A whole bunch of kids

That's what I always said I want. That's what I still want. I have said that I want 10 kids for as long as I can remember. (I think I told Ken that on our first date! And he wasn't even too scared!)

I was thinking about this topic because I read these great posts.

Well-meaning people (even some family members) have always told me that once I have a kid and see how hard it is, I would only want one or two. Well, I feel just the opposite. Every day Ken and I talk about how she is the most beautiful, sweet baby in the whole world! (We're not biased or anything!) I have been blessed with a great kid, but a kid who does not like to sleep. I have been totally sleep deprived for 8 months now, and I still feel like I am open to life. I trust that God will take care of us and won't give us more than we can handle. Even though we're always worried about money. Even though I have to work. We are open to life. I can't imagine having children and then saying to someone, "Oh you won't want anymore." I think it must have been all the pressure from society that made them think that way.

Yesterday we went to a Mothers for Children group at church, and the topic was the Church's teaching on NFP and contraception. It wasn't too much new information for me. The priest said that sterilization and contraception were intrinsically evil, and that there was never a reason to use them. Some women must not have known that. They were asking the poor priest questions like "What happens if the doctor says I shouldn't have any more kids?" Some women were even crying when the priest did not give them the answers they wanted. It was a little weird. They wanted the priest to say that it was ok for their husband to have a vasectomy in this situation. He did not say that, and they were upset. They wanted their families to be complete, some after only 2 or 3 kids.

There are many great families at our church who have been open to life, and God has blessed them abundantly! (I like to hang out with these moms and get some good advice!)

I remember how hard it was to be pregnant. I remember throwing up in the shower every single day, and still having to be at work by 8 am. I remember how bad my back and hips ached for months. But I also remember how amazing it was to feel her kicking inside of me, how great it was to go to sleep and feel her moving around, always being with her. I remember how much fun it was to get her room ready. I remember the pain of childbirth, but the absolute joy I felt when I saw her face for the first time, and holding her on my chest and kissing her head all night. I remember how much pain I was in after she was born, and how hard it was to nurse sometimes. I also know what it's like to want to have a child and not be able to conceive. I am not going to take my fertility for granted. None of the hardships cause me to think that I don't want more. Having her makes me want more kids. I am so excited to see her grow, give her brothers and sisters and see their relationships develop. She is the greatest blessing that God has ever given me, and I am open to as many blessings as He wants to give us. We will be generous with Him. I hope He is generous with us :)