I am blessed for sure!

Do you ever wake up just feeling blessed? Like your life, faults, hardships, and all is just blessed. That's what happened to me this morning.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened this morning. The kids got up much to early. Like 7:45 early. I know that sounds late to some. But they were up late last night and Tyler skipped his nap yesterday, so 7:45 is just too early for them today.

I had mountains of laundry to do today.

The kids weren't being naughty exactally, but they sure as heck were acting like wild indians.

There are dishes in the sink that need to be done.

It's supposed to be rainy and hotter than the dickens' today.

So, like I said, nothing out of the ordinary. But I woke up feeling like God was not just shining His light on me today, but put me right in the middle of His spotlight.

I have a wonderful husband. Sure, he has his faults, we all do, don't we? He's got a fairly short fuse and his patients don't strech very far. But he is an amazing husband. Truely amazing. All I have to do is mention that I need help with something, and he is right there by my side asking what I need done. I used to get upset that he wasn't right there helping me every step of the way. I would get mad that he could see me busting my butt trying to get things done around the house, and wasn't taking the initiative to just help. I was also scared to ask for help. I was worried he'd look at me like I was crazy, that it was my job to do all the house keeping. He's far from that guy. Like planets away from that. He's always always willing to help. He never wants me to have to do it alone. I realized he can't read my mind. Essentially, the home is my "work". I know the way things go around here. I know the process that needs to be done to get to the next step. I thought to myself, if I went to his work, I sure wouldn't have the slighest clue what he'd need me to do. I'd have to wait for him to ask me. I applied that to my "work". He's not here all day, he doesn't know what's been done and what needs to be done. But all I have to do is ask, and he's there. He's never made me feel like I'm doing this alone, all I have to do is ask.

Sometimes he'll ask me a million times what I need done. I admit, I'm a teensy-bit OCD. When there are things that need to be done, most of the time I'd rather just do them myself. It's not that I think he can't handle it, or he'll do it wrong. I just prefer it be done my way. I don't complain about it, I don't get mad at him for it, I understand he's willing to help. I'm just not willing to let him help. This is where I came up with the "Honey Will You Please...." List. I'm not a fan of the "Honeydew" List. Sure, it's a cute analogy, but I feel bad saying honey do this...honey do that. I'm not his mom! (And I'm also not knocking any family that uses the Honeydew list. What works for some, doesn't work for others. I'm in no position to judge.) But now when I'm busy, and he asks me if I need help, and I'm being stubborn wanting to do it all myself and my way, I direct him to his "Honey Will You Please...." List. It works for us.

He treats me like I'm the only one he has googly eyes for! That was hard at first. I wasn't used to all the compliments. I used to tell him to just knock it off! Mean, I know. Here's this guy, trying to pay his wife a compliment, and she tells him to knock it off. What was I thinking?!? But I thought he was just saying that because he felt he had to. So not true. I truely believe that he thinks that now. It's an amazing feeling.

He's an amazing father. OK, he doesn't demenstrate the patients like mine I wish he had, but most tell me I have more patients than a saint, so maybe I have an un-realistic expectation for patients. But he's loving, kind, and fair. He is always trying to teach the kids a lesson. And not in a bad way. Wether they've done something good or not so good, he'll relate that into a lesson to be learned. Like, what good and bad things can we take from that situation. How was that handled is a positive and negative way? Most men, come home from work and want to be left well enough alone. And if they see 7 kids running, skipping, jumping, and yelling right for them, they'd run the other way. Not Mr. Goose Poop. He walks in the house with open arms trying to listen and talk to 7 kids at the same time. Amazing, because I know how truely hard it is!!

I could go on and on about how wonderful he is. I love him very much, and thank God all the time that He sent him to me and the kids. We are blessed to have him.

I also feel blessed to have all these kids. When I was little I always told my mom I wanted 100 kids. (Was I crazy?? 100 kids!!) And said if I was rich, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Then I had one. And I hated being pregnant. I mean hated it. Said I'd never do it again hated it. Then I had another one. Said I'd never do it again. Repeat the process 2 more times. Then I really wasn't doing it again. I made for darn certain of that if you know what I mean!! But I still wanted all the kids! Catch 22...

I have these 7 amazing kids. Sure, there are some days I want to grab my keys, hop in the van, and never look back. But I'd die if I never saw those 7 faces again. I always think to myself I can't wait to have some Hubby time. I always get excited thinking about 2 days without the kids. And then they go. 4 go to their dad's for 2 days, and 3 go to thier mom's for 2 days. And oh, it's glorious. For like 3 hours. The first 3 hours, I love it. My house is clean, I've taken a shower in peace, and maybe even got a little reading time in. But then the 3 hours are up, and I want them home. I miss them terribly. Horribly. I want them to be with me every second of every day. I'm like a little kid waiting for the ice cream truck on Sunday evenings. Pacing the living room waiting, staring out the window, just waiting for them to come home. I feel whole when I have them all around me.

I sometimes imagine Jonah and McKenzie going off to college (because they are the oldest, it'll happen with them first.). I can't even think about it. I start getting an upset stomach!! I can't even imagine what it's going to be like having kids go off to college. Mr. Goose Poop can't wait. Me? I can't even think about it.

God gave me these precious beings. I thank Him over and over for letting me be their mom. I love them so. I'm blessed to have them. Through the fighting, and the bickering. Through the diaper changes, and barfing sessions. Through the sports seasons, and the cooped up winter months. Through the endless dishes they produce, and the even more seemingly endless amount of laundry that comes from a family of 9. I thank God that He gave me this job, and not anyone else. This is where I'm supposed to be, and this is what I'm supposed to be doing.

God is good. He knows what he's doing. I have to remember that. He trusted me to raise them, and by God, I won't let him down.

Yes, I have much to be thankful for. Not just with my husband and children. But he's blessed me with my own mom and dad. There aren't words to describe what they mean to me, so I'll leave that one well enough alone. They are my world. God blessed me with a best friend, who I've now been friends with for 18 years. I can hardly believe it. She is the greatest. My so called "in-laws"? They are equally amazing. My mother and father in law are wonderful grandparents. They support us in every why possible. My two sisters in law, I couldn't have asked for better. They welcomed me with open arms into their family. They love my kids like they are their own, and vice-versa.

When I'm cleaning the house for hours on end, I try to thank God that I have a house to clean. When I'm slaving over a hot stove everynight making dinner, I try to be thankful that I have food to put in our bellies. As for laundry, I'm thankful for that too. I have clothes to put on my kids. Even the kids fighting, I am thankful that God trusted me to even have kids.

I could go on and on with the blessing's I have in life. But duty is calling. Lunch needs to be made, laundry needs to be switched, and a diaper needs to be changed. Yes, I am blessed.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son. That whoever shall believe in Him, shall not parish, but have everylasting life."
John 3:16