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53e8e09f61943ee718195d9f875caaadMelanie also blogs at joy of nine9,  is the administrator of ACWB, a columnist at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC & author of Echoes of the Divine.

Her writing is humourous and heartwarming, thoughtful and thought-provoking with a current of spirituality running through it.

Mof3acd76693dd403caae59aafe32c1c2est people  expect her to look like  haggard  with unfulfilled dreams.  So, their eyebrows shoot and they sputter,”YOU had 9 children?” This is because she is 5’ 1” and weigh 104 lbs. With her husband. Melanie raised 9 children on a hobby farm and discovered fulfillment and joy.

233 thoughts on “Home”

  1. Pingback: help, help, I’ve been Liebstered | thematticuskingdom

  9. Let’s try that again 🙂 Awesome blog! If every parent raised their children to feel good about themselves we would be living on an entirely different planet and it takes joyful, loving parents to accomplish this 🙂

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    1. would you want to submit a story for 1billionlovestories.com, write or rework a post to 450 words on what you are passionate about, a story of loving to write, parent, a story to help change the world. If so I aslso could introduce you with a short interview on what you are passionate about

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  10. What a beautiful family. And by the way, I would look at you with eyebrows up and mouth dropped open over having 9 kids even if you were 6 feet tall. I can hardly handle my two. 🙂

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      3. Hi Melanie,

        Hello! SoundEagle recently received an email from WordPress notifying me that “melanie jean juneau liked your post on SoundEagle. They thought About was pretty awesome.” However, your Gravatar could not be found next to the gravatars of all the others who liked my “About” page. How strange!

        In any case, thank you for visiting SoundEagle’s blog. Your feedback or comments on any of the posts and pages will be appreciated.

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      4. Hi, Melanie.
        I was looking for pics of mums and kids, and here I am at your little love nook. Nine (10?) kids and not whining is a sure sign you were meant to mommy nine (10) beautiful souls. I’m a mum to 5, and I’d love to have another, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out. I had to laugh at the way you verbalized people’s presumption of a mother….”robust, grim, battle­axe of a mother, efficiently marshaling her young charges”… Gosh, you described me!!! Thankfully, I am learning to spend more time hugging and playing with them. I had depression for many years, and for too long, all I could manage was to keep them well-fed and healthy, but not much more. I couldn’t enjoy my children as much as I should have. However, I’m not one really given to regrets. What happened, happened. What’s more important is I’m out of the pit now, and determined to love my little ones as they were meant to be loved.

        I’ll be following your blog. No accident that I found you, another Catholic mum.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I am touched, thank-you so much
      . I have been pretty bad at responding to awards but I did see one woman group them together and answer just one
      , So if it is okay I will answer yours and list a few older award by mentioning the blogger who cared enough to nominate me.

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      1. Melanie…I think any woman who has raised nine children and still has enough brain cells to write inspiring and entertaining stories can condense the award thank yous. 🙂

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  15. Like my mother who also had nine children you will stay forever young, because you keep up with what your children are doing and now that my mum is in her late seventies she is never short of a visitor or two to keep her company and she still smiles everyday and counts her blessings

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  16. Pingback: Daily Prompt: Share the Love | My Atheist Blog

  17. Oh wow, what a beautiful family you have! I spent my last uni vacation researching and recording my family history from my three living grandparents and I felt so overwhelmed by the people in my life! All the grand aunts, uncles and extended family that I haven’t known about because the family has dispersed over the years! My grandpa was one of 7 children and the happiest part of my research process was discovering family photos with everyone in them!

    Thank you for sharing your story and your kids are so lucky! Also, as a person who grew up in the city, I have to say the idea of growing up a farm sounds pretty wonderful to me! Bookmarking your site (:

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  18. This is really amazing. Hats of to the fact that you still have your sense of humour with 9 kids. There were only three of us and we drove our mother crazy. Keep up the great work. You really are an inspiration.

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  20. Hi Melanie! You have a wonderful blog and I so enjoy reading it. Although I do not have children of my own, God has given me a big heart for children. Also, one of my dear friends from college is one of 17 naturally-born kids (all full siblings); plus, she has six children of her own. So I’ve nominated you for the Reality Blog Award. I hope that more people will find your blog from the link on mine so they can enjoy it too. You can check out the award at http://elizabethrosemysteries.com/awards/. Thanks for all your wonderful posts!!

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  29. Glad to see the award has made so many rounds, my ego sort of disappointed when I read this line at one of spots it landed…

    “https://themotherofnine9.wordpress.com made this award, can you all please say this when blogging this to your followers? The woman deserves the praise!!! ”

    But, because it was a no strings attached award, I guess I must swallow my ego and say thanks for passing it on to so many who appreciated it!

    🙂

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      1. I know, I know! Please, don’t think I’m blaming you! 🙂 I was so pleased to see how many people were made happy and was rather disappointed in my own reaction to seeing that line…But had to share, because I looked back at your post and thought the same thing! 🙂

        And, since I feel comfortable with you, thought I would share my little emotional ‘hiccuup’ – which, I’m already laughing about ! Never know what your weak spots are until they are brought to the surface!

        🙂

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      2. don’t i know it- someone critized a post through another writer, telling them i was not orthodox and would lead other catholics astray!!

        When one prominent author laughed and said that was ridiculous, i almost started to sob, not cry, sob in releif – BOY-I let one woman completly un nerve me and through me into a quandry

        melaniejeanjuneau.wordpress,com is my Cathoic blog

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      3. 🙂 My initial response just proves I have a ways to go on growing that thick writer’s skin…
        🙂
        I really was so heartened to see your post and see how much joy these little awards spread so quickly – I wasn’t so sure I should have hit the Publish button last night – mostly fear over the entire WP community saying,
        “What?!? She’s just making up her own awards now?”
        So why let one line ruin the over 90 happy lines? Such a silly response for me to have…
        🙂

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      4. That’s right. About 100 people are smiling and it is because you pressed publish and if they only pass it on to ten each? that is 1,000 people who have seen your award and smiled

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      10. Okay, does this mean I should re-think deleting stand-up comedian from my ‘possible career paths’ list?
        Oh, wait, I probably can’t handle the hecklers…

        LOL
        😀

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  33. Pingback: Awards ~ Sharing Time | theseeker

      1. well, your words do the same to me 🙂
        I wish you’re having a wonderful time with your family…

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  36. I was the youngest of ten children and would never change anything in my childhood. A large family to me is more people to love me but more important is more people for me to love.
    Your blog is beautiful

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  38. Hi/Bonjour Mélanie! 🙂 I’m Mélanie from Toulouse, France! Glad to have come across your amazing blog… I have only 2 “old babies”(LOL!) and I’d like to congratulate you: bravo, chère Mélanie! 🙂 My very best and tons of inspiration, cheers! 🙂

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  40. I have nominated your blog for the “Super Sweet Blogger Award.” I hope you will accept because it is given in recognition for your
    excellent work. Please visit my post to view the rules and responsibilities for accepting. Keep up your excellent blogging!

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  43. Pingback: An Award – Yay! | Let's Have Another Piece of Pie

  44. I’ve nominated you for the THE LOYAL READER AND WONDERFUL TEAM MEMBERSHIP AWARDS!!! thank you for your continued support of my blog. It’s greatly appreciated. Check out my blog to claim your badges.

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      1. Thanks my friend. I am still trying to figure things out at Broo.Than you so much for pointing me to that site. I really like it! Have an awesome day my dear buddy!

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  47. Phew, that’s a lot of comments! Thanks a ton for following my blog, and letting me realise that my aunt does NOT have the most kids in her house…:)

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      1. You try telling her that! She probably wouldn’t hear you! Wait, were you talking about the comments…? 🙂

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      1. Mm. You’re probably right. in the fake memoir, i’ll probably have about ten just for the sake of it!

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  49. I have been pregnant 4 times and have 3 children. My oldest has 4 children. My #2 has one stepdaughter, my #3 has a stepson and a baby due in Jan so I’m heading to 7 G’chillun…*sigh* They are ever so much more fun as I feed them sugar and send ’em home!!
    (paybacks are FUN!!)

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  51. Hi, I follow Shaun on WP I have seen you on CK Hopes site, thought I’d pop over for a peek. 9 kids – AMAZING! I have 2 that are now adults and still go spare! I’m from Australia. Please to meet you 🙂

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  52. Please accept these 3 Awards.
    Best Moments Award
    Reader Appreciation Award
    Semper Fidelis Award

    I hope you can accept these 3 Awards, just show all 3, and give
    back to another 10 users and thank the person who gave you them

    Thanks
    Shaun

    PS: IF YOU DON’T DO AWARDS!
    COULD YOU PLEASE PASS IT ON TO A FRIEND WHO WILL ACCEPT
    Thank you!!

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      5. I am up all night on my own after sleeping a day, so nothing else to do.. lol

        Hope you are good x

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      9. Can I ask in what way?
        I just see some idiot with a keyboard… lol

        You are a nice person Mel, nicer then you know..
        x

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      10. you reach out, relate, ..just your sidebar aone is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit.In addition,. the look on ALL of your children’s faces tells me that inspite of your pain, or any financial strain your children are secure, content and well loved. I am sure they have their moments but they have a stron foundation that is only built with sacrificial love.

        (I an assuming because with my husband;s depression we are on a limited, fixed pension)

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      11. Thank you, that means more than you know.
        You know I am a crier, so I nearly cried there. I think real men, in real live can and do cry.
        We are ok with Money, we are lucky, I will explain to you one day. Money is never an issue.
        But I hate money, it has no impact on my feelings in life.
        And my kids, man, how does one find a word to explain the love we hold for our kids? I am 40 now, been a dad since I was 18 and have yet to find a word to explain how much love these 4 bring to my heart, the girls bring love so strong it hurts you know..
        but a good hurt. a hurt that brings happy..

        Thank you Mel.. x
        Means a lot as I try to type thro watery eyes.. lol

        xx Hugs

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  53. Nine is a good number–the hour of prayer. (“He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius” Acts 10: 3 KJV). Raising nine children is quite an accomplishment. I suspect you prayed a lot (grin). I’m enjoying your blog. Blessings!

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  54. Thanks for introducing me to new terminology. Before today, I’d never heard of a hobby farm. I had to look it up. Silly me, I live on one. Pigs, cows, and goats. Namely cows, but we’ve just started on pigs and goats. 80 aches and we do our own gardening.

    Couldn’t see raising my children anywhere else.

    Sometimes I feel like I had two children too many, other times I feel like I should have ten more. More is still up for debate. My wife and I have not had much luck with the subject. She is pre-eclamptic. First pregnancy, she miscarried at 6 weeks. I thought that was pretty rough. But I’ve found I never looked at my wife quite the same after the day we lost Logan at nearly 6 months along. Every time I think about it, it reminds me never to take her or my kids for granted.

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      1. Might seem an odd thing to say, but I counted my blessings. I went home with a wife.

        As for the grief, time is the only medicine. I’ve found that that is the underlining theme of my book, dealing with grief. I’ve found it painful and helpful, at the same time, to relive those moments and to write them, fictionalized, into my book.

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    1. what!!!???
      I have only been writing for 18 months and everything i have learned technologiaclly has been a fluke, after 10 attempts or because some wonderful soul can’t help but show me how to fix my blunders, I am simply full of 33 years of stories, luck and gracewhich has opened doors inspite of myself

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      1. I would say perceptive! I love the mix of images and a great feel for colour and natural beauty. There is something wonderful about living with children and animals that puts all of the great World Events into perspective. For example my chickens are convinced that I work for them – and they’re right.

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  68. I’ve loved your blog from the first. I’m also used to large families! I’ve nominated you for the ‘Lovely Blog’ award. I should have the post up either tonight or tomorrow.

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      1. You’re quite welcome. I’ve very much enjoyed your blog and think others should pay it attention too!!!

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  70. Dear friend, Thank you very much, I was really happy to have been following your blog. I’m still a lot to figure out, and here I can only say that you are an awesome blogger, full Inspiring and hope you can inspire more readers. Thanks and greetings compassion from Gede Prama 🙂

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  74. Maybe it will happen to my youngest daughter, who will spend the next year or two preparing to enter grad school for American History. She says she will never get married, and will never have children. I say, okay. Go for your dreams. (She wants to be a professor). But don’t close the door entirely. You never know what might happen. I hope she does become a professor. But children might one day be in her future.

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  78. to be a mother of nine is something to be proud of, I am currently pregnant with my fourth child and I don’t like to hear this non-sense opinions of other people suggesting me to take birth-control pills after I gave birth, which is so annoying , I love being a mom and it is something others cant do having children that would love you and be with you is the best purpose in life…

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  80. Hi,
    I really like your blog about family! Myself I am a father of two and truly believe in the importance of early childhood development. Most of all having the best parenting experience will foster kids with great upbringing and memories. However, this is NOT always the case as we all know. Not every parent knows how to be one, or to find the best way to raise children successfully and harmoniously.
    Hence I decided to develop StarZappy – The Ultimate Parenting App That Kids Love! This app is a tool that will guide parents through nurturing their child’s development, while instilling the right habits, principles and practices without the child knowing! How? Well they will love the app as their own, have the desire to achieve resulting in self-motivation. There’s a difference between rewards and bribes.
    So if you feel that we should invest in our children of today to build a better tomorrow! Help support me in bringing harmony to homes around the world by sharing my campaign to make this a reality!
    At the same time, I would like to share some of your thoughts in my social media so parents out there can gain an insight into your experience and discoveries. Let’s all come together to make a better place.

    Thanks for listening!
    Yuan
    http://www.starzappy.com

    Liked by 1 person

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  81. This is wonderful, says me mother of seven, when I had my seven, it was a taboo subject in UK, but nine that is amazing. Lovely family, go forth and multiply that Lord did say 🙂

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  82. You are an amazing woman. I am glad I found you here. It is refreshing to read someone who embraces motherhood as a calling and not a burden. Yes, motherhood can always be challenging; yet, I believe the joys and blessings outweigh the fear, doubts and overwhelming moments. Thanks for being an encouragement to me. 🙂 God bless.

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  84. Hello,
    You let me include some of your words in a book, and I’m super excited and so glad to announce to you that Fall in Love with Writing is published!!!!!!!
    Yay, it’s available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B019CDRZXA?%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0
    It’s only available as an ebook as I don’t have the resources to print hard copies any time soon.
    I didn’t want to wait and do nothing and I’m not looking for the perfect best-selling book; I’m just learning as I go and doing what I can now.
    Don’t worry if you don’t have a Kindle, the Kindle Cloud Reader is free and allows you to read Kindle books (I don’t think it’s compatible with Android platforms though). I’m looking at making it available through Google Play and as a pdf too.
    Thank you so much for letting me include your words. I really hope you love the book!!!
    Let me know what you think of it and any ways I could improve it. And if you have the time to leave a review on the Amazon page, that would be awesome. And to keep updated with everything, please like my writer’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/junidesireewriter/
    Look forward to perhaps working with you on a sequel one day – hehe!
    JD

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