tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post7443493805574450355..comments2023-07-09T01:33:24.556-07:00Comments on Old-Fashioned Motherhood: Big FamiliesRachel Keppnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17193834789450018423noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-6113422741737076242012-07-04T15:11:49.931-07:002012-07-04T15:11:49.931-07:00Thanks for all your supportive, uplifting comments...Thanks for all your supportive, uplifting comments, ladies! I love hearing from you. :-)<br /><br />Love,<br />Mama RachelRachel Keppnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193834789450018423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-61773567105778614342012-07-04T14:26:29.494-07:002012-07-04T14:26:29.494-07:00AMEN! I've learned things through having a lar...AMEN! I've learned things through having a large family I never would have learned otherwise. A custom God-made life to help me learn, grow and be refined.Kassiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00205977107298415198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-19590733547282602952012-06-18T10:40:08.631-07:002012-06-18T10:40:08.631-07:00I loved this post. I often think, "what if I ...I loved this post. I often think, "what if I chose differently". I wanted to be a doctor and a full time working mom. It makes me shudder. I am so grateful I have my big family and chose Heavenly Father's plan for my life and not my own.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05410224281751216152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-83316581512519650112012-06-18T07:30:13.564-07:002012-06-18T07:30:13.564-07:00I think your family is beautiful, and what you are...I think your family is beautiful, and what you are doing is absolutely fantastic. I would love, love, LOVE a large family such as yours. I imagine it can be incredibly trying at times, and difficult, but oh what a blessing as well!<br /><br />Right now we just have the one who is twenty months old and -in your words - we are aching for another. But after almost a year of trying I am finally accepting that it will be on the Lord's timing, not ours!<br /><br />Love your blog. Will be back again soon!<br /><br />Take care,<br />ChantelleChantellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07184395185891560021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-9058675674085705082012-06-16T18:11:24.268-07:002012-06-16T18:11:24.268-07:00Hi, Rachel! I really enjoyed this post.
Hurray f...Hi, Rachel! I really enjoyed this post. <br /><br />Hurray for 'big families'! <br /><br />I grew up the oldest daughter in a family of 10, with 5 brothers and 2 sisters. I joke sometimes that I survived all the mayhem...I was the "Second Mother", changed a lot of diapers (cloth, pins and all)...but after becoming a wife and mom myself, those lessons learned through sometimes hard work paid off and have been a great help. It set a foundation for me to build my own family on--I didn't have to reinvent the wheel, thank goodness, as far as HOW to take care of a family goes. (Though I have reinvented some of the spokes to fit my own wheel, if you know what I mean...) <br /><br />I am learning, as well, the value of RECOGNIZING the value of the family and each person's place in it. My parents are the first ones in their families to be members of the LDS church and to have more than 4 kids, so I am grateful to them for their dedication to choose life the way they did. They weren't perfect, but they *got the job done*!<br /><br />I especially like how you said this:<br /><br />"I love my large family. I see each child as the individual they are-- they are not merely a lump of clay for me to mold and form. They come with their own vibrant personalities, with strength and vision for their lives."<br /><br />Indeed, children are not a number, each is a unique person, with unique needs and wonderful gifts! I imagine that is how God sees each and every human being, as His children. Love truly does multiply.<br /><br />--Eve<br />Inchworm Chronicles.blogspot.comEve | Inchworm Chronicleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194431691132769984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-77485192336126126302012-06-15T13:30:14.185-07:002012-06-15T13:30:14.185-07:00Becca: I love hearing your perspective on this. Th...Becca: I love hearing your perspective on this. Thank you for your comment! :-)<br /><br />Sally: When I had a few little ones, I NEVER thought I'd end up having twelve! And the only reason I have been able to manage now is because I have the help of a good husband and a LOT of older children. I simply trusted the Lord, and took it one child, one pregnancy at a time. <br /><br />Don't think you have to decide on all that now! Just trust the Lord, and get through pregnancy #3 and plod through those difficult baby years. I know it sounds trite, but they DO eventually grow up, and if trained right, they become the glue that makes inviting more children possible.<br /><br />I KNOW how hard those baby years are! I am sure I would not have the energy to run chase after my 3 littles under the age of three NOW! That really was the hardest for me, ever. But they grow, they get more helpful, we learn more parenting skills and find more patience, somehow. I had 6 kids 8 years old and younger for a time-- my #7 was born when my eldest was 10. <br /><br />It's not God's plan for EVERYONE, but it has been for ME. And luckily, the Lord has brought me to this point step by step, line upon line, precept upon precept. I could not have handled being a mother of many all in one swoop. But as I have aged and received more insight, HELP, and experience, I have found I could do things I never thought possible.<br /><br />Just remember that the Lord knows best, and whether we have three children or twelve, He will bless us and teach us, and make up for our inadequacies. Numbers are not important. The state of our hearts and our willingness to submit to His plans ARE.<br /><br />Lots of love!<br />RachelRachel Keppnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193834789450018423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-54434965642512405802012-06-14T18:51:48.711-07:002012-06-14T18:51:48.711-07:00I've always said I wanted a large family. I...I've always said I wanted a large family. I'm pregnant with number three right now, due any day, but a part of me is terrified now to have more. I have struggled so much with being patient and cheerful and keeping my two little ones happy.... I don't know if I'm going to make it to a "large" family. Thank you for being encouraging and explaining so much of your feelings and impressions. I'll just keep on praying.Sally T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00747471877981036495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-65121745764620952792012-06-14T13:59:55.871-07:002012-06-14T13:59:55.871-07:00My husband says he wants 100 children.
He's n...My husband says he wants 100 children.<br /><br />He's not joking.<br /><br />I told him I'm okay with that as long as only about 10 of those come out of my body. ;)<br /><br />I tried to explain to my husband the other day the feelings that I have for any child. I coach my son's soccer team, and I feel like another mom to all of those 5 and 6 year olds. Even the teenage girls who babysit my kids - there is this odd burning in my heart that is really similar to the feeling I had when I held my babies for the first time. It's this overpowering feeling that these are God's children, and He wants me to love them.<br /><br />Our goal as a family is to provide a safe place to be for anyone who needs it, and to provide a loving family to anyone who needs one. Our love is not limited to those who are biologically "ours" or to those who are even legally "ours". Right now we have a family living with us with a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby. Their mom works full time and their dad is trying to finish school. Their situation is hard and they are making the best of it, and we feel blessed to be in a position where we can open up our home to them.<br /><br />Anyway, I totally hear you on all of your points above.<br /><br />I am afraid of getting to heaven and seeing the face of a child that I once saw, but didn't take the time to show him/her how much I care, and how much they are loved.<br /><br />Now I'm getting all emotional... that usually means I need to stop rambling...Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667724269493668949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-41309401788319060232012-06-14T08:41:43.718-07:002012-06-14T08:41:43.718-07:00Jaime: I hear you on timing! It's sometimes ha...Jaime: I hear you on timing! It's sometimes hard to hand that over to the Lord-- okay it's almost ALWAYS hard to hand that to God! LOL! Thanks for your kind comments. :-)<br /><br />Holly: I think you are a WONDERFUL writer! Your post about your daughter yesterday touched me so deeply. <br /><br />It's true! The Lord really does know what he's doing. There is such peace in knowing that. {hugs!}Rachel Keppnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193834789450018423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-83596543246825692342012-06-14T08:17:33.132-07:002012-06-14T08:17:33.132-07:00Great post- I love the way you write. I always hes...Great post- I love the way you write. I always hesitate to write posts because I'm such a poor writer. <br />I have to be patient with each child that joins our family and sometimes wait a long time. But every time a child has come I have looked back and realized it was perfect timing! Hey, the Lord actually does know what He's doing for my family! It's been a good lesson to learn.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646095805699712232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4144795012504114230.post-7476644989655774262012-06-14T07:30:41.985-07:002012-06-14T07:30:41.985-07:00As one of those mothers who was blessed with child...As one of those mothers who was blessed with children but know her family is unfinished, I feel your conviction for large families. <br /><br />I think the hardest part for me is to see the Lords timing. Having had my ability to actually bear children taken away from me, we know we are to adopt those children that are in foster care. The hardest part has been the wait.<br /><br />The Lord knows us. He knows what path we are on. He knows what is best for us. Sometimes that is hard to remember but it is so very true.<br /><br />Your points are beautiful Rachel. I love the photo above as well. You all look so happy and loving. What a blessing.JRobertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820651410148056314noreply@blogger.com