In my blog, I will not be using anyone’s real name, except my own.  I am doing this because I want to protect the ones I love to the extent I can.  I realize that anyone who is serious enough about learning the names of my loved ones can probably do so.  After all, how many people do you know who are raising 12 kids in Seattle?  Although I have met some people who are from large families, I have not yet met another family in Seattle who is currently raising 12 kids.  I don’t know why, but I guess it is a bit of a rarity 😊.

I hope that I am not endangering my family by blogging.  I know there are some pretty crazy people in the world, but I also believe that the world is full of good people, people who love God, family, and country.  In the balance, I have decided that the benefit of writing this blog outweighs the risk.  And in the final analysis, I believe that it is my duty to God to write this blog.  I believe He has inspired me to do so.  And when I feel that God has asked me to do something, I don’t think so much about what it might cost.

I hope that by sharing my authentic self that I can help you see the joys and sorrows of a large family’s life—even in the day and age in which we live.  I hope you will be inspired to have and raise children.  I hope you will laugh a little, cry a little, and be uplifted.  Maybe something I say will help you with your own children.  I hope so.

I often tell people that God gave me 12 children because He knew I needed the practice.  I am not someone who learns all I need to with the first go around.  It takes me many repetitions to learn how to improve.  I hope something I have learned will help you.