A proud mother of 12 spent 16 years being pregnant, and the blessing of her children brought her to Christ. I have a feeling so many moms will relate to this incredible story.
Depending on your generation, you were taught how important it was to break the glass ceiling by getting a good education and excelling in your career. That is certainly how Iris Purnell of ‘The Storm Family' on TikTok felt when she gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mother.
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While her husband Cornell continued his career in choreography, Iris put her dreams and career on hold to care for their children. She recalls how she struggled with losing her identity and her purpose. “I was trying to find life at that time because I never wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. That wasn’t what I wanted to do,” she said. “So, it was a struggle for me mentally because I didn’t know how to articulate that I wasn't happy.”
Yet, God, in his amazing timing, met this proud mother of 12 in the middle of her struggle.
Iris Purnell had started going to church and fell in love with Jesus. Through Christ, she found a new life. “At that time, I had been going to church and decided to get saved. I found a new life and a new meaning of purpose.”
The foundational verse for this family became Psalms 127:3, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” The couple studies the Bible together with their children.
She said, "We're intentional about this walk with God. It has done wonders for our marriage, as far as us coming together, communicating, and being patient with one another.”
Faith Becomes Huge Inspiration For Proud Mom Of 12
In today's world, motherhood is seen as a secondary task. But in God's plan, motherhood is more than just a blessing. It's a calling and purpose of raising up the next generation. After Iris surrendered her life to the Lord, the proud mother of 12 found peace, inspiration, and her identity in Christ. Something in her heart flipped a switch, and Iris fell in love with motherhood, big time.
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“That’s when I was like, ‘You know what? If God wants me to have this many children, then I’ll have as many children as He deems for me to have. So, that’s how we ended up having 12," she said.
Can you imagine having more than a baseball team of kids? Or better yet, can you imagine being pregnant for sixteen years? As a mom of three, I was pregnant for two and a half years. I'm not sure I could've handled being pregnant for sixteen years. But proud mother of 12 Iris Purnell feels blessed that she has five beautiful daughters and seven hardy boys.
Together Iris and Cornell have "Malikhai, 17, Cordell Jr., 17, Janai, 15, Trinity, 13, Messiah, 12, Josiah, 11, Love, 9, Seven, 8, Michael, 6, Royal, 5, Heavenly, 4, and Hope, 3."
Incredible Blessings
Through the blessing of children, so many dreams Iris had are coming true. She had wanted to be a teacher and caregiver.
Her husband says, “She always wanted to be a teacher, so this is a great purpose. And as a mom, I think she takes on the role of being a teacher, being a caregiver. When I met her, she was in nursing school, so she gets to fulfill all of that.” Cornell added, “It helps you understand why she had as many kids as she could have because she’s fulfilling all the outside dreams that she wanted to fulfill inside our home.”
While Iris truly enjoyed each of her pregnancies and thrived during those special months, both Cornell and Iris decided that twelve kids were enough. At first, she wasn't ready to make this life-changing decision, but she realized her husband was trying to ensure she would be healthy and safe to take care of the kids they did have.
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Iris posted on Instagram a vital message to all mothers, "It is never too late, and our children aren’t too young to learn and to experience the Lord for themselves. They first learn it by our walk and our patience in saying what the Lord would say to them instead of what we would say to them in conversations.”
She added a pivotal Bible verse, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” Proverbs 22:6.
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"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward," Psalms 127:3.
WATCH: Proud Mother Of 12 Spent 16 Years Pregnant And The Blessing Of Children Brought Her To Christ
@mrsstorm11 I’m still adjusting to me not being pregnant.#momof12 #fyp #viral #foryou ♬ original sound – Iris Purnell
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h/t: Fox News
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Iris Purnell