I did not plan on having a large family; I had never even held a baby before our firstborn. I had moved east with Michael after our first baby was born, which cut me off from daily contact with friends and family. Although I enjoyed living in the country, raising our own vegetables and later even…… Continue reading Entrusting My Fertility to God
Tag: large family
A Good Irish Wake for A Good Irish Man
Before we moved to our farm, we had lived for ten years on two acres on a short, dead-end road which turned into a country bike lane, meadows and fields of berries, all near a creek. It was the perfect place for a huge garden, to raise a large family and to foster a sense…… Continue reading A Good Irish Wake for A Good Irish Man
Finally, A Pro-Life Doctor
By the time I was pregnant with my sixth child, I was desperate to find a supportive family doctor and obstetrician. Four of my five children had been delivered by Dr. Leslie E., a brilliant, strong feminist. As a mother of a growing family, I was an enigma to her as she was to me.…… Continue reading Finally, A Pro-Life Doctor
Who Needs a Teddy Bear When You’ve Got a Teddy Baby?
Lord give us a sense of humour and a creative intelligence to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of our children
Worth Revisiting: “Are They All Yours?”
A friend sent me the most amusing video, a song composed by a family of 12 , sung to the tune of the Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas”. It is hilarious because I have heard all these phrases for decades. listen and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWzycOUrIYo The very existence of a joyful mother of nine…… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: “Are They All Yours?”
Worth Revisiting: Standing Up for Large Families in our ‘Tolerant’ Modern Society
Large families are an anomaly in desperate need of an advocate in modern society. A prompt on a health website asked, “Are you an advocate for any cause?” I sputtered to myself, “I am not an advocate for anything or anybody!” Immediately after that statement, a new idea popped into my mind, “Hey, wait a…… Continue reading Worth Revisiting: Standing Up for Large Families in our ‘Tolerant’ Modern Society
Worth Revisiting: I Was An Enigma To My Obstetrician
My first obstetrician was a brilliant, strong feminist who did not have any children of her own, although she did have tropical fish and a parrot. I was an enigma to her as she was to me.
#ThursdayTheologyBlogs :Why Did You Have So Many Kids?
After the birth of our fourth child, Michael and I struggled to understand exactly how we were meant to live our lives. We were discussing an article by an author whose main premise was that letting go of control and trusting in God was not some abstract principle but a day-to-day practical call that included the…… Continue reading #ThursdayTheologyBlogs :Why Did You Have So Many Kids?
Joyful Chaos: Dining With Eleven
Listen as I struggled to gather my crew every night for a family meal. “Oh good, you’re done barn chores. Perfect timing; dinner is almost ready.” “Two more minutes, everybody!” “Joseph I’ll help after we eat, okay?” “Mary, please run up and open Jean’s door and shut off the music.” ‘Dinner is ready!” “Grace, I…… Continue reading Joyful Chaos: Dining With Eleven
What Is Really Important In Life?
When Life is Stripped Down to The Basics One afternoon before Easter, I was ironing cotton dresses and shirts for church the next day. Six year old Claire watched for a while and then pointed to the iron and asked, “What is that mummy?” I laughed because I realized that this little girl had never…… Continue reading What Is Really Important In Life?
This is My Calling, This is My Vocation
This is My Calling, This is My Vocation I am a conundrum: a rather outmoded sort of woman, ridiculed by modern career women, vilified by the earth’s prophets of doom and sanctified by the religious right. I was the least likely candidate to have a lot of children. I had never even held a baby before my first born.You…… Continue reading This is My Calling, This is My Vocation
God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways: Thank Heaven!
who would have thought? I met Michael, who was just passing through Regina, Saskatchewan to British Columbia. From that very first, meeting, it felt like the prairie wind had swooped down and scattered all my work and plans. When I first met my future husband, I weighed 98 lbs. I had just graduated with an Honours…… Continue reading God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways: Thank Heaven!
A Doctor Who Celebrates New Life
My Doctor celebrated each birth with joy. “Good. The head nurse is on coffee break .” Our family doctor, who was also my obstetrician, had warned us to come into town immediately with my first labour pains. My eighth child was going to come quickly . Dr. H met me outside the hospital, helped me…… Continue reading A Doctor Who Celebrates New Life
7 QT Fridays: The Joy of a Large Family
The Lord’s gift to me as a mother of a large family has been and still is concrete, contagious joy. It is time to introduce my family to fellow Catholic bloggers on 7QT Fridays, hosted by Jenny at ConversionDiaries.com My call from God is to witness to the joy I discovered as we raised nine…… Continue reading 7 QT Fridays: The Joy of a Large Family
The JOY of Mothering Nine9 Children
I wanted to be a missionary when I was in my early twenties and was not interested even in dating at university. Suddenly, in a space of a few hours I knew God’s call was marriage; His presence was so strong, I received an inner image of Jesus’s hand on Michael’s and my heads.I was disappointed but… Continue reading The JOY of Mothering Nine9 Children
Nine Kids= A Magical Christmas
Christmas for our large family was magical It was still dark outside, way too early for my husband and I; we had worked on Christmas Eve set up till 2:00 am. We couldn't even pry our eyes open but we were smiling with contentment as we listened to the excited whispers and giggles of the… Continue reading Nine Kids= A Magical Christmas
The Call
I was frantic. Was I pregnant yet again? Then, The unexpected. A blanket of peace Wrapped around me. Suddenly, Joy, Light, Laughter Within. I heard words In my heart; ”This is you call. This is your vocation. This is your witness to the world. “ Confusion. ”People don’t…… Continue reading The Call
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Moments of Gratitude I love Canadian weather with its four distinct seasons. The sun is still warm in the afternoon and the morning frost seems to leave the air feeling crisp and clean. Although all the leaves have fallen, we are still surrounded by tall evergreen trees, with a stand of 30 pines along the creek.…… Continue reading Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
joy of nine9 