Athletes have stars in their eyes. Their focus is to become champions. They see themselves standing on the podium, hand over heart, swelling with pride as the medal is draped and the crowd erupts in applause. But the road to that point is long. Denial. Pain. Begging … Read More…
If you are knee-deep in the stomach flu, or teething, or broken appliances, or just having a hard time keeping up with the responsibilities of life, you should consider your holy estate. You are more than a mere stay-at-home mom, you are a stay-at-home saint. Saints, prophets, and … Read More…
Yes, I am the mother of 15 children. It’s not really that many; I know all of their names in order and even have their birthdays memorized (I suppose being involved in their births makes it a bit easier for me to remember). Walking, running, and leaping down … Read More…
Homeschooling our 15 children has made me really appreciate public school teachers! After all, teachers deal with whole classrooms of children at diverse backgrounds with different learning styles and needs every day. There is a real reason they devote a quite a lot of time to “classroom management.” … Read More…
Super powers? Not a chance. Yes, I am the homeschooling mom of 15 children, but there is truly nothing special about me. Here I am shopping, or banking, or at church… I am having a fine conversation with someone; we are discussing the weather or the Lord … Read More…
Sheep are really rather silly! They jump over imaginary obstacles, panic easily, and mindlessly follow the first sheep that makes a break for it. They really are followers. A tame hand-reared (poddy) lamb or sheep can be used to lead the rest of the flock to the sheep … Read More…
In my last installment in this series, Large family crisis reduction: getting ahead {part 1}, we discussed the basic ideas behind doing things ahead, or, as Don Aslett puts it, creating a “frontlog” instead of a “backlog.” Of course there are times when even the best of plans … Read More…
Did you know that motherhood is supposed to be joyful? I know that this is not a popular perspective. There are so many embittered souls who are willing to share one horror story after another, or who say, “Just wait until…” He makes the barren woman abide in … Read More…
People ask me how I have not only survived but thrived while mothering 15 children. First of all, I tell them I couldn’t do anything without the Lord. If it weren’t for Him I would be such a dark, horrific mess, but He walks with me, and He … Read More…
There is a prosperity that only includes what you own, but it doesn’t touch who you are. It’s true–in our home of currently 11 people, we are a messy, noisy bunch, and we are not afraid to express ourselves! There is usually so much going on that it … Read More…