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Hey Everyone!

I’m going to be taking a hiatus from my blogs since I have a lot coming down the pike soon, including graduation and taking the Bar! I hope I’ll be able to pick things up again in a few months. I’m so glad I’ve had a chance to be part of this wonderful community! I’ll still be lurking around tumblr from time to time. 

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Christmas Joy, Birthday Joy, and Endless Blessings :)

The twins are THIRTEEN! Wow, that went so fast. The worst part is that their birthday is just a few days after mine...so each time they grow older, I’m reminded of how I am growing older, too ;) 

I adore my sweet babies SO much and spent so much time preparing a fun family party for them. I decorated and baked all night long, and they were so excited! My wonderful boys deserved every minute. 

Jackie and I watched the proceedings from the kitchen. As you may be able to see, I discovered that I was expecting a few months before the twins’ birthday. Jackie’s almost three now, so I seem to be back on my regular schedule of a new baby about every three years! It’s hard for me to picture Jackie as anything but the baby of our family, but I think being a big sis will be a fun new adventure for her!

After our boys aged up, we had a wonderful family breakfast together. I love our big kitchen so much! We had so much fun!

Now that the twins have aged up, they’ve become such role models for our younger kids. The twins and Janie are especially close, I think because it was the three of them for a long time before I had Jericho. I’m so happy that they get along!

In other news, we celebrated CHRISTMAS recently. It is so crucial to me that my children know the real meaning behind Winterfest and know the true reason for the season!

I was a BIT distracted over Christmas by working with Jericho, who’s regressed a bit on pottytraining...the incoming arrival of a new baby can be a bit startling for kids! I’m writing about it in a new book I’m working on.

I really think the kids had a great Christmas, which is so important to me. I always adored the holidays growing up, and I really care about making sure they are magical for my children. 

Even Father Winter showed up! We are blessed!

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Toddlers and Renovations and Summertime, oh my!

AN: Fundie-lite territory? Sort of! Carly works for money through her writing, and her kids are being educated outside of the home...for music lessons and sports teams. Walter and Carly are slightly less strict than their forebears, partly because Walter’s parents were less strict than Patience and Jon Edwards. They’re not entirely fundie-lite--Carly would never be seen in pants! But they have something of a warmer and more relaxed style as parents. I plan to reverse that in the next generation, and make my next heir ultra strict! I’ll have to see if they have any more girls before I decide who the heir will be. 

Wow, it’s hard to believe that we have five children! We are 29 and 31 now and have five kids. We’ve truly never been happier!

I really am so lucky to have Janie...she reminds me of myself. She loves sharing a room with baby Jackie and being a big sister. I think she was getting tired of being the only girl!

She even helps from time to time, though I try not to place any real responsibility on her. It’s really tough to care for babies from the time you’re a baby yourself. But I love that she is training her sweet little Mama-heart and preparing for her own little ones someday.

Walter has been home more lately and has had the chance to bond with the children a lot. It’s such a gift!

I recently sold a nonfiction book called “My Fertility Journey” about miscarrying, struggling to conceive, and conceiving! It was a real labor of love, and I poured out my heart. I am so grateful to have a Godly, Christian publisher that likes my ideas. If you want to know more about my fertility journey and the ups and downs we’ve had, please keep an eye out for this book!

I can’t believe our little Jackie is a toddler already. She’s certainly a handful--she still uses her strong set of lungs a lot, and she’s no shrinking violet when it comes to playing with her big brothers! She’s so different from me, but it’s so fun to see her grow up for that reason. I feel like she’s teaching me every day!

Our biggest mission right now is working on potty training. I’m sure other parents can sympathize. It’s a never-ending cycle in our house--just as one kid finally gets the hang of it, another gets to needing to learn!

I am so grateful to have such a hands-on hubby that loves being a Dad. Walter and I really can share everything!

I love my babies so much and am so proud of them. The twins recently started attending piano lessons and track team over at the local schools, just like Janie. I like the idea of them all looking out for each other and being accountable. 

We’ve added some new beds to our home because our family is growing! We are so grateful for all of our blessings!

Please keep us in your prayers as we grow together!

I can’t believe that summer is nearly upon us!

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Jacqueline Anne Dias is here!!

Things are full steam ahead here! I have been working on another soon-to-be-published book, “Happy Babies, Happy Mamas,” as well as on another devotional, "Cultivating a Quiver.” I am so grateful for my readers and for my supportive husband!

Walter is such a joy to me every day and a blessing to our children! I love him so much! 

I’ve been homeschooling my children and focusing on learning the Bible. It’s so important, and I love that I get to learn along with them. 

Janie’s been so excited to be a big sister again that she can hardly sleep. Isn’t that precious?!

I went into labor while I was working on my most recent devotional. Walter was there and the children were calm and ready for what was to come, which kept me relaxed. 

After a relatively quick labor--which Walter attended with the children--Jacqueline Anne Dias was born!

She’s already making her voice heard. Jackie has a great set of lungs, and she’s a spirited baby that reminds me of Jordan and James! We are so grateful for this precious gift. 

I can’t believe Jackie was born just under 16 months after Jericho! Our little family sure is growing. Keep us in your prayers!

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Humming Joyfully Along!

We’re just trying to keep up with the Joneses over at the Dias house. I’m working on another devotional for expecting Mamas, and our little ones are growing fast, as always. Look at sweet Jericho playing with his blocks! He’s such a curious little guy. He reminds me of Janie in that way. They must have gotten Walter’s brains!

Things are still looking good on the sibling rivalry front. My babies seem to get along pretty well! The twins especially love being big brothers and the leaders of the pack. It’s so nice to see!

Here I am working on my devotional. It’s nearly done, and the idea is already sold to my publisher. I never dreamed that other people would want to read the things I wrote, and I’m still so grateful!

I’ve had so much fun cooking holiday meals in our big kitchen recently. My Mama loves cooking so much, and I want to take after her in that way. 

We love sharing meals as a family. It gives us a chance to catch up about our busy lives!

I love that the kids all spend time together and have great conversations over food. It’s a great way to grow closer!

You may notice that Janie is wearing a uniform from the local schools. We are still homeschooling, but she is taking piano lessons and running track at the local school. We don’t have quite enough room for a piano in our house and we want her to be able to play sports if she likes, since the school is willing to accommodate our modesty standards. My own parents had a lot of reservations about us attending any events through the local public schools, but Walter and I prayed on it a great deal and decided it was okay. Walter attended math and science classes at his local public schools and maintained a devoted Christian lifestyle, so we are confident our kids can do the same. But we’re keeping a close eye on Janie regardless.

Walter is still working hard as always, but his hours are less crazy now. We’ve been able to hang up more Christian decor, and we’ve been blessed to learn that Bibles are selling very well!

Walter’s also been focused on designing and selling modest outfits. I love that he doesn’t compromise his morals for profit, and it’s something we can stand on together!

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We’ve added another to our ranks...plus a major surprise!

Jericho Praise made his much-anticipated arrival early in the morning a few months ago. He was my biggest baby yet at almost nine pounds!

The kids are taking the adjustment pretty well. James likes to check on the baby sometimes, ha! Jordan’s a little more apprehensive about babies right now, but I can tell he has a gentle heart and is going to help out a lot with the baby!

Meanwhile, Janie’s getting bigger and bigger right before our eyes. 

She recently aged up, and we had a nice little celebration for her.

In other (shocking) news, I was recently astonished to discover that I had conceived again just six months after Jericho was born. I’ve never conceived so quickly. It certainly helps that Walter is home a little more often now!

We are so thankful for this blessing!

Don’t you love these sweet family portraits we had taken recently? Jordan shows so much personality, haha! And look how big and gorgeous Janie looks!

And there goes my curly-headed James with his beautiful smile! He takes after Walter’s Dad. I love our children so much!

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Joy in every passing moment...

It’s shocking how big my children are getting. Every parent says it, but the days are so full lately that I hardly notice them passing. I’m pretty fortunate--my kids are naturally calm, so there isn’t too much chaos around our house...though they do make time to rile each other up on occasion.

I’ve really enjoyed spending so much time with my kids as they grow up. Becoming a stay-at-home Mama has always been a major conviction of my heart, and I am so glad that I stuck to it. I need every second I can get with my kids!

Of course, I never expected being a writer to be part of that, but I’ve loved evangelizing and having the chance to write about my family! 

Of course, I do my. best to only write during nap times or while the little ones are having meals. I really hope they will be able to read my writing and use it as a resource someday!

I’ve really enjoyed having a lot of snuggles with Janie before our next baby arrives. It’s hard to imagine anybody besides Janie being my little baby--I love her so much! But I also think being a big sister will bring her a lot of joy, just as it did for me.

You’ve got to admit, she’s pretty precious. I’m glad we’ve been able to have a close bond. I sometimes missed getting to spend a lot of time with my Mama because she was always so busy with the newest little one! 

I’ve also noticed that, so far, my kids get along well! My siblings and I were always pretty close, but there certainly were times that one could feel lost in the shuffle. Even though having a “smaller” amount of kids can feel a bit strange for me, it’s given my children the chance to cultivate a close bond!

Between the money from my book sales and the revenue from Walter’s shop, he’s been able to do some renovations. We’re hoping to add more distinctly Christian decor soon, too!

I love the fact that Walter’s business is now well-known enough that he can spend more time at home. He’s worked so hard for everything he’s accomplished!

We also recently added a little loft to the bookstore. I couldn’t resist sharing it. It’s just so adorable!

My newest devotional, “Verses for a Quiverfull Mamas Heart,” is on sale now. I hope you’ll consider buying it!

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We’re about to have another boy on our hands!

Well, our house is already pretty packed with testosterone, but it’s about to have even more soon!! That’s right, we are expecting another little boy!!

Walter was so thrilled when I told him, and I was thrilled, too. We haven’t talked about it very much, but we actually experienced two miscarriages before this little one came along...one about two years ago, and one a few months before we conceived this little one. We’ve been trying to conceive for some time, but it was hard with Walter being away at work a lot and me wrangling three littles on the rare nights he was home! Thank goodness things have worked out! 

Don’t you love these adorable photos from our big gender reveal we put on for our kids?! It was so much fun! They were so thrilled to hear about getting a new baby, though Janie did ask us when she is getting a sister, haha!

Walter and I had a great time celebrating ;) we really are made for each other, and I am soooo grateful for that! Hold out for a Godly guy, gals!

Just some more sweet photos we took. Walter and I really do enjoy each other so much!

We are so excited for our kids to be big siblings again! Janie will be just a month away from turning four when this new baby is born. I think it’s high time for her to get a little living baby doll of her own!

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And we’re back!

Sorry for the delay of a few months between posts, everyone. We’ve been really busy lately because The Desert Rose is really taking off! In fact, things have been going so well that Walter has decided it is time for another change for our little family. 

That’s right--we are headed for snowier pastures in Mount Korembi! I was thrilled when Walter first mentioned the idea of moving there, because it is where my grandma, Ingrid, grew up! My great-grandfather planted a Baptist church in Mt. Korembi, and I heard lots of stories of what it was like there as a child. My Mom liked to take vacations there when she just had a few children, but it became more difficult as the years went on and she had more babies, so I actually never went there with her!

Walter has purchased a new place with a larger lot in Mount Korembi. There wasn’t a lot of room for us to grow in Oasis Springs--the lot we owned was pretty small--so this felt like the best move we could make! I am so excited and think that the new store looks just gorgeous. Walter is such a great businessman!

The new store is called Dias Emporium and there are two stores, a bookstore and a clothing store! Things have been going swimmingly since we opened and business is booming! Thank goodness!

The kids are in LOVE with the new neighborhood. We love trying all the adventurous foods, like sushi! Walter laughs at me when I call sushi adventurous (his Mom, Hatsue, is Japanese), but growing up, the most outré thing we ever tried was tacos. Most of our cuisine consisted of casseroles, mac and cheese, hamburgers and hot dogs...oh, and franks and beans. My parents had to manage so many littles that luxuries like raw fish weren’t very realistic!

We went to the Festival of Light together as a family when we first moved, and we enjoyed it so much. The boys were thrilled!

I’m so glad my kids get to have these fun new experiences. One of the blessings that has flowed from my “lower” fertility is the fact that moving around is a little easier. Still, we are hoping to have more blessings soon and to settle in Mt. Korembi permanently.

Look at this adorable picture I got with my James!

Overall, we’ve been having a wonderful time here, and I’ve had the chance to try so many new things with my children.

Our new house is also gorgeous, and I’m so grateful. I grew up in a very comfortable home where everything was taken care of because of my Daddy’s successful career in politics. Walter and I had to work from the ground up, which is something we chose when we got married. Now it’s paying off, and it is so rewarding!

We finally have a little more space in our bedrooms. Walter and I felt pretty cramped before!

Even better, we have a nice big kitchen and dining room. I can’t wait to make more memories here. 

In other news, I recently found a publisher for my memoir about growing up as one of 19. Look for it on the shelves at Dias Emporium soon!!

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Life is Humming Right Along!

Things are going great with Walter’s business. Unfortunately, the nature of his business requires some immodesty on the part of the mannequins, haha! But fortunately we are getting more, new modest outfits in our store soon. We’re going to try not to put pants on female mannequins in the future!

As Walter’s business thrives, our income increases. We were able to renovate our house recently, and it turned out great! What do you think? 

It’s certainly a bit roomier in here for all of us, which is nice. Three kids is such a big adjustment from two, I’ve found, and this renovation has really given us room to breathe.

Isn’t my hubby sweet? I knew from the time I met him he’d be a great husband and father...or at least, the first time I remember meeting him! Walter said he noticed me at church a few times before he got the nerve to introduce himself and talk to my Dad. I don’t really remember noticing him before that, but once I did, I was blown away! He’s such a fantastic man and a great Dad!

I’m so glad things are starting to go our way after a few years of fighting to make ends meet! I’m working on doing more writing since Walter has to work so much. It’s been fun recounting growing up in a huge family!

Look out for my first memoir coming up soon. I’ve interviewed my Mom several times for it, and I’ve decided to call it “Growing up with 19 Kids!” I hope it will bless all of you once I finally get it published!

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Welcome to the Kenneys!!

Hello!

Hey y’all! I’m Gracie Kenney and I’m 20 years old. My wonderful sweetheart Corey and I got married recently, and we can’t WAIT to share our walk with the lord with you! 

Married life is such an adventure! Because we’re GODLY Christians, we saved our first kiss (and everything else ;) ) for our wedding day. It was so worth the wait, and we’ll hopefully be welcoming some more blessings into our life soon! My dream has always been to be a wife and mother to as many children as the Lord will give us!

(Thank you @quiver-full-of-sims​ for the inspo! Can’t wait to start my own fundie sims challenge!)

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Am I really old enough to be a Mama to a big kid?! And other surprising developments!

The twins aged up this week. It was such a marvel for me to see them become big boys! I saw my own siblings age up so many times, but it really is different when it’s your own babies. My Mama always used to tell me how crazy it is to see your babies grow up, but I never really knew what she meant until now!

Jordan and James are bundles of rambunctious fun. My Mama calls them “all boy,” like my brother Colton. They’re spunky and happy and so much fun!

Shortly after the boys aged up, Janie became a toddler. Janie is a lot like me, more quiet and thoughtful. She’s always observing the people around her! I love watching her baby blues take everything in!

Even though Walter has a lot of demands on his time because of work. he always makes time for us. After the twins and Janie all aged up, we decided to take some family photos together. 

I love our little family so much!

We have so much fun together.

When my family saw these pictures, the first thing they asked about was whether I was pregnant. It can be a lot of pressure being Patience Fleming’s daughter, not to mention Ingrid Gorman’s granddaughter! I don’t get pregnant as fast following childbirth the way my mother and grandmother did. I was actually surprised by how long it took me to become pregnant just after I got married--it was several months before I became pregnant with the twins!

I’m planning to write more about my experience with fertility and my struggles with getting pregnant right away! I’m still only 25 and have three kids, so I expect Walter and I will still be able to fulfill our dream of having a large family, but my childhood dream of having 20 kids is probably not realistic, lol! It’s definitely something I’ve learned to be content about the older I get. It was SUPER difficult for me when I first married and I didn’t become pregnant immediately, but I’ve been able to connect with other Mamas who have felt the same way, and that has been such a blessing!

I can’t wait to share more about my journey with all of you!

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Our third blessing has arrived! Welcome Janie Rose!

I am so overjoyed to report that we had a safe homebirth (although it wasn’t all that quick--I labored for many hours with the help of a midwife)! But once I saw the face of our precious baby, none of that mattered. 

She is so perfect beyond measure!

Walter and I are overjoyed, and the boys are pretty thrilled, too. I know having a happy heart about a new sibling can be hard when you are close to your Mama and love cuddles and attention--I went through it many times--but my boys have been pretty content so far.

I guess I’ll have to pay special attention to any signs of sibling rivalry. In the meantime, we’re really enjoying each other!

We are just so grateful right now...and so tired. And since his business is doing so well, Walter has been able to cut back on his hours a bit, which has been so nice! We feel so blessed!

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Little Janie is almost here!

Hiya, readers!

Well, my sweet Walter has been busy as a bee lately, and I am so happy for him because things are starting to get easier for us! Sales have gone up at the store and we feel so blessed!

I’ve picked up a bit of a hobby of my own because my boys still take a pretty long nap during the day. I’ve been writing devotionals to encourage other women, and I am also writing on a few stories about growing up in a family with 19 children! I absolutely love sharing the story of my family with the world and having the chance to evangelize! It really is so wonderful.

Meanwhile, when I’m not writing or chatting with my hubby, I’m working on my cooking skills. I’m not nearly as good as my Mama yet, but I’ve gotten a few basics down! It’s hard to believe that I’m already 22. I still feel like a little girl hanging out with my siblings at homeschool all day!

Since The Desert Rose has been doing a little better, we’ve been able to make some slight improvements to the house. We got new sofas and a book shelf and chairs for the boys!

And look at how cute our kids’ rooms are. We just set up that little crib in the nursery!

We also had some proper stairs put in!

Even though I miss my hubby when he’s gone, his level of sacrifice for us is so humbling for me. He truly wants his wife and his babies to have the best life possible. I feel so fortunate that I was given such a Godly man! Waiting for your spouse through a commitment to purity is so important, and it always bears fruit!

Meanwhile, I’m getting about ready to deliver our sweet Janie Rose. Please pray for a safe and fast homebirth!

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We have the most FANTASTIC news in the world!!!

Yes...Walter and I are finally expecting again! Wow! We were so afraid we’d never be blessed with a baby again...the twins are almost three now! I love having big boys, they’re so talkative and sweet! It’s so nice to have them with me each day, as Walter is still working long hours!

We took these lovely pictures in Walter’s store. Sales have been skyrocketing, and we are so pleased!

What’s more, we just found out this next little blessing is a GIRL! I am SO thrilled to have a sweet little thing to dress up in pink bows and dresses like my Mama did for me! We are going to name her Janie Rose. I think it’s such a cute name!

Please keep us in your thoughts in this new season of life!! It will be getting even crazier around here soon!

Walter, sweetie, I am so pleased to be doing life with you!

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Dias Family Vacation #1!

Wow. Y’all, I have such a fantastic hubby and wonderful boys! We just got to go to our first family vacation at Granite Falls! It was really nice because Walter and I were married so young and couldn’t afford a honeymoon. I had so much fun packing for a full week in advance of the trip and planning activities for us!

I absolutely LOVED seeing more sides to Walter’s personality on the trip. He is so fun-loving and told us ghost stories all night long! 

Of course, we know better than to believe in such supernatural silliness!

I had a great time learning all sorts of new things. My lovely Mama--a saint of a woman with 19 kids!!--was never much one for camping, and Daddy was often on the campaign trail, so I’ve actually never gotten to do this before! I really enjoyed throwing horseshoes while Walter took the boys for a hike!

We got to hear more stories the following night!

Roasting marshmallows and hot dogs was so much fun!

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Welcome Us to Our New Life in Oasis Springs!

That’s right, we’ve moved away to steamy Oasis Springs! I’d never even visited before we moved, so it was a bit of an adjustment at first. But at least I’ve had the chance to work on my tan!

We bought this cute little house at a steal. Although our budget is limited, I like to think we’ve made it very homey! They boys sure do love it, and Walter and I are happy, too. 

This is Walter’s new shop. It’s called the Desert Rose! He sells clothing, toys, and some furniture as well. Our supplies always conform to our values, especially our clothes, which reflect our commitment to modesty! No short skirts for our mannequins!

The store is beautiful and is so far doing really well.

We are so happy with the turnout in Oasis Springs! Thank you so much for our support!