Another child. What could be better?

As I anxiously await the arrival of my seventh baby, my second little girl, I feel her quickly-growing body squirm and kick within mine. Waiting to meet her, to hold her in my arms and smell her sweet newborn-scent is almost too much--much harder than being a child waiting for Christmas.

I think about how rare a seventh child is, how blessed I am that I will have her in my life. I wonder, what could possibly replace the joy this child will bring? What could I possibly desire to have instead of her? What would I have if she had not come that would make her absence worth it?

More money?
More room in my house? A cleaner house? A quieter house?
More time for myself?
More freedom to go where I want, do what I want, or even do what I need to do with more ease?
A thinner body with less stretch marks?
Nine months of my life free of morning sickness, fatigue, and discomforts?
More sleep?
More acceptance from others?
More "peace" and less stress?
Less responsibility?

Of course, all of these things combined could never come close to even compare to my child. How could I ever choose these temporary pleasures over the eternal treasures that a baby would bring?

Another child does not take time away from the children I have. But she will indescribably enrich the time we all have together. And any time I have alone with each child is special, precious, and treasured--even if it must be carefully planned for.

Another child does not force me to divide my love into even smaller doses. The love in my heart is only multiplied--each child I have only increases the capacity of love my heart can hold. Each child is loved as if he were the only one, cherished to the point of tears, so much I would give my very life for any of them in a heartbeat. And the thought of losing even one is unbearable.

Another child does not take away from my ministry to others. My children expand my ministry--together we are more hands, more feet, more hearts, more love, more power. And besides that, they ARE my ministry.

Another child does not take me away from or hinder my relationship with Christ. Nothing has caused me to grow closer to Him, to depend on Him more, to see my need for Him more, to be more thankful to Him than my children. Nothing has forced me to lose my self to gain more of Him than my children. And nothing has shown me more about what true joy, true life, true blessing is all about more than His gift of my children.

Yes, I cannot wait to meet this new little blessing from the Lord. Neither can my husband and children. I know I will never regret her. I know she will bring us greater joy and happiness than we can even imagine right now. I know I would never trade her for anything else this world tells me I need to be happy. God is making her, God knew her before she was conceived, God has a plan for her. The world may stare in shock at her, may even say she should not be. But He calls her a blessing and I know that is what she is.

Getting into God's Word...and getting it into you

The Bible is one of my passions. I have been in love with it since I was 13 years old and it is truly something that gets more meaningful and amazing with time. It can never be exhausted and is always new! Another of my passions is encouraging people, including myself!, to read it every single day in some form. I thought I would share all the different ways I try to read the bible each day.

Bible Reading

My bible reading is just that--reading the bible. I usually use some sort of plan. Right now I am using the One Year Bible schedule and hope to be able to complete it this year. My only real goal is to just read it, get it into my mind and heart, get a good feel for the bible as a whole. But this is also when I journal or write notes on what I'm reading when something speaks to me or stands out in a new way. I keep a small notebook, pen, and my different colors for highlighting (I am using these!) with me as I read.

Bible Study

I love doing written studies to draw me deeper into certain passages, books, or topics. Right now I am doing a Beth Moore bible study with a group of women. But of course, bible study doesn't have to involve a written study. You can study deeper for yourself using the many resources available online, a study bible, commentaries, and so on. I love it.

Bible Memorization

This is something I started last year that has been life changing. I never knew how doable, or how beneficial, memorizing long passages was. First I heard this series on Revive Our Hearts, then I read the book His Word in my Heart by Janet Pope, and it really inspired me to memorize. Last year I memorized the book of Philippians. It took me about six months. Right now I am working on James. I keep the passage posted above my kitchen sink and really work on it while I'm working in the kitchen. Then I go over it in my head as I'm doing other tasks. One verse at a time. Verse upon verse, line upon line. This has really changed my thinking, my prayer habits, and my understanding.

Bible Copying

I have always loved having my children do copywork. I could see all the benefits of it, but never thought of doing it myself. Last year I discovered these lovely bible copying books. Of course you can use any notebook to write in, but these do have great features. I really enjoy copying the bible. I do just a few verses each day. It doesn't take long at all. I'm currently writing out James. It goes along with my memorization and bible study.

These are a few ways I enjoy getting into the Word and getting it into me. I'd love to hear what you do!

It's a...

This was me before I went for my 20 week ultrasound today.

And this is what I came home with...

We're having another girl! I am SO happy and thankful to God for this gift.

Just can't stop talking about the blessing of children!

The past few days I have been reading back through my old blogs--this one, the one before it on Xanga, and the one even before it I had forgotten about on Homeschool Blogger. It was so wonderful to look back and read about all the memories and thoughts I had forgotten. That really is the purpose of my blog--to keep a record of my life, my thoughts, my ideas--my online journal that I have chosen to let others read. I don't see it as a means of trying to teach others or convince them to agree with me. It's just an outlet for me and turns out to be a record of years past that I can look back on.

In recent times I have gotten a little weak about sharing things I know many people will disagree with. I have been confronted quite a bit and I do NOT like confrontation or debate! However, this is my blog, my journal, my thoughts, so I've decided that I shouldn't be afraid.

With that said, I want to share something I shared WAY back in 2006 when I had 3 tiny children. I haven't read these quotes in years so I totally forgot them, but I LOVE them!

First I shared this quote from Dr. B. H. Shadduck:

"If people want to limit the size of their families, they should wait until their child is two years old and then decide whether to kill the child. There would be very little limiting of families, you may be sure, on that basis.

Nearly every child is its own proof that it had a right to be born. The love and joy and pride that come from a child proves that God was giving an infinite blessing when the child was given, and that it would have been a foolish sin committed against their own happiness for the father and mother to have prevented the conception of that little one which later turns out to be so precious.

Every reason for one child is a reason for other children. If one child brings happiness, more children bring more happiness.”

After that I added my own thoughts:

"When I look at each of my precious boys I shudder to think of what if they had never been? If I followed the typical way of the world, none of them would be here! What a dreadful dreadful thought! And along that same line of thought–if and when God chooses to bless us again (or again and again!) I will one day look at that child and think the same thing. I will look into that precious face which is that of an eternal soul and say, “HOW did I ever live without you, my little treasure?” Oh, nothing causes me to praise God more than my children. They truly are the greatest blessings He gives. By far. By far."

Now I am expecting my seventh child and still wholeheartedly agree! Now I know 3 of those precious faces I talked about and KNOW that what I said was true! I will meet another precious face in May and I know I will also look at him or her (we find out tomorrow!) and once again say, "HOW did I ever live without you, my little treausre???"

My advice for wives--that I wish I could always remember!

Last year a friend who was getting married asked me for marriage advice. I think if she knew everything about my marriage, she wouldn't have asked me ;) We have had a lot of ups and downs and rocky times. The past few months have been especially hard and I think a lot of it has been my own hardened heart. Praise the Lord, He is working in me and the past month or so has been the best time in my marriage in a very long time.

Anyway, these are the things I told her I wish I had known with my heart and not just my head the past ten years. They are the things I need to remind myself every day.

Expectations. Don't have any.

God and ONLY God can meet all your needs and totally fulfill you.

Forgive, forgive, forgive. None of us are perfect.

When you don't feel like you can't give another ounce or love another second, ask God to fill you with love for your husband. He always does!

Expect problems and see them as things to make you stronger and bring you closer.

Be drenched in God's Word--so full of it that there is no room for the world's thinking.

Never say or think "I hate him". That opens a door for the enemy that he always enters through!

Women want to be loved and cherished even when they don't deserve it--Men want to be respected, honored and trusted even when they don't deserve it.

1 Corinthians 13: Read it, memorize it, pray it, frame it in your bedroom.

Pray for your husband every day. Read the Power of a Praying Wife constantly.

Seek God first and He will take care of the rest!