Generation Cedar

http://www.generationcedar.com

Mother of 9 with a passion for emboldening Christian moms in the trenches. Where truth is spoken, vision is cast, and hearts are encouraged.

Kelly is a winner of Top 25 Moms with Big Families - 2012

Did you always want a big family? If not, when did you change your mind?

No. There was actually a time in my life when I thought, "one baby is good". And then I had my second, which secured my "normal" status and we didn't think much more about it. When we were expecting our third, people were surprised and we felt like that would probably be our last baby.

Then a friend casually asked me one day, "So, have you ever considered letting God be sovereign over your womb?" My first thought was that the question she asked was a silly one. "After all", I argued, "I don't just 'let God be sovereign' in other areas of my health, which is why I take medicine for sickness". I wasn't realizing what a vast difference the treatment of sickness, which is not God's creation, and the prevention of a healthy condition was.

After we weren't able to biblically defend our opposition to the regular use of birth control, we gave it to the Lord, and then He made it more and more clear to us the blessing of children and the benefits of recognizing His sovereignty.

What's a common misconception about big families?

I think people assume parents of large families can't "love" their children the same, or spend enough time with them, as opposed to smaller families. I know I thought this when I was a mother of two. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I am convinced that once the Lord changed my heart about children, my capacity to love them grew ten-fold. Each one of them is unique and wonderful, not just "another number", like some may think, and I just can't get enough of their individual personalities!

How many children do you have? What's the age difference between the oldest and youngest?

I have nine children, 18 to 1.