She Knows What I Need

Ethan Pope has some sweet word for his mom, Robin.

Mom is always there when I need help in really anything; if I just need to talk, or if I need moral support, or financial support, or just a friendly and loving presence. She always knows when I need that kind of help too. Take one time recently for example, I was feeling kind of down and lonely at the house and Mom surprised me by coming home and taking me out to lunch at Chik-fil-a. It was a simple gesture but it brought my mood up worlds above where it was, especially being able to just sit down and talk with her; she always has godly words of wisdoms from her experience in both life and through Christ.

Bringing Baby Home

God is our help and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

The nurse helped us get the baby seat in the car and we left the hospital a family of three.  We posed joyfully by the front door with our newborn son, Evan, and went in to begin our lives as parents.  Then the fun began.

No one told me about the awesome weight of responsibility of raising a child....or maybe they had and I was caught up in the euphoria of pending motherhood and I glossed over that bit.  I think I was more focused on getting the nursery ready and hanging up sweet little outfits to worry much over whether I would be able to cope.  I probably should have payed better attention.

A strange thing began to happen.  Every evening about 4pm, I would start a slow rise to panic.  I had trouble focusing on the tasks at hand, my breathing was a bit more rapid, and I couldn't seem to calm myself.  I tried a hot cup of tea, breathing exercises, mental pep talks, but not much helped.  Day after day this strange feeling would grip me and by the time my husband got home from work, I was a tense mess and he noticed the shaky ground on which I stood.

One day he said to me, "What's wrong that you can't settle down?  Why are you so tense?"  In a rush then, it all came out.  I was a miserable wretch of a mother. I was not going to be able to care for Evan as I should and I knew he would cry in the night and I wouldn't hear him.  I was sure he would stop breathing and again, I would be unaware and he would die.  The tears poured from my eyes as I told my dear husband of my fears and I stood in front of him sure he recognized me now for the fraud I was.  I was not enough.

He gathered me in his arms and said these words.  "You are not alone.  I am here to help you."  The relief that flooded over me at that point was incredible.  To this day, 21 years later, I still remember it and the peace that came from knowing John had my back.

God our Father tells us we are not alone.  He says that nothing is too much for Him to handle and for us to bring our cares to Him because He cares for us.  Whatever we are going through, He's got our backs and we can rest.  Psalm 121:4 says, indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  We can rest knowing the God of the universe is on call and will be our source of strength when we can't do anymore.

What are you worried about today?  Is it your job (or lack of a job)?  Is it your children?  Maybe you're worried about your health and test results that are pending.  Maybe you've been piling so much on your own shoulders that you are reaching the place of panic.  Allow our Father to put his arms around you and listen to Him when he whispers to you, "You are not alone.  I am here to help you."  

Loving Mommy

DJ Leffin is helping his little girls write for their Mommy.

Mommy do you know how much I love. I wanted to fill your bucket so I am helping the church honor you. I really like it when we play in the garden in the back yard. I like to help. Karis isn't very good at it yet but that's OK because you can teach her. It's fun when Karis and I get to stand on the window with Daddy and say good bye to you in the morning, but I really like it when you come back home again at night because I really love you and we play Sparkle Girl and I just really really love that. I love you to the moon and back.

Alaithia

Mama...glabble bacca dropple. Blaggle blabble koo. Mama stroogle toog blaggle. Bye bye love you.

Karis

After Heartache, Learning to Laugh Again

Brittany Merriman Floyd is our writer today.

Mother’s Day has taken on a whole new meaning to me now that I myself, am a mom.  Growing up I was always very close with my mom, she has taught me so much about so many things. We are so close in fact that often we are mistaken as sisters! I know she will giggle as she reads this because to her this is one of her most cherished compliments, but to me I think, “Wait a minute, how old do you think I am?”  She’s taught me how to love, how to laugh and how to stand up for and believe in myself. She has always been there for me, no matter how much I had felt like I had failed or felt like giving up. We have a special bond, one that at many times has been tested. Through it all though, we’ve managed to become even closer.

 I’ll never forget the times where I’ve felt like no one could possibly ever love me. I had a child as a teenager and married and divorced as a teenager but through my heart break and, as I’m sure you can only imagine, her heart break my mom was with me, loving me when I thought no one could. Her unconditional love is truly one of things I admire most in my mom. Her ability to assess the situation, stay strong and calm through the storm is truly amazing to me. She built me back up after those trying times in my life and taught me how to love and to laugh again. Her model through those circumstances of what a wife and mom should be has made into the mom and wife that I am today. I don’t think it would ever be possible to thank her enough for all she’s done for me.  Thank you mom!

I couldn’t possibly end my post without sharing a funny thought, since after all we are talking about Mother’s Day and I truly have one of the best and most fun moms in town. So I’ll close with a picture. As a kid my mom and I would often be caught in front of a mirror making silly faces at each other. Yes, you can still catch us doing this today! On one occasion we just happened to be in front of a camera…!

I love you mom and Happy Mother’s Day!

Brittany

Honoring a Friend

I'm stepping away from the mom topic for today.  My heart is elsewhere so I'm going to write a bit about it.

Today I received news that a childhood friend had lost his very brave battle with cancer.  His name was Kenny and he was one of the few people in my life that I remember with no negatives.  He was funny and charming, loved to laugh and make others laugh and he was so kind.  He sat behind me in 10th grade geometry and when I felt like giving in, he would cheer me up by showing me his grades which were often challenging mine for lowest in the class.  He never let it get him down and he spurred me on to try harder.

There was a time when he and I had to pick up a few German exchange students from Dulles....or so we thought.  We arrived at Dulles only to find that we were at the wrong airport and had to go to National.  I was a scared baby because that meant we had to go to DC! We were small town kids from Southern Virginia! Oh, the horrors!  Kenny never wavered.  He started driving and soon we were in crazy traffic and zooming down the parkway.  He was as cool as a cucumber and so I decided I would not tell him how petrified I was.  His courage and determination gave me courage.

We were blessed to be part of a group who spent 5 weeks in Europe and the adventures we had were made even better by the funny antics Kenny and the boys would get up to.  At Lake Lungern in Switzerland, we walked from our hostel to the edge of the lake and the boys challenged each other....and the girls....to dive into that frigid water.  We girls managed to wade in as far as our shins, but for Kenny that wasn't enough.  With a big yell, he dove right in, the others following, and came bursting out of that water with another yell that echoed around the mountains.  Two local fisherman floating in a boat out a little ways, applauded and called their congratulations.  Apparently, they were unaccustomed to seeing people actually swimming in water that had come straight from the Alps!  Looking a challenge in the face and doing his best to overcome it, Kenny taught me to persevere.

My heart is heavy for Kenny's family and for this road they must walk.  It won't be easy and there will be days they feel like giving in, but I'm sure that living with him as husband and father, they have learned what I learned from him so many years ago.  Don't let it get you down, try harder, be determined, be courageous, and persevere....life lessons from a wonderful man.

Kenny, you will be missed.

Mom, Daughter, Granddaughter

Kay and Joy

Joy Kelly and Kristy Lamper are our writers today.








My Mom, Kay Ham, is a BEAUTIFUL blessing!  I am so thankful God made her my Mom.  Not only is she a great Mom but a wonderful Grandma to my girls and an amazing GeeGee to her great grandkids!!!  She is still ALWAYS willing to help out even being 81 years old.  Truly she is one of my best friends.  She's beautiful inside and out!!  I can call her anytime of day.  She listens with her heart and is always there when I need her.  Whether on a mission to help my brother or just girls out having fun, she makes me laugh.  She has made my life richer because she is in it.  She is a wonderful inspiration to me.  And I hope when I get to her age the remembrance of her beautiful legacy will live on.  Happy Mother's Day MOM!!!  Love, Joy 

Katie, Joy, Kristy and Roger:)

" On this Mother's Day, I want YOU to know how much it means to not only be able to call YOU my Mom... but to also call YOU my best friend.  I love sharing life with YOU. Our everyday talks, our laughter, our struggles, our victories... all made more special because of YOU.  God gave me an incredible gift of relationship with YOU and the best part is....it just keeps getting better!!  I love YOU MOM... Happy Mother's Day to YOU!!!" ~ Kristy

Part Of My Heart

Today's post is for Consuelo and Luz Prada by their dear niece, Adriana.

I am 100% convinced that you don't need to have children (biologically or adopted) to be a mom and my two aunts are living proof of that.  Even though they have never had any children of their own I consider them to be amazing mother figures my life.  They epitomize Galatians 5:22-23 because their love and dedication show me what it means to be a woman of faith and be filled with the Spirit! They have been through many difficult situations and I just admire how resilient they are and how in spite of what they have been through they continue to strengthen their relationship with Christ because they live their lives knowing that they serve a God of purpose. 

Adriana and Aunt Luz (Tia Nikia)

Back in October 2004 when I got pregnant with my first born everyone thought that my life was over; and more importantly that I was never going to finish school.  Even though my family was devastated they continued supporting me; my aunts would always be willing to watch my girls so I could study, they even helped me pay for books when I didn't have money for them. Fast-forward 8 years and I stand with them at my College Graduation.  I can honestly say I have no idea where I would be if it wasn't for their amazing influence in my life so I have some special words for them:

To my Aunt Luz (Tia Nikia) I love you so much, more that I could ever express in words! YOU are an incredible woman of faith because you allow the negative things that happen in your life to not tear you away from God but to bring you closer to Him. I am so thankful for you and everything you do for me! Samantha and Leah love you so much and I feel so honored and blessed that my daughters get to have to opportunity to be influenced by you!

Aunt Consuelo (Tia Coti) and Adriana

To my Aunt Consuelo (Tia Coti) I love you with all of my life! I have never met someone who loves God and loves people as much as you do. I can't imagine my life without you because you are part of my heart! From the moment we meet (almost 28 years ago) we have had such a special bond that goes beyond aunt and niece but transcends into friendship. We laugh together, we cry together, we fight together but most importantly we love the Lord together and I am so grateful for your spiritual influence!  

So to both of my beautiful aunts THANK YOU and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!