Marriage/Love/Romance

I fed myself a steady diet of romance movies and novels when I was growing up. I even read all those so called "Christian romance" novels. This was the sum of my knowledge about marriage and romance. Suffice it to say I was an idiot when I got married. I totally bought that you would know that you'd found the "right one" when everything clicked and you heard or at least felt the background violins. So, when Colin and I had difficulties or conflict, I not only felt the defeat of that argument in that moment, I also felt the defeat of Hollywood telling me that I'd married the wrong one. I was sure I'd made a mistake until we made up and I felt "in love" again, and then I thought maybe it wasn't a mistake. Until the next argument came along. I bet y'all are so jealous of Colin finding such a catch as me,eh?! Anyway, it's been a long time coming, but I'm starting to learn to look at marriage with a biblical perspective and not a Top Gun, Princess Bride, Sixteen Candles one. Uh-oh I think I've dated myself with those pop culture references from the eighties.

So, now that I'm so old and a little wise, I realize that marriage is supposed to be a reflection of Christ and His church's relationship. There will be many opportunities for the husband to learn to love someone despite their total lack of loveability, and there will be plenty of opportunities for wives to learn to honor and respect their husbands despite being absolutely sure that they're wrong. Only in this give and take and bowing the will of oneself for the other can we truly find happiness and joy. Through being considerate, patient, forgiving, we will truly know the indescribably close bond of being husband and wife. Only then will we know the depths and beauty of being truly "in love." Marriage is for happiness, but it's not through the path that Cameron Diaz or Bradd Pitt will lead you. It's through a lot of sanctification and selflessness. And it is truly a beautiful thing.

The Twelve Days of a Large Family Christmas

I have heard every one of these stranger comments at least a dozen times. Very fun. Merry Christmas!

Six Months Old!

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Patience decided to give us a present for her six month birthday. She's not only crawling all over the place, but she's now officially sitting up on her own. Sorry for Grace's foot in the picture but it's not easy getting a picture of Patience all on her own. She's usually got a brother or sister or two hovering around waiting to hug and kiss and play with her. :)

Santa Claus

We've made it a point to teach our kids the truth about Santa Claus from the beginning. We want them to always be able to trust that we will never trick them, fool them, or lie to them. We have two neighbor kids that often talk to our kids through the fence along our driveway. Yesterday, Noah told them that Santa Claus isn't real. These poor kids defended their belief to the end, even to the point of saying they knew it was true because their parents told them so. Then they told Noah that his dad didn't know anything. I feel sorry for these kids. One day they will realize it is actually they who have been duped and by their own parents at that.

Go listen now!!

Colin is on the Chalcedon podcast tonight with Chris Ortiz and Andrea Schwartz. He did a great job!! He's so smart and really interesting to listen to. I learned a lot by listening and I'm married to the guy! :) Don't go watch tv tonight, listen to this instead!

Whatdoyathink?!

Do y'all like my new template? Now that Colin has more time on his hands, he comes up with some of the greatest computer tricks for me. I am so excited to come to my blog now just so I can look at the pretty chocolate. Mmmm... With bailouts and layoffs and whatnot, we're talking about stocking up on food and supplies. I told Colin we'd better make sure to have lots of chocolate on hand if something does happen. Otherwise, things might get really ugly around here ;)

Leaving the couch

Ironically, just a few days after posting last, Colin got laid off from his job. A sign of the times and not his work ethic for sure. But it got me thinking a little more about what I wrote. I should not have implied that Colin's great work ethic is the only reason why we have prospered. It is God alone who makes rich or poor and not man. Colin worked hard, but he could just as easily have had nothing to show for it and no job for the last five years if God had not allowed it.

This takes me to motivation. The reason we work hard is not so that we get things or prosper. We try to work hard because God is a hard worker and we want to be like Him. The Commandments teach us to work six days, but our culture teaches us that five is more the norm and only eight hours at a time too. After that and you deserve to sit in front of the tv for 4-5 hours to decompress. Oh, and don't forget about those 2-4 weeks of vacation that we need too. I have soo been guilty of this line of thinking. It really is just one more way that God's ways are not the world's ways, and, many times, not middle class America's ways.

I've been following Amy's posts about "How We Did It" and they are full of good advice. One of her main points is about her work ethic. Her vacations consist of home improvement projects and her leisure time is spent learning or working on things that will benefit their family. This is not to say that we live for making money, but that we are good stewards of what God has given and that whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God. I dare say, that couch potatoes aren't glorifying to God (finger pointing right back at myself here).

Thanksgiving

This blog is admittedly, mainly fluff. I usually don't have time or energy to try to make myself look like a prolific writer or appear eloquent in any way. I'm not either of those things, and I've come to accept this about myself among many, many other faults. However, now is the time to remember how thankful I am for my two most important earthly blessings, my husband and my children.

When I met and agreed to marry Colin I knew the most important things about him. Namely, what he believed about God and how he believed he should obey Him. There were many aspects of Colin that were a surprise, but in a very, very good way. One aspect is that He is an extremely hard worker. I really had no idea to look for this in a husband, nor did I realize how incredibly important that particular characteristic would be to me and my children. It has blessed me financially, but it has also taught me how lazy I was. Really, really lazy. And the worst part was that I had no idea. But the best part is that I'm learning to be a harder worker, and to enjoy the fruits of labor which I would have otherwise never seen.

The second blessing is of course my children, collectively speaking that is, of course I know there is more than one of them. I used to say, before I had children, that I always wanted at least six kids. After number two came along, I was sure I couldn't handle anymore. But, God in His great wisdom and mercy and patience, taught me that I know nothing. He so far has given me four more kids. We'll see what he's got in store for me later :) Through these kids, I've learned to trust and rely upon God better than I ever could have if I'd only had those first two. I've learned to be more patient, to be more selfless, and to be more organized. I've also learned that I can work harder and longer on much less sleep and while more exhausted than I could have ever imagined. And it's all been a blessing, albeit not always the fun or pleasant one that I imagined. On the other hand, sometimes more joyful and beautiful than I could have ever dreamed.

Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.

Patience picture parade

I'm thinking she's waiting for a kiss.



Cuteness defined.



Forever friends.

Brilliant! ETA - not so brilliant apparently

I owe my love of these 80's movie theme's to my older brother Todd. He also gave me a deep love for The Beatles, The Police, and all things Journey. :)

ETA - Apparently the guy lip synced this. Bummer. I'm such a sucker! I fall for this kind of stuff all the time. Oh well. It's still a little cool. :)

Patience's baptism

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Acts 2:38-39

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

What God says...

Exodus 18:21
21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

God clearly spells out for His people the qualifications for elected leaders. I really don't believe that God simply forgot to add women in this verse. If we don't look to His word to guide us in our paths, then we will look to our culture's or our own wisdom, of which there is none. It is not a matter of what we feel is good, but what we know God says IS good.

The Most Awesome-est Music Video ever, EVER

You all have probably seen this already but I thought I'd send you into the weekend with something to make you smile. If you haven't seen this before, be prepared to LOVE this video. Although I can't decide who is my favorite band member, Rico Suave lead singer man or Mr. Magoo guitar-player-dancing man. Have fun watching!

Hair Cuts

Tonight was hair cut night. Here is Noah getting a new "do" to go with his cammo look. It looks like I had him in a vise grip. I swear I did not hurt the boy.

I'm concentrating. "Don't cut the ears...don't cut the ears..."

Knox pre-cut but with red-fire candy from the firetruck birthday party we went to today. Sorry there's no after pic for him. I'm obviously an amateur blogger. Hmmm...no wonder I never have more than like five readers a day.

Somebody decided to give Patience a new "do" too.

Gracie has decided she wants an Ipod. Don't know where she even heard about Ipods as neither Colin nor I have Ipods. (Am I even spelling "Ipods" correctly?) Howerver, she is determined to earn the money to buy one, and yes we've discussed how much they actually cost. Tonight she earned one dollar by cutting Colin's hair. She did a great job but, clearly, Colin is not happy about paying for haircuts after I've been doing them for free all these years. Sorry there's no picture of the actual hair cutting. I was laying on the couch playing on Facebook. Again, maybe if I got up and took pictures you people would come back to my blog more than once a year. But I'm tired, people! I have six kids ya know, get off my back already will ya?!

Would you prefer pics?

Beautiful Patience is all smiles. Don't be fooled. Beneath those fat rolls is a lot of muscle. She's rolling over, trying desperately to sit up, and just started bouncing herself in her rainforest jumper

Admiring the ceiling fan.

Fantastic Four. Please notice the Princesses posing on the left, Chuck Norris/ninja man, and Spidey-hands on the right.

Mercy with her birthday cake. Poor girl, nobody thought to wipe off her spaghetti birthday dinner face. And she apparently was left to fix her own hair as well. That's what happens when you're number five...left to fend for yourself. Although, I don't know, it kind of works in a cuter-than-anything-two-year-old sort of way.

Fairy princess Molly. Yes, I let her dance on the furniture. It was her birthday after all.

Uh-oh... Something tells me that someone knows they're cute.

Boy, I got a little rant-y there didn't I?! Well, some things just get me fired up I guess. I thought I'd learned not to blog when miffed, but looks like I didn't. Okay, well more cute kid pictures coming soon, Lord willing. We'll see ya next time. Y'all come back now. Ya hear? :)

Make no mistake...

Let me be clear that my last post is not an endorsement for Mrs. Palin as VP. I think she is a very respectable and admirable woman. The fact alone that she has five kids and still manages to have her hair and makeup immaculate is amazing! ;) However, I also believe that God's Word is clear that women were not created for government leadership.

Biblical exhortation on this subject is found here. Pastor Morecraft gives clear teaching on why Deborah is not an excuse for voting for Sarah Palin. I encourage you to listen to the whole thing. It is very moving.

My personal feelings on the matter can be found here. The Botkin sisters are so courageous to speak out on the topic of biblical womanhood. I've seen first hand just a small portion of the attack launched on people when they dare to speak out against the cultural norm of feminism. Such bravery in ones so young! I hope they will inspire many other women as they did me.

Matt Damon rips Sarah Palin

People, Hollywood is not our friend. We spend a lot of time watching these actors/actresses at the movies or curled up on our comfy sofa, so we feel relatively comfortable with them. Make no mistake, Christians, if they were with us in a room, they would openly mock and scorn us for our beliefs. This video was a wake up call for me. Why do I waste my time and money supporting their business?! I pray we will not love our appetites for entertainment more than we love our Lord.

Cool :)

Birth Control pill is abortion

Finally!! It has long been know but covered up that the birth control pill is abortificent. Here is a link to a CNN video about the possibility of changing the laws to include birth control pills in the category of abortion drugs. It is a fact that if the pill's first method of preventing ovulation fails, then the back up plan is to create a "hostile womb" so that the fertilized egg, aka baby, will not be able to attach itself to the wall of the uterus. Thus aborting the baby. I'm very sad that so many Christians use this method of birth control unwittingly aborting their own babies. Whatever your beliefs about planning your family size, please don't use this method of birth control!!

One more

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Because you can never have too many Patience pictures :)

Sooo sweet

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Knox is a great big brother!

Pro Life

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Here we are protesting the Planned Parenthood's indoctrination of Waco youth at the Nobody's Fool conference.

Me

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In case you wondered what I looked like :)

Dancing babies

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Knox holding Patience. The kids like to pretend she's dancing on their laps.

More chocolate

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Gracie and Molly making chocolate cherries

Birthday doll

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Gracie and her twin :)

Mmmm...Chocolate!

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Molly making chocolate cherries.

Worst picture ever

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Here's Mercy while making chocolate covered cherries with Daddy. Somehow she got a hold of cheerios too. Those are NOT her teeth - just so ya know ;)

Two months!

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Yea!!!! Colin uploaded some new pics to the computer today. I'll try to post lots more. Here's Patience this morning at exactly two months old :)

Eight is Great!!

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Patience is almost three weeks old now and we're settling into a nice routine. She's such a sweet and even tempered baby. She's awake a lot more now and usually just sits there looking around peacefully. The kids love her! Gracie, Noah, and Knox can't get enough snuggle time. Molly cracks us all up trying to tickle her. Mercy giggles with delight when she sees her and keeps trying to kiss her head. Sorry no pictures. Colin is in Scotland for two weeks and took the camera. Not that I'd know how to use it if I did have it! We've survived so far thanks to a really amazing Aunt Amanda. I could NOT have made it so far without her.

A poam by Gracie

Yipee Patiense is here!
i like to hold her a lot!
Her face is all red!
And so is her body!
Patiense is cuter then cute!
i love Patiense

Birth Story...

If you remember my horror birth experience with Mercy, then you will understand all my fears and trepidation at my impending birth of Patience. I just could not bear the thought of going through that torture again. However, this experience was amazingly calm, peaceful, and joyful - exactly what I'd prayed for. God was so kind to show his graciousness and love to me through her birth. I have been so blessed in so many ways.

Sunday morning, two days after my due date:
6am Water breaks. I wake up to a weird feeling and run to the bathroom and there is a huge gush of water. I immediately start shaking as I think things are about to get rough really fast. I call the midwife and decide to wait until the first contraction comes along before I head to the hospital. I take a shower to try and calm down.
6:55am First contraction. After waiting nearly an hour I finally have a contraction but it is so mild I know this isn't really the beginning. I have a couple of sporadic and mild ones so I decide to lie down and rest.
7:30 am First "real" contraction. This one is intense and feels much more like my beginning labor contractions. I call the midwife and decide to head on into the hospital while there's still plenty of time. I want to get settled in early so I can have time to relax before the end. I have 3-4 more intense contractions on the way to the hospital. I have two more as I walk from the car to the entrance and my midwife Christy meets us outside during the second one.
8am Arrive up to my floor and tell Christy and Colin that I want an epidural. I'm not in pain but the memories are flooding back just from being up at the labor and delivery ward and I'm anxious to avoid my previous experience. Christy looks at Colin who shakes his head then she says, "Hmm.. do you always feel that way at the end?" I say, "No you don't understand!" She says, "Well, let's get to the room and see where we are." I'm thinking I don't care I just want out of this deal now!
8:20am Get checked. 8cm. Now I'm still doing great. The contractions are far apart and fairly easy. The nurses and Christy are fantastic and back off quietly during contractions. Super understanding and helpful. I'm even able to make a joke or two between contractions. I am amazed at how God is caring for me through this and making it a truly easy and wonderful time. Things are feeling "pushy."
8:45am I think Lord, this is great, but could you please get this over with in the next contraction?
8:46 am Overwhelming push and there is Patience Olivia!

She's beautiful, wonderful, sweet, and precious. I am so thankful to God for all He has done for me and for blessing me with another amazing daughter.

ETA: 8lb 10 oz. :D

Biggest and Littlest

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Home

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She's Here! Patience Olivia Gunn!

First contraction

6:55 am
Fairly mild... Let you know more soon. Please pray

Water Broke!

Around 6am - still waiting for some strong contractions.

Loved this...

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Okay, so I still don't know how to upload photos and Colin has been too busy to do more, so these may seem a bit repetitive. Anyway, I just loved this pic of Gracie. It is SO her!! Full of fun and spirit :)

In other news... due date is a couple more days away and I go back and forth between utter exhaustion and huge energy spurts. I also go back and forth between slight discomfort and not being able to walk at all. Good times... I got a birth ball to try to get labor going, but I end up letting the kids play with it more than I end up sittiing on it :) We are all very excited about getting to meet little Patience, let's hope she really is little ;)

Look what we got!!

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No, the kid isn't new, but the camera sure is! Just in time for the imminent arrival of Patience too. That may have had something to do with the death threat I gave if there were no camera to capture the baby's first few days and moments, but maybe it was just coincidence ;)

Look for more pictures to come soon and pray I can figure out how to use this thing!

BTW - Mercy at the splash park. Notice the pink nails. She brought me the paint and insisted I do her nails. Then she walked around with a big grin like she knew how beautiful she looked :)

Perspective

I'm at the stage where I'm so uncomfortable that I'm forgetting the reason for my discomfort. There is actually a baby in that big ball in my tummy! Oh, yeah! The pictures from this video helped me to remember that after a really long week:


HT: HeartsforFamily.blogspot.com

Unofficially...

...we will name the baby Patience Olivia. We hope others like this name too, but if not please keep it to yourself as it could make things awkward for you and her, oh... say... the rest of her life! :)

Thanks to Kristi for reminding me to tell y'all!

Okay, I really am trying to update this thing more than once a year :)

So... I had my midwife appt. on Thursday and she said she thought the baby was about 6lbs. That got me really excited because it just made the birth seem all that closer. She is no longer a little itty bitty thing, but the size of a lot of newborns out there - maybe not my newborns necessarily, but still...! I'm hoping for another 8 pounder instead of over 9 like Mercy and Molly were.

The midwife is really great and she has been trying to reassure me that this birth experience and the hospital nurses are going to be much better than the last. Yay!! I am really praying that this birth will be calm, easy, and most importantly joyful as opposed to crazy, chaotic, and stressful like last time. I can't remember if I ever posted that birth story on here or not. Long story short... really mean, rude doctors and nurses calling me racist, telling me I don't love my baby, and that I should just go home because I was "uncompliant." Basically, I came in at full blown labor and transition, tried to decline the i.v. and couldn't answer some questions because I was too busy moaning through contractions and they couldn't see that I was in labor and not just rude. That all happened within twenty minutes of giving birth, by the way.

Anywho... onward and upward, right? :)

Happy Birthday!

Knox turns five today! What an amazing, smart, sweet, funny, and loving kid I have there. I am so blessed! May he be a strong God-fearing man one day.

Sorry...

....for not posting in sooo long! Our camera broke and I hate posting without pictures - I'm afraid I'll bore everyone to tears ;) Anyway, we're still here. I'm 32 weeks, about to pop, and would do just about anything to be able to bend over without having to grunt to breathe.
I'm thinking about live blogging the birth - wouldn't that be fun :)