Our youngest daughter, Abigail Rose, is five already and hardly a baby anymore. She loves babies, though, and spent several years praying daily that Mom would have twins. Jennifer would love to have accommodated that request, but God hasn’t seen fit to give us any more children after Abby.
So it’s a good thing this one is double sweet! In some families, the baby gets spoiled, but Abby stays too busy taking care of everybody else to let that happen.
When we have company, Abigail is the first to offer our guests a cold drink. If a sibling is sick, she waits on him and comforts him and helps administer his shots, medicines, or breathing treatments. When one of her baby nephews cries, she fetches toys and blankets and pacifiers and does her very best to cheer him up.
Abigail does her best to hang tight with Isaac, Daniel, and Gabriel, both at work and at play. She grabs pen and paper and joins them at the kitchen table for their spelling lessons every day, and when it’s time for recess, she does a pretty good job keeping up, as well.
It helps that she’s a super-quick runner and can ride a bicycle long distance — she doesn’t even need training wheels, as you can see in this video I took earlier this year:
READ ABOUT THE REST OF THE FAMILY:
Dad – Mom – Jonathan – Bethany – David – Samuel – Benjamin
Joseph – Rebekah – Rachel – Isaac – Daniel – Gabriel – Abigail
THIS PAGE LAST UPDATED: December 23, 2015
Your family is indeed beautiful!
A friend forwarded your “25 Ways” to me. Intrigued, I came to your site and I must admit, I have fallen in love with your beautiful family!
In a time where parents put so many “things” (may it be work or hobbies or whatever) ahead of their families, your story is inspiring, to say the least. I applaud that you both have sacrified along the way for each other and for the best interests of your family.
I love that you, Jennifer, embrace your higher education as not “wasted” but instead being used for the purpose He had…for your children. It is admirable; I sometimes feel as though I “gave up” on pursuing my Masters to stay home with our children but I will NEVER regret that choice. It would be refreshing for so many women to see your life and all you’ve accomplished while raising 12 amazing kiddos…you really can have it all! From all I have read here, you are an absolutely amazing woman who isn’t afraid to follow the Lord!
And to Doug, I read through countless replies on your “25 Ways” and you are a gem. This world needs more men that aren’t afraid to show and tell the world how much they love and adore their wives, fearing that their manliness will somehow be stolen. It is beautiful the way that you respect and honor her and in turn, your children. A man that knows and trusts in the Lord and honors Him is a blessing to all.
It is apparent that through the years, you have both sacrificed for each other out of pure love, your family is always first, and that you continue to learn together; I am blessed to be able to learn from you. I can’t help but smile while visiting your site. I look forward to your future posts!