Our 13-Year-Old James

 The boy that made us parents is a teenager! How can that be?

It's been 13 years since we welcomed James into our arms and it has been an adventure ever since. 

James is so much fun, full of facts, puns and silly humor. He enjoys playing with his younger siblings, telling jokes to us and the older ones, and sharing all he knows. He amazes us constantly with how much he is learning and how much he retains information. It is such a blessing to see him learn and grow.

Learning is James's favorite activity and he loves to learn about anything and everything. His favorite subjects are Bible, languages (especially the ancient ones), animals (especially birds) and architecture. Currently he is wanting to be an architect and is using his creativity to begin dreaming up structures he would like to design one day. 

It is amazing to see God working in James as He is teaching James in his daily Bible study. It's a blessing to have James share what he is learning with us and his siblings as well as daily contribute to our family Bible and Breakfast time. The connections he regularly makes is amazing and it's a reminder that God is the one doing the work as we teach and train and we are so thankful to see fruit from what God has given us to do as parents. 

James continues to work on writing and is planning to finish his first book this year. His imagination is so large as he creates his own world and language for his series. He also enjoys drawing, not only potential design plans, but many other things as well and his skill continues to grow. He particularly enjoys drawing animals, especially birds and bears. On beautiful days he will observe the birds in our yard and draw them. He absolutely loves God's creation and does not take it for granted. He shares this love with all of us and reminds us to stop and take note of what God has created.

He is also an amazing big brother! He is learning about leadership as the oldest and frequently helps by setting the example for his younger siblings on what to do as well as reminding them what God teaches us if they are doing something they shouldn't. He is a major help with little ones and is available to help them get ready, tie shoes or change a diaper when needed. He plays games with them, builds with them, and teaches them naturally. 

We are so blessed by James and thankful for our first born!

Father, thank You for James and the amazing work You have done in his life. Thank You for Your grace and mercy in his life and for how You continue to grow him in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and man. He is an incredible young man and we are so blessed by his life. We wait in anticipation to see what else You do with him and through him. James is such a blessing! Please continue to grow James and protect him from the schemes of Satan that would seek to drag him down. Give him Your wisdom to face each day with Your truth and strengthen him with Your Holy Spirit to live out the life You have called him to. We pray this in Jesus's Name, Amen

Abel Nathanael

The day started like any other day. It was a Wednesday so Jim was home and I had my 39 week doctor's appointment. I have been having some contractions thanks to my amazing friend Kristen giving me a labor inducing foot massage, but so far no full-blown labor had come. 

Jim and the children prepared for what they needed to do that morning and I left to go see Dr. Barratt. 

I really had hope that things would progress and everything would be fine, and when Dr. Barrett first checked me out he thought everything was fine but he couldn't figure out where the baby's head was and so an ultrasound to check positioning was done. As soon as he put the wand on my tummy the evidence was there; the baby was transverse!

Due to an excessive amount of fluid the baby had turned. That's when the decision had to be made, what was the best course of action?

After talking with Dr. Barrett and calling Jim, we decided to do an aversion and induce labor. This was not at all what I wanted for my labor but after praying and thinking about the options I was at peace with that decision.

As I left the office, I stopped by the ultrasound office to see the desk manager who I've built a relationship with over the last couple of years to let her know what was happening. She was so encouraging and I knew she would pray for me as I went through this as she knows my heart and desires for birth. My God definitely used her to calm any anxiety that was lingering in the back of my mind. 

I went home to get Jim, pack up, and to hug my babies before going to the hospital. When I arrived home, the children were and are 12 passenger van almost ready to go with my parents. I climbed in the van to give everybody hugs and kisses and tell them that we would have their new baby brother or sister soon. Both excitement and anxiety felt the van as they prepare to leave. Once everything was ready for them, my parents took them to their house. 

Jim and I then finished packing up everything we needed for a couple of days at the hospital. If needing the aversion we didn't know how long everything would take and so we wanted to be well prepared, especially with healthy snacks! Jim made us a healthy filling lunch to eat and have energy for whatever lie ahead. We got in the car and headed to the hospital.

We arrived at L&D around 1:30 pm and got checked in. We were so blessed to have the same nurse that we had when we had Esther! Amelia was such a blessing to us as she is a Sister in Christ! She encouraged us and calmed me when she put in my IV (seriously the worst part!). I was having contractions that felt like early labor, so while we waited for the doctor on call to come I walked around and listened to music and sang praises to our God. We were also able to talk with Amelia and get to know her more.

Around 4:00 pm Dr. Umpierrez came to see how things were and do the aversion. They gave me terbutaline to calm my uterus for the aversion. Dr. Little joined her and they were able to quickly get the baby turned into the right position. God was watching over us as they got our little one into position. 

Around 5:00 pm they started the pitocin. It took a little bit to take effect, but it did kick in and contractions started. They were solid. I walked. I sang. I prayed and tried not to panic. I was still struggling in my mind thinking that I would need a c-section. I gave it over to God and prayed for everything to go the way I desired. 

At change of shift we had to say good-bye to Amelia, but to my amazing surprise we got Kelli, who I used to work with at Northside in L&D! It was fun to catch up and reminisce about our time there together. Things were taking awhile, like they did with Isaac since they had to stop what my body was doing to move the baby. Thankfully I was able to sit and not stand the whole time and was able to get a little nap. 

Around 8:00 pm they attempted to break my water, which I wanted since I knew it would be quick for me once that happened. Sadly they couldn't get to it as my cervix was still high. I suggested a foley to put pressure on the cervix, like we had done with Isaac, and the doctor loved it! They successfully got it into place and I stood up for a bit to keep baby in position as much as possible.

As the induction was late in the day this part is hazy. My body was already tired from a full day and I needed to rest again. At some point a few hours after this, the foley came out, meaning the cervix was more favorable!

Around 1:30 am Dr. Umpierezz came to check my progress. I was 6 cm and she was able to break my water. I was grateful as I was tired and ready to have a baby! They got things cleaned up and then sat me up in the bed to let my body work. 

Everything moved quickly at that point, as I knew it would. Every contraction brought progress! About 2:15 am I felt the urge to push. They quickly got everything ready and I pushed.

At 2:20 am we welcomed our 11th child into our arms! Jim started laughing, "It's another boy!" 

I looked surprised at Jim as several things in the pregnancy had me thinking the baby was a girl and said, "A boy? Really?"

He laughed again saying, "YES!" 

They put him on my chest and I actually looked to see for myself! I couldn't believe it and I laughed. I was so thankful to have my little boy lying on my chest, born vaginally, without incident. God has taken care of us as He always does. 

They finished cleaning me up while Jim and I looked at our little boy and talked about what to name him. The name had been up in the air the whole pregnancy. It didn't take long to see his name is Abel, which means God is my Father. God had been us this truth as we learn to abide in Him. We also remember that God is able to do everything and He is able to take care of us. 

After getting me cleaned up, Abel latched and we began the middle name search. We talked about many names, but decided on Nathanael, which means gift from God, which Abel absolutely is! We honestly did not expect another child and here he is. What a sweet and precious gift!

Father, thank You for the gift of Abel! We are so blessed to have him in our family. You have done great things for us and we praise Your name for new life! We pray as he grows You will save him and bring him to life in You. We pray this in Jesus's Name. Amen!

Chosen

This book, Chosen: Birth and Faith Through a Doula Lens, is a short but powerful book.

Katherine Newsom walks you through eight chapters with important factors of the pregnancy and birth process and how the Bible and the Gospel speak to each of these categories. I love her heart in simple wording to express deep truths that women need to hear in this journey of motherhood and how to apply them in a general way. 

For example, " To put it in a greater Biblical light, we can see childbirth as God's mercy for us. For in Genesis, we read that God chose to give Adam and Eve the gift to multiply, even after the sinned against Him, although they deserved death." This quote come from the chapter "Understand and Prepare" and gives us perspective on childbirth and how to view it no matter how we feel. We are confronted with the truth that bearing life is God's mercy and we can view this when we're frustrated or tired in the midst of the pregnancy and see the beauty in what is happening in our bodies. 

I highly recommend this book to every woman to encourage you on your journey no matter where you are in it. Even if you are through childbearing years, there is life in this book to help you think back and embrace the journey you have been on and share it with the women coming up behind you in need of your support during her season of childbearing. 

5 stars for this much needed book!

Reading Challenges:

In the 2021 Reading Challenge with Tim Challies- A book of your choice in the light section

In the 2021 Christian Reading Challenge with Jami Balmet- Parenting/Family Life category

In the 2021 Intentional by Grace Reading Challenge- About an interest of yours in the level 1 section

Secret of the Andes

This book is part of our Core D curriculum with Sonlight.

Our family really enjoyed this historical fiction read aloud. A beautiful story about a llama herder and his apprentice who live high in the Andes mountains, follows Cusi as he goes on his journey to manhood in choosing the path he needs to take. 

Secret of the Andes is slow moving and very detailed in the events that it depicts, but even still it kept our attention as we read. Every piece is deliberate and important to the story that is unfolding before you. It is an interesting look into the Inca culture and religion. You also have the opportunity to see the ancient collide with the new in Cusi's journey. It is fascinating to see through the eyes of the young llama herder what life is like and his understanding of the important tasks that make up each day.

If you enjoy a good cultural story, I definitely recommend this book. 

I will give it 4 stars. It was beautiful and well told, but not earth shattering in anyway.

Reading Challenges:

This book doesn't fit with any specific category and will be considered a book of choice on those challenges that have them. 

I was surprised to see that this is a classic book. I will be using it in the category of 20th Century Classic.

Pedro's Journal

This book is part of our Core D with Sonlight and was read aloud to our children.

Pedro's Journal is a piece of interesting fiction that follows a young cabin boy on the voyage with Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean to the Islands in the Atlantic. It starts as they are setting out and ends before they get back to Spain but does have a little conclusion at the end. 

You can tell it is written from the perspective of someone young and ready for adventure but who is still unsure of the world and what is going to happen to him. Pedro is very relatable to other children and even to adults as we think about our own decisions and remember growing up and how we processed things. It was interesting to talk through some of the things Pedro was experiencing with our children and how they might respond. 

I appreciate that this book did not shy away from hard things and realities, but that it was written in a way that it wasn't too much for our little ones. Our older ones really enjoyed this book and the adventures of Pedro. There were times they were laughing and times they were sad as they followed his journey across the Atlantic and back.

I would give this book 4 stars for what it is, though it's not one I would want to read over and over again. 

Reading Challenges:

This doesn't really fit into any of the categories, so with it being the end of the year I'll count it as a book of my choice, though it's not necessarily one I would choose. 

Gentle and Lowly

I bought this book right before the beginning of the pandemic to read with our Bible study group. Then everything shut down and so I waited to see if we would begin this group again. As things slowly opened back up I was encouraged by one of our pastors to read it and have heard amazing things about it from everyone who's read it. After reading it I wish I had not waited and that I could say I've read it three times already!

This book is a MUST READ for every single person who calls themselves a Christian! While many of the truths discussed in this book I have heard on some level before, the depth to which Dane Ortlund goes into the heart of Christ I have never seen before. He takes you on a journey with Christ to see who He is as He describes Himself. 

How does Jesus describe Himself?

As gentle and lowly!

Reading this truth over and over and how it is shown throughout Scripture gave me a deeper knowledge and understanding of my God and who He is! God has used it to shape me in many ways over the past month and has given me some much needed perspective to help conquer many thoughts and feelings I've been wrestling with. It was a solid reminder that God draws near to us when we're broken and sinful instead of pushing us away. He understand more deeply than we every could the struggle and the heartache. 

This book helped me to draw near to my Savior and it continues to grow as I reflect on what I've learned. I highly recommend you read this book as soon as possible and read it again and again. I know I will be reading this one again in the next year as I need these reminders constantly!

5 stars for this amazing book!

Reading Challenges: 

2021 Reading Challenge with Tim Challies: A book your pastor recommends in the obsessed section

2021 Christian Reading Challenge with Jami Balmet: One of the Christian Living options

2021 Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge: Recommended by your Pastor on Level 3

Eldest

This second book in the "Inheritance" saga was an interesting read. 

We follow Eragon on his journey to becoming a Rider and figuring out how to defeat the King of Alagaesia who is the only other Rider and evil in every way. This is written in a classic fantasy form, which makes it even more enjoyable if you really like fantasy writing. I really liked how we learned even more of the peoples of Alagaesia and the history of this fantasy land as Eragon learns what he needs to know as well as learning things to give him a better understanding of the history of the groups of people he is defending. 

Overall this book is very well written and flows well. There were a couple of spots that, in my opinion, dragged a little and possibly could have been done without. (I'll evaluate this again once I finish the series.) The lessons Eragon learns are extensive and run deep. Even though this is not at all reality, it is still possible to sympathize and empathize with him and feel deeply for all that is going on in him and around him. 

Even with the slower parts, the story is engaging and for the most part I wanted to keep reading and find out what happens. I also had made some suppositions as I read and I wanted to see if I was right! Even with guessing a couple of things, there were definitely surprises along the way ant that made the book even better for me! I like being right, but I also like when I can't figure out everything. That's when you know you've got a good book. 

I give this book 4 stars and definitely recommend it, especially if you love reading about fantasy worlds. 

Reading Challenges: 

This book is A Book With Magic in the Obsessed section of the 2021 Reading Challenge with Tim Challies.

I'm using this one as my fantasy book in Modern Mrs. Darcy My Reading Life Challenge.

In the 2021 Intentional By Grace Reading Challenge this book is for the category of Longer than 400 pages on level 3.