What's With All The Babies?

My husband and I were out a few days ago for a couple hours of 'Daddy, Mommy' time, which amounted to going to pay a bill together, do some early Christmas looking, and eating quickly at Subway.

I know that doesn't sound super interesting, but sometimes you take what you can get, right? :)

We got to talking about babies and children, and what some people refer to as a *big* family. Here I might add - we have five children, and I don't at all consider us to be a big family. For some people that might seem large, but to me - it's just not.

I was surprised to find out, however, that the opinions of others my husband works are quite the opposite, even going so far as to question if religion plays a part in it! Which leads one to wonder - DOES religion play a part in how many children a person has?

Obviously, the answer to that one is - maybe. Maybe - you are in a 'religion' that believes in big families, and you have one because of said 'religion'. Maybe - you know someone who had a large number of children, and sadly only did so to get more government benefits. I know that sounds harsh, but unfortunately, we know some who have done just that. Those reasons, however, aren't why we have what so many consider to be a 'large' family. 

You see, when we got married - we flip-flopped about how many children we planned on having. 

~ My handsome husband and I on our wedding day ~

He wanted 2, I wanted 2 - then I wanted 4, and he still said 2 is a nice number - 1 for each, you know. We said we would have them 1 1/2 - 2 years apart - perfect spacing, you know.

THEN - God showed us that what we think we have planned out has NOTHING on His plans! Little Mama was born in September of 2004, and exactly 1 year and 10 days later, Hoss joined us. 

Little Mama and Hoss - they have never known life without each other :)

Pleasantly surprised, we said "Let's make sure he gets to 6 months old before I got pregnant again". Hah - see - we were trying to plan it all again. Hoss was 16 months old when we found out I was going to have Miss Priss, which meant that we would have three children born in September - I mean, really - WHO PLANS THAT?

                                  * God does - that's Who *

Miss Priss at about 1 month old

The best part of the story is the youngest two - both surprises as well, because I am surprised I got pregnant with them when I did. 

Bug, at about 8-9 months old

Buddy Boy, just a couple of days old

Of course, God wasn't. Both of them were born at times where you could easily say it was the worst time to have a baby, for many different reasons that just don't matter now. We spent less money on diapers and baby food and essentials with these two than we ever did on the others, God provided so many times, and continues to. I have always been able to stand behind the saying "God won't give what He can't provide for!", because I have seen it play itself out in the first years of all my children.

So, yes - we do happen to love our babies. And, personally, I would have another... and another, and another - until God said "That's My Will for you". I didn't write this to offend someone who doesn't have a 'big' family - how many children you do or don't have is up to you and your business. There are some people that, for medical reasons, don't have many children, or any at all, and maybe can't because it would be life-endangering for both parties. God knows that. There are some women who would give anything to hold a child of her own and give it more love than you can imagine - and they can't. My heart goes out to women like that, for I have known a few myself. I wrote this just to say, it's not always some superficial reason why people have a lot of children, and it's definitely not because we just *can't figure out what causes that* - yes, I've heard that one before! I prayed, and still pray, that God gives me just as many children as He wants me to have, and pray daily that I love my children the way He loves me. I'm definitely not the perfect mama - I fail many times, and many times have to ask my children to forgive me. I wouldn't have my life any other way, though, and if you are 'one of those mamas' that have children running here and there and everywhere - don't let people's opinions discourage you. 

God said, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." (Psalm 127:3). Cherish those babies, for one day - they won't be babies anymore. One day, we will only be able to look back on these days and remember what we once had and realize how blessed we are!

Family Flashback

The weather here has been SOOO nice! My children and I decided that a walk in the park after church and lunch was just the perfect idea before taking our wonderful Sunday naps :) (yes, they are still a requirement and will always be one!)

While there, I thought I'd take a few pictures to compare to ones from a year or so before. I have enjoyed looking at the difference that a year brings!

Summer 2012

Fall 2013

 Summer 2012

Fall 2013

A few more, from this year :) I love catching moments with my children!

Hope you are having a wonderful Fall/early Winter where you are! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

The Making of Man, Part III

*This is a re-post. When I began my other blog, No Greater Honors, before it leaned in the direction of a homeschooling blog, I did a three part series entitled *The Making of a Man*. I am moving those posts from No Greater Honors to this blog, because it fits the best here.*

I prayed and wondered how to end the thoughts I had on raising boys, and the truth is, you can never exhaust the subject. Maybe temporarily, but since they are always growing and changing, the things you encounter change as well. I hope this has been a blessing to someone - if nothing else, it was to me, because it gave me a chance to re-evaluate the how's and why's of what I need to be doing for my own sons. So I thought I would just bring up some things that I find in God's word that gives us help in raising them, but not necessarily expound on them, because what they might mean for ME right now, may not be the same thing they mean for YOU right now.

Proverbs is such a good book for instruction on raising Godly men, because of the many times we see "My son". Pretty simple, I know - that's not hard for anyone to understand. But I will be the first to tell you that it's easy in the day-to-day to overlook some things that are important. And once they are grown the influence we have on them may not be the same as it is now.

I will just take a minute to point out some verses that stand out to me. 

Proverbs 1:10, 15 - The ability to say 'NO', being a leader

Proverbs 3: 11 and 12 - A reason and Godly motive for correction

Proverbs 3:27 - Hospitality, Generosity

Proverbs 4: 25-27 - Stability, Standing firm on God's truths

Proverbs 6: 1-5 - Good judgement in business transactions/situations

Proverbs 6: 9-11 - Laziness


I could fill this page with good passages of scripture that can help us!
It's always so fun to watch our boys grow up and see them imitate the men in their life - Daddy, Grandpa.....

                                                                   First shaving lesson from Daddy!  
                                            

                                               Buddy Boy trying to fill Dad's shoes!

One day they truly will be stepping up to the plate and assuming the roles that they like to pretend to be right now!
  
I just want to be an encouragement to others, and seek the Lord for His help in raising our boys to be men of God. It seems that the harder we look for men to stand strong for what is right and be an example for the next generation, the fewer we find. Let's try to raise a generation of MEN for God!  


                              III John 1:4 - I have no greater joy than to
                                     hear that my children walk in truth. 
    

The Making of Man, Part II

*This is a re-post. When I began my other blog, No Greater Honors, before it leaned in the direction of a homeschooling blog, I did a three part series entitled *The Making of a Man*. I am moving those posts from No Greater Honors to this blog, because it fits the best here.*

Proverbs 6:20-23 (KJB) - My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

I had a wonderful pastor's wife and teacher explain these verses once at a ladies meeting, and I am going to try and do my best here. The commandment belongs to the father - and the law to the mother. Therefore, the father holds the lamp, but the light comes from the mother. 

As father's, our husband(s) have an important job, and they are the very structure that begins the home. Yet, the Bible says the mother is the law - the light. Isn't that something? Our husband can establish a physical home, work every day, pay the bills, make sure there is food on the table, and do everything he should do - and yet, without us, there is no light!

I am sure that everyone has been in 'that' home where things are beautiful, clean, nice, nothing old or used, everyone is impeccably dressed and well-fed - and there is no peace. It's like a breeze of cold air hits you as soon as you walk in the door. There is no light to be found. That light depends on the wife - and in this case, the mother!

The COMMANDMENT is the lamp, and the LAW is light - what I see is that our husband can say "This is my desire for our children, or in this case, my son" and set the commandment. Yet we are supposed to give light to that. One thing I think we need to remember in raising our boys, especially when they are younger and we are at home with them ALLLLLL the time and they are looking for so much guidance, is that we need to talk to them about what we (their parents) are trying to teach them, and explain why it is important.
No - they don't always have to have a reason before obedience, or before they will believe us. That's not what I am talking about here - because I strongly feel that we should have a trust for us instilled in our children that tells them, "Mommy/Daddy said it, so I need to do it because they know what's right!". But that trust doesn't come by itself. Here is where the rubber meets the road for me, because I don't always take the time *LATER* to talk about the 'whys' of what we teach them, and I should. One day, we are going to say good bye to our boys. That's sad for me to even think about, but it is true. At that point, we have no say in the choices they make - but before that point, they need to be equipped to understand WHY they should choose to follow the 'commandment of their father' - not just the earthly, but even more important, the heavenly!

Which is where I am going with part two of this - I think we need to T-A-L-K to our boys. Not just the basics of right and wrong, but WHY it is right and wrong. And, eventually, when they are old enough and mature enough to handle it, possibly even go into detail at times about why some limitations are so important in certain areas. I say *eventually* and *possibly* because, as I said, I still have fairly young ones. But we must not only give them the limits to guide them, but a good foundation for WHY we have those limits.

Example: My father is living with us right now, and he gets up at very early hours to go to work. My oldest son, Hoss, loves him like crazy - and tries his best to spend every minute he can with him. So it was no surprise when I found him in the kitchen at 4 a.m. a few days ago, trying to help make Paw Paw's lunch. There was just one problem - it was 4 IN THE MORNING! But he didn't see it that way, of course - what 7 year old would? So I told him to go back to bed, which lasted about 30 minutes - and when I heard noises again, I found him trying to sleep in our living room. So I sent him back to bed, and tried to gently (as could be in the early hours) explain to him that he was not allowed back up that early again, not to try and get up that early, that he needed to sleep and it was necessary to have a good day, and to be healthy and not get sick. Then he shocked me - he turned to hug me and said, "Thank you, momma, for doing what's good for me!" I know that sounds simple, but we need to provide the light - the commandment has already been given, we need to provide the light to guide them through the next part - the reproofs of instruction, which are the way of life. 

Let's join in prayer for each other, and don't get weary in the fight for your boys! The devil would like nothing more than to get their hearts and minds now, and they need us to provide the light to help them see the 'way of life' that is right and good. We need to be busy helping our husbands by shedding light on what is good for our boys, and helping our boys so that they can see what they need to do to grow into men - God's men!

I know this was long, but I don't want to waste my time with my boys, and I know that you don't, either! And by the way, this applies the same with girls, but since we are ~making a Man~ I figured I would keep the focus on boys.

I hope God uses this, because I am nothing, but He is everything, and were it not for some Godly women and mothers that have come before me, and given wonderful examples for me to look to, I shudder to think what I might be doing, or NOT doing, for my children!

And do comment, if you think of something I haven't said, or if something didn't make sense! I claim no perfection, and it wouldn't be the first time that I meant one thing and said another!                  


    

The Making of Man, Part I

*This is a re-post. When I began my other blog, No Greater Honors, before it leaned in the direction of a homeschooling blog, I did a three part series entitled *The Making of a Man*. I am moving those posts from No Greater Honors to this blog, because it fits the best here.*

I have prayed about what to write about - repeatedly reminding myself and telling the Lord that I want to enjoy blogging, but the real goal is already set, and I don't want to ignore what the Lord might have me do. And as I prayed and prayed over the last several days, I still was unsure. And then I figured out what was to come first while having a some one-on-one time with my son a few nights ago. This is, however, a subject that would require an *extremely* long post to talk about everything I have on my heart,and I don't want to bore you, or give the impression of preaching, so it will be a two, or three, part post :)


We, as fathers and mothers, have an important task ahead of us when we look for the first time at the face of a sweet little boy.

                         Buddy Boy, just a couple days old

                            What we don't always see in those first days and weeks is that the small treasure we have now will one day have to fill the shoes of a man. He will hopefully have the responsibilities of a job, a family, and a maybe even a ministry for the Lord. As a mother, it is sometimes hard for me to know just what to do to prepare my son to be a man.  How compassionate should I be? What point is it time to fore-go the compassion, and work toward teaching them that life will not always be fair and they need to be ready for it? How can I help him, and be a help to my husband, in turning this sweet little boy, into a strong, focused young man? Those are a few questions that I believe probably go through any mother's mind. 

Proverbs 1:8 - My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.                        

God's word is very clear, then, that a mother and a father are very important to raising a man. So we as mothers have an amazing opportunity to influence our son, and help our husband's achieve their goals as well. Because I am a stay at home mom, I have a lot of my boys' time, so I have plenty of chances to instill the charecteristics of a man in them, from a young age.

So I am going to just cover a couple in today's post: Soberness and Integrity.

1. INTEGRITY - Websters defines integrity in several ways, including moral  soundness or purity, uprightness, honesty, and incorruptness. This tells me that one thing we should strive to teach our boys is honesty in both word and action, and to be a 'man of their word'. There should be a moral soundness in them, that ensures that regardless of their situation, their morals are going to withstand, even if they are shaken a bit by what they are going through. Which means we need to teach them to have convictions and standards that they are determined not to comprocompromise on. Which means that we have to set the example.

2. SOBERNESS - gravity, seriousness, calmness, coolness. I have established a rule with Hoss - 'The first time is funny, the second time is foolish'. Because he is a 7 year old that loves to make me laugh, and when he finds something funny, he will repeat it - OVER and OVER and OVER. That's just one way to teach a level of soberness. No, that doesn't mean take their personality away if they tend to be on the funny side. But we do need to teach them that there is a time for seriousness, and that they need to control both their silliness, and on the other side of things, their temper. Calmness - Coolness - it will help them in the long run if we teach them not to over-react to situations, but keep calm despite circumstances. That could save their lives, or the lives of others, and help them when they come upon things in life that are hard.

Those are just a couple of things that I have thought about when I pray about what I want to teach my boys. 

 

                                                           my 'knight in shining armor'   

I have to be clear on one point, though - I have not 'arrived' at perfection in raising boys! I am still in the trenches, and have much to learn. That is why I talk about this now - because now is when we need to start training boys to be men - we can't wait until they are grown and hope that they will just wake up one day and decide to put away childish things. They will not turn out to be what you don't decide to teach them to be. And I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on training boys, because we need all the encouragement and help we can get as mothers!

Stay tuned for part 2, coming up soon!