Archive for the ‘Big Family’ Tag
My best job description
Filed under: Reflection | Tags: Legacy, Children, Big Family, Boot Camp for the Real World
Leave a Comment I’ve had many job descriptions over the years.
They were usually a far cry from reality.
But this Father’s Day I received a Facebook message from One that read, “Happy Dad’s day, father! Thanks for always fixing stuff, cooking stuff, paying for stuff and takin care of business. Love ya!”
Fixing stuff…cooking stuff…paying for stuff…and taking care of business.
My job description…for better or for worse…right-on reality!
The best job description I’ve ever had because it is the most accurate.
Put on my tombestone…fine with me.
The only part that’s vague is the taking care of business…hopefully that includes helpful life lessions.
Big family defined by Seven
Filed under: Reflection, Seven | Tags: Children, Big Family, Grace, Blessings
Leave a Comment Seven related a conversation he had with a girl in his high school summer school class today.
She asked him what it is like to be a part of a big family.
These stories always scare me because you never know what Seven will say, being autistic.
Then again, Seven’s comments have been fodder for good posts, term papers and even college entrance essays.
So Seven told her, “it’s like a place where you are loved no matter what you look like or what’s wrong with you.”
Choke…sob…he did it again.
Maybe I will write that novel, only as the ghost writer for Seven.
He went on to say that coming from a family like ours it is easy for him to easily accept other people he meets.
Sleep…who needs it?
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Children, Big Family, Blessings
Leave a Comment 
She eats at 12:30 am…and again around 3:00 am and again at 6:00 am.
So do our teenagers!
Only difference the teens don’t need us to feed them.
You could say this is the downside of bringing home a newborn at this age.
I say it is a small sacrifice to experience this amazing journey one more time.
I feel like the guy who paid once to get into the theater but has sneaked into half a dozen other theaters for a freebee.
Or like the guy who bought one train ticket but hasn’t gotten off the train for days.
Now we are seventeen!
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Children, Big Family
Leave a Comment We brought 12 home from the hospital on two days ago.
So wierd.
We just walked in, Seven and me, washed our hands and told the nurse we were here to pick up Twelve.
She was all packed up and ready to travel.
Showed my driver’s license and carried her out to the car.
Like picking up a piece of furniture only this pick-up is priceless…a perfect work of God…a living baby human…come to live with us.
How long?
Who knows?
For now we are seventeen counting kids parents and significant others.
Great fun at holidays…not often invited to other people’s gatherings…we’ve been told…sometimes nicely…that there are just too many of us.
Who cares…its our legacy.
Just wait till we have grandkids!
Better by the dozen
Filed under: God, Reflection | Tags: God, Children, Big Family, Blessings, audacious
Leave a Comment Our new Twelve is coming!
I met her today.
Twelve is just five weeks new…a sweet little girl…with Down’s Syndrome and a heart problem.
The heart problem can be fixed just as soon as she reaches the ten pound mark.
Or as Eleven put it, “we’re going to open her heart and pour in love so she she can get better!”
Pretty accurate.
You never remember how small and helpless they are…but I’m going to have the opportunity to live through every day, Lord willing, for this starfish.
Like I often say, God has given me a wonderful gift…the chance to re-live the best days of life here on the planet again and again.
Like the movie Groundhog Day but starting from good and getting better.
She is an amazing gift…she makes us rich beyond our wildest dreams.
Life is good…God is good…God is audacious!
I’m very thankful.
So long 71
Yep…71 went bye bye.
He spent about five weeks with us and now he is back with his mommy.
Funny, in my new reality, I think I’ll remember him more than most.
Not because he screamed for about three hours every day…but because I was the primary care giver for this one.
71 may be one of the lucky ones.
He went home to mom.
Many did not.
Like all the others we prayed that he would come to know Jesus one day and that he would bring glory to God through his circumstances.
Now we’re waiting for #72.
What’s another mouth to feed?
She can’t say no!
When Eleven’s pre-school needed a home for Brownie the guinea pig do you think the teacher would suggest a nice home with just one or two children?
Absolutely not!
They asked for volunteers and Eleven was first with her hand up and of course mom said sure.
No matter who says they will take care of him we all know who really will.
So he isn’t much trouble…my real fear is whether he can survive the summer with us.
Our back yard is a literal burial ground of long forgotten pets.
Lizards of all varieties..a whole school of fish…rabbits…hampsters…gerbals…a guinea pig (yikes)…a hermit crab…and even an African pigmy hedge hog.
The teachers said it will be OK if Brownie doesn’t survive the summer…but…the guilt…the stigma.
Well, this is day three and Brownie is still alive.
He has probably had more attention from the family paparazzi than Madonna.
He has probably gained a pound with everybody feeding him just one carrot.
I’ll keep you posted on the Brownie watch.
What I learned from 33 English teachers
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Be the change, Big Family, Children, My Code
Leave a Comment Seven is at it again.
He won another award.
This time he was a Hero to his two English teachers.
They called him their hero because he tries hard…has shown improvement…has a good sense of humor…and…
They said he dealt with the loss of his sister, Lucy, by expressing his feelings through poetry.
I think Seven was more of a hero than many of the 32 other heroes…but I may be prejudice.
I like to pick up useful tips every time I go to something like this.
Think about it…33 English teachers…all making speeches about their student heroes.
Some may call this boring…like Ten who fell asleep on my lap.
But I was alert and listening carefully for wit…wisdom…creative language…like a Michigan Avenue panhandler begging for bucks from the rich and beautiful.
Actually the pickings were slim.
But what I did get was good.
One teacher said her student hero “created sparkle” when she came into the classroom.
I love this phrase. It immediately reminded me of Ten!
Our sweet Ten who just turned six yesterday has been creating sparkle in our lives and the lives of everyone she encounters all her life.
Another teacher said her student hero brought something to class that was difficult to teach…audacity!
I love that word.
I want to think that I’ve instilled a sense of audacity in you children.
What is audacity?
The dictionary defines it is fearless, daring, intrepidity.
It goes on to say…bold or insolent heedlessness of restraints, as of those imposed by prudence, propriety, or convention.
I like audacity as it pertains to creativity…unconventional…different drummer marching.
I’ve seen it in all of you.
Aren’t we audacious as a family?
Well two out of 33 doesn’t make for a good batting average but if you are taking gems of ideas it is great.
Thanks and congrats Seven…you audacious kid!
Paying in forward
Filed under: God, Uncategorized | Tags: Big Family, Blessings, God, Thanksgiving
Leave a Comment It was a movie in 2000.
It is a great concept…instead of paying someone back for a good deed…pay it forward and help someone out in the future.
I’m seeing it in action in our home.
Children we have, with God’s help, rescued are rescuing Pete.
Pete?
Pete is the code name for the new little guy Mom brought home a week or so ago.
Pete has a lot of issues…maybe some of them can be fixed with a lot of love and attention.
And we have the gang that can supply the remedy.
He was an only child.
No any more.
When one of us get’s tired of playing with him, another steps up to the plate.
It worked for many of them…us.
It helped Lucy have seven times more life than the doctors predicted.
I’m praying…we’re praying it can work for Pete.
Here’s a quite from the movie, “Do me a favor…save my life!” (Jerry)
We’re trying Pete.
Twenty years in little league
Filed under: God, Memories, Reflection | Tags: Big Family, Blessings, Children
Leave a Comment Sounds like I’m delayed?
Actually, I’ve spent 20 years with one child or another in some type of kid sport.
Currently going through baseball with Nine.
Here’s what I’ve learned…evolved…it’s all about her and not about me.
Sounds simple enough but the reason I’m there is to make this a memorable experience for her.
I must confess there was a time when I thought it was about me…
About me being “Mr. Great Dad”…about me being a great coach…about winning the game.
I’ve finally realized..well, I’ve actually had moments of realization before this…that it is all about her (his) experience.
I can’t tell you how many games Nine’s team has won or lost this year.
About all I can tell you is she is getting better at baseball and having fun…and we’re experiencing it together.
Know what I like best?
Walking home together…holding hands…caught in the moment.
I just can’t stop thinking about how blessed I am in so many ways and especially to get to do over so many fun things.
It’s like that movie Ground Hog Day, only I’m not trying to get it right.
I think I was right 20 years ago.
I’m just getting more chances to appreciate things I may have been too busy to remember on an earlier day and to savor the moment because now I know how fast they are gone.
It’s just different…mellowed…like a fine wine.
And the adventure will continue, God willing, because there is Ten, Eleven, and probably Twelve.
