Happy Reformation Day!

It was on October 31 of the year 1517 that Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg.  His act along with many other men and women through the years played huge parts in us now being able to know we can have a personal relationship with our God.  Luther and other reformers obeyed God and were bold in faith.  We can celebrate that boldness in remembering to be bold ourselves on this day and others for the cause of Christ.

So, today before everyone comes to our doors for candy and a scare, let’s help our kids know that this day is really a day to celebrate the One who created it.  Our God gives us strength to be today’s reformers. 

I’m glad for present-day reformers – Christians like Danielle V. in my high school that lived out her faith no matter who said she was different.  She was a big part of my faith journey – she prayed with me to receive Jesus as my Savior.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to know your kids and my kids are out there being that kind of reformer for others?!!

"By His Grace" By Fran Maynard

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.  You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.  phillipians 1:7

My family right now is having the blessing and opportunity to be a host home to 3 camp counselors for Camp In The City at our church.  This past weekend as they were all recognized and prayed over I watched with tears in my eyes at the young men and women who choose to spend their summer traveling from city to city to serve our children and the Lord with their time and talents.  The beauty of a child's love for the Lord always amazes me.  

You see I did not grow up like this, maybe you can relate?  I did not have the innocence these young adults have.  Nor did I grow up knowing and loving the Lord.  However, by God’s Grace, our God made himself known to me and to my husband and because of this our children get to experience a life knowing His great love.  How wonderful to know that our family story has been forever changed.    

My prayer is that we do not take this Gospel gift lightly.  Lord GOD please give us a heart for the lost and opportunities to share Your Great Love with them.  Let our lives and actions reflect a BOLDNESS in Your name and our love be so evident it draws people to You.  In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.   

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.  1 Corinthians 9:19

Challenge:  Read Philippians 1 and meditate as you experience Paul’s heart to his fellow believers.  

"Hope" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

This is the verse that I wrote on our kitchen’s chalkboard for this month.

To be honest, I found this cute print on Pinterest and it was easily copied to my chalkboard.

This verse has continued to be a great reminder in this New Year.

The dictionary’s definition of HOPE is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Moms, how often do you have hope?

I know that every night before I fall asleep I HOPE my children will sleep in past 6:30.

As I prepare their breakfast I HOPE that they eat it and that is last longer than 15 minutes, before the inevitable question “May I have a snack?”

I HOPE that they play well, share their toys, and love each other throughout the day.

I HOPE that they have compassion for others. I HOPE that they choose joy.

I could go on and on….and I’m sure you could too. 

I believe that I will always HOPE the best for them, isn’t that what moms do?

But you know what is GREATER than our hope as moms? 

The HOPE that is found in Jesus.

The word HOPE is found in the bible over 120 times…must be important!

In the Bible, HOPE is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true.

Hope is synonymous with Salvation and the many blessings with it.

Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Today, rest in the fact that He is our one and only HOPE…no matter how easy or hard your days are.

Go ahead and write this promise in your journal, or your bathroom mirror, or your own chalkboard.

Storms of Life

Mark 4:35-41

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” ³⁶ So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was already in the boat. And other boats were with Him. ³⁷ A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
⁴¹ And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”


As I was spending quiet time with Jesus this morning, HE reminded me these important facts about storms in our life...
1. They will come
2. They can be fierce, but He is present even when HE is quiet.
3. They test and show our faith.
4. They are not forever and will be calmed in God's perfect time.


We all experience storms as we journey along life here on earth.  Some long. Some short. Being a mom sure is hard. Countless lessons I have learned in these short 7 years of my life since having kids. Some storms I would gladly love to pass on experiencing, but God has purpose in each season, time, moment in my life...and yours too!

When the storm has swept by, 

the wicked are gone,

but the righteous stand firm forever. 

- Proverbs 10:25

What is a storm you are experiencing right now?

Have you told Jesus about it? 

Allow Him to calm the storm, quiet your fears, and remind you of Truth today.

Love this....

"If you have faith even as a mustard seed... nothing will be impossible for you." 

Matthew 17:20

Many of us want to go "all in" with the Lord.  We sing songs about "going deeper" and pray "Here I am, Lord.  Send me."  Our hearts are willing, but sometimes, as Paul says, "our flesh is weak."  When we are faced with situations that seem insurmountable, or at the very least perplexing, our natural focus falls directly to the challenges, or injustice of the situation.  We feel stunned, anxious and unsettled!

I want to encourage you to look for Him in the middle of the circumstances.  He is Sovereign and NOTHING takes Him by surprise. Ask what He wants you to learn from being in the trial?  Once you see there is a purpose for the trial, know that it will pass.  God never leaves His children in the trial. He always brings them through.

Whatever He is calling you to do, He will equip you and He will deliver you to the other side! Rely on Him!

The task ahead of you is never as great as the power behind you!

Encouragement for the Homeschooling Mom

Commit your plans unto 

the Lord and they 

will succeed. 

- Proverbs 16:3

A friend recently sent me this blog link and it was a breath of fresh air. It reminded me of who am I, and where I want to be as I homeschool my kids. I can get caught up in my many failures of the day, instead of focusing on the call HE has on my life and being obedient to walk it out in faith. Trusting. Praying. Believing. I hope this link encourages your heart too!

http://thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/2216

Note: If your kids are in public school...that is awesome too! We need missionaries out there spreading the love of Jesus. We must always remember to keep our eyes open, watching, as HE is always placing ministry opportunities before us. 

Ladies, remember not to put your convictions on another. We very lovingly can do this and be unaware of the pressure we place on a friend who chooses differently than us. Pray for wisdom. He will reveal truth for you and your family and however that looks - specifically in making educational decisions :)

Proper Perspective

Now may the God of hope fill you

 with all joy and peace in believing,

 that you may abound in hope

 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

- Romans 15:13 

 

On Friday my son went in the hospital to have some tests done on his bladder. It was a long day but the doctor assured us that as we press forward things will get better. His doctor doesn't know Jesus but I truly believe the Lord will use us to encourage him towards the Lord. It takes time, relationship (we've known this doctor for 4 years), faith, and prayer. We are praying and believing that the Lord will use our trials for His glory (John 9:1-3). 

As we began our trip back home across Alligator Ally (2 hour straight road with very few exits and little to look at besides water and grass on both sides) I began to praise the Lord for our car. It is a 2007, and has been such a gift. We received it free (along with 6 months of free insurance) from a sweet family in the faith. To which, right after my car completely gave out causing me to have to pull over and put my flashers on. 

After many attempts to start it again, phone calls to our roadside assistance number, freaking out to my husband on the phone, and the Road Ranger behind our car - I found a peace that surpasses understanding. Someone was praying for me. So needed and it was overwhelmingly felt by my spirit. My kids were playing together trying to catch mosquitoes let in by my window. Our vent was blowing cool air because the battery worked enough to. It gave way to proper perspective. 

This breakdown caused me to praise God for many things. 

Thankful I had a car (at all - some have to take a bus or walk). 

Thankful that my kids are best friends (even though they can fight like the best of them ) and look out for each other. I watched them try to soothe their little sister as she had a few meltdowns. 

Thankful we got to ride in the awesome Road Ranger car to meet my husband at the  nearest exit. (My kids loved it!)

Thankful that my husband was our "hero" (as my oldest son stated) and came to "rescue" us.

Thankful that we have good friends who were across the ally already and stopped to look at our car, on their way over, and plan to tow it back for us (something the tow truck wanted to charge $450 for).  That was so supernatural. What a gift. 

Proper perspective. Looking at the glass half full instead of half empty. That's what knowing Jesus will do. 

Ladies look at your situation with "biblical goggles" seeing how the Lord is working in it all.

Remember to praise your kids for those little moments where they choose to behave in the midst of crazy.

Praise your husband (earthly if you have one - heavenly if you do not) for the way he steps up to protect and "rescue" your family.

What do you think HE is saying to you through this today?

Is It In You?

Have you seen the Gatorade commercial where the athletes are sweating this yellow, orange, and red fluid? The whole point of the commercial, of course, is that Gatorade will keep you hydrated in an athletic competition. When the going gets tough, the Gatorade gets to working. So, is it in you?

To be honest, I have never thought much about this commercial until the pastor at church yesterday held up a Styrofoam cup. He told the audience, “You don’t know what is in this cup. But if I test it, prod it, poke it, or shake it, you will soon find out.” His point? When we are tested by trials in this life, they not only produce fruit in our lives (perseverance, patience, stronger faith, etc.), but they also reveal what is inside us? They show us where we need to trust God more and grow up.

Ouch! I have to admit that a couple of weeks ago, I received some news that did not make me happy. In fact, it was messing up my nice little plan. More than that, I knew God could step in and fix my situation in an instant. Yet, he was allowing me to wait this one out. I vividly remember telling God, “If you are testing me to see what is really in me, then you are poking just hard enough that some junk is about to come out, and it does not look pretty.” I know. I know. How dare I be so brash with God! However, I figured that He knows my thoughts anyway; I might as well voice them honestly, yet respectfully and ask him to fix me. It was kind of like I was saying, “Lord, I had no idea that kind of junk was in there. I am trusting that you will help me clean this up. Better yet, I am trusting that you will uproot this nastiness of heart and replace it with something that truly pleases you.”

Martin Luther once said, “If it were not for tribulations, I would not understand the Scripture.” How true is that! If it were not for the messy, the painful, and the uncomfortable, I would not know God personally and intimately. There really are no shortcuts to spiritual growth. It is what made Job declare, “I had heard about you before, but know I have seen you with my own eyes.” Job 42:5

Trials and intimacy with the Father are also what caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand up to King Nebuchadnezzar and declare, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 These three guys had the confidence that God could deliver them, BUT even if God said “no, not this time”, they still decided to trust Him.

That, my friend, is what God wants to do in my life and your life. He wants to get the junk out! He wants to replace our trash with treasure, so that we can receive the joy and crown of life that he promises to those who endure hardship faithfully. Consider James 1: 2-4; 12

                Consider it pure joy, my brothers [and sisters], whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking any good thing…

                Blessed is the man [or woman] who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promises to those who love him.

So, is it trash day in your house? What is in you that God is trying to take out and replace with Himself? Let Him, and join me in asking for the strength to stand in our trials knowing that He is in control. Need direction? Join me in asking God for wisdom—to know what to do with the information we have. Importantly, stay in his word. Romans 10:17 declares, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.”

Let’s pray:

God you are so faithful to us. You love us so much! Help us to trust you even when this world gives us a reason to doubt your goodness. Your love for us is perfect. Help us stand up under trials. Help us to learn the truths that will set us free and be renewed inwardly as we trust in you. Help us have the faith to say, “Lord, we know you can, but even if you do not, we will still put our hope, faith, and trust in you.” We love you Lord. Please be our sustainer and our portion forever. Thank you for loving us enough to get the junk out. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

Faithful or Fearful?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Phillipian 4:6-9

Do you ever get tired? I mean extremely tired…mentally and physically hanging on by your last thread? Ever find yourself in a bind…wandering, straining to find a way out? Ever want God to just fix it all…right now? I do! My husband used to joke around and say, “Today is a great day for the rapture!!!” I used to laugh, but was inwardly a bit annoyed. Why did he like that line so much? I am convinced it is because he was fixing his eyes on what is ahead instead of the here and now. Even if we were experiencing “the best day ever”, he knew heaven was infinitely better, greater, and more magnificent.
In fact, God’s word says that are toughest day are “light and momentary “ compared to what is ahead of us. Check it out:

          For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  Corinthians 4: 17-18

When I was younger, my mom had a knack for making tough times look like fun. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that the nights where we had “hot dog smorgasbords” were the nights when funds were tight. Mom made some hot dogs and pulled out every possible topping to go with it and set it up buffet style. We thought it was a treat; she was making her dollars stretch.

I hope I can offer my kids this same gift when times are tough…a light and merry heart…a heart that trusts in God even when I don’t understand…especially when I don’t understand! I understand that as moms we will not be all smiles all the time, but I hope I can learn to exhibit God’s peace more and more in my life. I pray that HIS peace will be contagious in my home.

One last thing…I often think that as moms we try to shield our kids from tough times. We don’t want them to know when we are struggling, and we certainly don’t want them to have any struggles of their own. But I have encountered something far better than shielding our kids from trouble. Rather than shielding, teaching them to navigate through their troubles is much more profitable because we know that in this world we will have troubles, BUT God rescues us (in his way and time) each time. (John 16:33).

So, in an effort to help make God “real” to my four year old, we have begun to pray through some of our troubles, concerns, and desires together. What a blessing this has been for both of us! When we reach the other side of a tough time or when a desire is fulfilled, we thank and praise God together. My hope is that he will be able to track God’s faithfulness in his life from a very young age. I want him to have a mental track record (until he is able to write it down) of all the times God has showed up for him personally.

For example, when we moved we prayed for friends. After a while, God provided! We prayed for a bigger house to accommodate our growing family. God said “no” and “wait” quite a few times, but then HE provided! We are praying for a family who is dear to our heart, because their daddy is away for a season. We can’t wait to see how God will provide for this family! Make prayer a regular part of your family’s life, and watch how God brings His peace into your heart and home!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have given us your Word and the gift of prayer—constant on-line communication with you. Thank you for always being available. God whether we are having a good day, a rough day, or anything in between, may our hearts be full of the peace and joy that only comes from knowing you. Help us to know that you are real and true. Help us to make you known to our children by teaching them to pray and teaching them to establish their own personal prayer life. You are so faithful! Thank you that your love knows no bounds. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Challenge: How can you involve your children in your personal prayer life? What things can you prayer for together? Keep a journal or checklist of when and how God answers---I bet you will both be amazed by his faithfulness! J

Lessons from a Children's Bible

This is another blog from my friend Julie, founder and contributor of www.happyhomefairy.com. I love the way God uses lessons for little ones to teach us His truths. Towards the end of this blog, you will also find an update on her little guy, Baby Jethro, who is still in the NICU... but God is doing some amazing things. Keep praying for him, and that he gets to go home to his mommy and daddy soon! Enjoy and have a blessed day! Teresa :)



             This is one of the Bibles the Happy Buddy enjoys reading before bed each night.

I found it interesting that over the last several months since the Happy Baby has been in the hospital, God has used that little children’s Bible to teach me some pretty profound lessons.

Around the time that the Happy Baby was born, the Happy Buddy got hooked on this story about Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27).

The Happy Buddy requested it night after night and I began to realize that I was acting just like the disciples in the boat.

Initially, I panicked about the storm we were going through.

I cried out to Jesus (who, in my opinion, seemed to be sleeping through the whirling mess around us).

And He reminded me to not be afraid… To have faith.

That He controls the wind and the waves and is with me in the midst of the storm.

Then the Happy Buddy got really excited about this story concerning a paralyzed man and his friends who lowered him through the roof to Jesus (Mark 2:1-12).

I started to see that I was like the paralyzed man – unable to move (in my case because of fear) and probably without hope of ever being saved.

It was the faith of his friends that brought his healing.

As our church (and all of you, sweet blog friends) came around us with prayers, hugs, cards, gifts, and encouragement, I felt lifted up on my little mat and carried straight to Jesus for the healing my own heart so desperately needed.

Next the Happy Buddy started requesting this story about a blind man (John 9:1-12).

The disciples asked Jesus about the blind man, “Teacher, did this man sin? Or did his parents sin? Is that why he is blind?”

And I thought of the hundred different things I did or ate while pregnant and wondered if I had caused the Happy Baby’s sickness.

But Jesus’ response to the disciples was simple and life-giving, “No one sinned. This happened so that God’s work could be shown in his life.”

God has shown His good work and purposes in our baby’s life and in our own lives as a result of this ‘blindness’ – this season of trial.

The second part of this story also helped me the week the Happy Baby was on the CPAP machine…

I was overwhelmed at first by the sight of my precious little boy having such a large and obstructing contraption on his face.

In the story, Jesus spit on the ground and made mud with his hands. Then he gently spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

When the mud was washed away, the blind man could see!

A friend texted me saying if Jesus could accomplish healing through something as strange and unattractive as mud on a person’s eyes, than surely He could do the same with a tubey, loud CPAP.

The Happy Buddy moved onto this story about a man named Jairus whose daughter was very sick.

By the time Jesus got there, the daughter had died.

At this point in the NICU journey, the Happy Hubby and I were told that our baby was probably not going to make it.

Many of the doctors thought the Happy Baby had a rare and incurable genetic disease (on top of the virus he had contracted while growing in my tummy).

Like Jairus, the Happy Hubby and I had to wait for Jesus.

We had to wait 7 long weeks for the genetic test results.

But would Jesus heal our boy as he did Jairus’ daughter?

The day the Happy Baby was born, I felt a deep assurance from the Lord that he would be okay.

When you’re faced with medical evidence and the opinion of professional doctors and nurses, however, it was easy to forget what God had spoken.

In the last two months I constantly acted like Peter, in this final Bible story, who, when his eyes focused on the wind and waves storming around him, began to sink.

There were many days when I took my eyes off of Jesus and felt myself going down because I let what doctors said and speculated cause me to lose hope.

I even closed the door to the Happy Baby’s nursery and refused to wash some of the tiny outfits we’d been given for him because it was just too painful to think that he might not make it.

But when I fixed my gaze on Christ and what I believe He had said to me concerning the Happy Baby’s future, then my foundation was sure.

Walking in that confidence, we received the news last Sunday that our gift from the Lord does not have a genetic disease.

Jesus has brought healing to our son in so many ways.

He has been with us in the storm.

He has given us the Church to carry us to Him when we’ve been too weak.

He gave us hope through the mud on our eyes.

He, in a way, brought our son back from the dead.

And He has given a firm foundation on which we can walk when our gaze is fixed on Him – no matter what the winds and waves of life are doing around us – because we are still fighting battles (ie. feeding).

So, dear Happy Home Friends, I am delighting in the spiritual milk of His Word which God has used to nourish my soul in this season and am praying that the Happy Baby will crave the milk of his bottles.

Because if that lil’ booger can eat then we’ve got ourselves one giant homecoming ticket!

“Like newborn babies, thirst for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in your salvation.” 1 Peter 2:2

Second Chances

This blog post is written by a friend of my named, Julie. She and her family are going through a tremendous trial. Her newborn was born with certain complications and is unable to breathe or eat on his own. He has been in the NICU for about two months, but I know you will be encouraged by how she and her family are choosing trust in an ever-faithful God as they walk through their pain, fears, and heartache. Please lift this family up in your prayers. I know this blog post will encourage you, just as it has encouraged me. Please feel free to follow Julie and her family's journey with Baby Jethro at www.happyhomefairy.com.

When I was in 10th grade, I completely messed up a research paper that was probably the biggest grade I’d get in English class that year.

The teacher took me aside and gently told me the ways in which I had failed to complete the assignment and I began crying enough tears to fill a swimming pool.

But as I sat there with my cheeks all wet and thinking that I would never be asked to move up to the 11th grade, my teacher (who happens to be a famous author and blogs over HERE) said that she would let me have a second chance.

If I redid the assignment correctly, she’d toss the other paper and it would all be like a bad dream.

Second chances…

When we got pregnant with the Happy Baby one thing that kept marching through my brain was this thankful spirit that the Lord was giving me a second chance.

You see, with the Happy Buddy, I was a hot mess the whole first year of his life.

I fretted constantly about his growth (is he gaining enough??), his nursing (what if my milk supply dwindles and I have to put him on formula?!), his schedule (I can’t possibly go to church today because it might interfere with his nap), his health (did that stranger really just kiss my baby on the cheek?!), his pacis falling on the floor (I wonder what kind of deadly disease is now lingering on that MAM), his diaper rashes (should I be doing cloth diapers?), his first foods (is he going to die if I don’t feed him organic?), his sleeping (will he remember that we let him cry-it-out and hold it against us forever?), his playing (why hasn’t he rolled over yet? So-and-so-friend’s baby is practically walking already!), what kind of soap I used for his baths (I’d never read ingredient labels for soap until I had a kid)…

But then I worried about bigger issues, too (hello vaccinations). Almost to a point where I felt paralyzed by the fear.

The fear that I would make a decision and somehow ruin the Happy Buddy forever.

By the time the Happy Buddy turned one I looked back and felt kind of sick to my stomach that I had missed out somehow.

I had spent so much time being anxious that I don’t fully remember the moments where I just plain enjoyed his sweet baby-ness.

I could not wait to get a do-over. Another baby that I could say, “Eat artificially colored M&M’s and greasy pizza for all I care, just let me kiss those chubby cheeks a hundred million times a day.”

Naturally, when the Happy Baby arrived and before I could even kiss his precious cheeks twice the doctors were whisking him away uttering phrases like, “It could go either way…”, I had the thought What about my second chance?

And then the days turned into weeks and suddenly the fears I had about the Happy Buddy seemed kind of silly in light of the obstacles the Happy Baby was already facing at the beginning of his life.

Suddenly I didn’t care so much that the NICU uses Johnson & Johnson soap for bath times.

Suddenly I didn’t care so much when the doctor said they needed to start adding formula to my breastmilk because he’s breathing so fast and burning so many calories he needs the extra boost to help him grow.

Suddenly vaccinations seemed like a walk in the park when we were faced with the decision to put the Happy Baby on chemotherapy-powered drugs for 6 long weeks to try and fight this virus.

Suddenly the things I am anxious about are more about how no one is there to hold him in the middle of the night, respond to his every cry, stroke his hair back, turn his mobile on, or hold his paci in place for hours at a time just because it makes him happy.

And when I am with him, I study every single God-painted feature on his sweet little face is and consider how precious each of his tiny toes and fingers are.

I drink in his smell, thank Jesus for every diaper change, and cherish the feel of his peach-fuzzed earlobes.

I hold him and sing to him and find peace in the moment that is ours.

When I am with the Happy Baby there is no time to think about the long-term consequences of all that he’s endured the last 5 weeks.

Because I’ve learned that I have no control over the outcome of the Happy Baby’s life.

No amount of organic food I ate during my pregnancy could have made a difference in how the Lord designed the Happy Baby and this season of our lives right now.

With the Happy Buddy I had let my pride rule my faith – bearing this unnecessary, strangling burden for every single decision.

Jesus says parenting is a whole lot easier than that (check out Matthew 11:30).

Now don’t get me wrong.

I am not saying to throw all caution to the wind and let your child eat chicken nuggets, fries, and chocolate milk every day (although if your baby is in the NICU for an extended period of time, this action might be unavoidable), stay up late every night, and exist without any boundaries whatsoever.

I am also not bashing my sweet cloth diapering or organic-food-growing friends. I’d totally do cloth if I wasn’t so addicted to convenience and I try to buy organic whenever our budget allows.

You must find what’s best for your Happy Home (and never judge another Happy Home that may choose to do things differently than you).

What I am saying is that while making well-educated, prayerful choices for our children is super important (you can bet the Happy Hubby and I have been on our knees about every little thing we’ve chosen to pursue concerning the Happy Baby’s health), when we let ourselves be overwhelmed by the responsibility, we take our eyes off of Christ and the very fact that our kids are not our own.

They belong to Him.

We are not in control.

This is the second chance I have been given.

To choose to treasure the time I do have with my baby – however long it may be – and not be afraid of what the future holds.

Because He is God’s child.

A child who was fearfully and wonderfully made by the very hands of Christ, who had all the days ordained for him written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139).

A child who is covered by the promise that God has good plans for his life – plans to prosper him and not to harm him. Plans to give him hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

And I’m pretty sure that whether or not he wears cloth diapers is going to change that.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8

*Update – God has blessed us with good progress this week! The doctor took the Happy Baby’s Superhero Hat away (phew) and he is now on a high air flow machine. We are praying that he will be weaned of that soon. He continues to seem stronger each day – a credit to our great God. Next week they will repeat the swallow test to see if he is strong enough to nurse/take a bottle again (please pray for victory in that!). We are also waiting on some test results in order to move forward with a diagnosis. Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and support. I am eternally grateful for the strength your faith has given mine!*