Hands Full

"My goodness you sure have your hands full!"

"Are those ALL yours?"

"Don't you know what causes that?!"

"Don't you and your husband have some other hobby or watch television every once in awhile?"

"Wow, I'm sure glad I'm not you, I'd go crazy every single day!"

These are just a few of the comments I hear when I take my children out on various errands. Honestly I've been hearing them since I had my second child(Anna) because her and my oldest are only 12 months apart, and apparently having lots of children close in age means people forget that things like pointing, staring, and making rude comments are in fact rude things to do. Judging by some of the things people say, it would also appear that many people believe my children can't hear them.

But of course they can hear them. They also understand, on some level, what's going on. But more importantly, I'm realizing, is that they're waiting to see how I'll react to all these comments.

And do you want to know the truth? Generally, I smile and just keep walking. I've never been one for confrontation and drawing unnecessary attention to myself, and it just seemed easier to smile, nod, and ignore. But really is that the message I want to be sending to my children, or even the strangers making these comments?  Despite the comments, clearly I know what caused "all" these children. I don't want my kids to think that I think they're a burden, and I certainly don't want complete strangers at the grocery store to think I feel that way about my own children(no matter how frazzled I might be looking at the time!)

I was challenged recently by how I'm handling these types of confrontations by an article I read over at desiring god. The author has 6 kids under the age of 7, and at one point had five kids under the age of five. Here's the quote; "When my little girl told me, “Your hands are full!” I was so thankful that she already knew what my answer would be. It was the same one that I always gave: “Yes they are—full of good things!”

Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it."

The next time someone comments on my family size, I think I'm going to say that.  Yes my hands are full- but  they're full of good things. This world wants to say children are expensive little burdens who steal our time and money, but God says children are blessings. If I don't start kindly speaking up for my own children, then I'm just as wrong as the people making the comments.

Linking up with June &

Thanksgiving!

Wow, I seriously have been slacking on this blog! It's not for lack of trying to write posts, but it seems every time I get inspiration to write I'm in the car, giving the kids a bath, or about to fall asleep. Currently I have about 10 unfinished posts sitting in my blog file. I guess that's how it goes sometimes.

Anyways, I thought I'd post some pictures from thanksgiving until I can get further inspiration. September through Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year, and I always look forward to thanksgiving. It was a great day spent with my parents and brother!

The day before thanksgiving my parents and I took the kids to a local dairy farm. Since we're "city" people, the kids weren't to sure what to think of all the animals(well except for the cats, they liked them lol!) Anna, was the only one who wasn't afraid whatsoever. She wanted to pet every animal she saw, and take them all home. 

Anna enjoyed helping make the pumpkin pies and rolls.

Lily loved helping my mom cut up apples for the apple pie and making sweet potatoes.

Jack did help make rolls, but he was so happy to have his daddy, papa, and uncle around the house that he spent most of the day playing with them. 

Max loved the cranberries! 

It was a great day of giving thanks, spending time with family, cooking and lots of eating. My mom and I did all the cooking, so I was pretty much exhausted by the time the day was over, but it was such a nice day! Did the rest of you have a nice thanksgiving?