Tag: children

Motherhood

Fulfilling His Plan

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By: Betty Predmore

Last night our two youngest, both adopted, thanked us for adopting them. Sweet little Lizbeth says, “Thanks for saving us.” Jovanney adds, “Thanks for giving us a home.”

There were moments yesterday, when their rooms looked like an F5 had landed there, that my frustration with them was high. There are moments on many days that I feel inadequate for this job. But then there are moments like last night, when two sweet little souls speak their heart to you in a way that touches you all the way to the tips of your toes. And then you realize…I am adequate for this job. God chose me just for these specific children. God doesn’t make mistakes. He knows far better than I do what these kids need…what I need.

This is the case for all of us mamas, biological, step, adoptive. There are times we doubt our abilities. There are moments when our frustration gets the better of us. There are instances of fear. It is in these moments that we seek our Father for direction. It is at these times that we trust in the One whose plans are far greater than ours.

Thank you Lord for bringing these children to me. Thank you for trusting me with their hearts and their lives. May I, each day, live up to the challenge and blessed opportunity you have given me. Help me, Father, each day to fulfill Your plan.

I can do all things brought Christ Jesus, who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Motherhood

The Magic of My Kingdom

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By:  Betty Predmore

If you ask a lot of children where the happiest place on earth is, they are likely to say it is that great adventure park where a walking mouse holds court, along with his silly dog friend, and a duck decked out in blue. That is a place of magic and adventure, where memories are made and smiles are abundant.

If you ask that same question to my son, he will tell you the happiest place on earth is his mama’s house. There are no animals walking around as humans, there are no turbulent rides of excitement, and you can’t buy churros at a corner stand. But what you DO get is enough.

In my magic kingdom there is always excitement. One day you might be waiting on the tooth fairy, the next it might be an unannounced camping trip. There is always delicious fine dining in mama’s kitchen, thanks to dad’s culinary skills. We may not have a churro stand, but there are always treats like Sissy’s homemade cookies, Emmie’s brownies, or one of mama’s cakes.

Magic and adventure….there is plenty at mama’s house. There is the magic of unconditional love, forgiveness when necessary, compassion and tenderness, and acceptance. There is great adventure in our family “nerf wars” and pool races. There is the adventure of beginning each new day, knowing that God has something really awesome for us. There is adventure in the moments of expectation and the moments of surprise.

And just like that great theme park, my magic kingdom has plenty of smiles. There are the smiles that greet each other in the morning, ready to begin a new day. There are the smiles of welcome after a day away from home. There are the smiles and laughter that come from silly jokes, old stories, and selfie poses. There are smiles and shrieks of laughter through the tickles and hide-and-seek chases. There are smiles and embraces for those who come home to visit, and even smiles through our tears when we say goodbye.

And ALL of this….everything that happens in my magic kingdom, makes our beautiful memories. This life that God has given us, this family that He has joined together, has made some beautiful, unforgettable memories together, and I know God is just getting started! Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,”declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” His plans for the future of this family are awesome. He wants to prosper us and bring us new things….new adventures, new opportunities to love, show grace & compassion, new chances to learn from each other and from Him. His desire is that we continue to follow Him, and grow in our knowledge of Him. He wants us to smile and laugh together, and make millions more new memories. I know a lot of that will happen in my house….my very own magic kingdom.

Motherhood

The Beauty of Our Bond

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By:  Betty Predmore

I am celebrating my anniversary with my sweet hubby. We have been married 9 years today. When he took me as his bride, he also took on four broken kids who weren’t quite sure what to do with a step-dad. He has persevered through hateful words, high voices, and bad attitudes, and has pretty much won them over. Added to that are the three little ones we adopted just a little over a year into our marriage. We have a true understanding of the word CHAOS. We also have a true understanding of the word FAMILY. In our home, it is not the blood ties that bind. It is the love, compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance that has melded us into this unique batch of crazy that is unmistakably ours, and unmistakably cherished by each of us.

As I read the anniversary wishes from my kids today, I am struck by the beauty of our bond, I am reminded of how God takes that which seems impossible and makes it totally possible. I am touched to the core by the love our children have for us, and by the devotion our family shares. My heart is filled with gratitude, not just for nine wonderful years of marriage, but also for the family God has assembled for us. Sometimes they are a little much. Sometimes I am sure I will not survive the day. Often, I want to pull out a hair or two. But always, I am honored to be their mama, and so very grateful for each special moment the Lord gives us.

I realize that today is not only the anniversary of the day I married my husband. It is also the anniversary of the day we became this beautiful family, brought together through God’s goodness and his trust in us as parents. So I say to my babies….Happy Anniversary!

Motherhood

Bend, Don’t Break

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By: Betty Predmore

Motherhood is an incredible journey. There are so many emotions we experience as mothers, so many opportunities to grow. From the moment they are born, our children hold a precious place in our hearts. We want only the best for them, and we do all we can to make life wonderful for our little darlings.

Motherhood brings so many happy moments, filled with love, laughter, secret whispers, and butterfly kisses. It brings special bonds that nothing in life can break apart, and a sense of unity and security. I wish our minds had the capacity to clearly remember every moment of laughter and joy that comes from being a mother. I wish I could conjure up in a moment every time I felt that sense of fulfillment that my children bring me. But the moments are too many to corral into a thought or a memory. They are as numerous as the stars, and I consider myself to be a very lucky mama.

Amongst all that joy and laughter has also been some pain. No matter how hard we try, our children are left to experience the tough stuff. Childhood illness, death, bullying, mental illness, fear, abandonment, broken homes… and the list continues. If only we could protect their hearts from all pain! But the reality is that life is life, and part of life is struggle and hardship. If we are honest, we know that we tend to grow, change, and learn the most through our moments of trial. It is through those hard times we realize that God really does walk with us, never leaving our side. Of course, we want our children to have that realization, that sense of security.

As mothers, our prayer should be that through it all, the rain, the sunshine, and the cloudy days, that we have grounded our children in their faith and gave them a knowledge of someone who is far greater than any of us, and who is far more capable of easing their hurts and troubles. Have you pointed your child to Jesus? Have you hit your knees time and time again on their behalf?

Life is sometimes difficult. Motherhood is often challenging. Many times we experience pain and concern for our children, and sometimes a fear that is almost crippling. As strong women of God, as mothers of His precious children, we will not let those moments define us. When the tough times come, we do not break….we bend. We bend our knees, we call on our Father, and we intercede for our sweet precious babies. Oh, what a mighty power we have because of Jesus! Oh, what a glorious difference we can make in the lives of our children! Oh, what a precious gift it is to be a mama!

 

 

Motherhood

“She’s a Personality”

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Lauren Moye

By: Lauren C. Moye

“ Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are!” 1 John 3:1 (HCSB)

My one-year-old daughter wins the heart of anybody she chooses. She’s an entertainer and notices almost everything around her. So if somebody looks at her, even from a distance, the act is on. She’s all wide smiles, fake sneezes, and high-fives. Because of this, I’ve gotten used to responding to compliments with, “She’s definitely a personality.”

People outside only see her best points. They don’t know the more frustrating things about her personality. She is equal parts sunshine and thunderstorms. Sometimes she has meltdowns over being set down, only to get even more upset when she’s picked back up to be soothed.

Just yesterday, I stepped out of the room for a minute to straighten up the kitchen after breakfast. I wasn’t aware that my husband had left an opened pack of sunflower seeds, the shells still on, out. A week ago, it would have been safe from her reach. As it was, when I came back into the room, she had dumped all the contents out in front of her. Since my child is prone to shoving an entire fistful of food into her mouth, I already knew what was coming. She did, too.

Muffled grunts came from her mouth as I walked towards her. She stood up and tried to run. I caught her and sat her on my lap. She wiggled away from me. This time, she was smarter about it. She waited until the last second to duck away from my arm. This time, instead of trying to go gently for her stomach to lift her into my lap, I caught her arm. More muffled wails emitted from her mouth. I pulled her back into my lap and held her securely with one arm. It took almost eight minutes before I successfully wrangled the last of the seeds from her mouth. The whole time, she fought me by twisting her head away, clamping her jaws shut, and blocking my progress with her tongue. She fought me with everything she had over shelled sunflower seeds. And the whole time she fought me, she screamed and sobbed like I was torturing her.

I think when we talk about being God’s children, we’re guilty of imagining the sweet children happily clustered around Jesus. The truth is, parenting is about more than the joyous moments. There’s tears, late nights followed by early mornings, and discipline. There’s rescuing your child from danger – both physical and spiritual – only to be thanked by tears, screams, and hurtful words.

1 John 3:1 tells us that we truly are God’s children. When we look at God’s love, we find He has the love of a parent. I don’t know about you, but I imagine that when God looks at me, He sometimes says, “Yep, that Lauren is definitely a personality.”

Motherhood

Placing Your Nest

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By:  Betty Predmore

Even the sparrow has found a home , and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. (Psalm 84:3)

We mamas will do anything to protect our children. We go to great lengths to make sure our homes are safe, the food we serve is safe, that we teach them about 9-1-1 and about stranger danger. We want to protect our children….from danger, from doubt, from insecurity, from fear, and from pain. We want them to be safe at all times and we want them to have that sweet assurance that they are protected.

I think of the swallow….just a small bird, yet so wise in the placement of her nest. She was preparing a safe place to have her babies….a safe place near the altar of God. She knew instinctively that her nest needed to be positioned near the place that resonated reverence and awe for the King of Kings. I find that amazing, and see it as yet another example of God’s awesome creation.

As mamas, are we like that swallow? With all of the worry and fuss over the physical safety of our children, are we making sure they are spiritually safe? Are we preparing a place for them, bringing them up near our Father? Are we feeding their souls? Are our homes filled with the security and assurance of the Holy Spirit? Are we teaching them about the love of Christ?

Just like that mama bird, we are responsible for our children. They are depending on us. God gave them to us with the purpose of us raising them up in His ways, teaching them to live and to serve like Jesus did. That spiritual nurturing is so important in His plan for their lives. Be wise. Be prepared. Be safe. Place your “nest” at the foot of the cross and let God hold your family in his safe and comforting arms.

Motherhood

The Promise of His Word

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By:  Nicole Espino

I remember it so clearly as if it wasn’t almost nine years ago. I had just experienced the quickest and easiest delivery, my doctor was even surprised by how effortless it was. I was so thankful because I had just endured a very painful and long pregnancy due to pelvic issues. But there I was holding my sweet baby boy, the joy that filled my heart was almost too much to contain. There is nothing like that moment they lay that sweet baby on your chest and you breath in their precious baby scent for the very first time. New life, new breath, new beginnings filled my heart. There is so much hope and so many dreams we have for our children. What did God have in store for this precious new life.

I don’t think we are ever fully prepared for the hurdles though that come our way, especially in the joyful moments. This hurdle for my family in particular came in the form of a failed hearing scan. When we learned of my sons hearing loss, so many questions and fears filled my heart and mind. What did I do during my pregnancy to cause this, how severe is his hearing loss, will he be able to talk, will he live a normal life? The questions swirled inside for months as we went down the long road of tests and doctor’s appointments. It was not what I had envisioned for our little family. All those previous hopes and dreams turn into questions and fears. It’s only natural when you are faced with an unexpected turn of events. Included with the hearing loss were all sorts of developmental delays and at 2 years old we discovered that our precious boy had Autism as well. I was in denial at first, I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew that if my son was going to have any chance that we had to get him the services he needed.

But even though our journey with my second son has had its ups and downs, he has brought so much joy and change into my life, I am a better mother because of him. God’s promise found in Romans 8:28 says:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

This has proven true over and over again. The one thing these hurdles have done in my life is caused me to run to Him for strength, wisdom, and grace in times of personal weakness.

So here I sit, almost 9 years later, pregnant with my 3rd child. And the funny thing is about painful memories from the past is that they have a way a resurfacing. To be honest, as excited as we are to have our first baby girl, my heart has been wrestling with fear, doubt, and anxiety. What should be a joyous time has become a time of fearing the future all over again. Will she be healthy, will I be healthy, how am I going to handle three kids??

I’m sure you are all too familiar with the mind games the enemy plays with us women. But then I remember all the ways God held me and took care of me and my children, and I choose to trust God. It’s not easy sometimes, but He reaches out to me in my pit and gently whispers His fatherly words, “I love you! I’ve got this in the palm of my hand!”

I’m so thankful for those times of breakthrough, I wish I allowed Him to comfort me sooner, I wish I wouldn’t spend weeks agonizing, but God is so long suffering. No matter the outcome, God is big enough, strong enough, and fully capable of holding my world together. If He can hold our universe together, then He can certainly handle anything that comes my way.

My prayer for us Moms this new year is that we would cling to Him in the good times and the bad. That we would run to Him for everything, and that we would see how He is working all things out for our good, to change us, to mold us and to make us better wives and moms. God’s word is full of His promises, comfort, and encouragement. I want to commit to allowing His word to wash me from all my fears, no matter what happens, God is in control! And He is a good good Father!

Motherhood

The Sounds of Christmas

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By:  Betty Predmore

It is two days until Christmas. There is baking to do and preparations to make. There are several more sappy Hallmark movies to fit into my schedule, and some last minute adventures in shopping. The house is decorated and the lights are twinkling. Outside my window, it looks like a December morning. Oh….the sights of Christmas!

There are also the sounds of Christmas. The kids have been on school break for almost a week, so there is the sound of bickering between children who have been spending too much quality time together. There is the sound of televisions competing with boom boxes to be heard at the highest level, cartoons competing with music for the top spot. There is the sound of the dog scratching at the door to be let in, which cannot be heard over the roar of above-mentioned appliances. Speaking of appliances, the washer and dryer make their own melody to add to this concert of chaos. (How do we get so many dirty clothes?) The ringing of the phone, the sounds of the neighborhood, and the herd of horses galloping down my stairs (oh wait, that’s just the hubby) complete this symphony of insanity that plays daily at the Predmore house.

Oh, what a loud mess we are! Oh, what craziness goes on in these walls! And oh, what a joy it is to be here, to be a part of this clan of crazies that God has tossed together. My Father has a wonderful sense of humor. I am blessed to live this life of lunacy and grateful for these people who give me gray hair and laugh lines.

I’m not sure what this day will bring, but I’m sure it will contain love and laughter, and possibly some squabbles and name-calling, but at the end of this day, I will climb my stairs to my big, comfy bed and sleep in Heavenly peace!

Motherhood

I Didn’t Want Him

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By: Sherry Clair

The great thing about thoughts, is that no ones knows you’re having them. The fact that no one knows your thoughts can also leave you in a frightening and lonely place. Especially the thoughts that may shock those around you, the thoughts that leave you feeling guilty, the thoughts that you immediately feel shamed for thinking. Sometimes a situation arises and no matter how hard you try, you can’t prevent these thoughts from flitting through your brain faster than lightening. I’d like to share with you my scary secret thought, that to this day still haunts me.

It was March 21, 2012. It was rainy and dreary outside, I was alone in my car, pregnant with my second child. I had just found out that we were having a baby boy and I didn’t want him. Please, before you judge me, let me explain….

On February 14th, my husband, and I excitedly waited in a dimly lit room. We were expecting our second child and were eager to see him or her for the first time. A quick swipe of the ultrasound wand revealed a very small black and white wiggling baby. Various measurements were taken, pictures were printed, the technician quietly left the room and the doctor came in. He informed us that there had been some abnormal findings on the ultrasound; he explained that our baby had swelling everywhere. He went on to tell us that the chances of the pregnancy continuing another three weeks was slim, chances were very high that we would lose our baby. Utterly devastated, I clutched the photos and sobbed. We went home to wait.

God knew my heart and He knew my needs before I ever did. He placed a man in my life that did not have Thomas like faith; my husband. Josh’s faith swelled; he wrote out numerous healing scriptures for me to speak over the baby, fasted until our follow up ultrasound twenty one days later. We surrounded ourselves with Godly people and stood on faith that God would see us through. Our follow up appointment proved the power of prayer. Our baby was growing and thriving, showing no evidence of prior anomalies. We chose to move forward with an amniocentesis to confirm that there were no issues.

On March 21, 2012 I received a call from our doctor to call him back when I left work. Feeling confident that our prayers had been answered, I alerted josh that our results were in. I was confident that I could handle the good news on my own and quickly disconnected. I cheerfully answered and listed to what the perinatologist had to say; “The fetus has a chromosomal abnormality”. I couldn’t breathe, my heart pounded in my ears and my smile vanished. Sobs and tears consumed me, the word “abnormal” echoed through my head attempting to drown out everything else he was saying. “There is a third copy of the 21st chromosome, the fetus has Down syndrome. You will need to come in ASAP to make plans.” I murmured my goodbyes and hung up.

I was shattered; I clung to the steering wheel and sobbed uncontrollably. I thought back through the conversation; I knew that there had been a mistake. He had called the wrong patient, or had the wrong labs. Somehow, I managed to ask him if I was having a boy or a girl, “I believe it’s a male” was the detached response. It, fetus, abnormal, Down syndrome, I couldn’t understand how this was happening. We had prayed, fasted, believed; we had bigger than a mustard seed faith! I could barely bring myself to call Josh, I felt I failed him and my family. Guilt and anger overwhelmed me. In that moment, in the car by myself, I didn’t love the baby that was growing inside my belly, fighting so hard to be in our lives.

I slammed the car in reverse and backed out. I glared through my windshield, looking up into the grey sky, I imagined God looking back at me. “I cannot believe that you would do this to us. You have NO idea what you’re doing! You tell us to trust you, to have faith, and then you go and do something like this, you missed your chance God, how could you?” The blame wasn’t mine, this was Gods fault, and I was furious with Him. I’d love to say that the scripture “your sorrows may last for a night, but your joy comes in the morning”, was true for me, but it wasn’t. I was barely able look at Josh or our daughter the next day, feeling like somehow I hadn’t given them the son or brother I thought they needed. I broke down every time I felt the baby stretch reminding me that every single cell of his was “abnormal”. Every kick brought with it the fear of the unknown and guilt over the detachment I felt.

Motherhood

Hanging Up on Santa

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image.jpegBy:  Bethany Douglas

I downloaded the Santa app this week (which on a side note is by FAR the most entertaining $1.99 I’ve spent in a very long time- best.app.ever!). You can program your kids name and ages, likes, and issues that might put them on the “naughty list” into it, give them kuddos for things well-done, etc, and then “Santa” will call them at times you can schedule and have all kinds of super cute conversations with them, you can text with Santa or leave voicemails (I am not a paid spokesman…)
Anyway, so thus far it’s been a hit with the 4-year old. Jesse is spellbound by the idea of speaking with Santa. It’s a little alarming how much fun Gabe and I have watching him. Jonah, the 3-year old, however, has had a different experience. Yesterday he was having a total emotional melt-down. (On a side note- I tell you, there are no books I remember reading that prepare you for the hormonal-teenage-girl-emotional-crises that these 3-year old boys go through….come on people! Someone please give these poor new parents a heads-up. But I digress…) So Jonah was pitching a mach-5 level fit when this mom, namely me, decided to try a new tactic to get him calmed down… a call from Santa warning him that he might go on the naughty list. In what would immediately become a ginormous #momfail, upon hearing his voice Jonah freaked out even more and abruptly pushed that big red button on my phone and hung up on Santa.
My child hung up on Santa.
Poor old man never stood a chance!
I’m pretty sure that’s a new low in childrendom regarding interactions with Father Christmas, and honestly I’m positive there’s some sort of spiritual lesson to be learned or taught here, but I haven’t figured out what it is yet. I’ll let you know if I do!

Jesse’s eyes grew to the size of saucers as it happened, he visibly paled. (At least one of my kids has a healthy respect for the old elf!) I wish I had a camera to catch the reaction because it was truly priceless. He is super concerned now that Jonah is forever on the naughty list and will never again receive any gifts from Santa. I am a little bit too… because after all, one should NEVER hang up on Santa!