Ben and Melinda sitting in a tree . . .

Well, they did it. Ben and Melinda tied the knot.



Melinda with Big Brother (aka Gene)

The real star of the show!

Cousins on a playground.



BOYS!

Lovely!

Our Princesses (and the top of their brothers)

Then we come home with 4 extra children. And that was Saturday.

Thoughts on somebody elses thoughts (or "Why, yes. We are crazy, and enjoy it.")

I recently read this sweet article. You can read it if you click on these words. Here is what I think about "planning" a big family.

First, I always wanted a big family. (Perhaps, we should get Gene's thoughts because as a very young person he didn't think he'd have kids. . . . BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)
I have a friend that still ask when we are going to have/get the other dozen. (We aren't. If they show up, we'll keep'um. But for today we are in mostly permanent pause. - Mostly permanent because God may have other ideas. He's so funny.)
You know, God's provision is always WAY better then what we could hope for or imagine. Better then anything we could do or plan ourselves.

Second, I'm "that mom," the one with "ALL those kids" and I say, "It really does get easier."

Admittedly, there have been times when I just couldn't handle one more thing. This morning I rescheduled a kid's doctors appointment because I know that come tomorrow it will be a HUGE deal - but only for me.
There are still days I'd like to hide - but I'd miss these little people (eventually) if in a little while (like maybe 2 days) they didn't come sit under the rock with me.
Hormones, make be crazy. (As well as certain people). And that makes life in general harder to handle. I battled depression for a long time. I still do. We live in a fallen world. Sadness is one of the symptoms. God wants us to have a deep relationship with Him. He also has graciously given somebody the smarts to make "happy-pills." And He blessed me with a Super Man for a spouse. Those are all big helps in making it through the next day.

Those children can be trained to help. They actually desire to please us. (This morning I'm doubting that sentence. I find myself nagging. But that doesn't make it false.) We've never had jealous-of-the-new-baby syndrome because the older ones (even the tiny older ones) take responsibility for that new baby. They fight over whose turn it is to "help." Even if all they do is bring a clean diaper and throw away the dirty one so that you don't have to leave the recliner for a few more minutes.

Third, I've found myself pregnant (more than twice) when I thought it was just NOT the right time. AT ALL! Now, I can't believe I ever thought that. I can't imagine not knowing that "unwanted" child. I miss those that were miscarried and wonder who they would have been. There have been miscarriages where I felt relieved. (Is that selfish?) But I still miss them. I quietly remember their un-birthday and count how old they'd be now.

I joke that it does get easier after #3. I'm really NOT joking!
With the first one, no matter how many baby's you've helped with, you still are unsure of this one that is all yours. This responsibility of the greatest magnitude. With the second, your a little more sure of yourself (and the1st one can "help"). By the third, you know that you can do this. You worry less. By number four, you are capable of doing all sorts of things with a baby in one arm and one around your leg while yelling at the other two. Number five you just plop somewhere or hand to a "big" kid. Number 6 . . . well you get the picture.

I will tell you that by number 5 or 6 (or more) you cherish the littleness all the more because you look at those big kids and realize how fast it is over. How much sleep you've had since the time of walking a screaming baby all night. Every night.
Each day becomes a little more precious because you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And on that day when you see that light at the end of the tunnel, you also realize that the only mess at the end is your own. And you'll no longer have anyone to blame for being a wrinkled mess. And you'll miss the smudges and sunshine-dirty stink that comes with healthy kids. (Eventually, you'll look forward to grand kids - so you can enjoy them and send them home. Dirty.)

You will never get ALL the laundry done (unless you all become nudist for at least a week). The dishes will ALL be done when people just quit eating and drinking. You'll remember to pay ALL those bills just as soon as the lights go out or you realize that you may not have been using hot water for a few hours. (No, you want figure it out in the shower because you haven't gotten to take one). You will talk to adults again. But you'll probably discuss your children.
By number 3 you've begun to except these facts.

 Nobody said it would be easy. But the return on this time of investment is eternal.

Your always welcome to visit us. We'll listen, pray, and you'll see a happy, somewhat chaotic, pretty messy, glimpse of how it will be if you hang in there. (Could you call first so we can clear a path?)







As I wrote this, the "2half" year old baby took off all his clothes and left a surprise in the biggest sisters' room. I realized there was an issue when he showed up wearing lipstick (not exactly on his lips) and showing me a large turd. He giggled.
He was followed by those biggest, now disgusted and complaining, sisters who were told to clean up the mess in their room. Put lipstick and other silly things in their proper place (up HIGH). While I washed the boy of odd colors and smell beside the tub with baby wipes because I realized the hot water was cold.

I have to go pay some bills.

A Moment in History

Fierce

When the Romans first came to conquer British shores they were meet by naked, blue-painted, fierce warriors called the Celts.


Scary (Kiss members ancestor)

ATTACK!

Confused Roman

Giggling Roman

 Somewhat taken aback by this first blue-man group the Romans were at first defeated.










The Romans eventually overtook Britain for a time. That's why there are such nice roads there.

The Celts remained on the look out for enemies.

 

The Celts told stories of their brave warriors fighting fearsome monsters and giants.

 Fellers who sang these stories were called Bards. Which did NOT mean they had to have a beard.




And no body wrote anything important down and that's why we have a time period called the Dark Ages.


Perhaps that's where we got the tale of Jack and Jill and the Sunflower Stalk.

 

Moderately Happy

Eventually, the Western Roman empire fell. That made the Celts moderately happy.








Until King Vortigern invited the Anglo-Saxons from across the North Sea to come stay FOREVER. The Celts must have thought these people were crazier then they were because they left England and all moved to Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. And lived mostly happily and sometimes peacefully ever after.


Happy

All photos are not authentic Celts (ours had pants on)

 What have we learned: If your ever feeling blue . . . you may be descended from the Celts.

These are not Celts (maybe?) but they are fun.

Happy

I received the most beautiful mail today of the cutest little Maniac. Made me get all teary eyed.
Then I read a beautiful blog post by a life long friend. Precious little family. Tears.
I'm so proud of who these people have become. Proud of the God honoring choices they have made in their young lives. Proud of how they are raising or beginning to raise their little children.
Then I think of their parents and the way they raised them and the influence these families have had on me.
Thank you Lord for the privilege of knowing your people.

In other news . . .
Last Friday was our first FREE FRIDAY of the year. That means that it was the fourth one and we had NO school on purpose. (As opposed to no school because life happens or we have a snow day - and snow days usually happen when its warm enough to run away to the lake or Mama has a headache). The boys went to play with Mrs. Jani, Grandmother came over and spent the night.
Grandmother went to the nursing home with us that evening and sang next to me. Its been entirely to long since I sang with my mother. I do believe I enjoyed that trip to the nursing home better than most others.

Saturday, we, Grandmother and I and the girls, painted the girls room. I should have gotten before and after pictures. I'm sure eventually pictures will show up. The little girls room is a purply-pink princess color and the big girls room is robins egg blue. Just beautiful. They like it. It makes me happy when I walk down the hall and see it.

Sunday, I stayed home from church with Alex and we had a "for real" day/afternoon of rest. And that was extra good because I hurt all over from painting on Saturday.

Monday we were back to the daily grind. But Tuesday we went with our homeschool group to the Hartwell library for a tour and the first meeting of the Coffee-can Book Club. TOOOO CUTE! Some of the kids put together a book report using a coffee can (or similar size container) and 10-15 objects.
Lora was the only one of our gaggle to do a book report this time. She was great. (and she did it about 10 more time when we got home).

Little Bear

The audience had mixed emotions

Tuesday was also Papa's Birthday. So we fed him.

The 6th lopsided cake in 19 days.
This icing is almost the same color as the big girls walls.

And other fun stuff happened. (Cause that's how we roll).

We dig Sweet Taters

Uncle DL

We brought in the clowns

Josiah hurt his toe. That's all.
 

What we learned this week is that in trying to write what we learned this week all I can think of is that little ditty that Bob hates at the end of Vegie-Tales shows. And so what we have learned applies to our lives today, God has a lot to say, in His book.
So for those of you with Vegie knowledge, your welcome. Now your singing it too.

Things Never Heard til now

The Daddy was playing around with Jorja the other night before bed. They made some pretty big idle threats.
The Daddy: "Com'er and le'me punch you."
Jorja: "With this thumb," (holds up thumb) "I can kill you."
The Daddy and Mama in unison: "What?"
Jorja: "It's the thumb of death!"
Then looking rather dejected she hangs her head and says, "But it doesn't work. I already tried it on Jacob. Neither thumb works."
And she walked out of the room.
The Daddy and the Mama looked at each other then laugh hysterically.
Jorja won that round.


We been trying to figure out how to spell the way Jacob says girl. I think we've figured it out.
"Gquirrel."
Rhymes with that little fuzzy tailed nut eater that lives in trees.
Which makes sense because this morning as Jacob CHATTERED he declared that "this whole place is a nut house."
Of course he's pretended to be a squirrel since then. But only a "squirrel squirrel" not a "gquirrel squirrel."

In the last week we've celebrated three more birthdays.
The Mama had one. You may never hear her say her age. Even thought its just a number and certain unwise children like to remind her what that number is. She's old enough. (actually she stopped counting 9 years ago).

Ava's not really retarded - she just looks it in this picture.

Saturday, the knee-baby, our sweet Jacob turned 4! That's crazy.

What a cute little hillbilly!
You can thank that Daddy for his one. Boys think these things are funny.

Tuesday was Elijah's 11th Birthday!

You can NOT see the cake on purpose. He asked for a red velvet cake. It fell apart.
It tasted wonderful! But we called it volcano cake.

Sunday was an exciting day too!
After much prayer, a much-loved-one excepted Christ as their Savior several months ago. Hallelujah!
Sunday, we had the pleasure of having this loved-one join us at church! (I may have privately done a little praise through dance). God is SO GOOD! (still dancing)

When we got home from church we left again and went to Grandmother's house (over the river and through the woods) for the afternoon.

(its okay if you sing the Reading Rainbow song when you see this)

Playing with Mama's old toys

Playing Clue with Grandmother

Jacob and Josiah play a ball game. I think we should call it
"run, throw, chase, tackle, scream, giggle, repeat"

Jorja and Grandmother

Somehow we made it back to church that night to hear this great band, Mountain Faith. I think they could have played for about 2 more hours before anyone wanted to leave.

Wednesday, I woke up and actually read one of those devotional emails I get that I never read. Its from Proverbs 31 Ministries.

What have we learned this week: Mama needs rest. Homeschool is fun. The Daddy CAN teach pre-k.
And some made up motions to Joshua 1:9 (I really like this verse).

Be brave, (arms up, making muscles)
and courageous, (hands on hips, chest puffed out, like a supper hero)
for God (point up)
is with you (point out)
wherever you go. (hands out to sides, palms up, elbows bent. Turn in a circle.)

Isn't that fun! (helps if you say it in "wrestler voice")

Now, I need more coffee.
Love you!

Taking the time . . .

to write you, my faithful followers. (Hi Grandmother, Nana, and Grandma!)

I think another good reason to write this blog is that I can't remember anything. Like when people start asking how much their babies weighed  . . . well, I know I wrote that down somewhere, thank goodness. Or when the kids want to know what their first words were and I look at them and go, "whats your name, again?" So, I'm glad I'm getting this stuff down on paper on film somewhere.
The majority of the children can read.

So last week Gene had a BIRTHDAY!
The first present he got was from Jacob, a bag of stuff.

All the kids made him a card (or two or three). Here's a sample.

I know you can't see the card in this one but I love how they are all crowded
around him and smiling. He is precious.

And then he got to see what was in the bags (sock and shirts . . . and a $1 dinosaur egg that he won't hatch).

 Then we ate cake. Chocolate with chocolate frosting because that's what Jacob told his Daddy that his daddy wanted. He is such a smart kid.

At some point the girls put on make-up. We do. not. like. it. But they are purdy and those mean 'ol grannies will like it.

Is this not a Dunagan face!

Josiah sat in a bucket.

We went to Tallulah Falls and saw His Last Days Passion Drama. Our extra special friends,Mrs. Jani and Mr. Jan (no relation), went with us.

Waiting for the play to start.

The Mitchells - they keep us informed.

The feeding of the 5000 (or couple of hundred. But whose counting?)

Jesus washes His disciples' feet before the last supper.

The Cross

The Ascension

This is the second year that we have been to see this play. Well, worth the trip. Especially when the kids get excited about seeing a play about the ministry of Jesus. Already looking forward to next year.

The little boys are still learning colors. Friday, the Daddy's birthday, the color was brown. Fitting.
Monday the color was gray. Papa was here to read elephant poems to them. Then guess what they got to be?

CUTE Elephants!

Monday is also cut with scissors day. Need to keep little kids busy for a few minutes? Give them a piece of paper and some safety scissors. It's messy but they stay still and semi-quiet for such a long time.
I don't get many pictures of them doing the activities b/c I explain what to do and put a bigger kid in charge. I'll have to work on that.

Here are some other kids working (so they say).

 And one more cute grinning elephant.

Jacob

Now, I have to go finish doing my Bible Study lesson for tomorrow. If you live nearby you should come join us at 9:30 am at Lavonia First Baptist Church. If your not near us you can find one near you at the Community Bible Study Website. Our Toccoa-Lavonia Class info can be found here and here.

We've learned nothing this week. We haven't had time.
Well, maybe I learned that although I was no good at fractions in school I rock them now.