9/29/2013

The fruit of a migraine

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Like a large portion of Americans, I too suffer from migraines. Dizziness, nausea, and total head agony. Mine are hormonally based and intensified dramatically after giving birth to twin daughters.

The best part? They normally strike around 2 am, and my super awesome medicine that makes me want to sing and dance usually leaves me feeling totally wired for about 6 hours afterward.
In case you cared to know that little tidbit about me.
Now this is not the point where you offer me medical advice about changing up my life to help alleviate the pain, and blah blah. Because I’ll nod and smile and completely ignore your advice. I have no desire to put my feet in hot water with a bag of frozen peas on my neck or any other crazy home remedy. Especially at 3 am.
I have a secret. I like feeling completely jazzed at 3 am. In fact when the quiet rumblings begin around 9 pm I get a little giddy.
Quiet house, too dark to see the mess with the lights off, just me and Jesus. Hanging out.
I generally don’t tell people about what happens on these secret middle of the night dates with Jesus, because I imagine if I did, you’d be takin a closer look at that medicine bottle to see just what whack drugs I have in my system.
Lets just say, at 3 am when you’re wide awake with a screaming headache, Jesus talks if you’ll let Him.
And boy does He have stuff to say.
The scores of really profound blog posts that show up on this blog? About 90% of them are fruit of a middle of the night migraine.
Cause I’m not really that wise.
This post? Yeah, I’ve been up since 4am. He let me sleep in this time. But he told me it was time to tell you our secret.
Now you know.

9/27/2013

Building a community that's not about you...

I had the privileged to share with my fellow threadbare mommas this week in our little group. I thought you all might enjoy hearing the thoughts I shared with them on community building. So here you go:


I was tip tapping around the web and found this verse I wanted to share with you

Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good Romans 12:9 (TLB)

 

Did you read that first part? Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them
That one was a bit of a gut check.
Can I just make a little confession? I’m not sure I’m that good at showing love to people. I mean my kids and husband, ok, whatever. But past them?
Sometimes I just think I’m nice to people so they’ll like me.
What goes around, comes around style.
Oy.
So I’ma make you all a deal. I’m gonna try running all my social interactions, both here on the net and in real life, through a “this isn’t about me” filter. 
I want my interactions to be about you. I want to listen to you. To share Christ’s love with you. To support you the best I can.
Won’t you join me in “it’s not about me land”?

9/25/2013

Guest post: Cook. Clean. Repeat.

Over the next few weeks we have a handful of guest posters who have stepped up to the plate to share their thoughts on finding God in the mundane moments of life. Today I'm so thrilled to share a few words from Rebecca Wenrich. Enjoy!
As a stay-at-home mom to a very VERY active toddler and three puppies, a lot of my days look the same. Here's a glimpse...
My daughter wakes up super-early and comes to my room for a little more sleep. I get her a sippy cup of milk before she realizes she doesn't have one. After she wakes up, I get her dressed and quickly try to take the dogs out before they make a mess in the house.
We all have breakfast. We read. We play. We do preschool from home. Inevitably we watch something on the Disney Channel. We have lunch. Then we have the nap time fight.
While nap time happens, I try to straighten the morning's mess and get dinner started. She wakes up. I finish making dinner. We eat. My husband comes home. Before too long, it's bedtime.
The next day, we start again.
For me, at least, it is far too easy during these repetitive days to slip into the mindset of: what am I doing here? Am I making a difference? Is my daughter going to remember any of this?

But then I get little glimpses of what's going on in her little head and heart. When we're having a tough day and she says "don't worry, Mommy. God loves your heart." Or when my husband has been working for 12 hours straight and we both miss him and she tells me, "I know you miss my daddy, but I'm here with you." Or when she says, "Mommy - I need to tell you something. You will always be my mommy and I will always be your baby. No matter what."

I thank God for these moments that pop up in the middle of a hum-drum day, when I've just put away a shelf full of books for the 15th time or I've just tripped over the Thomas riding toy AGAIN. God uses this sweet child to remind me that He has not forgotten me. He directed my path and brought me right here - right in the middle of the laundry and the toys and the dogs and the mess.

And really, I wouldn't have it any other way. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to start on the dinner while she finishes her nap. :)


Becky Wenrich is a wife, mom, dog-lover and Jesus-follower, though not necessarily in that order. She loves reading, hanging out with her family, and all things Penn State. You can follow along with her family’s second adoption journey at http://wenrichfamilyadoption.wordpress.com
 

(nearly) wordless wednesday

 
a li'l birdie told me...
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got a great photo for (nearly) wordless Wednesday to to share with us? Post a link so we can all see it!

9/22/2013

guest post: Beautifully Mundane


Over the next few weeks we have a handful of guest posters who have stepped up to the plate to share their thoughts on finding God in the mundane moments of life. Today I'm so thrilled to share a few words from Richele McFarlin. Enjoy!


My eyes were trained to see blessings which threaten to go unnoticed.  The training came through trials.  Until I experienced trials the beauty in the mundane laid buried under the day to day operations of life.  I would praise God when money fell into my lap and I never failed to cry out to God when trial struck.  I failed to understand the mundane revealed the constant support of a God who is active in my life. 

The last two years of my life taught me to be thankful for simple things.  I learned ordinary days were a gift from an extraordinary God.  Paid bills, food at the dinner table, overflowing laundry, and dishes that needed to be washed were proof God blessed my family daily.  Watching my children play outside as their shadows danced in the sun reflected God's love.  Children who stammered for attention or cried when things didn't go their way reminded me of how I must look to God when I trust myself and not Him.  Remembering not to yell at frustrating little blessings reminded me of God graciously giving me mercy and love.  Forgetting not to yell reminded me of God's forgiveness.  Flowers on a walk provided a glimpse of Heaven's beauty.  The giraffe at the zoo was evidence God's creativity.  My husband coming home tired and ready for dinner revealed God's provision.  Narrowly escaping a car accident proved God's mercy. 

God surrounds. 

He sustains.  

He is constant. 

God's power is not lost on the ordinary. 

I came to this beautiful revelation after enduring a difficult few years.  Oppressive financial trial weighed heavily on my marriage.  My mother's cancer spread to her brain and she died shortly afterward.  As soon as I thought I couldn't take another blow I would get hit harder.  My escape was to settle into normalcy.  I appreciated simple things that may even sound silly if admitted.  Yet, it was in those moments that God showed His power.  He proved to be a constant that provided hope for another day. 

Day to day life continues to move forward giving no thought to the impact on your heart.  It drags you along causing you to make the choice to lose sight or gain vision.  You must choose to fall into the safety net that holds each fragile day together; the mundane.  There are times we ask "where is God?"  We wonder why He stays silent when we call out. Look around and hear His promises in chirping birds, laughing children, and encouragement from a friend.  God is never silent.  The rest between trials and victories is beautifully mundane. 


Richele is the author of Under the Golden Apple Tree and founder of Moms of Dyslexics. You can also find her giving Photoshop a work out as the co-owner of Crisp Apple Design and Consulting. Her passion is Christ and using her writing to glorify Him and encourage other moms.

LINKS:
 http://www.underthegoldenappletree.com,
 http://www.momsofdyslexics.blogspot.com,
 and
 http://www.crispappledesign.com


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