Little tidbits

Well, I have 4 weeks left in this pregnancy. We've all been very excited and can't wait. Although about a week ago, I was glad to wait. Peyton has finally (we hope) settled down and has been head down for 3 visits in a row. (I go twice a week to the doc.) I was too afraid that we would have to have another C-section for a breech baby. So, I may have a chance at VBAC now. Thank goodness!

We believe we are going to submit the paperwork for Extreme Home Makeover. We are so cramped in this little house. With mom in our master bedroom and we currently have Mia, Johnny and I in Mia's little pink room and soon to add Peyton. Hunter and Josh are in their room, but even that is difficult for them due to Hunter's organization skills and Josh's lack of it. :D Soon we'll be welcoming people into our home and they'll encounter a diaper changing station with pail in the living room. Our living room isn't a living room anymore, it's a playroom. It's a struggle all the time, but hey...we are poor and happy!

Josh just had his evaluation this past month. I'll write a separate post about that soon, but I'll give you the brief synopsis. He is ADHD (which brings on a whole slew of other problems) and they suspect an Auditory Processing Disorder. We'll be doing a separate test on that once we can come up with the money. The insurance will pay for his therapy. He'll be going through non-medicated therapy. We are so excited for him!

More shopping fun? Well, I can't remember it all, but one ongoing thing going on for me right now is the free bread that I'm getting. In the paper a couple of weeks ago (remember we get two papers), there was a coupon for free Sara Lee bread. The soft and smooth kind, so we used those two coupons. Then I found someone whose husband went to a recycling center and gathered up those inserts and she had over 200 free coupons for bread! I bought 20 of those coupons from her for $6.00. That's a great deal! I would have bought more, but that coupon expires on 9/7/08. If we finish before the week is out, I may check with her and see if she has more. Other than that, it's the usual going to the store and saving big. For example, the yogurt that I got last night, which is Dannon Activia, was on sale for $2.00 each. I had a 50cent coupon and of course that doubled at Ingles and got the 4 pack for $1.00! (I had 5 coupons! Yes it's a lot of yogurt, but hey the kids and mom do eat it.) I've gotten chex mix lately for 18cents, etc., and I donated the chex mix to the nursery at church. There are so many great deals to help with the money (or lack of). Last night was just a quicky trip to Ingles and I saved $20...I walked out paying $36. Oh, the person that I mentioned above lives in Monroe and she is actually going to have a class (and probably more classes) to teach people to save money with printing out online coupons too. She charges $10 a class. If you want more information, just let me know and I can get you in contact with her.

Bearing Children in Faith

I've thought a lot lately about having children. Of course, I'm currently pregnant, but I've thought a lot about how many we will have, will we have more, why people think I'm too old to have more, do we have the money, etc.

Recently, I've been reading the booklet on the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting about Building up a Righteous Posterity from February 9, 2008. In the Roundtable Discussion it talks and answers a lot of these questions we have. While I wasn't actually able to attend the meeting at that time, I've been extensively absorbing what I've been reading lately in this booklet. I just wanted to mention a few things that hit home with me.

Sister Tanner said, "...we are reminded that the commandment God gave to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth as husband and wife remains in force." She went on to say that it "requires of us great faith and great courage and often great sacrifice." And that it "requires us to be in tune with the Lord to receive personal revelation". She went on to say that we shouldn't be judgmental of other people who are exercising their faith and having their own personal revelation in regard to that commandment.

I wouldn't ever judge someone because they have many children...I often tease friends immediately after they have a newborn, when they are going to have another one (as if you are thinking about it 2 weeks after you've had that precious gift. lol).

Elder Oaks goes on to say that sometimes we as members look to "worldly priorities in their decisions about childbearing...instead of making those decisions in faith..."

Then, Sister Beck said something that really hit home with me. This statement touched my heart and has continued to do so. She said, "We don't have children because we have money, because we have means. We have children with faith." She goes on to say, "Just as paying tithing is a matter of faith, so is having children a matter of faith. You don't pay tithing with money; you don't have children with money."

I have been pondering these statements and the rest of the material for quite some time. Johnny is already talking about having another one. We know that it is getting harder for me to get pregnant, but we know that if Heavenly Father wants us to have more, we will have more. We certainly aren't putting a stop to it over here in this household, if we feel it is right. After all, it's between the Lord, my husband, and I to make this decision. The Lord didn't feel Sarah was too old to have a baby and I certainly don't feel I'm too old, no matter how many people tell me so. :0)

Recently, on a homeschool list that I'm on, they were talking about this very thing...about being judged as to why some have so many children (or few). Unfortunately, most comments seem to come from within the church. But, many have opted to come up with statements that are quite humorous to nip this. I have to share a few with you that I remember.

Comment: Haven't you figured out what causes that?
Reply: I sure have and we're getting pretty good at; would you like some tips?

Comment: Are these all yours?
Reply: No, I just like to gather up any roaming children as I walk in the store. (Of course you could just wear a T-shirt that says, "Yes, these are all mine.")

Comment: (from family) You have too many children.
Reply: Which one do you think we should get rid of?

Comment: I'm glad it's you and not me.
Reply: I'm glad it's me too.

One favorite was a sister that said her husband was 57 when they had their last child...now a preschooler...and his friends were talking about their grandchildren. He spoke up and said that they were having their own grandchildren. :D

Another favorite out of the booklet, was by Elder Oaks. He said that early in their marriage, his wife, June, was pregnant with their 5th child. An active member came up and said to her, "What are you trying to do, populate the world all by yourself?" He said that he was proud of his wife when she commented back, "I can't think of anyone better to do it."

There were so much more, but just thought I'd give you a laugh.