A blog. Yes, a blog!

I’d really like to think that I am not the only amateur blogger out there who feels a bit hypocritical! There are so many things I have yet to learn and master in motherhood! I’m not drowning in patience, my house isn’t spotless, sometimes we wear mismatched socks, meals at times are an afterthought and more often than not – we are late! Yup…. like 15 minutes late!! That being said, I have learned a thing or two about keeping a family of 9 running smoothly.

Things that I do well include living out my faith, implementing chore systems (yes plural… kids have a funny way of getting bored with systems which in turn demands somewhat constant adjustment and reassessment), managing meals (I didn’t really learn to cook until kiddo number 5 came along), healthy eating, planning and executing all things Traveling With A Large Family, homeschooling, foster care (we are in our 11th year), organizing, scheduling (we are always managing between 1 and 11+ different extracurriculars), budgeting (an absolute must when you have a family of 9 living off of 1.5 incomes) and raising Christ-loving, generous, caring and service-minded children! I’m also pretty good at this marriage business, although that wasn’t always the case (more about that in a future post). Proverbs 31 principles are always at the forefront of my mind and always my goal as a wife and woman!

So, now the why. Why am I taking on this blog business?! I’m not swimming in time and obviously I don’t have it all figured out! Simply, I feel called to do this. I know that sounds very cliché, but that’s really and simply it. I have a feeling that this blog is really for me though and my own personal growth than anything else… I know that Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something here and I am just along for the ride! I hope too though that this blog will be the light and encouragement that some are seeking! I hope that the young mother out there who feels like she can’t possibly manage another baby can come and feel encouraged and grab a few tips! I hope that the mom of many who is literally drowning in laundry and dishes can see that she isn’t alone and that this season too is a season to be treasured and will surely be missed. I hope those mamas with grown children can come and reminisce about a season that passed much too quickly.. leave us a comment, let us soak up your wisdom and encouragement!!  Hopefully you will find your self laughing here too… laughter always does a heart good, especially when you feel like you don’t have anything left to give! I hope too that there might be some dads joining us! Wes will be doing an occasional guest post here as well (he doesn’t know this yet!!)! I hope that all who visit here can leave hopeful and inspired. Hopeful that the storm they are weathering isn’t too much for them to endure and inspired to endure it well! Most of all, I hope those mamas visiting can feel a renewed sense of purpose and motivation, walking away with a new or renewed commitment to giving both her husband and children the very best of her… never forgetting that her work is among the most sacred on all the earth.

“‘Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling… It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.” – Neil L. Andersen