A Picture is Worth Five Thousand Dollars

I’ve never won anything. I’ve had friends that have won trips, cruises, and cash. I’ve never even won a raffle drawing.

Several months ago, I received a link from a friend of mine. It was a contest. The idea was to buy a “Your Way Spinbrush” and decorate with your child and upload a picture. It seemed pretty easy. Oh, and the grandprize was $5000.00. So I loaded the kids up in the car headed to the store and with my coupon and savings card spent $1.08 on this $6.00 toothbrush. Reeciebun decorated the Spinbrush-with my help of course and I started laying out what I would use for my background.

After several different placements and lots of input from two dear friends, I submitted my picture. A few weeks later we found out we had won. What an amazing feeling! The kids were more excited then I was. I wish I could say we were able to buy this or makeover that but we just lived. The very first thing we did was put new tires on the van-that was extremely necessary. We saved for the days when Jason’s work was slow.

I’m beyond thankful for the selflessness of two friends that entered this contest with me. Who helped me tweak my picture and celebrated with us. I continue to stand amazed that God continues to meet our family’s needs in ways we would NOT expect. That’s just how incredible He is.

February’s Family Fun magazine has a picture of our entry and I’ve attached it below.

Here's a better copy. Maybe I'll just frame it and hang it in the girls room as a reminder!

Go ahead-throw your name in that raffle, you never know you just might win something!

Facing a Fear

Anyone who has known me very long learns that I have a great fear. Now, it may seem laughable, but I’m truly, completely, horrifyingly, afraid of bugs. Yep, bugs. Big ones, little ones, doesn’t matter I just can’t do it. Well, yesterday I conquered a fear.

My father is The Critter Keeper. He holds educational and birthday party shows for children. He has a Critter Cabin full of, well just that, Critters. I have no problem holding the snakes and iguanas, but when he brings out the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Scorpions, or Vinegaroons, my stomach turns and I’m outta there!

My nephews are here and my dad did a mini Critter Keeper show for his grandchildren. Each child held the scorpion and then my sweet son looks at me and says, “Mom, will you hold it?” I responded with a hearty “Um. No!” He looks at me and says, “You should do it. You need to face your fear.” Well look who’s all grown up telling his Mom what to do. He was so right. I encourage my children to always face their fears. We tell them that fear is crippling, and here I was fearful of this “big” scorpion. So after several deep breaths and a few “wait, I’m not ready!” I did it. I held a big, creepy scorpion. Now, I wish I could say that I’m no longer afraid of these things, but that’s not really true. However, I now have an awesome example of a day that Mom faced a fear that I can remind my children. On the days, that they’re afraid to stand up for truth-Mom held a scorpion. On the day, that they’re afraid to talk to the new kid in class-Mom held a scorpion. On the day, that they are being pushed out of their comfort zone-Mom held a scorpion. Now, if I could just bring myself to kill a spider………I held a scorpion, I held a scorpion, I held a scorpion.

It's A New Year!

Happy New Year! I love when a New Year starts, I’m glad to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future. Of course, like everyone else I’m all motivated to start new things, but this year I’ve given up on those resolutions before they were ever made. Who keeps those things anyway? I made 3 goals…yes only 3. My goals for 2012 are to love my God more, love my husband more, and love my children more. Seems easy right? Well if you could only see the little bullets of the “how” I had made under those 3 goals. I’ve set up 3 major goals and then have little goals under those to get me through to my big goal.

I don’t know about you but 2011 flew by. I was thinking back and it’s not as if I had a lot going on that it flew by it just did! With each passing year they seem to go faster, I get older, and my kids get older-I’m a fan of neither. So one of my little bullets under the goal of Love My Children More I wrote “SLOW DOWN”. It’s a well known fact, that I enjoy being on the go, staying busy, and jam packing my day full. God has shown me that I need to SLOW DOWN. I want to make more memories with my kiddies, make more conversation with them, and teach them more of the God we love and serve!

More than anything I want to remember their sounds. The sound of babygirl’s bare feet running across the floor, Reeciebun’s sweet voice, Turk’s singing in the back of the car at the top of her lungs, and my big guy’s voice, that will soon be changing . I don’t want to wish away the moments of changing babygirl’s diaper, brushing Reeciebun’s hair, or helping the big kids with school, because I know if I blink long enough it will just be Jason and I at this house.

I feel so blessed that I’m able to stay home with my children. I feel so blessed that I’m able to home school my children (on the tough days I have to remind myself that this IS a blessing), I feel so blessed at how God has put our little family together. On that note, I have a sweet 4 year old tugging on me to do a puzzle with her and my Turk needs help with her English so I don’t have a cute fancy ending-except that I hope you enjoy the little moments with your children, husband, family. Cherish them.

One of those busy days, I just didn't get around to changing her diaper. She didn't seem to care.

"Cherish the moment, soon you'll be a part. Cling to the memory, clasp it to your heart. Soon comes the day when you'll have no child to hold. So, cherish, cherish the moment."

-Ron Hamilton

A Christmas to Remember

This morning as babygirl cooed and babbled in her bed, my mind wandered to life one year ago today. I had laid in bed for 5 days with what I thought was a stomach virus. After 5 days, I wasn't getting any better I was beginning to feel worse. I knew something serious was wrong. After spending hours in the ER of probing, pricking, and many, many tests, the ER doctor informed me that my appendix had ruptured and I would have to have emergency surgery. He told me the surgeon would be in to talk to me shortly. I will tell you my first thought: $$$$$$$$.

My surgeon came in and began to explain that he was unable to remove my appendix, because it had fully ruptured and created a large abscess. He looked at me and said, "You are a lucky girl, it's a miracle that the infection didn't spread through your body." There was so much infection I most likely would have died. Instead of surgery, I had to be hospitalized for 5 days and a tube was put into my stomach to drain the infection. My appendix would have to be removed months later.

Those 5 days were the longest days of my life. Those 5 days were the most painful days of my life. Those 5 days were a time of great spiritual growth for my life. Oh, there were lots of tears and fears, but I was so comforted by not only my family, church family, and friends, but God's Word became so very real and personal to me. He was truly sovereign. He would take care of me. He would take care of feeding my newborn. He would take care of my children. Because He knew my need before I ever did.

I was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve. While, I do not remember most of the time in the hospital or the following days after. I can remember reuniting with my children and the tears that came, thanking God for sparing my life so that I could continue to be a part of theirs.

Even in time of difficulty, you still see the hand of God. He orchestrated the doctor on call, who is a Christian. He orchestrated the family and friends that would take care of my children for 5 days. My family did so much for us that week. My sister and mom took care of my children the first two days, losing sleep to stay up with a screaming newborn. Babygirl was 5 weeks old, so not many people sign up for getting up every 2-3 hours to feed a baby. However, Jason and I are blessed with some stellar friends. They helped my family out by taking the kids part of the week. She and her husband took turns getting up in the night with babygirl. In addition, to their 5 kids, they took our 4 with them downtown to look at the Christmas lights. I had church family bringing us food for weeks. Friends and Family coming to the hospital to encourage my heart. Text, FB messages, emails, letter of encouragement and lots and lots of prayer.


This picture was taken by my sister, when my doctor finally let her bring up babygirl. I had been away from her for two days at that point.

I remember focusing on this verse last year. This Sunday, our pastor read it and it reminded me of not only the beauty of it but how much I love it. "For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name." Luke 1:49 This was true for Mary, but it's very true for Amanda. It's also true for you! As Christmas, quickly approaches, I hope you hold your family close and remember the great things our Savior has done for you! Merry Christmas!!!

Baby Girl is 1.

I can hardly believe 1 full year has past since baby girl joined our family. It's definitely been a full, action-packed year juggling 4 children, but God has been so amazing to our family. Several months ago I had posted "Formula....yes please!" and "The Right Place at the Right Time" this little post is a follow up to those. I used the last of the formula on Thursday, November 10th. Baby girl turned 1 on November 13th and has been enjoying whole milk since Friday morning. It's so mind blowing that God didn't provide less and He didn't provide too much He provided the perfect amount. Just enough to show me He is all knowing and knew every scoop of powder I needed.

Can you think of a time that God just blew your mind with His provision? With His Sovereignty? With His Love? Write it down, remind your children, remind yourself-that He is there and He cares for you!


Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 6:31-32

Formula? Yes, please!

We spent a great week in Myrtle Beach with my brother, his girlfriend, her family, and my high school friend. I’m not sure why I packed a book and my ipod, as if I would be relaxing on the beach with 4 kids!! My ipod never came out and I read two pages of my book in the 4 days we spent on the beach (I’m sure I’ll need to reread those pages!).

Before we left for the beach I called the Enfamil rep I had met in Publix (have no idea what I’m talking about? Read my previous post). I debated for several days about calling him. We needed to buy more formula and he had offered to give us some, but I was really struggling with my pride about taking him up on that. Finally, I decided that this was God’s way of blessing our family and that I needed to give him a call. I left a message and waited.

Several days later I received his call-he had been out of town. He said he would gladly drop some formula off at my house and that when I was half way through the formula to call him back and we’d arrange another drop off. I came home to 7 cases of 6 cans! He gave me 42 cans of Enfamil formula! I’m not sure why I’m surprised that my God would follow through on a man’s promise. I feel so blessed and stand amazed that my God continues to provide for our family above and beyond what we ASK and THINK!

Since our Publix meeting I find myself thinking completely different. When I had my children all dressed up like little cows for our FREE chick-fil-a lunch and my car wouldn’t start….I found myself thinking I know this will work out. My God is providing formula for my daughter through a “chance” meeting, He’s going to take care of us. When our income was lower in July than it has been in awhile, I didn’t find myself stressed, panicked, or at my wit’s end. I found strength and peace in God’s Word and what He had done previously in our family. I’m excited to see what He has in store for us and even more excited that my children are watching our needs be met through just prayer!

"I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10

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