Left to right, Luc, Zaia, Meg with Belgee on her lap, Anna, Israel, Melissa, Captain (the O'Carrolls god-son) and Joe.
Playing at the park at Fuller Seminary.
Sometimes Mommy needs a rest.
Here are some of the kids playing in the lower lobby on the "fire carpet" of the Ambassador Auditorium:
We rang in the New Year with the O'Carroll family as well as Mary Beth and Rob. As is our tradition, we had Mongolian food. Then, as midnight drew near we got out the chocolate chips cookies. We each ate one before midnight and one after--because a year that begins and ends with a chocolate chip cookie cannot be all that bad!
On New Year's Day just after going to sleep at about 1:30am, I got called to a birth. So, I abandoned my company and family and was privileged to welcome a new baby into the world! A new baby for a year of new beginnings!
The whole houseful went to the Rose Parade without me. I was home by late afternoon, but exhausted.
Thankfully, Mary Beth and Rob came back the next day so Mary Beth and I could go out for tea. Notice my large scarf worn indoors. That would be to hide the rather large bite mark, which looked like a huge hickey, on my neck left by my client during second stage labor. Ahhhh, the life of a doula!
We had a lovely time sipping tea, nibbling delicate tea sandwiches and scones with devonshire cream. There is no pleasanter way to spend an afternoon than dear old friends and sweet tea.
We had a very fun, blessed, and peaceful holiday. "Peaceful?!" you say. "There were nine kids and a total of 15 people in your tiny apartment!" What can I say? Where there is friendship, love, and the presence of God, there is peace.
"The soul is healed by being with children." Fyodor Dostoyevsky
6 comments:
That sounds amazing, Daja! I don't think I knew all those folks were here during Christmas. How fun!
I tagged for a meme. :-)
Thank you for the explanation about the scarf. I saw the mark the other day, and was afraid to ask.
Daja, thanks for the photos of the O'Carrols. I have been wondering how they were doing since their last blog post. They are some of those rare people that I knew for only a brief period of my life, but they hugely impacted who I am today as a wife, mother, and lover of Jesus. It is great to see how happy they look, and how big the kids have gotten.
You got BITTEN!?? Is that a usual thing? I've been ornery and nasty in labour, but I've never kicked or bitten anyone.
That's what I was thinking, too: Bitten??? Not a Bradley mom, eh??
Still, though -- every baby welcomed into the world is so sweet, so precious.
Just tonight, my oldest (he's 10) and I were reminiscing about our own Christmas, where my brother's three boys (plus one of their friends) spent the night. So, we had a houseful of seven boys and one girl, and that little girl was PUKING Christmas night. But, it's still such lovely, happy memories that remain of our Christmas, chock-full with friends and children. :)
Sounds like you all had such fun. Caesar is getting so big. When I compare he and Joshua's, I feel like I'm raising a jolly green giant. Oh well, I guess he'll have to play basketball. :) JK!
mm hmm...how do we know it wasn't actually a love bite from New Year's Eve? ; ) LOL
Sounds like you had an amazing time. Daja, you make motherhood look so easy and peaceful. You really do.
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