36 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Have you ever wondered what life would be like with a really big family? Not just a couple of kids, but the kind of family where someone is always talking, something’s always on the calendar and chaos is just part of the magic. We peeked inside the lives of three Mount Pleasant moms who are raising large families with a whole lot of love, laughter and a few mom hacks you might want to steal — no matter your household size. Moms Amanda Vriens, Katie Walters and Ashley Ethridge might come from different backgrounds and stories, but they all have one thing in common: they’re raising big, beautiful families and doing it with grace, patience and full hearts. “There’s never a dull moment,” said Vriens, who has five children under the age of 8. “We live in a circus, but we wouldn’t change a thing.” HOMES WITH FULL HEARTS For Walters, the dream of a large family started early. “Josh and I said we wanted seven kids on our first date,” she shared with a laugh. “Of course, we had no idea what that would really look like, but every child has been part of God’s design for our story.” Ethridge’s journey was a little different. After having three girls, she and her husband welcomed a fourth child and then felt led to grow their family even more through foster care and adoption. “Seeing how our daughters loved and adored their new sibling was more of a blessing than we anticipated,” she reflected. “Eventually, we felt God call us to expand our family — and we haven’t looked back.” ORGANIZED CHAOS So how do you stay organized when someone is always coming or going, and silence is practically nonexistent? “Who says we’re organized?” Ethridge laughed. “We just do our best and keep our expectations reasonable. We can’t do everything, but what we do, we try to do well.” Her secret weapon? A family organizer app called Cozi that keeps everyone’s schedules in one place. “If it’s not in Cozi, it doesn’t exist.” Walters agreed that routines and flexibility are key. “We have family meal nights, Sunday huddles and routines that help, but you’ve got to hold plans loosely. In big family life, flexibility is everything.” our town Full House Big families with bigger hearts BY KATIE FINCH The Walters.
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