For one, we had a baby. Well, not me. But, our family. In other words, we are adopting again. I will share more in the future. It is amazing how this little one came to be in our lives. This makes 7 kids. I guess I should really change my blog name. HA! We are so grateful. But, that is not the summer read I am talking about, although that could be a book in itself.

But, I wanted to share about this Audible book that I have been listening to for a couple of days. I don’t know about you but I loved watching Little House on the Prairie series as a kid. Then I read the book series as a mom to my elder kids when they were younger. They are all grown up now and probably wouldn’t appreciate me reading to them anymore.

So when this free audible book popped up on my account I didn’t expect much. But, I am so glad I started listening. My husband has even enjoyed the book. Since it is older you could probably find it at your local library.

You may already know about it. But, then again, maybe not. I love to share about Good Reads. (<-Some of my other book reviews are on there.)

The book that I am writing about is called “The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder.”

It tells about the world that was happening when she wrote the series. Why “Pa” chose the wood he used to work as a carpenter, what the environment was in the rest of the world, what flowers were growing and native to the area, plus more. I love that it puts the book in perspective and allows the reader to understand. Almost like being there.

I love traveling. This book has let me wander by the creek and feel the nature around Laura as she was growing up and later into adulthood.

I cannot wait to reread the series with my younger daughters and maybe even take a trip to Kansas.

Anyway, if I was on a road trip this summer, I’d take the series along and read this. It is a school lesson all on its own.

I did not receive this book for a review or anything. But, I might get pennies if you click on the links above.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Lana

I think I am in the part of my life where I could be officially called not a Generation X or maybe it is a Generation Y. I honestly do not know what generation I am. I hang on to the fact that my daughter called her father and I – “young looking.” And “Young Looking” is where I will stay.

It is well with my soul.

Yesterday, as I taught one of my favorite “Study Hall” classes at a local homeschool co-op, I taught them how to “Walk like an Egyptian.” They excelled. I later had to apologize to the next-door neighbor’s anatomy teacher or some kind of science class, as we disturbed their more intelligent book learning. But, you know…I don’t want these kids to be brought up on a trivia show for millions of dollars and NOT know how to “walk like an Egyptian.” I was just thinking of their future.

One day, I feel I might either get kicked out as an awful teacher or get the Teacher of the Year award. There definitely will be no middle. Hopefully, it will be the latter. Ha!

It is well with my soul.

In these awesome classes, we chat about life-shattering topics like blue mascara, gel fingernails, books we are reading, sports – especially volleyball, chickens, goats, what we are grateful for, favorite foods, and ways and subjects we learn in other classes. It is supposed to be a class to catch up on homework or a reading hour. But, as long as they don’t have homework, we have meaningful chats and fun games – and their parents know.

I notice after I leave these two classes of different kids, my heart is so full.

It is well with my soul.

They have no idea how many roads they will travel in the future. They have no idea who they will marry. If they will have kids or fight in a war. They have no idea what zip codes will be on their permanent record. They have no idea if there will be a new type of social media sites like Facebook, TikTok, or Insta. They just don’t know the future. Just no idea.

It is well with my soul.

I mentioned yesterday what one of my 5th-grade teacher said to our class, which seemed so random to us students at the moment. I remember her sitting at her desk, sipping what must have been HOT never-ending black coffee. In fact, I never remember her without a hot cup of joe. How could she stand that? Before she began our history lesson, she said words that bothered me for years.

“Learn to laugh at yourself.”

What? That seemed out of line. How can I laugh at myself? That is so rude in my 5th-grade mind. People that laugh at me are not my friends. And laughing at myself is borderline “loco in la cabeza” – just pure crazy!

Honestly, I have no idea what prompted why she told us these words. And she probably had no idea that a 40-something young adult – still remembers.

But now, decades later, I am taking it as grace.

Learn to laugh and have grace.

We are bound to mess up. We are bound to not do everything we “ought to do.” When it happens (and I’m not talking about a sin against God) but more like when you forget the cord to your computer and need it for a presentation. Rebound. And find an alternative. Act it out instead. Don’t compromise and quit. Just make do and do your plan B.

Unfortunately, I feel like I live on Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan Z.

And you know what?

It is well with my soul.

Because God even had a Plan B. His first plan was not sin. Oh Adam and Eve, bless your hearts that you were first but not the last. But, He gave us Jesus when sin entered. That way we could see Him through His sacrifice. Oh, I get so excited when Easter is coming.

It is well with my soul.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Definition of pour out

: to freely express (an emotion) : to talk freely about (something personal) I listened while he poured out his anger and frustration. She poured out the whole story.

Websters

For whatever reason, what we thought was going to be, isn’t.

We are crushed, but not broken. Hurt but not dismayed.

What we held n our hands and got to love on for very few short hours was amazing for this side of Heaven. It was worth every minute of pure bliss.

Even though circumstances changed for us, the best thing really did happen.

Simply stated: A mother decided to mother.

She has 100% of our prayer support! We absolutely love the mother, the father, the child, really the entire family. They will always be a part of our village.

I wish a few things had been different but it wasn’t about me or us.

There is power in the mighty name of Jesus and we spoke His name over all of this precious family. We are honored that we would be given the opportunity to even share such a couple of days with all of them.

We visited another church on Sunday morning, just mostly I couldn’t bear to be asked questions quite yet. Still too raw. This pastor was speaking directly to us. I needed to hear God’s Word desperately. He spoke of trials. It seriously was the most encouraging sermon we have heard in a while.

Holy smokes – we have had our share of trials this past year. We would gladly hand them over anytime and wish them to cease and desist.

Our vision is still Him and He is the prize. He truly has all of us in His best interest. He loves us and that sweet precious family in His hands. There is no better place.

Joy does come in the morning, it just doesn’t feel like this is the morning quite yet.

And if you are asking why I am sharing…it is very therapeutic for me to write plus it just seemed right.

Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite scripture, we would love to read them.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

This past year has been destruction – on our home, lives, and just about everything.

One thing that happened to me in my coma was crazy visions and dreams. Most of them were explainable. For example, I dreamed of a white deer that kept laying his paw on my chest. It turns out the ventilator tube was on my chest and it is was white. I kept telling my husband to get the white deer off of me. Of course, he never heard me. Thank goodness because it probably saved my life, more than once.

Then another one was the nurses would “hurt” me. In reality, my ICU nurses were so kind and precious. I dreamed as soon as my doctor would walk out every morning and that the torture would start. It turns out the nurses would turn me every day to “prone” my body so my lungs would heal by laying on my tummy. I probably saw this as torture. I was on paralytic drugs that they had to move me all the way without any of my assistance. I could definitely see this as torture.

Another dream was radical that I just laughed at, even in a coma. I dreamt I was pregnant and a mutual acquaintance flew me down to the border of Texas and Mexico to give us a very expensive diaper bag. The man owned a car dealership and flew my husband around to different schools I still have no idea what that was about except that yesterday, we found out we are expecting. No, I am not pregnant. Read on McDuff.

I want to be careful how I word this because it is not just my story. It goes into other people’s lives and they might not want their business out there, which is totally understandable. So I will give non-specifics to honor them.

Basically, we received a phone call that someone wanted my husband and me to adopt their baby. HELLO! WHAT?

I don’t want to be reminded my eldest is graduating COLLEGE in August. And we are now starting over with a baby!

Oh, we said YES by the way. And by yes, we are expecting our 7th child now, in, wait for it, MARCH! Yes, I know what all caps mean – I am shrieking with excitement.

Listen, I know last year was tough, more than anyone. I know I almost died. I know our home looks like a bomb went off in it. I know.

Better yet, God knows.

He knows this child too. He knows her parents too. He loves them as much as He loves us.

But, when the Lord hands a baby in your lap because someone trusts you with their child to honor the Lord in their upbringing – this is the epitome of love. Our family won’t say no. And yes, our family is THRILLED about this new life!

Did I mention the baby is a little girl? Our little 4 year old is calling her Pickles. I have no idea why but I love that nickname.

We are just in the beginning stages of this venture so who knows what the Lord has planned but isn’t that ALL of life?

Please be in prayer for us, the amazing loving parents, and especially this very loved baby. No matter what, we all want her to know Jesus and His precious precious redeeming love.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

This past year, 2021, has been a time of loss and triumph for our family.

We started off last January on vacation. We had visited family in Kentucky and then came back through Tennessee. It was wonderful.

Then in February things started to happen. Our home flooded by a freak Texas freeze. Our tub upstairs had frozen pipes and when the water began to thaw the pipes were still frozen so the water couldn’t drain properly. We had left for a sweet neighbor’s house that had heat.

When we arrived the next day, our entire downstairs was flooded. Our furniture, carpet, ceilings, sheetrock, broken glass – were everywhere. Now in January the following year, we are still working on repairs. We decided to do a lot of things differently like adding new plumbing, a new kitchen format, and a few more things that needed to be done. Hopefully, this will be the last remodel for this home.

Because of the home industry was booming – we had to wait for months for things like windows. So things are still be remodeled for the lack of materials.

In May, our sweet youngest daughter had been burned badly by a Keurig coffee maker.

In July, we went on a girls’ only trip to Arkansas and had a blast. I will never be more glad of a trip that my daughters and I experienced together. By this time, my youngest daughter’s burns were almost completely healed.

Then August came.

We had started the month strong. Volleyball had been front and center with my sweet girl’s senior year. But, then people all around us started getting sick. It wasn’t too bad at first, just a week out for a player or three. Then 4 then more…

Then at one volleyball game, it was raining and yucky weather, I told her I didn’t feel right. When we got home, I went straight to bed. The next few days were a blur.

I remember my husband taking me to an emergency clinic because I thought I had a UTI. They said I had a high white blood count and I was negative for Covid. I still didn’t feel right and went back a couple of days later. This time they kept me…for about 64 LONG days.

It turns out I did have Covid. Then 2 more types of pneumonia and some other crazy illnesses. I was on the ventilator 3 different times. I was so very sick they really didn’t know if I was going to make it more than once. The power of prayer was so evident. So many people prayed for me and my family.

During that time in the hospital, so many things happened.

My superman husband was a rockstar. He is not very high tech but used Facebook as a way to educate my friends and family on my condition, daily. Then someone would copy and paste his texts to other texts and other posts. It was a domino effect that worked. I will never be more humbled or grateful for his willingness to learn to do something that is not his forte. Plus, so many people prayed. I mean a googol amount. Well, probably not that many but it seemed like it.

I was so humbled that people would lift my name to the Creator of the Universe. Even strangers.

And then friends sent so much food, gift cards, flowers and so much more. I wished I even knew all of the gifts that were sent but there was no way.

I wanted to send thank you notes from the hospital. But, I was so weak. I had to learn to write again. Not only write but talk, eat, walk and really even breathe. (I hated to hear people tell me to breathe – isn’t that suppose to be a normal thing you do automatically?) Ha!

It has been a process. Like a long long marathon where you are not sure where there is an ending.

When I first got home, I fell out of the car. And I had no muscles to rise again. My sweet husband had to help me so much those first days. I can honestly say, I am much better. My PT said I am still 68% impaired. But, I am on my way to recovery. I refuse to give up.

So, I figured I would write again. Please forgive my lack of words. I now do crosswords and color so I feel that my brain will function correctly again. I thought writing would help me as well. Plus, it might encourage a few who might be going through the same thing.

I still have so much more to say but will save it for future posts. I know this has been a long chapter.

Blessings to you! You are loved!

Christine Caine one of the speakers was so encouraging to me. So I wanted to share the link and embed the video here. I watched it with my teenagers. Living life is sometimes so hard and sometimes we just need some encouragement from others. I hope this encourages you that we have a MIGHTY and POWERFUL God that adores you no matter where you are at or what you think you have done. He already knows. AND He still loves you regardless.

Blessings to you! You are loved!!!

I know you might not remember me.  My name is Lana (like banana.)  I am older than I feel.

I have another child than your namesake but due to all the old posts, I choose to keep your name.  Don’t worry, I asked my kids and they said I could just add the byline to the name:  iLoveMy5Kids.com – “Just not telling you which 5.”  They have a sick crazy sense of humor.  Thus they are all mine and get their humor from their Dad, who I am madly in love with after 21 years of marriage.

I have no reason to blog:  I am human.  I make mistakes.  I love to thrift shop.  I like pretty things.  I love my kids.  I homeschool, with 3 of them taking college classes.  I love to read cookbooks and watch Hallmark movies.  I detest clutter.  I love doing laundry.  I am just like most people except the laundry part.  But, writing makes me sane but don’t grade my grammar – it is called “LANAguage” for a reason.  And I love to be sane so I think I will continue to try to blog. Yet, somedays, it might just be a photo or two.  Today it is just one.

That is why I like you Mr. Blog – there are NO rules.  I do well with no rules.  It reminds me of grace.  AND everyone needs a little bit of grace.  Okay, a WHOLE lot of GRACE like a googol, a number equal to 10 to the 100th power or even more.

So I am back.  With no promises.

We will see where this leads the both of us.

With much love,

lana (like banana)

P.S.  This is Thankful Month and my next post will be 10 ways to show gratefulness.  Maybe. It could just be 5 ways.  Okay, it could just be 1 way.  Man, I love the no rules of blogging.

Born at just 2 lbs 4 oz months and at 29 weeks she was tiny!

Now she is a big 8-month-old who has a smile that just melts our hearts.

I wanted to share just a bit of what is going on for those prayer warriors who are praying for us.

We have kept a few things silent about our adoption journey, one day I hope to share ALL the answered prayers but until that day –  please keep praying for this wild adventure that the Lord has us on.

First of all, we have an open adoption.  We want to stay in contact and have a relationship with the birth parents.  We feel that is the Lord’s will for this situation.  We are so proud of the birth parents for choosing life and they will ALWAYS have a special place in our hearts and in our home.

Another question we are asked since the baby was born so prematurely is she doing okay, health-wise? Thankfully YES!!!  We (4 out of 6 kids) even had the flu a couple of weeks ago and this sweet girl never even had a runny nose.  I really believe the Lord has His angels camped beside her day in and out.

Is there anything we can do to help right now is another question.  YES!  We covet prayers.  Some things that are just aggravating have come up and we know the Lord is working out the little details to His glory!

Again, we can’t share everything right now, but the Lord has been so so good.  He is faithful and so kind.

I love that His love never fails.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGWxADcmvcw/

We call it the “love nest.” The views from this room are amazing. It always has wildlife out one window and the lake through another. It is small but perfect for a little sitting area, small office or get this – a nursery! ?

Plus it is the only completely finished remodeled room in the house. It reminds me of when Jesus was talking to his disciples, He prepared us in this house for this little one like He is preparing with the Father.
?

““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””
John 14:1-4 NIV

Our sweet baby is in the NICU and doing great!  We can’t wait to bring her home to her room!  It was destined to be hers!  

If you are lost and didn’t realize we have had a baby…please go see this post, it explains what is going on in our life.  Then be sure to follow on Instagram, I have flooded my feed with cuteness and daily updates.

Quick question:  Because all of this happened like overnight, I haven’t prepared for the essentials.  I am looking into cloth diapers.  If you know me at all, you know this is not my norm.  I like fast and easy.  But…because she is a micro-premie, I don’t know, I think cloth would be best.

So my question, which ones are great and recommended by experienced moms? 

After having 5 kids, this will be a first for this family.  I am hoping to have them all on board, which so far they are just laughing at me.  But, I am determined.

Please be in prayer for our little one.  We still have a very long road ahead of us.

AND I know, I need to do something with the name of this blog…but seriously, the last thing on my mind right now.  

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Let me backtrack just a moment…

Because of the adoption confidential details, we might change some of the names or leave out important details. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQ5HEkl6Xc/

First news!

CHOSEN

We, David and I have been chosen by a birth mother! In other words, we are expecting! Like very soon! A little girl, a princess, will soon be in our arms.  I can’t even type that without busting into tears. God has been so good to us and this sweet birth mom. Oh, I wish I could share every little detail, but in time – it will be revealed. The Lord will receive ALL the Glory!

The Minion that CHANGED our life

When we were called to meet the birth mother, she and the social worker had a code.  After talking to David and myself, if she still liked us then she would hand her stuffed minion from the Despicable Me movie to the social worker to say “THIS IS THE FAMILY.”  (I never thought I would cry so hard over a minion.)

I love that the Lord uses any object, person, or situation to magnify Himself!

I will never look at a yellow Minion again without thinking – “WE WERE CHOSEN!”

Plus, I didn’t realize it but that movie was all about adoption.  How cool is that?!

PRAYER

The sweet birth mom is having some complications.  But, again, the Lord is so good!  We are using this time to pray, laugh and make some memories alongside her.  David and I have never had a pregnancy that has not been high risk so this is nothing new to us.  We have been prepared for such a time as this!

Please pray for both the sweet birth mom and the sweet baby.  The birth mom needs to hang on just a few more weeks.  The baby needs to grow fast.  BUT, we know the Lord has both of them in HIS mighty STRONG and ever faithful HANDS!

AND if you love praying…

Last night, I couldn’t sleep in the hospital chair so I went for a short walk.  I love when the Lord directs our steps!  I noticed a lady walking. I am anything but shy so I asked her if she had a loved one in the hospital.  She has a son in ICU who is not doing so well.  I knew the Lord had me there for this lady to pray for her.   He has had a rough life with medical conditions but again the Lord is so faithful.  I have a feeling that this lady and I will be walking the hospital halls again and praying for the patients that are there.

Ok, so I will try to update as much as I can.

Thank you for loving and praying for us!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!