dreams of your own....

It's a common truth that all we do affects our children, but i received some insight today that carries that statement beyond the years in which we are raising our babies....praying for the college years to come instead of savoring every good and bad momen they are ours all ours. ...and into parenting our adult children. As adults, even without realizing it, we look to our parent's continuing examples to lead us and encourage us. Wow! What a huge responsibility we have to these little people! It's a chore, but it's also a blessing and honor. Here is my hope for myself as an adult parent: My children will still want their Mommy in times of sickness or struggle...even if its just an encouraging phone call or to run over with a cool cloth for a fever-stricken head. Being called upon, I will gladly fulfill these motherly duties. I hope and pray that when my children choose a path that might make me anxious, I will note their certainty and excitement and never let them see my hesitation. My children accomplishing their dreams is a cause for celebration even if it's not the dreams I dreamed for them. I hope and pray that I can be a holy example....more than anything else. I hope that now to my babies and in the future to my adult children I can teach, guide, and live in a way that will glorify Him. As a parent I just never considered that even after college graduation....or past the age of 23 if college ends up being left out of the dream....that my job will never be done and my INFLUENCE will be ever-present. I'm going to take on this task with great positivity and LOVE.

"Everything You Won't Let Me Do"

I am very anti-fast food, but occasionally, after days like today and nights like tonight, I surrender and let my kids dine on nuggets, apple slices, and chocolate milk from Mickey D's. So while my oldest boy and I were sitting there giggling he lets me know, "I always eat all my dinner from McDonalds!". I asked if he eats McDonalds often to which he replies "all the time...at mommies". I told him all the time isn't good because McD's isnt exactly the healthiest food. Then, he asks if the following foods his Mom makes are healthy: buttered noodles, white rice, green beans in a can, Wendy's, and pizza. I told him the truth and said he should fill up on those green beans! He asked if I could make those foods for him. I told him no. Then he said what made my heart race and my stomach sink..."Mimi, whatever you dont let me do, Mommy DOES!!!"
When Trey got home from work I told him of our conversation. Trey asked him what things he would like to do more of over at our house that his Mom lets him do. The following terrify me: Play video games whenever he wants without the timer set, play video games where people shoot other people, eat fast food all the time, get on the internet on his DsI because Mommy took it to the store and had the parental codes we set removed, and watch whatever he wants on tv. Now, of course this all needs to be cross-referenced, but I really do believe every bit of it. What do I do? I considered backing down on some rules, but only for a second. I cant let any of those rules out the window. If we say anything to his mom about it it won't change anything. It's sooo sad. My heart is so broken for what the children are subjected to over there.
This the hardest part of being a stepmommy: watching babies you know and love as your own, be mis-treated, neglected, and have their innocence threatened BY THEIR OWN BIOLOGICAL MOTHER.
I could have Trey talk to her about her lack of rules and lack of parenting and lack of morals, but that's just who she is. Forgive me for once again saying nasty things about this woman, but as a Mommy, I strongly feel she plain and simple cannot parent. :( I pray. It's the strongest and best and only defense I have.

In Tega Cay!

Hello Blog,
It's me, Jennifer. I know it's been a while!

So, we are all moved-in to our new home. It's amazing here. All the excitement of new things for the children to explore and learn about. Discovering the lake, swimming on the beach, having a big wooded backyard to run around and play in... The list really goes on and on. I feel like everyone seems happier than I have seen them in a long time...myself, included. Tega Cay is so peaceful and everyone is so friendly. We have more baked goods in our kitchen than we know what to do with...thank you welcoming neighbors!

So I know God called us to move to Tega Cay, and I am so grateful that he did. But, he has been seriously surprising me (he's SO darn good at doing that!) with all of the families I have met with lots and lotsa BABIES! First, at our real estate closing we meet our real estate lawyer. ELEVEN CHILDREN. Then, we move in and meet the family across the street...FOUR CHILDREN. Then, I ran into a homeschooling mom a few blocks down the street from me....FIVE CHILDREN. Today at Wal-Mart I hear the cashier say to the woman in front on me, "Wow, seems like you are feeding an army!"...her reply: "I am: an army of SIX." I turned to her and said, "Do you really have six children?" She smiled sweetly and turned to face me revealing her baby bump..."I do! And (rubs tummy) number SEVEN is on the way!" We continued to discuss (she was a homeschooler) homeschooling and big family living and she assured me I got it...which I already knew;) She also told me that there are so many large families in this area and a really great network for homeschoolers. I know some of you are thinking, "okay this is coincidence and you can read into it however you wish", but I KNOW what's going on here: reassurance. Not that I ever needed to be reassured that I was doing the right thing in having a large family, but, sometimes, I do love reassurance that, no, I am not crazy and there ARE other people out there whom God has called to raise many many warriors for Him. It is a sweet thing and I feel so blessed to be a mother as God has called me to be...although, I would go crazy without his constant guidance and reassurance!

Thank YOU God for bringing our family to Tega Cay, for blessing us with all we have...especially one another. Thank you for guiding our family in the way we should go and for never forsaking us on the roads you lead us down. AMEN.