New friends!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Kelly's Korner I have new friends!  What a great idea she had. The best part was to encourage us to search the list for the blog friends in our own areas that had joined her link up.

As a busy mom of 9 my "free time" is few and far between. However, out of my desire to have some sort of record of the Holcombe craziness for my children to reminisce with someday...I try and blog when I can steal a few moments! As you could tell from last week in this post . Life is just...you would had to have been there!  I do love being a mama. I do love being a wife! Blogging helps me to find that I 'm not alone in the journey of being a stay at home mom!  I look forward to hearing from any who dare begin to join us on our journey. I hope I can bring you a little laughter (laughter is good for the soul) and encouragement as you walk your own journey of life. Please feel free to ask any questions or offer advise. I too need encouragement!

Thank you Kelly for being a willing vessel in sharing your blog friends with us!

We're adding to our family!

I am now publishing this for the second time! This time is no mistake!
I think I need to stay away from Facebook and Blogger when a special event is about to happen! Y'all don't tell me anything until after it's over!
OK ...so when I originally typed this post something awful happened. As I went to hit save to draft Mackenzie hit my hand and I hit publish instead. Yes, leave it to me to spoil a special moment. You see I have my blog linked to network blogger. So when I hit publish it automatically post to Facebook. And because of my Karen's Kidz site, it post in more than 1 place. As I'm frantically trying to delete it from Facebook my son calls.  Yes son ... I published a blog post about an event that hasn't even happened yet! So within seconds of the posting I am trying to undo my terrible mistake! Trying to tell those who have liked the post already to keep quiet! I can't tell you how terrible I felt! He's already nervous! I really hope we can laugh about this one day! Better than the crying I'm doing right now! I don't think I can take much more excitement! But hey...I'm getting a new daughter!


Our youngest son just proposed to the love of his life! They have been friends for several years and finally listened to God's calling. I kind of knew his goose was cooked.You couldn't help but notice the big ole grin and dazed look on his face. Yes, he has been bit by that love bug! A cute one at that!

 Kayla has passed the sister test. Yes, all the girls love her! She fits right in with this crazy family!  You'd have to be brave to face this many girls and win their acceptance. I sure hope she knows what she's getting into!

Somehow my little guy grew up before my eyes. Now here he is almost 25, 6'2 and about to say "I do" to his love! It seems like yesterday I was teaching him to ride his bike and watching him play little league baseball. Now he's about to be this sweet girl's husband!

As our family grows I stand in awe of how we've made it this far. I look forward to the changes our little BIG family will have over the next few months as we embrace our new daughter. I pray that she knows what a special gift she is to our family. 

Kayla we love you!!!!!!   Welcome to the family!!!!!!!!!!!

So Jessica graduates from high school, our son is getting married, Kelley's 2nd foot surgery and Emily our daughter is having our first grandchild ... all before the end of the year!  Anyone know of a deserted island I can visit when all the excitement dies down?

Remember that prayer I prayed?

I bet you will never guess what is next for our family? I will have to keep it a secret for a little while longer! I promise it's going to be very exciting! So if you are really interested check back soon!

I may need a vacation somewhere on a deserted island before this year is through! But hey....You never know what God can do unless you pray!

You know your getting old when....

Wednesday we had a homeschool bowling day. So while the older girls bowled with their friends I bowled with our 5 year old. Bad idea!  She beat me too!

Thursday afternoon I ended up in the emergency room. After 3 days of a sciatica nerve attack in my back, it moved into my pelvic area and left hip along with the top of my thigh. I would describe the pain along the levels of labor. With waves of pain and controlled breathing I wanted to scream"Give me an epidural!!!!!!!!!!!!"  I am not joking...it was that bad! Did I mention that I have a high pain tolerance?

Thursday was the day Kelley finally went back to work all by himself. Wouldn't you know it none of the older kids were home either. Kelley wasn't answering his phone. I almost drove myself but knew that wasn't such a great idea. Finally calling my son at work asking him to send our daughter home to drive me. 

I will start off saying...I HATE emergency rooms! This was our 2nd visit within a few weeks ...that visit was a 3 hour wait. Sign in, wait... triage,wait... send daughter to say I need pain meds,wait... Kelley arrives and goes to tell them I need something....Here comes the Calvary! My hero manages to get me some sympathy and some great pain meds! Maybe it was the fact that he was in a walking cast and had crutches. When it rains it pours! I still had to wait for an ER bed but doing it with I.V. pain meds made it so much better!

After seeing the Doc a CT scan was ordered. Possible kidney stone or ovarian cyst was mentioned. And we wait and wait and wait.  Results come back and all is clear!  Conclusion...must be my sciatic.
Really? But it's in my pelvic area and the top of my thigh! I never knew it could move into and affect those areas.

Once again we leave the ER late...right along with  3 prescriptions. No pharmacies are open now. I knew I should have asked for 1 more dose before I left! This was a long night!

Today as we got ready for church my husband and I found ourselves laughing! You know your getting old when you have to make sure one of you didn't take any meds that caused drowsiness. 
Our beside tables are looking like a pharmacy. Our conversations have turned to talking about aches and pains. This is not the excitement I have been praying for! For now as we wait... wait for endurance...wait for healing....I will praise the one who gave me life! He is still great and worthy to be praised! Rest... it's what I try to do for now. Sitting at Jesus' feet. Listening.


I will leave you with a laugh...this is how my leg feels today. Novocaine is a funny thing!

Why do I stay at home?

I stay at home because I love my kids.
I stay at home because this is the road God has called me to walk.
I stay at home because the love of my life has made it possible for me to have the greatest experience of my life.
I stay at home because I am a mom who is truly blessed to have the unconditional love from 9 + 1 ....and any other who dare to enter our home....awesome young people!

I may never win any "mother of the year" awards. Especially after this morning...I am now without a voice. Walking this road is the hardest most rewarding thing I have ever done. What I have come to realize is the unconditional love that my children give me is enough. It's worth more than any paycheck. Worth more than any award . Worth all the blood, sweat ,tears, lost sleep and lost voices that I have shed. These crazy kids of ours have my heart.  I don't always feel like I'm doing my best at this job...and I'm probably not. I mess up more times than I would like to admit. But this is not just a job...this is our life. My life! I get only one shot at it. I better make it good! How do I want my kids to remember me?

I want them to remember that I loved Jesus with all my heart.
I want them to remember that I loved their dad with all my heart.
I want them to remember that I loved them with every breath of my being.
I want them to remember that no matter how much good or how many times they might mess up...my love for them remained constant.
I want them to remember that their smiles...the ones that I anxiously awaited to see for the first time...give me more joy than I could ever express.

Family means everything to me. If the only "Mother of the Year" award I ever receive is that from my own children....I will be satisfied! I will be satisfied because I will know I recieve this award not because of what I do or how well I do it... but because of who I am.

and that my friends you can never put a $ figure on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dearest grandchild....

   I am very proud to announce to you that we are..............






                       
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     WE'RE GOING TO BE GRANDPARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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And I started this year asking God for a little excitement in my life! As though I didn't have enough! I prayed this prayer 28 years ago and as an answer to that prayer.... I became engaged, graduated from high school, went on a mission trip for 2 1/2 months, got married, went to Jamaica(honeymoon) and became pregnant with our first child.  All in that order. Not bad for a little prayer!
                               
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  My dearest 1st grandchild...

I have known about you since Thursday night March 15. Your mom and Dad surprised us all! I think you even surprised them. However... I have thought about you for a long time. As with my own children...your mom.... I have wondered what you will look like?....Will you have any hair?....What is your name? What will you call your grandad and me? You know you have a pretty handsome and fun grandad?! Oh the fun you two will have. Oh what great plans God has for your life little one! My prayer life just got even sweeter! I must admit I can't wait to meet you! To hold your sweet little hand and kiss your precious little feet and face. Your mom and dad won't mind if I hog you for a little while. We have a lot to talk about! Oh and your Aunt Mackenzie...she is in for a rude awakening...but I think the two of you will be the best of friends.

Yes little one,  you are going to be one loved kid! You don't know it yet but you have 8 aunts and 4 uncles....and that's just your immediate family. You will not lack for family! Adding you to the bunch will only add to the blessing and the fun! I just hope having you doesn't start a family feud. One baby with this many family members...maybe you will be twins?!! Your Grandma Jackson and I will have to steal you away...She's probably the sweetest woman you will ever meet! Your other grandad... he's pretty cool too! He too will be a lot of fun.  I pray one day you realize how blessed you are to have the family heritage that you do. I can't wait to see what plans God has for you!

Keeping you a secret has been a real tough thing...especially for us girls.  But your mom and dad are making us wait a little while. So when I finally hit the publish button on this post we are going to be one big happy family! So much to celebrate! They better hurry up! This grandma is one proud lady who wants to tell the whole world about you!

I love you little one....I can't wait to meet you! See you in about 8 months. I'll be the grandma with the tears in my eyes and a great big smile on my face!

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So, I said I prayed for a little excitement this year...I wonder what else God has planned! Kelley's 2nd foot surgery, Jessica graduates from high school, Birth of our first grandchild....I wonder what's next?! I'll keep you updated!

Much love,
grandma...nana... gram.....oh my! I may need help with this one!

Guess What?

 I have a very special post I'm working on. So....check back sometime this weekend.

 My God is so amazing! You don't want to miss this post!

 His ways are not always our ways....they are so much better!