Comedy Central

What would we do without Cecilia's antics? She's hilarious and loves to show it off! Hannah took these pictures the other day and I found them on my camera. I love when that happens. It reminds me to slow down and enjoy the laughter!

Figuring it all Out

Figuring out you're the youngest of nine is an exausting experience.

It's Not Hurting Anyone? Yes - It Is

Over the years I've become quite the media blocker in my home. Books, music, TV, movies,Internet access. I'm VERY conservative as to what I allow. I've been told that it makes me come off as judgemental or down right boring. I've often wondered how it's OK to choose TO do/watch/read these things but if you choose NOT to do them then you're judgemental. Today I heard a WONDERFUL explanation as to why not to allow most of the media junk out there into your home (especially pop music and commercials!!). I hear time and time again "why does it hurt?" or "who does it hurt?" Well, Dr. Ray Guerendi had a wonderful explanation for this. He said it may NOT hurt you, your soul, your child, your spouse. But the real question is what GOOD will it do? He goes on to explain that a person could get shot with a gun and be "OK" but does that mean getting shot with a gun is good for you? Does that mean that every time you're shot with a gun you'll be fine? Or that every person shot with a gun will live? Of course not! So, why not go with the old "better safe than sorry" motto? Who doesn't wear a seatbelt? I know there are some people that don't and are fine in the event of an accident (or maybe they never get in an accident) but why take that risk? Why risk our souls by watching, listening to, or reading things that *may* be OK but really are questionable? Why expose our children to those things? There is a LARGE assortment of books and other media out there that we KNOW are solid. If this type of media discretion makes me judgemental then I'm fine with that. In every part of my life I try (note the word *try*) to do God's Will. I don't check my desire to follow God's will at the door when I turn on the TV or computer or radio. I will not let my children do that either. In the words of the great Fr. John Corapi "I'm not going to hell for anyone". I don't intend to sit by and watch my children be sucked in by the main stream media as long as they're under my care. My hope is to create children with good, strong moral compasses who can go out on their own when the time comes and decide for themselves what's worth reading/watching/listening too and what isn't. Much of our society is so desensitized but what they have been allowed to view or listen too or read that we have a hard time deciding what's OK and what's not. What used to be rated R is now PG-13. What used to be considered pornography is now on prime time TV. It's disturbing that our society has come to this. Most people don't seem to notice, either. I didn't until I started looking for it. I had to reprogram my way of thinking, the choices I was making, and it wasn't easy. Slowly I'm doing it, though, and I pray that my children are better for it. It sometimes seems like a sacrifice but I know it's for the best....

I highly recommend this website as well as this one as a place to get started on media awareness. What we view and listen to and watch DOES have an affect on how we think whether we choose to believe it or not. I loved the show Beverly Hills 90210 when I was a kid (have you seen that there's a new version - oh my - talk about inappropriate!). I watched the show religiously and once saw an episode where Brandon (the main hunky character) dated a single mother with an adorable baby boy. Ooh, I thought, how cool. I love babies and would love one PLUS hunky guys still date girls with babies. Not long after *I* had was a single, teen aged mother. Only it wasn't as pretty as they portrayed it on the show. I remember that episode (in addition to other programs I watched and magazines that I read) having a HUGE impact on my decision making process as a teen. I didn't realize at the time, of course, but it did. I pray that my children will be spared that influence and will be more influenced by the things that really matter like God and the Saints. If we all work together we can stop this trash from being put into the airwaves at the speed of lightening. Don't go to the movies, don't accept what's out there. Search out the *good* stuff, play board games instead, take a walk, draw, color, pray, pray, pray. We can all make a difference.

God bless your day!

You Want Me to do What?

When God sent us four babies in less than five years, in addition to the five children we already have, I thought "You want me to do what?" Through prayer and discernment we feel that God is calling us to homeschool and have a large family. Some days are easier than others but most days (esp. in the last year) I feel completely incompetent and overwhelmed and very ill suited for this position. I long for the days when I had a few kids and we made play dough and crafts and read stories and went to Gymboree. With mounds of laundry, schooling, and cooking to do not to mention vacuuming and sweeping twenty times/day who has time for that fun stuff anyway? And so I feel guilty that my little kids don't get that fun stuff that I did frequently with my older kids. Well, God knows what He's doing and he sent me an angel. A few months ago a wonderful lady from church approached me and said she'd like to come to my house and help after the baby was born. I looked around and made sure she was talking to me and I wondered why anyone would voluntarily come to my house to play with my kids. Perhaps she has some purgatory she's working off? I wasn't sure. I was sure she would change her mind, though, once she came once. I am also quite stubborn and set in my ways and don't even want anyone to come and clean my house. I will allow help when it's forced on me by my parents and my closest friends but I refuse to like it. So when Ms. Patty offered to come and help I really resisted. My mom, in all her wisdom, kindly reminded me that I had asked (begged) God for help if He was going to send these children to me and now He had clearly sent help and I was refusing it. Since it was obvious I couldn't change churches I *allowed* one three hour visit from Ms. Patty. Oh my! She was (is) amazing! Even the little girls love her! She comes with activities planned for the kids, helps with lunch, folds laundry, holds the baby, and most of all she keeps me company!! She is such a sweet lady and has become a friend. So my experience reminds me of the drowning man who is sent a life boat, a helicopter, and some other form of help that I can't recall but he refuses all of them saying "God will save me". When the man dies, God asks him why he didn't accept the help of the life boat or helicopter. The man says "because I thought You would save me". God says - I tried.

I had to put away my pride and my idea of God saving me and accept help from someone. It has worked out wonderfully! Today the kids made peanut butter play dough, applesauce, and regular playdough. They had a wonderful time!! It reminded me of all the fun things I used to have the time and energy to do when I had much fewer kids and more time!! I am so grateful for Ms. Patty and the time she has given to us. What a blessing!

Baptized In Christ

Clare was Baptized today at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church by our parish priest and friend Father Lee Acervo. It was a beautiful ceremony. We were so blessed that no one was sick!! :)

We were surrounded by family and friends and I couldn't help but think about how I wondered if this day would come. I spent so many days on the couch and in bed worrying endlessly about this precious gift that God has given to us. I just want to say thank you to all of our friends and family for the constant support of meals, helping with kids, listening to me talk and cry, and most of all for all the wonderful prayers. Thank you to my children for all of their help and support in the last year. They had to pick up ALOT of slack and put up with a lot of crying from their mom. Thank you to my parents who also picked up their fair share of slack (ok, it was WAY more than their fair share!!). You are truly a testament to what it means it means to be pro life. Mostly thank you to my husband who never gave up hope even though I did a thousand times. I don't know what I would do without your constant love and support.

Please join our family in our prayers of thanksgiving to God for His never ending mercy and grace. Each time I look at baby Clare I am reminded that when God closes a door He opens a window.

Bonus Babies and God's Plan

Each time we attend Mass I look down the pew at church at nine wiggling bodies. OK, the oldest two don't really wiggle anymore but the rest do. I look at them and think about the ones who *shouldn't* be here. When Jesse and I married, we thought we would have two, maybe three kids. Three was definitely the limit what with vacations to take, clothes to buy, dinners out, college to pay for....God must have been laughing hard up there. He knew what was ahead. When I found out I was pregnant with baby number four I was delighted. She was my bonus baby because by age 23 I already had my 3 kids and thought I would never have another. I was terrified to tell Jesse (who didn't really take the news very well - good thing we had nine months to prepare!). I cherish all of my children but I was so happy with my "bonus" baby (whom we named Katie). We learned about Natural Family Planning from a friend between Katie and baby number 5. Still fighting God's plan for our lives but knowing what the Catholic Church taught about artificial birth control we gave NFP a try. And so came babies number 5, Jackson, and 6, Samuel. OK - six kids. Double what my allotment was. I was thrilled. Six kids. Yes - I had arrived. When Samuel was 16 months old we found out we were expecting baby number seven. Alright - OK - seven kids. The money was long gone anyway (it left with my figure and my non grey hair) so what they heck. Seven is a lucky number, right? And it was the year 2007. Perfect. And so Mary Therese arrived. Double plus one kid. Lots of bonuses. When Mary was 7 months old we found out we were expecting baby number 8! I know I dusted off that NFP book but darn I forgot to open it. Alright - baby 8 in 2008. How cute. Cecilia Ruth arrived on my brother's birthday in July. Time to find out if eight really *is* enough? Well, maybe it was for the Bradford family or for Jon and Kate (or is it just Kate now?) but it wasn't for us. Baby number 9 arrived after a complicated and touchy pregnancy in December 2009. Do you see a trend? 9 in 2009. I now have three times the babies I once thought I would have. 6 bonus babies! Lots of wigglers in church. Lots of food to make. LOTS of laundry to do. Lots of love. Lots of lessons learned. The biggest lesson I have learned (really, I'm still learning it) is that when we leave things up to God they work out just as He wants them to and just as they should. I had a plan for my life. This wasn't it. This is way better than my plan. Way better.

1 Month Old!!!

Clare is 1 month old today!! I cannot believe it! We're adjusting to our new little blessing quite well. The kids adore her and still fight over who will hold her. She's staying awake for longer amounts of time and even smiling at us :) She's starting to beef up a bit and may reach the weight that Cecilia was at birth sometime soon ;) I love waking up and seeing her beautiful little face. We are so happy!

We continue to be blessed with so much help from friends and family. Meals, offers to watch kids, laundry folders, and many, many prayers. Thank you all for everything that you have done to support us.

God Bless Your Day

Here's Cecilia at 1 month old

Baby Wearing Sister

Some girls want to borrow their mother's shoes. Others want to borrow a sweater. My lovely teen daughter wants to borrow my new Beco baby carrier. She wears the babies so much that Cecilia prefers her over me at the moment. I have to keep her away from Hannah when she's trying to do school work. Good thing I still have what Clare needs or she'd be ditching me too. :)

Mass is not over after Communion

This picture appears in the Michigan Catholic Newspaper this week. I love it! I spend a lot of time (ALOT OF TIME) standing in the back of the church. It's interesting (and a little sad) to see the large amount of people that do the "receive and leave" after Communion. I wonder if there can be that many emergencies, doctors who need to get to surgery, or other reasons why people leave so quickly. I've even seen people start towards the door, see the priest that isn't currently doing the Mass, turn around and go out the other door. I'm not trying to be judgemental here. I just think people are missing out on the final blessing which really is a *blessing*. Jesus lives inside of us after we receive Communion. The least we can do is thank Him for it in prayer for a few minutes after we receive the Eucharist. Anyway, I liked this picture and say "yahoo" for the priest that is brave enough to hang it over the doors in his church.

Keepsakes for Clare

We are so blessed and have received some beautiful keepsake gifts for Clare. This blanket came from our neighbor. They also got one for Cecilia when she was born. I know the girls will keep them forever!!

Hair Bows 4 Life

This hair bow featuring the Miraculous Medal was a gift from Clare's godparents. They got it at Hair Bows 4 Life. Still a little big for her tiny head but I couldn't resist!!

Counting Fat Rolls

No, not mine ;) Clare's. Well, she doesn't have many yet. She's still a peanut. But I noticed yesterday that she does have a double chin and is getting some cheeks, finally. I spend alot of time staring at her. If she could talk she'd probably say "stop looking at me!" like the other kids say to eachother. Alas, she cannot talk so I will stare as long as I want to. I was wondering if I will ever get sick of having a baby in the house. Baby's turn my kids into different people. There is nothing better than a nearly 18 year old boy changing his entire demeanor while he holds his 3 week old sister. Even the rough and tough 18 month old trouble maker, tornado baby removes her beloved paci, raises her voice to an extremely high pitch and says "hi baby" and then kisses the baby on the head ever.time.she.sees.her. That 18 month old then returns to destroying everything in her path and doesn't break again until she has to give another kiss to "baby". I hear "can I hold Clare?" about 50 times/day from various children. And I won't even go into the fights that ensue about who will sit by her in the van...

I am so grateful that God's Grace has allowed us to have Clare and I hope (someday in the future that's far, far away but not so far that I'm 50) we will be blessed again. I think the kids would agree that there's nothing better than another baby to love even if it means we all sacrifice our time, space, and money.

Baby Bliss

A friend of ours owns her own photography business and took these pictures of Clare when she was only 5 days old! They are such a treasure and I am so glad we have them. These babies change way.too.fast!! I highly recommend Dandelion Sky Photography. The pictures are amazing (even when it's not *my* baby I'm looking at, LOL).

Let's Hear It For Sisters!

Hannah and Katie are always so good at entertaining the little kids. Especially the little girls. We Ekblads are all so blessed to have such fun helpers in our family! :)

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Our evening started with Mass to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Then we headed home for lots of "bad for you food", board games, and we watched Night at the Museum 2. We had a great night and welcomed in 2010 with lots of confetti that the kids made!!

I hope your family had a Blessed New Year!!