The Journey

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:51:00.007-06:00

There is so much to be thankful that we sometimes lose sight of what's important: FAMILY & OUR HEALTH. The family we have is a blessing as God can call them home anytime. As I mourn the loss of a forum friend, the death of a niece of another forum friend and a dear friend who is trying to survive DVT and those who's health is not very good living each day as a blessing to be alive, I give thanks for today. For those that I love and care about. Whether near or far I am giving thanks for each and every one of you. I am giving thanks to the Lord for each day I am here to love my husband and children. For the health of my family and I and for the health of all of you.

As I sit at our dinner table with my family before our bountiful feast, this Thanksgiving will mean so much more to me than past ones. We don't know what the future holds. We don't know if tomorrow will come or how it will change. I purpose to live today with love, grace and thanks to God for all that I have and cherish.

Go hug and love on your family today. I plan to, many times today.

Thanksgiving blessing to you and yours,

Thanksgiving Traditions

2009-11-23T13:47:00.008-06:00

Family traditions have always been important to my husband and I. From the first Thanksgiving we prepared all on our own for our (at the time) 3 small children. Since that first Thanksgiving my husband has been the one to cook the turkey. He washes, brine's it overnight and gets it into the oven the next day. I have nothing to do with the turkey! And don't need to because his turkey always turns out fantastic!

While my husband takes care of the turkey I would be in charge of baking pies and making the side dishes to go with 'said turkey'. Then one day it dawned on me that I should enlist our kids into helping prepare some of the food for our grand Thanksgiving feast. It would be perfect because they could, when grown and out on their own bring that dish to my home for Thanksgiving or to someone else's home. It was a great plan! And it has stuck with us these last six years. Our children really enjoy doing 'their part' to contribute to our grand feast. One day my four Littles will also be taught a dish to make. But right now they are to busy having fun and being cute.

I love having a large family and one day all the side dishes will be prepared by my wonderful children and I won't be left in the kitchen cooking while the rest of them visit. It has been a great tradition of ours and one that I am sure will continue on forever.

Some other traditions we have are playing a board game (usually a new one) after our Thanksgiving feast, drawing names out of a hat for our Christmas gift exchange and then watching A Christmas Story that evening. And we always have turkey sandwiches while watching our movie...such a great day it is each year!

18 Years!

2009-10-13T00:00:00.004-05:00

We celebrated 18 years of love yesterday (Oct 12). I am a day late in posting this but that is because we spent the day together. Nothing exciting, I am just coming off of being ill for two weeks. Still, it was a great day. I thank God for bring us together. What a wonderful life I have had with this man. I pray for another wonderful 18 years with him and will vow to love him through every bump in the road, every joyful event in our lives and everyday that God has given us together.

Love you babe!

Cold mornings and blanket sleepers...

2009-10-09T10:54:00.003-05:00

On cold mornings hot coffee never tasted better. A warm bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat (a childhood favorite) warms the soul like nothing else. Frost on the grass and the shiver that goes up your spin lets you know that winter is coming!

Holding a sweet baby girl in your arms is precious and comforting. Her warm little body against yours wrapped in a blanket sleeper and her favorite blanket in hand makes my heart smile.

I love when the time comes to put blanket sleepers on my little ones. You know they are warm and they look absolutely adorable...

Fall is upon us!!!

2009-09-30T10:31:00.003-05:00

My favorite season is fall. The cool crisp air, the wonderful smells coming from my oven and the family time we spend together because it is to cold to be outside is wonderful. Our evenings are spent in our living room talking about life, being goofy and sometimes watching a movie. We'll have coffee (for us adults) and the children will be drinking cocoa. We may have fresh baked cookies or pie to accompany our hot beverage...it is all good.

These are wonderful times in our family. My children are growing by leaps and bounds. Some are maturing and becoming wonderful adults preparing to head out into the big world in which we live in. My heart becomes heavy with the thought of her leaving us, but I am also proud in knowing she is going to make an awesome, responsible adult who will show her faith in the way she lives her life.

Others are learning how to write their names and count to 20. Learning shapes and how to read. Kindergarten is going very well. My sweet baby girl is using a fork to eat with and holds hands at the table as my husband says the blessing. She is amazing and such a joy to our day.

Fall is upon us, life really is good...

I am back from Virginia and school is in!

2009-09-18T23:24:00.004-05:00

Well, homeschool that is in our home!

Boy have I been busy lately. First off I went to Virgina for almost eight days to visit my best friend in the world! Bless her heart, she flew me out to help her pack up for a move her family was making to a new home. She really needed my help and I really wanted to help her so she flew me out...what a blessing! I had a great time, worked hard, laughed all.the.time and came home exhausted, but really happy! It was absolutely lovely seeing her. It had been almost seven years since we saw each other last, way to long in my opinion. I will not let us go that long, ever again!!!

Once I returned home it was time to begin our homeschooling year. I certainly will have my plate full this year as I am adding in our son who is beginning kindergarten and our three year old daughter who insists on doing school to, so she will be doing preschool. That is five kids I will be homeschooling this year, wow! One thing you should know about me is I love having my hands full...a full plate of things going on is just how I like it. The craziness doesn't bother me one bit, in fact it brings me a lot of joy to see these children grow and learn. It is so amazing and I feel so honored that God chose to bless us with these seven children...words cannot express what is in my heart but I am filled with so much gratitude for these blessings. My cup runneth over with love, peace and joy!

My intent for this blog 'originally' was to chronicle special times in our life and I have severely failed at that. But I am not giving up. I just have to find my rhythm and hopefully I will get my act together in blogging regularly. I do enjoy blogging when I find time to do it but those seven blessings I was speaking about are my priority. Now that school is in we adhere to a strict schedule and I am adding in some blogging time for me. In our home if it isn't on the schedule it doesn't get done and this summer nothing was on the schedule except to have fun! So, I think I will start with short posts and do a 'wordless' post where I will just post a picture every now and then. That should help me, dontcha think?

Anyway, school is in, fall is almost here and I am in my comfort zone! Life is good!

Blessings,

Computers dying and sick kids...ugh!

2009-07-29T22:10:00.004-05:00

I've been a way for such a long time because of my laptop dying. That brought us down to one computer, my teenage daughters laptop which was on its last leg. We were blessed by a family member with a refurbished desktop which just got up and running on the Internet yesterday. Then today, this evening to be specific, my daughter's laptop died. Now we are back down to one computer in the house. This situation needs to be dealt with ASAP because there are to many of us in our home who use a computer daily. I can't imagine going through this again so I pray you will stick with me and continue to visit my blog while we figure this out.

Now sick kids...

Nothing is more difficult (in my opinion) than dealing with a sick child. But dealing with FOUR sick children is 'hair pulling' difficult!!! Running noses, coughing, fever and being picky about eating makes for very cranky kids. So my time has been very limited these days. A simple prayer for healing would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I'll be back when I have more time...

Blessings, Michelle

Happy 1st Birthday baby girl!

2009-07-01T21:32:00.006-05:00

On this day our family was completed by the birth of this precious baby girl. One year ago today...amazing how the time flies. It is truly not fair.

As we begin another year with this angel, I will always remember the first day she was born and was placed into my arms. The first kiss on her cheek I gave her and the first smell of that sweet little head of her's. I was instantly in love...

God bless you my sweet baby girl...Happy Birthday!

Idle...

2009-06-25T18:17:00.004-05:00

We are at 'idle' right now. Not sure whether we are coming or going. No direction. No idea as to what to do next. Idle...

Can I just say 'idle' stinks! I know our God has a plan for us. Not sure what that is at this point but I am keeping my eyes on Him anxiously awaiting to see what He does next.

We are praying for a job for Michael. A job for me and a job for our teenage daughter. Now if Michael can make enough for me to not work that would be great. Our daughter wants to work to make some spending money and I think it will be good for her.

We need a job so we can continue our hand at homesteading. It has been great up to this point. To have a small homestead you need money. Money for equipment and feed for your animals...all things we knew before getting into this. At the time Michael had a great job that afforded us to have all this. When that job left us and another didn't come along we couldn't maintain the farm. It is sad really. We've always dreamed of having our own farm. We've read many books in educating ourselves and now we are at 'idle' with everything because none of us have a job.

We aren't naive, we knew it would be hard building a homestead on a piece of property that was a blank slate...we were so up for the challenge. One just can't do all the things needed on a homestead without money so for now, we sit at 'idle'.

Keep on reading this blog to find out what happens. I am sure it will be interesting if nothing else.

See you soon!

Preparing for 'hard economic times'...

2009-04-20T15:59:00.002-05:00

I know many have their own opinions about 'preparedness'. I am a preparer. Always have been from, how to educate my children to preparing for a hurricane. I make a list for everything. It is just who I am.

I am also a Christian and trust in my Lord. I am not concerned about my own well being because I believe that God is in totally of control of everything in this world and in my life. With that said, He also sometimes calls us to do things, like storing food, planting a garden and raise chickens.

If you haven't felt the need to store up some food and water, I suggest you consider it. The economy is very uncertain and fragile right now. We don't know if we will see a huge rise in the cost of food or your family will be hit with a spouse who becomes unemployed, like mine has.

Knowing that I have a well stocked pantry is comforting to me during this uncertain times. I know I have food to feed my family and others in need. I can be of service to those who are in need.

Just some thoughts to consider...

A lots been going on in our home...

2009-04-14T13:39:00.008-05:00

Wow, has it been a long time since I've posted here. I am sorry! I began a different blog called No Spend Month where I blogged about our way of paying off debt. I really got into that one until my husband lost his job. At that point we had to stop paying off our debt, which really bummed me out.

Since then we've been waiting for all the snow to melt and the temps to warm up so we could begin putting in our garden and fruit trees. We have always wanted to have a large garden, lots of fruit trees and berry bushes for our family.

On Saturday we bought our first dog. A yellow labrador retriever. She is 8 weeks old and the sweetest little thing. We've named her *Honeybelle* and our Littles affectionately call her, Honey.

In 2 weeks we will be getting our baby chicks...25 of them! We are really embracing the homesteading life. Really loving it! My husband is building our chicken coop as I type this. He has really become the handman as of late. And he is doing a fabulous job at it too! I will be sure to post pictures of our chicks and coop in May.

I am really going to make a huge effort to post more often here. I wanted this blog to be a diary of sorts for my family and I've not done so well thus far.

Happy Spring!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T21:59:00.002-06:00

Not much time to blog today...as it is New Year's Day! I'm starting out the New Year on the right foot, with my family. I am putting my family first as they should be.

Just wanted to wish y'all a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T14:20:00.002-06:00

I have been very busy cleaning, wrapping presents, sending out cards, making homemade tamales (a family tradition) and baking...boy am I tired! I enjoyed doing it all for my family. I love to prepare yummy food and make special days like Christmas wonderful for my family.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! May you have a blessed day, filled with love and joy. Good food and laughter. And peace for our Savior is born...

May God bless you all,

12 more days until Christmas...

2008-12-12T20:53:00.002-06:00

And I am having Internet problems...ugh!

We live in such a small town that most of my shopping is done online. So, I have been very stressed with not being able to get 'online' to order gifts. This has been going on for the last week. Sometimes the Internet is working early, early in the morning, like at 5:30am. I know this because that particular morning our baby was wide awake and ready to start the day...unlike her mama. LOL

Other times it is only late in the evening, like tonight. During the day it is hit or miss...what does one do about this? Do I call our server? What can be done about this? I admit that I am not computer savvy at all. So I have to call someone to help me out. Now it is the weekend and the call will have to wait until Monday. Oh well.

I admit, I am happy to be without Internet for the most part. It helps me stay on task with the domestic duties I have around here. When I know the Internet isn't working I don't think about it and I am so much more productive. I think I'd really be okay with not having the Internet, except for when I need to order something from a store I like but don't have in my little town. Yeah, I'd be okay otherwise.

I think the Lord is preparing me for not having Internet. I hope I am passing His preparations...

Farewell November...hello, December!

2008-11-30T13:26:00.005-06:00

Does it amaze you (like it amazes me) that the month of November is over? Really, is time just passing by faster and faster or am I not savoring each day enough? I believe it is the latter. I am simply not taking the time to enjoy each day. I get so wrapped up in the 'what needs to be done now' that the day is gone and another begins. I know I will regret it one day. My children will be grown and gone before I know it. Then I will cry because I let the precious time of their childhood slip through my fingers... So, as we embark on a new month... I vow to savor and celebrate each day with my children.

Our sweet baby girl turns 5 months on December 1st isn't she adorable? She has been a wonderful addition to our family...we thank the Lord for her.

Until next time,

2008-11-03T16:45:00.004-06:00

Wow, long time no blog.

I have been quite busy these last 2 months unpacking, painting rooms, organizing my pantry closet...loving on my baby girl. You get the picture. Busy is what I've been and to be honest, I don't think my home looks all that put together! EEK!

I've added a Favorite Recipe section on the right side. I will be posting some of our families favorite recipes. I really love to cook and I love sharing recipes so it was a perfect addition to my blog.

My baby girl turned 4 months old Saturday. Four months, I can't believe it has been four months since she was born. Life goes way to fast if you ask me. Isn't she cute? And oh so kissable...

Election Day is tomorrow... I am not excited but ready for all of the TV ads, mailers and emails to just go away. Enought already! I have had enough! I am praying the Lord's will be done and I am confident it will be. No matter which way this election goes we will all be okay who rest in Him. Blessings...

Moving day is upon us...

2008-09-07T22:38:00.003-05:00

A big day is upon us...yay! We are moving into our new home and boy are we ready!! It will be a busy week, that's for sure.

We had a successful garage sale but we didn't get rid of all the clothes I was hoping for. Looks like I will just be dropping them off at the Goodwill.

I will be offline for two weeks...eek! When you move out to the country or to just any small town it takes on average ten days for your Internet to be hooked up. Well okay, that is been my experience. So, I am choosing to look at that as a blessing.

No Internet will mean that I won't get tempted to surf the net, which wastes alot of time. I should be able to get my home in order and begin the new school year homeschooling my Middles and Littles. I expect lots will have been accomplished in the next two weeks...I am looking forward to it!

See you in two weeks...

Preparing for a yard sale.

2008-09-03T11:51:00.002-05:00

Folks, I am up to my eyeballs in 'stuff' for our yard sale! Baby stuff, toys, kitchen items that are never used, out grown clothes...up to my eyeballs, I say!

Just de-cluttering before we move. Making a little money from selling it all would be good too! Well, back to work I go...later.

Preparing to move...the excitement is building!

2008-09-01T20:54:00.004-05:00

In just 6 short days we will be moving into our new home. I am SO excited! It has been 2 years since we've owned our own home. And then we only lived in our old home for 1.5 years out of the 3 we owned it. That is because my husband was in the Air Force at the time. We moved to Florida 14 months after we bought the home. After we sold the home we decide to just rent.

I love to decorate my homes so the excitement of getting to do 'whatever' I want is building. I have been picking out paint and window treatments. Surfing the Web for wood flooring. Basically, looking at everything you can think of. I can hardly wait to get started! I am a seasonal decorator, which means I change my decor with the season's. My favorite season happens to be fall so imagine my glee at getting to break-out all my fall decor for our new home!! WooHoo!!

We don't have a lot of packing to do for this move. We have mostly been living out of boxes the last 7 months because we knew this rental was temporary. But boy will we have a lot of unpacking to do! Which will mean a lot of donating. We really have way to much stuff and we are really wanting to 'simplify' our lives.

I will talk more about simplifying our lives later in the week...

Two months old...already!

2008-08-31T20:53:00.000-05:00

Here she is, our newest addition. Two months old on the 1st of September. How the time flies. She is the sweetest Little Lady. She keeps me happily busy throughout the day. And what a cute little quizzical brow she has.

Our other children are also enjoying their newest sibling. That pleases me so. It is always a concern for me if our children will "like" their newest sibling. We have been very fortunate that we have not had any problems bring a new baby into our home. Thank you, Lord.

As our Little Lady gets older I hope to be posting more. Thanks for reading my blog.

40 weeks and 5 days pregnant...PATIENCE is needed.

2008-06-30T11:17:00.000-05:00

I have always believed I was a PATIENT person. During trying times in our lives, I have always been the calm, positive, PATIENT person in a situation. Well, I am not anymore. The length of this pregnancy is taking a toll on me and my PATIENT attitude. I know many have gone longer than I. I am sure they were not very PATIENT, either. Now, my sweet husband has taken up my role as of late. He is the calm, positive, PATIENT person in our home right now. He is the one being very PATIENT with ME. I am becoming more and more discouraged about our Little Lady coming at the Lord's perfect time. It is my desire that she comes on her own, without medical intervention...inducement. Still, the thought of getting a little medical help to get things going is appealing to me. I am that ready to have her. After all, I am approaching 41 weeks!! I have never in all 7 of my pregnancies gone this long. Never. That probably sounds a bit selfish...I am being selfish. My body aches in places that makes doing normal day to day things difficult. I am physically and emotionally tired. Waking up 5 times a night to use the bathroom makes one very tired. PATIENCE is what I need but no longer have.

As I go through today with some contractions and feeling her squirm, I will be praying for PATIENCE. For the Lord's time to be now for her to come into this world. She is anxiously awaited for by all of her siblings. Who are also losing PATIENCE. They have been awesome and have really stepped up to the plate to help me around the house. They are quite a bunch of special kids. I am very blessed.

A little more PATIENCE...just a little more.

40 weeks pregnant...

2008-06-26T12:47:00.000-05:00

I hit my due date yesterday when I firmly believed I wouldn't. See, I haven't gone to 40weeks since our 2nd baby. The other 4 arrived between 38 and 39 weeks. It is very sobering when things don't go as you believe they should. God has His own timing when it comes to precious babies.

I admit to being tired, achy and frustrated. I want to cuddle and nurse this little heaven sent angel. For me I am ready. Now I wait until she is ready. She will come. She will not live inside me forever. I know all this. Still, I am anxious.

I feel her squirm because her living quarters are to small for the acrobatics she once did. With each little squirm the thought of her getting bigger and bigger as each day passes brings a little bit of fear. I've never had a 9+ lb baby. My largest babies were #3 and #4 who both weighed 8lb 6 oz and they arrived at 39 weeks! I have never had a small baby. My smallest was 7lb 9oz...that was my first. The rest have been bigger...8+ lb. After the first 2 weeks my babies look like infants. The newborn stage doesn't last long in our home. I think that is why I have always longed for more babies. I love babies. I love the newborn stage. I always feel cheated that it is so short lived here in our home. I will certainly treasure each day of the newborn stage I have with this Little Lady...

Now, I pray for her arrival to be soon...if it be the Lord's will.

A New Blog has been created...

2008-06-22T12:56:00.000-05:00

I went today to update Michelle's Gathering Room (I know it has been a long time) to realize that it needed to change. When you look at my life, it isn't just Michelle's life. It is the lives within my life that make up MY life. Eight other lives that fill my life with much love and joy...

So, I thought...why not create a new blog that includes those very special people in my life? It seemed like the perfect and natural thing to do as I sit here and wait for the arrival of our 7th child.

The Journey of 9 Lives is about me, the love of my life and our 7 children. Being a family of 9 is wonderful and there is always lots going on in our lives. Most things are typical family issues. Defiant child, potty training woes and lots of giggles! Some things are sad and some are happy. Where is life taking us and what forks in the road have we come upon? Decisions being made about many different issues. When you have 7 children there are always decisions being made in one form or fashion. All of this makes us a family. Our journey is never ending as we grow as a family and as we grow in Christ.

I welcome you to join us in The Journey of 9 Lives...our lives.