Would you go?

Expect great things from God.  Attempt great things for God. ~ William Carey

Sitting here tonight this quote from William Carey came to mind as my daughter Morgan talks about going to Uganda to minister to orphans at a orphanage for newborns up to 5 years old.  I had the moment of pause...the moment of WHAT....of course then the googling of where exactly are we talking about.  This wasn't the talk about "hey mom I'm thinking of attending Ramp School of Ministry in Alabama and then going to Bethel School in California"....those things I didn't even blink at...this takes my breath away.

Then I look at these faces and know that if this is to be it will be and all will be well.

To have the chance to touch a little life in such a wonderful way.

 If this does come to be and Morgan heads off to minister to precious treasures such as these this mama will be praying more then she has ever dreamt one could pray, but fear will not be at our door.  Morgan was a gift to us, but she is God's to use and He will use her mightily, because she is willing to go where He calls her.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40

I blinked...

...and it was Sunday again!  I can't believe this week has just flown by.  It's amazing to me how it just seems like yesterday was Sunday and yet...here we are again.  It also saddens me to realize that this is how fast my days with my lovies are flying by.  Make them last...each moment!

We spent another day at home in front of a cozy fire.  With the four youngest Jeffries having had that tummy bug this week we decided to just keep everyone home for the rest of the month.  We plan on attending a homeschool swim day this Friday as our first fun outing of the new year.  Looking forward to hanging with friends!

Had a great discussion time with the kids.  Talked about that God has laid on their hearts this past month as we did a 21 day fast. (Today was the last day.)  Wow....blown away by the 'meat' of what they had to say.  Some broke down in tears themselves.  It was such a wonderful time together.  I've asked them to write it down for me to hopefully write about some day.  Blessed to have this time with each of them this morning.  Even 8 year old Jensen had something he wanted to share from his personal devotions (devotions he chooses to do on his own each morning before everyone gets up) that he had read this past week.  He read the passage then proceeded to tell us in amazing depth and wisdom what he felt it meant.  Blown away!  Blessed!

 

 “They soon stopped being ten years old. But whatever age they were seemed to be exactly the right age for having fun.”
― Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill

I've been reading this book to the kids for one of our reading times during the day.  I loved this saying so much.  We stop being whatever age we are....but we should never loose the love of having fun.  We were made to enjoy life....every moment of life....to it's fullest.  Sure there are times when life is a lemon...but as I tell my children, Tim and myself....we choose the attitude we have in every situation.  Moments wasted in bad attitudes, anger, sadness, alone, etc....those are moments we could have a good attitude, happiness, be with others....it is our choice...and we are learning and growing and trying desperately to make the choices to have FUN in all we do.  

 The new shelves...on wheels for easy moving when we vacuum and mop each week...are loaded with our games, puzzles, coloring books and electronic games.  Look at all the leftover room!!!!  Our old shelf that was there was much smaller then the one on the right and the games were always overflowing...stacked on the floor.  This looks amazing!!!  We now have a shelf for the older kids/adult games and a shelf full of the younger kiddos games.  Have a few things to organize on it, but all in all...very happy!!!

 We are going to try the workbox system for the rest of the school year.  These are the kids boxes that we bought at Walmart for $5 each.  Max (Black), Becca (Pink), Johnston (Blue), Davidson (Red), Jensen (Green) and Jameson/Holly (Grey).  I was really excited back in September to find these in six different colors to each child know which is which without having to label anything.  I will be tweaking the workbox system to suit our families needs, but I think it will work just fine with our crates!  This shelf fit so nicely right beside the piano without cutting into the room to much.  Perfect!

I like the shelf there.  I think it will work great for us.  I know as we go about finishing and adding elements to the room things will start in one place and move to another if needed.  Going with the flow is something we are really good at.  Large families need to be fluent in "going with the flow" me thinks!!!  ;)  One never knows what is going to happen to change plans, child gets sick, rooms need to be changed, one idea that works this year in organization does not work the next...just go with the flow and don't let change haunt us!

 The kids got two new table top computers for school back in September. We might have to purchase one more next year...but we will see how this works the rest of the school year.  These two are shared by Max down to Holly.  So far it hasn't been to much of a problem, but in February we are adding a few more computer things to each child's school list.  One more table top might just make things run a little smoother.  (Just like having two pianos/two guitars helps with 7 kids practicing one or both of these instruments each day.)  Justice and Morgan have their own laptops which allows them to do their high school work wherever they need to.  Unless they are helping a sibling with a project or working on a video project which only the table top on the right has the program for, they don't really use them at all.  The kids also plug their Ipods into the computer to while they are downstairs instead of using cd players.  Come to think of it...I'm not sure we even have a cd player in our house...just computers.  Hmmm....interesting.

Tim and Morgan went to Walmart and Sams tonight.  Getting "happy first apartment" stuff for Jos.    While he was in Sams he also picked up one more shelving unit, two new school tables, chairs and containers!!!!  Yes...I get excited about containers!  I wanted to go down tonight and get the shelf put together and start getting stuff organized into their new homes, but Tim said no more tonight.  Tim decided to treat us to a yummy homemade steak dinner.  Yum!!!!  So we are going to sit down and enjoy a steak dinner, maybe watch a movie or message by Francis Chan on youtube.  Just enjoy the ending of a great day together! 

Friday Family Fun Night...or day

After a quiet week at home we were all looking forward to Friday family night.  We had a day at home with Tim who had a three day weekend.  Everything was cold, wet, and icy outside so we stayed home with a toasty fire, had amazing omelets, worked on the house, played some games...just enjoyed being together.

 Pictures of the new school room.  This used to be the playroom/teen hang out room.  We decided with 7 kiddos in school having a room totally dedicated to school, music (piano, guitar, harp and this year violin and drums!), and all that goes into our day would be a good investment of a large room.  This way when I decide to do this or that I will know where the stuff is located....in the school room!!!!

Morgan, Max and Justice did pretty much all the work with Tim supervising.  This room used to be bright blue and had cement flooring.  The kids painted it a nice calm (this was a choice made to hopefully help my ADHD and other learning "abled"kiddos remain focused and calm!) grey.  It really turned out a nice choice.  With the natural light and white trim....it turned out peaceful.  Looking forward to filling this room with all our stuff!!!

Right before bed I looked over and saw Princess Holly snuggling her daddy.  I love these precious moments!  Stop and take these moments in...enjoy them...keep them close to your heart. 

Tim my tired man crashed early with the little Jeffries.  I stayed up with the older five and we watched Super 8.  By the end of the movie we were snuggled on the couch under blankets holding each other.  It reminded me of the Goonies meets an alien movie.  It will probably be watched again sometime in the future.  Not one we will buy, but possibly rent again.  It's one of those movies that if you don't know anything about it and haven't seen it...you will be on the edge of your seat the entire movie!  So...we will have to wait until we have forgotten most of it before watching it again...or wait until another group of kids are old enough to watch with us.  Loved snuggling with my lovies!!!

Monday in bed

We ended up taking Jameson to the ER at 2am.  Not what one likes to do, but over 24 hours not being able to keep anything down and extreme stomach pain had us wondering if it might be his appendix.  

(Jameson snuggled with his blankie and daddy on the ER bed.)

We are not the kind of parents who just freak out or take every scratch, cough, or runny nose to the doctor.  But when it's needed, we go.  This was one of those times.  He just was not keeping anything down and kept throwing up...even when there was nothing to throw up.  We would give him water just trying to keep him hydrated...but it came right back up.  They gave him an IV and meds for his nausea/cramping.  He started pepping up after the IV and kept his popsicle down.  Thankfully it wasn't his appendix and we were able to come home with a little man not feeling as bad as he had.  

Tim, my trooper, stayed up all night with me in the ER and came home in time to head off to a long day at work.  Jameson and I closed the blinds, turned on the noisy fan, closed the door and slept the day away.  Jameson just wanted me to be there with him...and of course I didn't want to be anywhere else.   Justice, Morgan and the rest of my crew took care of everything for me.  They are amazing like that.  

Jameson kept down a piece of toast and some applesauce tonight so we are on the road to healing.  He still had a hard night with tummy aches, but no more throwing up.  Looking forward to getting back on track tomorrow!

A quiet Sunday!

Thankful for jelly filled donuts as a surprise on a beautiful Sunday morning! The kids woke up to fresh Krispy Kreme's....yummy powdery jelly filled goodness! 

Smiles all around!!!

 Miss Holly and Bella enjoying a quiet Sunday morning with the family!

Love her precious smile! 

Tim made plans to take Justice, Max and Johnston over to his dad's house to watch football.  We made yummy pulled pork bbq and potato salad for them to take.  Johnston insisted on taking peanuts in the shell just to make the game authentic.  He's so funny.  

While they were gone the little Jeffries had a low key day playing quietly.  Jameson came down with a bug last night and I was up all night with him throwing up.  Poor little bug.  I hate it when my kiddos are sick.  Holly had the same bug last week, but didn't throw up at all.  She just had a tummy ache and didn't feel like eating to much.  Jameson usually throws up if there is throwing up to do.  He's our go to throw up guy.  Sigh.  But....on the bright side....he always makes it in the perfect deposit place.  Praying he get's better soon.  He was miserable today poor thing.  It was a really quiet day which was perfect for us here at home.

Praying all our family and friends had a blessed Sunday!

Basketball, Dancing, and Christmas again!

You know how you wake up and wonder if it might be possible that you have the time wrong for one of your children's games or appointments?  That was me this morning.  I stayed up way late with the kiddos watching movies and talking.  We all slept in until 11am which is unusual since the little's don't usually sleep in, but they did and it was wonderful.  I thought Johnston's games was at 1pm, but thought I should check and guess what...his game was at 12!!!!!  We had 30 minutes to get up and get out the door.  Hahaha on me!  I love those moments when I have like seconds to figure out what I'm going to do.  Thankfully I'm pretty good at this.  Decided to leave Justice home with the littlest four Jeffries.  I headed out the door with Max, Becca, Morgan, Johnston, Savannah, and Katie for a day of basketball games.

 Johnston had the first game.  He has come a long way this season, but we will be practicing on a few areas that he needs to improve his game in.  He loves the game and I am really proud of him.

He has made some good friends with the kids on his team.  He is hoping they are on the team next season when he plays again.  We will see!  He did have a few fellow homeschoolers on his team which was fun. 

Max's game was next.  This will be his only season playing at the YMCA.  He enjoyed playing and was really good.  He needs to work on a few areas as well, but with more practice he could be a decent player. 

We did buy a new hoop for the kids for Christmas.  Tim and the kids will be putting it up next weekend when he has a long weekend.  It will give the kids a chance to practice at home everyday which they are really excited about.  Tim usually takes the kids somewhere to practice so having the hoop here is going to be a blessing.

Becca ended up having two games back to back.  We had made plans, but had to end up canceling because her game which was supposed to be at 3...didn't start until 4....then we were told there was going to be another game after that.  Ugh!!!!  Poor Becca!!!!  She played really well though and has athletic talent.

She had a few free throws.  After watching the boys games which were pretty brutal...oh my goodness....the girls game was vicious!  Not attitudes...but I was shocked not to see blood.  I had NO idea basketball games could be so....ouch.  Becca was the only one out of the three who came home with a hurt arm (wouldn't you know it would be the one she has broken twice!) and some bruises.  Sheesh....but maybe that means she is really getting into the game. 

Tim, Justice and Max made us homemade nachos.  Yum yum yum!  They are super yummy!  They do take a long time to make so while the guys were cooking, the kids were getting their dance on.

 I found Just Dance Kids on youtube.  We have the game on Wii, but with only two controllers and a lots of kids it takes a lot of time to play a game.  So finding it on youtube which plays right on our tv in the living room was a gold mine.  Jensen and Holly jumped right in!

 Dancing to Despicable Me!

 

First there were two....

....then Johnston joined in and there were three!

Then Davidson joined the group and there were four getting their dance on!

They love dancing so much it is a daily part of school.  

It's a part of our day that never gets old.  When we need something to get a new jolt to the school day the kids ask to dance for a bit.

Dance, dance, dance!

 Soon Jameson joined the dancing craze and boy did he get into it.  He looks like he's gone all Chuck Norris or something. 

 Five dancers doing Despicable Me...again!  They love that song!

Jensen had to change into his Optimus Prime mask sometime between songs.  I guess it made the dancing more interesting?

Savannah and Katie (both decided to join us for another night!) joined in the dance....only missing one dancer...

 ...and there she is...Becca Jean our dancing queen!!!!  She was making her fabulous salsa while the kids were dancing, but she came running when she heard her favorite song.

This was as big as our dancing crew got tonight.  They filled the room and had a ton of fun.  They definitely will sleep good tonight!

 Becca turned into a disco dancer rocking those sequined leg warmers!

I love her....she makes us laugh SO MUCH!  Her personality has no limits!!! 

We did our Christmas gift exchange with Josalynd tonight.  FUN!!!  Gifts are always fun and the kids loved giving our gifts to Jossy.  They also loved receiving some pretty awesome gifts from the Jos.  Didn't get any pictures....not sure why...but I didn't.  Pretty excited for her...she is moving into her first apartment next Saturday.  SO HAPPY FOR HER!!!!

We decided to watch the Hunger Games tonight since Justice hadn't seen it yet.  We are looking forward to seeing the sequal Catching Fire in November 2013.  I've decided to read the series to the kids before then.  Even though the movie follows the book really well, there is so much that is left out.  So many visuals that when watching the movie you can fill int he gaps and understand it so much better.  So we shall read them and be prepared.  We start in February!!!

Pajamas, blankets, and movies....great ending to our very busy day.  

Looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow.

Friends, Fun, and Family!

We finished the school room today after all our school work was done.  Pictures to come next week when we get around to it.  I thought I was going to be so excited about getting the painting, flooring, and other building things done, but I was wrong.  I'm excited about going through everything we own and organizing all our school stuff.  I look forward to taking my time to purge what we do not use.  Stuff that has not seen the light of day for years is gonna go bye bye!  I'm looking forward to having everything we need out in organized places and always accessible and never forgotten.  We are not starting that process until next week and we will be taking our time.  

I love Friday Fun Family nights!!!!  The night we celebrate the beginning of a weekend together.  The night we hang out, play games, watch movies, eat yummy food, and just be together.  I do so enjoy these nights, but tonight we had something different planned.  Tim planned some fun things to do with our boys and Holly.  I took Morgan, her friend Savannah, Becca, her friend Katie and Tim's mom Jean to have dinner and out to see Les Mis!

This movie was phenomenal.  We cried....tons....and even more.  It was such a great movie.  The girls have already started talking about us going next weekend with Tim and the guys.  Not sure that will be happening, but I was so happy the girls enjoyed it as much as I did.  (Mental note: Must watch Phantom of the Opera with the girls next week!)  It was great to spend the time with Tim's mom as well.  

Savannah, Katie, Becca and Johnston totally photo bombing these girls!

Mo, Savannah, Katie, Becca and Johnston doing....what any younger brother does best....photo bombing!

 Finally a picture without a brother in it!  Mo, Savannah, Katie, and Becca.  Love these girls!

 I looked over as I was working on my computer and fell in love with my children again.  I fall in love with them over and over again each day.  These moments...they are precious.  Seeing how much my kids enjoy being together...I am just....blessed!  Best buds! 

Tonight I found out that one can purchase glasses...just for fashion...not because they are needed.   Becca fell in love with Katie's glasses.  She is already planning on stopping by Claire's to pick up a pair for herself.  Morgan and I didn't understand one little bit how someone would want to wear glasses without needing them.  We ourselves wear them all the time....because we HAVE to.  You know...wear them to actually see....because if we don't everything is blurry and unclear.....oh and don't start me on the headaches....ugh.  Craziness I tell you!  But...if she wants to spend her hard earned money on glasses just to wear them as an ACCESSORY....who am I to say no.

Tomorrow's schedule shows Tim working, Max/Johnston/Becca have basketballs games, dinner with Josalynd so we can exchange Christmas gifts since we were in Florida for Christmas...it's gonna be a long day!  Looking forward to it!!!!

Baby it's cold outside!

Georgia weather is so wishy washy.  One day it's tshirt weather and then you wake up to weather that is sweatshirt, parka, fire, gloves and hot cocoa weather!  This morning was that morning.  Woke up with frozen toes and noses, everyone dragging blankets into the living room for devotions while the fire did it's job taking the CHILL off the house.  Wow....it is feeling like winter today....finally!

Holland did a cut and paste craft today.  It was not a day for outdoor adventures because it was just to cold.  I printed out disney coloring pages, did some fun dancing games, filled the day with just being together.  You know....being....really being together.  Taking every minute we can and be IN the moments.  I realize as I look at pictures like this....

Little Miss Holly at 3 playing dress us as a robot!

....that time is flying by and my lovies are growing.  Holly will be 7 this year.  I'm taking the time to slow down and be in the moments with them.  To make memories with them.  To not worry about errands, lists to accomplish, schedules, and things that have kept a lot of my attention in the past years.  This year....we will snuggle more, laugh more, drink cocoa more often while reading new books, playing more games, go on more nature walks, have more date nights, give of ourselves more then we ever have.  

The weather was nasty tonight so we cancelled basketball practice.  The kids were disappointed until I said due to bad weather we would be breaking out the Xbox Star Wars game for a little bit.  We have a Xbox 360 and a Wii, but we don't play on them a great deal.  The kids rarely ask because it's out of side (we keep them in a tote) out of mind.  If the kids do ask...which is really super rare...I usually always say yes as long as we are done with school.  So...when I suggest it the kids always jump right on it because it seems like such a treat.  Funny that they haven't caught on to the fact that they would be allowed to play more if they asked....but I'm not going to let them in on that secret!  

Tim braved the weather to take Justice to his teen and college age support group.  He looks forward to the bi weekly classes and Tim being the wonderful man I love said he would take him.  Justice is such a sweet guy that I know if we had said no way to going because of the nasty weather he would have been fine...but he does so look forward to this group and it's so important for him to be in a group with peers that accept him and help him grow into the adult he can be.  Sadly Tim's truck died in the parking lot so I had to run and rescue them.  So I did end up going out, but Justice had a great meeting and was beaming with happiness so it was TOTALLY worth it.  

2013 has only been here for 17 days, but we are so rocking it!

Wonderful Wednesday!

I love my children's imagination!  Today I woke up to find this....

The Hobbit vs. Jurrasic Park

....sitting on the table beside my favorite place for having my quiet time in the morning.  My very own battle scene!  Of course I know who wins.  I mean...Gandolf, a hobbit, elf, and dwarves....no questions about it.

 Look at these fierce men...such a brave crew!  

Johnston is always surprising me with his creations.  I remember the weeks after he watched the Passion for the Christ movie.  He took his Prince of Persia Lego's and created the most beautiful scenes.  From Jesus and the two thieves on the crosses to the Last Supper.  It was amazing.  I will have to find the pictures I took of them sometime and post them.  He seems to create these scenes around whatever movie he has seen recently.  So from looking at this scene I would say he has seen The Hobbit (last week) and Jurrassic Park (Monday night for Davidson's birthday).  I've never had him mix two movies into one scene like this, but it added quite the dramatic flare.  

This was a great start to my day and it just got better from there.  

Loving January, loving 2013, loving my family!