Did you have a great Easter holiday, last weekend?
I sure hope so.
We spent time with our extended family at Bear Lake. There was a lot of good food, and a lot of great people to share it with. Two of my favorite things of all time. 🙂
While I watched the kids run around with their cousins during our traditional Easter egg hunt,
I had a little flashback memory come to my mind. A few years ago I found myself far away from home, in windy Chicago, sitting in a fancy business meeting with some high-powered career driven men and women. I was there with a group of bloggers to discuss social media and the influence it has on consumer America. Let me tell you, I felt extremely out-of-place.
The other bloggers and I took turns introducing ourselves. When I mentioned that I was a stay at home mom, with 5 children to care for the woman conducting the meeting gasped and said…
“Are you kidding! You have 5 children!”
“I do, actually. Five. I have five great kids.” I said.
“Did you have them on PURPOSE!?!” she wondered.
“Totally, on purpose. Yes, ma’am I meant to have them.”
She was utterly stunned, and to tell you the truth I felt a little bit like the laughing-stock of the meeting considering she and many of her coworkers had a good chuckle on my behalf. 5 children! What normal person would do such a thing!
That experience rolled through my mind while I feasted my eyes on this beautiful site.
and this one…
and this one here, as well.
And I was reminded, once again…that I would choose to marry this man and bear him 5 wonderful kids a million times over, if I were given the chance. Being part of a family, having children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents…nieces and nephews.
Well, it’s the highlight of my whole life.
Sticky kisses…
and all.
PS…this last picture is of my darling curly-haired niece Valerie and her mama Erin. Bet you wish you could have a sticky kiss from that girl, don’t ya. 🙂
17 comments
Family, and friends we call family, is THE most important thing we have. And I for one believe you have a beautiful family – sticky kisses and all!
Thanks Jamie! Besides all of the blessings, you are tougher than any career mom out there!! That is what I tell myself on the days I wonder why I have chosen to be a stay at home mom that I love being most of the time! : ) Love the last kiss picture….what a cute little girl!
Very beautifully put! Congratulations on having such a wonderful family.
What a wonderful family. I admire you for being a stay at home Mom. Congratulations!
THANK GOODNESS FOR STICKY KISSES!!!
Beautiful tribute to the most wonderful gift we can have – family. Thank you for sharing words that echo the deepest feelings of my heart.
Great post! Great family. I need some sticky kisses.
Amen sista!!! (have 5 of my own, so totally understand) It was a long while ago, but I had many grocery store queries, “are they all YOURS?”. Made me laugh then and still does now. I adore your blog and think you are wonderful!!!
God and family make our lives beautiful and sweet. They both give us a long lasting sense of belonging and love. Thanks for sharing your story, Jamie!
Thanks Jam, that brought a tear to my eye. Luckily for me that floppy haired mess gives me kisses everyday and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Beautiful, beautiful post! In the end, family is all that really matters in this life. Thanks for sharing your sweet sentiments. You have a beautiful family.
Love.
As a native Chicagoan, I must apologize for my people. I am also the mother of five, and get looks and confusion whenever I return home with five kids under eight. They are a bit naive when it comes to big families – but I assure you, there are a few gems back there as well! 😉
This post was absolutely precious. Thanks for sharing, Jamie!
Wow…it amazes me how bluntly rude people can be!!! I think you have a beautiful family and love all the pictures – and the sticky kissy niece…precious!!!
I also am a mom to 5! Although my youngest and oldest have already gone to heaven, the oldest when he was 2 weeks old and the youngest when she was 17. I wouldn’t give up a single day of motherhood to these children of mine! Thanks for sharing this story!
Ha ha! With her little sticky hands on everyone’s face, that slays me. What a sweet little girl, and your boy is the sweetest, too, for letting her sticky him up. Really great post about your Easter weekend.
As a mama to one 5 year old daughter and a son that I lost at 18 weeks in 09/13, I am completely jealous at 5 kids and would love to have a household full. We are dealing with secondary infertility – my son took 42 months to concieve – and when people make asinine comments like that, it breaks my heart.