some answers....

Well....did we ever question accepting the children because of financial reasons. Well, yes. When we got married, Paul made very little money. And he had huge college loans to pay back. We lived in a very interesting trailer park, if loud fighting and barking dogs are interesting. So we had our trailer payment and our lot rent and a car payment, and all his loans. And then we were having a baby! I quit my job when I was 5 months pregnant because we lived close to Paul's job, and I didn't make much as a receptionist at an insurance agency. When Em was a few months old, I wanted to get a part time job, but we decided not to do that, it would be better for our little family to have us there in the evenings. Then before Abigail was born, we moved to a three bedroom trailer in a nicer park. We had decided to just trust God to send the children. And He did. We had four more children while living in that second trailer. We built this house and moved in when I was expecting number 6. This house is big, practical, plain, and functional. My brothers and Paul built it while working full time, in the evenings and weekends. And not big enough anymore, but that is another story. Most of the bedrooms are in the basement, but it is a walk-out basement with full windows in the back. Still, it is musty. But we survive. Anyway, we have second guessed ourselves a few times through the years. Mostly because we wondered about me, about if it was crazy for me to have so many babies. But year after year, baby after baby, things went well. I did have some miscarriages, and a stillborn baby, but overall, I was healthy. I guess we just continued to trust God, and when things were tight, that was just part of the trial. It does make things difficult when there is not enough money. If it is any comfort, I have never felt like I were done with babies. When I lost the last one, it was harsh. I don't know if this answer helps....

Tiphaine, about faith. We don't have any formal prayer meetings here in our house, but we do pray with the younger ones at bedtime, and for meals. Our church has weekly youth meetings that really build up and encourage them in their faith. (youth age is 12-35) We also go together on Sundays, and have many special occasions together where God's word is spoken and we are strengthened. We do have alot of fellowship with the older ones, as we fight the same fight against sin. As I have said before, Benjamin doesn't choose to go to the meetings anymore, and ironically, he is the lost soul. He has been around alot lately, though, and he does have a very kind heart. One of the other girls isn't so enraptured with living a life on the straight and narrow right now, but I still of course love her to pieces and am praying for wisdom how to deal with things. They grow up and have to choose what they want in life. It is pretty clear to me that following Jesus brings peace and happiness and a life full of goodness and mercy. We raise them with the hope that they will also choose this, but....Anyway, we all know that living a life speaks volumes, and that is the hard part, speaking about it is the easy part....it truly humbles me when I realize the responsiblity I have here.....yes, I can tell them 'til I am blue in the face, that it is wrong to return evil for evil, but ultimately they look to see how I react in situations....so when Paul and I both live this life, truly, even when things get crazy here, well, it speaks volumes. And trust me, although I must say it is getting better, there have been times that I would have given a million dollars to do situations over again, but all was not lost, afterthoughts can be good too.

Mirielle is taking drink orders. I chose a cafe au lait, she is offering tea, hot chocolate, ect. Aaron is looking up a waffle recipe, Joseph is playing the guitar, the kids are bouncing around on the excercise balls and eating their BabyBottlePops from their stockings. (what was i thinking???)

So off I go to join in the fun....Rosie has been bad today, she keeps biting everyone. Not hard, but still. She has Camille's empty BabyBottle, and is chewing it up....how much plastic can a dog ingest? Just kidding, I have to get it from her....