"I think my uterus might explode"

Some new things to say when meeting a mom with a large family...

Menu Plan Monday - March 12, 2012

Nothing is safe around here. I'm in super-nesting mode. Today the laundry room and mud room submitted to the the organizing tornado. I had the children clean under one of the couches while I read to them this evening (in my defense, there were more papers under there than a filing cabinet!). I even put ripped books back together with packing tape.

We've got a busy week and weekend coming up. Par for the course for this time of year! 

This week we will be enjoying:

Monday (Bryan Night Meeting) - Black Bean Quesadillas, Skillet Corn

Tuesday (Mom's Meeting, Horse Judging) - Hashbrown Casserole, Peach Cobbler

Wednesday (AWANA) - Chicken Nuggets, Popcorn

Thursday (Karate) - Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese

Friday - Greek Ham Wraps, Micro-Roasted Potatoes

Saturday (Awana Grand Prix, Horse Judging Contest, 4-H Aerospace) - Grilled Pizza Sandwiches, Salad

Breakfast menu is here; lunch menu is here.

Find more menus at:

Recipe - Microwave Fruit Syrup

Tonight we enjoyed one of the children's favorite dinners - Brinner! Breakfast for dinner. A couple of my dinner chefs pick it every time it's their turn to cook.

For a special treat, we enjoy making fruit syrup for our pancakes and waffles. (Be sure to try the Homemade Pancake Mix. Double the oil amount for waffles.) This fruit syrup can also be used as jam if you refrigerate it.

Microwave Fruit Syrup
1.5 Cups fresh or frozen fruit (strawberry is our favorite)
1/4 Cup White Sugar

Mix fruit and sugar together in a microwave safe container (at least 6-cup capacity). Microwave on High for 6 minutes, stirring half-way through. Mash fruit to desired consistency (I love using the Pampered Chef Twist & Chop for this!). Enjoy it warm.

"Are You Done?"

It's the question we've been fielding since the birth of our second child over 14 years ago. After all, we had a girl and a boy. "A girl for me, a boy for you. Thank goodness we're through!" And when we got married we certainly didn't plan on having enough children to field a baseball team!

But along the way, God showed us his truths. The first command God gave to man was to “Be fruitful and increase in number..." (Genesis 1:28) This command was never rescended.

Children are a blessing from Him. "Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him." (Psalm 127:3). If God handed me the reward of a bag of money, I wouldn't turn that down. Why should I turn away the reward of precious babies if He blesses me with them? Especially when people I love are crying out to God for children but their arms remain empty?

So when Bryan and I felt convicted to let God plan our family, it was "all oars in." Kind of like marriage: for better or worse. The conviction wasn't removed when finances were a concern, when we were tired, when overwhelmed, when people start looking at us like we're nuts, when we started being asked if we were trying to keep us with the Duggars. (For the record, we had six children before we'd ever heard of the Duggars. And, no, we don't know them. There is no "large family cult" despite the desire of some members of the press to portray it otherwise.)

And the conviction hasn't been removed even though I'm a "mature" mama looking at a 9th c-section in a couple months. Going into every delivery, I asked my doctor to evaluate the health of my insides and whether it looked like it could handle another pregnancy.

Babies #3 through #6 were all delivered by a wonderful Christian who was also a father of 7. Every time he gave me a thumbs-up. After he retired, I had to find a new OB. I have no doubt that my new doctor would have recommended a tubal during delivery #7, but,  as God would have it, I was at a Catholic hospital where it was against their policy to do so.

I found a new doctor for Baby #8 and now #9. I love this wonderful Christian practice so much that I drive an hour for my appointments. After he delivered #8, he was amazed at how good the insides looked. We'll have to see what #9 holds.

I'm not looking to put my health in danger, but I refuse to let fear alone be the reason to turn from what we feel God has called us to. If it doesn't look like I could safely carry another baby, we will take the appropriate steps. But if everything looks good, let it be a testimony to the fact that nothing is impossible with God!

Menu Plan Monday - February 27, 2012

So I've been choosing sleep over blogging lately. Sorry about that. Hopefully once the baby's born, I'll be able to blog while nursing. There are posts in my head, just a lack of energy to get them out right now.

Meghan made our favorite tomato soup for dinner the other night (Heidi calls it orange soup). I posted the recipe a couple years ago, but it's worth repeating. It's a staple around here for lunch and dinner when paired with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Homemade Tomato Soup

4 T Butter

1/2 C Flour
12 C Milk
64 oz. Tomato Sauce
salt & pepper to taste (about 2t and 1/2t respectively)
Parmesan Cheese

In a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until combined. Whisk in milk until smooth and creamy. Heat until thickened, stirring frequently. Add tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Heat through. We like it sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese.
This week we will be enjoying:

Monday (Bryan Night Meeting) - Chinese Salad, Fried Rice

Tuesday (Math Practice, Horse Judging) - Turkey Ranch Wraps, Jello, Potato Wedges

Wednesday (AWANA) - Hot Dogs, Popcorn

Thursday (Karate) - Black Beans, Cheese, Chips

Friday - BBQ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Saturday - Stroganoff Meatballs, Noodles, Peas


Breakfast menu is here; lunch menu is here.

Find more menus at:

Why I'm the best homeschool mom

Because this is what is sitting on my kitchen counter: 

It might not be easy to see all the creepy-crawly ants, but trust me, they're there! Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am terrified of anything with more than four legs.

This is part of Heidi's My Father's World Kindergarten program for her unit on "I - Insect." What I won't do for my children's education!

And Let the Sewing Begin

Today the oldest 3 girls and I went on a shopping trip to the fabric store to buy the materials for their Resurrection Sunday outfits. Last year we went with a tie-die/Hawaiian theme (see banner photo). This year the girls chose....

African Animal! Because nothing says spring and the Resurrection of our Lord like neon zebra!

Here's the pattern that I'm using for the little girls.

It's much easier than the dresses I gave birth to last year! Only one small pattern piece! I making longer sleeves and including a sash. Click here for more info on the pattern. I had Heidi's cut out before dinner and am hoping to have made progress made before bed tonight.