Ali led activities

Ali is very good at leading activities.  She gets everyone involved.  Everyone has fun.  Ali is the only one who seems who does it.  Shadrach doesn't lead activities and neither does Enoch.  It is always fun.

Ali is teaching a school here.

A favorite Ali led activity is Puppy Dogs.  Here are some dogs in their cages.

Puppy Dogs eating food.

Watch us Grow II

Oh things that make me happy!  I think I could look at these pictures for hours and smile!  Life is good even when it is hard sometimes.

loss

So we lost what was going to be baby number 5 on Friday August 10th in the wee hours of the morning.  I guess that was just yesterday now that I think of it, but it feels like two weeks ago. My first miscarriage.  I was almost 7 weeks.  A lot of emotions.  The baby would have been due March 29th.

Greg and I found out we were pregnant on Shadrach's Birthday, July 21.  We were both very excited that whole day.  Then, the next day I started feeling a little panicked and overwhelmed.  I started making lists and charts and schedules.(That always makes me feel better)  I started to reread Stephen Covey's Book Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families and reading organizational blogs of people with big families. 

The whole pregnancy, I did not have any morning sickness.  My nose wasn't runny in the morning. I didn't gain that 7 pounds by 4 weeks that I normally do.  Toilets did not stench of urine.  I was tired, and I was really enjoying peanut butter in practically everything but that was it.  I kept waiting for the symptoms to start, but they never did.  So I worried.  I know that every pregnancy is different so I tired not to worry too much, but I did.  It turns out for once there really was something to worry about.   

I was shocked when it happened; however, a part of me was also waiting for it to happen.

I have cried a lot, and I have been just fine half of the time.

I am not sure where to go from here.  I feel lost.  Get pregnant again?  -Just doesn't seem right for some reason.  I don't want to look at the schedules I have made for the up coming school year even though I could still use them.  I don't want to read my Stephen Covey book even though that would still be helpful too.  And I am not sure when I will eat peanut butter again.   

Greg has been wonderful through out everything.  When I was pregnant, he was so helpful with the children and cleaning the house.  He bought flowers several times and fun new baby outfits.  And now that we have lost the baby, he is being very loving and supportive too.  He took Friday off of work to watch after the kids for me.  He is having a harder time than he thought he would too.  He is very sad. 

We are both sad. 

But that is ok.  To everything there is a season.  This is the time to be sad. 

And soon- probably not as soon as I would like- the season will change. 

Never too big

Ali went with me to try and find some coordinating outfits for our family picture.  She is not the best shopper in the world.  Her legs always get too tired.  Believe it or not, Enoch is the best shopper in the family.

So I told her to sit in the baby sit.  She was excited about it.  So I pushed her all around Walmart.  Now in her defence, Walmart was the third store we went too.  I decided to treat her with an ICEE from the Subway inside of Walmart.   

 Now this is a big deal in our family.  We just don't buy treats at the store.  However, I had a gift card for Subway still from Christmas, and I felt like being nice.  It started to poor down rain, and we both got drenched.

I love rain now. I guess that is what happens when it is 98 degrees all summer, and there is a drought.   I love the wetness on my skin, and the sound of a clap of thunder.  I normally love the smell of rain too, but something is wrong around this Walmart, and it always smells like sewer rats that have eaten White Castle.  The rain brought out the sweet sewer smell even stronger than usual.  So besides the gross smell, a pleasant girls shopping trip.

When you only have 100 years to live

My Grandma turned 98. We have a big party for her each year. And when I say big party, I mean a lunch and cake.

. Here is a picture of all of the great grand kids minus Eliza. She was sick.

Jack being helpful and pushing Grandma to get her food.

All of the cousins were very excited to see each other. I like it that they are such good friends.

Maybe I am wrong but I always think Noah is slightly annoyed that Enoch worships the ground he walk on. Enoch wants to do everything with Noah and I think Noah would prefer spending time alone with Shadrach. Noah is too nice and always lets Enoch follow him around. I think Noah and Hannah finally stopped calling him baby Enoch.

I try to imagine my life if I live to 98....

I think I will have six kids.....

(Dream sequence)

Ali- will have traveled the world in her ballet company. She will teach ballet at Juilliard when she is older and have 4 kids. She will spend her life serving others. Always giving her time and her talents to people in need. She will be 78. She will have 14 grand children and I can't even think about great grand kids..... ???40??? Let's not do that great grand kids... too much thinking involved.

Shadrach- will have been a Military General and saved the world from WWIII with his loving and humble heart. He will have 8 kids. He will be 76. He will have 30 grand children.

Enoch- will be President of the United States of America for an unheard of three terms. He appointed Shadrach something important and they worked together closely. He will have 3 kids. He will be 74. He will have 8 grand children.

Liam- He is a Dentist, but in his free time, he lives for music. He will play piano and four other instruments. He will have 5 kids. He will be 72. He will have 17 grand kids.

Baby number five..... I just can't say.....cure cancer???

Baby number six..... same....prophet????

My family will have strong memories of serving and loving others. They will constantly try to make the world a better place. Greg and I retire to Glen Arbor, Michigan. I have to wear two sweatshirts ever day because I am so cold, but I don't care. Shadrach, Enoch, and maybe a future baby decide to come retire near us. Everyone gets together in the summer at the lake. I still walk the Empire Bluff trail every day with Greg who is 102.

I know what you are saying. "Molly, I think you need to dream a little bigger. These aren't big enough goals." Hey, they say shoot for the stars so when you land on the moon, you still did a pretty awesome job. Here's to the stars!