Our decision to have another child....13!

This morning while I lay in bed, my little three year old came and climbed in and cuddled up to me. I looked upon her perfect little features. Her nose, and eyes that looked like perfectly sculpted porcelain, her little fingers and her wavy, golden hair that fell around her little round face and shoulders. Next to me lay the most perfect of God's creations. What would she grow up to be? Would her spunky personality keep her from giving in to incorrect choices. Would it be companioned with faith and righteousness? Would she follow paths that would lead her to happiness and success in this life and eternal happiness in the life hereafter?

You see, to really understand our desire to bring another child into this world when we already have 12 children is hard to fathom without understanding our beliefs. #1. We believe in revelation. We know God sends information to us from time to time that will enhance and bless our lives if we follow, and #2. We lived before we came to earth as spirit children of our Heavenly Father (God) and we will live after we die as spirits until we are resurrected. Then we will be immortal. We will be as families if sealed in the Temple of God here on the earth.
  Yes, many beautiful experiences have come to my husband and myself where we knew there were more children. My grandmother passed away in the Fall and many times I felt her presence as I sang lullabies to my babies in the rocking chair she gave me many years before her passing. I feel she had a part in sending this sweet little babe.

The two most common questions I get from strangers after finding out how many children we have are 1- What does your husband do? and 2- How do you give each child the care and attention they need? These are good questions when the idea is so foreign. It's especially a bewilderment to somewhat different cultures like those from the East I've noticed.
Well, again Heavenly Father has blessed my husband with a prosperous job. He put in a lot of work getting a good education, and has worked hard through the years to get where he's at. I have managed our money wisely and taught our children to be self-reliant and wise also. But the biggest part is FAITH. First, we have done what we felt God wanted us to do, then we noticed God's miracles. Faith precedes the miracle. Everything God touches lives. When he gives a commandment, He provides a way to accomplish the commandment. Often, it takes work and he has certainly increased our abilities and strength to measure up to the task. He has opened the windows of Heaven and poured blessings upon us. He truly has.

And number 2- I have never pushed a child away. When the newest babe comes many times my toddler sits right by me nurturing along with me. Of course there are times of instruction teaching gentleness. But no one is ever replaced. Each child is needed, loved, and revered with the utmost respect. Our home motto is "Living each day to be a special sight in the eyes of God." This was agreed upon many years ago, long before our oldest children left home. Before we start trying to have another child we spend many family councils making sure everyone wants this and what it will involve exactly...like how sick Mommy gets the first trimester. I honestly haven't ever had a time when any of our children opposed the idea of us bringing another child into our family. We are a team that works together and plays together. To give you an idea of their attitudes I will share what our 15 year old son said to me the other night before I went up to bed. First of all, I was expressing my gratitude for them stepping up to help out and all they did extra while I have been so sick. J and S made pancakes for dinner, and M made blackberry smoothies to go along with it. After dinner they all pitched in to clean up. I kissed my teenage sons cheeks and again thanked them reiterating the fact that it would soon pass. J said, "Mom don't feel obligated to do more than you can, we will all adapt." We have been blessed with strong children who are leaders. I'm very proud of them and feel blessed to be their mother.

After all is said and done there is a key factor that makes it smooth when rough, and attainable when all odds seem to be against us. This is God. I know it sounds too good to be true. It's like the brazen serpent from Moses. If the people would look they'd be saved, but many just didn't have faith enough to look.  So this is what we do....We follow the words of our Prophet. Remember, we believe in modern revelation. God is not dead and His revelation is living today just as in times of old.  This revelation is to have morning and evening family prayer. Everyone gathers (that is here) and we kneel down together first thanking the Father for blessings, then we ask for His help. We close our prayer and often discuss what we will accomplish for the day and the schedule. Every night we have scripture study as a family. Everyone takes a Book of Mormon from the shelf and we take turns reading. We then discuss the principals God is teaching. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is the words of the Lord through ancient prophets in America. It's my favorite book. On Monday nights we have Family Home Evening. We rotate through each family member. When it's their turn they plan, and carry out the lesson and activity. Last night was E's turn who is 3. She had a flannel board story about Dancing Moons testimony. We then played Apples to Apples. We also encourage our children to read, study, and pray on their own in quiet moments so they can develop their own personal relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. They also have received revelation and prospered from the hand of God. We go to our church meetings and serve when we can. I'm going to go off on a tangent here...you see when God's laws are kept and repentance takes place when needed the Spirit of God increases a persons intelligence. It's just a fact. This intelligence is not only spiritual but temporal as well. Ok back to our family.  So this is without a doubt the most important part of success for us. Then there are fun little things that enhance our family like weekly dates that I go on with the children individually, interviews with Daddy, goals, and lots of lessons, recreation, and just good ol family time where we sit around and visit.

Is it a sacrifice being pregnant? Is it hard? You bet! As I kneel over the toilet throwing up I think of the little wee babe's heart and lungs, toes, and fingers taking everything out of me so she can develop. My energy is zapped, and I could sleep 24 hours. Heavenly Father hears my pleading heart to increase my abilities and to compensate for my failures when I haven't the strength to do a just job as a mother should. Somehow, I see the miracles God sends and wonder how He did it. My good husband is the biggest support to me. He prays for our little babe before they even come and strengthens me with encouragement. His faith is strong and he delights in his children.  He's a tease and says how much he loves when I'm pregnant because he can keep up with me then. Ha Ha. He's a good man.