Saying goodbye to 2006...a year in review.

This has been a great year filled with challenges and blessings. It is hard to believe that we are embarking on 2007, but I welcome it with a sense of anticipation. I am expecting God to show up this year just like last year and can't wait to see just what he has in store for this family. In 2006, our twins started kindergarten with little to no bruises along the way, Kyla started cubbies and tested out of pre-k, Kierstin grew and learned how to crawl, stand and...fall., Sean although badly injured by a tower has seen God's hand not only in that situation but in the junior high group at church, and as for me...well...Sean and I celebrated our 6th anniversary in an unexpected way. Apparently we made a baby! And although we spent some of 2006 wondering just what we are going to do with two babies so close(we forgot that we had two 7 minutes apart) we are all looking forward to meeting Kendell in April or May. Our lives are so richly blessed. This home is a blessing. If it weren't for Kendell we wouldn't have even been looking for a new home, and here we are. Blessed again! Our lives are not perfect. I am still pushing for answers before I am supposed to be receiving them, and doubting myself as a friend, mother and woman of God. But I can say that I feel different this year. I know now that those doubts are from Satan and am pushing forward in Grace. Thank you to my friends who have been with me through this journey. I am not there yet...but am at least moving. May your 2007 be richly blessed beyond your dreams.

My very favorite Christmas Present.

Throughout the years Sean and I have come to realize that as parents there are certain moments that "gauge" just how you are raising your children. Those moments could be awkward or miserable(as they handle stressful situations or misbehave)and cause you to correct your discipline and routine, or you can have moments that make you realize what in your head you know. That we aren't parenting by ourselves. God is actually part of our children's upbringing. I will explain... Last night(Christmas Eve) we like always read out of Luke the story of Jesus birth. Sometimes we use visual props or other methods to really help the younger ones understand what we are saying. Last night it was more of a question and answer time, and this is where God stepped in. As Sean was reading the three oldest girls were intently watching and paying attention to his every word. That in itself was a blessing. I know from experience that if my kids think what we are telling them is boring or unreal...they tune us out. But that didn't happen. As question and answer time came we were amazed to really realize that our kids have been already taught such a vast amount of Biblical knowledge for their age. Kiara has been especially intent on reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas this year and could tell you all about not only the birth of Jesus but the events that followed all the way to King Herod's plan to kill Jesus. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but for us this is more important than knowing whether or not our kids like the gifts that we got for them. Knowing that they really appreciate the gift that God gave them by giving us his son is definitely a gift to me from God this Christmas. And for now...their hearts are in the right place. I am so proud of my "not afraid to tell you just what Christmas is about" attitudes that they have. So...Merry Christmas to those who share my opinion about who Jesus is. And Merry Christmas to those who haven't found him yet. May you search for him.

Ah ha...A good question.

In regards to my last posting about being under Satan's attack, Becki posed the questions "How do you know when it is Satan's attack & when it is "iron sharpening iron"? Just wondering.... " GOOD QUESTION...My thoughts are... IF and only if you find positive constructive good out of the debate AND those involved are walking away feeling like they weren't bruised during the "debate" then I would consider that "debate" iron sharpening iron. Now this means in my opinion that any debate that we have COULD be used as iron sharpening iron, but I know that on some occasions I felt like I was hurt after a discussion on certain topics. Thus creates a problem, and in my opinion a foothold. JMO...take it or leave it.

And Let us not forget...

In the past year or so I think we have been under Satan's attack. I say we, meaning those who have grown up together in the same church along with those who have married some we have known, and those who have joined along side of us. I think that some topics that have been completely controversial have been used by Satan to make us feel like inadequate parents and cause us to distrust other members of the "group". Let me be the first to say...I don't like it and don't want to be a part of it(Satan's attack that is). I don't care how you parent really...if you choose to bottle feed, breastfeed, get an epidural, not get an epidural, home school, public school, cloth diaper, not cloth diaper...IT DOESN'T MATTER right? I respect you as parents and AM NOT judging you. It isn't my place and I know that you don't like to feel judged anyways. I have to be honest, no one that I know is doing anything that I would think is harming their children. You are parenting in the style that you were shown, or a new style that you want to show your kids. And you are DOING GREAT JOBS! Keep up the good work. And if another controversial topic comes up...please keep in mind that Satan can use anything to drive a wedge in between us. Anything.

Ummm...Are your kids going stir crazy?

After yesterday's "gushing" over Kyla I thought I that I would mention. MY KIDS ARE GOING CRAZY!!! I don't know for certain if this crazyness has something to do with not playing outside too much because of the cold or the impending arrival of Christmas! Today is the last day of kindergarten for this year and I am sure that "vacation" has something to do with K1 and K2's excitement. AND they are excited because they are bringing homemade gifts to their teachers. So...all in all I suppose I should rest up while they are in school. If I don't...well I might be crying in frustration within the next week! I hope I am not the only one!

My Kyla is not 3 1/2 anymore :(

Four years ago today I had the privilege of meeting my Kyla. What a day it was and really although my memories of that day are getting foggier, there are still things that I remember like they were yesterday. I remember getting my epidural as soon as possible because I wasn't really in pain...but very fearful of it. I remember only pushing for three minutes and delivering her at 5:12, my brother whom we named her afters's birthday(May 12). I thought that was pretty cool. I remember how quickly I was up and walking. I didn't want to miss a thing and was one of the first people to see Kyla in the nursery...not even an hour after her birth. I remember Kellyn and Kiara coming to see their sister for the first time and thinking..."man they are HUGE!". I remember taking pictures of Kyla with the flower arrangement that my dad had given me. It was special because my dad was in Germany for the twins birth, and was home for Kyla's...actually in the parking lot of the hospital praying. I remember sleeping with Kyla on my chest and thinking...there's no way I am putting her in the nursery. I remember Kyla crying for almost the entire night because she didn't like poop on her butt, and silly us...didn't think to check if she had pooped. I remember waking up the next morning to see Sean sleeping with Kyla on his chest, and when he woke up he said "she is my rosebud". That name has stuck with her. And now that I am four years from that date...I can't imagine life without her. She certainly is a "horse of a different color". Her personality far outshines many her age and her wit and "charm" are to envy. And lets not forget...that she can be quite the "stinker!" So...Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are growing up indeed and my heart breaks to think that in a blink you will be all grown up. I wish I could hold you at 3 1/2 forever, but I must let you change. I love you Kyla Noel.

Do I need an introduction?

Hello fellow bloggers or blog-followers. My name is Erin and I am the 26 year old mother to almost 5 girls.(I am pregnant with the 5th). They are Kellyn and Kiara(identical twins who are almost 6), Kyla(4), Kierstin(1) and Kendell(20 more weeks). I am happily married to my dh who is Sean(26). The reason that I am starting this new blog is because as a mother of 5 girls...or really 5 kids, there are topics that come up in my mind that I think "might" have value to other people.

For instance...I have been learning all about Cloth Diapering. And am going to give it a try on my 1 year old. Some may ask..."why are you doing this?". Really...it's not for environmental reasons(although the amount of time a diaper stays in a landfill is gross), not because of the cost of diapers(it is expensive to start a stash of cloth diapers). For me it is something that I have always wanted to try but have not had the opportunity. We lived without a washer and dryer for many years and now that I have my own...well I figure I will give it a shot. Also...my kidos have really sensitive skin and I find myself using butt cream more than I would like to. I am hoping that cloth diapers will put an end to this.

So...those are my ramblings for today. Cloth Diapering just might be my first unpopular idea. I am sure to have more as time goes on.

Thanks for reading!

Erin