The Right Place at the Right Time

When baby girl was born I had accomplished my greatest feat. I had a C-section with my 4 year old and was praying for a natural VBAC. After 6 hours of a VERY natural labor she arrived in her 8lb 11oz glory. I was so thankful that God had answered such a humble and pain agonizing request. I had planned to nurse her, however, when she was 5 weeks old I had a ruptured appendix with a large abscess and was hospitalized for 5 days. I was on 3 different antibiotics and was too sick to keep nursing…..enter formula. I was not excited about this added expense for our family. I began “extreme couponing” for formula. I refused to pay $26.00 a tub and was pretty excited about how cheap I was getting formula between coupons, formula checks (for myself and from others) I was paying for one container and pretty much getting the second for free.

Recently, the formula checks haven’t been coming and I’ve been paying full price for the containers and longing for the days when formula is long gone! Today, I was in Publix with all four kids, I was distracted, I was pulled to the side reading a lengthy text I had received. I heard an “Excuse me, how old is your baby?” I looked up and saw a gentleman in front of me holding an Enfamil coupon. I told him she was 7 months. He looked down and said “Oh, she’s too old for this coupon, it’s for the newborn formula.” I just smiled and said I would happily take it to my church as I have several friends that had just delivered or were about to. Somehow I must have mentioned that I used formula because he asked what brand of formula I used. I told him what type of Enfamil I used and he explained he was a representative for Enfamil. He asked that I wait and he would see what he had in his car. SCORE! I was going to get an awesome coupon for her formula. He walked into the store with TWO cases of her type of Enfamil!!! Each case contained 6 cans of Enfamil. I felt myself becoming teary as I thanked him over and over for his generosity, he kindly smiled and said “I hope that brightened your day.” He had no idea. I looked to my older, two children were just as awe struck. What a great opportunity to share how God takes care of his own. The story does not end there……

I was checking out and the gentleman appeared in front of me again. He sheepishly said, “I know this is going to sound strange, but something is telling me to take care of this baby for you.” He handed me his card and proceeded, “when those cases run out, please call me. Do not buy any more formula. Let us provide formula for her. I don’t know why but something is telling me to do this for you.” I quickly said, “God. He’s the One telling you to do this. He’s providing for our family.” This was just another testament to show that even though life doesn’t always go how I planned or want that He is still caring and watching over us. I couldn’t beam more out of shear excitement that my children witness God today. They saw that He will take care of us-always!

He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:21

A Word to the Wise: Lotion Your Legs When Leaving the House

Most Saturdays are a lazy day at the Wagner house. I will try to sleep as long as baby girl will let me and I try to avoid laundry and housework so I can enjoy my husband’s day off. This particular Saturday, I had decided to meet a friend for tennis. I sprung out of bed at 6:45 and fed baby girl laid her back down and headed out the door proud of myself that I was up early and going to get a workout. After about 3 hours of tennis and chatting I stopped by my mom’s to see my nephews and began my way back home, patting myself on the back that it was 11am and I had already felt so accomplished. My husband needed to run some errands so he took the middle girls and my son and I hung out while baby napped. My husband returned home and I realized that I needed to run to the store for our Father’s Day menu. My son, baby girl, and I hopped in the car with a quick trip to a main retail store then to a grocery store. We ran into the retail store and grabbed what we needed and headed to the supercent. I made a mental note of the pricing of a gift I had wanted to get for my Father. We ran into the supercenter and quickly loaded our cart, I checked the price of the same item and saw that it was cheaper at the retail store. As we were checking out, I’m hearing thunder and feeling annoyed “why didn’t I just buy the item at the retail store and return it if it was cheaper at the supercenter??” We quickly loaded the groceries in the car and raced back to the retail store. I told my son, “this is going to be quick, we’re just grabbing the item and heading out.” Little did I know.

I decided to carry baby girl since this was a “quick” trip. We hurried to the back of the store purchased the item and then quickly scurried down the aisles to exit the store. I had just looked at my son and make a remark like “we’re doing pretty good, I think we’ll make it to the car before the storm.” Then it happened….my left foot caught some sort of liquid and shot straight out in front of me and I slammed to the ground on my right knee. I had baby girl in my arms so I know I leaned back so I wouldn’t drop her. After I realized that I had fallen I felt my face get hot out of shear embarrassment and I tried to stand up but was off balance with holding the baby. Next thing I know this lady with her cart of kids pulls through the racks and says in her loud southern voice, “Are ya’ll okaaaaaay?” I slowly stand up and say I’m fine and was thankful I hadn’t dropped my daughter. Jonathan spotted a staff member and he came over to wipe up the small puddle. I kept staring at the small amount of liquid wondering how I slipped in it. I just wanted out of there fast!! The lady proceeds to tell me about the time she fell in a store and how she had to file a report and encouraged me to do the same. I said I was ok even though my knee and leg were aching, I knew my pride was hurt the most. The staff member happened to be the store manager “GREAT!” She had me fill out all this paperwork and then asks to see my knee to see if there was swelling or bruising. Now, I have to show my leg to this lady…..I wanted to preface that I just had a baby and was currently working on toning the leg she was about to stare at. As I stick my leg out I realize that I had forgotten to lotion my legs! Therefore, she is pushing and prodding my ashy leg. I was mortified!!! There’s only so much humiliation a person can take!

On the way home I couldn’t help but giggle to myself. My son asked it I was hurt and I said my leg was sore but I was sure I was fine. He said “is it ok to laugh about it now?” We laughed and I said how watching someone wipe out is pretty funny. I rehearsed the story to my husband and good friend. My friend chuckles and says, “I wish I could see the security tape”. I swallowed hard, “I hadn’t thought of that!!” My imagination ran wild as I pictured two security guards laughing and rewinding my fall and then playing in slow motion as they waved their friends in to watch……humiliating! I’m reminded that humility is a becoming character quality and maybe the Lord is reminding me I need more of it.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. -Dr. Seuss

Bloom Where You're Planted

Motherhood is no easy task. There are huge joys and excitement and then there are days of exasperation and disappointment. I wouldn’t say that I was a career woman before we decided to have kids; I just know that I really enjoyed my job and truly tried to excel. My husband and I had decided that whenever the Lord gave us children I would quit my job and stay home. I truly looked forward to that day. Little did I know that month-end deadlines would turn into trying to looking decent and tidy house before Daddy gets home. My stack of folders I tried to remove from my desk was replaced with baskets and baskets of laundry. Long, boring meeting became lesson plans. This was my life.

God is showing me “Bloom where you are planted, Amanda!!” Right now, I am planted smack dab in the middle of motherhood. Though there are times of feast and famine in the Wagner home, my duties are to raise moral, truth-seeking, God-loving children. What am I doing with this short time I have with them? I have only 7 years of influence left in my son’s life. While I write that my heart skips a beat! I realize that I missed his first 6 years of life-therefore my husband and I will have only 12 years! Lord, help me use the most of these precious years to have my children planted firmly in their faith and sold-out to You alone.

This is will be my greatest accomplishment-raising my children. I need to put all my brainpower, perseverance, and patience into this HUGE opportunity, the same way I would at a promotion at a job. Granted motherhood is a thankless job, but isn’t that also the description of a true servant? Completely self-less, not looking for a pat on the back, concerned for other’s needs before my own.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”