Showing posts with label House Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label House Parenting. Show all posts

Count Along With Me


Last night in between trying to figure out dinner, getting kids off to soccer, and returning home from my TESOL class, I got a phone call.

"Hi, B..., my house doesn't have water right now. Is there anyway I can stay at your house for the next couple of days?"

Of course, I said. And within an hours time, we had a certain housemates room cleaned up, a mattress with warm sheets and blankets, and bedside light set up.

For the record... right now we have 9 people in our house. We seem to be mulitplying people like bread and fish, around here. That's 9 glasses of milk, 9 spoons for breakfast, 9 bowls of cereal or oatmeal or whatever you eat in the morning, 9 plates around the table this evening for dinner, 9 showers, and so on.

I turned to my mom, while I was trying to prepare for my first quiz, and stated, "my house feels a bit like a zoo." She giggled and said, "it is."

It's a good one, though. Each person who is currently here, brings joy to my heart in their own special ways. Even our current guest, as I have been just getting to really know her lately and she is precious. While at times I may feel a bit overwhelmed, my heart is overflowing with love for each one in our home.

Now, if we could just find away to muliply food, water, gasoline, cars... and so on.

Posted in: , on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at at 7:05 AM 5 comments  

Just Beautiful


David and Rachael were officially married this past Friday. Oh, what a day it was! In all seriousness, their wedding was the most beautiful and intimate affair that I've attended, since CJ and I tied the knot ourselves!

I cried my eyes out several times. The bride was gorgeous, the groom was handsome, the wedding party - sassy! But the two little boys, who rang bells announcing the bride, well.... they of course stole my heart!

In the garden, with the sun setting, and candles twinkling, David and Rachael invited the presence of the Lord to their relationship. His peace and joy was certainly there! And they became husband and wife.

In the midst of all the fun details of the wedding, the Lord opened my eyes and my heart this past week. He confirmed in a deeper way, what He has called us to in this season of our lives. Rachael, was much like the first born child, as she was the first girl to come and live with us. Watching her grow and mature, find her mate, fall in love, and plan a wedding, was an amazing experience for me. There were of course, tough times but standing there in the garden, the Lord whispered the following to me.

“Is it worth all the turmoil and hassles that you go through in this season of your lives, to be able to stand here and be part of all of this?”

My answer was YES!

Posted in: , , on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 at at 7:53 AM 1 comments  

Looking for the Right Dress



I had the privilege of going dress shopping with Rachael yesterday! Her mom and sister flew in for a weeks stay to hammer out the details of her upcoming wedding. Yesterday we:

Viewed the gardens and site for her wedding and reception

Drilled the sweet woman who is semi coordinating the wedding

Drove to two different locations for her to try dresses on

And listened to a woman pitch ideas for flowers.
All. in. one. day!

Posted in: , , on Friday, April 18, 2008 at at 1:35 PM 3 comments  

Here Comes the Bride


Out of all the days of the year to have something really truly happen, one of the sweet girls who lives with us, Rachael and her boyfriend, David, got engaged yesterday on April Fools Day! But it's true! She said yes!

Rach has decided to stay in North Carolina for her wedding. And to make things just a little fun and crazy, they have set their date for August 1! this year....

So the count down is on, 4 months or really 122 days from TODAY, until they say I do.

Can you hear my brain thinking .... bridal showers, wedding gown, her family visiting, oh my! This house will be full of wedding bells, crisp whites, and flowers, and oh my goodness..... too much to think about at once.

Anyways ... CONGRATULATIONS RACHAEL AND DAVID!!!

Posted in: , on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 at at 1:26 PM 1 comments  

Another Trimester has begun

Yesterday the girls all returned, plus one visiting cousin. Our table was overflowing with a yummy dinner of potato soup, salad, and crusty bread. The noise level went up about 5 octaves, as everyone tried to catch up with each other. R's boyfriend, whom happens to be a good friend of ours, wrestled with the boys. And some of us exchanged simple belated Christmas gifts. There was much laughter in our home.


I sat back and took it all in. My heart was full of love and joy. A new trimester, a new year, a new season.

Our home is bustling, plans are being made for more visitors to come in this weekend. Meal planning has tripled in just one night as well as dishes and toilet paper. And school started back today.



This morning everyone left with heavy book bags, cups of coffee or hot chocolate and smiles. It's a new year and a new trimester at school. I have every expectation that God is going to do awesome things.



Routine is back. The vacation is over. And I am more refreshed this time, then ever before. I have more hope, more joy, and more laughter inside. I guess I am a bit more excited to be on this roller coaster ride. That's a good place to be.

Posted in: , , , on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at at 8:20 AM 3 comments  

For this I am Thankful

I had been racing around yesterday, getting together supplies, prizes, crafts and more ready for Sunday's Fall Harvest Festival. The kids were awesome as we must have visited at least 10 different places. Each time they had to get in and out of the car, I would say to them hastily, "c'mon buckle up, guys, we have to get going."


I was tired when I pulled in front of my house. I quickly told the kids to clean up their trash, books, sippy cups, etc before getting out of the car. When I finally opened the car door, coming out of the house was one of the girls, K, who lives with us. She immediately came running over and began taking all the supplies out.

As I lugged one load in, she followed behind and then said, "don't worry, I'll get the rest." I walked into the kitchen and sitting on the table was a beautiful bouquet of flowers, compliments of our other housemate, M!!!

Then as the afternoon wore on, K spent an hour sitting with the boys watching a video and M, busily got to working on making banana breads and muffins. When the video was over, K came in and helped to put together the 150 craft bags and cut out stickers for the festival, while the kids "helped" M on the baking end of things.

For this I am so thankful. The Lord has brought me such wonderful girls to live with. They are home bodies, who adore my children. They love to be in the kitchen baking and cleaning or cuddled up with my children reading a book. They laugh and cry, they care deeply for my little family. And within the last couple of months, they have comfortably become a sweet part of our home.

I am thankful.

Posted in: , , on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at at 4:37 PM 8 comments  

Whatever You do, Don't Send Us Chocolate!!!!

4 girls, 1 man, and 2 boys. That's what we have living in this house. The honeymoon period has ended a bit and the real truth of who we all are is beginning to show. Apparently there is a bit of a battle going on in the house for any sort of sweets. Bake a batch of cookies or two and they are usually gone in less then 24 hours. Want some ice cream, sure if you are there fast enough!

So today a kind family visited us for dinner and blessed our home with this....


8 boxes of Dove chocolate cookies and a bag full of M & M's snack bags! Where to begin, where to begin?!!! Let's start with 8 grams of fat in 3 cookies. Hmmm... that took me out of the equation of who gets what.

But certainly, not her! No, M, is our mischievous sweetaholic in this house. When you go around the room and discuss who ate the most cookies, brownies, or general treats.... inevitably M guiltily raises her hand to confession. Now, where it all goes to, I can't figure that out! Since she is about as big as my pinky....



Pride certainly will not get in the way of her chocolate. No siree...



Of course cuteness is always a factor. Miss K, here was puttin on the charm after she and the rest of her roomies scored their own box of cookies and three packs of M&M's.


Don't you worry, CJ certainly got his own box as well as his own packs of M&M's. Of course, there is plenty to still go around. The left overs are sitting in the pantry, waiting for their inevitable consumption.


Care to guess how many days it will take for the rest to be gone???

Posted in: , , on Thursday, September 13, 2007 at at 9:50 PM 5 comments  

X Chromosone Unite!

Have I told you lately that we have not 1, not 2, but 3 college girls living with us. Oh my, the estrogen is flowing in this house!

Perhaps we should all take a minute and pray for CJ!

Okay... now back to the girls!

All 3 of them are 20 years old. And they are from all over the United States. R, who has been living with us since March, is from Iowa. M, just moved here from sunny California. And K, graced our home this past Sunday, from Alabama!

The level of noise has certainly increased! Oh my! And honestly, if God was looking to spice things up a bit in our lives, He did! Each girl has her own personality. One is introverted, the other is in between, and the third is extroverted! Very. bubbly. extroverted!

Our boys LOVE them. Oh yea, they tell everyone that they have new sisters. And then EJ lists their names off in order. Z, prays for them at night, asking God to bless them.

From someone who never had biological sisters (but definitely sisters in Christ), having this many girls LIVING with me, is a trip. I am caught between being the mom and being the big sister. I laugh more then I thought I ever would. I find myself thanking the Lord countless times that I never had to go through the whole finding a mate in my twenties, thing. I am shocked at how much girls eat (and trust me they are all so stick thin) and even more shocked at the amount of, shall we say ... oral gas ... that can erupt from any of them! And yet, slowly, I am finding a camaraderie with each one of them.

Once Solomon was given the opportunity to have anything from the Lord. He asked Him for understanding or in other words wisdom. That has become my prayer more and more as I raise two little boys, serve my husband, and now love, serve, and encourage 3 young women.

In the meantime, last night I got to relive my childhood memories, of rearranging rooms over and over again, to find just the right way all three beds could fit comfortably. It proved to be a personality shaper that is for sure! CJ, bless his heart, did what he needed to do and then hid as 4 women solved and then resolved the decorating dilemma.

Perhaps we should take another minute and pray for CJ?!!!

Posted in: , on Thursday, August 30, 2007 at at 8:06 AM 9 comments  

A Break

Our house is strangely quiet lately. The girls who live with us went home last week. R is visiting her family and will be back at the end of next week. And B, went back to her school in Oklahoma.

It's funny, how a small break from having students in and out of our house constantly, can rev you up for the next trimester. Can you believe I am actually saying this???

I turned to CJ today and told him that I am getting excited and ready for R to return and our two new girls to finally arrive. We have one girl coming from San Diego and another coming from Alabama.

It is amazing how my "mothers" heart gets attached to these girls. I have called B a couple of times already and I miss her alot more then I realized that I would. And I worry about her too - good grief. I worry that she doesn't have enough money, or if she has dinner for that evening, or how she was supposed to talk to this one boy.

I am little surprised at myself! But more, grateful to the Lord.

Posted in: , on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at at 1:00 AM 1 comments  

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