Saturday, August 23, 2014

I Guess My Littles Are Now My Middles

Its always amazing to me how God forms families.  In my life, Stephen had me all to himself for nine years!

Then the children seemed to come to us, by God, in threes.  Children all close together in age.  As the next three were, William, Faith Anne and Antonio.  For two weeks every year William and Faith Anne were actually the same age.  Antonio is 17 months older than William.  If Faith Anne was alive today, those three would be:  Faith Anne (17), William (18) and Antonio (19) right now!  Faith Anne passed away, and in the mist of the terrible grief, several months later, Antonio came to live with us.   Sadly, Antonio never got to meet her and spend time with her.  

Then came the three youngest.  One right after the other, Carolyn, then Zeke and Elizabeth.  Those three little ones were intense in medical needs and behaviors.  They all kept me very busy.

We always called them "The Littles" and when calling them in from playing, we called, "Littles" and they all would look up and come running.

They were never lonely and as they grew had more and more in common.  They all played well together.

My three sweet babies. 

I enjoyed them so much and thought that they would be my last "group" of children to raise.

Even though they grew and grew, I guess I was in denial...I always looked at them as "My Littles".  My babies.

They always do everything together.

Even get into trouble together.

They do everything together intensely from playing to fighting but they stick together like glue and stand up for each other fiercely.

Sweet, silly, Littles.

 The Littles were always about the same height for years.  What blessings!

 Such happy times and sweet memories.

My dear ever growing Littles.

But now, since getting the toddlers and a baby.  I can see my Littles are no longer my Littles.
They are now my sweet Middles.

Thank you God for all the children you have greatly blessed us with.  For the pleasure and honor of entrusting us with raising and enjoying them.  For my grown adult son.  For my two young men that love you so much.  For my dear sweet daughter already with You.  For my wonderful middles, that always keep me on my toes and for my precious new foster Littles, that have filled my life to overflowing!

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises to your name.

Deuteronomy 10:21 He is your praise, and he is your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen.

6 comments:

  1. Those were some awesome pictures of the Middles. It was so cute watching your little multicultural family grow up together. Those are truly some beautiful memories and maybe the new littles will make some similar ones ...

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    1. Thank you Julie! The time has went by to fast for me. I love them all dearly and God blessed Tim and I with such wonderful children to raise. We could not have picked better ourselves. About the multiculturalness of our family...it is so funny that people that don't know us when we go out ALWAYS think I am a teacher and run some sort of school or something! The three foster babies are so wonderful. We have not had any so young in the home in a while, so the things they do at times are so very precious. It is always so good and encouraging to hear from you! Blessings!

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  2. So cute! Love the pictures!! I need to get some of my older pics of our kids up! Our kids came in groups of 5!! And each group was about 3-5 years apart. :o) We have 4 groups. Our very last group of 5 are ages 7-9. Our 3rd group of 5 are ages 10-13, our 2nd group of 6 are ages 19-26, and our first group of 5 are ages 30-38!!
    God's planning! Not ours! ((((((((HUGS))))))))))))

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  3. I would love to see some of the pictures you have of your various groups of children! Wow! Groups of 5!!!! Amazing! What wonderful lives we both have been blessed to have in raising so many children. God is always so faithful and good. May God continue to give you daily strength and joy in all you do, being the hands and feet of Christ!

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