Hiatus

Well, I figured I would have a hiatus from blogging in October because I figured I would be

seeing these houses for about the 150th time~












or walking along this beach like these people~














and celebrating Michaela's birthday & seeing Timmy's cute smile~












and seeing Melanie & Jeff~












Mom and Dad~











Anj & Jessi

But...instead, I'm still in the 'boro (and very depressed about it too!) and I'm still going to take a hiatus from blogging. Even though still in the womb, number five has managed to take up any spare moments I had before. In order to get the basics done (meals, clean house, homeschool) I have to stop checking on other people's blogs and writing my own. I'll miss you all! (I'll still probably manage to blog more than my sisters, so check back every once in a while. You might be surprised!)

BEFORE I LEAVE...

I did say I'd answer our critics concerning bringing five children into this world. I don't have a lot of energy right now, but I'll give some short answers for now.

Grandparents' Responses:

#1. "Oh honey, I was just thinking the other day that you probably wouldn't be having anymore children (because of my age, I assume) and I'm so excited for you that you are going to have another baby. Let me know if there is any way I can help."

Thanks Mom! I love you too.

#2. "You sure are digging yourself a deep hole." (Other things also said indicating that another grandchild was not a happy thought to this grandparent.)

(No comment except to say...which of the two grandparents do you think consciously realizes that children are a wonderful heritage?)

--------------other responses throughout the years-----------------

#3. One or two children are enough. Why have more? Don't you worry about overpopulation?

Overpopulation is no longer a problem for most western countries, underpopulation is. With a required 2.1 children/household to keep a population stable, most European nations now have a birthrate closer to 1.3. Many are hurriedly implementing initiatives to encourage women to have more children, foreseeing disaster ahead. Most of these countries face a huge future problem of not having enough workers to sustain the economy...even if they import workers from countries that still have a high enough birthrate (mostly African). Their individual cultures are just a few generations from extinction. In 50 years many countries (including ours) can expect there to be more seniors than children. My children are not only valuable to me, but to our country's economic future and for the sustenation of western culture.

#4. How will you be able to provide for so many children?

I don't know. All I can say is that we have seen God provide for us in miraculous ways time after time.

#5. Doesn't your insurance cover vasectomies/birth control?

While I won't commit to saying that birth control is wrong, I'm working under the assumption that it may very well be. The Bible doesn't say a whole lot about birth control, but in the one recorded instance, the man, Onan, is struck dead by God for practicing it. One way of looking at the lack of church writing on the subject is that birth control was universally agreed to be wrong by all branches of the church until the last 50 years- no reason to discuss it...no controversy. Even new religions such as the Baptist denomination held to this belief until very recently. So, along with the Biblical exhortation to "be fruitful and multiply", the Biblical example of Onan, and the preponderance of church history condemning birth control, my hypothesis is that birth control is most likely wrong. Yes, I can see and understand the arguements for why Onan "really" died and why birth control seems like a good idea, but I know my reasoning is faulty...

* There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. (Prov 14:12)

*For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (Isa 55:8)

And in the end I'm just going to look at the facts I have in front of me (Bible & church) and go with what they say. Sometimes birth control can seem right to me (as a "man") but I'm not willing to risk my soul over it.

Also, one refrain I've heard over and over throughout my life is how sorry so-and-so is that they didn't have more children. I've seen parents with "accidental" children gush over how much that child means to them and how they can't imagine life without her. If I deny my future children life by using birth control, in the end I'm probably just denying myself the joys of another precious person in my life.

#6. How can you bring more children into this evil world?

God said to be fruitful and multiply. I assume He has His reasons.