What Time Is It?

Okay, okay...I know when I began this blog several months ago I said that my goal was to post once a week. Well, it's apparent that hasn't been the case. However, I didn't give this blog the name "Manic Mommy" for no good reason. That is exactly what this summer has been...MANIC! I've been penciling "blog" in on my planner for weeks but something else always seems to come up. My inspiration to finally get back into the blogging scene was this morning when I discovered a good friend (who just so happens to be my pastor's wife) has began her own blog. I thought to myself, "Well if she can find time to blog, so can I." I say that because she is one of the busiest women I know.
My bible reading yesterday happened to include Ecclesiastes 3. The first 8 verses of this chapter are one of my favorite passages in the bible. They read:
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
I love these verses because it always makes me evaluate myself and my life and helps me figure out which season my life is in. This summer, and even until recent weeks, has been so packed with outings, activities, responsibilities, and obligations that it all seemed to run together. Someone once told me that in life you will have to say "no" to some good things in order to free yourself to say "yes" to some great things.
I want God to reveal to me what things I should say "no" to so that I can say "yes" to the great things he has in store for me. I am a firm believer that we are to "live life to the full" but when I find myself running from activity to activity, obligation to obligation, my cup is anything but full. In fact, it's drained. I like to re-read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 as a reminder that there is a time for everything, but that doesn't mean it's time to do it all right this very moment.
I pray that you will be blessed this week. Ask God to show you what it's time for you to be doing.
Hugs & Blessings!!
Wendy

Grace

Have you ever had one of those moments when you look at your child and your become completely overwhelmed by emotion? I had one of those moments last night. It was late, 10:30 or somewhere around there, and Hayley and I were sitting on the couch. She had come into the living room with a "tummy ache". As it turns out, she was just fishing for a late night snack. As she sat next to me eating her frosted cherry pop tarts (my personal favorite)and watching "My First Place" on HGTV she began to talk. She talked about the houses as though she were an expert in real estate and what she thought the buyers should and should not buy. Together we discussed the buyers situation and it hit me that I was talking to her as though she were a friend. It is those moments when she and I are alone that we have some of our best, heartfelt conversations. It is those moments that in my heart I pray to God that 10, 20, 30 years from now she and I can still have that connection and enjoy each others company and conversation. "Hayley," I said, "Do you know how much I love you?" She nodded. "How much?" I asked. "To the moon and the stars," she answered. I shook my head. "Even more." When she had finished her pop tarts I told her she had to go to sleep. Her countenance fell. "Come on," I said as I turned the TV off, "I'll lay with you tonight." She smiled. As we snuggled in her bed I closed my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep, as did she. Those moments are priceless and I wouldn't trade them for anything else in this world. I woke up around 1:30 and made my way to my own bed.
I've said all this to say that I am so thankful God doesn't give us what we deserve. I am so thankful that he so graciously blessed me with the family I have and the wonderful gift of motherhood. I don't think there is another gift so precious. (Aside from salvation & the Holy Spirit, of course.)
This morning as I was getting ready for work I began to sing this song:
"Where would I be? You only know. I'm glad You see through eyes of love. A hopeless case, an empty place if not for grace. And I thank You for the things I cannot see. You've been a shelter in the storms of life, a shield surrounding me. And I thank You for the mercy You provide. I know You could have walked away but You stayed a thousand times. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. I once was lost, but now I'm found. A hopeless case, an empty place if not for grace."

Family

I am writing to you today from Blytheville, AR. The girls and I are here spending the week with my mother and my wonderful in-laws. I look forward to coming every summer and, as you can probably guess, the girls LOVE it! What kid doesn't want to get to have cookies, ice cream and/or cake for breakfast, followed by cookies, ice cream, and/or cake for lunch! LOL...It's not quite that bad, although enforcing "home rules" while here is a bit of a struggle.
Although, no matter how much grandparents let them get away with, it is me my little one wants at night. Madison insists on sleeping with me. I guess there's some kind of security that she finds in having Mommy there. Without hesitation, I can say that at 31 years of age, I too, find comfort and security in knowing my mom is there. I use to think that once I was grown with a family of my own that I might not need her as much. HA! I find that I need my mom more today than ever. There is a peace I find in her voice and a comfort I feel in her embrace. I have come to realize that you will never outgrow your mother's love. Thank the Lord!!
Today marks the 12 year anniversary of my daddy's passing. 12 years!! In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others, a lifetime ago. June 8, 2008, a date that will forever be etched in my memory. I miss him so much and wonder sometimes what life would be like had he still been here with us. However, I am a firm believer of this familiar passage of scripture:
2 Timothy 4:6 - "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance."
I am so thankful for the legacy God has blessed me with and for the family he has given to me. I encourage you to say a prayer of thanksgiving for all that God has blessed you with today, especially your family.
Be Blessed!

What a crazy, wonderful week this has been! Don't you just love it when God shows up unexpectedly and does something amazing? It's funny that I say "unexpectedly" when really we should ALWAYS expect God to show up. I mean, if we're not expecting him, what's the point? I am so thankful that despite our human mindset that God is faithful. Earlier this week our church held special service for spiritual emphasis week. I had the opportunity to be in the kids service for 2 of those nights. The low crowd had me discouraged and in my mind I had already written off any chance of having a real service. I was fully expecting to play games and find something to do to basically pass the time away. Thank the Lord that the children's pastor had a different idea. We did indeed play a couple of games but then the atmosphere shifted as we entered into worship. God showed up!! The handful of kids that were there were all getting into the worship. I was very quickly humbled. The Holy Spirit began to move and completely filled the room. I was even able to pray with one child who received the Holy Spirit for the first time! AMAZING!! It just goes to show you that even when we may not be expecting it, God can and will show up.

We should all anticipate God's arrival...In our everyday life, in our church services, and of course, the return of Christ the Kind. We don't have time to cross him off the list for the day. I am reminded of a song that I sang in church as a child. I believe it went something like this:
"I just feel like something good is about to happen. I just feel like something good is on the way. He has promised that he'd open all of heaven. And brother it could happen any day. When God's people humble themselves and they call on Jesus and they look to heaven EXPECTING as they pray. I just feel like something good is about to happen and brother this could be that very day."
That should be something we do everyday...EXPECT him. We can't pray to God thinking he might hear us or he may be listening... EXPECT it!

"Mommy, How much do I cost?"

For years I have refused to buy a bathroom scale. The main reason being...they are evil!! However, I finally talked myself into buying a new scale a couple of months back. One morning while getting ready for work, my 4 year old, Madison, comes into the bathroom, hops up on the scale and asks, "Mommy, how much do I cost?" I corrected her by saying, "It's weigh, not cost." Her question lingered in my mind. "How much do I cost?" I could have told her that she cost me three home pregnancy tests (as she was an unexpected blessing and I was in denial), 35 pounds, 3 months of being uncomfortable, approximately 6 weeks of sleeping in the recliner, labor pains, and a lot of money! The list could go on and on. Then I began to think of what I have received in exchange for that cost. I have gained a beautiful blessing who has touched my life in so many ways. She was a gift I didn't even know I needed until I received it. I have gained a type of joy that can only come from a child, the memories that only a mommy's heart will ever understand, and another reason to thank God every day of my life for allowing her to be mine. The reward outweighs the cost by far.
And then another thought crossed my mind. What if I were to ask God that same question. "God, how much did I cost?" He might say that I have cost him many days of frustration when I have behaved selfishly, foolishly, or even sinfully. He might say that I have cost him way too much time and energy from holding on to me so tightly during those times in life when I had chosen to let go of him. Or, he might just say, "You cost me my only Son."
John 3:16 (NIV) - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
God sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me and for you. Jesus paid the ultimate cost. The Word of God tells us that: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53: 5 (NIV)
I don't know about you but I want to be sure that I am doing everything I can to show God how grateful I am to him for allowing Jesus to pay the cost for me. I didn't deserve it and will never be worthy of it, but I can make sure that while I am on this earth that I do everything I can to show my gratitude. How can I do that? I can do that by obeying his Word, living a life that is holy and acceptable and pleasing unto him, and by reaching out to the lost to win them to the Lord.
Although my children caused me great pain to bring them into this world, I will never regret my decision to have them. It is my desire that although it cost Jesus great pain that he never regret his decision to die for me.

Blessings!
Wendy

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to check out this blog. My inspiration for creating "The Manic Mommy Diaries" is to connect with you other mommy maniacs out there who, like myself, are pulled in 1,000 different directions every day but still manage to make it all work. I know that there are mornings you must wake up like I do and think that you could not have possibly been asleep for 6.5 hours. (Yes, I said 6.5 hours. If anyone out there gets more sleep than this, kudos to you!) I have to tell you that I thrive on a full schedule. When Jesus said these words, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV), I wonder if He knew that I would take those words so literal. LOL! If my day planner isn't overflowing with tasks, appointments, dinner menus or soccer schedules, I feel completely lost. You would think I would be insane trying to keep up, and I have no doubt that I would be, if not for one thing...Jesus Christ. In all the hustle and bustle, I have to keep him the center of it all or I do become a bit crazy. I can most definitely tell those days that I skipped right over prayer and devotion. My day completely starts off wrong. My goal for this blog is to help encourage and inspire other moms and women through things that God reveals to me everyday in some form or another. Sometimes it's through prayer and devotion and at others it is through my children, my job or some other unexpected avenue that God has opened up for me on that day. My plan is to post a new blog at least once a week. Yes, as you've so rightly figured out, creating this blog has added one more task to my to-do-list, one more thing to be scheduled in my day planner. Like I told you earlier, I thrive on a full schedule. I encourage you to take the scripture at the beginning of this blog and memorize it. Every morning when you wake up and you are hit in the face with a to-do-list that seems never ending, quote this scripture out loud. Don't worry...be happy. Ask God to help you make it through the day and accomplish the tasks before you and you know what? He will! Blessing to you and yours this week.

Stay Sane!

Wendy