All My Children

More out of necessity than desire, I loaded up all the kids and went to Walmart last week to get some groceries and household supplies. This was my first trip to the grocery store with all four of my children. The trip actually went surprisingly well (much better than this one)--in large part due to the fact that my husband and I have really been cracking down on training and first-time obedience. There just isn't leeway now for them to have, um, "freedom of expression" in the store. For things to go smoothly (and for me to stay relatively pleasant), they need to stay right next to me. (More on all of this in another post).

When we reached checkout, the cashier asked increduously, "Are these all your children?"

After runnning some come-back lines in my head ("No, I rented them for the day", "No, I found them in the toy section. They're very real looking, aren't they? Do you want to scan their UPC?", or "No, I don't know whose they are. They just came up and started following me through the store."), I answered his question without any comeback. "Yep, they're all mine." I think four children is more on the small end of large families, so I was surprised he would ask that, but oh well!

Even though more than two children per family may not be all that popular (or smiled upon) in culture today, I thought it would be fun to look at other famous large families, both past and present. (I was asked to do a devotion for a baby shower a few weeks ago, and this is what I did).

• Ben Franklin—one of 17 children 
• Mel Gibson—fathered 8 children (7 with his wife, one with his then-girlfriend)
• Author Danielle Steel--7 children, and she would write during the night so she did not need to take away family time for her work
• Sen. Rick Santorum—7 children
• The Von Trapp family-- 10
• George H.W. and Barbara Bush family—6
• George Washington--one of 13
• Susanna Wesley (mother of Charles Wesley and John Wesley)—19 (many died during childhood)
• Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie—6 children
• Comedian Eddie Murphy—8 children
• Actress Jane Seymour—6
• Actor Kirk Cameron—6
• Frank Gilbreth and Lillian Gilbreth (the "Cheaper by the Dozen" family)—12
• Celine Dion—youngest of 14
• Actor Mark Walhburg—youngest of 9
• Jim Bob & Michelle Dugar—19
• Justice Antonin Scalia—9 (5 boys, four girls)
• Joseph and Rose Kennedy (parents of J.F.K.) 9 (4 boys, 5 girls)

Of course, there are many others. I am blessed to live in a community where many families have embraced the biblical view of children and have many children. When your friends also have lots of kids, you don't feel so alone. It feels like the norm!
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed…” (Psalm 127:3-5, NASB)

The bottom line, whether you have one or ten, is that you are blessed and you need not be ashamed!



(linked to Raising Homemakers)