Pink Slippers

in the trenches.

2012-01-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

It feels good to have a clean house.

So far I have been able to accomplish a once a month-- Spring (deep) cleaning.

Who knew it could be done consistently?

I thought I could only get it done once a year or at best, at the beginning of each season.

The kids are on board mostly because they know it means that lost toys are found and that they get to use the cleaning sprays. On the down side, occasionally they overdo it and use a whole bottle of glass cleaner on the bedroom mirror closet doors.

But I am blessed by them really desiring to lend a hand. Except there is one little cupcake in particular who tries to make deals to see how much money cleaning is worth to me. But I was quickly able dispel any further extortion attempts when I reminded him that I don't charge him to wash his clothes.

barbershop daddy.

2012-01-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

When Daddy gave Jasper his first haircut,
he took him to the front porch

(I think this was also Daddy's first time giving a haircut

using scissors. Anyone can use clippers!).
And when he was done and needed to clean the hair off,
what else would Daddy use, but the leaf blower.
Jasper thought it was normal and kinda liked it.

faithful to jesus.

2012-01-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

90 days of school done--
80 left to go...

Somehow, even through some of the trials of homeschooling we've had recently, I honestly feel like this has been our best school year yet.

In the past, we have gotten behind in lessons, not kept up our records, lacked attention in certain little one's reading lessons, and had some major struggles in subjects. But through it all, I am really pleased with our home education this year.

I can actually see the growth in the kids and their education.

I think it changed because I changed my priorities and expectations.

I don't see the workbooks as the focus of their education anymore, but the life lessons and their relationship with Jesus to be the most important of all. The more we focus on family and values, the more I see my kids excel.

I always knew that character was the priority, but now I actually see some of its fruit-- grades will follow character, but the opposite does not necessarily hold true.

If a kid has great character formed by his or her relationship with Jesus accompanied by parental love and discipline, then it would naturally follow that they would want to do their best in all the areas of their lives including school work and overall attitude.

In most cases, good character results in good grades, but good grades won't birth good character (just ask my husband, who admittedly was lying to his parents and coaches and doing drugs and partying while getting straight A's in high school).

For some reason, this operates counter to our thinking-- maybe because we've been programmed differently our whole lives looking at external results (grades, scores, wins, losses, awards, etc.) rather than the internal condition (integrity, compassion, sincerity).

I assumed: more rigorous academics would improve performance and attitude toward work. It doesn't work that way.

So even if my oldest has a few current events to get caught up on, that's not my main focus anymore. It's when I see my children having adventures outside, all of us having family Bible night, the oldest four playing Monopoly while the youngest are playing Hungry Hippos or my oldest two reading "A Case for Faith for Kids" that I know we are OK as long as we stay faithful to Jesus.

family worship night.

2012-01-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

We are really trying to establish family worship night on a more consistent basis-- getting together to worship God and read His word as a family more than just once a week(outside of church).

The kids love it, but we have been so bad at making it a priority when the days get busy.

Jasper goes bonkers because he now sings.

Sings loud and really belts it out. I love it. Maybe he'll be a worship leader one day like his Daddy.

what a blessing.

2012-01-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

I know this post is gonna step on a few toes and that's ok. But I just cannot understand why a Mommy would want to leave her children for a career.

To feel the need to go back to school to pursue an advanced degree or to re-enter the work force for what they think is more important.

When did being a Mommy become such a low level calling? When did women begin to feel that raising their children to change the complexion and direction of nations was not to be considered important anymore? When did having a school teacher or nanny become more qualified to be a child's mother than their actual mom?

I love being with my children. I love the fact that I can have the most important impact on their lives.

I understand that what I am investing in them on a daily, by the minute basis is going to impact generations. That I have the opportunity to be a Deuteronomy 6:5-9 Mommy.

That my husband and children are really the people I want to spend my time with, including my spare time even when the world tells me the opposite.

I'm making world shakers and gospel takers-- true, fire-breathing disciples-- right at my own dinner table.

What a blessing.

update to comments and original post:

In a home where a husband is present, Biblical Christianity does not provide an option for a woman with young children to work outside the home and leave those children with another as a surrogate mother.

The more I think about it. The more the details come to mind. The real question is: Unless you are forced to work, why would you leave your kids? And when we ask what being 'forced' means it should be defined by something like: "my husband's an unbeliever and he's making me". Or if I don't work, my kids will starve.

It is a complex issue, but the basic statement about mothers not working is, in fact, valid.

one of those days.

2012-01-20T11:30:00.000-08:00

I had such a wonderful day last week.

It was one of those days where I knew I needed to put everything down and just go sit outside and watch the kids play.

Each one got a sheet and we tied them to be pretend capes; Jasper sat in the swing; and Ruby and I sat under the little avocado tree pushing him while singing songs.

There was a warm breeze blowing and as I just enjoyed my 8 young children, I knew how truly blessed I was.

My children can challenge me as a Mommy. Stretch me beyond limits I knew I was capable of being stretched. Teaching me patience and revealing my weaknesses that I would rather keep hidden, but because of them and my husband, I am a better person.

A person who is learning from my own family how much more I love and need Jesus.

I have come to the point where I would never consider or could even fathom a life without God being the core of it all.

People think being saved is a life of restrictions (and unsaltiness), but they don't really know it is a life of happiness and freedom. A life with more love and clarity. A life of blessings and growth.

school & 8 kids.

2012-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

After running into a few obstacles in the way we've been having school time, my hubby and I had to figure out what wasn't working and what changes we could make to fix the problems.

Some of the existing problems were: kids goofing off during chore time, workbooks and tests not being turned in to be corrected, kids skipping certain elements of their daily school routine, and school taking far longer than it should due to unproductiveness.

With home schooling, I think that things never have to be set in stone. Yes, we do things a certain way and have a routine that works well for our family, but having 4 children in school and 4 little ones who are not, we can always made adjustments and improvements.

What worked a few months ago or maybe last year might not be the way for us to do it right now at this time.

So with a few tears and a few prayers and a lot of communicating, we decided it would be best to have the two oldest (Parker & Ethan) do their arithmetic lessons right after their morning prayer time which usually ends around 7am.

That gets a big part of schooling out of the way and Daddy hasn't even left for work yet.

It's great when he's around to just give that little bit of extra help.

By about 7:30, everyone is up and chore time gets underway, followed by breakfast and clean up.

We don't all start school together again until 10am when Daddy is back home during his morning break. When he leaves, it's time to go outside and have fun until the babies go down for their 2pm nap after lunch.

This is the major change in our new schedule: a 4 hour block of play time sandwiched in the middle of schooling.

When all is quiet again, school is finished up and the little ones don't usually wake up until daddy comes home for the day. I love this new schedule. I love having the kids outside playing during the best part of the day.

And we seem to be wasting less time sitting at desks or at the table daydreaming.

sunday's daddy.

2012-01-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

who said it was winter?

2012-01-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

The kids have been outside everyday from about 9:30am until the early afternoon.

The weather has been amazing for the kids to run around barefoot and for the garden to begin to bloom.

I'm not sure if we've somehow skipped the colder days of winter this year or if it is still yet to come. But weather-wise, I will say that some of the days we're having now are better than many of the summer days we had last year.

We don't mind it a bit! We welcome it.

Jasper's favorite thing to do right now is to beeline for the backdoor the minute he wakes up from his morning nap.

My favorite thing is to have lunch in the backyard-- the clean up is so much more enjoyable!

meeting the midwife.

2012-01-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, I met with the midwife at my doctor's office and I'm so happy my hubby took the day off to come along.

Even after having eight baby's, she taught me so much about delivery.

Especially in regards to the choices I have.

Her words and thoughts really encouraged me that going natural again, and this time with a midwife will be the right choice for the delivery of our new baby due in Spring.

The down side is that my due date is April 10th and she's planning a one-week trip starting March 31st.

But instead of worrying about details (and things that I really have no control of), I am leaving it to God.

The other choice is worry, anxiety and wonder....what good are any of those?

I am looking to buy a book (hopefully an audio one) regarding having a natural birth from a Christian perspective. I did read (listen to) Supernatural Childbirth for Jasper's pregnancy, but if anyone has any different recommendations I would lover to hear about them.

only skin deep.

2012-01-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

I'm totally obsessed with facial skin and wrinkle creams since I visited the dermatologist a couple months ago.

Today, I bought a green tea facial mask from Amazon. Pathetic-- I know.

And just yesterday, I also gave myself a lemon and sugar exfoliating facial scrub and when that wasn't enough, I convinced one of my boys (can't tell you which one) to let me try it on his face. I told him his skin would feel really clean, but Parker (oops!) had to tell me that he didn't notice any difference. What do boys know anyway.

Next time, I'll try it on Sophia. I know she will be more appreciative of the pampering.

It's one of those things I'm doing to jump on the band-wagon now that I'll be 38 in May.

I like to hear words like wrinkle free, rejuvenating, transform, diminish fine lines, youthful skin......Now if I can just find the time to stick with that big elephant, I mean, treadmill, in my bedroom, I'll lose eight, maybe ten years .

the boy & his glasses.

2012-01-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

The kids had their eye exams last month and we found out Charlie needs glasses-- but just for reading.

A couple of the other kids who I thought might need them didn't and the ones who actually thought it would be cool to get glasses, didn't need them either.

But Charlie was such a good sport about having to wear them for reading and school work that I took him out for a McDonald's shake after we picked up his new glasses.

Camouflage green with orange flames on the arms.

It's amazing how well he's doing keeping his glasses in the case and wearing them only for his seat work. And he just turned 6 in October. He looks so cute.

But he did tell me that the next time our church fellowship has a miracle healing crusade, he's going up to have his eyes prayed for. Wouldn't that be cool.

resolutions.

2012-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions in any way.

It's really because I know my weaknesses-- the things I need to change.

For me, I don't need the New Year to push me to make those changes, but as a believer in Jesus, it is an everyday desire and effort to become more the way God wants me to be.

Some days there are failures in my life and other days I get the victory. I pray to be a better Mommy to my children and wife who my husband is blessed to be married to.

A woman of patience, love and grace with the spirit to always persevere.

To never want to quit when things get difficult and a Mommy who will raise and train her children to depend on and have a heart for God.

The New Year doesn't bring these desires on or the momentum to keep them going. The motivation to be a blessing to others and to be a woman of God my daughters can follow comes from a genuine desire to glorify God with my life.

sunday's child.

2012-01-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

the midwife.

2012-01-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

Next week I have an appointment with the midwife in my doctor's office.

I asked for his ok to see her only because I really like him and the other doctor who I've seen for my last six pregnancies.

I guess that I just feel some kind of loyalty to them and didn't want to offend them by seeing the midwife. I know that sounds kinda crazy in this day and age where people come and go without a word or explanation and they tell you they don't owe you anything, but I'm just old fashioned like that. I do think they're great doctors too.

Hopefully the midwife will have all the answers I want to hear regarding having this baby naturally like Jasper's birth. Only this time, I want an even better experience.

One day I so badly desire a home birth-- I'm just way too chicken to take the leap of faith in that area at this time.

winter gardening.

2012-01-05T16:04:00.000-08:00

Generally speaking, this time of year only means one thing....

New flowers and plants in preparation for Spring.

My theory (or at least what I tell my husband): Get them in the ground now for strong roots by Spring time.

With Christmas money from my Mom, I didn't waste any time, but began cruising the rows of plants at my favorite local nurseries. With husband and kids in tow, I made several trips to pick up some new flowers and shrubs.

Some were bought without having a clear idea where they were going to go in my garden, but with my husband's help we found them spots.

The next thing I wanted to do was get some gravel for my front garden walkway and side yard vegetable garden. Yes, I was willing to spend my Christmas money on a bunch of little rocks.

Over the years, I've realized how much joy my garden brings me so I understand the benefit of investing in it. We've planted a wide variety of things and I'm really looking forward to Spring and the explosion of color that will accompany the warmer weather.

I can't wait to see the contrast of colors and how all the plants will complement the overall look of the garden.

My sweet husband even put down bark mulch for me. I think it took 15 bags. Yikes.

the biblical family.

2012-01-04T16:18:00.000-08:00

For some time now, I've had this desire to minister to other Mommys. That can be hard in a pioneer church where single people outnumber Mommy's and new wives.

But I have such a vision for this area and so many things are stirring in my heart. So many changes I am working out in my own walk as a Mommy and wife. Things I've had victory over and some other areas that are much harder to change. But God promises hope. And as long as I stay on His path for my life I will be able to be the Woman He intended me to be. Wife, Mother and Daughter of God.

This month I am so excited that me and my hubby are starting up a family/marriage Bible study called 'The Biblical Family'. I have so much I want to share and teach alongside my hubby. To bring help and hope to others who seem to be lost in parenting. I obviously don't have all the answers and my children are still young, but I feel we can bring something valuable and helpful to others-- married or desiring one day to be married.

I am thrilled about this new season in our lives and no matter how small or big the bible study starts out I am encouraged this is what God wants us to do.

pregnancy-cleaning-purging

2012-01-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

A few days before Christmas I began to suffer from PCPS which is a little known phenomenon which may strike at any time during pregnancy and may even manifest itself several times during any one pregnancy. It is true that I was overcome by 'pregnancy cleaning purging syndrome'.

Just ask my family. Don't worry I didn't yell or become a mad mommy, but I just could not stop cleaning out every area in our house. We even shampooed the carpets and rugs. It felt great.

On a regular basis, I try to do a toy purge in the kid's room. This is when we turn upside-down the boys' huge lego box and dump its contents all over the floor. The boys actually love this because not only do we weed out the non-legos, but to their delight, we find, buried at the bottom, all those hidden lego pieces that they've been searching for.

Anyhow....it felt really good to do a scrub and purge before the house was overwhelmed with all the new Christmas presents which needed new homes. And with 8 precious cupcakes, as you might imagine-- that can become a little chaotic.

merry CHRISTmas.

2011-12-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

We are doing it....
Last night we had our 'traditional' Christmas dinner
and tonight-- out to a Chinese restaurant
this was something the kids really wanted to do
Time to play with our GIFTS!

a new christmas present.

2011-12-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

This is what my husband put together the other day.... we pooled the Christmas money from my mom for Jasper, Ruby, Lincoln and Pearl in order to get this.

The kids were so excited that they even volunteered to help-- the directions said '2 Adults Required for Assembly', but this is what he got instead.

They were so revved up to climb it when they saw it materializing that my husband had to tell them a hundred times to get away from it.

The next day Parker and Ethan put blankets all around it and turned it into a 'big top circus'. I can already see that this'll be a game played again and again.

And we haven't really had anyone fall too badly yet...

twinkle toes.

2011-12-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Well, my little Pearly was in her first Christmas ballet performance. What can I say except that she shined like a star!

Before the performance, I kept telling my hubby that I thought Pearl was going to get embarrassed and start acting silly because that's what Pearl does in situations like that. Act silly and fall on the floor and dance like she's in a circus. I felt bad for the little ones who came out with the group in front of all the anxious parents and immediately burst into tears unable to perform. Gosh, life can be so harsh! I don't know which I'd rather face: a room full of smart phone, camera wielding, crazy, Christmas dance parents or my husband when the credit card bill comes this January. Ha! Both are extremely scary (kidding).....

But Pearl was wonderful-- she sort of knew her routine, but I didn't care so much about that as I did the fact that she smiled the whole time and seemed to be having fun throughout. I love that the girls are able to take dance and ballet at a studio which is close by and just happens to be right down the street from where the boys play football and basketball. And as soon as Ruby is old enough to take ballet, we'll sign her up too. My next little twinkle toes.

sunday's children.

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

To avoid a Sunday morning meltdown....this is our strategy.

decorating the house.

2011-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Around here the kids beg to do all the Christmas decorating.

I used to be very uptight about things getting broken or decorations not being right and the tree looking picture perfect, but I decided that if a couple of ornaments get broken or the garland gets pulled crooked by a curious 1-year-old, then I'm not going to fret.

I realized it was more important to have them involved, then to have my perfectionist tendencies satisfied.

Having kids who are proud of the tree which they decorated became the top priority.

Everyone from 2-year old Ruby on up ended up decorating the house and had so much fun while doing it.

Yes, we did break a few ornaments and it seemed that it was only Mommy's favorite ornaments which hit the ground and were smashed, but I chose not to care.

Ornaments are replaceable, memories aren't.

what will his name be?

2011-12-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

I have to admit-- we have a name for our next little bundle.

I can't tell you what it is, though. We are keeping it a secret.

A secret between me, hubby and 8 little kids.....I hope they can keep secrets.

How did we come up with the name? Do you remember that my husband said he was going to pick this baby's name because I picked Jasper's? Well, he didn't pick baby #9's name. It came to me in a song at church. Not a Christmas song.

When I found out we were going to be blessed again with another little baby I was having a hard time with girl's names. I loved so many, but none of them were sticking. And hubby and I were not liking each other's recommendations.

But over and over, as we would sing a particular song in church, a certain name would just speak to me. But the funny part is-- the actual name is not in the song, there's just a line in the song which means what his name will be.

You want to guess? It is from 'The Revelation Song'. But even if you guess right, I can't tell you.

Remember it's a secret.

And the middle name?

That just hit me like a missing piece in a puzzle that was found.

o christmas tree.

2011-12-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

This is how we roll.