Are you done yet?

We have seven kids. I get it. That seems like a lot if children. It's really not. Really. I used to think that it was a lot of children. When we had 1, 2, 3, or even 4. But now living it every day it doesn't seem like a lot of kids. I'm sure that it is and I'm just so used to it that it doesn't phase me anymore. Only sometimes when I have them all in the grocery store or when I'm knee deep in laundry or when they all bring home school pictures that we're supposed to buy! Okay, I'm lying to myself - seven children. That's a lot of kids. But it works. They're happy. We're happy. I know what you're going to say because I've heard it a million times before.

"Are you done yet?" I don't know, are you? Abraham's wife Sarah was like what... 90? So I guess I've got a good 60 years of baby making left in me. 

Or wait. Maybe you were going to ask my favorite question. "You know how that happens right?" Yes. We know that having sex causes pregnancy. We enjoy being married to each other and the fruit that comes from our love. Our bodies were created perfectly to embrace each other and be fully open to one another. Fully open. Not just my body, my heart and my soul too. The way I see it if we use a form of birth control to stop pregnancy from happening I am breaking part of that bond that my husband and I share. I am not fully open to my husband, to God, to life. Not just new life forming, but also my life. I will never allow my life to take a turn that I am not ready for. God see's the big picture, let's leave the big decisions up to him and see where they take us.

Could be that you were going to say this -"As long as you can afford it." But what you really mean is "as long as I'm not paying for it". Because really, saying "as long as you can afford it" almost feels like you are prying into our finances to prove to me that I can't afford it. We'll, you got me. No. We can't afford it. Who could this day in age? But, I suspect that you knew that when you asked. I am sensing that you may not be the giving type. Or maybe you were taught that poor people are lazy, and you never wondered if maybe they are poor because they value different things than you. If by afford you mean can we feed, clothe, and shelter them? Then, yes. Barely. Our kids are happy though. Do we have cable? No. Do our kids have brand name clothes? No. Are we going to buy our children a car when they turn 16? No. Are we going to pay for their college? No. Are we going to have kids that hopefully grow up knowing the value of a dollar, or that drive safely because they paid for the car? Kids that work hard in college because they work hard to pay for it? Kids that are compassionate to the poor, who may only have $10 to buy groceries but give it away to the man standing on the street corner with a sign?  Children that grow up wanting to share what they have, share what they earn? Will they be charitable? Kids who value life and welcome it no matter the cost? Lord I hope so! 

I NEVER thought that I wanted so many children, but thank GOD that I followed my heart and listened to the Holy Spirit. If we had stopped having children after 2 (which we had discussed) then we would never have met 5 amazing kids. God took this decision away from us to give us peace and  trust in Him. The more I let go of trying to control my life the happier and more at peace I am. So are we done yet? I don't know. Ask God. Oh, while you've got Him on the line could you tell Him Ashley Crook says thank you?