Big Family Myths

September 13, 2006, I promised to do a weekly "Big Family Myth" post; then life got busy. I am still considering creating a graphic and hosting a weekly carnival (or is it meme)...but for tonight....I wanted to get all the Big Family Myths on one page. Truly, according to MY perspective, I sought to clarify what was myth and fact in a large family.

If you are wondering if you may be a large family, I suggest you check out my very own list of litmus tests: You know you're a large family when.... (the different colored text are clickable links).

An idea is born - an explanation of big family myths

Myth 1 & 2 - Your washing machine never stops running; Someone always needs a bath.

Myth 3 - Individual needs cannot possibly be met in a large family

Myth 4 - Those with large families don't know "what causes that"

Myth 5 - Laundry spewing from all corners myth - Part 1

And there you have it. I WAS going to past date this and post it in the sidebar. I will still post it in the side bar, but I'm going to date it for tonight. That gives YOU an opportunity to leave a topic in the comment section that you'd like me to tackle....are YOU wondering if something you've observed or heard is fact or myth? Are you a large family and been asked repeatedly to answer some question that you think I should deal with her? Leave your comments....

Terminal Cowlicks

Some of our boys have terminal cowlicks. One cannot get his hair to "lay down" regardless of how long we let it grow.
Zander has a spot that refused to lie down today. This is him after I told him, "Ah, don't worry, one day you won't have any hair and this won't seem like a problem!" ::Snort::

Easter 2008

Stacia and Arielle in their finery (I can't believe our 2 yo wears Size 5 dresses)

She even let me "do hair"

The ruffly socks and white shoes were the first casualties

One of the 6 ft brothers was teasing her, "I'll touch your hair Stacia" . "NO YOU WON'T!"

Yes, we are working on instilling a gracious attitude...we also figure God has something for her to do with her incredible determination and lack of intimidation. Mom, we see more and more of Grams in her as she matures.

We attended Sunrise Service. Then we attended a parish wide breakfast. Then we attended the 1100 Easter service. Then we had dinner. Then we came home.

The older boys hid the Resurrection eggs (Thanks, Debbie in NY, for the idea).

This one led to quips about wisemen with skillets and spices

Bre called while Mike was corralling littles in their room, and the olders were hiding eggs. Evidently, I talked too long....which is the obvious cause of these 2 6 ft brothers mauling the 3rd brother.

The littles found the Resurrection eggs.

After all eggs were found each child opened their egg and we discussed which part of the Resurrection story the symbol inside represented.

Working all day and writing until wee hours of the a.m. seems to be taking a toll on Jamin.

Mike napped. (He has a 3 day training coming up that promises 14 hour days).

Jamin, Stacia, Jared and I went out to measure Jared's last big run. 9 miles! NINE MILES - I can't imagine.

Nolan got out his circuit system from Home Training Tools, READ THE DIRECTIONS, and made this little doo-dad that plays Happy Birthday.

Josiah worked on homework. Mike is checking homework. Littles are in bed. Jamin and Jared are going out for a late night run.

It's been a great family day! I won't even mention the two that my heart longs to see....August is coming.

Of Lovers and Pregnancies

Zander has long claimed Krista as his lover. It's been difficult for him to have her grown up and gone.

For the past month he has talked NON-STOP about our "new baby". Tonight at dinner he told me, "Mom, when dinner is done, I'm going to go talk to God and ask him to give you a new baby. Then I'm going to pray for my lover to have a baby, because she's never laid a baby yet."

Sure enough he went to his room, and I discovered him praying. He gave me a hug and said, "God says it's o.k., and you can have a new baby - because we are all growing up already."

Girls Day Out

Mike and the older two boys had to work today.

I took the girls out shopping. We don’t do the “new Easter outfit” thing, or Easter baskets, dyed eggs, or candy for that matter. We used to – somewhere along the line we rebelled at the external emphasis…..and then we got very busy on Easter Mornings……

However, Nolan and Jared have grown a couple of inches since I bought them pants in December. We bought them both pants. Stacia found a new dress she wanted. She wears her dresses 7 days a week so it seemed o.k. to buy her a new dress – this one I will keep for SUNDAY. We laughed at how Stacia hung her favorites on the shopping cart. I also bought her training “panties”. She sweet talked the cashier into giving them back to her and carried them until we got home (2 more stops). ::snort::


Arielle needed new shoes. We couldn’t find any at Walmart. Payless Shoes is right across the parking lot. The gentlemen there informed us of something that Arielle had already discovered. Children’s size 3 ½ - 4 are the same size as Women’s size 5 – 6. We DO wear the same size shoe. She found a nice pair of white shoes. I found a funky pair of canvas slip-ons. I limited myself as I’d been looking at FPU yesterday. Stacia also got a pair of canvas slip-ons. Again – she’s been wearing her Sunday shoes 7 days a week – so I think this may actually prolong the life of the “good” shoes.

We still have DQ cards from Christmas. I treated the girls.

Stacia promptly stripped to try on her new panties when we got home. Evidently, one must take off all other clothes when wearing such stylish panties....and they may be worn in a variety of stylish fashions.

I also bought these.

Long time blog readers will know that I USED to often use the timer, but they all mysteriously disappeared. I replenished the stock and bought poker chips too. I’ll write about that more after Mike and I collaborate on the rules of engagement.

Easter Prep

We will be far too busy tomorrow a.m. to make Resurrection Rolls (click for recipe). We made them this afternoon. I wasn’t sure how they’d taste with Rapadura instead of sugar and such, but they are good. We saved enough for each to have one tomorrow a.m.




While they baked, we read *The Very First Easter* by Paul L. Maier. This is a wonderful book. The story line is accurate. The illustrations are well done. I had two small "beefs": 1. Jesus didn’t look very Middle Eastern and 2. The author holds a sacramental view of the Lord’s Supper, whereas we tend toward more of a memorial view. As I said, small beefs. I recommend finding a copy of this one for your “Lent Stash”. The book is published by Concordia Publishing House.

Death & Resurrection

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Word (rapid reading and studying). This has been a great season for me. I’ve not had time to share any of the things I’m learning. Today, I take the time.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?......If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. ……Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:1 – 15. Click here to read the entire passage..

Sin, I could talk about the definition of sin. Grace, I’ve been studying grace anew and could talk about all that grace is, all that grace accomplishes, and all that grace enables me to do. Suffering. Death. Resurrection. Christ suffered, died and rose from the grave.

What does that mean to me in daily life? There are many different answers to that question. One thing it should mean is that I have also suffered, died, and risen to new life. I am called to die to sin (and that seems to often require a bit of suffering) and to walk in resurrection power. (Eph 1:19,20) I have crucified the old man, and my life is no longer my own. (Gal 2:20)

The longer I walk with Christ, the more I realize that so many of my sins, my temper tantrums, my funks….come back to self. The sin I wrestle with most is self-centeredness. I need to daily die to self.. I desire things. I desire results (in school, in relationships, in finances). I desire to sit around all day and read.
During this season, and throughout the year, a loving Lord is calling me to follow Him into death. Why is it so easy for me (and possibly you) to claim the resurrection power, the enabling grace, the benefits of salvation…..and skip right over the dying to sin, death to self, and crucifixion of the old man part? Death must come before resurrection.

I must not “let” sin reign in my body. This implies that *I* have a choice. Hmmm…you mean the little red man with the pitchfork isn’t totally to blame for my selfish sin problem? I should be doing something? Yes, I will willingly and daily die to sin. I will CHOOSE to offer my body to RIGHTEOUSNESS rather than wickedness. I recognize that I have ALL that I need to walk a life of godliness. I must die to self and walk in LIFE, LIGHT, LOVE, the SPIRIT, WISDOM – I need to walk worthy (all from Ephesians). I must daily choose to walk under the influence of the Spirit rather than under the influence of sin and self. I must offer my entire being wholeheartedly to HIM; rather than offering my self to SELFISH SIN.

I often draw laughs in new groups of Bible Studies by answering the question that so many have (and eventually voice): “WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN”. My short answer: “God knew it would take children whom I love dearly to cause me to die to myself.” All usually nod, as they reflect on how they also will sacrifice self for the good of their children. I follow up by adding, “I appear to be more selfish than most, and therefore, I need more sharpening than most.” I did not have patience when I was 20. I was filled with anger. I was filled with self. (Once a young girl (5 – 6) ran up to me and said, “Miss De’Etta, Mom says you are selfish!” Evidently the daughter had asked, “Why does Miss D have so many kids and we don’t?” ::snort:)

Parenting and homeschooling are the tools that God has used in my life to call me to daily die to self. I love both. Both are incredible blessings. Both are incredibly costly (budget-wise, time-wise, ministry-outside-of-home-wise).  Parenting and homeschooling have required me to daily give up my needs, my wants, my desires, my plans and instead walk in his resurrection power. Beware of trying to resurrect on your own. I must surrender to the work of His Spirit in my life. I must always remember that it is in HIS strength, His power, His Spirit that I can begin to walk in a way that brings glory to Him.

I believe God put me on a “fast track” in the Word so that I would be FORCED to read for ME and not for writing and teaching. LOL But, this once, I think it was "ok" to share. I had to write an Easter Post anyway. LOL