Crazy days of Summer

I have sat down several times in the past couple weeks to write a post and always get interrupted. I have had ideas for several topics and this one doesn't hit any of them. Oh, well. This is just random thoughts on what we have been up to.

We had family pics done. I hope to have them posted in a couple weeks when we get them back.

Life has been crazy around here. I don't know why I would expect anything else. Every summer I think it will be so laid back with kids and husband going on mission trips and camps and such. And then in July I remember...oh, yeah this is how it goes. We have had lots of extra kids in the house, house guests and several trips back and forth to the camps. Our food budget for the month is completely blown. And the laundry pile comes in enormous waves. Tidal waves of dirty camp laundry.

We have also had a family reunion which is always fun and interesting. Isn't that the way it always is when you get family together? Why are families so weird? How did we all come from the same lot? I just don't get it. God has a funny way of building our character and patience with people.

Ron's niece called this past weekend and said she had two surprises. She is getting married and you can guess the other. The second surprise is cause for the first. This has led to a bit of a family dilemma. The first dilemma is explaining the situation to our kids. Thanks Sweetie. The second is they have asked Ron to marry them. Ron has committed not to marry anyone that is not eligible to be married, and that the couple receive at least 6 sessions of pre-marital counsel. This would include a believer marrying a non-believer as well as other situations. Ron's family does not share his stance on this point so things could get ugly. But God is bigger than the situation. We are praying that God will use this to bring this young man to a saving knowledge of Him, that they would desire to make Christ the foundation of their marriage, and raise their family in Him. If you think of it in your prayer time pray for this couple.

Well, all the girls and I are off to camp again today to bring the camp t-shirts up to the boys. Oh, the joys of being a minister wife. Can't wait to see my man, but I would love to skip the camp trip.

I love this song

John Waller - The Blessing
From the album The Blessing

Chorus:
Let it be said of us
While we walked among the living
Let it be said of us
By the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That we lived to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us
By the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That our legacy is blessing for life

This day
You set life, you set death right before us,
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That our hearts belonged to Jesus Let it be said of us
That we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us
That our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation

My journey through motherhood

I read this post on 'Setting Your Course' at Raising Five last week and it has got me thinking. I have been both looking back 10 years and trying to look ahead to the next ten years. Where do I want to be, or more accurately where do I want our family to be?

10 years ago our oldest was three and we were expecting #2 in September. I was huge and hot (not like sexy hot, just huge hot). Fast forward: We now have 5 kiddos. Oldest is 13 and youngest is 1. Although I am not an expert, I have learned a couple things.

I thought I knew a lot about parenting. I tend to be back and white. I thought parenting had a formula and if done correctly would achieve the desired results. ha. Sometimes the formula applied correctly still does not get the desired result. I have come to learn that children actually have a mind and will and will use them. Sometimes creating unwanted behavior.

I thought the first three years were the most critical. ha again. They are all important. And if you ask a child the current moment is the most important.

I thought all good parents produce good kids. Ha. Sometimes bad parents produce good kids and sometimes good parents produce bad kids. This still makes me shake my head in unbelief. I have seen parents who go against every parenting rule and still have great kids and visa versa.

As I look ahead and think of our oldest 10 years from now and 23 (oh my goodness). And our youngest who has yet to speak a sentence or use the toilet and think of her going into 6th grade I am reminded how time flies. Two of our kids will be adults, two teens and one on the brink. I want our family to stand out as one that did not compromise. We held to Christ's standards. We did not cave to the world. We are salt and light and that we bloomed where we were planted. That our family made a difference for Christ in the world. That we touched people's lives and they felt Christ's love through us.

I still like things black and white. Formulas and such. God has given us a guide in His Word. Principals to live by. I have learned that God is creative and these can look different in each family. There is no one perfect formula. We are to train and teach our children the ways of the Lord and He promises to bless that. But children have minds and wills of their own and can make bad choices and choose the wrong path. That is the freedom each of us has.

Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace on this opinionated and judgmental momma.