Serena, Coley, and a dozen Seelands

The popcorn shop is only as wide as its one-door entrance; a narrow hallway with shelves of chocolate and fruity bite-sized anything -- and popcorn.

Serena and I spent the weekend in Wheaton with our suitemate and her fam of a dozen. Yep, Abby Seeland is the oldest of 8 sisters: Michal, Emma, Katherine, Molly, Claire, Jane, Amelia and Naomi, and one brother: Isaac (all from memory. Impressed? -- I am).

It was a time for good eating and clean clothes-- a similar routine for all off-campus weekend trips; no Melton, and no dollar-washing/drying machines. But, it also was a time for family/suitemate bonding. In the Fall the 8 sisters had a sleepover in our suite at TIU, and in the Spring the suitemates had a sleepover at the Seland’s.

Shortly after we arrived, ALL of the sisters wanted to go to the Popcorn Shop in downtown Wheaton, and Isaac tagged along too. The popcorn shop is only as wide as its one-door entrance; a narrow hallway with shelves of chocolate and fruity bite-sized anything -- and popcorn. It is frequented by the average Wheaton sweet-tooth and, if necessary, their chaperone.

Sunday was Mary, ‘Ma’, Seeland’s birthday.

After enduring the high-church service, at College Church in Wheaton, we began a scavenger hunt for the youngest ones: Amelia and Naomi, both in nurseries and both jovial at the sight of their rescuers.

“I don’t know how she keeps track of all of them,” said Serena. The obedient train-line of kiddos all piled into the 12-passenger van, driven by Isaac. Upon their return home the kiddos immediately ran downstairs to tear off their Sunday morning bests, to throw on their Sunday afternoon scrubs. It was a perfect day to play outside and get dirty.

Abby and Serena were in the kitchen preparing side-dishes for the birthday feast while Mr. Mark Seeland was outside grilling filet mignon -- and I was in the basement with the kiddos making last-minute birthday cards and crafts for Ma’.

Mark said eating with a family this size could constitute as a “full-contact sport.” Each dish was doubled so each only had to make it around half the table to serve the 14 mouths. A “please pass” and a “thank you” were exchanged constantly throughout the ENTIRE meal.

In Sunday School the kiddos were given those coupons you usually get around Mother’s Day: good for 20 minutes of silence, washing the dishes, cleaning the room, and so on. I crafted a pop-up card (something I learned from cabin counselor Rebekah at Lakeside Bible Camp) with leftover scraps of construction paper that included a home-made coupon: good for a Serena and Coley visit, no expiration.