Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Our First Home Birth ~ Rejoicing Over Logan Thomas
Our First Daughter ~ Alyssa Grace
 |
| Free Banner Printable |
"No. It can't be. I don't know how to do girls. Check again."
Austin's Beach Home School Graduation Celebration
It's hard to believe we have graduated our 2nd son from our home education program! The years progress ever so quickly and it seems like yesterday that this young man was tagging along while we planted flowers, hatched butterflies and did all the fun hands-on learning with Zach, his older brother. Those years were wonderful years BUT the years ahead are filled with anticipation of what the Lord will use him to do.
Upon his request, no 'formal' ceremony was held; no speeches, no diploma presentation or no walking in cap and gown. His desire for his high school graduation,{and completing his first year of college classes} was to relax {before his summer college classes began - just 4 days after his celebration was held}. He wanted to enjoy time on the beach with his friends, family and mentors. So, the planning happened over a 4 week period, he made his guest list, postcard invites were mailed and the preparations began. It was to be more than "just" a beach day so here's what we planned for...
 |
| Senior Pictures taken April 2014 Mantanzas Inlet, Flagler Beach and Marineland |
Upon his request, no 'formal' ceremony was held; no speeches, no diploma presentation or no walking in cap and gown. His desire for his high school graduation,{and completing his first year of college classes} was to relax {before his summer college classes began - just 4 days after his celebration was held}. He wanted to enjoy time on the beach with his friends, family and mentors. So, the planning happened over a 4 week period, he made his guest list, postcard invites were mailed and the preparations began. It was to be more than "just" a beach day so here's what we planned for...
Christmas 2013
It has been a great length of time since my last post...summer...and here we are approaching Christmas! The time flies in our home and MUCH living has taken place in the months since my last post. The reality is, I have wanted many times to sit down and write a post, however the life of a momma of many lacks the time do so on more occasions than not. Such it has been in my home.
Merry Christmas
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Galatians 4:4-7
What a hope filled passage, which was the message preach this past Sunday. Praying that your Christmas is focused on Jesus...
Our Redeemer.
Our Savior.
Emmanuel.
Forty one...
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:5-11
~~~~~~~~~~~
Another year, marking life. In light of Scripture, it causes me to reflect and wonder how my days are spent. My heart's desire is to use each one to give God glory in all that I do. How short I have fallen...
Pictorial Tour Summer 2012
This year’s summer has been a blur! The year for that matter… In order to keep things in order, blogging had to take a rest for a bit. Life is full and there are so many things to juggle, that sometimes things can get out of order if we allow it. Instead of blogging "about" living...we were in the midst "of" LIVING. I have missed posting and “visiting” with so many of you, so here is what I hope will serve as a glimpse of our summer and my absence from this blogging world.
We finished school later than usual this year. That pushed the End-of-the-Year Home School
The End of Suffering...
Today
This Lord's Day
Marks the end of Suffering and Pain
For my Mom.
 |
| Easter 1957 |
 |
| Morning of Logan's Birthday ~ January 21, 2012... |
Mary Ann Franklin Leverett
January 31, 1953 - March 4, 2012
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139 ESV)
How Do We Manage ALL Those Clothes?
Living in a large family forces one to be organized in order to keep order and peace in the home. Being organized helps us to be better stewards of what the Lord has given us. Our home is not large by most standards, especially for the number of people living in it, however it really is big enough for us. With each child, a little more creativity is tapped into {thank you Lord} as we re-organize to accommodate another blessing. One key is regular assessment of what we really need and either storing, selling or giving away what we don’t. This keeps our living area free from clutter. With creativty comes the implementation of it and I have lots of helping hands to take it to the next step of putting it into action...taking the vision and applying it by DOING. I am so thankful for a handy husband and sons who are going to know how to be just as handy by helping and doing!
Handling Current Sizes/Seasons
As you can imagine, a family of 10 has a lot of shoes, clothing and basic essentials. An area I will address today is the topic of managing all the clothes. For handling ‘current’ clothes, each person has a section of their bedroom closet for hanging items and assigned drawers {either with a built-in drawer unit in their closet or via a good ole dresser} for their folded clothes. I love the built-in units as they keep the bedrooms more open with less furniture needed. To further keep things uniform and orderly, we all have an assigned hanger color which helps when doing laundry.
 |
| My husband added this unit purchased from IKEA to our closet before Carolyne was born to accommodate her clothing, towels & blankets. |
 |
| Closet system purchased from the home improvement store allowing for double rods for hanging clothes and storage shelves for personal belongings, books, etc. When we built our house in 1995, all the closet had the standard wire rack with clothing rod...just ONE long rack in each closet. That was also SEVEN children ago...wow, what the Lord has done!. Our closets have all had a makeover to accommodate our changing and growing home. Mark and the boys have been instrumental in getting this done and taking the vision I had and making it a reality...thank you Lord. |
 |
| The good ole fashioned dresser...each of the boys in this room get one side for the folded laundry items. This was my husband's dresser and continues to serve our family well. |
 |
| Then these closet drawer units and double rods were installed into our other sons' closet allowing room for folded and hanging clothes. Each son has a hamper/basket for their dirty clothes {which they wash themselves} that is also kept inside the closet. I like these units better than the wire ones used in other other sons' room. You can go here to get more design ideas. |
 |
| On the other side of their closet we chose to use adjustable track shelving and baskets instead of drawers. Thus system uses brackets which wood shelves are screwed to and the brackets can be adjusted according to desired heights. We also made the shelves go the full width of the closet unlike the other side with drawers, maximizing space. This allowed it to be more customed for storing his belongings as well as using the baskets for folded clothing. He slips his laundry basket under the last shelf for dirty clothes. They slipped another Closetmaid type of drawer unit under the rods for storing games and such. |
 |
| Same system was installed in the girls' room with double rods and drawers. Each girl has a rod for hanging clothes and then this series of drawers is Elizabeth's. |
 |
| This is the full shot of the girls' closets/drawers. The center drawer unit is for Alyssa. The right closet is identical to the left {see previous photo} with another series of drawers belonging to Kailynn. Three girls' worth of clothing and it IS doable. ;-) |
How Much Do We Keep of Current Clothing?
The amount of clothing each person has is determined by what can be managed and what they can afford. We purchase all the clothing needs for our home and usually give new items during the year for birthdays or special occasions. When our children are old enough to work regularly, then they become responsible for buying items they need/want. Just as with any budget, they learn and establish a budget at a young age with funds set aside for such purchases. We have found that this is another life lesson and skill they will need when they have families of their own AND we have also found that whenever funds earned are exchanged for products, there is ownership that takes place and this in turns makes better stewards. {There is a cost associated with their purchase…work in exchange for goods…also helps them think twice about spending.}
I will say we could do even better in this area by further assessing what is REALLY needed. Having less, makes managing easier. Less to wash, less to care for, less to store. I have read others who only keep 7 days worth of clothing and a special outfit for church or occasions. That makes things very simple…I’m just not there yet.
Storing Out-of-Season/Outgrown Clothing
From early on, I saved the clothes purchased/given to our children and stored all outgrown items for future use with younger children. I have chosen to use the sturdy colored storage bins and labeled them according to contents. The out of season and outgrown clothing are kept in these bins in the attic until something is needed. I try going through them each season as clothes are rotated in and out, purging what is no longer needed or too tattered to keep.
 |
| I prefer the Rubbermaid or Sterlite brand colored storage bins. I use them for clothing, holiday decor, toys, etc. and try to color code them according to the theme {Red - Christmas, Blue or Green - boys, Purple or Pink - girls, Grey - shoes, Taupe or Orange - Thanksgiving/Autumn, etc.} and label them to make keeping things in the attic organized, too. |
What to Do with Clothing When It’s Been Worn Out
Clothing that is too tattered or outgrown is sometimes repurposed, like this great idea from Quinn at Reformation Acres! Another repurposing idea can be to take all those favorites and make a quilt ~ what a great way to remember those sweet baby/children's outfits! If things begin to accumulate to a point of more than may be needed in the future for other children, clothes may be passed on to other families or donated. IF a need arises for new clothes to be purchased…I ALWAYS keep an eye on the clearance racks and think ahead of the current season to replace more worn items. You’d be surprised what GREAT deals can be found on the clearance racks for well-made clothing…far better sometimes than buying consignment, thrift or garage sales…and the items are NEW. We also try bless others as items are reassessed, as we have been blessed with ‘new-to-us’ clothes, too. All these options really help to stretch the dollar.
Another way to stretch the dollar is to make your own clothing and I know many a family who are training up skilled seamstresses. This is an area I am not proficient in, but do sew enough to get by and not nearly as much as I would like. All my children will at least know the basics {including the boys}.
Managing the Dirty Laundry
I have written a post about our laundry system here which you can read to see how we handle this area of managing clothing in a large family. I haven’t deviated too much from this method, as I find this is what works for our family. Training our children from about age 9 on to do their own laundry helps to keep things from backing up. Up until this point the younger ones help with sorting, folding, delivering to each room, transferring clothes into the dryer or pulling them out, etc. We believe this helps them to be contributors in our society not just consumers…
 |
| Look what Mom found BEHIND the laundry hamper...no, no, no. Someone's got laundry to do. So, even with all the above...systems are only as good if they are utlized. :-) Here's a glimpse of REAL LIFE... |
I hope that reading about how we manage the clothing for our family will help you and provide a few ideas to make your life a little easier…
Blessings as you seek to serve Him, even when doing the laundry ~
Linked this week to:
 |
| Raising Olives is one of the Mom's hosting this topic... |
 |
| Sandy's DIY linky...click here to see others |
Bread, Blessings & Breaks
Well, it's been a while since I last posted...in the midst of life, blogging takes a back seat. Partly because living leaves little time in this season to write and partly because I wonder if anyone is interested or even would be encouraged at the "living" taking place. Sometimes, I wonder if my practical, simple tips are worth writing about...so I don't, I just live it. Does anyone really want to read about in home hospitality or juggling school, helping with husband's business {administratively}, meal planning {or sometimes lack of}, grocery shopping with children, or settling sibling squabbles, or computer setbacks {like erasing everything from my desktop when uploading a new program...yikes}...I mean, really?
When lives gets hard, I really have to look for the blessings in it. Today, was a challenging day {really having a full house gives opportunity to having many challenging days...} and I had to step outside of the day to look for the blessings.
The blessing of having all the sweet children the Lord has given and being thankful that our home is
The blessing of children who can do things to help out on those days and enjoy to
The blessing of bread again after far too long of being inconsistent with baking...
The blessing of breaks together making memories and knitting hearts
I encourage you to look for the blessings this year and take opportunity to live each day as unto Him...
Blessings in Him ~
When lives gets hard, I really have to look for the blessings in it. Today, was a challenging day {really having a full house gives opportunity to having many challenging days...} and I had to step outside of the day to look for the blessings.
 |
| A rare sight to see Carolyne on the floor...she'll never learn to crawl if she isn't out of every one's arms... ;-) |
 |
| Playing on Dad & Mom's bed...almost a morning routine with laughter a result "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." |
- sometimes noisy {it's better than silence...it means living is going on}...
- sometimes messy {truly, I believe as much as having a house of little ones...and big ones...to remind and pick up after, that one day in the not so near future ;-) they'll be gone and I'll miss it (or so I'm told)...
- sometimes sad {thinking about missed opportunities and how short life truly is...when time of being still gives way to reflection which must be kept as a reminder to live as unto the Lord EVERYDAY...EVERY moment
 |
| Ending 2011 with thanksgiving for God's gift of "another day"...what man said would be less than a week, God has given over 2 years...thank you Lord. |
The blessing of children who can do things to help out on those days and enjoy to
- children who surprised me with little blessings they purchased (using their own money...how sweet) from the Cracker Barrel store...a sweet smelling votive and a chocolate bar {may the Lord keep their hearts soft and kind over the years to come...}
- making dinner last night {Austin grilled chicken, made mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and quick croissants...}
- baking cookies...everyday if allowed {Logan is quite comfortable making all kinds of cookies...his sweet tooth will never lack ;-) }
- playing with little ones {Alyssa is growing up...this past weekend she was a blessing to me in helping with Liz and Carolyne...Mark went out of town taking Graham & K to Logan's football tournament...the first time our family has been separated for a whole weekend like this.}
- a husband who even after a long day at work answers a call to help with Mom {a few bad days for her,too...but how gracious He is...} and then again this morning
- "Just because you are loved" labels everywhere this morning as "someone" kindly went around doing other's chores and getting our day off to a good start {Thanks Zach :-) }
 |
| The making of peanut butter blossoms a few weeks ago...a few days ago was cinnamon oatmeal...and several kinds in between...sweet delight! |
 |
| A "Just because you are loved" note on a straightened book cabinet... |
- putting to use a bread machine the family gave me for Christmas to make baking regularly easier
 |
| 2 hours 33 minutes until today's loaf is done... |
 |
| And the finished loaf...yum. A 1/2 white, 1/2 whole wheat Italian seasoned loaf... |
The blessing of breaks together making memories and knitting hearts
- having a precious friend spend a few days with us
- a field trip to Legoland {because of an unbelievably HUGE discount making it possible for our family to join other homeschoolers}
- seeing the beauty of God's creation
 |
| As close to New York City as we may get for a while... |
 |
| Liberty...how many have passed by this symbol of freedom and are part of this great country's foundation of new beginnings, leaving homelands with nothing and working hard in the US in pursuit of happiness? |
 |
| This Monarch emerging...wings drying before it begins its journey... |
- visiting with family from out-of-town recently
 |
| Great Uncle Tom & Great Aunt Kathe...such a blessing to visit with ~ looking forward to getting together again in the future as the Lord permits |
- football tournaments {although, we probably won't be doing this again unless we all can go...}
 |
| Log's team against a team from Washington D.C....it was a tight win, 13 vs. 12! |
- a lovely evening of music during the Youth Music Festival in which Austin played in
 |
| The conductor, Mrs. Umbarger, did a great job preparing the Harmony Orchestra for this performance and the students were a blessing to hear ~ how the sweet sounds soothe the soul |
- playing a game with the older boys...just putting all things aside to spend time together
- a trip to a National Park during their free admission offer and spending time with friends during lunch while there
 |
| Monopoly can get intense sometimes as bargins are being made...kinda like being on Wall Street...but the fun really is in the time spent together ~ it's been too long since the boys and I played a game. |
 |
| The children and I reading about some of the famous explorers in Florida history... |
 |
| Pippy? No, just our full of life girl...she's such a bundle of energy and her God given personality surely comes through in all she does! |
 |
| A little soccer...a little touch football...a lot of fun {and the less energetic ones enjoyed our picnic on the grounds basking in the warmth on this January day ~ another blessing...Florida weather. |
 |
| Our sweet little Liz |
I encourage you to look for the blessings this year and take opportunity to live each day as unto Him...
Blessings in Him ~
How We are Celebrating Christmas AND a Christmas GIVEAWAY
It's been a blurr of a year with November over and December already here! We had a blessed Thanksgiving with Mom and friends joining us. A joy-filled time of giving thanks and fellowshipping together.
What a wonderful time of year! December is a month usually full of activities. Oh, there is shopping and Christmas gatherings, the end of sports seasons and final games, concerts and special events, decorating and baking…the list goes on and on. And if it isn't full enough already...we now have a daughter who has decided it's time to begin potty training...wonderful, yes...however, the first of the year surely would have been better for us. ;-)
 |
| She's doing well for 26 months...just decided to do what sissies do and hopped on AND successfully tinkled. ;-) Hersey kiss for the big girl! |
It is a wonderful time of the year and sometimes all this activity can create an atmosphere that actually can rob us of the joy of the season. In hopes to keep our center of all we do around Christ we have a few "Family Challenges" posted as an encouraging reminder...
It is with intentional effort, this year we have created these family challenges to keep our time focused on Christ and the reason for our joy. The end of November, I made all the necessary copies, laminating things we will do again in the future {new traditions} and made the purchases necessary for being able to begin in December. Some new things we are doing as a family this year to keep Christ in our Christmas are:
1. Reading the Christmas account {Luke chapter 2} nightly with our Christmas Eve reading being done by candlelight…
2. Doing a “Twelve Days of the Nativity” activity beginning on the 13th of the month. This activity was something I found here which will provide a fun way for our children to learn more about the different elements of the Christmas account…especially the younger ones. We are hoping this activity will provide a time for us to reflect a bit deeper on the historical account of Christ’s birth, the events and people involved in that night and a prompt for conversation about what those people may have been experiencing that wonderful night.
 |
| These are the cards I printed on plain white paper, added a cover page using Mrs. Grossman stickers and then laminated each page. To finish, I hole punched the top and ran a ribbon through the stack of cards. |
 |
| This is the sweetest nativity set...the kids LOVE playing with it, so until we start The 12 Days of Nativity {we have decided to do it BEFORE Christmas starting on the 13th} they are getting joy from it. |
3. We have challenged our family to do “Simple Acts of Kindness” each day for members of our family. These acts will involve blessing someone in the house in secret and leaving behind a “Because you are loved…” note to encourage them.
 |
| Once again, I made "Just because you are loved..." slips {using Microsoft Word label format}, then printed them out and laminated them for being able to continually using them through the year. ;D |
4. For fun and opportunity to bless someone in our neighborhood, we are also going to be doing a “Ring and Run” outreach based on The Twelve Days of Christmas song. I found a sweet version here {or here if that one isn't working} this year and made a few minor changes to fit our family and gifts we wanted to give. This event is another great teaching opportunity for “blessing others in secret”.
 |
| Here's our basket of blessings, labels printed out and attached to each item. Starting on the 13th, we will "Ring and Run" leaving behind a little blessing for someone close by... |
 |
| Chocolate...lots of chocolate...doesn't chocolate makes things just a little bit better? :D |
 |
| Our tree this year, as a reflection of Christ...an evergreen {from North Carolina...thank you, sweet friends} as a reminder of Life we have in Christ and red to remind us of the blood He shed. |
6. Select a conversation starter at each dinner meal to prompt discussion about different Christmas aspects…from the historical account to what different symbols mean.
 |
| This group of questions and some additional ones were taken from Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas. Loved this idea and will make this part of our annual celebration...so more laminating. :D |
Things we have done and will do again this year include:
1. Having candy canes with the Legend of the Candy Cane poem attached to them at the front door ready to give to those who visit us {mailman, UPS/FedEx drivers, neighbors, other delivery people, etc.} as well as a simple book “For the Joy” by John Piper and a tract from Billy Graham. This legend is in the form of a Christmas tree or you could use this one to attach to candy canes for giving away.
 |
| A shot before the legends were attached to the candy canes. |
2. Hide Jesus from our nativity set until Christmas morning and then the first child who awakes that morning gets to put Him in the nativity scene and move the shepherd up to the stable area.
 |
| Where is our LORD? {Hidden until Christmas Day and then the early riser will get to place Him in the stable.} |
 |
| Wallah! |
3. Attending Christmas concerts and Christmas service.
4. Driving through well decorated neighborhoods and trying to find nativity scenes the night before Christmas.
5. Opening one special gift on Christmas Eve {always new PJ’s} so they can wear them to bed and have Christmas morning pictures to remember.
6. Mark & I purchase “three gifts” for each child to be opened on Christmas Day. This is to represent the three gifts that were presented to Christ from the Wiseman. {They do get more than three gifts…due to them giving presents for one another, receiving them from other family members and friends, but our gifts to them are limited to three.}
7. Hosting a Christmas gathering at our home. In the past we have done things such as a craft day here or Christmas gift making time with other families at our home. Other ideas could include a Birthday Party for Jesus, a couple’s night, or even hosting a time to watch someone else’s children to allow them to Christmas shop. The point for us, whatever the event, is to show hospitality to others.
8. Lots of baking…for family, friends, neighbors, coaches, music instructors, pastors, etc. This year may pose a slightly higher challenge with having a new baby in the home {and now 4 who are 5 and under...}, but we will do what we can. Last year we had our nieces join us for two baking days, in which we made family cookie/cake recipes and then sent home some of what they helped bake…lots of fun.
9. Send a Christmas photo card and family newsletter to all our family, friends and those who are close in distance recapping our year. I have done this for the 22 years we have been married…some years more in depth than others due to time, but it is always a blessing to connect with those that aren’t near in distance and encourage those who are. Our family so enjoys reading the cards and newsletters we have received and seeing how families have grown each year.
Something else we have done with all the cards and newsletters we receive at Christmas is to place them in a basket on our kitchen table AFTER Christmas. Each night through the month of January, we each select a card from the basket {randomly} and pray for that person/family that evening. This has been a sweet tradition for us to purposely pray for others and to hear the things our children lift up about the person they are praying for…
What family traditions do you have? How do you spend the month of December? How do you keep Christ as your focus during a season so full? Your comment will be a blessing to me and to those visiting. May your month be filled with joy!
P.S. In honor of Christ and Christmas, I would like to host a Christmas Blessing Giveaway. It’s my way to encourage and thank you for visiting here. What is the giveaway? A Christmas gift basket filled with items to bring joy to you this month. All entries must be received by 11:59PM EST on Monday, December 12th. A winner will be randomly chosen on Tuesday, December 13th. The winner will be announced on my blog and then upon receiving mailing info, the gift will be mailed to the blessed winner and hopefully received by Christmas {depending on our postal delivery...}...fun!
How to enter {one entry for each item you do below}?
1. Leave a comment {as mentioned above}.
2. Do a Christmas related post and link back here…be sure to mention my giveaway AND include your post link.
3. Join above as “Those Encouraged”…even if you are an email subscriber, click to follow to gain another entry THEN leave a separate comment saying you have joined.
And what will this basket consist of???
 |
| Elsie's Christmas Party, Wonderful Names of a Wonderful Lord, For Your Joy, Handel music CD, metallic silver note cards and matching envelopes for you to embellish, snowflake stickers, a names of God bookmark, and a little sweet surprise...may it bring joy to your Christmas! |
Linked to:
 |
| Women Living Well Wednesdays |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)