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Stalked by the Stork...a diary of raising twelve kids

Having twelve children is an amazing blessing and one heck of a crazy ride. Join us through all the joys, smiles, tribulations and trials as we navigate this fabulous journey!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Random Reflections on the Start of Summer

The kids have been out of school for a couple of weeks now, and our family has seemed to get into a nice groove. It’s a very relaxed vibe around here…we sleep in, but not too late, we follow a schedule, but it’s not overly strict. Evenings are lazy and not rushed. Everything about summer time at our house seems to ease my stress and relax all of us, mentally and emotionally. It’s not so much what we are doing that brings about this welcomed easy paced atmosphere, but rather what we are not doing. We are not in a constant race with the clock to manage homework, dinner, chores and showers all in an effort to complete each task and get to bed at a reasonably decent hour. We are not filling our calendar with school events and spelling test dates. Mornings aren’t rushed and filled with yelling and arguing. Instead, we wake up, have breakfast (as quickly or slowly as we need), brush little sets of teeth and get dressed, do chores and then….do whatever each day brings to us, with plenty of down time and plenty of time to do as we wish. Make no mistake, the ever present chaos isn’t gone, but its taken on a different nature…it has lessened in intensity and in that anxiety provoking, fast paced, goal oriented, must-move-along-and-get-the-next-thing-done atmosphere that the school year demands. It is an extremely refreshing change from the busy and hectic month of May, which brought Prom, Senior Spotlight, Honors Night, Graduation, final exams, several Field Day’s and enough spring field trips to drive me insane. Now is exhale time.

We very purposely do not fill our younger children’s schedules with lots of “enrichment” or “activities” for the summer. Not because we think it’s necessarily wrong to do so, but because it’s just not our style. For us, the point of summer is exactly the opposite…it’s to recharge, rest, play and be together. It’s to have time to take advantage of spontaneous opportunities as they arise. We read together regularly, this summer we are doing the Junie B. Jones books and the Fudge Series by Judy Blume. Other than that, all “learning” comes through fun and play and exploration, and not from day care, camps or other formal courses. Manny is an exception, as he’s full throttle into training for football season. But this IS his fun, his passion and what he loves. He’s committed and dedicated and enjoys every minute of it. Well, maybe not every minute of having to be up early, but every single moment of being part of that team.

Tonight we had an impromptu backyard football game, while Albert grilled our dinner. Brandon, Jackson, and Brice played football with a friend, tackling each other, getting more and more competitive as the moments passed, all while Isaiah and Sydney held foot races with one another, weaving in and out of the older kids game, and Bree and Mia took turns on the slide, sliding upside down and backward and shouting for Mommy and Daddy to “watch me, watch me!” each time they attempted a new stunt. Sam sat on my lap, laughing and clapping, highly entertained by all his siblings, and Zoe, the dog, alternated between lying in the grass and nervously chasing and patrolling the boys playing football when their ruckus and aggression became too much for her and she felt the need to “warn” them to calm down. Nights like this one, are the reason I love having a huge family. I thrive on the feelings that nights like tonight bring, because honestly, life brings plenty of the opposite kind as well…the ones where I wonder how I’ll get through until bedtime comes along to rescue me and preserve the tiny sliver of sanity I am clinging to. Tonight was a beautiful re-affirmation…sort of an “Oh yeah, this is why parenting 11 kids totally rocks,” type of night. Summer brings a lot of those. I can’t get enough.

41 comments:

Lynn said...

Last night a lot of the family was at Charissa's house for leftovers from Frank's birthday party...a fire pit was involved! Love fire pits!
Know that I'm always praying!
Psalms 31:5, 7-8 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth (7-8) I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
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Lynn said...

Praying in Seattle!
Psalms 31:14-16, 24 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. (24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
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The jones Family said...

Love this! We are having the same kind of summer on a much smaller (3 wild little men) scale :-) I'm so glad you are blogging again ! I love your written voice and reading about your family ! Xoxo

Lynn said...

Know that I'm here lifting up thoughts and prayers.
Psalms 107:28-31 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
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Lynn said...

Continuing to pray!
Lamentations 3:21-26 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
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Lynn said...

Call upon the Lord! He hears! He answers according to His Will. Praying!
Lamentations 3:55-58 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.
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Lynn said...

Still here praying hard!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
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Lynn said...

I was out of town for a while but am back now.
Life can seem so overwhelming at times. God can seem so very far away. He's always there, especially when the times are the hardest! Praying!
Psalms 13:1-6 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? ... Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, ... But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
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Lynn said...

These words are so familiar and filled with so much comfort! Praying!
Psalms 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
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Lynn said...

Keep your eyes on the Lord! Praying for you right now!
2 Samuel 22:2-3, 7 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (7) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
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Lynn said...

Know that I'm still here praying for your!
2 Samuel 22:29-33 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
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Lynn said...

What amazing words of comfort. Praying!
Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
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Lynn said...

Praying right now!
Isaiah 63:7-9: I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Lynn said...

Continuing to lift up prayers!
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
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Lynn said...

Continuing to lift up prayers!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
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Lynn said...

Praying right now!
Psalms 86:1-4 Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
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Lynn said...

Know that you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!
Psalms 86:5-7 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
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Lynn said...

Know that I'm always here praying!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
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Lynn said...

Hope this beautiful Gospel passage gives you comfort! Lifting up prayers right now!
Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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Lynn said...

Our only true hope is in the Lord!
Romans 15:4, 13 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
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Lynn said...

Praying!
Psalms 40:1-4a I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust...
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Lynn said...

Always lifting up prayer!
Psalms 40:5, 11, 13 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (11) Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. (13) Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
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Lynn said...

Know that I'm here praying!
Psalms 40:16-17 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
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Lynn said...

There are times when I need to share these verses even though I did not that long ago. Praying!
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
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Lynn said...

The Lord uses everything that happens for a purpose. Praying!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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Lynn said...

I could never share this passage too much! It gives such comfort and assurance! Praying!
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
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Lynn said...

Always praying in Seattle!
I Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
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Lynn said...

Praying right now!
1 Peter 1:18-19, 20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
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Lynn said...

Life can be overwhelming at times, but the victory is ours through Christ! Put your trust in Him! Praying!
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Lynn said...

Lifting up prayers to the Only One who can hear!
Psalms 34:4, 6-7 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (6-7) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
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Lynn said...

Continuing to lift up prayers!!
Psalms 34:15, 17-19 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry...The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
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Lynn said...

Praying in Seattle as always!
Psalms 32:6-7 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
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Lynn said...

Whatever lies ahead, the Lord is with you! Praying hard!
Psalms 32:8, 10-11 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (10-11) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
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Lynn said...

Know that I'm always here praying!
Isaiah 43:1-3a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel...
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Lynn said...

Praying in Seattle!
Psalms 69:1-3, 13 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God...But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

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Courage jusqu'à Vendredi ;-)

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