What I Gave Up

When we decided we were ready to make the leap of faith and have me resign my job in the world to focus more energy and time with family,  my husband and I made our list of things we would be giving up as we adjusted our budget.  Here are a few we knew...

1.  Dining out for meals.  No I am not referring to the date night or occasional family night out would be eliminated.  I am talking about the Morris schedule of eating out like 4 times a week & we usually had leftovers (from our dining out) a couple of other nights.  Just to remind you there are only 7 days in the week. With my hectic work schedule and the kids activities, being home just wasn't an option so we were well known at local restaurants.  So much so that our favorite waitstaff would ask how the kids were doing!  

2.  Wal-Mart shopping sprees.  You giggle but you know what I am talking about.  Those quick trips to the store for an item and walking out with a buggy-full of CRAP and a couple of hundred dollars gone.

3.  Hobby Lobby.  I LOVE this store.  I would spend hours roaming the store, planning my next project, & purchasing all the necessary items.  I ended up with some really great stuff.  I mean I could make some totally Pinterest worthy projects.  Just one small problem......MY stuff  never made it to a finished project status.  

I thought I was prepared for the transition.  I mean we made our list, right?  We thought through everything we needed to adjust, eliminate, or alter.  I had this ALL figured out.  I mean what else would I need to give up?  But what happened I could not have planned.  I began to give up a few more things...

Anxiety.  No longer do I feel the pressure to perform or felt pushed to compete with others.  Well on most days. I was able to lay my stress and worry before God.  

Cast all your anxiety on him because he care for you.  1 Peter 5:7

Fear.  I was not fearful of tomorrow.  How would my life end up?  Would we get that big house we always dreamed of?  Would we have place in the country for the kids to run free?  I am beginning to LIVE my life right where I am.  A life pleasing & honoring to God.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Loneliness.  Due to the position I held, I carried the weight of decisions and expectations on my shoulders.  I created a wall to keep myself separate.  And lonely.  Never feeling transparent and REAL with others.  I now enjoy friendships.  True friendships.  Able to freely share my own struggles and inadequacies.  Able to ask for prayers and encouragement.  God has brought wonderful friends into my life to support and encourage me with my walk with the Lord.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28.20

Inadequacy. Guilt. Shame.  Juggling work, home, family, and church I never felt I had enough to give.  To anyone.  Always forgetting this event or that event.  Forgetting the laundry resulting in picking out the "least dirty" items from the laundry to outfit the family in for the next day.  I am able to BREATHE.  Now my household is still a frenzy ...I mean we are still a family of 7 all living under one roof with everyone going all directions.  BUT I now make quiet time with God and spending time studying the Bible a priority. This has made a huge difference in my life.

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.  John 5:24 

Now I don't want to paint the picture that all is well in the Morris Manor.  I still forget laundry but dryer sheets do wonders!  I do worry that I will be the single reason that my children will need counseling as adults.  But I know that my God is bigger than anything I may face in this world. 

And greater is the One living inside of me  Than he who is living in the world     -Mercy Me  "Greater" 

  And that is what Growing Up on Dublin Lane is all about.  

Busy Minding Our Own Business

       I had the idea to start this blog because our family is unique (to say the least) and so many folks kept encouraging the idea so I decided to make the jump.  That was in January....and it is now September!  Life got busy and I honestly couldn't decide on a name, what I would write about, blah blah blah.  Well I decided to get serious and discussed it with John and jumped in with BOTH feet!!

    Growing Up on Dublin Lane parallels my husband's childhood with ours as a family.  I hope to intertwine all the wonderful stories of John growing up on Dublin Lane with my own lessons I learn as I "grow up" as a Christian, a wife, mom, sister, and friend.  Dublin Lane also represents a shift in our lives.  We decided to downsize our home, begin to live a simpler life and most recently for me to leave my career to be a stay at home mom.  (To be honest I am still getting used to that idea!!) I am a much different person after the last 3 years on Dublin Lane and I pray that God continues to transform our lives to better serve him.

     I mentioned how reluctant to get this blog started because I had a small voice in my head saying "What in the world are you going to find to write about week after week?"  Well, seems as though my life really is full of blog-worthy happenings.  This past week I was stranded on I-20 after running out of gas about 2 hours from home.  Not to call out anyone but I am NOT usually the one that forgets to get gas....that would be my wonderful hubby.  He has ran out of gas numerous times with one recent experience requiring him and the kids to walk 2 miles to the nearest store!  But as I sat in the September Texas heat today waiting for our help to arrive, I realized I could learn something by this experience. Of course, you are thinking...Duh!  Be sure to have a full tank of gas before you set out on your journey to Dallas...but I learned much more!

1.  Although my situation could have caused a panic, I had peace in knowing that God would provide the help needed.

My husband John, who I turn to most often, was an hour away and unable to help in this situation.  My person wasn't there and I had to rest in the peace knowing God would provide the help I needed.  And he did by way of a  friend of a friend.  A total stranger who would be willing to stop his day to help us.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1 

2.  God provides just what we need when we need it!  Even if we don't know what we need!!!

As I sat in the heat waiting for help to arrive, I was able to enjoy a nice breeze and a line of trees that offered shade.  The boys had plenty of room to sword fight with their treasures they discovered in the small field.  I was reminded that even in this moment I had several things to be thankful for and I am reminded that God is good all the time.  

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in 

glory in Christ Jesus.  Phillipians 4:19 

3.  We don't have all the answers.  EVER.

I thought my only option was to ask for help.  Little did I know a service station was less than a quarter mile from us just out of our sight.  I could have easily made the quick trek there and back and been on our merry way.  If you know me, you know that I like to be informed of all options so that I can carefully plan my next steps.  I felt like a failure for not only running out of gas but for sitting within walking distance of a store.  Another confirmation that I don't have all the answers but I know who does!

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding 

is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5 

4.  A reminder to not be caught up in the "busyness" of life and miss out on God's real purpose.

We were stranded on the roadway for about 45- 1 hour.  For the first 45 minutes not a single car stopped, honked, waived, and as far as I could tell even noticed us. Busy to get to their destination or distracted by the world, our plight was overlooked and not a single person stopped to help.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about

 many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.

Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be 

taken away from her."  Luke 10:41-42

I love how every day is opportunity to learn but I hope my future lessons do not involve me being stranded.  But there is never a dull moment.....Growing Up on Dublin Lane.

Yep I did it!

I have threatened to do this for years.  Promised myself that I would start.  And finally I am committed to it!  I am going to write a blog.  I love sharing about our life with others.  Not for selfish gain but just to be able to share how God transformed our lives and sustains us.  How else can you explain a family of 9?  Or better yet that we trusted Him fully never questioning accepting another child into our home?

Galatians 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Many moons ago when we stepped out on this journey, John and I had no idea what we were starting.  Innocently enough we were opening our home to children who were in transition.  We had room in our home and our hearts.  That's how it all started!!  But man did it begin to take many twists and turns over the years.  So today we live in a modest home that John grew up in with his grandparents.  He has many wonderful memories of "Dublin Lane".  Just when I thought God couldn't possibly turn our world upside down again, I resigned my career of 12 years and became a stay at home, homeschooling mom to our youngest five children.  I hope you you enjoy hearing how we are learning to be a family and enjoying life together.  There never is a dull moment.....Growing Up on Dublin Lane.

Come back next week to hear why I title the blog Growing Up on Dublin Lane.

Just 6 of our 7 kiddos.