On the homefront

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh Patience.

But let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

The weeks of adjustment every infant goes through are upon us. She is so beautiful I would not mind staying up all night just playing with her, but her tummy aches so horribly--poor baby! These are the times when a mother's heart becomes so soft as she must walk the floor helplessly while her little one writhes her feet in pain. But it builds the love-connection even more. All of these passages are necessary--they soften the hard places and solidify the good foundations of a life-long love between parents and child (my dear husband must be awakened, too).

Amazingly, however, I am not "sleep deprived". We go to bed around 9, and the baby awakens after 12, then I am able to get some good sleep of a few hours during the day. This is a wonderful thing!

I am still trying to make sure the rest of the children can enjoy their summer. We all get up by 6, read the Word, have our morning routine, which I inspect and expect a high level of performance. Then we have some fun. God has given me some good ideas--"washing" the van in the driveway, board games, home improvement, etc. Today the Lord had me send the children on a hike in the nature area by our house for a "scavenger hunt". They all had a good time, and I was able to take a nap.

I have dinner in the crockpot--some nice roast beef with veggies--and my little ones are all resting from their excursion this morning. The laundry is pretty caught up, and the rooms are all tidy--except for the basement, which is full of all sorts of creative things they have thought up today. We will clean it after naps, make some mashed potatoes to go with dinner, and be ready for our wonderful daddy to return.

Last night we had such a good time with him, sang hymns for quite a while together before Bible time. We don't sing hymns together often enough! Our older girls came over and we all encouraged each other in the Lord, laying hands on each other and praying. One daughter underwent a sleep test last night for the seizures she has been experiencing--we are all believing for God's healing in her life. He has been doing a good work in her through this time of helplessness.

Just a reminder to us all--it doesn't matter what is going on in the world, we are to walk under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty, in the secret dwelling place of the Most High. Live in the moment, and take every thought captive for Christ. He'll call us up when it's time--we need not worry or be distressed. These are precious times--take advantage of them to live for Him before our opportunity is lost.

Sherry

Baby love

Is it possible to have too much cuteness?

We live from one feeding to another--we wait for her sighs, relishing in her smiles as she dreams of heaven.

How could I be so deserving of something so precious. It cost me, and dearly, but I was a whimp, not realizing what I was paying for--and is she ever worth it all!

I will never grow familiar with this process of life. I will never take it for granted. Holding her fragile little frame in my hands, guarding her and fussing over and making sure she has enough milk, warmth, comfort.

I cannot believe it has already been a week--I have been trying hard to keep time at bay, but it encroaches, and life on planet earth keeps rotating as it rocks and reels with the winding down.

But here in our little cottage the earth is firm under God's friendly skies, and babies and laughing children reassure us of His love and care, no matter what the weather outside.

She's here!

Just a few brief moments here to proclaim the wonderful news that our precious Patience arrived Friday, June 19th at 2:16 pm, after 3 hours of intense labor. She weighed 7 lbs, 12 oz, and was 20.5" long.

I won't be blogging until we are established in a good nursing pattern and everyone else is over bad colds!

Thank you for all of your prayers and concern.

Giving thanks to God,

Sherry

Why would you want all those kids?

Here I am on the eve of my birth. Last night was restless--I spent the first half re-reading through Ina Mae Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery--can anyone say, "Positive energy"? I tend to relate it to "God's life" flowing through me during labor, the Presence of His Holy Spirit. This book is so full of practical advice, it helps in lots of ways.

The next part of the night was spent caring for two children with colds. Then off to bed for a few hours before sending Dear Husband off to work.

My husband and I lay cuddling and laughing together. It seems that, even though we have done birth together more times than most any couple will, we still find ourselves at a loss as to how to do it--we are reminded once again that we are not in control of our lives, but as we have surrendered, we know Who is in control, and we trust Him.

Later in the morning, after a little nap and our regular routine, two of my older daughters called. They said they were coming over to help--I was so glad! There isn't really a whole lot to do here, but it was just great to have some support. They came over and took their 16 year old sister out for a special time, since they figured she will be my main help in the next two weeks. They gave her some spending money and took her to the thrift store and Walmart. While they were gone, the sickies watched a movie, the middle kids played Monopoly, and I slept.

When they returned, they had gifts. Grace bought me chocolates and a watermelon, Anna brought a bag full of four little girl outfits, complete with bloomers and little pink slippers--how sweet. They are coming over tomorrow to give the kids a "party day" while we are in the hospital. The little kids are so excited!

I have spent the last few days just enjoying everyone. We have gone to the Nature Park and had a picnic, and discussed and played a lot together. It has been a good way to spend the time. The older kids told jokes and shared insights, the younger children giggled as we played tickle games.

And as I drove to pick my son up from work in the cool of the evening, I went through the children who have passed through me on their way into life. I thought of the uniqueness of each, their personalities, their passions, their identities, and my heart was overfilled with gratitude. I once again lifted their lives up to God.

It will be worth it tomorrow, when I am throwing up and pushing and leaking all sorts of fluids from everywhere. It will be worth it when that little body swooshes out and I feel her warm squishiness next to my skin, hear her cry of annoyance at having to breathe oxygen for the very first time. And her daddy will hold her close and welcome her and call her name in the way only he can, and our love affair with another little human will begin all over again.

Too old?

I am 45 years old and pregnant. I am also a "great grand multipara" (which means I have given birth to more than ten children). To the medical world, this is quite significant.

It doesn't matter that I have quite successfully given birth 14 times before without complications, or even one epidural or C-section. It does not matter that I have nursed 14 children, reaping the health benefits of such a choice.

I am instead lumped together with two "high risk" groups--which puts me into a category with all sorts of extra things.

For instance, I have had to come in weekly for the past month for a non-stress test. I have had to prove that I am really not sick--no diabetes, no extra water, enough water, etc.

Now, on top of everything else, I find my doctor is forced not to let me birth past my 39th week. It has something to do with statistics on women my age having more still births past that time. So I am officially in my last week of pregnancy--and if I do not go into labor on my own, I am scheduled for an induction next Friday.

This is a great shift for me. I have spent my pregnant life having the officials tell me I could not even think of going in early to have my baby--now they are telling me I must come in early--I am set free in my silly, uncomfortable self, realizing I can come in any time with prodromal contractions and they will willingly do what is needed for me to bring my child forth--what hugely pregnant woman wouldn't jump at such an opportunity?

But still there is the part of me that knows it is better to wait--and that other part of me sighs and says, "Bummer!".

So, even though I was contracting regularly for about an hour last night, I opted for relaxing and going to sleep rather than waking my dear, tired husband and heading to the hospital.

I didn't have to stay home; everything is in place. We have a brand-new infant car seat, all sorts of supplies, a pantry and freezer full of food, the laundry is caught up, the house is clean, I went to the dentist and had my tooth filled yesterday (one of those loose ends that is easier to tie up without an infant in tow), my husband's employer is full of compassion and understanding for this time. So what could be holding me back?

The prudent, wise part of me is holding me back--back to have a slow, relaxing week to build up for the birth, back to take time to pour some mommy love into the other children at home, back to learn more about that word--patience.

And we have decided to give up that other name, "Isabella", which we found out to mean "oath of Baal" --blech, blech, blech--and are now committed to the name, "Patience Rosalie" for our little girl--sort of Pilgrim's Progessish, don't you agree? From what I have experienced of her lifestyle in utero, I think she will need this name!

Until Friday, just waiting around...

Thoughts on birth

Birthing a child is not just a physical phenomenon. It is a spiritual experience.

For me, it is going to a remote place in my heart; a place into which only God can reach.

He and I fellowship there. We experience the rhythm of the contractions, and we spend time together. I love it when I am left alone, sort of like how an animal will seek a place out of the way. It takes concentration to bring a baby down through the body.

When I am close to giving birth, I sometimes become afraid. This is when I call out to Him, and He meets me in the "cave of the soul". How precious to know He will be with me.

This is one of my favorite verses concerning labor:

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:7-8

The most important thing I have lear

ned about labor is to relax and work with the contractions, focusing on the work and the progress through thinking and visualizing what is happening. Sitting like and Indian and going limp while I make deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth helps.

I also like to sing ballads.

Here is part of one:

I will believe with devotion

Never departing from Thy tender care

With every thought and emotion

Wherever I am, You are with me there

Jesus, come quickly

Jesus, come surely

Into my heart,

Into my soul.

My spirit rests, sweet communion

My body's salvation, spirit and soul

(John Michael Talbot)

Although I have had babies at home, one of my most beautiful experiences was in a free-standing birthing center. While my husband slept, I sang to the Lord. My OB had gone home, so when I actually began to push, they called in a nurse-midwife. She allowed me to squat on the bed, and as my baby emerged, the midwife handed her up into my arms. I was the first to hold her, the first to stare into her face and welcome her. Then they handed me some blankets and I wiped her off. The midwife kept the baby attendants at bay while I spent precious time with my baby.

Another unique experience was when my 13th baby emerged "in the veil"--with the amniotic sack still intact--of course this one was at home in our jacuzzi tub!

The medical establishment is terrific in taking care of the emergencies that can crop up during pregnancy and childbirth, but they are mostly ignorant when it comes to helping women through the process of birth; through the physical, emotional and spiritual journey that it takes to bring life into the world. I believe this is part of the reason so many women become afraid and must rely on pain medication, etc. To them, birth is a working of machinery, requiring all sorts of technology.

Birthing has been around long before any "procedures" were invented. It is about the most precious of human experiences, the culmination of love between two who become one. Focusing on the sweetness of the passage puts the anxiety and fear at bay. Thinking about Jesus fellowship in our suffering (Isaiah 53) gives us companionship when there is no one else to understand.

I recently found the most wonderful site with all sorts of explanations and helps--I cannot recommend it enough! It is called Birthing Naturally. I have been reading to reorient myself lately--so encouraging and reassuring.

Family Bible time

A thoughtful reader wanted to know about our "Bible time", so I thought it would be a good opportunity to share.

To me, there is nothing more worthwhile than spending one's time in the Word of God. The Scripture says that men's thoughts are evil continually! How do I expect I can think God's thoughts after Him if I do not have any to draw on?

I do believe that the Holy Spirit can impart revelation to our hearts and minds, but we all know there are all sorts of other things roaming through our brains on a daily basis. How do we discern what is and isn't Spirit-breathed unless we have a a standard?

Also, I want to know more about my Father; I want to know what He thinks about things, what is important to Him, what is displeasing, how He operates. I find this out more and more. Of course, I will never fully understand or comprehend on this earth, but the more I read, the more opens up to me.

And it is with this sort of enthusiasm that my husband and I teach and admonish our children. We don't read silly Bible story books, but we read the actual Word, unabridged, out loud with study helps nearby--such as commentaries, concordances, Greek and Hebrew lexicon, etc.

Often I hear parents confess they do not feel worthy or knowledgeable enough to teach their children--this is so far from the truth. Even if a parent doesn't know a lot about the Word themselves, they can learn along with their children, just as in all areas of interest. It is the enthusiasm of the heart that counts.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that man is not the measure of all things, God is. We cannot approach the Bible with a critical heart--we do not correct the Bible, it must correct us. God's thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts! If we find passages that make us feel uneasy, we must seek first to find out all we can about that passage, then realize the Word is always right--no matter if it does not sinq with our own thinking.

With this in mind, we try and spend two times in the Bible daily--once in the morning, once in the evening. I am in charge in the morning, when we are currently reading a chapter of Proverbs and discussing and expounding. In the evening hour before bedtime my husband leads us in reading a chapter through the Bible (we are currently in 1st Chronicles), expounding and discussing, and then reading a portion of a Christian classic book. We have read through books such as Hearing God by Peter Lord, The Knowledge of the Holy and The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, and currently Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. We also spend periods in quiet and shared prayer, and often get out the hymnals and sing hymns a capella.

We attempt to energize and include the children through the asking of questions, having them repeat phrases out loud, doing role playing, etc. It is amazing how much even a 5 yo can take in--our little Faith often astounds us as to how much she retains, and her prayers are so powerful!

Besides our corporate times in the Word, we encourage private reading and meditation--we just can't get enough! Even if our oldest son at home misses a Bible time, he keep up by reading at work.

I am thoroughly convinced that studying God's Word is the most important part of homeschooling. When our minds are renewed, we can organize all of the other thoughts and plans in our minds with optimum efficiency. We can be more creative, more logical, less apt to irrational fears so our minds are more free. This is so important when we try and delve into any other area of academics or interest.

As a youth I spent hours upon hours studying and copying scripture in every spare moment. I know it has helped me as I have faced many of the difficulties of life and had to rely on logical creativity to deal with crises handily. I believe this one factor is the greatest contributor to any successes as the mother of many children.

The other day I was standing in line at the grocery store with my dear son. We were looking at the tabloids and other magazines. It was so wonderful to realize we couldn't recognize the names or faces of those in the news, since we don't have time for that sort of nonsense, but we do have time for the most important things!

Our children are inundated on every side with every sort of cultural degradation. From examining our own family lines, we can see clearly how our Godly ancestors failed to pass on their faith to the next generation, until the foundations were totally destroyed, leaving us with a legacy of brokenness and helplessness. We cannot hope to influence and energize the next generation without fervent, diligent work. A few hours on Sunday will not match the expansive influence of our culture, even if we do homeschool.

When Jesus comes back I will not care if I dress or parent like the "stars". I will not care who will become the next American Idol, but I will be happy to have a lamp full of the oil of devotion and holiness, ready to step into eternity with the Bridegroom.

What's going on?

Life transitions can come all at once, can't they?

This last month has been full of them for me. Firstly, my husband has gone from being with us 24/7 to being away for 12 hours a day--is it possible our hearts could grow fonder?

Next, we have realized that 12 hours is too many, so we are preparing to move--which means getting our house ready for showings, which means yard work, painting, deep cleaning, decluttering, etc.

Next, my daughter and her children have been with us for the last 2 weeks, and lately her husband--what fun!

Next, two of my older daughters are going through major life issues--lots of mommy time needed to be a listening ear.

Next, and not at all least, I am due with this precious baby in this current month!

I have been steadily working at all of the deep cleaning--the whole back of my 15 passenger van is full of give away bags--I love to purge--what a wonderful feeling of freedom! I have a great team here at home--my kids love the feeling of freedom, too. We even pulled out the appliances and scrubbed--what was under our fridge was too gross to explain. I also de-fuzzed the poor over-worked thing--I think it hums "Thank you, thank you," now.

Still, we have managed our Bible times--we can never lose sight of the most important things, even in the midst of busy-ness. How could I accomplish anything in my day without the renewing of my mind, without the connection and wisdom from my wonderful Heavenly Father?

Oh, and here is a brag on Jesus; our 17 year old son is being trusted to open the books for his entire grocery store--a major chain store that takes in over $1,000,000 a month. Everyone there is so pleased with him (I shop there regularly, and they make no secret as to how happy they are with him)--he is more trustworthy, hardworking and cheerful than the employees twice his age. Praise God! As soon as he turns 18, he will be making the equivalent of what a college degree would have brought him as a starting wage--imagine that!

Well, that's just a little snapshot--when life slows down a little more I should be back on my regular blogging routine.