"I don't know how do you do it!"

This phrase "I don't know how you do it?" has been said to me... funny, considering only about 10 years ago, when I had to my first baby, I said the same thing to anyone who had more than one child, and appeared to be surviving, and even still sane!  :)  I felt like my mom was the exception... she was, in my mind "super-woman"... up early, went to bed late, incredibly smart, adored by dad... the list goes on. 

So bringing this back to me, I really always wanted lots of kids, but never quite understood what that meant. It's tiring, it's draining, it's an ever evolving process that happens with time, and the addition of each little life God blesses our family with.

I've heard the phrases...

"I don't know how you do it!"

"I could never do what you do"

"You make it look easy"

"You must be so organized"

Ha!  Truth is...

 I don't know how to do it.

I can't do what I do.

I make it look crazy

and I only used to be organized!

But!... I'm learning!!  With each new day. With each new year. With each new baby... I'm learning!

God is stretching me, growing me, shaping me in ways I never thought possible.  

I try new ideas, and they often fail. But with God's grace (and the help of my husband) I will pick myself up, brush off my pride, and try, try again.  

TRY to "do it"

TRY to make it "more efficient"

TRY to be "more organized"

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD the maker of heaven and earth.

Hew will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over you coming and going both now and forevermore.

Thank God!

& That's how I "do it"!

Trip to Colombia... and more...

So, here I am again...

I took a trip to Colombia... ALL BY MYSELF! 

Lydia & I overlooking the City of Medellin

Nate, Lindsey, Isaiah & Jeremiah

Exploring the City of Medellin

Way out of my comfort zone there!  Especially nervous as I was in my first trimester and wasn't sure how sick I might get. So thankful that I was not very sick, or even very nauseous. It was a long and exhausting, but wonderful trip!!  I flew into Bogota, left a few hours later for a long (9ish hour) drive to Medellin.  The drive was long, and scary, but so worth it. Medellin was beautiful.  On Sunday we visited a church, that was meeting outside for a baptism... at a public park with a stream. Nate preached, and afterwards we had dinner (that was prepared right there in a big pot) and the boys played in the stream. It was a unique and beautiful time!

The group that was baptized

The City of Medellin

We also did some sightseeing and a little shopping, and just enjoyed our time together!

Girls day out!!

I traveled home with my sister Lydia who had been there for 6 weeks to help out.

Lydia and I on our way home

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Update on normal life...

>> Van's MRI which was scheduled for August 1st was cancelled due to a lack of approval from our insurance.

 >> I'm about 12 weeks pregnant now and my first baby appointment in scheduled for this Wednesday (August 6th).

>> My baby sister leaves for college in less than a week and that is freaking me out!

>> Homeschooling will begin soon,,,, and I'm almost ready.... but not quite! :/