Today, I am going to the hospital...no, I am not sick! I am going to celebrate a life. A new life born into this world...a little miracle given by God.

You see, last December, a young lady from our church came to me full of enthusiasm. God had begun forming a new life within her. She was expecting and due in September.

I had my own secret...one I had not told anyone...I to was expecting. But, I hesitated to share my new. Why? Because this was to be my ninth. As excited as I was, at the same time, I had thought that my 8th was my last.

Questions swirled in me head: "a new one, nine, can I do this, I thought I was done"? As the time passed, and as my baby grew within me, the thought of a new little one I could hold, cuddle, nurse...became more exciting and real.

I shared my news with those loved ones around me; the little one inside me continued to grow and my stomach with him! :)

My due date was to be September 22, 2010. I was measuring bigger, so the doctor ordered an ultrasound. How can one explain the feeling of seeing a life jumping, kicking, sucking his thumb in the womb. A new date was set for September 9th...the same date as my young friend from my church.

A month after my Ultrasound, I starting bleeding. I will not go into the story, let's suffice it to say, little Zachariah Benjamin was born much to early on March 19th.

Over and over, I have repented of those early thoughts. God has taught me some hard lessons...ones I wish I did not have to learn.

In August, I had a positive pregnancy test. My heart was thrilled. Here was a gift from God, a month before Zachariah's due date. My thoughts were: "This would help ease the pain of Zachariah's due date." At the same time, I received a call from my sister that she was pregnant. I told her my little secret and found our due dates to be three days apart.

One week late I miscarried...

Now is the birth of Hannah Lynn...I go to celebrate.  What are my thoughts? I am excited to be able to hold a little newborn baby. No, she is not mine, but what a comfort to be able to see a new life, created by God!! As I jokingly told her, "I get the privilege of holding and cuddling, you can have her when she cries and needs to be fed!"



The Lord is good...nothing more can be said...

Any homeschooling family with more than one child knows the challenges of keeping "destructo" baby for destroying the house in ten minutes  during school hours! Nursing babies, fussy babies, and destructive, energetic toddlers.. what do you do with all of the little ones while teaching school?

Sometimes, if you were to walk in my house you would see groceries needed to be put away, 10 loads of laundry needed to be folded, supper not on the table; in fact, lunch is still on the table, babies crying, toys out, I am still in my jammies, beds not made, and chaos reigning.

On the other hand, on any given day, you could see the children set on our schedule, which keeps us all happy and moving along in a clean house, my 6 children doing school, all the laundry folded ready to be put away, my two year old napping, the 5 year old playing quietly, and supper in the crock pot ready for a family supper together.

Having a organized house is not the easiest goal to attain when raising a large family and homeschooling on top of it all...in fact, it's impossible... sometimes! But can it be done?

YES!!

We have set up a schedule this year that will hopefully prove to be a either a success...or...a Zoo!!

For those of you who want a peak into my schedule...hold on...are you ready?

1. Every one up, showered, and dressed by 7:00, to meet at the breakfast table for breakfast and prayer.

2. ALL children clean up the kitchen (more on our fast cleanup method later).

3. 7:45 -   all children 1st to 10th grade at their desks starting school.

Meanwhile...I straighten the upstairs and dress my 2 year old and 5 year old, throw a load in the washer, run the vacuum...

4. 9:00 -  start my kindergartener  on school and help all other children as we plod on...

5. 12:00-1  break for lunch and recess.

6.  Nap and rest time for the 2 year old and kindergartener.

7. 1:00 -  Autumn's music (violin)

8. 2:00 -  Joshua's music (violin)

9. 3:00-4 DO NOT BOTHER MOM TIME!!!! I need quiet!!

10. 5:30 - supper

11. 7:00  - Family devotions

12. 7:30  - bed time for 4 little ones.

13. 8:30 -  bed time for next 3 big ones.

14. 9:00  - Bed time for oldest.

15. ALL KIDS ARE IN BED!!!!!!

This is really my schedule...each child has their own charts and schedules they follow. This helps me keep up with cleaning, school, baths, etc.

Sometime I might share their chore charts and schedules...

Are we always organized!! Ha Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!  Can you hear me laughing?  The goal is to be...if there is not a goal, what would there be to reach for?


I can do all thinks through Christ who strengthens me!!

I have not said much lately.  It has been a wonderful summer.

The opportunity to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation on an incredible trip to North Carolina on Cold Mountain… made possible by my Godly parents who give sacrificially to God and their children.

 The chance to be a mother and love and play with each one of my individually created children that a miraculous and wonderful God has allowed me to enjoy and raise.  A garden, a church, a home, a husband, Godly parents, brothers and sisters who love and serve with their lives for Him …I could continue the  list.

My life may sound rosy and an easy life…Not really, some cares are never shared but with a Father and Friend who listens and always has time and always can shoulder the burden too hard for me to carry.

Praising God for the good things reminds me that the hard things can be endured with my Saviour in charge.

I think of my sister’s little angel Zoe…a little girl given to us from heaven with a heart condition so rare that no child has ever lived past 15…A girl full of smiles and giggles. Her parents have given their last 8 months to God in a harsh foreign country because of their intense love for God and the message they have to share with those lost, heading for a godless eternity.

I think of my selfless mother who continues to give of herself to take care of her invalid mother. Many activities she has missed to be able to rise up and call her own mother blessed.

I think of my strong spiritual father who continues to hold fast the banner of truth in a lost and dying world….giving his life to HHCS and Christian education for the “Praise of His Glory”!

I think of my husband who takes on a second job to provide for our family…

I think of Zachariah who would have been in my arms soon if he was not in God’s arms now.

I am blessed because of Christ…

For the last two years I have been selling pies and purses at our local farmers market...We have a great time and meet new people as well. 

Mercy is very Focused on selling these pies...

“God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.” How long could you say that phrase and still mean it? It is easy to say God is good when we narrowly avoid a car accident. It is easy to say God is good when a sick relative is healed. When circumstances – even tough ones – turn out according to our desires, it is easy to say, “Praise the Lord!”

But what if you were born with a disorder that caused you severe pain for your entire childhood? What if your family was in a car wreck and you lost a portion of your hand when it was crushed under the vehicle? What if the school you lead for over twenty-five years experienced a devastating fire? What if your grandchild had to undergo major heart surgery? What if another grandchild passed away before being born? Through all of this, could you still say, “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good?”

It might seem impossible to remain faithful to God and trust in His will through circumstances such as those. Yet, by God’s amazing grace, one family has been able to do just that. Why? Because this family believes that in all things God has a plan, and that God’s plan is to use trials to make us grow in Christ and bring glory to God.

As the DeLeon family drove headed down the highway one evening, they had no reason to expect that their trip would be any different than the rest. Yet in an instant, everything changed. The family van swerved and then rolled onto its top, coming to rest on young Autumn DeLeon’s hand, crushing it. Doctors would have to remove a portion of her hand in order to save it. “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

Of course, this tragedy would be hard enough for one person to bear, but Autumn had already endured a lifetime of trials. She had been born with a condition that caused her daily pain for most of her childhood. Think of how awful you feel once every few years when you come down with the flu and now imagine feeling that for days at a time, year in, year out. “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

When the family van rolled over, leaving a mother and 8 children on a roadside under the care of paramedics, one of their first calls went to Dr. Dennis Ice, Headmaster of Heritage Hall Christian School and the children’s grandfather. Within the previous year, Dr. Ice’s one of Dr. Ice’s granddaughters – Isabelle – had been born premature and spent months in hospital NICU while another granddaughter – Zoe - had been born with a major heart defect that lead to life-saving surgery just months into her existence. “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

As Dr. Ice headed down the highway to be at the hospital with his hurting family, he already had a heavy burden on his shoulders. A burden God had been helping him bear for some months. In the crisp, cold morning hours of a November morning, a fire had broken out in the Christian school which he had faithfully led for over two decades. The fire caused major damage to the school facilities. Classrooms had to be arranged, insurance had to be settled, families needed to be encouraged, and when inspectors gave their report the one word was spoken that no one wanted to hear: arson. The fire had been set intentionally. “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

To be certain, it wasn’t always easy to say those words and mean it. Once, when a colleague reminded Dr. Ice that trials are “opportunities,” Dr. Ice replied that he wasn’t sure he needed any more opportunities! Who could blame him! And yet anyone who heard him make that comment could tell you that there wasn’t a single ounce of grumbling, complaining, murmuring, disputing, or bitterness in his words. The twinkle in his eye was saying what the entire family said through days, months, even years of trial. The very words Cassandra DeLeon said as she looked at her family’s crumpled van: “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

 

This is the true story of the DeLeon and Ice families. Ben Ice, founder and President of Truth Trackers is the son of Dr. Dennis Ice. The families would never take praise and glory for their evident faith in God, but would gladly proclaim that it is only by God’s grace that we can say in every trial: “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

 

Author: Aaron Whisler is a writer for Truth Trackers and is on staff at Heritage Hall Christian School in Muncie Indiana. He and his wife Brenda are currently going through a heartbreaking trial of their own. Myles Jonathan Whisler, was born on December 15, 2009, very early and with many medical problems. He will have to deal with many surgeries and a long road ahead. Aaron and Brenda trust a great God to see them through the days ahead. They too have testified that, “God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.”

   

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Ps 28:7

 

Last Tuesday, Autumn, who is now 13 had her 6 month checkup at Children’s hospital, for her disease ulcerative colitis We woke up early that morning with the rain driving down hard outside and Autumn with a 103 temperature. After dosing Autumn with a whopping Ibprophen dose, I decided to leave 30 minutes early to make sure we arrived on time. Leaving at 8:00am allowed us to arrive right on time at 10:00am for her appointment. It was a tense two hour drive because of the heaviness of the rain. With 7 children, two heavy school backpacks filled with books, one back pack with a dolly and pull-ups, 7 coats, my purse filled with antibiotics, Tylenol, and Motrin for the little girls, we ran through the rain to the elevators obviously getting soaked on the way in! After piling everything into a wagon from the hospital, we rolled into our first appointment for the day!

The good news was that for the first time in 8 years, Autumn has not been on any medication for an entire year and her height and weight were right on target! Except for running a high temperature, she was healthy!!  Sounds funny? Her two little sisters had been diagnosed with Strep A just the day before, so I knew this had to be strep. Life is in perspective these days.  Strep A is an easy fix…Antibiotics!

After piling everything back into the wagon again, giving Autumn some Tylenol, Mercy, and Serenity Tylenol and antibiotics, we raced down to the basement on the other side of the hospital to get some blood work done. Her next appointment was for 1:00 with the Rheumatoid Clinic and we still needed to eat lunch!

With one hour to spare, I left everyone at a table and got in line for the Subway that was in the hospital. Ordering 4 kids meals and 2 footlongs and 8 waters was too much for the poor checkout fellow. Most people are hospital workers and have only one order. He was so flustered trying to get all the kids meals and ring me up, that he took a verrrry long time. That line was backed up very long!!!!!!!   

I met a mother with a beautiful little 6 month old girl, who had testing because of a chromosomal defect that has left this little girl looking like a 10 week old baby. After talking with her and sharing our foundation, the Word of God, I went away thankful for all we have in Christ.

We enjoyed our meal and made our way to the Rheumatoid Clinic. For the last two years, Autumn has had quite a bit of trouble with unexplainable swelling in her knees and ankle. So much so, that she would have a hard time getting up from a chair, or getting out of bed. Running and jumping were not even an option. This swelling would come for a time and then go away.

After examining her, the doctor concluded what we already guessed. That she has Rheumatoid arthritis related to her colon problems. Even though she does not have a colon anymore and she is in remission, the body still has the auto- immune disease that can affect her joints.

We decided for no treatment at this time, because she is not having as much trouble. In the future, if she becomes as bad as she has been in the past, she can receive shots or be on a medication.

At this point Autumn still was running a high fever, Mercy (two) was whinny, and Serenity was feverish and miserable! After putting everything and everyone in the car, I called Autumn’s pediatrician and made an appointment for 4:30pm. Again we took the hour drive to Zanesville and arrived just in time. After swabbing her throat, and doing all the things they do; we left Zanesville with a van load of very tired people.

By the time we reached New Concord, I received the phone call I already new…she had Strep A. We stopped at the pharmacy in town and FINALLY headed home!

All this may sound tiring…Yes it was! At the same time I am reminded how wonderful it is to have the privilege to have children and to be a mom. I love this full time job and I love my God!

My nest is blessed…Saturday evening, I had the privilege to speak at and attend a Mother Daughter banquet at Grace Baptist Church in Anderson, Indiana, with a very special person. From the time that I can start remembering, this person has loved me, influenced me, trained me, and disciplined me.

I remember watching her as I grew up and seeing her trust God when circumstances were not pleasant. There was a point in this person’s life that she lost her father and her sister, and her brother, and even now is sacrificially caring for her elderly mother who has had a severe stroke.

She was uprooted many times to follow her husband as they served their Savior together. At one count, she and her husband moved 6 times in one year, with 5 little children in tow, just to follow the Lord’s path. She made a home out of anywhere we lived. God was always first.

She trusted her husband. Taught me to trust God, love my Savior, and love being a mom. I learned to cook, clean, work hard, organize, and save money through this very special lady.

She made my bed when I did not. She cleaned my clothes, fed and played with me, cried over my sorrows, and laughed with my joys.

This is the Godly women that I want to be like. This is the woman I call and talk to almost every day. This is the  woman that is my very best girlfriend…

My Mother! 

Leaping on the dark surface,

Squeaking under her feet,

Springing in the air,

Falling down, making a beat.

Again, Again into the pale blue sky,

Leaving, making it cry.

 

By Melody Joy De Leon, age 12, grade 6