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

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.”

When Life Hand You Lemons.............Laugh?

Yesterday was a day that everything just went wrong. My oldest daughter had a dentist appointment for a small procedure to be done. I had asked a friend of mine to come and watch the other children. We headed out to our appointment on time (which is always a pat on the back if you know me) and as we got about 4 miles away I heard this grinding sound. At first, I thought it was the road, alas, it was not. My front tire went flat. Sigh. I called my awesome husband and he was on his way over to help me change it. I rescheduled her appointment and we waited. As we waited I couldn’t help but laugh. The night before Jason had asked me if I had plans at lunch. I had said no and he decided he was going to get our right front tire fixed because it was pretty worn. Well, the tire died about 2 hours too early. We got the tire changed and headed back home.

My friend stayed for lunch, so I was busy making chicken nuggets for 6 kiddos. I carefully pulled out my hot pizza stone from the oven. As I removed the nuggets, I was chattering away to the kids. I put a pizza on the stone and picked it up with my bare hands. I held it couple seconds before the pain registered to my brain that the stone was HOT! I ‘tossed’ it onto the stove. Sigh. My fingertips were burned. While holding them under cold water I couldn’t help but laugh. I was thankful I hadn’t dropped it on the floor or that the little ones weren’t around when I did my stone toss.

This summer I had decided I wanted to work on little projects around the house. So during baby’s nap I pulled out the can of paint that said Pure White and decided I would start the baseboards in my kitchen. I opened the can and thought I saw a hint of blue. I checked the can and it said Pure White. I called Jason just to make sure he hadn’t mixed anything in that can. He confirmed he hadn’t. I began painting one baseboard. As it dried it became VERY evident this was blue. Sigh. As I stared at the base board against my now dingy looking cabinets. I couldn’t help but laugh. I had a blue baseboard!!

I loaded the kids up and decided we were ditching the crazy day and heading to our friend’s house to swim. I got everyone changed plopped baby girl in her little pool and my phone starts ringing. Jason calling and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, his car’s timing belt went out and he was at a shop (where he was picking up our tire) and they were needing to keep it overnight. He needed a ride home. I couldn’t help but laugh. What was going on here Lord?

We got home and I decided to end this crazy day we would throw chicken on the grill and make dinner nice and easy. Jason was busy with work so I decided I would go ahead and get the grill ready. I’ve never had much success with our grill. For whatever reason it takes awhile to ignite and I become impatient. However, today I was turning a new leaf and was going to light the grill whatever it took. I should have known by the events of my day that HE just needed to light it. I had my left hand holding the grill closed and my right hand pushing the ignite button. Click, Click, Click, Click, nothing. I let go and started again. Click, Click, Click, Boom! Fire comes out of the lid and completely burns the top of already burned fingers of my left hand. Sigh. How it didn’t catch my swimsuit cover-up on fire I owe to the Lord’s protection. As I ran my hand under cold water I couldn’t help but laugh. What a crazy, comical day!!

All too often I get frustrated when the lemons come. I know that yesterday’s events weren’t true lemons, but I felt like I had learned that things could be so much worse. In fact, I knew they could be! Sometimes it’s so easy to get bent out of shape over the little things that go wrong, however, I’m going to just laugh and learn not to take myself so seriously! Maybe I’ll keep the light blue baseboard under my sink to remind myself to laugh more!