Dear Postpartum Nurse

 Dear Postpartum Nurse,

     My nieces are starting to have babies and soon my own girls will, too. I want to be in the room and that's not always possible, but they have you. I hope you see your opportunity to help them through this time. There's been celebrations, parties and excitement, but now they might be wondering "Where is mine?"

   Everything has changed in the last 24 hours for this new mom. She's imagined sunshine and rainbows, but this is a foreign land she's yet to know.

   Someone needs to tell her it's going to be okay. That she'll have friends and loved ones to hold her hand every step of the way. Maybe her family has no "pray-ers", but that's okay, she has you. You can hold her hand and beneath your breath say a prayer for the days to come. You don't have to say anything with your words, for she'll see it in your eyes: you care, you've been there, and she'll trust your advice. The doctor has slipped in and out, but you're there to stay for at least a day or two.

   There's a lot of information about how to care for this new bundle of joy, but what's happening inside of her, possibly no one's prepared her for. That's okay, because she has you. A friend she never knew. A friend to tell her that in the days to come, she'll possibly feel strange in this new land she's known nothing of.

    Encourage her to take one day at a time, and tell her she'll learn as she goes. Remind her that everything she needs as a mom is already within her; that she'll sit back and watch it flow.

   She'll need to trust her instincts and be patient with herself. Don't try to figure it all out today because the years will unfold the rest.

   When discharge day comes and you've done your part, know that this new mom will carry you in her heart. You've listened to her questions, her hopes and her fears. Now she's off to venture into this land called motherhood, full of hope, because of you!

   Thank you!

   Sincerely,

   One who really wants to be in the room. 

Postpartum nurses are medical professionals who care for mothers and newborns during the days following birth. They use a wide range of professional skills to provide physical and emotional support to mothers during their recovery period.

If you or a loved one are struggling with postpartum depression, know that you are not alone. You are not selfish. You are not a bad mother. If you choose to seek professional help, there is nothing selfish or wrong about that. This is a safe space for mothers, and motherhood, just like life itself, is a journey. If you are a mother, you are safe, you are loved, and if you are struggling, know that you are not alone.  

The Horse in the Dining Room

      I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning (not this exact morning ;)...this was written last March in the thick of quarantine) with a desire to pull away and study the subject of grace. A desire to get alone, uninterrupted, and dive into the scripture for myself, and just see where I'd end up. I've had times and seasons like this with God, don't get me wrong, but it's been a minute. I'm glad to be back; back to believing, back to trusting, back to hoping!

      I want to shout it from the rooftops: "I'm Hoping Again!" But hope is one of those things you don't have to announce, and you can't fake it. It's seen in our eyes, in our smiles, and in our laughs. I love to laugh- it's my absolute favorite!

      So, hope and grace...which one to google first? Grace was the word on my heart at 3 a.m., so we'll start there. (We won't be long because I need a nap before 7 a.m.!).

      I snuck out of bed, trying so hard not to disturb Jay, because he has to "work work" tomorrow. Yes, I work but I don't pay the light bill, so that's why his is called "work work", and I try to help him get good rest because I only want to "work", not "work work", you get what I'm saying? (I actually really enjoy working- haha!)

      In my trying not to disturb Jay so he can "work work" tomorrow, I quickly realized I didn't have my supplies for this 3 a.m. Bible study. I couldn't go to my "office", also known as "Brelyn's Bedroom" (my new work home during quarantine since her room has a built in desk). To get to her room I'd have to pass through the dining room where Blue, our ninety pound beautiful silver lab, lives. (Our horse in the dining room!) If you're wondering, we needed him like we needed a hole in the head. But, he's added a joy we've needed and has put a smile on the girls' faces that helps me not question our sanity too much.

    But if I make too much noise, he'll wake up the whole house- and let's not do that! This is my Bible study time (3 a.m. is just for today...not the norm I don't think...) and I need that nap before 7 a.m., remember? So let's not go through the dining room and chance all that.

    So, in rounding up my supplies, I found my Bible, my phone for music- no ear buds around so I'll have to turn the music really low and hold the speaker to my ear- and I can't wake up Blue or Nora, highest priority. Or Jay, because of the "work work".

    So, I'm in the garage (this won't work later in June when it's hot, but for now, I'm in the garage at 3 a.m...Well, closer to 4 a.m. now). Rest assure, God sees this effort us moms make to carve out quiet time, which is why I'm sharing this with you. I hope you see you're not alone in having to get creative to be able to be with God while it's quiet. I also hope it makes you laugh, or at least chuckle. The joy of the Lord is our strength! But, I believe even though we have to get creative, God rewards us double! His sweet presence is everything, my heart's true desire.

      So now in the garage, it's 4:08 a.m. Let's google grace. Praise God for google. I've said google a lot in my new "Not Permanent" role of teacher. "Please google that!" Jenna, my very studious eleven year old, thinks googling is cheating, but I've reassured her otherwise. Google was invented because God knew so many would suddenly have this new home school role (🙂 ), and because He takes the best care of us mamas like this. Google is our friend!

        So it's 4:14 a.m. now. In googling "grace", Hebrews 4:16 come up, but let's define grace first (yes, I saved that tab and opened a new tab; Jay would be proud. He likes to see me being efficient because if you've kept up with this timeline, I started this Sneaky Bible Study at 3 a.m. and it's now 4:17 a.m., and I'm just getting good- I've enjoyed every minute, actually, so I'm okay with it, but we won't tell him!)

        

       My google findings on grace:

• Grace has been defined as a divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptations. (I'll take all of that!)
• The Gospel message is the good news of God's grace, so it is important to know what grace is and to constantly seek to get a better view of what grace does in our lives. Not what we can do, but what grace can do!
• "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." (Hebrews 4:16)

      Thank you, Father, for your grace! I receive Your help today. Not my will, but yours be done. I pray if you read this far, you'll find time to seek Him today and receive his help.❤️ 

What's the last thing God's told you to do?

 If I asked you, "What's the last thing God's told you to do?", could you answer that?

I've been thinking about this a lot, and my answer involves you!

        The last strong leading I've been given is to share my story with you: my story of God leading me as a teenager. I've fought slowing down and sharing this with you, but today I'm going to obey. Today I'm going to slow down and do it. Is there direction you've been given that you can slow down and obey today?

So, here it goes. My story.

        As a teenager, I attended the youth group at Goodwater Baptist Church in Magee, Mississippi, and Chris Johns was my Youth Pastor. I saw Jesus in Chris Johns and I saw that Chris Johns saw me. He noticed me. He saw a Renee inside of Renee, and I could sense it.

        I attended the youth group regularly, but I was far from perfect; a teenager searching for love and missing the mark. A teenager with an inner image of chasing after God with all of her heart- no matter the cost- but wanting to fit in. My junior year, my world was shaken, security was lost, the natural plan I had made for my life came to an end and now I realize looking back, one of my very best friends on this planet left the Earth.

      I thought she'd be in my life forever, looking back. I admired her and the way she cared for her child in a way I had never seen a mother love a child. I wanted to be her. I loved her. And she left too soon. I've grieved her, but honestly at the time didn't know how to process it or who to run to, so I ran to my Father. My Heavenly Father. A seventeen-year-old with her plans- as seventeen-year-olds usually have- suddenly shattered.

      I cried out to God and knew my direction was to be found in my relationships. This inner image of chasing after God with all of my heart couldn't happen without a change of scenery and somehow, at the age of seventeen, I saw that. And now, looking back, I see that Chris Johns helped me see that. Thank you, Chris.

      So, on a Sunday night, broken-hearted with a hole of hopelessness inside that I had never experienced, I ran to God. I had felt Him the strongest at Word of Life as a child, so I started there. Broken-hearted and alone, I headed to Word of Life that Sunday night and truly surrendered my life to my Heavenly Father. It was real, and I knew I'd never look back. As I exited the church that night, a young girl walked up and handed me a letter. She sheepishly said, "God had me write this for you during the service." In this letter contained the answer to my prayer. The exact words I had cried out to God weeks prior. She wrote word for word, "If you're looking for some on-fire-Christian-friends, call me." She was obedient. She did the last thing God had led her to do. Her actions changed my life.

    That inner image I saw at seventeen, I'm living out today. Not without flaw. But I'm doing it. As I think of my own seventeen-year-old about to step out and brave this big world, do you know what the Holy Spirit keeps whispering to my heart? "Don't take your parenting role too seriously."

    This has shocked me over the past few months, because this is the exact opposite of what my flesh and emotions want to do. I want to research, I want to pray, I want to talk to all the Moms who have sent their babies out into this big, big world. And those are fine to do! But what makes the difference is what He does. She knows His voice just like I did. He has more connections. He knows the perfect timing. He knows Brelyn. I can let Him do that. I trusted Him with me and I can trust Him with her.

    You can trust Him, too. I promise. 

Let's Speak Well- So We'll See Well!

 I was looking for another picture today and came across this one (and no, I absolutely did not sob when I found it!). It's important to keep these images of our babies in front of us so that we'll speak the right things.

        Brelyn has such a great life ahead of her. She knows our Father's voice and leading and she'll never stray from it. She'll not be deceived by any trick of the enemy- God has directed her path and she'll walk in it, and live out the number of her days happy and full of life!

        No weapon will prosper against her.

        Speaking over Brelyn like this creates an inner image on the inside of me and that image causes faith for her to grow. I water that seed of faith by continuing to speak well and give thanks to God for all He's doing in her life.

        I have to protect that seed of faith with my words. On hard days, I can't go around complaining about Brelyn to my buds and Jay- not because God will be mad at me or any foolishness like that- but because I have to protect my inner image of Brelyn thriving. 

        "Father God, on this Tuesday, we ask for wisdom to parent our children well. We ask for insight into the small things that may be tripping them up today. We ask you, Father, to remove any wrong influences from their lives, in-person or online, and we ask for you to bring in the right relationships for them to do life with in this very season. No matter their ages, we recognize the power of relationships and influences. We ask you for the right ones to enter their lives right on time- we trust you with our babies. In Jesus' name, Amen".

        

 Now, let's spend some time today as we're going throughout our day seeing our babies thriving. No matter what we see in the natural today, let's spend time seeing them thriving and in the right relationships.

When we see them this way, we speak to them differently and they begin to sense what we're seeing inside, and they will rise to that inner image we have of them.

        Whew! I'm encouraged today sweet friends, and I pray you are too.

        Let's speak well- so we'll see well!

        ~Homework For the Week (Just What You Always Wanted!)~

• "If your faith won't move your mouth, it'll never move your mountains." (Pastor Joel Sims)
• "Prayer is the difference between the best I can do and the best God can do. And that's a big difference!" (Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson)

I encourage you to highlight  these scriptures in your paper Bible this week and speak these verses over your babies and watch your inner image of them begin to grow!

• "My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me (and my loved ones) from the traps of the enemies". (Psalms 25: 15)
• "So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16: 31)
• "All your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." (Isaiah 54:13)
• "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) 

“Work, Work”

I woke up at 3am this morning with a desire to pull away and study the subject of grace. A desire to get alone, uninterrupted, and dive into the scripture FOR MYSELF and just see where I’d end up. I’ve had times and seasons like this with God, don’t get me wrong, but it’s been a minute. I’m glad to be back...back to believing, back to trusting, back to HOPING!

I want to shout it from the rooftops...”I’m Hoping Again!!!” But hope is one of those things you don’t have to announce and you can’t fake it. It’s seen in our eyes, in our smiles and in our laughs. I love to laugh...it’s my absolute favorite!!!

So hope and grace...which one to google first. Grace was the word on my heart at 3am so we’ll start there...we won’t be long because I need a nap before 7am...LOL

I snuck out of bed, trying really hard not to disturb Jay, because he has to “work, work” tomorrow. Yes, I work but I don’t pay the light bill so that’s why his is called “work, work” and I try to help him get good rest because I only want to “work” not “work, work” 😂...you get what I’m saying...I digress...haha! (I actually really enjoy working 😉)

In my trying not to disturb Jay so he can “work, work” tomorrow, I quickly realized I didn’t have my supplies for this 3am Bible study. I couldn’t go to my “office”, aka Brelyn’s bedroom (my new work home during quarantine since her room has a built in desk). To get to her room I’d have to pass through the kitchen where Blue, our 90 lb BEAUTIFUL silver lab, lives. If you’re wondering, we needed him like we needed a hole in the head BUT he’s added a JOY we’ve needed and has put a smile on the girls’ faces that helps me not question our sanity too much.

But if I make too much noise he’ll wake up the whole house and let’s NOT do that! This is my Bible study time (no 3am is just for today...not the norm I don’t think...) AND I need that nap before 7am remember...so let’s not go through the kitchen and chance all that.

So in rounding up my supplies, I found my Bible, my phone for music...no ear buds around so I’ll have to turn the music really low and hold the speaker to my ear...can’t wake up Blue and Nora...highest priority...or Jay because of the “work, work”.

So I’m in the garage, this won’t work later in June when it’s hot 🥵...but for now, I’m in the garage at 3am...well, closer to 4am now.

Rest assure, God sees this effort us mamas make to carve out quiet time, which is why I’m sharing this with YOU...I hope you see you’re not alone in having to get creative to be able to be with God while it’s quiet. I also hope it makes you laugh or at least chuckle 🤭...The joy of the Lord is our strength! But I believe even though we have to get creative, God rewards us DOUBLE! His sweet presence is Everything...my heart’s TRUE desire.

So now in the garage, it’s 4:08am. Let’s google grace. Praise God for google. I’ve said google a lot in my new “Not Permanent” role of teacher...“Please google that!” Jenna, my very studious 11 year old, thinks googling is cheating but I’ve reassured her otherwise. Google was invented because God knew so many would suddenly have this new home school role 🙃😬🙈 and He takes the BEST care of us  mamas like this...google is our friend!

So it’s 4:14am now. In googling “grace” Hebrews 4:16 comes up but let’s define grace first...yes I saved that tab and opened a new tab...Jay would be proud. He likes to see me being efficient because if you’ve kept up with this timeline, I started this sneaky Bible study at 3am and it’s now 4:17am and I’m just getting in good...I’ve enjoyed every minute actually so I’m okay with it BUT we won’t tell him!

My google findings on grace:

•Grace has been defined as a divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptations.

I’ll take ALL of that!!!

•The gospel message is the good news of God’s GRACE, so it is important to know what grace is and to constantly seek to get a better view of what GRACE does in our lives. NOT what WE can do but what can GRACE do!!!

Heb 4:16 So let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find GRACE TO HELP US when we need it.

Thank you, Father, for Your GRACE 🙌🏼 I receive Your help today...not my will but YOURS be done ✅ I pray if you read this far, you’ll find time to seek Him today and receive His help ❤️❤️❤️

Orlando 2011...day 1

Left home at 2p on Sunday headed for Pensacola. Such an exciting day!!! (All the questions from my 7 yr old...not so exciting) I drove the first few hrs and got a little too anxious about making the most of our time with kiddos asleep and yep... The popo got me! I tried my sweet talk...First trip to Disney, please don't take all my spending money but he wasn't much moved by it. It saddened my next hr that I had been so careless BUT...found my smile again and reminded myself that We're Going To Disney!!!

Arrived in Pensacola at 8p...yep 6 hr trip for us but we made it. Hit the Beach before even going to condo so kids could "see the water", as we'd promised our 2 yr old who waited so patiently. Jenna's first trip to the beach and she loved it!!! From the sand to the big waves (yellow flag was out so I was the cautious, not so fun mom). Jenna got knocked down by a wave and mama screamed, daddy ran after her and Jenna never had a concern in the world! Daddy stood her up and all I saw was that beautiful smile soaking up every moment we were there.

Got to the condo...aka Frog Palace :) at 9p. Jay's second cousin so willingly opened her home to us and we were oh so thankful. (she collects frogs and her collection is pretty big!...which our kids love!!!) hosed kids down, fed baby, about cried bc. I was SOooo exhausted...been up since 5:30a. I started questioning our sanity...mostly mine! Were we seriously traveling 8 more hours in the morning with a 7 yr, 2 yr, and 4 mo old!?! I chose not to cry, as to not anger my hubby who'd been to the car 3 times for things I'd forgotten due to my mental shutdown from exhaustion.

All kids went to sleep great in their own beds. I passed out as soon as my eyes closed!

Woke up at 5:30a totally refreshed! Looked over at my Annelise in her bed and she was sucking that left thumb like a pro :(... Her eyes were so sweetly checking out this new room her mom had her sleeping in. So many frogs and pictures to keep her entertained while I basked in the moment of thankfulness to my Father God for how good He is to me. Oh how I love Him and so desire for my girls to see that living for Him brings such rewards...like our Orlando 2011 trip.

So, day 2...here we come!!!

Pants On The Ground

Thinking about church made me recall a funny story my family loves to share.

When I was about 4, before my parents divorced, we attended a Church Of God church. My Aunt Linda helped to dress me for church that Sunday morning, which happened to be the day of our children's program.

So off to church we went and then came time for the program. All of us yunguns filed up to the front of the church, and as my parents retell the story, sometime during the program my panties started "easing" down my legs. Mom and dad were mortified and were elbowing each other whispering for the other to go get me. (Apparently Aunt Linda had put Christy's panties on me...Christy was 8.)

I truly had my "Pants On The Ground"!!!