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