Episode 2: In Case You're Wondering Why We Have "So Many" Kids

Every single week on the Q&A I do on Instagram called Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday (@m.is.for.mama), I get asked some version of the question: "What made you decide to have SO many kids?"
Well, here's the podcast I'll be pointing everybody to from here on out! In this episode, I flesh out why Shaun and I felt called--not to a larger-than-average family--but to seek the Lord's will for the number of children we would ultimately have.
I also answer questions about about my background (you might be surprised by what you learn!) and the motivations that ultimately culminated in my becoming a "mama of many."

[@sabl6381]

I was a tomboy growing up, strayed from Christianity in my late teens and early 20s, and thought poorly of marriage and children for a time. By the grace of God I am now married with our second baby on the way. I regret that I didn't see the light sooner, but thank the Lord for this opportunity.

[@TheRuckFarm]

Thank you so much for sharing your heart on this. We had 4 kids in 5 years and then opted for a vasectomy because we couldn’t see ourselves having any more. We were so overwhelmed at the time. Fast forward 4 years and God convicted us both about closing our hearts to more little blessings from Him. My husband had a V reversal 7 weeks ago. We are now expecting our fifth child in July! God has been so good to us through this entire situation. He is so good and so faithful!

[@Melorich31]

You're story is ao similar to mine, down the the timelines! We felt the same and did the same as well. My husband had his Reversal in September 2023, God blessed us and we were expecting our 5th for July 2024! Unfortunately, I miscarriaged at 14 weeks in January and we are praying the Lors blesses us again with a 5th baby ❤️

[@merislopez722]

I prayed to the Lord for my twins and even though my pregnancy was nothing compared to my first pregnancy, the Lord in his unlimited mercy answered to my prayer. When I told friends I was praying for twins they called me “crazy” in a funny way, and when I called them to tell them about my twins they were jaw dropped and my believers friend cried. All the glory be to the one and only God who deserves all honor and praise!

[@sabl6381]

Wonderful! I am praying for twin boys.

[@auroraolson9497]

I definitely teared up watching this episode! my husband and I got pregnant 3 months after our wedding and lost that baby as well as the next two. we swore we''we'd have 2-3 children and that experience changed us so much. we got saved and now want however many children the Lord chooses to blesses us with. Currently pregnant with #6 and it blows my mind that soon we will have the same amount of children earthside as in heaven, but we know HE is so good.

[@racheln4309]

Loved this episode! I relate to your second date with your husband, my husband and I skipped all the first date conversations and had the how many kids, homeschool, etc conversations in our first date. I think we both knew that night that we had found the one haha!

[@alexisstirmel5412]

Tears streamed down my face as I listened to this podcast. Thank you, thank you. I've always dreamed of having a large family, and, at a young age, told the Lord that however many children the Lord will give me, is His will. Little did I know that 5 years after my husband and I got married(and I wanted to start right away, my husband did not), we had our first and only child so far, a girl. She's now 3 and I'm 30. Now, my husband does not desire to have more, which breaks my heart, but your podcast is so encouraging as I pray every day for my husband's heart. The Lord is faithful and good and I know He does these things to grow us and get out all the junk we may need to before having more. Idk His plan, and maybe we won't have anymore, but to cling to His Truth that He knows and has it all already figured out is comforting. Thank you so much for your encouragement and reminder that He is good and children are not a burden.

[@meredithboyles14]

Praying for you and your husband🙏🏽❤️

[@alexisstirmel5412]

@@meredithboyles14 you are so kind...thank you❤️

[@gal1l33]

I'll pray for you and your husband too. I've been in a similar situation. I have 3 now, but after each one my husband has said he wants a vasectomy. It grieves my heart so deeply that we're not on the same page. I'm open to however many the Lord will give me, but he isn't. It's hard. I know the grief that it brings. I cried and begged God for years to either change my heart or my husband's heart.

[@alexisstirmel5412]

@@gal1l33 thank you❤️ after every child to have him say the same thing must be so hard...I'm so sorry. You're very encouraging

[@gal1l33]

@alexisstirmel5412 it is hard! He adores all of our children, but he keeps thinking he doesn't want any more... until the Lord changes his heart and then we have another. So it's possible that God can change our husband's hearts!

[@Melorich31]

Thank you for sharing this ❤️ My husband and I had 4 kids very quickly, all within 4 years. And after a life-threatening ending to my 4th birth story, we very impulsively scheduled his vasectomy. We already had 4 kids, and thought it was best to not take a risk with another pregnancy. A little over 3 years later, we felt convicted that God is the author of life, and that we no longer wanted to close that door. So my husband had a reversal surgery and we conceived our 5th 6 weeks later and due for July 2024! Unfortunately, our 5th went to be with Jesus at 14 weeks gestation, but we are praying that God grants us the blessing of another ❤️

[@nicolefredenberg8896]

So richly encouraged by you, your story, and the fact you point others to Christ in all things. I got teary eyed listening to this episode as I held my fourth baby in the kitchen and just pondering God’s goodness in gifting us these souls.

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

He is SO good!

[@gracefuhrmann5941]

Thank you so much for sharing this story. I clicked on this video not because I was curious to hear your answer, but because I wanted to hear how you'd approach the question. My husband and I are open to life and trust the Lord with our fertility, and I was so floored at the responses from our Christian friends and family. Even my Catholic mother-in-law has made similar 'oops!' comments each and every time we get pregnant. It feels difficult to explain to people, even as the concept is so simple.

[@cesiavaldes8547]

Loved this….had a couple of laughs because I’m pregnant with my 4th in under 6 years of marriage and I am sooo happy and so exciting to welcome my baby boy! And well I do get a lot of comments 🤣

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

Yes! Allll the comments/questions!

[@baileygray2251]

Love this episode so much! It’s so encouraging to be reminded that other Jesus loving mama’s have these convictions too, and that I’m not alone in them. Especially when it is so different than most of the people around us.

[@mirandak1773]

My heart wants more children but im fearful. I had multiple miscarriages before having my son and it made me so anxious during my pregnancy that I would lose him😢 postpartum was rough, not a lot of family or friends to reach out to that lived close enough for support. But boy did it make me snuggle up close to Jesus during that time! My relationship with HIM is vastly different now ❤

[@Lmr6789s]

I think it's wonderful mummas having so many kids. If my husband will keep going I'd love to have lots of children but I am grateful for my 3 😁

[@gal1l33]

Same here. SO grateful for my 3, but definitely open to more if my husband will cooperate 😂

[@jessicatelian4513]

The "nineteen-year-old with birth control convictions baffling her friends" scenario sounds SO FAMILIAR. 👊😊 That was me too...and I had so many conversations with other young people who thought I was completely off my rocker. 🤯🤪

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

I bet! We’re odd ducks for sure.

[@Bythegraceofgod1646]

From one analytical thinker and muller in the Lord to another, I appreciated listening to your thoughts on this so so much. I came to know Christ later in life, 27 years old He used my first pregnancy with my first daughter to save me, but I since settled on these same convictions regarding fertility, birth control, & believing all children are blessings from the Lord. I am 34 now. My husband and I have two kids, a daughter who is 6 and a son who just turned 1, but we would rejoice to have more. His will be done! He alone opens the womb. Children are never ever an accident. God bless you sis❤

[@doriannajoo]

Thank you so much for sharing your testimony, God is so good.

[@Caderic]

My in-laws have 10 kids(all married), 35 grand-kids, 2 great-grand-kids , and 2 grand kids on the way. I use the term litter, but if you know me I mean nothing malicious by it...but I hear you. I am now contemplating not using it.

[@Kelsey.DeLeon]

Love this episode! (Also super thankful for the podcast as I'm on a SM hiatus and have missed your content!) Back to the subject at hand: I too have this conviction and have recently been wondering at what point does NFP become us taking control and not allowing God to be in control. However I will say our last two babes were unplanned while trying to do NFP (clearly we aren't great at it 🤣) so I know the Lord will make a way when it is His will. Interested for your thoughts on NFP in a future episode 🤗

[@lisamariehorn]

I would have loved to have more kids than the two I have. I had life threatening complications with my pregnancy, which made it inadvisable to have any more children. But I was so blessed by God to have had twins. I probably would have struggled to accept it much more if I had a singleton. I absolutely love your content. I've never read your book but I've been following you on IG for a while. Hoping to see you at a conference sometime!

[@merislopez722]

Love her perspective when she chooses to explain why she has so many kids, instead of getting offended when people Ask her why?

[@caitlincurry5124]

I can’t even put into words how encouraging your content is to me. I am ordering your book immediately and am so excited to hear more of your podcast

[@tish225]

So glad you are posting these on KZbin (my social medium of choice)! :D Enjoyed hearing this recap.

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

Thanks for being here!

[@marygrace-beanoak9703]

enjoying your channel so much already! so glad you started a podcast 💛

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

Thank you!

[@MusicCriticWannabe]

A podcast with you and your husband would be interesting i think

[@weirdogurl9447]

❤ Loved your book and I'm so excited for more videos like this.

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

Thank you!!

[@charitypeck2168]

I have 3 year old twin girls and so can't wait to hear your story of your girls being toddlers! Because whew!!! This has been a wild ride for sure! 😁

[@m.is.for.mama.official]

Oh man! Such a journey!!

[@caseyburrow3129]

I have twin boys that are 4.5 and twins girls who are about to be 2. The girls have definitely been harder!! They want more love and attention which is sweet but can be overwhelming when you already have 4 other kids to also give love and attention..

[@lisamariehorn]

Twin mom here (they are my only two). Both girls. Ages 2-4 were the hardest. Once we hit five, its been smooth sailing. Now they're seven, and it's been their best age yet. I want to keep them this age forever!

[@brush412]

I am 34 years old and just had my second child last year. He’s about to turn one. So I am a mom of 2 boys. I always dreamed of having 3 kids, but after having the second, I think we are done. Both births were C section babies and my second was born premature. I suffered postpartum depression after both births, the second time I had to seek therapy. There are so many things that people don’t consider when they make comments. People ask me all the time whether I’m going to try for a girl and my response is I think we are done. I am tired of recovering from the births and dealing with the PPD. Maybe one day if the Lord wills, we would adopt for a 3rd child. My husband was in foster care and came from a broken home. He was adopted by his grandparents at a young age. So maybe God has adoption for us in the future, but it would have to be God. It has been hard parenting/raising my two boys. I am a stay at home mom, but also run a business from home. I am also homeschooling my oldest.

[@CristinasLife]

It's crazy the opinions people have about when to have kids and how many. The world has standards that they think everyone needs to follow. And they always have questions like, when are you having kids, how many, when are you going to stop having kids? 🤦‍♀️

[@steffa648]

Wow what an awful thing that councilor said. People are so worldly minded- even in the church!

[@PureU0Artificial]

I don’t think most women chose exactly when or how many children they have, and esp not the gender. I did not have any until I was in my 30’s and 2/3 were unplanned. Only the last one was planned, but ultimately it was God who allowed it.