Family

September was my very favorite month of this entire year so far. We spent SO MUCH TIME together as a family. We prayed hard, worked hard, and played hard. I wish the kids had slept hard, but I’ll take what I can get. The bonding time has been such an incredible gift. God has blessed us with one another and I thank Him everyday for these moments. 

 

Joseph Matthew

Joseph turned 13 on the 7th. It was an extremely happy day for all of us. 

He insisted that we hide all of his presents in the most challenging places we could think of. Matt also wrapped some completely in duct tape. The most challenging ones for him to find were the ones hidden zipped inside the couch cushion, inside the upright piano and between his mattress and box spring. It was awesome. 

Most of the day was spent playing video games, legos and chilling outside. We went for a walk and ate homemade ice cream cake outside. 

We finished off the day with sparklers on the patio. After all the little kids went to bed, Joseph was able to stay up and watch the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, a movie he’s been begging to watch for over a year now. 

Joseph is really coming into his own now. He is discovering who he is and what he wants in life. He seeks God’s Will and tries hard to do the right thing. We are so proud of our young man. It is a blessing to be able to witness him becoming a man. 

 

Esther Katherine

Esther turned 8 on September 3. Her day was peaceful and slow. She asked for a cookie cake and to spend most of the day reading. 

She’s a delightful, hilarious, and brilliant child. She has a voracious appetites for books. She stays up late reading and wakes up early to read. Esther loves birds. All birds. And she knows most of the native birds of America by sight...and some by call. She makes us laugh with her silly faces and amazes us with her mind. She learned how to ride a bike just one day before her birthday, stating that it just wasn’t on her list of priorities to do so before then. 

God bless our Es the Hot Mess. 

 

Nathan Samuel

Nate turned 10 this August. He is a sensitive, loving, physically affectionate young man with a generous heart and quick sense of humor. 

 He had an amazing day, full of playing and NO SCHOOL. I can’t believe our Natey is getting so old. It feels like just yesterday he was our little dude with the Michelin Man rolls up and down his arms and legs. Now he’s tall and thin. He is organized and thoughtful. He despises school and tomato sauce. He loves dancing and tumbling. He rides his bike faster than most and can be found folding any and all paper in the house into dinosaurs, flowers, boxes...really, anything. Origami is his newest hobby and we all benefit from the beauty Nathan brings to our family. We love you, Natey-Joe, our chameleon, Treble, Koala, and HuggyLovey. 

Sixteen Years

 

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Ok. 

Actually, just 16 years ago, we said our “I Do”s and pledged “through sickness and health”. 

We had NO IDEA. 

I remember, specifically, the nun who was doing our marriage preparation accusing us of being in “LalaLand”. She stopped short of saying we’d never make it, but she made it very clear she was against “children getting married”. 

I believe we took it more as a challenge than a warning. 

Now, sixteen years later. 

Three babies in Heaven. 

Eight babies on Earth. 

Finishing college. 

Leaving the hospital to be a stay at home mom. 

Three houses. 

Two different states. 

Five different jobs. 

Homeschooling.

 Juggling bedtimes  

From teens to tots and newborns. 

Dance and dirt roads. 

Crayfish and country living. 

Old houses and drafty basements. 

Hospital visits. 

Labors and deliveries.

Losing loved ones.

Leaving family and friends. 

Changing churches. 

So many birthdays. 

New cars. 

Bigger cars. 

New friends. 

New family. 

It’s been a whirlwind. A crazy trip through Lalaland. 

There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side. 

Migratory Messages

 As I was walking around the yard yesterday, I saw that Esther had taken chalk to most of the large boulders in the landscaping  I saw a good number of hearts, a few of her signatures, and then this...  a message meant for those in the sky to read as they are looking down. A greeting, albeit slightly foreboding, for the Monarchs passing over our home in their annual migratory travels.  

Sunshine

We LOVE to be outside. The children, especially, would choose to be outdoors from sun-up to sundown. The weather here in Michigan is especially sunny and has been pretty dry this summer- conducive to lots of outdoor time.

The children spend hours running through the sprinkler, playing in the kiddie pool, rolling around in the mud and sand, climbing the pine trees and crabapple trees that line our property, and playing fort and any sports- real or imagined. 

A few weeks ago, we had a good number of chores to complete inside and the weather was simply too hot and humid to allow the kids out to play safely. It felt strange keeping them inside, but when our neighbor came over and asked Matt if we were all ok because he hadn't seen us outside that day, I had to laugh. 

We are THAT family.

 

First Day of School 2020

This is Joseph's Lesson Plan book. The stickers are his special addition to Delaroche's famous painting of the Madonna. He must have had a firm grasp on parenthood because Mary's face is PRICELESS.

 

Sarah Ellen, age 14. Grade 9.

Q:"What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "I hope to be able to find my calling in life. I want to be organized and not stressed out so easily. I really want to learn Spanish and piano better."

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out. Maybe a Ghostbuster."

Joseph Matthew, Age 12. Grade 8.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "Spanish...and how to serve God better."

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "Either a scientist, priest, or go back to my old job of being a Maverick hunter."

Thomas Stephen, Age 11. Grade 6.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "Everything I can about aquatic animals, advance in math and learn Spanish."

Q:"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "A dad/deacon...And probably work with Dad at GM."

Nathan Samuel, Age 10. Grade 5.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "I want to memorize some songs on the piano."

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "A train engineer or an engineer like dad."

Esther Katherine, Age 7. Grade 3.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "I want to get good at the violin and learn more songs on it. I want to learn strange, interesting and new things in school."

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "A mom or a nun."

Daniel Benjamin, Age 6. Grade 1.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "I just want to finish it!"

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "A train engineer"

Charles Francis, Age 3. Grade K.

Q: "What do you hope to learn this year?"

A: "I just want to learn with Tom."

Q: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A: "I want to be a nun."

.

Lucy Dale Elizabeth, Age 1. Grade: Teacher's Assistant/Terrible Apprentice. 

Answers to all questions: "DAD!"