When L1 decided to plop down in E2's lap the other day, I couldn't resist taking a few photos. E2 cheesed it up right away and didn't want me to stop taking pictures..jpg)
A sweet kiss from big bro..jpg)
They really do love each other. E2 looks out for L1 and she squeals "La la!" every time he comes into the room. I have no idea what that means, but she seems to identify her siblings that way..jpg)
This is E2's trademark grin and L1's "perfect princess" stare. They've certainly won me over.
Pin It Now!
.jpg)
You see, this is what we have been driving for the past seven years...
It's been a good van...but it's a worn out van. It has 235,ooo+ miles on it. It has a large rusted dent in the passenger side door (my fault). A half a gallon of light blue wall paint was spilled and dried into the carpet in the back (also my fault). And we haven't had air conditioning in the van in five years.
This is what the inside looks like...
.jpg)
Look a little strange to you? Well, I was just certain that God would provide a BIG van (with air) for us well over a year ago when I was pregnant with L1. After all, she was number 6 and we only had enough room for 5 children in the back of our worn out van. But alas, God had different plans...the funds for a BIG van never worked, but we were able to get an extra bench seat at a local junkyard that matched our van's interior perfectly for free! My husband took out the middle two bucket seats and replaced it with the 2nd bench seat to make our 7-passenger an 8-passenger.
Yes, it was crowded. Yes, there was much screaming and fighting. Yes, the kids had to climb OVER the bench seat to get into the back. Yes, we still had to survive the humid summer without a/c. But there were enough seatbelts to go around.
Until now that is. The expected arrival of Baby #7 is fast approaching and we were fresh out of seatbelts. We have prayed and pinched and saved and there has been much talk about how to contribute to the "Van fund". Nevertheless, things are still tight around here. To be honest, a month ago I had given up all hope that we would even be able to purchase a new van. I honestly had come to terms with having to drive 2 vehicles everywhere once the baby was born.
And then God provided!
Isn't it pretty? Best of all, it has FRONT and REAR air! Woo-hoo!
And the kids have plenty of room! We are an EXCITED family this week!
Pin It Now!
I have had many up-till-2AM nights working on creating a new online business for the past 3 months and I'm finally ready to invite you all to check it out!
But we were there when the Revolutionary war family pitched a tent in our friend's backyard..jpg)
We listened to the stories of Revolutionary women...the clothes they wore, how they cooked their food. My kids can tell you that there were women and children living in the army camps with their husbands. They can also tell you that if their husbands died they had 48 hours to find a new husband or leave camp..jpg)
We watched and listened as the drummer boy marched into camp..jpg)
We learned all about his very important role in the army and listened to the many different drumming beats...ones that announced dinner, a time for prayer, battle, and retreat. We heard the sounds of the Revolutionary War from this very talented player..jpg)
And then his father returned from battle. He shared with us about his weapons and the important details of even his clothing.
The children sat and listened and then we ate and fellowshippped with the other children. On the way home, the kids sang "God Bless America" and I knew that this day could not be ended with math work and spelling worksheets.
So instead, we came home and read five chapters of "The American Twins of the Revolution".
I'm not sure that you can get it anywhere other than Salem Ridge Press, but you wouldn't want to anyway because Salem Ridge is a wonderful company and this book is on sale right now for only $9.71. It is a wonderful, action-packed, and brave tale of two young children and their mother who courageously travel to bring money and food to General Washington and his troops. It was written by Lucy Fitch Perkins and published in 1926.
So at the end of the day I have to face reality. Absolutely nothing was checked off my to-do list. It's funny how I don't seem to be bothered by that at all.
This is my grandmother and this photo was taken three weeks ago at our family reunion.As the song is sung each one of her 14 children dances up to her in order of their birth and hands her a red rose.
Grandma's husband died when she still had 11 children in the home. She never remarried.
She has 52 grandchildren.
At last count, she has over 110 great-grandchildren and a dozen great-great grandchildren.
She is a "Mom of Many" and has an incredible legacy to show for it.
And she is beautiful.
Pin It Now!
