Report cards, tattling, arguing...oh my!

Well it's official, summer vacation has begun. It's not been the best of mornings either, which I can say is not a complete surprise. They were nice and quiet this morning until everyone was up, which was very important to me. But they have already begun to argue over the computer and such, so we'll have to start a plan of action now, so that we don't have this fight all summer. Chris said they they each should get an hour slot a day. They pick their time and that's it for the day. So I might try to start something like that. You know it's 4 kids (who want to play on it) and 1 computer, so this is going to take some creativity. However, let me rewind to yesterday...they all brought home excellent report cards, they all did extremely well and for that they had very proud parents and were rewarded with ice cream cones. They deserve the break this summer they did very well, academically as well being respectful and responsible, but they also need to show those attributes at home, so we'll see. I do fully expect the first week to be the hardest. So I will keep you all posted. Everything else is going fine. Chris was at the new house yesterday getting measurements and making a list of the things he wants to accomplish there before we officially move in. Today he's going to start painting, and I am going to go to the post office and put in the address forwarding. This afternoon I also have to call the utilities and have everything transferred. We are hoping to keep the same phone number too. Chris is going to call verizon this weekend and set all that up, it will make it so much easier to keep the same number. But I will definantly keep you all updated. Anyhow, that's about all for now, I will be on again to let you know how our first day went! :-)

Blessings!

Inspired

I've not been in a good place the past day or so. Stress or pregnancy emotions, whatever...anyway, the Lord has such an awesome way of snapping me out of my funk. I've was reading some blogs that I follow and was inspired by one to do this...

26 Reasons Why I Love My Big Family

A: Abundance

of kisses, hugs, laughter, tears, joy, faith, happiness, giggles, smiles, noise, messes, LOVE.

B: Boys

4 sons and 1 one on the way, the Lord has given my husband and I a heritage, a beautiful legacy that if done right will glorify Him in the lives of 5 godly men.

C: Chris

my husband, my best friend and my rock. I can always collapse in his strength when I need too and I never question his unfaltering love and support of me and his kids.

D: daughter

He gave me 1 out of 6. She must be very special....

E: enough

no matter what is happening around me, my kids, my husband, my Jesus is enough...

F: Family

there is nothing like coming home...

G: Grace

grace is something given that is not deserved, 6 times over He's given me gifts that I do not deserve. My goal in life is that my kids reflect His grace in their lives.

H: Harmony

there is something about the chaos, that if you step back there is an unspoken harmony that this is the way it's supposed to be.

I: Impulsively

anyone who knows me, knows I'm a planner, but having a big family, a lot of kids, brings out impulsively in me that I would otherwise NEVER do, even in the small things, they force me to stop and enjoy the moment that I would otherwise probably miss.

J: JESUS

I have 5 kids who love HIM....I get to see Him in 5 different little people, everyday.

K: Kisses

an abundance of them daily

L: Love

at it's purest, rawest form at times, but always unconditional and true.

M: Memories

everyday more are made, God I pray I don't ever take them for granted.

N: Namesake

all our kids are named biblically, it's fun to look at them and see if they're resembling that namesake.

O: Overwhelming

in every sense of the word in noise, messes, arguing, fighting, crying, yelling, but also, support, joy, laughter, jokes and love

P: Perfection...

so not...but we are being perfected daily in His love and seeing my kids grow in that is perfect.

Q: Quiet moments:

there are some and they are so treasured.

R: Rearing

as much as I teach my kids, the Lord is teaching me through them. Raising them to be Godly men and women of integrity is my up most, highest calling.

S: Simple

going back to the basics is always where I end up. It's the simplicity of life that having a big family usually forces you to. And I wouldn't trade that lesson for anything.

T: Tears

although today and tomorrows hold tears and hard times, I'm comforted in the fact that while I'm here on Earth they will be wiped away by someone who means the world to me.

U: Unwavering unity

when you have a big family you see who unified your kids are. My kids fight and tattle like all other kids do, but you take one out of the mix, it changes the dynamics completely. You discipline one and the others will rally around in defense of that one, it's truly amazing.

V: Very ________

you can fill in the blank there and pretty much anything will make sense...for example: very stressful, noisy, chaotic, messy, loving, humorous, expensive...pretty much anything will work there :-)

W: Welcoming

no matter what, no matter who, no matter where, my home is welcoming. I can always take a deep breath and know I'm home.

X: "X-cuse me"

one of my famous sayings with my kids when I hear them say something they shouldn't be. which by the way with a big family you hear a lot of.

Y: "yes, they're all mine"

I did borrow this one, but it's so true. It never fails that whenever I take my kids anywhere, besides church who already know they're all mine, I get asked, "are they all yours", "are there any twins", "how old were you when you started", I've even had a couple "are you mormon?" or the kicker "you know how that happens right?" I've learned to take in all in stride, I am proud of my kids and my big family and I think most people see that.

Z: Zealous

I am completely, fervently in love with my big family and at the end of the day I wouldn't change a thing. I am so honored and humbled that God loves me so much that He continues to give me these beautiful gifts.

Short and Sweet

Hey all! Yes, we are still alive and breathing. Just so much to do right, this is a very busy time of our lives, I sure will welcome the slow down. Although I'm sure then I'll be looking for some other project to throw myself into. We are all fantastic, allbeit, very tired this morning. Jeremiah has been seeming to require very little in the way of sleep lately which makes for a somewhat cranky Mama at time. However everything else is wonderful. Just so much to accomplish in not so much time. Were set to move through next week and weekend hopefully. If we can get the painting and stuff done in the new house in time. And yes the kids will be out of school, so that timeing ran a little longer than I was hoping. I was really shooting for this to be done when they get out for summer, but that's not "the Goodman way"...LOL!

The kids went to a Mavericks game last friday to recieve awards from their school. Chris took them and they had a wonderful time with their Dad, they stayed for most the game too which was surprising. But before the game started, they got to go on field and announce their name and grace on the speaker and receive their award. Chris did video and get some pics. But that's "proud mama" moment I wanted to update you with also!

Kids are great, sickness seems to be gone....so far which is a huge blessing! But then looking outside this morning, enjoying the quiet, the beauty of my flowers and plants in bloom, the birds, the sky, just waking up this morning to a beautiful day and wonderful family is a true blessing.

I just wanted to check in and keep you all up to date as to what's going on with us. I'm sorry for the delay in posting and the short post this is, but I will definately have more time here soon and be more faithful to posting daily.

Oh yes, sister's shower tomorrow, please pray to safe travels and wonderful fellowship with family and friends! Love to you all!

Heather

God is so good to me, He gives me grace that I do not deserve and His mercy keeps me from what I do....He's awesome!!!!

Recap

Hey everyone, yeah I dont know what I"ve been doing that I haven't even posted in like 5 day, hmmmmm, maybe packing, dealing with another child with chicken pox amongst the regular day to day stuff. Anyway, not trying to be sarcastic it just comes naturally! LOL! Anyways, just wanted to recap on what's been going on. Um let's see, well Jonathan came down with the chicken pox on Friday, he's better now and went to school today. He got them twice as bad as Nathan at least. So much for the immunizations! I'm not against them, I'm just saying they dont' necessarily work. But he's back to school like I said, now I'm just waiting to see if Hannah, David or Jeremiah gets them next. I've been packing and trying to clean up the house and make it look like 5 kids never lived here. Ha! Aside from that just the day to day. Were supposed to sign docs on the house today.....that's what they're saying....but I'll believe it when I see it. I'm thoroughly grateful for this opportunity it's just been a long road and a huge learning experience, but I am grateful for the lessons the Lord has taught me. He is good and awesome and very patient with a very unruly daughter at times! :-). Mother's day was pretty good. Nothing super exciting, but I did get some things the kids had made me and Chris did say happy mother's day and when he went to the gym he got me some flowers, a card and a pregnacy mag. It was funny because when he saw me reading it later he said "you didnt take that the wrong way right, I didnt mean anything by getting you a magazine that's called "fit pregnancy" ". I just laughed because I'm lucky that he would think into it that much. But it was nice to be acknowledged and spend some time laying around with a magazine. The kids were so funny too, because when Jeremiah saw Nathan give me his gift, he was sad because he didn't have anything for me. So Nathan, the imaginative boy that he is, got a box and told Jeremiah to climb inside and pushed the box to me. So when I opened it Jeremiah jumped out and screamed SURPRISE! It was really cute!

Anyway, that's about all for now. I hope you all have great wednesday! Blessings!

It's a.....

BOY!!! Yes everyone were so happy to announce that Joseph Levi Goodman will be making his way into the world! We had such a fun day today finding out were expecting a boy and doing a little shopping for him as well. What a day full of blessings! It's so good to know who I'm talking about now instead of "it" or "the baby"! The kids were all very excited. Hannah had a hard time at first, I think she really had her heart set on a girl, but she's fine with it now. I took her with me to my doctor's appt and she got to hear the heartbeat and all that fun stuff, so I think she's really enjoyed that and spending time one on one with me. Anyways, it's been a super long day, thank goodness Chris took the boys to FTS for me, so that cut out one less place I had to go. But I will post greater detail tomorrow however I did add a couple pics of little Joseph, 2 are his profile and the other are "his goods" :-), proving he's a boy! LOL! Love you all!

Blessings!

Hey everyone!

Well whoever's been praying for Chris thank you so much, of course the Lord has heard and answered! He is sooooo faithful! Chris is doing so much better. He seems to have a great outlook and not be as stressed as he was. Maybe he still is, but he sure is handling it better! So I really covet those prayers and appreciate your thoughts!

Things are great around here. Getting a lot of packing done. As you all know, were supposed to close friday, but even if we have to extend again, it won't be for very long, so I am making progress.

We had a wonderful Sunday, church, as usual, was wonderful! We are so blessed to have a church with such awesome worship to get our hearts set for being taught, which is awesome as well. The story of Joseph, I've said a millions times is just inspiring. If you haven't read it in the last 6 months, it's really worth reading again! It's so beautiful to see what the God can and is willing to do in us all. Well after church we bbq'd and just hung out outside with the kids. It was a nice way to end the weekend and start the week. Yesterday was much of the same old. Just caught up on the housework and stuff nothing much exciting. So we'll see what today has in store. I wish you all a wonderful tuesday and and a great week. Keep thursday in mind, ultrasound!!!! I cant wait!

Love and Blessings!

Prayer

Hey everyone! Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Were all fine here, just waiting out Nathan sickness and the house thing. Nathan is doing much better, all his pox are scabbing and healing and he's pretty much back to normal and looks like he will be going back to school on Monday. I was hoping he wouldn't have to miss next week too because they're having an assembly on wednesday with BMX bikers and stuff. And they got backstage passes to meet them and get their autographs too. Anyway, the house thing is going, we've been officially approved by the underwriter (finally) but she can't release it until she receives some docs from FHA, who are completely backed up right now because of all the housing programs that Obama has implemeted. So were really hoping that we can close this friday and get this thing over with.

I would like to ask for prayer for Chris. I think this is harder on him than he thought it would be and he really hasn't been himself this last week or so. So if you could pray for him I would appreciate it and so would he I"m sure. Anyway, I've got to go get this house straightened up and start my day with the kiddos. Talk to you all soon!