4 Times is Enough

One of the hardest parts about being a mom is watching your child go through something really tough and not being able to magically "fix" it. 

Yesterday was a tough day for us in the Church household. 

Mya has had a nasty cough and I noticed, yesterday, that it really seemed to be kicking her butt. 

After an afternoon visit with my mom, Mya and I decided we needed a nap! 

During our nap, Mya woke up and just COULD NOT stop COUGHING. 

I tried to calm her down, I tried to give her a drink and soothe her throat, I tried to give her something to eat... She was not having it. 

I decided, after alllll o' dat, that it was time to take her to be seen at the ER and thank God that I did. 

At the ER we found out (after labs and a chest x-ray) that Baby Girl has pneumonia. 

FOR.THE.FORTH.TIME.

I can't help but to ask myself, what the hell heck is going on!?

My baby, my sweet 18 month-old baby, has had pneumonia FOUR times in her short time of existence. Why? Is? She? Continuously? Getting? This awful? Illness?!

I know that I can stop questioning it all and give it to God. 

That doesn't mean I won't be confused... But it does mean I know that God is watching over us and will heal our Little Love quickly. God heals. 

I will continue to do the things the doctor suggested 

(breathing treatments, antibiotics, love, etc)

and continue to do my motherly instinctual things 

(humidifier, VICKS, baths, and follow up with the doctor). 

Chad and I filled-up our new humidifier, tonight,  with distilled water and we're trying it out tonight! Baby girl can use allllllll the help she can get at this point.

 Prayers and positive vibes accepted! 💙

We are so thankful to have received this #vickshumidifier, complementary, from Influenster. #GotItFree
If you're interested in purchasing one for yourselves, here's the link:
Vicks EasyFill Cool Mist Humidifier
https://www.amazon.com/…/B…/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Umgzyb6PMBRHT

Also, here's my referral link for #influenster: www.influenster.com/r/150934.

Lord, I pray that you quickly heal our baby girl. I ask that you wrap your healing hands around Mya and you give us the answers we need in regards to her health. I pray that you provide the doctors with these answers. I pray that you give us the guidance we, as parents, need to bring our baby back to good-health. And I pray that you keep our minds open during stressful times. Thank You for being there, always. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.  

 

The Birth of Jesus/A Shepherds Response

How do you see holidays? 

Are they a time of joy?

Are they a time of sadness? 

Are they a time of stress? 

When I think about that question, a lot of things come to mind. In fact, if I could

only describe the way I feel about the holidays with THREE WORDS, 

I'd use the words: Emotional Roller Coaster. 

Growing up, there was an event that took place that always brings back 

sad, ugly, scary, upsetting, and sometimes happy feelings. While I don't plan 

on touching that subject, ever, I do know that my family (mom, dad, brother) 

can attest for experiencing some of those same exact feelings, around the holidays, with me.

But why? Why should we feel those feelings around one of the most 

beautiful, [supposed to be] loving time of the year? And why should I feel sad 

when I diappointedly know, every year, that there won't be anything under the

tree for me at our house? NO, Christmas isn't even about the gifts or any

materialistic things for that matter... so why can't I shake those awful, selfish feelings?

I'm sorry, but I cannot control my feelings. 

I try to do my best with them, but sometimes, I just can't shake 'em. 

However, I need to continue to remember one thing: 

PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD. 

Surprisingly, Chad agreed to go to church again this past Sunday & our Pastor delivered the following verses: 

Luke 2:4-10

Isaiah 40:11

Luke 2:4-10 talks about the birth of Jesus. Our Pastor had gone on to talk about how shepherds were basically known as low-lifes. As the shepherds were watching over the sheep, an angel had been sent down to speak to them. But why a shepherd? Does that even make sense?

The angel informed the shepherds that a Savior had been born. 

>>>>>Christ the Lord had been born!<<<<<

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

The shepherds seemed a little skeptical of this news and they decided to go into the town to see if what the angel had told them about was, in fact, true. When they got there, sure enough, they saw Mary and Joseph and the baby, all in the manger. They couldn't believe their eyes! The angel was real, the message from God was real! So they told everyone what had happened and everyone was completely amazed. The shepherds left, in total awe, praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, because they were all true! 

As our Pastor (Sean) continued to preach, something he said really tugged at my heart strings.

(You can find Sean's sermon here)

Sitting next to Chad, suddenly, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing from my eyes. 

Again, as usual, 

I couldn't control my feelings.

As I'm listening to Sean preach, he says this (referring to Isaiah 40:11):

He will gently lead. 

...God is gentle with his sheep. 

God will pick us up when we need lifted. 

God will corral us when we try to get away

and He will take us to green pastures. 

And as Sean continues, he repeatedly asks, "What is your picture of God?" 

Why was this speaking to me so hard? Sean said something along the lines of "even though you've been declared a child of God, sometimes your picture of God can become tainted and you need to come back to a place, such as this, to be reminded. He is going to tend to you. He is going to pull you close. He is going to lift you up and He is going to gently lead you. A sheep without a shepherd dies. It all makes perfect sense, now.

Lord, I thank You for introducing me to Sean. I thank You for allowing me to click with the Words You place in his mouth so easily. And I thank You for leading me back to my [once, well known] happy place. I feel happiest and healthiest when I am enriched with You, Lord. I find comfort in that You've lead my family back to Sean, a shepherd, who is willing to lead us [back] to You. I know that You will never leave me. I know that You will never forsake me. I know that You will never disappoint me, for You have a plan and I need to trust that. I need to put my trust in You. And when it is proven time and time again, that everything You say and do are true, I know that I can and will trust You for the rest of my life on this Earth. I might need a little (or maybe a whole lot of) pick-me-up or I might need to trust that You will take us to green pasture, but in the end, I know that You are so very gentle and so very real and will take me there at a pace that is most fitting, at a pace that I can understand. I am thankful for You. I am thankful for Sean, as I see that You have sent him to corral me and my family. Lord, thank You. Amen.

The "Church's" Went to Church?!

About 12 years ago, in 2006, I decided, on my own, that I wanted to have 

a relationship with Christ. 

I opened my heart and let the love of God in. 

I opened my ears and listened to the Word. 

I opened my mouth and worshiped Him. 

I didn't know what I was doing, but with His guidance, I quickly figured it out. 

There isn't a right/wrong way to love God & 

if you decide to love Him and trust in Him, He will be there.  

I used to attend church regularly. 

I used to attend youth group regularly. 

& suddenly, something I cannot explain or even begin to understand, 

it all stopped. 

Fast forward to NOW! 

 

I have asked Chad multiple times, for months, to go to church with me. 

I know I can go on my own, but I really, really wanted us to go to church together, as a family.

He would always question me and ask why I needed to go, 

or why he "needed to do that," but this past Saturday night was different. 

The kids were in bed and we were hanging out on the couch together. 

It was well past midnight and we were watching recorded episodes of Street Outlaws. 

I asked him, "Can we please go to church tomorrow? As a family...?" 

He didn't say no. 

He didn't question me.

He didn't ask me "why would he need to do that." 

He gave me the signature Chad head nod and we continued watching TV together. 

I didn't ask again. 

 We went to bed and I set my alarm or 8am to give me enough time to shower

and get presentable. I got up and did just that while everyone was still asleep. 

As I was getting dressed and getting Braxton's clothes around, I asked Chad if wanted to match B. 

He said, "for what" and I just carried on. 

 

Fast forward to 10:00am, 12/11/16. 

I was dressed. B was dressed. Mya was dressed. Chad was getting dressed. 

& we were ready to go.... to CHURCH. 

We went. It was amazing.The message was perfect timing for us to attend, together. 

Later that evening Chad said, "That was nice, huh? Going to church together. What he (the pastor) said was pretty cool, huh?" 

I will post the verses we discussed below: 

 

Thank God for creating love & put it to good use.

Love your neighbor. 

Love your friends. 

Love your kids. 

Love your partner. 

Love your family. 

Because without Love,  

what would the world even be? 

 

...to be continued....