Giving Thanks For Life {Happy 12th Birthday Jackson!}

It was nothing like I'd imagined it - this Thanksgiving Day.  Every once in a while Jackson's birthday falls on Thanksgiving.  I planned ahead to integrate his day into "Turkey Day" and accommodate for my disappointment that Brandon and Rose wouldn't be here to celebrate with us. On Sunday Sam came down with a fever and cough and before long our house looked like a hospital.  Sick kids laying everywhere and sick adults too.  I prayed that Jackson would at least be well for his birthday.  As the week past it became clear that we would be bowing out of Thanksgiving at my parent's this year.  Sure the healthy people could go but then we would be separated.  Together we decided that we would stay here and make the best of it.  As the day went on I kept thinking "this isn't what I thought today would be like".  I glanced over at four of the kids, now healthy, sitting on the couch.  Mary (7) said "if I could have today again I wouldn't change a thing".   That struck me.  I thought about Jackson's birth and how traumatic it was.  I thought about the years that followed which, honestly, haven't been how I'd imagined they would be.  I'm not sure I would say "if I could have this life again, I wouldn't change a thing" but I'm praising God for the journey as it has taught me much about true thanksgiving.

This sweet thing was deathly ill just a day ago.  Today I get to see her smiling face and hear her laughter again.  Thanks be to God.

My dad had a close call when Jackson was just a few months old.  So grateful he is still here with us to celebrate the day even if it's not what I thought it would be.

And this guy - well - he's the light of my life.  If things had gone how I had planned all those years ago this little one wouldn't be here today.  So grateful that God stepped in.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  And Happy 12th Birthday to Jackson!

 

Bringing Lent Home {Yes, I Know It's Almost Advent} A Book Review

 

I know we are just beginning Advent but when this little gem showed up in my mailbox I just had to crack it open (I’m wishing there was one for Advent too….).  Bringing Lent Home with St. John Paul II is the third in a series by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle to help families navigate through Lent together.  The other two - Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa and Bringing Lent Home with St. Therese are amazing and so is this one!  

 

Each day of Lent contains a meditation, parent reflection, family prayer, story from St. John Paul’s life, something suggested to fast from (such as discouragement, complaining, gossip, etc) with ideas of what to do INSTEAD of what you are fasting from (one of my favorites says "Today fast from complaining.  When tempted to complain, say, 'Jesus, I love you.’”  That is a great reminder and I will be using everyday from now on.  In addition there are suggestions for almsgiving and a closing prayer.  Since, for us, it’s easier to get together as a family (currently there are 13 of us living here since Brandon got married)  in the evenings we do the next day's reflections the night before.  Dinner time is often a good time for us to read the reflections or just before bed is another time that we might choose (before or after family Rosary works well too).  Each day’s reading takes about 10 minutes or less depending on how long you discuss as a family.  The price for these books is so reasonable that I buy in bulk and keep them with me asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance about who to give them to.  If you don’t have children living in your home anymore that’s OK too.  This book can easily be used as an individual or as a married couple.  I assure you if you use this book during Lent you won’t be disappointed.  

 

If you know me you know I’m a Kindle junkie and this book is also available on kindle!!   You guys you can have this awesome book on your phone or iPad and read it on the go if you need a little pick me up!  I love technology!

 

So Happy Thanksgiving, Blessed Advent, and Merry Christmas but Lent will be upon us soon so make sure you have this book on hand when it arrives!!

 

 

Happy 18th Birthday Hannah!!

 

And there she is.  18.  How it happens I don't really know.  They are born, they grow up, all in the blink of an eye. 

 

Here she is with her "little" brother, Owen.  I don't even want to talk about how fast he has grown up.  I'm so grateful that we have Hannah in our family.  She's eager to help, lights up a room, and is just a beautiful person inside and out.

We birthdayed all day today.  Started with bacon, middled with tea and hot chocolate and two library visits, ended with steak, veggies, cupcakes, ice cream, friends, and presents.  I hope the day was everything that Hannah hoped it would be.   She deserves it.  And now she's an "adult".  The days are slow but the years fly by.  Wow is that true.

 

 

Happy Birthday Hannah Lynnie.  We love you!

 

I Wish {And Augustine Is 2 Months Old!}

I took six of the kids to McDonald's this morning.  The play place.  They had never been to one save Sam who said he had.  I had to meet a friend so I called McDonald's this morning to see if they were a play place, they were.  I loaded up the huge container of hand sanitizer and hoped for the best.  The exit of the house wasn't so graceful.  Trying to convince Josie not to change her clothes was a challenge (I failed) and she wouldn't wear the shoes that I offered her.  I told the kids I was never taking them anywhere again.  As we were walking in there was a man sitting alone.  He was clearly counting the kids (who were holding hands and walking slowly).  He asked me if they were ALLLLLL mine.  He asked in that way that makes me cringe every time I hear it.  If I were in a movie it would be slow motion and every word would be emphasized.  When I said yes and that I had six more at home he asked if they were all by birth.  I wasn't sure what to make of that but it made want to say "Yes, I AM a baby pez dispenser" but instead I smiled and said "yes".  Then he pronounced loudly "I don't know if I should say congratulations or not".  Well that pierced my heart.  I said "Yes, yes you should say congratulations.  These children bring me SO MUCH JOY.  You should absolutely say congratulations.".  I was stunned, actually, because I don't usually say things like that.  He was also stunned and said nothing.  First, I wanted my kids to know that they are not burdens on me or society.  They can hear these comments and they are offensive.  Second I wish that man could have been in my home this morning as we took Augustine's 2 month pictures.  I wish he could have seen Augustine's daddy thinking of and creating a mural well past 10pm last night after a long day of parenting already.  I wish he could see the line of siblings behind me as I take pictures by that mural and the other kids, I-devices in hand, snapping their own pictures of their treasured newest sibling.  I wish he and all the others like him could have been a fly on the wall when we announced our pregnancy, brought home ultra sound pictures, and their texts and visits after he was born promising prayers for their sick little brother that they cherished with their little (and big) hearts.  I wish he could see the mounds of pictures painted by the little ones for Hannah's birthday tomorrow, the way my teens hugged  each and every child as they left for retreat and when they came back.  Every one (save Frances who may have been napping).  I wish the world could see that it's not the size of your bank account or the fact that our kids have to sacrifice material items, outside activities, their own rooms, new clothes, etc etc etc that brings happiness.  It's in the knowing that there are babies to kiss and siblings to make your First Communion with (and Confirmation...and Graduation). 

 

 

The last two months have literally FLOWN by.  I never got to say how amazing my kids who held down the fort not for a night or two like I had anticipated but for more than a week after Augustine arrived.  I know this job is hard because I do it everyday.  And I'm the mom.  But for them to do it every day for that long is beyond comprehension to me.  More than them doing it, they did it with grace and kindness.  They didn't complain.  They texted me and facetimed me one billion times a day but not to say they were unhappy or bored or burdened but to check on me and the baby, to say they loved me and him and to see when we were coming home so we could all be together again.  I once overheard some people at a pro life function I was at say they felt sorry for the older Duggar kids because they were so burdened by the younger kids and all of the chores.  We had 9 kids at the time, I think.  I remember wondering what they meant by that.  My kids and their friends who do the same do not seem burdened.  They are the least selfish teens I've ever met.  It seems to me the world could use a lot less selfishness and a lot more selfLESSness.  Isn't this what Jesus came to teach us?  I wish I would have had all these words for that man but since I didn't a the time I will pray for him to see the beauty of life.  I will pray his face that read disgust to me would soften and that the world would see that every life has a value whether you are child number 1 in a family or child number 12.  I know I've ranted on this before but apparently it needs to be said again. 

 

As we left McDonald's somewhat effortlessly (miracles happen everyday....) the kids said again and again "Thank you so much for taking us.  We can't thank you enough.  We appreciate it so much." I wish that man could have heard that too. 

 

"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

Deuteronomy 30:19

 

Happy 2 months Augustine!  Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for him and all of my children.