Having children comes with its own set of challenges and rewards, and no one knows that better than father of eight Youth Pastor Chris Salvevold.

 

Salvevold and his wife, Kristin, are parents to 20-year-old Max (married to Sydney), 18-year-old Maci, 14-year-old Tygen, 12-year-old Tate, 10-year-old Brinkley, 8-year-old Britlyn, 6-year-old Jakely and 2½-year-old Jensyn. 

 

“We thought we’d have maybe three kids,” said Salvevold. “But when we decided to start after two years of marriage it didn’t happen right away. It forced us to stop and think it through a little more. Is it my position to tell the creator of the universe what I can and can’t handle? We’ll take whatever you can give us.”

 

Their first pregnancy, which happened after two years of trying, ended in a miscarriage.

 

“That was tough,” said Kristin. “But that was part of the process. After trying for two years and losing the first one it was easy to say we’ll take what you give us.”

 

They got pregnant again right away and son Max was born. He was followed by his two brothers and five sisters.

 

Two of the Salvevold’s children have special needs. Britlyn has a deletion in her 10th chromosome and is developmentally delayed. Jensyn was born with Trisomy 5p, a disorder so rare there are only 50 known cases in the world. Along with low muscle tone she is developmentally delayed and has seizures. She’s been hospitalized over two months each year of her life.

 

“Is it hard having a child with a rare genetic disorder?’” said Salvevold. “Yes, but she’s got a chance at life and we know that life is more than what’s here. It gives you the perspective to go on. We always say, ‘Can you imagine if we stopped at three?’”

 

Along with Britlyn and Jensyn’s medical needs, just scheduling life with eight children can be hard, but the Salvevold’s have been minimalists.

 

“We don’t push them but encourage them to pursue their interests,” said Kristin. “If they really want to do something we’ll make it happen.”

 

Kristin, who’s educated as an English teacher, also homeschools the children, although Britlyn attends classes at Becker where she has the help of a para.

 

“Just like the size of our family, God orchestrated and got our attention with home schooling,” said Salvevold. “We were at a retreat and were randomly placed in a car with other home schoolers and we started talking. And when we moved to Becker the first three families that invited us into their homes were home schoolers.”

 

“There’s hard days but I’ve never regretted it,” said Kristin.

 

Along with the challenges of having a large family the Salvevolds also have the rewards, like seeing their children interacting and connecting with one another. They also find opportunities to have fun, and enjoy playing games, watching talent and game shows on television together and watching football, although the family is split on which team they root for, the Vikings or the Packers.

 

“I think the best thing Chris does as a father is how he handles conflict with the kids,” said Kristin. “He steps back a little and looks at the situation, then helps them process through it. He’s very calm in his discipline and gets to their hearts.”

 

“Be present for your kids,” said Salvevold. “They need us investing in them and having time for them no matter what. You’re their primary influence.”

 

He cites Ephesians 6:4, ‘Fathers do not exasperate your children,’ which he likens to ‘frustrate.’

 

“I think they get frustrated when they feel like you expect things from them but they don’t know why or what,” he said. “So, I’ve always kept that in the back of my mind.”

 

Although they aren’t planning on having more children, the couple hasn’t ruled it out, choosing to leave it in God’s hands.

 

“We still don’t know if we’re done,” laughed Salvevold.