Our family has just returned home from a 3-day stay at the water park red-eyed, prune-skinned, and reeking of industrial strength chlorine. We had a blast. I beat my husband racing down the water slides, took Kellan on the tubes more times than I can count, lazed around the lazy river with Larissa, and swirled my way down the “Howling Tornado” with the three big kids screaming my head off every single time!
As much fun as we had, my husband and I are looking forward to sleeping in our in our own room tonight – and not in a single suite with 5 kids. Togetherness is one thing, but communal sleeping is where we draw the line. That and the kids always seem to lay their wet-bathing-suit-bodies down on MY side of the bed.
Having a big family is a crazy mess a lot of the times, but when it counts, and we’re all together having fun, I can’t imagine a different life.
To that end, I am thankful – not just tomorrow, but every day – that God blessed me with both the desire and the ability to be a mother. I know that there are so many people who have one but not the other, and I am just so grateful to have been given both.
One of the few pitfalls of having a big family? Trying to get a decent family photo.
Perhaps 9:30 p.m. after a full day of swimming isn’t our finest hour.
