Have Trust, Gain Peace

When my doctor told me, at 27 weeks pregnant, that if I didn't put myself on bedrest, then our precious baby boy would most certainly arrive. And at only 27 weeks along, I knew that we needed more time.

After hearing half of what my incredible doctor had told me, and after the shock of it all and wondering how I was going to be a MOM to our almost 3 year old little girl, somehow I was okay. I never really questioned the popular response of "Why God?" With HIS grace, I knew that whatever happened, we would somehow be okay. We would get through it, only with His help. I knew that we were/are ultimately HIS, and our sweet little baby boy was in His hands. Somehow I allowed God to take over my heart, and I had complete PEACE.

With the help of my wonderful parents, our amazing friends and church members, we figured out a good plan. And with many extra doctors appointments, a few small scares, a couple of fainting spells, many extra pounds gained trying to fatten our boy up, a very sore body, and an extremely understanding incredible toddler, we made it to a whopping 38 weeks and we met a perfectly healthy, strong little Wilson!

I suppose my point in sharing all this is to help remind myself where my faith was through all of this. It was complete TRUST in our mightly God. It was the PEACE I had in knowing that HE was in complete CONTROL.

When I think back about it all now, it amazes me at how HE works. I may never understand why all this happened, but I certainly don't question it. I see the special bond my husband and daughter made during this time, how much extra time they spent together and how close their relationship is now. I can't help but wonder if maybe they wouldn't be so close now. I see all the quiet time I spent in God's word learning and studying and growing closer in my walk with the Lord. I see how important relationships and friendships are, and that we are always needed. Whether it's an extra friendly "hey, just checking on you" or a thoughtful card in the mail, or a home-cooked meal to someone that could use it. Or just because. So, I don't question HIS "why" because I know that it was somehow for HIS good. I may never understand His reasons, but I believe we aren't supposed to. We just TRUST in Him and His wonderful ways. Some of them are obvious and some are not.

Thinking through all of this now makes me want to be a better person. Not for me, but for our loving Lord. He opened my eyes to so much during my "scare", and thinking through my New Year's resolutions "thoughts on bettering my life" has made me think back on this time of rest I had over 2 years ago. With the craziness and contant hustle and bustle of being a stay at home mom, trying my best to keep it all together, trying to figure out a balance, I think about the good that can come out of rest. I should stop and just take it all in -- all the beautiful wonders of this world. My life as it is now and how fortunate I am. And not about the "nots" and the "don't haves" in my life.

Take time for life. Remember whose life it is. And live it to your fullest. But remember to give HIM all the GLORY.

And we know that God auses all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Friday Favorites

Today I wanted to share with you a product that benefits the entire family! This all really started when I was on bedrest last summer. Having been told that my little baby was coming at only 27 weeks, I was determined to fatten him up as best I could. I did not care how much weight I gained. Wanted to take-in as much protein as I possibly could. I wasn’t able to be in the kitchen cooking healthy meals, though. So, this is what I counted on to get the most nutrients to my baby boy (along with all the wonderful and numerous meals my church family brought to us) …

(You can usually find it in grocery stores near the oatmeal and breakfast bars. I personally prefer the Rich Milk Chocolate flavor. And by the way, remember my Friday Favorites are all personal to me. I am not getting compensated -- just simply sharing what I think is a good product!)

I am not a huge milk-lover, however this stuff I love! And so does Ella. I put about ¼ packet in her milk every morning and evening and I know that she is getting SO many more vitamins and nutrients.

Carnation Instant Breakfast has:
2x Protein of an egg
2x Calcium of yogurt
Extra Antioxidants to support immune system
Extra B Vitamins to convert food to energy
Vitamin A – 45% of your daily requirement
Vitamin C – 50% daily requirement
Iron – 25% daily requirement
21 Vitamins & Minerals in each serving

When on bedrest, I fixed probably 3-4 servings of this each day! I know, that sounds crazy, but it helped me know that I was giving extra and proper nutrients to my teeny tiny baby. One thing I did to mix it up a bit ...

Poor a serving of milk in a blender with ice. Pour in a packet of Milk Chocolate Instant Breakfast. Then add a ½ Tablespoon of INSTANT coffee (must be instant). Blend that together and you have a delicious mocha-like shake.

Instead of coffee, you can add a banana for another different treat. I wouldn’t recommend giving the coffee shake to your children! But think how healthy the banana shake is! And what a fun way to get your children to intake so many nutrients. You can also have them help you make it for a fun parent-child activity.

Happy Friday to all my dear reader-friends! I hope to enjoy some downtime with my family. I have been fighting a bad cold for 8 days now and feel so run down. I feel overwhelmed. Don't we all feel pulled in so many directions all at the very same time?! I still haven't learned that balance of being a good mom, wife, homemaker, friend, and Christian -- all in one. How do you do it?

Don't forget to VOTE! Open that Bible of yours and enjoy God's Word!