too many?

"i'm sorry lady, you have too many kids"...

trying to raise a family of "too many" in one of the most expensive cities in america, on a very meager trying-to-become-a-great-doctor- salary has been not so easy.

"wow, really, you want to put how many kids in this two bedroom home?"... of late, as i spend my "free" time looking at new places to raise my "too many" kids, these and other not so kind statements have been tossed my way.

"It's against the law to put more than two kids in a bedroom miss"... on a "normal" day (you know, when i'm not trying to bring up my "too many" while working part time, untangling slinkies, keeping house, muddling through homework, supporting my very stressed out love-of-my-life husband, walking more dogs than a mom of "too many" should have, and sweating over our landlord's threat of "get out by tomorrow or we are suing you") these comments would just slide right off my back. (like a duck in water or something.)

"sorry, that's too many people for this size house"... but since these past two months haven't been "normal" days, hearing over and over how "too many" my family is has just about crushed my soul.

"do you think your done having kids yet?(said in "that" kind of tone!)" can a person really have too many kids?

can one heart love too many tiny lives?

can you really ever have too many mouths to feed? too many souls to cuddle? too many hearts to handle with care? too many eyes to wipe dry? too many owies to kiss away? too many blessings? can it be possible to stoop down and prayerfully tuck in too many sleepy heads?

"oh, sorry, our condo association has a family size limit"...(said as i walked out of his 2000 sf 2bd/3ba condo!)

admittedly, we can be a bit of a "mess"! but as this blog's title boasts...it is our sweet mess!

endless

counting from southern illinois...

#109 ten days with the greatest cousins ever!

#110 sightseeing St. Louis

#111 being reminded of why Christ died

#112 non traumatic plane flights!

#113 for the Hennions, who made this whole trip possible!

Far away from home we are...
Carried to southern Illinois by my sweet sister (and an airplane!)

Have no idea how to get pictures from the silly "too complicated for my brain" phone into this even sillier blog...so close your eyes and imagine...

Green everywhere, lush!
Wide open spaces to run and play.
Huge homes with fun under the ground basements and plenty of toilets!!!
Fifteen faces that we love being near.
Soaking in cold sunshine, the kind that hugs your skin and makes your squinty eyes smile!
Bright red birds they sing you awake, hopping and hoping for the squishiest worm.
Trees, tall, long, leafy, wind whispering through their arms.
Long, late, therapeutic talks with wise sisters (in laws).
Ten day sabbatical from my life.

If I haven't called, emailed or texted you back Lately, now you know why.

:)

Many sweet, smiley memories en foto to come!

"Perspective can always adopt gratitude — and gratitude always parents joy."

(read this today in a blog i love...you should go read the whole thing, it is worth your time!)
aholyexperience.com

four d

i boasted the other day to my precious sister in law about how free-ing forty felt.
how untangled by the world i was...
no longer am i smooshed by what others thought of me...

finally free to just be....you know, comfortable in my own skin!

one day later a friend asked me how forty was going...she had heard it could be "a little rough, you know."
i smiled (not a little pridefully) and said, "oh! it's just fine!"
as soon as i walked away i burst into tears!
later i told dan about it all...
he thinks i may be entering early menopause!

enough about me...where was i in my counting?

ah yes...

#106 His many small blessings bursting joy into my heart

#107 slow days at the beach

#108 being reminded that my life (all forty years of it!) is not my own

just wondering...

can forty year old women wear skinny jeans?


be honest.

our great Healer

our family received the sweetest news just now....

our courageous emma kait got totally clear pet scan results!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you all for your countless prayers!!!!

we are rejoicing with you ek!!!

thank you Jesus, our perfect Healer, for your endless mercy, grace and love!