On January 19th, Mary turned 7...and we had a big party! Really big! As big as this monkey:
We drank soda and ate cupcakes...
We ran and bounced and slid and threw one another about...
I think this is much better...
Around Stately Bennett Manor, we have a dinner-time tradition called "Roses and Thorns," wherein we go around the table and share the best and worst things about our day. Sometimes it's predictable. (Who would have thought that Josie would be high on the "Rose" list the day we got her? Really?!)
Sometimes it's repetitive. (Because when someone thinks up a good one, six more kids are inclined to jump on the bandwagon!) Sometimes it's enlightening! (Who knew that taking one child grocery shopping with me would be the best thing that happened to her today?!)
On New Year's Eve, Grace decided to put a spin on things and suggested we share the biggest roses of our year! We got a lot of predictable answers (Josie!) and a lot of repetitive answers (Jesus!). Since I'm typically the last person to share, I had plenty of time to think about my answer.
For the record, I want to be clear that Josie was totally a high-water mark of my year...and Jesus is always the answer, in Sunday School or out!
But on New Year's Eve, I looked around the table, and my response was...
I'm ending this year with everyone I started with...
I'm not saying that I didn't suffer any loss during 2011. In fact, in many ways, it was the hardest year I've ever seen. And once I receive permission, I would like to share a little of that with you in an upcoming post.
But where the frosting meets the cupcake, this year's family photo looks just like last year's...with the exception that Sammi Jo is out of the womb in this picture!
And I know not everyone can say that this year...and I pray that no one is hurt by my reflections...that it isn't seen as gloating. Because, in all humility, I understand that life is just a vapor...and I am determined to try to live out this year of days with that truth in focus.
Because, even for a standard-sized family, that blessing is a very big deal! How much more so for my Monkey Joe-sized family!
Blessings!
Missy
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| Monkey Joe, ladies and gentlemen! |
We drank soda and ate cupcakes...
We ran and bounced and slid and threw one another about...
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| The birthday girl seemed to have a wonderful time! |
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| Grace and Jamie may have been a little irritated that they were too old to bounce. Maybe. A little bit. |
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| Lyndsay and Sam |
We snuggled with big monkeys and little grandbabies...
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| Grandpappy and Sammi Jo! |
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| Mary had been waiting for this moment ever since she saw Monkey Joe on the website! |
We performed death-defying feats!
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| Here are my precious grandbabies! Jayla, Sammi Jo, and Asher! Moments after this picture was taken, Sammi took a header off the table, but her aunt Krystal snatched her right out of the air! I've known Krystal...well...since her days in the womb, and I can tell you I have never seen her--or anyone else--move that fast before! |
However, some of us may not have strictly adhered to the letter of the law...
And, therefore, all 10 of my children were arrested...
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| The wackos insisted upon this pose. Notice that Sam is the only one who doesn't find this hilarious. He's humiliated. He knows it's going on his permanent record. |
Most of them look a little better from the front...
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| In case you haven't met the brood, allow me to introduce Krystal (26), Lyndsay (25), Kayla (23), Grace (14), Jamie (13), Hannah (10), Daniel (9), Mary (7), Mercy (6), and Sam (5) |
Funny thing about having 10 kids: It really doesn't seem like that many until I try to get them all framed in a picture! Like I've said many times...they've pretty much shown up one at a time, so I had the chance to get used to the new number before we added the next one.
And it's also a little funny to think about the fact that when Sweet Jimmy B and I started out on this journey 18 years ago, we hit the road with just these three girls:
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| Kayla, Krystal, and Lyndsay...often referred to as "the first string." (For the record, they don't like it when you call them "the big girls.") |
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| Charlie's Angels action pose! (Dontcha just love 'em?!) |
Of course, it's also strange to consider that, left to our own planning, we would only have the top five:
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| How weird would that be?! |
I think this is much better...
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| 10 kids and 3 grandkids, packed into a bright orange room! Too bad Nick and Ryan wouldn't skip work to make us 100%. On second thought, I guess I do appreciate a strong work ethic in my sons-in-law! |
Around Stately Bennett Manor, we have a dinner-time tradition called "Roses and Thorns," wherein we go around the table and share the best and worst things about our day. Sometimes it's predictable. (Who would have thought that Josie would be high on the "Rose" list the day we got her? Really?!)
Sometimes it's repetitive. (Because when someone thinks up a good one, six more kids are inclined to jump on the bandwagon!) Sometimes it's enlightening! (Who knew that taking one child grocery shopping with me would be the best thing that happened to her today?!)
On New Year's Eve, Grace decided to put a spin on things and suggested we share the biggest roses of our year! We got a lot of predictable answers (Josie!) and a lot of repetitive answers (Jesus!). Since I'm typically the last person to share, I had plenty of time to think about my answer.
For the record, I want to be clear that Josie was totally a high-water mark of my year...and Jesus is always the answer, in Sunday School or out!
But on New Year's Eve, I looked around the table, and my response was...
I'm ending this year with everyone I started with...
 |
| The whole Hee-Haw Gang! |
I'm not saying that I didn't suffer any loss during 2011. In fact, in many ways, it was the hardest year I've ever seen. And once I receive permission, I would like to share a little of that with you in an upcoming post.
But where the frosting meets the cupcake, this year's family photo looks just like last year's...with the exception that Sammi Jo is out of the womb in this picture!
And I know not everyone can say that this year...and I pray that no one is hurt by my reflections...that it isn't seen as gloating. Because, in all humility, I understand that life is just a vapor...and I am determined to try to live out this year of days with that truth in focus.
Because, even for a standard-sized family, that blessing is a very big deal! How much more so for my Monkey Joe-sized family!
Blessings!
Missy
Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.
Psalm 127:3-5
The Message
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| This picture has been included free of charge! It's my new favorite! Not too shabby for a couple of old grandparents, huh? |
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