The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass and a Cool, Gentle Breeze

Two weeks ago, when the girls were in school, I took Little Man to the park.  I want to spend as much alone time and fun time with him as possible before his little brother arrives.  I have enjoyed spending alone, quality time with each child through out the last several years.  Each of my children have their own special personality.

Anyways, we arrived at the park on one gorgeous Friday morning.  It was simply gorgeous!  Little Man played on the playground for just a few minutes and then he wanted to go for a walk around the small pond.  Everywhere we walked he wanted to hold my hand.  It was so nice and I enjoyed every single moment.  We came up upon picnic tables, where Little Man sat down and insisted on having a snack.  I quickly pulled out his snack and sat down right beside him.  He started talking like crazy as my mind wondered for a few minutes. 

I looked around and soaked everything in.  I heard him chatting away; I smelled the freshly cut grass; I heard the breeze moving through the leaves of the trees; I felt the cool, gentle breeze hit my body and I saw how the sun glissoned through the moving branches.  I then took a few quiet moments to thank the Lord for His creation around me and for providing me with the means to be a stay-at-home mom.  Such a blessing and a gift to be able to excuse myself from the hustle and bustle of a working life and mom, and to be able to have moments like these with my children and to just be able to slow down is just surreal to me; and I simply refuse to take that opportunity for granted.

With four kids, it really doesn't make sense for me to work.  By the time my pay check would come in and after we paid for childcare, there really wouldn't be much leftover.  I would simply be paying to send my kids to be watched by somebody else besides me; and in the end, that just wouldn't be worth it on so many levels.  Even after I had my first child, Scot and I made the decision that I would be a stay-at-home mom.  First of all, I had worked in the daycare setting for nine months and decided that that was no environment I was willing to put my child(ren) in.  Secondly, we wanted to raise our children and simply did not want anyone else to do so; therefore, we made the decision to make sacrifices and adjustments.

It isn't always easy being a stay-at-home mom.  Often times, you feel like you can lose your identity and perhaps a little bit of your mind being with children all day and you may find yourself longing for some adult interaction as I often do; HOWEVER, it is worth all of that and more.  True, perhaps being a stay-at-home mom and lacking an additional paycheck can bring about sacrifices, like a smaller house, less dinners out; no private schools and high tuitions; or the need for some consignment clothes shopping may arise, but those are all minor in the great scheme of things for Scot and myself.  As I am quickly learning, your babies...your children...are only going to be young and little for only so long, and before you know it they will be growing up and you will discover how very precious every moment spent with your kids was worth it and needed.  They grow-up so very fast.

Now I do understand that some parents have to work in order to make ends meet.  I also understand that there are single parents out there who have no choice but to work; but I also believe that there are some parents (get ready because I just may ruffle some feathers here) work because they don't believe they can stay home with their children and are too afraid to even try.  Some refuse to try because they have decided that their kids would drive them too crazy if they did stay home.  While others simply do not wish to make the sacrifices it would take to become a stay-at-home parent.  They are either only concerned about their own perceived needs and beliefs, or they are way to concerned about keeping up with the "Jones" to even give it a try because a wealthier lifestyle and/or toys and money mean more to them than their own kids and being with their kids.  It is true.  There are people like that out there; whether you wish to believe it or not.

Sacrificing those comfort things make you more aware of God's goodness in your life and you recognize His provisions for you and your family in your life.  You learn more about trust and faith in regards to God.  In a few short years, your kids will grow and be gone, right before your very eyes.  For Scot and myself, we have concluded that those empty treasures of this world are simply that--nice but empty--and we much rather have our children get the most of us while we can.

God fills my cup; My cup overflows...

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5 (Kids or no kids, apply this scripture to your life.)

A Couple of Brown Paper Bags

So this year I have two kiddos heading off to elementary school.  Some day, we will have all four kiddos attending school.  So what I did and used this year will most definitely come in handy in the future.

With a larger family, it helps NOT to purchase all of the school supplies at once.  Scot and I like to purchase various items through out the month of July through mid to late August, in order to prevent a huge chunk of change being taken out of our pocket purse all at once.  With this shopping style in mind, I pulled out paper bags this year and labeled each paper bag with each girls' name (but for the sake of privacy, I have turned the bags around for this picture).  As we shopped and came home with the various items, we placed them in the correct bag and marked the item(s) off the supply lists that were placed under the correct and corresponding paper bag. 

True, for some of you this could be considered a bit of an eye-sore for a month or so, but I kept the bags up in my master bedroom and out of the way.  And it really helped me keep things sorted and in order until the day came to take the supplies to school.  Therefore, a little mess didn't bother me much; especially when I plan on doing the same thing next year!

"Another One Of Those Mommy Sites" (Here and Now Advice)

My husband mentioned to me last night during our dinner and as I was explaining the reasons for my new blog, that he believed it sounded like "another one of those mommy sites."  I suppose that he is right and this blog may just be another one of those sites but I feel led to continue and I will not be simply putting up posts about how we keep our expenses as low as we can as a family of six; but I will also share about our experiences, thoughts and advice in regards to a larger family living in today's society and economy as well as how sometimes our philosophies may go against the norm, which is alright!

Now I will clarify one point, which is that I am by no means a "couponer."  I actually suck at it.  Scot and I both really suck at it.  It is not our thing.  I have tried two to three times, and I have failed miserably every time.  Therefore, this blog is at least not one of those couponing sites. I will, however, share with you various things that work for us and that help our budget as well as some tips about what works for us living as a large family in general and perhaps the ups and downs.

So for today, I will begin with one of my tricks of the trade that I do this time of year.  One trick that I do this time of the year to help lower the costs on clothing expenses for the kiddos, especially during the school shopping season, is to to think now and buy future needs now.  What I like to do this time of year is I go ahead and purchase new swimsuits for my children while everyone is shopping for and thinking about school and school supplies as well as clothes for the cooler weather ahead.  Right now is a great time to hit the clearance racks for next summer; especially, for swimwear.  This year and last year as I, like everyone else, was shopping and thinking about school, I shopped the clearance racks specifically for swimwear!  I found swimsuits for 70% off, which was a great deal! 

When shopping, always hit the clearance racks because you will never know what you may find.  I also found a grey cardigan sweater for my eldest daughter for only a few bucks, which was off the clearance rack, and is for the following school year because it was of a larger size.  Always, think about how the here and now may benefit the future and future expenses.  I will be sharing other tricks of the trade with in the next couple of days.  Keep a look out if you are interested!

Reasons For This New Blog

Well, after much thought, I have decided to open an additional blog.  I have a desire to express how we manage as a family of six, living in a small house in this economy.  However, as I have felt led to start such new topics, I wanted to keep my blog, Doors, with its original purpose with out getting bogged down with my new thoughts, additional ideas, and stories of our experiences as I have ideas to continue to write more posts for my original blog as well.

The title of this blog originated after a discussion that I had with an extended family member about a year ago.  We were chatting about how do some people decide how many children to have was what was right for them and how everyone was different and had their own strengths as well as dreams and such.  She proceeded to tell me, and those around us, that she thought that two children was a great even number for her and her family as a "table for four" at restaurants was an easy manageable number to obtain seating for dinner.  With in the last few weeks, as we have gone on various summer outings that led to meals out and about in the community, sometimes asking for a table of five can be interesting much less asking for a table for six in the near future will be as I am currently pregnant with our fourth child.

As I have recently come in contact with other families with four or more kiddos while hearing their stories and experiences recently about having what is now considered in this country as a "large family," I wanted to share some of that with others.  We sometimes get looks and stares but I am okay with that even after the nurse made a comment at Kidmed yesterday about how many children I had and how I had another one on the way.  She told me that I was a brave woman as we walked back to have my two-year-old son's cut on his lip examined by a doctor.

My husband and I just wouldn't have it any other way!  We are truly blessed by God; and we love where we are at.  It is not always easy but we simply wouldn't have it any other way. Waiting for a table for six is okay with us when we are out and about, even when the hostess may scratch her head as she determines our seating.  And when we are having a meal at home, we already have a table for six ready for us with an empty chair waiting our newest little member who will be arriving in November...hence this new blog, Table For Six.