Parenting Expertise

Do you know what I have solidly learned about parenting between thousands of hours, 6 almost 7 children and experience?

1.  If you say something you don't want your kids to repeat they will inevitably repeat it.

2.  If you unwrap gum, chocolate, or say a 1/2 lb. bean and cheese burrito from taco bell that you are desperately craving within a mile radius, said children will all of a sudden have the most amazing hearing and understanding.  Laws of nature folks!

Today's Example;  A very sweet man from our church who has done tile work for 50 years volunteered to finish our shower out!  I mentioned in passing on our trip to Santa Cruz last week that if given the chance I would kiss his feet.  Today after the tile work was complete Bode biked right up to him with me standing right there and says, 'My mom wants to kiss your feet.'  #wildandfree  I for one want to bring back the parenting style of children are better seen and not heard. 

P.S. Pics to come of the completed bathroom!

Broken and Contrite

Andy is away this week at the river.  When this happens my room gets taken over by lots of little people, namely, all the boys pile in my bed.  Ridge has had a few days of disobeying consistently and I had decided yesterday was judgement day.  No more!   So at 6:45 at night when he said no and wouldn't budge I had had enough!  I picked him up, we did not pass go and I tucked him into bed.  I told him he could not disobey and then continue just being with everyone.  I told him I loved him and asked if he wanted me to pray with him, he said yes.  We prayed and I asked if he'd like me to stay with him a bit or go out to which he responded, 'go out.'  3:30 AM rolls around we're all fast asleep and I hear Ridge saying, 'mom, mom...'  "What Ridge, do you need to go potty?"  In his sweetest, sleepy voice he answers, 'I wanna say sorry and I'll obey.'  Talk about God moving separate from me.  I didn't have to cajole, coax, plead or beg.  It made me think of this verse.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. Psalm 51:17

                                   Thankful that God uses me and works separately from me!  

A shift

Something has happened to me.  I'm going to try to summarize, but know it's hard when dealing with words.   The best word would be surrender or 'a giving up.'  I'm not speaking of the giving up you do when life gets tough but instead a giving up of my will.  I think in my 20's if you would have asked the girl/woman that I was certain goals and aspirations I would have thrown around ideals such as degrees, careers, and other me-centric words.  NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THOSE!   Those are great goals that I love hearing my own children dream about!  But what if my sole purpose in life is to be support staff?  Hmmm.... You see life happens.  For us that has been many children and oh the blessing.  Don't miss this!  God has tended to my heart in a way that I could not have dreamed of thru this humbling journey.  Little ones often mean staying back or missing things that others are capable of doing and there is learning to be done in those moments.  This has shifted my gaze to see not the speaker on the stage, but wonder at the hands of the people who built that platform.  To not fall into a kind of worship at the ones in the limelight, but wonder at who it was who supported/sacrificed to help them achieve the great! 

23 year-old me who didn't have a clue that this was going to be my whole world.

My key verses have become Philippians 2:16-17-As you hold firmly to the Word of Life.  And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and serving coming from your faith I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

So whether support staff or the front runner let's be poured out and embrace the day whatever that may look like for each of us. 

If you want a great book on surrender 'A Midwife's Story' by Penny Armstrong is terrific!  The Amish are taught not to question or shake their fist at the Heavens for life's misfortunes, but to accept that it is just that, life with all its messes, complications and beauties.

Home

So we have missed a little life, ok a lot of life.  In the past few years between facebook, twitter, instagram I felt inundated with knowing everything about everyone and just needed to back off.  Bring back the mystery a little.  I didn't feel a need for everyone to know every time I made cinnamon rolls for my family or read a classic so my completely sane response was to disappear.  In that time I have turned my full attention to giving full attention to home, family, community, gardening and God.  It's been life giving and refreshing!  On the flip side I do feel value in sharing stories!  I love hearing people share their stories!! All that to say I feel ready.  At least a little bit to share what's been happening.  Life is beautiful and better shared.  So... we will start with home.  Ah home sweet home... This house and property are a full time job.  I have told friends that when I come inside and just sit I get the feeling that I should be painting, weed whacking, mowing or something.  There's always something and I love it.  I feel meant for it.  Aren't we all as children of a creator?  Making spaces beautiful feels as natural as breathing.  So here are some updates that have occurred around Orchard Slope. 

There are more exciting updates, but I will post those on another day!  This weekend we get pigs and our bathroom remodel will be finished up next week.  Tomorrow I will share what's been happening with our family.  Here's a hook, I'm 37 weeks pregnant with #7!  Woohoo!