Things I Know To Be True...

So, I'm starting a new themed post, "Things I Know To Be True".  And I'm totally stealing the idea from a sweet kid I went to high school with and worked together with as a teen WAY back in the day.  Anyways, we are ALWAYS learning new things and some things just kind of stand out in life.  I love when my friend posts his "Things I Know To Be True" on Facebook because it makes you realize that most of the things are pretty minor but really huge if you stop and realize that small things can be significant.  Those small things, when you stop to notice them and count them as blessings or lessons learned, can really add up and bring so much value to your life.  And these moments happen more and more the more you DO slow down.  So, I hope to continue this theme in the many days and weeks and months ahead.  And I'd love to have YOU share some things YOU know to be true too.  I'll start us off...

#1 - Saying "no" is ok.

So this is going to sound strange and all, but bear with me...  Today is Mother Mary's birthday.  And, a day that I am reminded of her great "Fiat", her "Yes" to become the Mother of My Savior, her "Yes" to trusting fully in God's will.  I try my best to say "Yes" as often as I can, especially to my kids.  It doesn't happen all the time, but I try to as often as I can to let my own plans go and give to the good of another.  So why in the world would I say for this very first "Thing I Know To Be True" that it's ok to say "no"?  Because as a very good and wise friend told me years ago, "when you say 'yes' to something, you are almost always saying 'no' to something else".  Hmmm....  So this summer, as an example, I said "no" to helping out as a volunteer this summer even though I dropped off 7 of my kids.  My "no" became a "yes" to enjoy and love on my two littles and give them more one-on-one time.  If I would have said "yes" to volunteering, I would have missed that special time with my two littles.  It's so true to think of things this way, but we must.  We must understand that we can only do so much.  It's good to give of ourselves and weigh the outcomes of our "yes-es" and "no-s".  What are you saying "yes" to?  What are you saying "no" to this fall?

#2 - Letting go is hard, but necessary.

So this happened a couple weeks ago.  He's driving out on his own.  He even got a job.  Yesterday, he had his 16 year well visit and Lady had her 9 month well visit (one month late - lol!).  I doubled up the appointments because that's what us big family momma's do.  But it was so weird taking my oldest and youngest to the doctor at the same time.  Of course, I went back, because Lady still needs me to go back. And because the appointments were actually one, we all went back together.  And then I got to thinking.  Do all moms go back with their 16 year olds when they go to the doctor?  When do they stop?  When should I stop?  Wow!  And the driving to and from.  A whole new way of letting go and trusting God. It's part of life and part of parenting.  I know there are many more "letting go" opportunities in the future too and that this is only one of many.

#3 - It's ok to treat yourself to a Starbucks.

Those $4 drinks - yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  You feel so guilty and bad buying one.  But when you do, it feels so good.  It tastes so good.  It's such a treat to treat yourself.  And that's exactly what I did on September 1st when the new pumpkin spice lattes came out.  And not only myself but two of my cuties too...

#4 - Snuggling a baby is like therapy in and of itself.

It is.  You think you're doing them a favor by snuggling them and soothing them and putting them to sleep.  But as a mom of many, with babies to teens, it's funny to see how everyone just reaches out so naturally to smooch and steal and rock the baby.  It's not because the BABY needs it.  It's because WE need.  We need that lovin's.  It's just indescribable, but so very true.  It's brings a warmth, a comfort, a JOY like no other.

#5 - Norwex cloths ROCK!!

I've been putting off buying anything Norwex for years and never understood the hype, until a friend shared with me her new love for it.  This mom is just a little older than me and is wise in so many ways.  Definitely one of those older wiser mommas that I look up to and value her opinion so much.  So when she shared with me how awesome her new Norwex cloth was, I knew I HAD to try one.  She had a party last month and I bought 4 things - a Enviro Cloth, a window cloth and two cleaning products. I"ve only used the Enviro Cloth so far (stay tuned for more "Things I Know To Be True" about the other 3 if they "ooooh" and "ahhhh" me as much as the Enviro Cloth).  But seriously, my cloth hangs in the kids' bathroom and I"ll walk past the bathroom multiple times a day, wipe the nasty counters and mirror and it is shiny and beautiful in just a minute or two!  Ya rinse it out and hang it up to dry and can use it again - and the silver in it is supposed to kill bacteria!!  Crazy huh?


So what do YOU know to be true?  
Share away!  
I'd love to hear from you!!!

How To Survive A Visit To The Doctor With Littles (and a Photo Shoot)

Pookey and Rose have been sharing fevers and coughs this week, and I thought I better take them into the doctor before the weekend to see if anything else was up.  They checked out ok and we were told it "was just a virus".  Phew!!  Glad it wasn't anything major, although days of fevers/coughs and being stuck in the house does take its toll.  So, we're going to let the stinkin' bug run its course and hopefully kick it goodbye soon!

For this appointment, I only had Pookey (6) and Rose (3) with me (not the whole crew of 8), but it's still a handful to keep them happily contained in those four walls of the room waiting for the doctor to come in.  We get "your kids are always so good and well-behaved", "you have some of the best kids we see here", and "how do you do it?" all the time when we are out and about at libraries, doctors offices, museums, grocery stores - you name it!  And, I guess I could say that I do have really good kids, and I do, it is true.  But, its the hard work and "tricks" and prayers that have helped them become this way.  Here are some of my pointers in surviving trips to the doctor....

**Prep Your Kids**
Remind them during the drive where you are going (doctor's office) and that they need to be on their best behavior.  Knowing their expectations and why they should behave properly is HUGE.  Do not forget this step.  It's a key to going anywhere!

**Play Games**  
We like "Mother Says", just like Simon Says.  Also, "I Spy", although this is a short-lived game as most of the rooms are pretty bare and empty and your run out of things to spy pretty quickly - lol!

**Sing Songs**
Yes, don't be afraid to belt out a little "If You're Happy and You Know it" or "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" or "Mr. Sun" or "Five Little Ducks Went Out To Play".  The louder the better.  The more motions the better.

**Take Pictures**
You got it!  Get out that phone and click away.  Silly pics.  Happy pics.  Sleepy pics.  Whatever they want to do pics.  Here's our fun pictures from our visit this past week...

So there ya have it!!  Try to add a little fun to the uncomfortableness of waiting to be poked at while at the doctor's office.  I promise it will make the time go faster!!  Enjoy these moments with your kids.  You will be happy you did!!

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For more, How Do You Do It (HDYDI) posts, click HERE.  

A reminder to my future self... (guest post)

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents."   

~Proverbs 17: 6

Today's post is brought to you by an anonymous mystery guest poster!!  

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This is a great reminder for us all to learn from your experiences and to always want the best for our own children someday. 

**Moms who are in the trenches right now** - read and take note for your own kids/grandkids someday.

**Current grandparents** - read and take note on how you can best help your own son/daughter right NOW.

(also tying this in with 7 Quick Takes, since this includes 7 tips for my future-grandparent-self)

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Right now my husband and I are in the trenches of raising a young family. We have all the busyness that goes along with that. Some of the kids are of school age. Some of the kids are too young for school. Some kids do soccer. Some do baseball. Some do swim lessons. Some dance. You get the idea.....we are a busy family. Running here, running there, trying to have suppers together as a family, trying to keep our Domestic Church thriving.

So, I'm writing a note to YOU, my dearest future self. I'm helping you from here, the distant past, to help yourself. How thoughtful of me, huh?!

Remember when you were raising a young family? When life didn't revolve around just moving YOURSELF around. Remember when you had to buckle many precious lives into the car BESIDES yourself?
So please hear this advice just for you my dear grandparent self .....

1. Come over. It's harder to move a large family of many members compared to moving 1 person. AND don't always wait for that formal invitation. It may not come. You have to just ask, hey, can I come over?

2. Kind of like number 1. Come over and pick a child up and spend some time with them. It's tough to get everyone in the car to drop a child off at your house. Moving you, 1 person, is easy peasy. Just come over and pick up a kid. Spend time with them. This time doesn't have to be extravagant. Just be! Create memories! How else are you going to get to know these wonderful grandkids of yours if you aren't willing to spend time with them!

3. A trusted babysitter is priceless. Offer to babysit for date nights and even for vacations. Remember how much it costs to pay a babysitter to watch many many children? AND grab a movie AND dinner? Yeah, date night doesn't happen very often for us when my husband and I desperately need a night away.

4. When a new baby is born and you want to cuddle that new precious soul, ALWAYS come bearing food and gifts. You may not always be welcome.....BUT when offering gifts of food or toys, it's hard to turn you away.

5. Oh, this also goes along with number 4. Call or text before you come over. It's just a small common courtesy. It's nice to be presentable and have my teeth brushed. It's not hard. It just says, I respect your time too. 

6. Remember when all the kids were home and you tried to do your best and be fair? You didn't take one child that you favored to Disney world while you left the rest home. Right? So, this goes along with grandkids too. BE FAIR! What you do for one, make sure you do for another. You may have favorites. But soon enough THEY will know and sense that. These grandkids of yours are smart. If you take one shopping, by golly, make sure you take another shopping (or hiking, or swimming, or out for ice cream) the next time. 

7. And last but not least my dear future grandparent self.....ASK how you could be better. Ask these precious children of yours, who are now parents, what YOU can do to be a better grandparent. What do THEY want you to do? They and their children and their children's children will be the ones visiting you in the nursing home.....or not. 

It's up to you.....

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Feel free to head on over to see some more "7 Quick Takes" by clicking the image below....

Some video sharing...

Sweet Rose singing her favorite song,,,

Rose instructing all children...

Fone and Mario's YouTube contest submission for our area library...

These young ones are so much fun and always SO entertaining!!!

++Thank you, God!!++

"Mean Mom" quote

Kids:  "Mom, can I play Kindle?", or- "Mom, can I play a game on the computer?", or- "Mom, can I play on the iPad?"

Mom:  "No, you can play with people."

Followed by jaw-dropping, broken hearted children forced to play with other "people" and toys.  Sad, sad day!  And, what a mean ole mom, eh?  

Wordless Wednesday

Years of hard work REALLY DO pay off

I have said it many times since Rose was born that "having 7 kids is much easier than when I had 2 or 3 or 4".  Seriously!  I have awesome helpers right now, and the hard work of teaching and correcting and disciplining is really starting to pay off.  My kids work, most of the time, with happy hearts and do it willingly because they know they *have* to and that's just part of being a family.  So, today is one of those "proud mom" days.  We are in the midst of a winter storm and probably already have 6 inches on the ground (in less than 8 hours!).  Neil is at work, and would have a hard time making in the drive and into the garage without getting stuck.  So...  what do I do?  Send out my 11 year old and 10 year old and put their muscles to work, of course!!  Little did I know, they would become creative and save all the snow to play in later.  Love it!!!!  And, love you boys.... thanks SO much, Mario and Fone, for all your hard work today!!! 

++Thank you God for all the years of hard work (blood, sweat, and tears!!!) and a TON of grace that has made my boys into hardworking, loving, caring disciples of Yours!!!  ++