... but as of today, I repent. At least for today. :-)
There are things to do, you know!
Like taking care of one wonderful ONE year-old. Here are some photos from that historic event:
Life is very busy for us, as it is for most folks. But, I challenge ANYONE to come over for 24 hours. You will never call yourself busy again. Ever. Michael and I are having some trouble keeping ourselves sane sometimes, amidst the noise. We actually have to leave the house in order to do any family business or have complete discussions. Not complaining, just confessing that it is a challenge sometimes to have "so many children"!
A funny thing I must report for Carey and Mark. I had a dream that you sent Eric to live with us for three months, as part of his education. His assignment was to learn to live in a big family, doing chores, having almost no privacy, waiting in line for the bathroom, enduring the snores of more than a few boys (or at least one reported "snorer" each night!), etc. All while trying to get his academics finished amid the noise and chaos. Eric was undaunted by it and loved every minute. He didn't want you to know, though! Shane watched silently, secretly jealous and secretly thankful at the same time! What a funny dream, huh?
David had a birthday since I last posted so here are some photos from that:
Paul, Rachael, Mark, Luke, and Matthias each competed in their first-ever speech and debate tournament in November. It was a practice tournament, but it was against three other clubs and was run exactly like a "real" tournament. It was a blast for all of us. We really love speech and debate. Luke even won first place for his "interpretive" speech. I am thinking I should post it here for y'all to see. It's really cute. Of course, I'd have to lure Paul to do it for me, and he is SO BUSY with his professional music career and worship stuff at church that my lure would have to be really tempting. Any ideas?
Speaking of Paul's Professional Music Career, he really IS pro now. If "pro" means getting paid for doing music. He will be playing guitar and singing for a couple of hours once a week and local restaurant during the lunch hour. Sweeeeet, huh? We think it a real hoot and he is very excited!
Paul, Rachael, and Mark (and three other "children"--aka "teens") are in the new youth worship team at church. They are forming this for the youth of the church as our church continues to grow. The worship leader for the church is heading it up and so far has them reading a book called, Complete Worship Leader, or something like that. Michael and I just sit back and watch God work in our children's lives. It's fun.
Christmas was rather strange for us this year. We were all gangbusters getting ready, at least *I* was gangbusters with sewing projects, but on Dec. 18 I got really sick. I had to let some things go for a while. I hope I will be feeling better next week so I can get back to a more normal life, at least till about mid-August, when life will again change for the better and we will welcome a new family member. Have you guessed? Yes! Jordan will be a big brother! Whoo hoo!
It was a bit tenuous for a bit as we believe we lost a twin, but for sure there is a baby in there now. We heard the heartbeat on Saturday. So, rejoice with us! The children are tolerating me, as I am, in the words of a few members who will remain unnamed: irrational, mean, fussy, and I forget what else, but you get the gist of what early pregnancy is like for me. Rachael said it is good because it gives them a chance to REALLY love Mom. Thank God.
We had another milestone event last week. Rachael turned 16. Yes, 16.
There are things to do, you know!
Like taking care of one wonderful ONE year-old. Here are some photos from that historic event:
Life is very busy for us, as it is for most folks. But, I challenge ANYONE to come over for 24 hours. You will never call yourself busy again. Ever. Michael and I are having some trouble keeping ourselves sane sometimes, amidst the noise. We actually have to leave the house in order to do any family business or have complete discussions. Not complaining, just confessing that it is a challenge sometimes to have "so many children"!
A funny thing I must report for Carey and Mark. I had a dream that you sent Eric to live with us for three months, as part of his education. His assignment was to learn to live in a big family, doing chores, having almost no privacy, waiting in line for the bathroom, enduring the snores of more than a few boys (or at least one reported "snorer" each night!), etc. All while trying to get his academics finished amid the noise and chaos. Eric was undaunted by it and loved every minute. He didn't want you to know, though! Shane watched silently, secretly jealous and secretly thankful at the same time! What a funny dream, huh?
David had a birthday since I last posted so here are some photos from that:
Paul, Rachael, Mark, Luke, and Matthias each competed in their first-ever speech and debate tournament in November. It was a practice tournament, but it was against three other clubs and was run exactly like a "real" tournament. It was a blast for all of us. We really love speech and debate. Luke even won first place for his "interpretive" speech. I am thinking I should post it here for y'all to see. It's really cute. Of course, I'd have to lure Paul to do it for me, and he is SO BUSY with his professional music career and worship stuff at church that my lure would have to be really tempting. Any ideas?
Speaking of Paul's Professional Music Career, he really IS pro now. If "pro" means getting paid for doing music. He will be playing guitar and singing for a couple of hours once a week and local restaurant during the lunch hour. Sweeeeet, huh? We think it a real hoot and he is very excited!
Paul, Rachael, and Mark (and three other "children"--aka "teens") are in the new youth worship team at church. They are forming this for the youth of the church as our church continues to grow. The worship leader for the church is heading it up and so far has them reading a book called, Complete Worship Leader, or something like that. Michael and I just sit back and watch God work in our children's lives. It's fun.
Christmas was rather strange for us this year. We were all gangbusters getting ready, at least *I* was gangbusters with sewing projects, but on Dec. 18 I got really sick. I had to let some things go for a while. I hope I will be feeling better next week so I can get back to a more normal life, at least till about mid-August, when life will again change for the better and we will welcome a new family member. Have you guessed? Yes! Jordan will be a big brother! Whoo hoo!
It was a bit tenuous for a bit as we believe we lost a twin, but for sure there is a baby in there now. We heard the heartbeat on Saturday. So, rejoice with us! The children are tolerating me, as I am, in the words of a few members who will remain unnamed: irrational, mean, fussy, and I forget what else, but you get the gist of what early pregnancy is like for me. Rachael said it is good because it gives them a chance to REALLY love Mom. Thank God.
We had another milestone event last week. Rachael turned 16. Yes, 16.
Here are some photos from the day. She did not make her own cake as she has done in previous years (poor thing). She did get some very nice gifts from her siblings. Stephen gave her about 20 very special presents that he wrapped himself in the weeks leading to her birthday. He presented them in a very large box and we had a great time watching her open them.
This coming week the three oldest will travel to Houston for their first REAL tournament. Another mom is transporting them and they will stay with a family down there that I do not know, but other people do, so... we are trusting God for this, too.
Paul and Rachael flew to Denver in late Oct. for a week to campaign for McCain and two other Colorado dudes who were running for Congress and something else (I'm so informative). We actually put them on a plane and let them go on this campaign thingy. It was with Generation Joshua and everything went well. God even arranged it so they got to meet friends from California and be with them during the week. It was good for them (and for us) to take that necessary step of independence and responsibility. That's all we're allowing, though, because as of today I am stopping the calendar and the way things are now, will always be. No one is going to grow up anymore. Just the new baby can grow and get here, then he/she has to stop.
Our doggies are each 80+ lbs., very energetic, destructive (they chew anything and everything), pretty, friendly, aggressive, playful, a bother a lot of the time, hard to train (but not impossible), and overall, we are enduring them. Mark was going to give up Obi, but the doggiekamp lady came over and gave some training tips for the dogs and he is again willing to try. Rachael is also trying harder (now that she knows what to do) to make her dog a nice family dog. It's not that they are horrible, otherwise we'd send them back, but they are very very energetic dogs and not mellow retriever-types. It's their breeding. They need some sheep to herd, and not MY sheep.
Well, I better get Jordan to bed and the photos uploaded. It was nice chatting with y'all (I'm a Texan, now; I can say that--but pleeeeease don't tell Rachael). I hope to be back sooner rather than later. We have birthdays in March so I should get back to this by then.
Here are some photos that are to me, irresistible!
Jordan, the cutie pie of the family!
He's playing peekaboo!
And here he is cleaning. He loves to clean!! 
And here he is cleaning. He loves to clean!! He is so happy! Actually, he had just put a whole bunch of stuff into the trash that he had dropped, then picked up all by himself. We were clapping for him and he was clapping for himself. I know, parents can be so lame.
