I know we all struggle to keep up during the holidays. It seems that the more I accomplish….shopping, decorating, baking, Christmas concerts, and Thanksgiving hosting, the longer my list gets. That’s right, as I cross off one item, I add two or three more things I need to get done. It’s crazy; it’s overwhelming; but it’s the holiday season in a big family….with lots of children…..and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’d love to share with you the in’s and out’s of last week for our family…..just a snip-it of all the immeasurable blessings in my life, and the moments I am so grateful for this Thanksgiving.

What a busy week we had!  I had my 20 week ultrasound, 6 conferences, a tutoring session, a dentist appointment, 2 basketball practices, 2 volleyball games, Avery’s First Reconciliation, the New Moon midnight premier, a birthday party…..and a partridge in a pear tree!

The best part of reflecting on this week is that it really wasn’t that much busier than most weeks in our home.  With a house full of seven (and a peanut on the way), the calendar is bound to be full of events and activities to keep us moving.   Most of the time, I just take it one day at a time. I look at the calendar and only stress over today’s events because when I try to process an entire week’s worth of activities….or God forbid I get brave enough to look at the entire month….my head starts spinning, I get a headache, and feel overwhelmed to the point of paralysis.  So, I have learned over the years to only look at today’s events. I do peek at tomorrow, just so I know what present needs to be picked up or what item I volunteered to make for the teacher’s luncheon, but I try not to allow myself to exert any energy into tomorrow because I know I need it all just to get through today!

I could write a new post about each of the events listed in the second paragraph. Take the ultrasound, for example. I want to tell you how amazing it was.  The baby is growing perfectly (even a week ahead of schedule) and all his or her parts are accounted for and working perfectly.  It’s impossible to look a images of this perfectly formed angel doing summer salts in my uterus….who is no larger than a can of soda……and not know that God exists.  Nothing this fine tuned and perfect could be created by chance.  And my will power was bar none this time around. Since it’s definitely our last baby, I really wanted the sex to be a surprise at birth. I have found out the sex of the other 5 children at the 20-week ultrasound so I wasn’t convinced I could hold out. I was so proud and excited when I walked out of the appointment and did NOT know the sex! So now, I have even more to look forward to when the baby arrives!

I could write several posts about how conferences went. Meeting with 6 teachers about 4 children’s progress in school thus far is an experience in and of itself. I am happy to say that all in all, the reports were great and the kids are right on track. The kids all have wonderful, dedicated teachers this year that truly care for the kid’s wellbeing. I guess as a mom, I could not ask for more than that.

I would love to take the time to update everyone on Avery’s progress with his tutoring. It’s going unbelievably well and the progress he’s made in such a short time has been nothing short of astounding! I am nearly moved to tears with each session I sit in on because I see him thriving, reading, and spelling with ease. I am so relieved that we found him the help he needs and the help he deserves at an early age.

Avery also got to make the sacrament of Reconciliation last week, which is another “rite of passage” in our Catholic faith. It was moving to see him sitting with the priest and the huge smile he had when he walked back to us beaming with pride. Just another moment that reminded me that my baby boy is growing up faster than I can emotionally handle!

And the highlight to close out our week was the New Moon premier that Kylie and I went to see. I made a promise to her months and months ago that I would take her to the midnight showing when it finally came out. Of course, at the time I didn’t put much thought into staying up until 3am, so when the time rolled around to buy the tickets for the 12:01am showing, I held my breath and purchased them anyway. I had many people last week telling me I was nuts for doing such a thing, but I made a promise to my baby girl, and no amount of sleep was worth breaking my word to her. I always preach to my children that they should never make a promise they don’t intend to keep because “promises are a big deal” so it was time to put my words into action. I cannot even express the joy it brings me to have a 13 year old who is even willing to be seen with her mother at the movies, much less the honor I felt by accompanying her to the premier of the most anticipated movie of the year. I want to express the importance of finding common ground at this stage in our children’s lives, even if it’s just sharing a love for a series of vampire books. The movie was awesome, but the memories we created sitting in the theater for SIX hours will be with me forever. That time alone with her will be time I will cherish in my heart forever!

So while I would LOVE to write a new post for all the events we enjoyed last week, I am just too exhausted to write anything articulate or worthy of your time to read. I guess this post summarizing a week in the life of our family will have to do as my Thanksgiving tribute.

I cannot express how grateful I am for sharing such a crazy, hectic life with my amazing family. God is so good to me, and I am so unworthy of such blessings. So while He continues to grant me such grace and abundant blessings, I will continue to be grateful for every moment…. no matter how hectic life gets.

Happy Thanksgiving to each and all of you, and I will continue to pray for plentiful blessings for you and your beautiful families.