These kids know how to pray. When Hannah's tummy hurt last week, I heard whispering after I put them to bed and walked into the room to find my daughters praying for their sister's tummy. Hannah was praying too.
Hannah has told me several times that she prayed for a Momma and Daddy, and God gave her a Momma, Daddy, and another brother and 3 more sisters! "Jesus listen to Hannah, Momma!" she would exclaim.
They learned this soon after coming home, and it has been so sweet to hear them pray after making a poor choice. They ask God to help them obey Momma, and they do it without me asking them to pray.
There's one prayer they have prayed each day. One morning they informed me that they were praying for a baby boy. Since we came home on July 9th, the children have talked about having a baby grow in Momma's tummy. As time passed, I was able to ask them about adopting a baby from an orphanage. They insisted they wanted a baby from Momma first, then they wanted to get a baby out of the orphanage...along with a few friends they remember. In my heart I knew what the doctors had said. In 2010 I was diagnosed with Lymphoma while 6 months pregnant with our 4th child. We waited until after giving birth to go through treatment. I was told that due to the chemo and the shock my body was about to endure (giving birth and battling cancer/chemo) that I would go through menopause. They said if I didn't go through menopause, I would likely not be able to conceive. But, they said, "It's ok, because you already have 4 children." I never liked that comment, but I got over it.
I have tried to share with others just how amazing that cancer journey became because God showed me just how magnificent he is. We have been through so many things, some good and some bad, but nothing compares to how much God showed me and taught me, as we journeyed through cancer together. Nothing compares to the level to which scriptures came to life during that time. God proved He was above the diagnosis...Today we would like to show just how He's above any chemo, any life circumstance, above it all.
Just yesterday a lady stopped us in Walmart to take our picture because we were such a large family getting along so well. She wanted to show her family with 3 children because they never get along. A few women stopped us to say how amazing our family is. One man and another woman commented at how blessed I am. One Walmart employee stared at us so much I thought he needed us to move. He said, "No, I'm just watching and trying to count how many of you there are." I told him, then he said, "It's just so nice to watch everyone." A few had some neutral comments about us, but there wasn't one negative comment this time! I'm so pleased to announce that.
I get overwhelmed. It's true. But I do love this life God has given us. I adore it. I would not have picked it because I would not have thought I could handle it. I just have too many flaws and not enough talents to do what I do. But, I'm SO grateful for this life, and each day I give it to them, my 10 blessings from God. So, family and friends, as we celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of 11...I mean 12...we want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Life is so much more than the clean house and home made pies, matching hair bows, and well manicured nails. I'm thankful for my wonderful God and my beautiful family.