Just Do It!

I once heard someone say, “If you want to get something done, go ask a busy person.” How true that is…

When people find out we have seven children, they are often in shock, jaw dropped, and at a loss for words. Then inevitably the question comes, “How do you guys do it?” Our answer mirrors that of the Nike slogan, “Just do it!” There aren’t any other options.

For example, tonight Kimberly has gymnastics from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Angelina has soccer practice from 6-7pm. I have a meeting at church from 7-10pm. Vinh has scouts from 7 to 8:30pm. And Jaden has soccer practice from 6:30 to 8:00pm.

After Kim is dropped off at gymnastics, Curt and I meet at home for a quick dash through dinner (thank God for crock pots). Curt then takes off with Jaden and Angelina for soccer practice, then I’m off to take Vinh to scouts, and then to my own meeting. Curt has to leave soccer a little early tonight to go pick up Kimberly from gymnastics and Vinh from scouts. Once home, those who hasn’t eaten get fed while the rest jump into the shower to get ready for bed. Some where in all of this we manage to work on homework and to sign off on agendas.

Saturday’s schedule looks something like this:

8am School clean up day (whole family)
9:30am Ami leaves with Angelina for soccer game
11am Ami and Angelina goes back to the school for more clean up
11:30am Curt leaves with Vinh and Jaden for soccer game
1pm Ami leaves school to go pick upVinh and Jaden from soccer game
1:30pm Curt leaves soccer game to drive to Bay Area for Kimberly’s gymnastics meet
5pm Ami to deliver food back to school for volunteer dinner
7pm Grocery shopping
8pm Pick up party invites for farewell picnic
10pm We’re all back under the same roof completely exhausted

How do we do it? I don’t have a pat response nor do I have the answer or a magic formula. However, I find that the calendar is my best friend! It also takes a lot of communication with my husband about schedules. The difficulty in this is that my husband is not good with scheduling so when things get missed or thrown in at the last minute I’m a complete wreck and have to do a lot of juggling which is very difficult for someone like me. I need to plan for spontaneity! However, I’m left with no other option than “Just do it!” I can be mad and fight with him, but what will that accomplish?

Aside from scheduling kids’ activities, I also have to plan for our activities with various church ministries, small group meetings, fundraising events, dinner dates with friends, school vacations, family vacations, the visits from my mom in Minnesota, and then coordinating all of this with the ex spouses!

God answered my prayers when I asked for more children and fulfilled the desires of my heart when He brought Curt into my life. And daily, I’m reminded of the scripture, "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" 1 Corinthians 10:13 This Scripture teaches me a powerful principle; if I belong to Him, God will not allow any difficulty to come into my life that I cannot bear.