Proud Mother Of 12 Spent 16 Years Pregnant And The Blessing Of Children Brought Her To Christ
September 16, 2023

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.
RELATED: Mom Gives Birth To 16th Baby And Even After ‘Toughest Pregnancy’ She Still Wants More Kids
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.
RELATED: God Blessed the Derrico Family with 14 Kids, Including Quintuplets, Triplets, & 2 Sets of Twins
"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.
RELATED: Woman Gives Birth To Third Set Of Twins, All Conceived Naturally, Making Here A Mom Of 10
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.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Best Bible Verses for Birthdays
“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
LISTEN: Newborn Twins Talking Only 1 Hour After Birth Are Showing Off Their Powerful Bond; Couple Has 38 Children And Here’s The Inspiring Story Of Why They Refuse To Stop
h/t: Fox News
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Iris Purnell
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peaceful Family Vacations - Your Daily Prayer - July 15
Family gatherings aren’t always easy, but they’re full of opportunities. Here’s how God can use even stressful vacations to teach us about peace, perspective, and His faithful love.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peaceful Family Vacations - Your Daily Prayer - July 15
Family gatherings aren’t always easy, but they’re full of opportunities. Here’s how God can use even stressful vacations to teach us about peace, perspective, and His faithful love.
Past Stories
- At 103, She’s Her Bowling Team’s Oldest and Most Cheerful Player
- Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Saves 165 People From Camp Mystic, 'I Was Just Doing My Job'
- He Lost His Whole Family to a Flood, Ten Years Later, He’s There for Others in Texas
- Two Texas Sisters Share About Surviving the Flood at Camp Mystic
- Brave 12-Year-Old Boy is Honored After Saving His Family From a House Fire
- A Daughter Finds Connection to the Father She Never Knew Who Died in Vietnam
- She’s Raising Two Sons with a Rare Condition—and Showing Others How They Thrive
- A Neighbor's Call Saves the Life of a Newborn Baby Whose Mom Had Passed Away
- After Months of Paralysis and a Ventilator, Mom Talks to Young Son and Tells Him 'I Love You'
- Shelter Dog Detects a Stranger's Medical Emergency and Becomes a Hero
- Grieving the Loss of Their Daughter, They Chose to Keep Fostering Hope
- Gloria and Bernice, Identical Twins Turn 100, Celebrate Decades of Memories
- Father of Three Dies After Being Struck By Lightning While On Golf Course
- Married 18 Years, Parents of 4 Are Both Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
- He Lost His Wife. She Lost Her Husband. Together, They Found a New Beginning
- She Earned Her Degree, Then Gave Her Dad a Second Chance at Life
- They Were Told Their Pup Had Been Hit By a Car, 4 Years Later They Found Her Alive
- New York Soccer Coach Collapses On the Field, Parents Jump in to Save Him
- Community Gathers to Remember 12-Year-Old Girl Who Died in a Scooter Accident
- After Surviving Family Tragedies, Stroke, and Coma, Teen Walks in Her Graduation Ceremony
- Civilian Stops to Save Woman in a Burning Car, 'It Could Have Been My Mom'
- They Adopted a Baby Boy, Then Extended Extraordinary Grace to His Birth Mother
- Cancer Survivor Shocks Everyone With His 4th Lottery Win
- Brian Wilson, Co-Founder of the Beach Boys, Passes Away at 82
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold

chris rupp Chris Rupp’s Soul-Stirring A Cappella Version of 'Beautiful Savior' Is a Must-Listen

Universal Music Group Dolly Parton, Blessing Offor Captivate In 'Somebody's Child' Official Video

toby mac TobyMac Releases Heartfelt Lyric Video for ‘Goodbye (For Gabe)’
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.