Motherhood Overload

Giving Thanks - A Thankful Heart

2013-11-27T17:53:00.001-08:00

This past week in the high school classes I teach, I challenged my students to take time and write out a list of the things they are thankful for and how God has blessed them from last year's Thanksgiving to this year's Thanksgiving. The idea behind the task was that my students would visually see how God has either protected them, provided for them, or blessed them throughout the past year. I hope they are surprised to see how much God loves them by the length of their lists! Because I encouraged my students to create a list of thankfulness, I thought I would do the same here on my little blog.

Tamra's List of Thankfulness 2013

I am thankful for...

God's perfect timing and provision as well as guidance, forgiveness and love for me - I am continually amazed at how God loves me even when I fail Him so often.
My godly husband who leads our family by example and encourages each of us to walk better with our Lord; for the provision he gives to the family; for his unfailing love; for his friendship; for his positive attitude; for his perseverance
My seven beautiful children and how they daily brighten my day with the little notes they write to me or the million times they say (or scream) "I love you, Mommy!"; for the help they give in keeping our house clean; for their energy and zest for life; for the seven different little personalities; for all of their hugs and kisses (and messes); for their patience with me; for their unconditional love
My parents and siblings (and their spouses and children) - I live far from my family but I am so thankful for the memories we created while growing up and for the time I get to spend with them even though it may be every other year :(
My students - they make my job FUN and they are an encouragement and blessing to me
My friends (both near and far) - for their listening ears, advice given, and prayers offered on my behalf
My family's health
My church
My country and my freedoms!

I am extremely thankful for all God has given me and how He has richly blessed me. May I never stop to give Him thanks just on Thanksgiving but each day throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Psalm 34:8 (KJV) "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."

Bible Verse of the Week - July 14th - Fight for Your Families! Nehemiah 4:14b

2013-07-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

"...Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethern, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
- Nehemiah 4:14b

We must fight for our Christian families - to keep them together and to keep them strong in the Lord. Today's families are under attack as the idea of a traditional home, one that consists of a father, mother, and children, is quickly becoming obsolete. The majority of people today see the modern family as whatever is relevant to them: a single parent with a child born out of wedlock (the father never existent in the child's life), two fathers or two mothers and a child (modern medicine enables homosexuals to have children without having sexual relations with the opposite sex) and the list of non-idyllic family situations goes on.

But, the Bible is extremely clear on what the traditional, Christian family should entail: one father, one mother, and children. Christian families are under attack as the media and Hollywood attempts to push their worldview of a "modern family" and so it is up to us Christians to fight for our homes. Let us not grow weary in being committed to our spouse and children. May we resolve to keep our families in tact and to train our children with a biblical view of family and how a Christian home should operate. As Nehemiah so eloquently stated long ago, "Fight!" Our Christian homes are worth fighting for!

Bible Verse - Week of April 29

2013-04-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

Joshua 24:15

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Oh, how people today search for Christian families who live out their faith, who are not ashamed of God and His Gospel. The plea in Joshua 24:15 is as relevant today as it was back in the times of the Old Testament. We need to choose whom we will serve: God or the Devil (the world and all it has to "offer").

The Devil seeks to destroy Christian families. If he cannot cause the parents to divorce, he will try to damage the family's testimony through discord (children fighting, parents fighting), time constraints (extracurriculars from the kids which prevent family dinner, the family being in the same place all at once - always driving from one sports field to the other, one music rehearsal to the other, etc), and the like. So many things pull at our families today to prohibit us from spending time together, much less time together in God's Word.

This world is in desperate need of Christian families standing as Joshua did and stating, "We will serve the Lord" no matter what. Too many Christian families today sit back on the sidelines and watch the world's influence creep into our homes. Christian parents silently permit their children to act and behave like the world. Joshua saw this same scenario among the Israelites which prompted his declaration that his family would serve God and not conform to the behavior, ideals, and worldview of the unbelievers around him.

My husband and I have made the same commitment: we will serve the Lord. We have purposed in our hearts to not let Satan get a foothold in our family. We read the Bible, pray, and memorize Scripture as a family. We teach our children about God and point out the blessings God gives our family. We desire to serve the Lord as a family and to honor Him - we will not be ashamed of Him - and may your family do the same.

Expect Good Behavior

2013-04-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend I plan to do some serious spring-cleaning, the kind that is best done WITHOUT children around. But, since my husband and eldest son are at a Men & Boys Campout for church, I will brave this spring cleaning with the other 6 children around my feet. Actually, they will all help to some degree - even the 3 year-old (not so much the 7 month-old)!

In order to get ready for this monumental task, I needed to go to the store for the 19 items of cleaning supplies and organizational baskets. I had to do the shopping TONIGHT (Friday, 7:45 PM) because I certainly didn't want to wake early tomorrow to deal with the Saturday shopping crowd and then come home. I knew the kids were tired from a long week, but I had already fed them dinner so I told them we all had to pile in the van for a quick shopping trip. Now, with 7 children, I try to make EVERY shopping trip super-quick lest any outbursts should arise!

We arrived to our destination around 8 PM and before we unbuckled our seat-belts, I reminded the kids of the behavior I expected: no screaming, no crying, no loud voices (the 3 year-old seems to shout rather than speak each word), no touching items, no touching each other, for those who walk - hands on the cart at all times, and walk quickly. Likewise, I reminded the kids that if I had to say their name more than once for any of the above infractions, there would be consequences at home. I also told them that if they obeyed the rules, our trip would indeed be super-quick and there would be time to watch a movie at home before bedtime.

Every time before we arrive at a destination, I remind the kids of the rules and the behavior that is required of them. You would think that I overdo it or that they begin to tune me out, but they don't. My kids know the boundaries and they know the discipline they will receive if they overstep those boundaries. It is amazing how well children will behave when they understand there are consequences for their behavior. I am often asked, "Why do you take ALL the kids with you when you shop, do errands?" People look at me like I'm crazy for doing so simply because they cannot shop with ONE toddler or small child. But, honestly, I take the kids because #1: I like to spend time with them (even if it is running errands) and #2 they need to learn how to behave in public in various places and situations. Expect good behavior from your children, discipline when they don't deliver it, reward/praise them when they do, and always be consistent with your expectations, discipline, and rewards/praises.

So, how did tonight's shopping trip go? We entered the doors at 8:05, found all of our supplies, and exited at 8:35 PM. The kids were AWESOME!!! As we walked throughout the store, people did glance our way to observe the kids. One woman even commented how well-behaved they were to which my eldest daughter (age 11) smiled and said, "Thank you" and then gave me a wink. Now, if only tomorrow's spring cleaning would go as smoothly and quickly!

A Family's Foundation

2013-04-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

"He's got the whole world in His hands...He's got the mommies and the daddies in His hands....He's got the little children in His hands....He's got the Christian family in His Hands....He's got the whole world in His hands." Do you know this song? I vividly remember singing it occasionally with my parents and siblings while growing up. I often imagined and asked myself, "Exactly how big is God's hand? Can He really fit ALL of us? Will I ever fall out of His hand? If I do, can He catch me quick enough before I hit the bottom?!?"

I believe this picture depicts perfectly how God desires for the Christian family to live - confidently resting in His Almighty hand, knowing that He alone directs, protects, and provides for our families. Does your family stand securely in God's amazing hand? We need not fret or worry about what tomorrow may bring because God will be there to shelter us against the storms, comfort us in the midst of sorrow, and offer peace that only His children can understand and appreciate. God's hand is not too small nor it is weak and unsteady but His hand is strong, warm, powerful and quick. Build your family's foundation upon God: make Him first - read the Bible together, memorize Scripture as a family, pray together, and worship together. Experience the thrill of know He has YOUR family in His hands!

Motherhood Quote of the Week - April 24

2013-04-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.” – Dorothy Parker

Depending upon the day you are experiencing you may or may not want to let the air out of the tires, whether it be bicycles, cars, etc.! Lately, I find myself perusing photo albums that I have saved on the computer throughout the past 12.5 years of motherhood and each time my fingers grace the keyboard, the waterworks start a-flowing! I do not know exactly what brings me to this “Trip Down Memory Lane” but I am overwhelmed at how quickly life passes!

I suppose I’ve been thinking much about the rapidity because my eldest will be 13 in November. Maybe the fact that I will soon have a teenager living in my house prompts me to take notice and assess how life has gone thus far. The other day, reality hit me smack in the face. I realized that my son might have already spent more than half his life for which he will reside in our home. Suppose the university he attends is located on the other side of the U.S. or suppose he joins the military and is deployed in another country. I have no idea what God’s plan is for my eldest child (or my other 6 children) but man, do I wish time would S-L-O-W down!

I may not possess the ability to cease time but I am capable of creating a pleasant home atmosphere by which my kids will desire to be home – while they are growing – and that they will desire to return home when they have reached adulthood and created lives of their own. Is my home a place where they feel safe, loved, appreciated, and important? Do my words and actions convey how deeply I love them? Or am I stressed out, prone to losing my temper and saying harsh words? Do I mindlessly wave a hand at them to shoo them away because there are too many things to do?

Oh, may we mothers create a home environment that exudes love, acceptance, safety, pleasantry, and godliness. If we desire for our little ones to hang out with us when they are teenagers, to visit home often once they attend the university or get married, we need to develop an enjoyable home environment now. Let us create memories now so that our children will think fondly of home and always return to visit and spend time with us.

April 22 Bible Verse for the Week

2013-04-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thy eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 is one of my favorite Scripture passages when it comes to understanding how Christian families should raise their children. The foundation of any Christian home needs to be Christ and His Word, the Bible. Yet in today's society, I find that many, if not most, Christian families do not make the time to read God's Word together as a family. They neglect the task of teaching their children Bible verses and Scriptural principles and leave it to the Sunday-School teacher, the Preacher, or the Church when it is the responsibility of the Christian parent(s). The goal of the Christian family is to raise children who desire to know the Lord, to grow in their relationship with Him, to serve Him, and one day create a Christian family of their own for Him.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reminds us Christian parents to talk to our children about God and His Word so they may understand who God is and how much He loves and cares for them. We should not simply let the Church teach and train our children in Biblical principles but rather we must be the first ones who model and teach God's love. Our children should be able to look at us and say, "I see Jesus in Daddy and Mommy." They should see that God is real in us and because of our testimony (our model/behavior/walk), our children will be drawn toward Christ. Too many Christian families today do not have parent(s) who model Christ's love and behavior, thus the children are choosing to reject Christ because He is not real in Daddy and Mommy.

My heart aches for today's Christian families for there seems to be little or no difference between them and the world's families. The family is one of the three ordained institutions by God and yet so many treat it flippantly and deny their God-given responsibilities and roles. We must understand that Satan is a real adversary to the Christian and he desires to destroy Christian families. May we remember Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and may we purpose to hide God's Word in our hearts, to teach our children the Bible and encourage them to memorize it, and may we Christian parents live out our faith in front of the children so they decided to choose Christ and live for Him.

New Beginnings

2013-04-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

To my faithful few, I have decided to update my blog and reorganize. The goal is to encourage and entertain you, not just take up space in the blogosphere :) With that in mind, I plan to write for a different category or page each day of the week (Monday through Friday). There will be topics such as "Bible Verse of the Week", "Motherhood Quote of the Week," and so on in order to wet your appetite and to see which topics interest you the most and are beneficial to you.

I realize there are thousands of Mommy-blogs out there but I hope to offer some Christian perspective and just plain reality regarding the struggles and successes of being a Christian mommy to some heathen children! :) The focus will not only be on the relationship of mommy to children but as well as wife to husband. In this world, it is so easy to lose our focus and godly perspective (I know too well for I often fail in keeping my focus above), thus my desire is to write from the heart and let you have a glimpse of what it is like to be a mommy to seven children, wife to one man, and a full-time employee (and then some) in this crazy, rat-race, world we call "home."

So, here's to "new beginnings," again!

Overload Stress

2013-02-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

Here is a post I wrote a couple of years ago during a high point of stress in my life...may it encourage you as it has done tonight for me :)

A couple posts back I wrote in regards to being happy in an economic crisis and every word I wrote was sincere and honest regarding how I feel one is able to be happy in an economic crisis. But, acquiring and maintaining happiness and a positive attitude does become harder when after four months, both the father and mother of the family do not have full-time jobs save the tutoring and freelance writing jobs that occur here and there and these certainly do not pay the bills! Having five kids, bills to pay, food to put on the table, gas in the car, and many other obligations that require money to fulfill them has now evoked the feeling of almost despair. It’s as if I’m swimming across the Atlantic Ocean (without a life boat, buoy, or other helpful device) and I’m struggling to keep my head above water! So, how do I bury the burdens and reflect a positive, loving, caring attitude so that my children do not suspect anything is wrong and so that my husband does not pick up an erroneous vibe which says I am disappointed in him?

Stress! Who here doesn’t understand nor underestimate that word? No doubt many of us long for the days of childhood where life seemed so carefree and no worries or burdens pressed down upon us and yet we are grown now, facing real obligations with real consequences if they are not met and yet we can still be happy and function as a good parent, a good family. Just this morning I was thinking about all that has to be done around our home (purchase a new lawn mower because the other one broke -we have 2 acres to mow-, buy gym shoes for my oldest daughter – any cheap kind will do, make a grocery list and buy the items, etc) when I realized that my list of things to do or purchase is never going to fade away! And then I began to sorta hyperventilate in that I also realized that even though my husband and I have no jobs, our school loans are to begin repayment by the middle of the summer!

That last thought was extremely heavy and I wanted to cry but then I heard this tiny giggle and wouldn’t you know, it was my infant daughter. She had just surpassed a major accomplishment: crawling up the entire set of stairs to the living room where I was sitting, thinking on the couch. She looked at me, giggled, and began a victory dance. She has struggled for a month or so trying to get up the entire set of stairs and yet she never gave up and today was her moment of truth: she can do it! And she did do it! I smiled at her, showed her “spirit fingers” (Bring it On – cheerleading movie) and rejoiced with her in her accomplishment.

And then it hit me – my husband and I are struggling to find jobs and keep our heads afloat but there will eventually be a victory dance for us. One in which we get jobs and can feel the fulfillment in meeting our obligations. But if the victory dance comes later than sooner, I can keep my head above water by revelling in the smallest victories that my children accomplish each day. And maybe that’s why I don’t have a paid monetary job for my purpose right now must be to remain at home with my young children and watch them grow and be there to support them in their daily accomplishments/victories. And I’m totally fine with that!

Motherhood Quotes

2013-02-09T19:26:00.001-08:00

I decided to peruse the internet looking for humorous quotes about motherhood since this week has been sorta rough in terms of parenting - major motherhood overload status! I hope you’ll enjoy these quotes as much as I have and may they be a source of encouragement and laughter for you!

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.-Phyllis Diller (Can I get an "Amen" on that one?)

Parents were invented to make children happy by giving them something to ignore.-Ogden Nash

Children seldom misquote you. They more often repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.-Mae Maloo (Oh how often this has happened to me...em-barr-a-ssing!!!)

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease.-Lisa Alther

Sometimes when I look at all my children, I say to myself, ‘Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin.’ -Lillian Carter, at the 1980 Democratic Convention, where her son was nominated for a second term as US President

Adorable children are considered to be the general property of the human race. Rude children belong to their mothers. -Judith Martin

The lullaby is the spell whereby the mother attempts to transform herself back from an ogre to a saint. -James Fenton

Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home.-Phyllis Diller

I’d like to be the ideal mother, but I’m too busy raising my kids.- Unknown

The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she’d have children if she had it to do over again. “Yes,” she replied. “But not the same ones.”- David Finkelstein

Measuring Our Worth as Mothers

2013-01-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

I do not know if you are a bit like me, but as a full-time working mommy, there are times that I feel a monumental sense of guilt. Guilt - because I am not home raising my children but rather must entrust them to the care of other women. Yet, this has always been the case for me. Living in Southern California lends itself to almost a requirement that both parents work full-time in order to provide for the family. The cost of living out here is outrageous – if I didn’t work, our family would literally be living in the ghetto or the barrio (you can’t find cheap housing for a family of 9 anywhere). I don’t think that would be God’s best for our family. Obviously my husband and I love our children so much that we strive and sacrifice in order to provide them the necessities of life as well as some fun stuff like music lessons, camps, sports, etc.

Although I live in an expensive area of the U.S., I still sometimes feel like I don’t do enough for my kids. By that statement I don’t mean that I physically do things like cleaning their rooms, making the beds (most of them are old enough to do such things for themselves and it’s their chores!) but the guilt comes in because I am ineffective when it comes to my household chores such as keeping up with laundry, dusting, cleaning those nasty, disgusting bathrooms and other such “motherly” duties.

Recently I was speaking with a good friend and expressing my feelings of guilt. She is also a full-time working mommy, with three children, and she said that we mothers tend to measure our worth by what we do or produce. If the laundry baskets are not completely empty at the end of each day, we failed. If the dinner we cooked was not a gourmet meal but maybe came from a frozen prepared meal, we failed. If the kids brought home bad grades on their progress reports, we failed because we did not help them enough with the homework they didn’t understand. If the house is messy, we failed. If we didn’t get to spend as much time with the kids that day as we wanted to, we failed.

All of these thoughts weight heavily on my mind weekly because I do measure my worth as a mother in terms of how my kids are doing academically, socially, behaviorally, and spiritually. My purpose as a mother is to love my children, train them to become effective citizens while at the same time teaching them to love God and those around them. Oh how I know I fail daily because I don’t meet these expectations I have placed on myself and this is where my guilt comes and presses down on me. My kids do have their chores but I find that I feel most accomplished when I have helped them in some way or when I have totally emptied out the 9 different laundry baskets that are in my garage. I feel like “Wonder Woman” mommy when my chores are done and I have helped my kids. Is that so bad? Shouldn’t I feel more accomplished at home than I do at work? Isn’t my first job “Mommy” and not “High School Spanish Teacher”? What do you think? Should we mommies measure our worth by what do for our kids? How should we measure our worth/value as mothers?

K.I.S.S. Toddler Birthday Party

2013-01-21T00:24:00.000-08:00

My 6th child recently turned three so to celebrate my husband told me, "I want a COOL birthday party, ok?" At first, I thought he was giving me a 10-month advance notice of what he wanted for his birthday but then I quickly realized that my dear husband was referring to our toddler and the party he should have on his special day. Instantly I entered panic mode because we have not thrown many birthday parties due to the sheer volume of our family. I mean, having 6 other siblings sharing cake and watching you open presents is an automatic party, right? And what 3 year-old is going to remember the "cool" party that was thrown for him? Apparently, my husband was one such toddler.

I knew immediately which decorations to bathe our home in: Batman! My son received a Batman puffer vest, t-shirt, and converse shoes at various times throughout the past 6 months and acquired an affinity for all things Batman although he has never seen a cartoon or movie nor read a book about Batman; yet somehow my son knew that Batman was awesome. A quick trip to Party City afforded me the opportunity to ensure my son’s party would be appropriately adorned and that the guests would go home with an appreciation for Batman’s awesomeness.

When it comes to throwing birthday parties, I like to use the K.I.S.S. method – “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” I try not to stress over the small stuff, but I am a bit of a Type-A personality where things must be perfect no matter what I plan to accomplish. Why should a simple birthday party cause me stress? Well, number one, I have to impress the other toddlers, can’t let them be bored (duh!) and number two, I need to make a good impression with the parents that I am not a lame parent or that I keep a messy house.

So with regards to my toddler’s party, not only was I thinking about birthday decorations and my husband’s “cool” expectations, I was thinking about how I needed to scrub down my house so that it was spotless when the parents arrived. It didn’t matter that those precious little toddlers would wreck it the moment they entered my home. Everything had to be PERFECT!

I purchased Batman paper plates, napkins, cups, goodie-bags (filled with random items), a tablecloth, streamers, balloons, a piñata, candy for the piñata, and a pin for my son. Decorations? Check. Food? K.I.S.S. = hot dogs, homemade mac-n-cheese, chips, sliced fruit (bananas, apples, oranges), grapes, juice boxes, and of course one supremely, awesome Batman cake from Vons (grocery store out in the West) bakery. But what about entertainment?!? I was going mad in my head as how to accomplish the “cool” factor. So, keeping it simple, I simply put a variety of my son’s toys in a huge plastic container and had it ready for the toddlers to tear through once they arrived. I also counted the piñata as a fun game so I checked the entertainment column “complete.” Oh, and for ambiance, I made sure my I-Pod was ready to blast some favorite toddler songs such as “Old MacDonald” and “Itsy, Bitsy Spider.” I’m not into those Disney remakes of current pop songs.

The day of the party arrived and my son went C-R-A-Z-Y! He knew he was a star, decked in his new Batman t-shirt (with an attached cape!), Batman cap, and converse shoes. This kid was overjoyed that the day was all about him. Wowzers, what a day! He ran all over the house showing the guests his toys, his music, his balloons, and his house. He was thrilled with the gifts he received from his little buddies and was excited that everyone was there to celebrate and honor his big day. Yep, my son was one happy toddler, hyped up on way too much sugar! I hope he will remember his very “cool” Batman birthday party so he can tell his future wife how to throw such cool parties for their son.

Here's to 2013!

2013-01-07T11:46:00.002-08:00

Do you compile a list of New Year's Resolutions? If so, do you write the list down somewhere you can frequently access it in order to assess your progress or do you mentally make notes on what you want to change/improve for the year ahead? I must admit that I do the latter - and now after giving life to 7 children, well, let's be honest, my memory is horrific! So, this year I decided to use my beautiful leather journal my husband gave me (almost 2 years ago!) to pen my resolutions for the year ahead. As I sat pondering what I needed to change before I made fun goals for myself (such as being published in a children’s magazine), I quickly became a bit depressed in noting how I have SO MUCH to transform!

Last year about this time, I composed a blog entry regarding my resolution to post at least 3 times per week on my little blog. As I look back over my entries for 2012, I fell horribly short of that goal! What other “goals” did I not achieve this past year? I am sure I would have an accurate record had I actually written down the ideas! The only record I have is marked in my blog entry last January! And I as sit here thinking about all of my inadequacies as a wife, mother, and teacher, well, I do not know fully where to begin my list of resolutions for 2013 or better yet, why try?!

Are you overwhelmed at beginning another year or do you feel revived and refreshed knowing that it is a clean slate for whatever lies ahead? I am at first flabbergasted as to how I will accomplish the changes I need to make in my life but then I realize that I can do nothing in and of myself and that kinda relieves me. God doesn’t expect the Christian to manage life by herself for He expects her, or rather desires that she would rely upon HIM. So, what have I been fretting about?! I can make a list of New Year’s Resolutions and anticipate failure (or as my tween son would say, anticipate an “Epic Fail”) for each of my goals if I do not ask God to help me in achieving those goals. Whew, isn’t that mind-opening? Not really but why do I have to remind myself that I am not Wonder-Woman? Although I have the Converse sneakers and a T-shirt that say otherwise – (Merry Christmas, Mommy! J). It’s because I really do want to be Wonder-Woman, do everything on my own, and ask help from no one. But, that is my PRIDE – such an ugly word. I must first rid myself of the pride and then compose some resolutions for the New Year. Hmm….

OK, 2013, I can do this! I will seek God’s face to aid me in realizing the goals/resolutions I have set forth and I will strive to have no regrets with how I live my life as a Christian wife, mother, and teacher. Seven days have already passed in this New Year and I’ve already failed on my attempts of transformation, however, all of those were done in vain as I did not fully recognize my Creator and the help He provides. Today is Monday, almost noon, and I am ready to work on those New Year’s Resolutions. So, here’s to 2013 – good luck, everyone, on your resolutions!!!

Happy Father's Day

2012-06-18T22:01:00.001-07:00

On Father's Day we take time to pause and reflect on the life lessons that our fathers taught us while growing up and we thank them for the love and support they've given to us throughout the years. However, this Father's Day, I would like to focus on how thankful I am for my husband who is the father to our six children (with #7 due in September).

When I was 16, I wrote down a list of qualities that I was looking for in the man I would one day (hopefully) marry. I had 14 characteristics which ranged from highly important to just plain extra bonuses such as "athletic, but not a dumb jock", "musical," and "smarter than me." I began praying for my future husband at age 16 without realizing that I would actually meet him when I was 18 and then would be married to him by age 20! [ Awww :) ]

Today I am thankful for my husband and the father he is to our children. I am grateful for the leadership he shows in our home as he models an unbelievable work ethic, makes difficult decisions, disciplines the children appropriately, and lovingly guides and directs them in their paths. Additionally, I am grateful for the love he gives our children as he purposes to spend quality time with each of them even though he works three jobs! He continually sacrifices on our behalf to ensure that our family's needs are met as well as some of our wants. He is an amazing man and the children and I are incredibly blessed to have him as the leader of our home.

Happy Father's Day to my beloved husband and Happy Father's Day to your father and husband as well! Tell him today how grateful you are for the man he is in your home :)

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-05-13T20:18:00.003-07:00

To all my fellow moms, I would like to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day. May your day be filled with sweet little kisses, messy incoherent drawings or cards, and an outpouring of abundant love from your husband and children. May you know your value is indeed priceless to your family and may you never forget that little eyes are watching you. You are the greatest role model, cheerleader, teacher, nurse, and friend your children could ever possess. You are their personal Super-Mom - the heroine on which they lean to find comfort, strength, encouragement, knowledge, and advice for the problems that arise in their lives. You are everything to your children and although they may be too young to express it or may be in their teen years and can only grunt most of their appreciation, please do not underestimate your worth and value to the children you are raising and to the husband by whose side you stand. You are an amazing woman, MOM, and don't forget it! :) Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there...you are truly BLESSED!

It's Official...I am CRAZY (pregnant)!

2012-04-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

To my followers (how few or many), I would like to announce my latest adventure in my state of "motherhood overload." Apparently I cannot get enough of this glorious state for I am now pregnant again for the 8th time! I am thrilled to announce that my husband and I are expecting Baby #7 this fall (September) - I cannot believe I am pregnant! I am not trying to beat anyone in a baby-making race, nor am I trying to secure a TV show (although I do have a great title should anyone take notice: Char, Tam, & and Fam - not simply following me, hubby, and kids but rather in-laws as well - how crazy fun would that be?!? If you knew our family, we'd be hilarious, uplifting, and maybe at times scandalous!)

But, seriously, I am excited to be with child again. I was incredibly shocked and I must admit that I cried at night for about a month. Is there such a thing as "Pre-partum Depression?" I was in a state of denial because our youngest child had finally begun potty-training and I felt my life was in a perfect state. I had recently been told I could teach High School Spanish again which made me incredibly happy for that is my first love when it comes to teaching. I also was able to coach Cross Country this past fall (something I had had always dreamed of since I was in high school as a runner athlete) and then the idea of finally being rid of diapers and wipies after ELEVEN long years...well, I was beside myself with JOY!

And then I felt sick, nauseated, irritable and I realized, "I must be pregnant!" I took a test to confirm my suspicions and the rest is history. I have finally "let the cat out of the bag" as I told my boss a couple weeks ago - I wanted to make sure she knew before my baby bump started to show. I am now 4 months pregnant and feeling overwhelmingly happy yet exhausted. I am praying for a boy because of space issues - there are already 4 girls in one bedroom and 2 boys in a bedroom so there's space for one more boy :) We'll see what happens...I really am just praying for a super-healthy baby! Well, here's to the continuation of "Motherhood Overload!"

Taking Time to Give

2012-01-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend my eldest daughter and I spent a couple hours running errands while spending quality time together. I am not a big shopper, in fact, I desperately loathe the idea of having to find a parking space, running through the store to obtain items in what I consider to be a timely fashion (the sooner I'm out of the store, the better), only to stand in line and wait on slow people or slow cashiers. I'd rather purchase my all of my items online if I could, but then I'd miss all the fun waiting in lines and dealing with the occasional rude, obnoxious person.

My daughter, on the other hand, quite enjoys the shopping experience although I cannot understand why. I suppose through the eyes of a 10 year-old, going to Target to find some items might be fun because she could "window shop" and dream about things she would like to purchase. I have always had the mindset, ever since I was a young child, that window-shopping is a bust because if you don't have money, then why in the world are you wasting your time at the store when you plan to buy absolutely nothing?!?

Anyway, after purchasing a few necessary items at Target, my daughter and I walked out to our car. As I was placing the bags on the backseat, I noticed a white mini-van parked a few spaces over. There were two hand-written signs taped to the van which read, "Help a needy family." With the side door opened, I saw two unkept children sitting in their car seats. The parents looked worn as well and it seemed that this family was indeed needy. However, I'm a natural skeptic and although we have not seen good economic times recently, I still believe there will always be people who will take advantage of a situation for their own benefit. I decided that maybe these people were such the case, thus we jumped into our truck and drove away.

I didn't drive too far though because I felt a nagging tug/pain in my heart. I thought that maybe these people were truly in need. It wasn't too long ago that my family benefitted from the hands of anonymous people in church. My husband and I had not had jobs for roughly 18 months but God provided through our retirement funds and some odd jobs that did not pay much, but did offere some sort of compensation to meet a phone bill or other lesser bills. What would my family have done in November and December of 2009 had not some people placed Walmart giftcards into my husband's suit pocket? I thought of God's grace and provision via strangers and I turned my truck around.

I did not have much cash but I figured some was better than none. My daughter asked me what we were doing and I asked her if she had seen the white mini-van that was parked close to our truck. She answered, "Yes, I did, Mommy. I felt bad for them. Are we going to help?" Her remarks only further confirmed that I needed to give what I could to try and assist this family in any way possible. If I had purchased diapers, I would have given some and had I purchased any food, I would have given that away too. But, alas, I had purchased a birthday gift which did not seem helpful for the family.

I drove up to the strangers and told them I noticed their sign, that I could not help much, but I was willing to give what little I had. I handed them some cash, as well as a tract to our church, and I told them I hoped things would get better for them. The faces of the father and mother lit up to display toothless grins but also an attitude of gratitude. They thanked me profusely, gave each other a hug, and began to read what I had given. My daughter smiled and told me that we had done the right thing and she hoped they could use both the money and the tract.

I realize there are people out there who seek to obtain without working or try to take advantage of people's kindness, but for that day, I honestly feel my daughter and I did the right thing. As parents, we are definitely role models for our children. If we want our children to grow to be kind and respectful toward others, we need to model that exact behavior. Giving to strangers who are less fortunate is a good lesson for all. I pray that my children will be sensitive to the needs around them and I pray that I can be an excellent example of how to give. I'm thankful for the opportunity presented that day where I could model kindness, giving, and respect.

Family Organization - Preparation for the Next Day

2012-01-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

I often find it humorous that people ask me how I get ready in the morning for work and school with "those six kids." It's not like I have six toddlers or six infants, but I have at least five healthy, independent, able-bodied children who can prepare themselves for the day. The toddler's help in morning preparation is minimal at best but the other children definitely have their own set of responsibilities when it comes to departing the house on time for our schoolday/workday.

No matter if you have six children or one child, organization is the key to having a minimally stress-free morning before you exit the house. The rule in our home is that all homework and any other papers that I need to see from my children, must be placed on the counter each night before bed. The children must also have their lunchboxes on the counter and the backpacks, sports gear, instruments, and shoes must be set at the front door. Likewise, their school uniforms must be laid out on their desks in their bedrooms as well as all underwear and socks - all before they can rest their heads on their pillow at night. (I must admit that my ability to do a load of laundry each day is lacking thus it is imperative that the kids have the underwear and socks set out or else we will spend time in the morning - time which we dont' have - sorting through clean piles of clothes looking for matching socks or underwear!)

After the children have gone to sleep, it is then my responsibility to check all homework, read parent letters from teachers, sign papers, and make lunches. After I view each homework assignment and place my signature on the appropriate papers, I leave the papers exactly where the children left them so that they can pick them up quickly in the morning and place them in their respective backpacks. I then prepare the lunches for the next day - all eight of them! I usually keep lunch low-key in terms of preparation-time; sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, snacks, chips, water bottles etc. I have timed myself several times and have noticed it takes me no more than 30 minutes to make, pack, and put away the lunches in the refrigerator. I would estimate that my nightly responsibility of checking homework, signing papers, and preparing lunches takes me about 50 minutes. No wonder I am so exhausted and ready for bed! :)

In the morning when the children awake, they make their beds, get dressed, carry down their dirty clothes to the laundry room, place homework in their backpacks, and then eat a quick bowl of cereal or oatmeal. They then make sure the kitchen is clean, they feed our animals, brush their teeth, and put their coats or jackets on. They then retrieve their lunches from the refrigerator, put on their backpacks, pick up their extra items (instruments, sports gear) and stand in the hallway at the front door, waiting for me. I give the car key to the eldest child who then leads all the kids to our wonderful 12 passenger van. My husband and I make sure all the lights are turned off, items are in their place, lock the front door, and we're headed for our day.

If my family fails to do our "chores" each evening before bed, then the morning is very rough and we arrive late for work and school. I think mornings are naturally stressful because we may not be entirely rested or we anticipate a busy day head, thus if we are in an organized routine, with much of the preparation accomplished before bedtime, the mornings should be less stressful. I think my family's organization makes sense and I think it will work for your family as well. Best of luck with your family's organization!

Stomach Flu Blues

2012-01-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

The winter weather has been unusally mild over here in Southern California which means all the germs that were supposed to be "frozen" away during Christmas vacation have only multiplied and grown in force. I have now had a second round of the stomach flu in just two weeks...I missed school last Monday and Tuesday because I was violently ill and then this morning I missed a half day because the little demons were back in my system prompting me to become quite ill. I think teaching First Grade has made me more susceptible to catching such lovely viruses no matter how often I bathe my hands in Anti-bacterial soap!

I haven't been the only one in my family to receive this blessed illness. It has gone through all of my children as well as my husband. I feel like all I've accomplished this past week is laundering the many sheets, bedspreads, towels, etc and spraying lysol and other cleaning products over everything in the house! Yet, all of this work has been for naught because yesterday my daughter decided to vomit at the restaurant and then I became ill (as previously stated). All of this sickness has caused me to sing the "Stomach Flu Blues" in my head. Have you ever heard of such a song? You have if you have been privileged to have this disgusting illness spread throughout your house more than once in two weeks! I am pleading God to send the germs away...maybe have them run down the mountain of Malibu into the ocean and be gone once and for all!

During times of illness when everyone in the family becomes sick, I find it extremely difficult to behave so lovingly - especially if I am the one who is so very ill. At these times I long for my own mother to come take care of me...and then take care of my kids! :) But you know what is funny? Even these not-so-great times will be memories I cherish....like the memory I have recently of handing out barf-bowls, towels, and Lysol to each of the kids. It's funny now that I can look back at it but obviously it is not an occasion one I wish to repeat. No one ever said motherhood would be easy or incredibly entertaining but through all the ups and downs, sickness and health, I embrace these occasions for one day my children will be grown and gone and wishing I were there to comfort them during their own Stomach Flu Blues.

A New Year; New Resolutions

2012-01-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

Can I just tell you how much my life consistently changes at a rapid pace? It has been a year and roughly 4 months since my last post. At that time I told you my life had changed in that I was no longer living in the South, homeschooling the kids, but had moved to the West Coast to begin my life as a First Grade teacher at a private Christian school. Well, guess what? I'm still a First Grade teacher but I've moved again - same city, new house, and my career is changing again...next year I'll be back teaching High School Spanish (Spanish I and II) and who knows what else...I am constantly amazed at how God moves and directs my path in such a short amount of time!

So a new year has begun and like you, I've made a mental note of things I would like to accomplish this year. However, as I sit here and write, I believe I should write down my ideas because I definitely will not succeed in my endeavors unless they are daily in front of my face, right? One such goal is to blog weekly...I'd say at least twice a week because who knows, maybe someone out there is actually reading this blog! Life has changed since I was able to stay home and be with the kids 24/7 but even though I am working, I am blessed to work at the same facility where my children attend school and where even my husband works!

Another goal? To lose those last 10 pounds that haunt me. You know, I once calculated all the weight I had gained (adding the six pregnancies together) and I came up with an astonishing 235 pounds! Well, I've lost 225 of those pounds so I feel pretty good but I wanna LOOK amazing, right? I mean, gotta keep the hubby interested in ME! :) So, maybe this is the year I go on the Hollywood Diet every other weekend...the cleansing diet...on second thought, I'll just jog.

This brings me to goal #3: Jog 5x's a week for at least 30 minutes. I was a runner back in the day...actually ran with the 1996 Olympic Torch in Cincinnati...I was such a scrawny teen back then. I absolutely enjoy running because it is the only alone time this gal gets so if I'm not jogging, chances are I am not getting some little amount of alone time and everyone needs a dose of that now and then. Currently I jog about 1 day per week so I'm ready to begin this venture!

I have other goals for the year but basically I purpose to be the most amazing wife, mother, and teacher! I'll strive to further cultivate the relationship I have with my husband as well as the relationship I have with each of my six children. The baby just turned 2 this week (awww) and the oldest turned 11 at Thanksgiving time. Time is fleeting, isn't it? Although I may feel overwhelmed or overloaded at times, I can find no greater source of joy, than being a wife and a mother.

Here's to the New Year and all those new resolutions!

Another Chapter

2010-09-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

It's been, what, four months since I last posted? Too many things have happened WAY too fast around here in my family. The short of it is this: God drastically changed our family's path. My husband and I went from having NO jobs for the past two years to having two full-time jobs which means that I am no longer a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom and my children now attend "real" school for the first time in their lives! What an emotional rollercoaster ride I have been on for the past two months!

We moved from our wonderful idyllic home near the mountains in SC to the hectic bustle of city life in the Los Angeles area. Talk about culture shock, right? We used to live out here in Cali way back when there were only three children crawling around but now there are six and we look like a freak sideshow - a possible contestant for a new reality series of sorts :) I cannot even tell you how many times people have told us we remind them of a certain reality family on TLC or how we should totally have our own reality show. As if our white 12 passenger van screams, "Reality TV Family Wannabes" Puhlease!

Anyway, so I've been busy adjusting to this new lifestyle: working full-time as a first grade teacher at a large private Christian school alongside my husband and also adjusting to having my kids be taught by other people. That part is not so hard but the homework they bring home is amazing! Homeschooling didn't have homework so this part has been the biggest shock-a-roo! :( My kids are resilient and I'm so proud of how they are accommodating to their new roles in life.

I do miss the days of just being home with the kids but I am SO grateful for how God has directed our family and has provided for our every need. HE is amazing! So, we begin a new chapter in this crazy life of motherhood and let me tell ya, I have never been more overloaded than before! Here's to the next chapter! More details, stories, etc to come!

Two Mothers...One Real, One Fake

2010-05-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

The other night we sat down as a family to watch a movied called Coraline. Wow! We turned it off half-way through because the kids were getting a bit weireded-out by the two sets of parents that the main character, Coraline, has - one of which is "real" and the other set is "fake" with buttons for eyes. Anyway, it appeared that the gist of the storyline was how Coraline loved her "real" parents but wished they could act more like her "fake" parents because the "fake" parents let her do what she wanted and were there to spend time with her while the "real" parents were more focused upon their work and would usually snap at Coraline.

At one moment during the beginning of the movie, the "real" mother snaps, "Zip it, Coraline!" as Coraline asks a bazillion questions. Without flinching, my 4 year-old daughter says, "That sounds like Mommy!" Me?!? I sound cruel and disengaged?!? Hmmm....that hit me right in the stomach...my daughter wasn't being mean, she was simply calling it as she sees it and unfortunately, I do sound like the "real" mother - the one Coraline wished could change.

It's a timeless tale, right? I mean, I suppose each chilld has envisioned what his ideal parent would be like - one who would spend tons of time with him, give him anything and everything he wanted, take him places, spend oodles of money on him, etc. etc. But the reality is that parents have to work in order to provide for the kids and although I love to spend time with my kids, there have been moments when I do say, "Zip it" while opening and closing my hand for emphasis on how my child should "zip" his mouth. And I'm sure I deliver the words with an angelic disposition on my face - yeah, right!

How do my kids envision me? If they were to do impersonations of Mommy, what would I look like to them? What facial expressions would I use? What would the tone be of my voice? How loving would I appear? All these questions have been running through my mind since I watched a little bit of Coraline...man, I wanna be an amazing mommy but sometimes I'm just so worn out! So stressed out! So weighed down! Why can't these kids understand that? :-) Well, Coraline has taught me a lesson...I need to better work on my parenting skills. I want to display characteristics of both a "real" and "fake" mother - I want to love, spend time with my kids, not be short/impatient, I want to be FUN while at the same time being consistent and enforcing discipline when necessary. I make this vow today to wake up each morning with Coraline on my mind so that I can strive to be a better mother as a whole for my children. Thank you, Coraline.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you mamas out there today! Bask in the love of your little ones as they give you handmade cards, breakfast in bed, lunch out somewhere on the town, and little gifts or flowers that are slightly messed up due to little hands smothering or wrinkling the gifts :) Today is our day to not only receive the gifts from our children but it is a day for us to reflect on the kinds of mothers we are to our precious little blessings.

Each year on this day I take time out to examine the type of mother I have been since the last Mother's Day. Having six children to take care of is a huge privilege and responsibilty therefore I want to make sure that I'm not screwing up! So many times I lose my patience or I utter sarcastic words - hurtful words - that cause my children to cringe and I hate when I do it. I know the moment that I let those words out I am doing something wrong and I try to get them back but it seems that my anger or irritation takes over the moment and I fail miserably at being a good mom. Thus, each Mother's Day, I renew my vow and commit myself to being a fun, loving, devoted, giving, mother to my children. They are awesome so don't they deserve the best from me?!?

Soccer Mania

2010-05-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

Sweat pours from my kids' faces as they run excitedly to me, reaching out for their water bottles. Next to me my toddler screams for water too as she pulls on my the hem of my shorts. Attached to the front of me in an Evenflo Snugli, my infant whines for liquid as well - he's hot and crabby and tired and lets me know that he needs attention- can't forget about him!

The smell of freshly-cut grass tickles my nose while gnats fly around my face and fireants crawl around my toes. I hear my kids gulping down water in between heavy panting as they try to catch their breath. Parents around me sing praises of their children's skills as the kids jump up and down, declaring their awesomeness in kicking a round sphere around on the field. All of this commotion goes on around me while I think to myself, "Why am I doing this?!?"

It's soccer season and I'm immersed into a sea of soccer balls, practices, games, kids, gnats, fireants, and heat. I used to lover soccer season but this spring has been rough and I've begun to dread the drive to the soccer fields at the YMCA. I make this trek three times a week with all six kids by MYSELF!!! My husband teaches night classes and thankfully, on Saturday mornings, he is able to attend the games with me. But, I tell ya, I am simply, completely, and utterly worn out with all these practices and games!

I caught myself falling asleep standing up earlier this week at one of the practices because I was so bored. Don't get me wrong, I am totally enthusiastic about the sport. I played it myself growing up and have even coached several of my son's teams but this spring I have had enough. My two middle girls and son decided they all wanted to play and I was excited to watch them but I didn't factor in the time it would swallow up nor did I realize my husband wouldn't be around to help drag the kids to practice. Spending 2.5 hours two nights a week trying to entertain a toddler, have an infant attached to the front of me, and support the kids who are playing soccer...well, it's gotten the best of me. This 31 year-old woman is dragging and feels older than Sarah when she birthed Isaac way back when...I'm seeing wrinkles in places that I didn't know could wrinkle!!!

Although I am weary and worn, I have enjoyed these moments of watching my 4 year-old score a goal for the wrong team, my 6 year-old fix her hair a billion times during a game and then regain focus and fiercely go after the ball, and watching my 9 year-old son kick the threads out of the ball from backfield. I love screaming for my kids and chearing them on. Oddly enough, out of the 3 teams my kids' play on, 2 of them are called the Tigers. It's funny because I live about 45 minutes away from Clemson University, home of the....you guessed it, TIGERS!

I have enjoyed countless times of running around trying to get that perfect picture to show Daddy when he gets home from work but for now, I'm wishing soccer would end soon...but then, what would I do with my Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings? So, here's to another game this weekend, more pictures to capture, more kids, gnats, fireants, and heat. Aw, gotta love soccer insanity, I mean soccer mania :)

Happy Teacher Day to Homeschool Parents Too!

2010-05-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun

This quote is not only applicable to teachers but to us homeschool moms/parents as well! Teaching is a profession in which an adult is given the opportunity and privilege to instruct children in academics in hopes of guiding them to become productive and intelligent citizens. Homeschool parents not only get to teach academics but we have the amazing task to train our children in character as well.

As the quote states, we may not see these fruits for 20 years! Teachers only get a child for one year and hope they make a difference in that child whereas we homeschool parents get the child for at least 18 years of training 24/7 at home! Although a "real" teacher hopes to see fruit for her labor, homeschool parents pray daily for evidence that what we are doing does indeed make a difference - that the sacrifices we've made to have one parent remain at home rather than earning a living, will reward dividends in our children's lives.

Homeschool parents choose a variety of reasons for which to stay home and teach their children and no matter our motivation to have the kids schooled at home, homeschool parents should never feel secondary to that of "real" teachers. Today is a nationally recognized holiday where millions of students and parents all over the country will give a card, and maybe a small token, to say "thanks" for all the hard work their teachers have put forth this year. Well, I want to say "thanks" to all the homeschool parents who teach their kids because I know the sacrifice, frustration, energy, and time it takes to effectively train our children while raising them too. Keep it up, you homeschool parent freaks! You are doing a heck of a job and your kids will forever be in debt to you! Keep on teaching! Today is for you! :)