-mode living, and with my fickle […]

In the comments a few days ago, someone made a statement that has been bothering me ever since. Since “Things-I-think-about-when-I-can’t-sleep” is always good fodder for blog posts, and because I just don’t feel comfortable letting the statement just dangle out there unanswered, I will now attempt a justification response.
When Melanie said, “I am not sure […]

We should have crises more often. They can be very encouraging. Folks that have sane, quiet lives may never have the opportunity to be encouraged in the way I have recently. Of course, they may never have the need to be encouraged as I have needed, but still.
The first several weeks of morning sickness […]

Our first plan was developed in order to help protect the mental health of those close to us, who, without the benefit of a biblical worldview would not handle such wonderful news well. It was also protection for myself in particular, for, fending off the 6.4 billion questions that would ensue following such an announcement, […]

So, we were in town some today. The kids were great…it was the other folks who encouraged me to stumble. Father saved the day just before I blew my testimony. He’s good that way. I submit this not as an example of righteousness, but as proof (only those who do not know me in […]

A rumpled brow, a furitive glance behind each shoulder…then ‘the question’. With obvious trepidation in their voice and fully expecting the worst, they ask, “What do (gulp) the children think of her?”

If these folks could be a fly on the wall in my home…

“Hurry up you guys! Everybody come quick-she’s doing it!”

From every corner of […]

My grandiose plans are crumbling around me. I had it all figured out. After delivering my sweet little bundle, I would come home, rest two weeks, then begin my ‘after baby weight loss campaign’. I was sure that it would only take eight to ten weeks to be back in pre-pregnancy shape. The degree of my presumption […]

I love free advice. Especially when it comes to infants. All those folks who bombard me kindly offer and explain the ‘proper method’ for raising a baby do me a great service. I imagine they have no idea what a valuable commodity their words of wisdom have become in our life.

I do not actually follow their […]

Granted, His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9), and there are a myriad of reasons for His workings that I will never understand. It is just a given. We’re dust, He’s God, and that’s that. I do, however wonder if sometimes His reasons are for no other purpose than just a fun blessing […]

The moment I have been waiting for has come! Our newest Little One has arrived, and we couldn’t be more blessed:

Newly born Friday afternoon, and already we can’t remember
life without her (nor would we care to).

Babydoll was almost a pound heavier (8lb. 6oz.) than my previous heaviest baby.  Since I didn’t gain any extra weight, the […]

I perhaps should have been a bit more specific in my prayers for labor to start.  Although this morning was a little too much excitement for me, the kids had a wonderful time.
I awoke to find tree guys from the power company limbing branches inside our second cow pasture. Concerned about this particular cow, who […]

I really hate the old Southern saying, “Even a blind hog can find a few acorns”. Maybe because it sounds so dreadfully stupid in a southern drawl, maybe because I have heard it so many times it has lost its meaning. The worst part is that I think I’m discovering the truth in it.  I […]