A new friend recently asked me if a mother’s heart could possibly have room enough to love a second child as much as the first.

I assured her, “Oh, yes.  Absolutely.  You’ll be surprised!”

And there is room for a third, or a fourth, or even (!) an eighth or beyond. This eighth child of mine brings such joy and love not only to me, and to her daddy - but to everyone in our family.  She’s her oldest brother’s favorite photographic subject, her oldest sister’s built-in hair style practice head, her Grandma and Grandpa’s delight (they always hope she’s in the van when I drive in,) and confidentially, even the little boys think she’s sweet and silly.

So if you ever wonder, “Could I?  Could we?  Could we love another child this much?”

The unequivocal answer is, “yes.”  Your heart was made to expand, to include, to love.  Put your fears to rest.  There is no over-sized load limit on your heart’s capacity.  Every time you love, you find that you have a little more room. Your body may grow weary, but your heart does not.

Dear Jon and Kate,

I saw your picture today, yet again, on another tabloid.

My heart broke for you, and I wondered, to myself…”what would happen if I just picked up the phone and called Jon and Kate?”

Would you take the call from some wacky mother of 8?

No, no…that would never work.  I’m sure that you have an unlisted number, and that you get plenty of advice from plenty of people.  Unfortunately, I doubt that they have your best interests at heart.

So I thought I’d just drop you a line.  Maybe you’ll be on-line, and by some small chance, you’ll read this.

Listen, guys.  I don’t have any criticism for you.  Your life isn’t mine.  Perhaps I wouldn’t have made the same decisions that you have that have brought you to this point of crisis.  But maybe I would have.  I can’t say.

But I do see your crisis, and it must hurt to feel your family imploding in such a public way.  I hurt for you.

People can criticize from the outside, but it’s your life.  It’s what it is, and it’s up to you to pull things back together.

Jon, Kate?  Nothing is worth breaking up your family.  Not fame, not money, not a television show.  Those things really are worthless, if the cost is a broken family.  Your children won’t care about toys, and clothes, or even the proper schools or college - if the family isn’t all together, in one place.

Jon and Kate, plus 8, need to remain Jon and Kate, plus 8.  Hold on to love, hold on family.  Honor each other, serve each other, forgive each other.

I’m not a fan, I’ve only seen your show one time.  I could care less about your fame or fortune.  You’re just people, who need a helping hand.  I’m just a friend, someone who cares.  Call me.  Write me.  We’ll talk.

Sincerely,

Holly, married to Jeff, parents of our own 8

This Father’s Day morning, I journeyed two hours southward with my father. We attended church at one of the churches he pastored 25 or so years ago.  It was our first time back in all of those years.  We visited our old stompin’ grounds, and walked a nature trail through some cypress swamps.  Muggy, humid, and full of mosquitos…just like I remember it.  It was a great day, though, for memories old and new.  I’m so thankful to have these precious days with my Dad - who is still vital and smart and energetic at age 85, and then to come home to my incredible husband and enjoy the rest of the day with him.  I’ve been blessed to have some mighty fine men in my life, of all ages.  Life is so good, God is so good.

Dear Jeff,

Did you ever think that you could love so many kids, so much?  Or that you would be loved so much, by so many kids?

Happy Father’s Day.

Hey Girl. I said ONE TOTE for crafts.

We’re decluttering, and we’re serious about it.

I see you trying to sneak in an extra project here, a pattern there…but I’m on to you. I’ll be watching your sneaky little self, trying to justify the storage of YET ANOTHER CRAFT PROJECT that you’ll never finish.

Tuck it all in, shut the lid, and step away from the tote.

(The projects that made it “in”: Felted sweaters to make miniature bears, felt for making future play food, scraps for a dresden plate quilt, a half-knitted prayer shawl (that has already been ripped out THREE times and by george, I WILL finish it!,) doll clothes patterns and scraps to make them, fabric and patterns for simple, tiny, cotton dresses, “mama cloth” making materials, half-knitted boy hats for winter, scraps of yarn for precious little Mary Janes, bear making fabrics, ribbons, and buttons, and the tools to make it all happen: scissors, needles, elastic, pins, needles, knitting needles, snaps, and crochet hooks.)