Spring is Coming!

Spring is Coming!

Spring is a time when this part of our world wakes up from its sleep and new life comes forth. Where we currently dwell, we have four distinct seasons. After winter, signs of spring are always welcomed. It’s a time of new birth and rebirth. This is quite literal for us this year, as we will be welcoming our newest “little” into our nest. This mama has been starting to get into nesting mode. These days it’s easier than ever to get busy and distracted, and forget to stop and appreciate what God is doing.

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Psalm 139: 13-15

“For You formed my innermost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks and praise to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being formed in secret, and intricately and skillfully formed in the depths of the earth.”

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His miraculous work will soon be brought to light, and we will see what he has been forming in our midst. The Bible is clear that all children are a gift from God, whether birthed in our hearts through adoption or from our wombs.

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A Time of Growth

We never really set out and planned on having a large family, but God knows I do like surprises. To be honest, until recently I haven’t felt like we have a large family. Maybe because it happened gradually and it’s what I’m used to. To my surprise, we’ve never had multiples, even though they can be found on both sides of my family. So we didn’t have several overnight, though we have had some fairly close together.

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Recently though, we have certainly had our share of growing pains (besides the ones I’m physically having). Our tree has expanded, but our house has not. Plenty of well meaning family members and friends have had no shortage of larger and more expensive homes to show us. This is understandable, as we currently seem to be busting at the seems. While the option of moving is not off the table, for now we have decided to complete a basement renovation that we have started. This will add quite a bit to our existing square footage and give us the satisfaction of completing something we started. We’ve done quite a bit of work on our home over the past many years and we don’t shy away from a project or two. I’m a firm believer in sweat equity.

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We’re not completely sure what the future holds. My husband and I often joke that if we had a huge house, we would all occupy the same room, moving around like a school of fish. I’d have to encourage everyone to spread out. We’re a close family and we’re just not used to a lot of personal space. Don’t get me wrong, there are times you can catch this mama daydreaming of more personal space. However, I try to always remind myself how blessed I am, and that my children are with me for a short season. I’m already excited about the future prospect of grandchildren, as I sit here expecting our eighth. Life can be funny.

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Life is Beautiful

Spring reminds me that life is beautiful and something to be appreciated. Fall often reminds me that life is fleeting and something to be appreciated. No matter the circumstances in the world, God is in control. He continues to bless and create. After all, He is the Creator, He is Life, and He is Love. That will never change, He never changes. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever. God’s timing is perfect. I don’t claim to always understand what He is doing, or why He does it, but I’ve learned to trust His ways.

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So a season of new birth and rebirth is coming upon us, I believe in more ways than one. Life and blessings are always something worthy to make room for. Whether you need to expand the walls of your house, or the walls of your heart to let more Life in, it’s always worth it. Of course, this may not come in the way of babies and children. Every family is special and not everyone wants a large litter. However, I think most of us would agree that we need more love in the world.

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There’s always people in our path that we can bless and share a bit of Life with. We can all benefit from allowing more Love and Life into our heart. It’s not just for ourselves, but so it can flow from us and thus continue the cycle. Life is beautiful, don’t forget to look for it, it’s all around, especially in the spring.

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*FYI: The first picture is one of Joshua and I expecting our 7th child. He is now 1 and a half. I’ll be taking newer pics soon.