The Bean Family Chronicles {Be Fruitful and Multiply, or We Need More Boys}

 

I think that any of my readers would be quick to agree with me when I say that I am so thankful for the gift of friendship.  There is something about “doing life” with people who can share our triumphs, struggles, and stories that leaves me thanking God for the way He has brought such faithful friends into my life.  These 12 children and the 4 families they represent are the dearest joys in our lives right now.  We have laughed, cried, prayed, worshipped, eaten, cared for, and celebrated with each other families and, through doing so, have grown into a sweet little community that gives me a glimpse of how true love and acceptance can be a strong tower of safety in an unsecure world.  These children and their parents have loved and supported our children in every way possible, from attending Christmas plays and Preschool graduations, to first sleepovers, to teaching our boys the correct way to operate a play kitchen.  I could write blogs posts for days sharing how these families have blessed ours.

When we first started hanging out together, we had no more than 2 children per family, and as we have grown our quivers it has been a delight to watch the children play together and terrorize each other.  With 12 children comes the gamut of personalities, so its no surprise that emotions run high sometimes when they all get together.  Thankfully, we have a fenced in back yard and plenty of coffee, so playdates like these ones are a treat for everyone, mammas included.

As could be expected in a group that has three daddies serving in the armed forces, one of the families represented in this picture was transferred to a new home in FL last Summer.  Even though we are not all physically in the same town anymore, I am thankful for each of these families and what they mean to our family.

The children’s ages range from from 7 years and 3 months.  I’m sure this group will only continue to grow.  I can’t wait to see what our picture looks like 5 years from now!

 

April, 2012.  Although we had been friends for a couple years by this point, this was the first time we thought to take a picture like this.

 

 

Take Two!  This was July 2013. We had grown from 8 to 11 little ones when the three girlies were born within 2 months of each other!

 

 

January, 2014.  A whole dozen!

From L to R: Shaylee (3 mos), Sicily (7), Noakea (6), Cayman (5), Joelle (5), Charis (3), Addison (3), Banyan (3), Jovie (3), Emmalienne (16 mos), Avenlea (15 mos), Callie (14 mos)