Why have so many kids?

To this I would have to respond, Why not?

Ill health maybe

Not being able to cope maybe... but then really if we live by Gods grace, and let the Spirit guide us and teach and directs us, then we have huge opportunity for personal growth. The growth I've made over the 7 years I've been a mother and the 5 children I've welcomed into the world is almost tangible.

There are of course the question of economics but I see that as a materialistic and worldly view for not having children. If Jesus could feed the 5000 then 5 or 8 or 10 is not an issue. All we have comes from the Father, and He can take it all in a moment. So whatever I have is for Him, my husband and I work hard and then live in gratitude for what we have.

And then if we are to believe the scriptures, children are a heritage to the Lord, they are a blessing to us, happy is the man or woman that has his quiverfull.  Parents find such joy in their children, be it 1 or 2 or more. Why would we deny the joy and happiness that comes with the unfolding of each new individual. What other work could possibly be more joyful, fulfilling and have more eternal consequences.  What a wonderful journey each 'one' is, I would surely not want to minus one of my children that are presently with me, so why would I not allow ones that are across the veil from me and waiting to come down. I will love those precious spirits fiercely too, and protect and guide and teach them in the ways of our Father....that they may know Him.

Mountaineering

We went for a hike up through the back paddocks and into the forest today. I'd heard there were some caves up there. We did end up stumbling across one after quite a hike up and through the forest. But then when we started to think about heading home I realized how high up we were and that it was quite a steep long descent straight down to get back home. I decided we should try retrace our steps but by the time I said that Angus and Erin had piled off down the mountain assuring me it wasn't THAT steep. So some slid down on bottoms, some I didn't even see how they got down and I went slowly grabbing onto trees or whatever I could find to ease me and Abby (in the pouch) down. We made it!!!! What a fun adventure.

 The trek up

 

 

 

 At the Caves

 

 

 

 The Trek down

 

And then no post could possibly be complete without a picture of the beautiful Abigail who slept absolutely soundly throughout the entire ordeal!!

 

 

My little baby ALSO slept through the entire night last night. Went to bed around 8.30 and woke just before 7! Its so beautiful to have a baby back in our home...

 

I did my first load of cloth nappy washing today. Couldn't believe the instructions of warm or cold water and half the normal detergent. But they turned out totally clean, so excited!!



Awesome video, tracing roots of public education system and what Gods education looks like. She likens the different systems to the terrestrial, telestial and then celestial worlds. Really worth listening to.


http://vimeo.com/22089587

What Brigham Young had to say about free public education:

I am opposed to free education as much as I am opposed to taking property from one man and giving it to another who knows not how to take care of it… I do not believe in allowing my charities to go through the hands of robbers who pocket nine-tenths themselves and give one tenth to the poor… Would I encourage free schools by taxation? No! (Brigham Young)

We had to pay our own schoolteachers, raise our own bread and earn our own clothing, or go without; there was no other choice. We did it then, and we are able to do the same to-day. I want to enlist the sympathies of the ladies among the Latter-day Saints, to see what we can do for ourselves with regard to schooling our children. Do not say you cannot school them, for you can… I understand that the other night there was a school meeting in one of the wards of this city, and a part there–a poor miserable apostate–said, “We want a free school, and we want to have the name of establishing the first free school in Utah.” To call a person a poor miserable apostate may seem like a harsh word; but what shall we call a man who talks about free schools and who would have all the people taxed to support them, and yet would take his rifle and threaten to shoot the man who had the collection of the ordinary light taxes levied in this Territory–taxes which are lighter than any levied in any other portion of the country? (Brigham Young)

Its an interesting concept that when we do not obey the prophets, the 'higher law' they were expounding is in effect, taken away and the counsel not repeated. Case in point, Moses and the Ten commandments.

 free education :)

 

John Taylor  Gatto also does a great job on tracing the foundings of the public education system. Any of his books are great reads

Dinner Times

After reading the somewhat controversial (among the Tjeders anyway) Headgates ebook with FAQ  -which I loved-I decided to implement a No Kids Talking at the Dinner Table rule. Well, for some it may seem extreme, but I was amazed at the impact it had on many factors and how great it was. Firstly the kids actually eat more then talk, so we don't have to keep encouraging them to keep eating and they're not sitting around for ages afterwards trying to finish or even leaving the table not yet full  because they're bored from taking so long. It also has an impact on manners and wriggles at the table so we don't have (or less of) sliding around on their chairs, trying to disappear under the table , finding ways to distract or annoy each other. Honestly, sometimes it felt like dinner at the zoo. But this one rule seems to really work wonders.

And then for me, the most beautiful of all results is what its done for my husband and even our relationship. No longer does he come home, tired and distracted only to have kids all clamouring to talk and wriggle around energetically and create a chaotic dinner time. But everything is quiet and calm, he can relax and unwind and him and I can talk uninterrupted. Its great for him and its so amazing for me. I've always loved dinnertimes and held up this ideal of beautifully presented foods, intellectual, genteel conversation, and just a general uplifting family time. In the end what I was getting was a husband who rushed in ate as quickly as he could, with his mind elsewhere unless he was telling kids off, and then leaving the table as soon as finished. I in turn would be left to maintain order, wait for them all to finish and organize all the clean up. My wonderful husband now, lingers at the table and we talk while the kids finish up, it is more calm, relaxed and enjoyable for everyone. Thank you Keri for the inspiration to do this.

Baby Blessing

Our little Abigail was blessed at church on 7th April along with Lei and Michael Watsons little baby girl. Seth gave a beautiful blessing loud and clear for us all to hear. Poppy, Michael Stokes, Bishop Jury, Rory and Robert Menzie all assisted. And then we had a lunch for everyone back at home afterwards.

The blessing as noted down by Peta:

 

Abigail Enid Ireland you are a daughter of Heavenly Father

 look to your namesakes for inspiration and courage

seek a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

Live righteously

serve a mission

marry in the temple

be a lifelong learner both with formal education and in your personal life

have a soft heart, be quick to listen

seek talents Heavenly Father has bestowed on you

and magnify them to bless those around you

know you have many to love and watch over you

take comfort in these things.

 

 

 

 





Angels from on High

 Abigail was definitely smiling from about 2 weeks old!

An Angel is living in my house. She loves unconditionally, no matter how I may look, no matter whats going on around us, when she looks in my eyes and lights up with her wobbly lopsided smile I am everything in her little world, I am her mother. I can't get over the miracle that is these little ones. What a privilege and blessing they are, how they encourage and push me to continually try to be better.  I see so many beautiful lessons that come from a 'well ordered large family' and I thank Heavenly Father for each of these little people in my life and pray that there will be more that we may welcome into our home to love and learn from.

. "I think in some ways it is easier to raise a large family. It depends upon what you want to accomplish. If you want to provide material benefits, obviously the fewer children you have, the more you can provide for each one. But if you are trying to teach unselfishness, responsibility, cooperation, regard for one another--these things can happen in a well-ordered family only if there are sufficient persons there in the first place."
                                                                       Elder Boyd K. Packer

I love and accept my God given right to teach, lead and enjoy my children. And so homeschooling is such an integral part of who and what my family is. We live and learn and work for and with each other. We support each other and share our time together, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. Ps 127:3-5

A new little Ireland

Let me try and see if I even remember how to make a post on my long forgotten blog! I'll start with an announcement of the Birth of Abigail Enid, on 4th Feb 2013 weighing in at a whopping 10.1 pounds. Her birth was straight forward apart from her being posterior, but gosh it really seemed to hurt more then the others, Seth says I just forget quickly, but I do remember the twins birth being actually enjoyable! I just never seemed to get into the 'zone' no matter how hard I tried or visualized.  But now its all over and she is such a joy in all of our lives!