the more the merrier.

If you know me in real life, you’ve probably heard me say something along these lines before – the more kids we have, the merrier it gets. Now, having a large family is by no means easy. I didn’t grow up anticipating life as a stepmonster, and I didn’t exactly plan on having twins. I didn’t buy the manual on either; I sort of had to jump in feet first on both. To be honest, I basically imagined myself leading a much quieter and tidier life than the one I do now.

God blew that out of the water, though, and I couldn’t be happier about my plans “not working out.” If anything, having all of these kids in my home has changed me for the better. I’m much more patient now than when I met Chris, or when I first had Ames. I ask for forgiveness quicker this year than I did last. I find joy in the small moments, especially the ones that involve my bonus boys and birth babies bonding. When people find out about our family’s size and ask how I do it (what does that even mean?!), I immediately think of my husband. Christopher takes just as much responsibility and ownership when it comes to our kids as I do. I rarely feel alone or isolated in my home life, and that does wonders for my marriage and the satisfaction I find in it.

I know a lot of these things just come with time. I’m older and wiser now, I know, and I’ve still got a long way to go. I can’t help but think, though, that a large family has served me well in those areas. Mothering so many kids, and so many different types, has taught me lessons I might have otherwise missed. For that, I am grateful. For families who want to grow but wonder how they’d ever be able to move from on their current setup, I say go for it. You might be surprised at how smoothly y’all transition!