Our Story
Our family is continuing to evidence this truth (we welcomed another daughter into our home during Thanksgiving week of 2010...how appropriate), and we here share with you a brief glimpse of our personal and family growth. Our BeginningI (Michael) grew up in a traditional, conservative, Christian home in Omaha, Nebraska (U.S.A.). The oldest of three boys, I enjoyed the ‘trailblazing’ privileges that often accompany a firstborn child. My various activities included many church-related youth programs, camps, Christian school, music opportunities, and athletics (especially football).Laurie grew up in Minnesota (U.S.A.) with a family life that was very similar to mine, except that she was the oldest of two girls (and it doesn’t seem that ‘football’ carried quite the same interest). As girls tend to do, much time was spent playing ‘house’ as a child…and Laurie was usually the Mom! Her teenage years revolved around church gatherings and Christian school activities, including volleyball, cheerleading, and music. Throughout our childhood, the exemplary living and wise counsel of our respective parents was so extremely vital in shaping the choices we would make. Many paths could have been chosen, but their consistent guidance challenged us to live with an eye toward the future. Early spiritual decisions brought about life-changing results, and we know not where our lives would be without the saving and keeping power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Should you desire to know more about this, please read Our Greatest Birth. After meeting in college, we became friends most especially due to our inclusion in various music performance groups. There was no lack of interest in each other during those years, but we didn’t marry until a couple years after graduation. I called the waiting period ‘cautious consideration’…most everyone else said, “What are you waiting for?!” (Hindsight is 20/20, right?) We both graduated with bachelor’s degrees which included double majors. My degrees are in Bible and Church Ministries (youth and music), and Laurie has Bible and Business Administration majors, along with a Photography minor.
Marriage began with a desire for children, but no expectation of a particular number. Quite honestly, we never dreamed of such a full house in those early years. Babies have come ‘one at a time’, and the adjustments undertaken for ‘one more’ have always been miniscule compared to the joy of sharing in another gift of life. Even the difficult pregnancies (bed rest for pre-term labor, gestational diabetes, breach baby, severe back pain) have not been enough to discourage us from pursuing a large family.
Though modern technology has allowed for parents to know of their baby’s gender during the pregnancy, Laurie and I have preferred the excitement and anticipation that accompanies waiting until the birth. For our first sixteen years, expensive medical technology hadn’t been needed anyway. In a show of superiority to "mother's intuition", I had successfully predicted the sex of each of our first eight children...but I missed it with our ninth. Oh well...I love my newest daughter!
Our Present
Michael (that’s me) has begun to notice some of the maturing aspects of age. ‘Crows foot’ (not to be confused with my ‘pigeon toe’) has entered my vocabulary this year following a morning when I must have leaned in toward the mirror. No doubt I was trying to tilt my head so that I could locate the growing ‘spot’ on my scalp that needs covering. Well, of course, my back probably gave out, and this must have caused me to reach for the pain medications on the top shelf. While wincing in pain just in front of the mirror.....I surely came face to face with my.....’seasoning’ shall we say. All those major events of 1968, including my birth, are beginning to slip into the fog of history. Actually, I’m in good health, and though there are some outward signs of ‘weathering’.....my kids keep me young at heart. In fact, my young heart is in such great shape that I sometimes set aside my trumpet and horn in order to pick up a tuba and ‘blow it’ with our church groups.
Laurie, who is also well past her teen years, is still married to her first husband of 19 years. She is still changing diapers as she did seventeen years ago, but has added on an enormous load of teaching and mothering over the years. It happens little by little, but with home schooling eight, writing and researching for My-Newborn-Baby-Care.com, church services, 4-H, piano lessons, violin lessons, cello lessons, doctor’s appointments, meals, laundry, groceries, mothering all nine, pampering “Dad” and more.......Proverbs thirty-one comes to mind. I was certainly cautious when considering a wife, but the Lord gave me so much more than I could have known. She makes everything in my life a breeze, and marriage to her is like peanut butter fudge ice cream.......it’s all good. Life has been full of the typical challenges. There have been broken bones (Tarzan games gone bad and stumbling toddlers), close calls (car crashes and tumors), grieving losses (miscarriages and the passing of friends), sicknesses (that slowly make the rounds through our family over a period of weeks), and plenty of opportunities to learn from mistakes (both parents and children). We have grown closer in our understanding and appreciation of each other through these difficulties. Our family shares together in encouraging one another in our Christian life, and all activities of the week are scheduled so that we might fully participate in the life and ministry of our local church ( www.legacybaptistchurch.net ). Among the opportunities that have grown with our maturing children and their talents is the privilege of ministering to the spiritual needs of people through our family’s music. We love to sing together (especially acapella), and each of the children is growing in their piano skills along with various other instruments of their choosing. We have determined that the reward of these efforts ought to be used primarily to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in the church and in His service. As we have had invitation, it has been our pleasure to minister in likeminded churches or in various other places of opportunity. If you like, you may visit www.grismoremusic.webs.com to sample and purchase our sacred vocal music recordings. Our Kids(Initials are being used for our kid’s protection.)Aside from their schooling, the kids involve themselves in 4-H, the county and state fair, music lessons and events, camps, and church activities as well as their various individual interests. Consequently, it is rarely quiet around our home, but we’ve all developed the ‘skill’ of tuning out certain things. There isn’t much ‘extra’ space in our house, but there is plenty of yard outside for everyone to move and release energy. #1 B.A.G.  …is the "trailblazer" of this family. He has the misfortune of resembling me, but it doesn't seem to bother him or his mother. His bass voice even sounds like mine, and we each fuss a little when we are forced to sing the tenor line. At seventeen years old, he has 'finally' obtained his driver's license. Hopefully, he will be able to avoid crazy drivers better than his parents have. His shoe size is larger than Dad’s, and our clothes are occasionally swapped in the folding of laundry. B has now played each of the four basic brass instruments in a public setting......not all at once, of course, but I think he would if asked to do so. #2 C.A.G.  …our re-creation of Laurie, has left, or is quickly leaving the traits of childhood behind. Most of us tend to get this responsibility of parenting figured out just about the time the kids leave home, but I’ve got a hunch that she will do it right the first time. She habitually cares for the needs of our home, and most often demonstrates her character by helping with the little ones. When the fellas start knocking on our door in a few years, I’m gonna have to decline their requests (I want to keep her!). To my present delight, this girl, with hair past her waist, is only fifteen years of age, and so that day is a ways off. Her discipline in music (piano, violin, baritone, and vocal), home school studies, 4-H, and her spiritual walk is evident to all who know her. She and her siblings brought home a wagonload of placement ribbons from the county fair....including her champion pumpkin bread. #3 P.L.G. #4 E.M.G. #6 T.L.G. #7 A.N.G. #8 L.R.G. #9 R.M.G. Our PassionsOur ultimate passion is to our Savior, Jesus Christ, both now and forever. We love our family (both immediate and extended). The freedoms, privileges, and responsibilities that come with being an American are not lost on us. When given the opportunity, we go completely crazy in support of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (especially the football team). These loves of ours do not all rank equally in importance, of course, but they do help to define who we are.We are completely unique in our experiences, and yet our story is somewhat typical of families all over the world. This adventure of life with our children has certainly demanded that we make some choices morally, spiritually, spatially, and financially, and the reward of making good choices far exceeds what mere words can convey. Yet, through this web site, we have tried to help excite you to begin well as you consider the possibilities that lie ahead. If you'd like to know even more about us, read about Our Greatest Birth.
New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
...is our newest study for this website. We've discovered uniquenesses in her that have proven to be beneficial as we continue to "test and verify" information provided on this site. However, all of that is secondary to her special place in our family. With the availability of many interested hands, our little one year old will never be at a loss for care and love. We love the fun of experimental and growing mobility and speech.
Site Sponsorship Policy
|
|
|
|
|
