Migraines & Convictions

Totally unrelated.



But that's what's going on right now. I'm struggling with a three-day migraine that is showing no signs of abating. I can manage the pain with pills, but that's getting really old. I'm going to up my water. Oh ya, I'm also going to beg a Tim Horton's before church tonight - you know, for MEDICINAL purposes, not because I really like their iced cappachinos, no, not *that*!



As to the convictions, well, I don't have the time to really get into it all, but let's just say....well, God has spoken to me (through my dh - now that's just NOT fair) and I am forced to listen. I have some reading to do, so I'll get back to you about all this as soon as possible.



Love to you all~

*Michigan Momma*

~p.s.~ The renting hunt is going NOWHERE. Bummer. I'm trusting in the Lord, almost as strongly as my amazing dh, and I do know it's going to be okay. But I do have to say I'm SHOCKED at the prices of renting - and what people/landlord's consider a good house. I'd hardly consider most of them *decent*. We are once again considering an apartment, a 3 bedroom, just for a year or two - until we can go ahead and buy our own home. The one I will view tomorrow is over 1200 sq. feet - we've lived in homes smaller than that - so I'll give it a try. Knowing it's just for one or two years helps me deal with it in stellar fashion!! I can do this, be organized, and live *just fine* in a 3-bedroom apartment. For now....*grins*

Blood tests, vitamins & the "good guys"

The blood test is just a simple CBC for myself, just as an annual check-up kind of thing. My blood pressure is still good (120/80) and I feel just fine - but my DO wants a base-line on some of the normal stuff (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.). Oh, and they'll do a test for my thyroid function - something I've long wanted to do. Since having my fourth baby, I've really wanted to check and make sure things aren't messed up in that department.

Let's see....then she recommended a Complex B vitamin for energy, a Fish Oil for Omega 3 & 6, and some of those probiotic...umm...what'cha'ma'call'it?!? You know, "good" bacteria so your body can properly fight off the "bad guy" bacteria. I'm *still* struggling with thrush (as is Elijah - on and off) so I'm hoping this will help. Coupled with a new CREAM for myself - the plan is it will *stick* better than the suspension, thus helping it to work more effectively on my...well...you know.

Last but not least, my wonderful dh and I are headed to the eye doc this evening. Dean wants to change up his look a bit with a different style of glasses. I'm opting for contacts this time. I've had 'em in the past. I went with glasses last time, in a nice funky style of green - but since I'm losing weight, I'd like everyone to SEE my ever-skinnier face. You know, cheek bones and all that. I *know* I have them somewhere!!

Dh and I went off the diet this past weekend - I went out with some girlfriends on Friday night, then we had a cookout at our place on Sat. (plus out for ice cream later), then a trip to a Mongolian BBQ after church on Sunday. While we usually go out after church, all the rest was TOTALLY falling off the bandwagon. So I've not lost any more...YET! But I've got "mini-goals" I am trying to make throughout the summer. I've got to be pretty strict over the next 3 weeks to make my next mini-goal. I'll let ya know how that's going later.

I've got my garage all set up for a garage sale - now I just need to price things over the next few days. I'm PURGING (Holly, you are inspiring me - plus the link you had on your blog) and trying to really determine if I truly "love it" or truly "need it". The last time we had a garage sale, my dh got so excited he just kept going through the house, grabbing various items and saying "hey, sell it, sell it, sell it all!!". At least he's not a pack-rat!! Now we just need nice weather - this town is a garage-saler's dream! I hope to make enough to totally pay for our trip to see my folks, any food we eat while there, gas, iced coffees, a dairy farm trip, etc.etc.etc. Whew...good luck to me!

Time to attack some more laundry, the dishes, and make myself BEAUTIFUL! Dh will be home soon. I really do miss him every single day while he's at work. My eldest daughter says almost daily, "I miss daddy" with a large, pathetic sigh. I just give her a big 'ol hug and say, "Me too, baby, me too". *sigh* We're pathetic, but we really do miss that Michigan Man of mine!

Ok, have a beautiful day everyone!! Hugs and kisses to the ones you love~
*Michigan Momma*

New things to talk about

Can you guess why this is *new*??



Yup, I got a haircut! Actually, I got a different haircut two days ago - didn't like it and had her go to this one. It's nice and cool for summer, although Dean is already requesting longer hair in the future.



I couldn't decide which picture to put up, so here are all the pics I took of my own head...silly, I know...



Hmmm....I like the yellow-ish light....



Oh, and new shoes. LOOK at these *adorable* new shoes!! I don't own a THING they will go with, but I have some fabric......I bet it will match perfectly.....another skirt to sew up!





And here are just some basic red sandals. I wear a lot that goes with red, I guess.


It also appears we will be moving - rather quickly! So we are on the "rent-hunt". Not necessarily the most fun to do in the world, but I do enjoy all the de-cluttering and organization that moving requires - at least I know we will be rid of all our useless junk and clutter!!

Probably more to talk about, but baby is fussing, kiddos need to get ready for bed, dishes to do, and Dean is at a meeting tonight....so I'd like it all to be done when he gets home.

~Enjoying the cooler weather while it lasts~
*Michigan Momma*

Various Pics

Just some random pics from recently....


Our backyard, visiting with neighbors, having a fire & dinner.


Isaac Benjamin, enjoying his father's creation of fire....so manly!


He sits *exactly* like his grandfather - EXACTLY! It's amazing!


Elijah is also enthralled with Daddy's fire.


Talitha enjoying family time~


A beautiful snapshot of Grammy, Eli & big sissy Selah kisses.

I could share more, but I'm recovering from our big ol' Father's Day outing yesterday. We had a great time at a friend's farm, complete with horsies, goats, puppy dogs, chickens, a pig, a few skittish cats, a sandbox, delicious food, a swingset, some comfy chairs outside for visiting, new friends, good conversation and adorable dirt-covered babies!! Of course, we also had a poopy four-year old (ick), a seriously dirty two-year old, a disobedient five-year old, and a foot stepped on by a Belgium (sp?) pony (ouch!). Overall though, the good by FAR outweighed the bad!

I am also planning a garage sale for this coming Thurs/Fri/Sat. There is a local neighborhood sale and I am piggy-backing off of it, hoping since people are out at that sale, they will take the time to cross the street and come to my house too!! This way, I'm hoping to avoid having to pay to advertise in the paper. I'll just make up some signs. Dh is getting me some tables from church (I hope) and I must prepare the rest. It is AMAZING to me that we *just* moved five months ago, where I seriously decluttered all our stuff, and I *still* have enough for a good garage sale this weekend. We do indeed live in a country of excess.

I also have a two-year old showing signs of interest in the potty. I'm really hoping this will encourage my four-year old to finally finish her own potty-training. I'm mean, who wants to be shown up by their little sissy??

One last thing, if you will, take a look at the ticker up there. I am almost to the 40 lbs. lost mark - Whoo-hoo!! My wonderful dh finally took the plunge and told me this morning he will be joining me on this journey. He and I lost quite a bit of weight before we got preggo with Elijah (and then promptly gained it all back during the pregnancy) - so I'm really hoping we can be an encouragement to one another again and get this weight off for good! No more using pregnancy as an excuse (if the Lord should so choose to bless us again).

Ok, really, one LAST thing: in case you didn't already know, Elijah has been sleeping through the night for quite some time now. Another big WHOO-HOO!! It's amazing how much this improves things around here, to have momma, oops, I mean baby, sleeping through the night. Yeah!!

Lovin' my Michigan life~
*Michigan Momma*

My Men

Here are my men, being men. They are cleaning daddy's gun. Isaac is no longer actually sleeping or even laying down for quiet time (unless he is reading on the couch). So when Daddy is home, many times Isaac will have an opportunity to spend some time with him - just the two of them. How wonderful!!

Safety first, right? Gotta love those safety glasses!!

*Michigan Momma*

p.s. this is in preparation of our "shootin' session" tomorrow. We found some great friends at our new church, and we are having a Father's Day celebration, complete with grillin' and shootin'!! Yee-haw!! ~MM

Daily Organization

Do you remember the free piano we received not that long ago? This one:





Well, my eldest daughter is showing a real gift in this area. She will play all day long if allowed to, she easily picks up little-diddies (all her father and I really know are little-diddies) super quick, and is starting to make up her own little-diddies!! It's really cool to listen to her as she experiments with different notes together. It's also amazing to me that she doesn't just use her two "pointer" fingers - she actually uses all her fingers to play! Wow!!

So anyways, I have been instructed by my dh to make sure she has music lessons twice a week worked into our home education plan for this year. I will be teaching her some basic music theory stuff, and having her go through age appropriate piano books. I have already asked a piano teacher at church for tips about teaching young children. I'm excited!!

Right now, I have a basic schedule for education: Interlock 3 days a week, Phonics the other 2 days, along with music on those days as well. Interlock has all subjects, including math, so we are set there. Next year, when we move on to the Weaver Volumes, I will be adding Math-U-See to the curriculum choices. My children are just beginning KINDERGARTEN this year and already I can see their own styles and personal tendencies coming out. There's no WAY they would receive a personalized education, that caters to their own strengths and weaknesses, in a public or even private school. I am *very* happy about our decision to homeschool, even if right now I am a bit scared and anxious about it. It's a lot to think about.....

So today, I'm going to try to get my schedule down on paper. Dh may be getting me a nice planner, with room for education stuff, plus day to day activites, appointments, etc. That would be great! ~ I would also like to have a garage sale (piggy-backing on a local neighborhood sale) so I need to go through the house and gather appropriate items. We just moved 5 months ago, but it's amazing how much "stuff" I will probably be able to get together!!

I also got out the closet door safety locks today. So now, all but ONE of the kid's closets can be locked up. That means, during their room time, they will have ONE closet with toys in it to play with and then clean up. I'll change which closet they have access to every so often. I'm hoping this lessens stress at clean up time.



Ok, well, I need to get my house in order, move the laundry around, get lunch on the table and nurse the baby......no problem......

~be back later~
*Michigan Momma*

Just not cutting it...

Well, my usual day to day activities are just not cutting it anymore. I am used to getting up fairly late (*so* not a morning person), just as my dh is heading out the door. I am used to being able to take care of children, home, meals, cleaning, etc. all during the day - then relaxing at night with dh. This is no longer a viable option.

I have been watching my home slowly get worse and worse in regards to tidiness and cleanliness. Now, it's nothing major - I have always been a bit of a neat freak - but these changes are not happening because I've carefully thought about it. It is happening because I feel as though I am losing control. Losing control of the order to my home. The happy rhythm I have become accustomed to.

Sooooo...changes need to be made. I simply can not sleep in as long as I have been. Yet I know myself, I KNOW I'm not about to become this chipper morning person. So I'm not about to set some unrealistic goal that I'll only fail at. I'm just talking about getting MYSELF up and about before the children. I'm not going for hours and hours of time - just enough to feel ready for my day by the time the babies head out their own doors.

I'm also going to teach the children WHEN they are allowed to come out of their rooms. Digital clocks in their room, teaching them that they MUST stay in their own rooms, playing quietly, until 7am (or 7:30 - whatever dh and I decide is appropriate). That way I will be able to maintain a basic morning routine without the worry of accidentally waking someone up at 6:30 and feeling behind.

Dh and I talked very briefly about my feelings today on the phone and agreed less time in the evenings will be allowed for simply relaxing (i.e. lazin' about) watching t.v. More time will be given for me to get some basics done while he is available to spend time with the babies. This will give me more of a 'jump' on my mornings as well.

I will also be coming up with a basic "plan of attack" for each day. Right now, I am flying by the seat of my pants - just doing what needs to be done, attacking one chore at a time, always feeling behind and not in control whatsoever. That is NOT how I like to feel. I have come up with enough "schedules" to know what is realistic, that each day will ebb and flow, and that some days will not look like my schedule at all! But to simply *have* a schedule will give me (and my children) guidance - which is invaluable.

Of course, I still need to re-think chores. My two year old is AMAZING and really wants to help. There are simple things she *can* do - so I need to make sure she is included in chore time. I need to begin scheduling Elijah into reliable nap times (he is almost 4 months old and has already begun scheduling himself for the most part) so I will have definite time slots available for educating. My eldest son, at almost 6 years old, rarely sleeps anymore during quiet times, so I hope to turn this time into more education time for him as well. He will use this time for quiet, self-led activites such as reading, flash cards, writing practice, worksheets, etc. Anything he can do quietly, by himself, in one location.

Geesh...look at all that!?!! I know it seems a bit overwhelming, but I feel overwhelmed as it is right now. I have cut out quite a bit of t.v. and computer time recently. After baby #4 came along, I allowed *way* too much of that and my son especially got VERY used to it. Now that they no longer have that t.v./computer time - *I* no longer have as much time for my housekeeping. Which is resulting in quite the messy home. I can't STAND that. I don't WANT that. There WILL be changes here!!


So anyways, there it is. I'd better get started....I need to regain a bit more control of my life. My children need more structure and stability. My husband needs a warm, comfortable, clean and INVITING home to come home to.

please pray....I'm gonna need it.
*Michigan Momma*

not ignoring you!

Hi y'all,

I'm not missing in action or anything....I'm just busy.

This past weekend was a busy one, having lots of fun with daddy during his days off. The kids have also taken turns being slightly ill (usually just a minor fever that makes them pretty tired). I have also noticed some, well, shall we say, less-than-perfect attitudes and behaviors in my children that need attention. For instance, Talitha has decided that when she doesn't want to obey me, she simply sits down, shakes her head emphatically and says "NO, NO, NO!!". Not exactly the behavior and attitude we are striving towards, eh?

So this week I am in attitude-adjustment mode. I am also reading my Teaching Tips & Techinique book that I purchased from the Weaver curriculum. I will be setting up a new basic schedule, which will include our education times, chore times, etc. I have also been making extra efforts to figure out which of my four children needs their "Momma Tank" refilled and doing just that: with a snuggle on the couch, or time to build a train track set, or simply read a book (over and over and over again).

With all this going on, I simply haven't had time to blog (imagine that?). I also haven't had time to tackle the laundry (and I *like* laundry!). I need to get a good schedule going that actually gives me some "me-time" to recharge as well. Maybe some time to actually play my clarinet - *gasp*

So there ya go - summary: I'm busy.

AND, we are tying to find a place closer to the church, to rent. Hopefully, we can be all moved and settled in by the time our "official" homeschooling begins (whenever *that* is supposed to be? I think when Isaac turns 6). Since we'll be educating with phonics this summer, I'm not all that neurotic about a start date anyways....Daddy's main vacation time (read: one whole month off of seminary) is Sept. so I'm not too hip about starting Sept. 1st anyways.

Lots to think about, lots to plan, lots to implement...
~relying on Him~
*Michigan Momma*

p.s. weight has been fluctuating these last few days, up and down the same few pounds - since I do tend to eat more on the weekends, this is expected. I'm still aiming for a few pounds each week. I have specific goals set for this summer (so-much by a wedding I'm attending, so-much-more by a family trip in Sept., etc) and if I'm not extremely diligent, I'll never make them. I set them up TOUGH! We shall see....keep an eye on the ticker up there and hold me accountable, please!! In love - of course! ~lori

Family Beach Fun

Finally...I remembered to bring my camera to the beach!

It's a Thursday evening, about 6pm, when we decided to head to the beach. By the time we got swim diapers on, bathing suits located and donned, water bottles filled up and towels shoved in a bag, it was close to 7pm by the time we got there. But the day was beautiful, still nice and warm, with quite a gusty wind actually. The waves weren't big, but the water was all choppy from the wind.

We visited a new beach. New for us, but also new for the community. There were just a few other people there. The beach closed at 8pm so we only had an hour. It was enough.

Isaac loves the water. It is the first place he wants to go. He strips off his shirt, pulls the sandals off, and goes right in. Sand toys can wait, this boy wants to feel the cold water!

Selah is pulled in both directions. She likes the water, but really only if she is ATTACHED to a parent at the time. After she gets her water fix, it's sand toys all the way.

Tali on the other hand really isn't interested in the water. Except to throw the occasional rock into. She tried it once, found it cold, and hasn't really been interested since. Now sand toys, *those* she loves. If only her thumb wouldn't get so sandy....it's so hard to properly suck one's thumb when it is covered with sand.

Elijah, well, he cried. Once momma held him, reassured him, comforted him - all was well. I think it was the wind. The wind, the sand and three sibling playing in the sand nearby. Again, sandy binkie is *not* good.

The lake is rocky until you get out a bit. Tali has these great "beach" shoes (not sure of the technical name) that I am determined to find in all sizes to accomodate my whole family (myself included). Right now, we just wear our sandals in the water.

There weren't any big barges going by this evening. Nor any sailboats (I think it was the wind). You could make out Canada in the distance one way, and follow the Michigan shoreline up the "thumb" the other way.

Gorgeous, just gorgeous!

*Michigan Momma*

aggressive??

Let me just start off by saying that I'm not sold on psychology. I have a bad taste in my mouth about analyzing anything too much. I'm not one to sit down and really find out the "meaning" behind everything, blaming it all on my mother or childhood, or taking drugs for every little problem. That's just not me. But...

I do recognize that God *did* create us with different personalities. There *are* childhood factors that influence who we are today. There *are* certain "in-born" qualities - which I believe are all GOOD (we don't always use them for GOOD, but I believe God don't make no mistakes).

So anyways, while visiting Jess's site - Making Home, I decided to take her recommended, on-line, personality test. Just to see. Just to be able to follow along with her as she blogs about this.

I've taken tests like this before. You pretty much have to when you are a pastor's wife (I guess they want to make sure he didn't marry a wack-o). I've always pretty much agreed with what their answers were. Except this time.

I just don't like the wording, I guess. Aggressive? That makes it sound like I FORCE people to "be the best they can be". For goodness sake's, I sound like an ad for the Army. But I've taken the test like six times. I've really thought about my answers (as compared to the first time I took it, when I barely gave myself time to think) - and it all turned out the same.

Persuader.


Soooo...how can I use this for God's glory?? If this is true about me, how can I use what the good Lord has given me and make it godly? Use it to further God's kingdom?

I'll have to continue to think on this (but you know, not *too* much)...

plus, I really just wanted to be one of those free-spirited, fun, innovative, crazy-type of mommas. *sigh* I'm just too organized for that, I guess....bummer...

*Michigan Momma*

Ticker up there ^^

Ok, so I just want to state that it really takes guts (and a desperate need for accountability) for someone to post their weight on a public blog.

But since I am really READY to lose all this extra weight - I decided this was a good a place as any to let people know how things are going.

Just a bit of history: I have almost always been overweight - a chubby kid, to say the least. I was this weight when I married. I always return to about this weight after each pregnancy.

I have not had weight-related health issues (yet). No high bp, no diabetes (even while pg), no hurting knees, back, joints, etc. I don't have trouble playing with my kids, getting up and down off the floor, or doing any other physical activities. It seems I'm quite strong and the doctor's charts have always said "healthy, obese female" (kind of an oxymoron, no?). But I'm smart enough to know what's coming....

I also am dealing with the recent conviction that this is gluttony. This is *not* a measely 10 extra lbs. This is not the testimony I want people to see. And this *is* what people first notice about me. Sure, there's lots more to me than my weight - but hey, it's human nature - it's the first thing people notice.

So there ya go. I'm done. I'm tired of it.

I will be updating my ticker at least once a week, on Tuesdays. I've been doing this for four weeks now. I've lost 30 lbs and I feel great!! Who knows if my goal weight is feasible or reasonable? I've never been that low. How exciting!!

~So be kind, okay?~
*Michigan Momma*

Feast of St. Clair

I'm a bit late in posting pics, but here they are nonetheless.

A local festival, The Feast of Ste Clair, is held annually. I *love* these kind of festivals and hope my children will also enjoy them. While this year was mostly rainy, and the re-enactors all looked a bit water-logged, overall we had a great time. I'm looking forward to next year and hope it will be nice and sunny!!

Basically, the river and lake were discovered on the same day as a Catholic feast - thus the name. The festival recreates and demonstrates four periods in early MI history, portrayed by four "camps": Native Americans, French explorers, British traders, and American revolutionaries.

Now, onto the pics (not that many, as it was rainy and I just didn't get my camera out that much).

Here's one of the puppet show - I think the teens did this, and they weren't all that good. But hey, the kids didn't care. My son laughed hysterically the whole time!

Local group (I believe) - they sounded nice.

My dh says if we ever do this, he wants to be the "important" people (ha!)

I know the bagpipes are fairly difficult to play - but she wasn't all that good...

Not nearly as good as our very own flute player!

Selah's necklace (which she made herself) is the only purchase we made that day that isn't broken now...

Isaac's sword (how cool). The handle fell apart within minutes, but dh can easily fix that (sorry the photo was so dark - by that time, it was about to rain again and my flash didn't go off).

So there ya go! We had a good time. Isaac's favorite part was the Battle scene. I didn't get any pics (we let Isaac go sit up front, but we were pretty far back). It was darn near impossible to get Isaac to leave the battle field - even when the battle was over. He was fascinated with the guns - what a little boy!

*

We got a few "what a nice family" comments, which were nice. We also got a really nasty comment from a wooden salesmen. I was about to purchase some wooden spoons, maybe a nice bowl from him, when he said "Are these kids all *YOURS*??" Why yes, they are (I replied, glancing around to see if I had somehow picked up a stray or two). He just grunted. Another older man told me that he had two kids and that was two TOO many - how sad....

*

Overall, it was a good day. For future outtings, I think I need to come up with some more spiffier replies to the "are these ALL yours?" kind of comments. I want it to be loving (well....I really want to be just as rude back to people, but that's hardly Christ-like now, is it?), I want it to show that we ENJOY and WANT these wonderful children in our lives. I would even like a response that maybe could let people know how rude/innapropriate they're being (but I doubt I could come up with one that was also loving).

*

We did run into our friends (and semi-local celebrities) who have 10 children (waiting on #11 and possibly #12). When I think of the piddly comments we got, compared to what they must go through every time they step out of their house, well....that puts in all into perspective!

*

~Loving my Michigan life & family~

*Michigan Momma*

~Feet~

Ok, so I like to take care of my feet. I have what you may consider "less-than-perfect" looking feet. No foot model here! But my dh likes feet. He likes mine to look nice. Maybe it's weird, but hey, it's something he likes. I'm his wife. I like to make him happy, if I can. So I try to take care of my feet.

For me this means a good scrubbing and scraping at least once a week, perhaps more in summer. I love a pair of sandals and want my feet to look all pretty in them (silly maybe, but that's me). My feet pretty much only look nice with some nail polish on them, so that's I do. I soak, scrub, scrape and smooth. Then I lotion 'em up, with this FABULOUS cream my dh bought for me at Bath & Body Works. Then I file my toe nails a bit, push back my cuticles, and paint away. Sometimes it a nice, shimmery pink. Sometimes a bold pink. Sometimes it's even a funky orange or crazy blue. Whatever I'm in the mood for. I'll even occasionally match my outfits (not that much anymore as I simply don't have that kind of time).

So anyways, I like my feet. When we were planning this "Be A Tourist in Your Own Town" day, I read that in order to climb up the stairs in the Lighthouse, you had to wear closed-toe shoes. NO sandals. But hey! I *like* sandals. I'm comfortable in sandals. I don't like to wear tennis shoes with my skirts. But I also DID want to climb up the lighthouse. So I donned the obligatory tennis shoes - with every intention of taking them right off and putting my sandals back on right afterwards.

Later that day, we were visiting the Seaway Terminal. We got to board three different boats. No silly shoe restrictions - yeah! I got to wear my sandals!! Look how pretty my feet looked - ahhh.....if anyone happened to glance down, well, what a pretty sight.

Vanity goes before....

Yup, the very first boat we visited, I turned around to ask a question and stubbed my toe. Hard. Really hard. I bit back any possible curse words (I would *never* curse.....*blush*....well....) and simply went on with my questions. I looked down a few minutes later and saw blood. Yup, blood. My big toe was mangled!! I had somehow torn back the middle section of my nail - all jagged and ripped and bleeding. Ouch. But not only ouch.....UGLY!! It looked painful and nasty. Hardly the beautiful feet I had envisioned.

How sad.

Soooo, silly story right?! Yup, pretty much. I tried to think of some moral significance. Maybe the whole pride issue - it could certainly apply. I will keep painting my toes, I will keep making the efforts to make my feet look nice for my hubby. But maybe I'll also think beyond good looks to safety as well. Perhaps I'll realize that beside dh and myself, most of Michigan probably does not care what color my toenails are. They probably do not take the time to ponder my choice of footwear. Really, Lori, come on!!

So there's my little story. About my feet. I guess I need to think of more interesting things to blog about 'eh??

Oh well.....enjoy the chillier weather today! No sandals here...

*Michigan Momma*

Large Family??

Ok, I have four small children. I realize this may not be the norm. Got it. But, come on...

We have been trying in every way to cut expenses. To really make this "one income" life work for us. My dh is a Children's Pastor at a fairly large church. He works hard. He *should* be able to support his family on his income.

In that vein, we decided perhaps we should look at cheaper housing. We rented this house sight-unseen (well, we saw some pics on-line) while still in CO. It is a great house. Big enough, nice yard, etc.etc. And the price is really good for the house. Really. But in trying to spend less, well, we just thought we would check things out.

We started by simply driving around the areas by our church. We would *love* to live close enough so dh can walk to work at times. We are a one car family (gasp), and this would simply be easier. There were a few - mostly 2 bedrooms. Now, we *could* fit all four kids in one bedroom, but that doesn't sound like such a great plan. We like the idea of a "boy's room" and a "girl's room". So three bedrooms would be better.

But the thing is, so what if we wanted to put four kids in one room? We have two sets of bunkbeds. If it was a large enough room, so what? If we just wanted to do this for a year to save money, so what?? Do you really think my 5, 4, 2 year olds + baby would be scarred by sharing a room for a year? Really??

Again, I don't want to put them all in one room. I don't plan on it. But what if we HAD to? What if housing was so expensive, we *needed* to?

The reason I ask all these questions is that every time I call someone to ask about their rental - when they find out we have four children - FORGET IT!! I do understand that when you are renting a house, you have every right to decide who (whom?) to rent to. I understand that. Honest. But I just feel everyone just automatically tunes me out when they find out we have 4 children. It's frustrating!!

Now, we are praying about this. We don't *have* to move. We can wait a month or two and see if anymore homes in the area go up for rent. The youth pastor and his family (they have 3 girls) live in a nice neighborhood - they tell us there is often duplexes and homes for rent around them. I need to trust that if the Lord wants us to move, to help save money, HE will provide the house - not me.

I guess this is just a venting post. I know it's not the norm to have many children, but I've been experiencing some "discrimination" recently. For example, we went to the "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" this past Saturday. After having waited in line for almost an hour (right there in clear view of the workers), the main guy in charge of the lighthouse turns to my dh and says (very rudely) "You're not taking all those babies up there, are you, 'cause that would be foolish!". This is right after we have seen other children (preschoolers) go up with their parents. But because we have four, well, that's just too many! Oohh, was I upset.

As it turned out, there was a hatch door to go through at the top, and it *was* better for my 2yo to stay down with some of our friends (dh was going to carry her in a backpack carrier, and it would have been a tight fit). Yet there were nicer ways to let us know that then simply tell my dh he's FOOLISH for even thinking about taking his children up into the lighthouse. Ugh....


Ok, enough venting. The Lord said follow me, He certainly never said follow me and all will be easy and hunky-doory for you. So I will wait. I will pray. I will attempt to be patient. I will look at each child, look into their adorable big eyes and tell each of them that they are a blessing. They are a gift. I refuse to get angry at people who obviously don't understand how wonderful it is to be blessed by the Lord. How sad for them, really...

Lord, grant me patience and compassion. Let your light shine from me - 'cause my own darkness is overwhelming.

~Thankful for my many, MANY blessings~
*Michigan Momma*