A little catching up

I've been wanting to sit down and actually blog for a long time. But, I felt pressured that my posts needed to be something of substance. And well, I don't have that right now.

But, before this was a place for me to share about missions, it was a place for me to document my family's life. It makes me sad that I've allowed that to slip away in the wake of my grief. So, my plan now is just to blog a little each week and if it gets deep in here, then it gets deep. If it stays superficial and sticks to updates on our life and our kids, that's fine too.

So, the last time I really blogged about the ongoings of our family was May. That's pathetic. SO MUCH has happened since May.

For starters, we moved in July. We bought a house, we painted, we expanded the amount of bedrooms in our house and I think we are settled. I still have stuff to hang on the walls but now it's less about the emotions behind it and more about the fact that the main level of this house was done in the 50s and the walls are plaster, y'all. PLASTER.

It's not easy to hang anything up. So if you know how to hang up pictures on plaster walls without having to drill a hole and add one of those plastic anchors, I'd love to know.

In August, we found out that Baby #8 is a(nother) GIRL! The boys weren't quite so thrilled at first, but now everyone is eager Beavers to meet this chick. Including me. Because she clearly doesn't understand that this isn't my first rodeo and it's not fun for her to lay sideways/diagonal/all on one side and rhythmically kick me in the cervix.

Around that same time, Amanda found out that they are expecting their second child. Here's a photo of us at the baby shower she threw for me in October. My first baby shower I've had since the twins, by the way. Which, A) I didn't realize there was so much new crap that was necessary for a baby. And B) It's weird having a baby shower when you've already got 7 kids. Even when I really did NEED all of the things I received because my stuff is worn slap out, but still. It's weird.

I'm 28 weeks. She's 16. No comments please. Yes, she's pregnant. I promise.

At the end of October Amanda and Nick loaded up all their possessions and their adorable daughter and moved to the other side of the world country to follow God's call for Nick to be in full time military service. We had a small 1st birthday party for their daughter (a month or so early) where I tried my best not to ugly cry. I held it together until the night before they drove out of town. Then, it was snot city y'all. Poor Luke. His pregnant, emotional wife lost it on him. He may or may not have cried a little too. We miss them just about every other second. But who's counting? Oh wait, all 9 of us are.

I was blessed with a half sister who is 13 years younger than me. She was 5 when I went off to college and I never moved back home. So we aren't as close as I wish we were. But, somehow God allowed Amanda to become just like a sister to me. Seriously. I probably annoy the crap out of her texting her all day long, telling her about the weird things my pregnant body is doing and telling her how she should live her life. And I don't really care because sisters can be annoying and bossy like that. And also, she loves it. I think.

We are homeschooling again this year. I bought this new, elaborate, beautifully designed curriculum over the summer at our state's homeschool convention. I went a whole new route and just knew it would be the perfect thing for our family. We moved, and about a month before I had planned to start school I opened the perfectly packaged boxes of curriculum, got high off the new-school fumes and sat down to plan out our days.

I stared at it blankly for two days while my planning book sat empty, called other veteran homeschool moms, debated joining a local co-op that meets once a week, panicked, tried to find all the books at the library, failed, then promptly boxed that beautiful curriculum right back up and sent it back to the company for a refund. I shed not one single tear.

We are doing our own thing this year with a compilation of resources. It might be the best year we've had so far. Which, of course, means that I'm already scheming what I want to change for next year. Because clearly I appreciate torturing myself.

The baby is due at the end of December. I'm hoping she holds on until January because it's hard to compete with the Savior of the World for your birthday and also our anniversary is December 28th and I'd like to not feel guilty when our 20th anniversary rolls around and I want to take a european cruise vacation like Jen Hatmaker is doing right now and be gone on her birthday.

Which now that I think about it, maybe coming between Christmas and our anniversary would be ideal because then if we leave on our anniversary trip I don't have to worry about being back in time for a January birthday. But if she's born early January we could just go after her birthday.

Also, Amanda will be in town through the first week in January and I'd like to have her here for the baby's birth since I'm pretty sure I don't remember how to bring a baby home from the hospital without her. Decisions, decisions.

Like I have any control over it anyway. But still. Remember Ella? Lord help me.

My treasured friend

Almost exactly four years ago a super skinny college girl walked through our front door and into our life. I was uncertain about leaving my babies with a stranger and, though she's never said it, I think she was a little uncertain about me too.

I asked a lot of questions, gave a lot of instructions and had high expectations.

At first, I cautiously left our young children with her in small spurts; to run quickly to the grocery store for a gallon of milk or to pick up a prescription.

But over the course of a few months, I could see that I had every reason to trust her with my most treasured possessions. My babies. She met, no exceeded, my expectations.

Back then, we were just barely more than acquaintances. While I cared about her, we both kept our distance emotionally. There were hard questions I wanted to ask her about her walk with the Lord but I was afraid of offending her, or worse, scaring her off and being left with out help. She was good and I couldn't afford to lose her.

We functioned in harmony almost immediately. She loved on our kids and I could tell she genuinely cared about them from the start. Weeks rolled into months and months into years. And somewhere along the way that super skinny college girl became one of my dearest friends.

Two years ago, she and Nick got engaged.

Sixteen months ago, they got married. She was a stunning bride.

Over the last three years, Luke and I have had the privilege of calling Nick and Amanda our friends. Our dear friends. Somehow, in a delicate balance, Amanda has continued to work for us and, if anything, our relationship has been strengthened by her being here nearly every day.

And this is where the story gets sad. Well, at least in some respects.

In about a month, my dear, beautiful (and still ridiculously skinny) friend will deliver her first child. A daughter. Yesterday, I had the extraordinary joy of taking her maternity photos.


As I stood behind the camera, knowing what my camera had captured of Nick and Amanda over the last two years and what was yet to come, I continually choked back tears.

While I'm thrilled for them to experience the joys, trials and overwhelming love of parenthood, I'm going to miss this girl so much.


Instead of taking care of other people's kids, she gets the joy of caring for her own child and being a stay-at-home Mommy herself.


And while I'd never want her to forsake her calling to be a wife and mother exclusively, I'm just not sure how I'm going to function throughout the week with out her smile, friendship, love and warmth walking through my door consistently every week.


I know I'll still see her all the time. I know that our kids will get to love on baby Harper regularly. Because, the truth is, Nick, Amanda and baby Harper, they're not just our friends anymore.

Over the last two years, they've become our family. Treasured family.


Amanda and I have moved from once-awkward roles to nearly like sisters. She calls me out on the things I need to be called out on and gives me access to her heart and front row seats to her life. I'm just so blessed by her.


So while my heart is sad at the changes that are to come, I know that the joy ahead is worth this momentary sorrow.


My beautiful, loving, thoughtful friend is becoming a mother. The mother she's been preparing to be her whole life. The mother that God foreknew she would be before the world was set in motion.


And I have no doubt that she will be wonderful at motherhood. Not only because of the years of practice she's had with other people's children but because of who she is.

I praise the Lord for the blessing of her and that super skinny college girl that walked into my home four years ago.

I treasure her more than she could know.

Threefold cord

*Alternately titled: Amanda's Bridal Portraits*

Remember when I posted engagement pictures of our sweet, amazing, awesome babysitter/Nanny Amanda and her terrific fiance Nick? (No? Well, that's what that link was for.)

Then, I posted sneak peek pictures of Amanda's bridal portraits? Do you want to see more? I know you do. She's breathtaking, really.

Last week, Amanda and Nick made it official. I'm still a little dazed at the fact that they're really married. Over the last year, I've watched their relationship blossom. It's not always been easy, and had it been I probably would have been worried. But they've both stepped up to the plate and decided that the thing that's most important in their relationship is Christ.

Both Amanda and Nick have grown in leaps and bounds in their relationships with the Lord. Nick has started going to the weekly men's Bible study that Luke is a part of and Amanda's joined my women's group. As Nick has blessed my man with his walk with the Lord, Amanda has equally blessed mine.

There's nothing special about Luke or I. There's really nothing extraordinary about our small groups. But, the fact that Nick and Amanda desired to begin their marriage deeply rooted in solid study of Scripture is HUGE. I remember feeling so burdened for them when they first announced their engagement.

In fact, the next time Amanda came over, I felt compelled to tell her something I felt the Holy Spirit had firmly pressed on my heart.

"Amanda, I know you didn't ask me for advice, but I'm going to give you some anyway." My heart was pounding in my chest because I didn't want to offend her but I knew I needed to say what the Lord had so clearly told me.

"My prayer for you is that you will spend the next months before your wedding focusing more on becoming a wife rather than becoming a bride. I really wish I had done that."

She smiled and nodded in agreement. Luke and I began to pray for them both. A month or so later she joined our group and Nick joined the men's group. Over the course of the months leading up to their wedding, something changed in my relationship with Amanda. At first, I was hesitant because, after all, she works for us.

But I'm so glad that she's allowed me into her life, into some hard places and we've walked some roads together. Now, Amanda's not our babysitter/Nanny.

Now, she's a treasured friend.

I love her so much and I'm so honored that she allowed me front row seats on the last year of her life.

I was a bundle of nerves the day of their wedding, hoping we had prepared enough, had enough food and everything would go smoothly. But, after I ushered my little people to the top of the aisle and then went around and took my seat, I sat there, eyes fixed on Nick.

The music began and I glanced over my shoulder. I saw her coming around the corner and then Luke and I both turned back to Nick. My favorite part of the bride's entrance is watching the groom. As Nick grew teary eyed, my own hot tears streamed down my face. I looked at my own husband and thought about how much our lives had changed in the last 8.5 years.

I sobbed. Luke cried.

And now, a week later, they're married. I'm so excited to see what the Lord is going to do in their life! I know they will have struggles, I know they will have moments of doubt and fear. But above all, they've placed their marriage on the altar before God. I know the Lord Himself is eager to reveal to them His plans. I can't wait to watch it all unfold. All the while praying that they continue to keep Christ as the 3rd and central cord in their marriage.

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. - Ecclesiastes 4:12

Sneak Peek Photos

I should be packing. Or sleeping. Instead, I'm pulling up breathtaking photos on my computer and staring at them intently.

You see, in exactly 1 month, our sweet, amazing, wonderful babysitter Amanda is getting married. And over the last several months, our relationship has blossomed and now, well, she's not just a babysitter anymore. Now, she's my friend.

And I couldn't be more excited for her. She's marrying an amazing man who loves her fiercely, loves our kids (which speaks volumes to me) and, best yet, loves the Lord.

Today I had the pleasure of, once again, playing photographer and taking some Bridal Portraits for Amanda.

You guys, she is stunning. It's a good thing I'm going to be plenty distracted by my chaotic kids at her wedding or I'd bawl my eyes out. Oh who am I kidding? I probably will anyway.

I so wish that I could show you my FAVORITES but they show too much of her dress! After the wedding I'll post my favorites. Until then, you're stuck with these teasers.

What an honor to have dugout level seats to the beginning of a marriage! This girl blesses me, often. I wonder how they feel about life in Kenya? ;)

Homeschool Blog

My BFF, Amanda, and I are both venturing into the unknown (at least for us) and beginning to homeschool our children.

Luckily for us, our children are still pre-schoolers, due to begin Kindergarten in a year. That means that we have a few years of polishing our skills before we cause any permanent damage to our little ones (just kidding).

Anyway, we jointly are writing a blog about family, homeschooling, etc. If you have time, and if reading about homeschooling won't bore you to tears, check it out at:

http://nothing2prove.blogspot.com/