Category: Family
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Bless This House Day
One day, quite a number of years ago, my dear friend Julie opened my eyes to a truth which I had lived out for forever but never plainly understood. Chaos drains my energy. Cluttered rooms, fingerprint-covered windows, piles of dirty laundry, Legos strewn across the floor, a sink filled with dirty dishes, sticky messes, crushed…
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My Oxygen
I set my alarm for 5:15AM. It sounds so early. I allow myself one snooze before I have to get out of bed. Okay, I confess…on really bad mornings, I sneak in two. I pull my hair into a messy ponytail. Grabbing socks and sneakers, I sleepwalk my way downstairs into the kitchen. I boldly grind…
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Homading
I guess it all started with piles. Lots and lots of piles. Piles of laundry. Piles of paperwork. Piles of responsibilities. Piles growing exponentially before my eyes with no end in sight. My middle name was fast becoming ‘Overwhelmed’. I never had a chunk of time coming my way… to organize, plan, create, or…
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Cuzipalooza 2013- These are the Days
The O’Melia family bus arrived in Connecticut after a beautifully uneventful ride of only 90 minutes. I relished it. This is when I do my best rejuvenating…in a quiet car. If a hot caffeinated beverage happens to be in my cup holder…even better. Silent car rides are probably one of the number one reasons…
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Cuzipalooza 2013
For the first time ever I was conveniently gone at a hair appointment while the van was being loaded and house closed down for our week-long trip North. I was a little nervous. You know…about what I might come home to. 😉 But it worked out soooo very nicely, this most unfortunate…
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It’s What Moms Do
When you have a mom who is present, and loving, and invested, and dedicated…. it’s easy to take her for granted.
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40 and Blessed!
Yesterday I turned the big 4-0. And you know what? It was an amazingly wonderful day. I just realized over and over again how incredibly blessed I am. I mean truly blessed.
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Christmas 2012
It is absolutely no small feat getting this family of nine packed up and ready to hit the road! Thankfully, a lot of my older children are able to contribute now. I just give them an estimate of how many pants, shirts, socks, underwear, and PJs to pack- and they go to work. Each child…
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Christmas: Changing Things Up
December arrives bringing with it anticipation and dread… Anticipation for tree-covered lights, chilly air, hot cocoa, and nativity scenes. It delivers the joy of hustling-bustling shoppers, random acts of kindness, and staying up late with my hubby brainstorming gift ideas. It permits the sipping of peppermint mochas, wearing of sweaters, and singing of Christmas carols.…
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Too Much Adventure for Me!!
There was still much to be done before we could retire for the night, and all of it needed to be accomplished with one good flashlight and four mediocre ones. (I’m kicking myself at this point for not investing in a lantern.) First of all the food needed to be transported back to the van……
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A Birthday Adventure
We were brainstorming ways to celebrate our eldest son Gavin’s 11th birthday. Over the last couple of years we’ve been changing our focus to giving the gift of an experience, rather than buying more stuff. I might have been the one who mentioned camping as a possible option. Gavin immediately seemed intrigued by the…
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“Cheese” and Spicy Chicken
So tonight we went to Portrait Innovations for a family photo shoot. It had been almost 3 years since our last attempt at capturing the entire crew. Let me tell you, it is no small feat getting 7 little people dressed, groomed, and transported to the picture place, all the while keeping one’s hair neatly placed,…
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Gabrielle Faith O’Melia
I collapsed onto my side of the master bed, exhaustion and nausea had taken their toll. It was early evening and the kids had all been scooted off to bed. I leaned against the soft pillows at my back wondering if he would eventually notice the changes, and guess the cause. I studied his face…
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Don’t You Know What Causes That?! (How We Ended Up with 7 Kids)
Almost every time I go out somewhere with my children, I get asked the questions… Are they all yours?! or How many do you have?! or Don’t you know what causes that?! Sometimes people just stare in disbelief… or I see them counting the “stair-steps” as we pass on by. Regardless, we always seem to…
