BLESSED WITH SIBLINGS

Last summer at Aunt Sunny's wedding and new baby Wallace in October

I am currently blessed with 7 younger siblings and 1 older brother (hopefully there will be more). Sometimes when we go places, people will say, “What a big family! How many children do you have!?” Or when we walk through a store, we’ll hear someone counting us, “One, two, three…..” Elly will giggle and say, “Mommy, they’re counting us again,” and we all get a big laugh! Then we look around at each other and I think, “big family”? None of us think we have a very big family. Perspective is a funny thing.
Many people ask us if we ever fight or argue. We rarely do. We realize harmony comes from unselfishness and we enjoy giving of ourselves. It is better to give than to receive. It is wonderful to see the other person happy when you share your toy, book, time, etc. Siblings aren’t a burden, they’re a blessing! It is really quite a joy to hear them all at once! I never tire of the joyful “noise” in our home. Selah will be singing, “Ho-wy, ho-wy, ho-wy, Lord God, ‘mighty (Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, Almighty). One of Elly’s favorites is, “Come dou (thou) fount of every bessing (blessing)… We older girls usually join in, or sing other songs. We are nearly always together and we prefer it that way. We play, sing, and clean up together. I can’t imagine life without my siblings. I am glad God blessed me with so many siblings!
Here are some pictures of us:

Daddy and Mommy – they started our blessed family and take care of their dear little (some of us aren’t so little anymore) children.

Abby and me – best of friends. Mommy is teaching us how to sew dresses this year. I’m hoping we’ll be able to sew more matching dresses. Fun! We love babies, cooking, and sewing. Yes, Abby is taller than me. This doesn’t cause me any problems, although it used to. I used to get quite upset when people thought Abby was older. I have learned that everyone has different talents and qualities that God gave them for some special purpose. I have also learned it’s not that bad to look younger than you really are (LOL).

Sydnee and Sherrod – greatest of buddies. They are both learning how to cook and bake. They love to help with little ones or help in the kitchen (I think that is beginning to be all of our favorite place in the house).

Elly and Selah - sweet sisters. They do everything together. They always want to help with something and often watch as one of us is cooking. I’m sure they will be wonderful cooks when they are older! Elly is so excited to have started school this year and now Selah is begging for her school book! She wants to do everything Elly does. (My favorite 'Elly' saying is "War-Moat" for Wal-Mart! - My favorite 'Selah' saying is "Nooooooo, not yet" from Pendragon.)

William and Wallace – future defenders and sweet brothers. William loves Wallace. He wants to hold Wallace all the time. When Wallace starts to cry, William makes it quite clear that he wants Wallace to be picked up. Wallace is his buddy. And Wallace loves the attention he gets from William! (I love it when William points to his ear when he hears a new sound - I love Wallace's sweet new laughs and smiles!)
I praise God everyday for my sweet siblings and wonderful parents. May He give me the grace to continue thanking and praising Him each day.

Lord, you’ve been so good to me, perfect is your plan

Thank you for my family given by your hand

Someone to stay with, to love and to pray with

Lord, you know what’s best for me!

God picked out my family, He knows what I need

God gave me His very best so I could succeed

He chose my mother, my father, sis, and brother

Chose them custom made for me

There's nothing like a family to call my own

There's nothing like a mom and dad to make a house a home

Standing side by side together, I'm never alone

With a family to call my own...

taken from Patch the Pirate, Harmony at Home, There’s Nothing Like a Family

Thank you, God, for my family!

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Posted by Sarah

portraits by JCPenney