Just a Mom with a Heart for God

Blog Move

2010-05-18T12:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers:
I have moved my blog!
Click HERE to mark it.
Thanks for reading!

Rachel

Breaking MPS News...

2010-05-15T14:56:00.002-04:00

Yesterday Senate Resolution 530 was passed, which calls for May 15th to be National MPS Awareness Day. This coincides with other countries and I am excited to bring light to the first International MPS Awareness Day!

If you've never read my blog before, then what is MPS? Click here to find out.

If you know what MPS is, then you probably know that our sweet Taylor girl, who is 13, was diagnosed with this rare disorder at age 4. Words cannot adequately express all the emotions that come with a day of this significance. We do not know how long Taylor has to live; it could be weeks, months or years. But we have learned a few things along this path of life that I just wanted to share:

1. None of us know how long we have to live; this is the reason we must live every day to the fullest potential.

2. Any achievement is a great achievement. Celebrate life.

3. We are not in control; God is. Maybe you are thinking, "If there really is a God of love, then why is there such a disease as MPS?" I have no pat answer for that. But I am 100% sure that God loves Taylor and is working the best plan for her life. I highly recommend a book by Pete Wilson, "Plan B" to assist you in thinking through the process of how God works in our lives through tragic circumstances.

God has richly blessed Taylor and us; we are thankful to be members of the National MPS Society and we are confident of their work for MPS through research, advocacy and awareness. Donations can be made to the National MPS Society online if you click here.

While making a donation is great, it is my biggest prayer that through Taylor having MPS, people would come to know Christ as their Savior and God would be glorified through our lives.

How can I pray for you?

Note to Teenage Self…

2010-05-13T13:37:00.002-04:00

This week for Women of Faith, we answer the question:

"If you could go back in time and tell your teenage self one thing, what would it be?"

Get a new hair style? Drop the glasses, whether you can see or not?

Yes, people, that is really me. I knew you would love it.
On a more serious note:
For starters, choosing one thing was very difficult. Ummmm, wow, there were so many things that I struggled to find just one. However, boiled down to where the rubber meets the road (whatever that really means)… I would have to say:

Obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

Huge revelation, I know. HUGE! But, I know myself, and I probably wouldn't want to hear that. Not because I was terribly rebellious and didn't want to do what was right. But because of pride, I truly believed that I knew better than my parents. I sought other authoritative advice from those who would support my decisions and I could then feel good about those decisions. Oh, I wasn't disobeying authority; I was just choosing my preferred authority. I wasn't forthrightly disobeying my parents; it was just a matter that someone with more (fill in the blank) experience would understand.

Yeah, right.

Conversation with self:

"Don't just listen and move on. Really soak in the advice your parents offer. Don't weigh it; heed it. Think through it; put yourself in their place if at all possible. Out of all the authority God has placed over you, they love you the most. They want the very best for you for life. Their desire for your happiness and success exceeds the desire for their own happiness and success.
Above all else, your vertical relationship will not be in alignment with man if your horizontal relationship is not aligned with God."

Simple enough. No big climax. No tremendous discovery or proclamation.

Note to teenage self:

Ephesians 6:1.

A Double Birthday Blessing

2010-05-10T11:47:00.002-04:00

Today is a VERY special day! My last blog post was a brag post on my dear mother who is in Heaven. Today is her birthday and I'm sure that there is a party going on there. While here on earth, our family celebrates the 1^st birthday of our special blessing, Tarah Charlotte. This is one story you won't want to miss reading.

In 2007, Matt and I discovered that I was pregnant and were excited once again. However, in spite of the last three healthy pregnancies, this time was different. The day after telling our children about the newly expected child, at ten weeks, my body miscarried and our baby was not to enter this world. We were very heartbroken over the loss; we asked God "why?" and received no clear answer. We tried to explain to our children that God must have wanted this baby with Him and that He would give us another baby if that was His plan. And we began to pray. Our children prayed, specifically, our youngest daughter, Tristina, very faithfully for a baby sister.

Now to be perfectly honest, I was still a little angry with God for taking our child. Had we not endured enough heartache with other situations? I remember one night as I tucked Tristina into bed and she started to pray. In the middle she stopped. "Mommy? Why don't you pray for a baby sister for me? I think God would listen to you." What a challenge! How much did I really trust God? I had been praying for months, but my prayers did not seem to be getting answered. But there was something different as I began to pray. Something about verbalizing my trust in God to Him. By the time I finished praying, I could hardly speak and my heart was at peace. My sweet daughter was smiling and quietly drifted off to sleep. Something had happened in my heart that only the Holy Spirit could do; the bitterness fell in the middle of my outpouring and God had given me total peace, even without a change in the situation. Shortly thereafter, God showed His mercy to us once again and I became pregnant.

The due date for our sweet baby was May 14. God's plan was to provide a blessing that would help my heart heal and give me a reason to rejoice at this trying time of year.

And so little Tarah Charlotte was born on May 10, 2009.

The very day God had specifically chosen for her arrival.

Happy Birthday, Charlotte Rose and Tarah Charlotte!

A Tribute to Mothers

2010-05-07T11:59:00.003-04:00

My mom is in Heaven, but she was the best mom in the world. Oh, I know, you think your mom is. But you didn't know mine.

Charlotte Rose Clevenger was born on May 10, 1938 in the little town of Richwood, WV. She grew up in that mill town and knew Donald Perrine from childhood, as he grew up there also. They fell in love in high school and not only did she graduate, but she forced Donald to graduate by completing some of his assignments for him. College and funding were out of their financial ballpark, but they married and after a few years, Donald started a business, which he grew diligently and successfully. Charlotte had nine children; number six just happens to be me.

Mom was the best Christian I've ever personally known. She lived out her faith in so many ways, through prayer and action. I can remember her budgeting and grocery shopping for her family; always sacrificing her own desires and needs for her children. Many times I recall her scraping together a few groceries and stopping to buy a gallon of milk and loaf of bread, only to drop it off on some needy family's doorstep. She was hard-working, loving, dedicated and caring. Our house was always open to ministers and evangelists, missionaries and musicians, as well as children who rode the bus to church, coming from the "hollers" and hills just outside town.

Mom had a way of accepting everyone; she smiled when I knew she didn't feel like it. She sincerely laughed at people's stupid jokes to make them feel good. She loved her family, each one individually, and practiced a unique way of caring for people on their level.

Mom was my best friend. At my first wedding, I had to talk her into being my matron of honor. "You really don't want that," she said. "Pick one of your young friends; the pictures will look better." I held my ground, "No, Mom. You're the one I want to stand beside me. You're the one who has been there all along."

My mom never said, "I told you so." Her words were more along the lines of "Is there something I can help you with?"

She never said, "I hope you learned your lesson." It was more like: "Let's pick up these pieces together."

And so today, if this blog is really true, if I'm "just a mom with a heart for God," then 99% of anything good that I am is because I had such a great mom.

Proverbs 31:28
"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:"

Will you leave a tribute to your mom below? Would love to know about all the other "best moms in the world."

Outside the Zone

2010-05-05T13:41:00.000-04:00

While Matt and I were on vacation, a great deal of time was afforded to me to study and prepare for the summer ladies' Bible study that I host. Last year after "Hannah, the Power of Prayer," I began reading and studying a topic that is so relevant for today's Christians. God has given each of us a unique set of talents and gifts. Our personalities, family backgrounds, and experiences all contribute to the way God wants to use us. But what if He is calling you to do something that is not a part of your comfort zone? In other words, you may not be loving "it."

One of the characters we will study is Moses and talk about a character! God spoke specific instructions to him from the burning bush and Moses' response: "Who am I?" In other words, "God, what are you thinking? Do you really know my history? I mean, I killed a man out of anger. I've been labeled a traitor and rebel…" Moses seem to forget his miraculous beginning; that in an era of the decree to kill all baby boys under the age of two, he was saved from immediate death.

To answer Moses' question, "Who am I?"

"Oh, only that baby who was ingeniously disguised as being 'thrown into the river.' That was nothing special. Oh, and the princess just happened to find you and take you to safety. And then there is that little matter of your sister volunteering your birth mother to be your nurse, but that was no big deal."

Yet we often approach God with that same question and attitude behind it. We make excuses that are illegitimate. We state reasons that are completely full of logic and completely empty of faith in God.

So who are you?

The child of the King.

Come and meet with us on Thursday evenings at 8 pm this summer as we learn to follow God…

Outside the (comfort) zone.

Plan B by Pete Wilson

2010-05-03T19:49:00.005-04:00

Ironically enough, I had a total different idea for the blog today. Didn't work out. Funny huh?

A few weeks ago, I was blessed enough to snag a copy of "Plan B" from Booksneeze at Thomas Nelson Publishers. Only 500 copies were made available to the 10,000 bloggers participating in the program; God knew that book was for me!

The cover question above the title reads:

"What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would?"

We all have our dreams of perfection. The brick house with the picket fence. 2.3 children. Fulfilled career goals. Whatever it is, we have a point and a plan. Then, suddenly or perhaps gradually, we begin to experience a change in our plans. Circumstances present themselves that were not expected. Things don't happen the way we thought they would. Crazy things happen, you know: divorce, disease, death. Suffering.

I've experienced a few plan B's of my own. Oh, I grew up in a Christian home, graduated from Christian school and college, and completed the circle by teaching in a Christian school. But after a few years of marriage to a Bible College graduate, I found myself divorced and single parent to a precious girl, Taylor. God graciously gave me a second chance and I remarried. Shortly after marrying my Matthew, my mother, who was also my best friend, was taken to Heaven via leukemia. Within a year, a diagnosis for my sweet daughter was issued as MPSIIIB, a neurologically degenerative lysosomal storage disease that has a typical lifespan of 10-15 years. Yep, I've definitely been on Plan B.

This book is a must read for anyone. Those who are on Plan B and those who think Plan B will never happen to them.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"The knowledge of God's love is not going to make the pain of Plan B go away. But we can allow his love to become the fuel that sustains us through the long, difficult days ahead."

"We must be willing, if necessary, to abandon the life we've planned and dreamed of in order to receive the life that our God has authored for us."

"…God will absolutely allow suffering, pain, and crisis in order to detach hope from other things and attach it to himself. He will use the suffering of Plan B to strengthen our faith."

"Faith is saying that I choose to believe in you, God, more than this or that tragedy."

When I think of the word trust, I think of complete and total reliance. Taylor's disease has driven our family to rely on God each and every day. I am asked quite frequently how we cope with the reality of her path of life. My response is that we daily request grace and mercy and it is daily afforded to us anew. God is good.

I wrote the above words just a few months ago.

Plan B affirmed them.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Thomas Nelson Publishers sent me a free copy of this book as part of their bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Close Call

2010-04-29T21:28:00.004-04:00

Matt and I had a weekend in Nashville at the Country Music Half Marathon that was fabulous! We had a ton of fun, finished the race before the rain appeared, and loved celebrating Taylor. Our friends, Aaron and Heather Conrad, were tremendous supporters and encouragers for which we are so thankful. Also, Dave Schroeder and his wonderful wife, Brooke, took us in their home as if we were long-time friends. The entire weekend was a blast (we had the opportunity to attend Crosspoint Church and meet Pete Wilson... but I'll save that for another time.) and the two of us were feeling invigorated and refreshed on many levels.

Then yesterday evening, we received a phone call from one of Taylor's nurses who described a very disturbing scene to us. Essentially, Taylor did not properly swallow her food and was gasping for breath earlier in the evening. Our children were all afraid and began to cry because the nurse could not get the airway cleared and was forced to call 911. Taylor's face had begun to turn purple and her body was limp. Praise the Lord that He delivered her breath and the nurse was able to hook the piece of meat with her finger and pull it out after much effort.

Reality hit both Matt and I as we attempted to calm the situation from afar. The "what if's" were flying through our heads. I'm almost shaking as I type this entry, because of the truth that I am not in control. God is. Hang with me for the next few weeks as I share some awesome lessons I've been learning.

In the mean time, I needed this video reminder from two years ago about what Taylor's life is all about.

Is $2.38 enough?

2010-04-20T07:54:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, April 24, 2010, Matt and I will be running the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN. We are very excited about this opportunity to celebrate our daughter, Taylor, who is 13 years old. We're calling it "Celebrating 13 Years in 13 Miles." God has graciously given Taylor a beautiful life in spite of her diagnosis of MPS, for which the average life span is 10-15 years.

Last week, one of our wonderful caregiver/nurses for Taylor bought one of our race shirts to support our efforts in raising awareness and one of our other daughters, who is 6, caught the fever. She ran upstairs and got her piggy bank; then she came back downstairs and asked me to help her count the money. I announced, "You have $2.38." The next words she said brought her mama to tears: "Is $2.38 enough to buy a shirt to help Taylor and the other sick kids?" My mind instantly went to the Bible story of the widow and her two mites. "She gave all that she had." Luke 21:3&4

So, I'm asking you to buy one of our shirts for $20 and wear it proudly this Sat. no matter where you will be. To do that, email mwojnaro@columbus.rr.com, message me on facebook, or DM twitter name RachelWojo. I only have 17 shirts left and would love to know that they are fulfilling their intention.

It is not about the amount. It's about where your heart is.

Scout's Motto: Be Prepared

2010-04-17T10:18:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been caught off guard?

Run out of gas?

Child forget their school lunch?

Drop the ball on an appointment?

That feeling is such a combination of stupidity and revelation. Maybe you've had no change for the toll roads. Perhaps you didn't think you needed directions, but then couldn't remember the exact location. Scary how easy I was able to rattle off the examples above; I have been there too many times!

Just simply unprepared. Not thinking ahead of time and taking the necessary steps to avoid the catastrophe.

With the above examples, we have learned our lessons. We check the gas gauge and look for the light. We ask our children about their lunch before leaving the house. We write appointments down and check our calendars in advance. We plan our driving route and review it before the journey begins. We print off a "Mapquest" or pull out the GPS.

So much can be prevented when we take the scout's motto. Not just physically, but spiritually. David said in Psalm 119:11:

"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."

When was the last time you prepared to deal with the issues Satan flings at you every day? By memorizing God's Word, you are preparing for battle!

Discouragement surrounds us when we fail to prepare ourselves.

Have you ever been unprepared? What action did you take to correct the problem?

Hindsight is 20/20

2010-04-15T07:17:00.002-04:00

I will never forget the first animal I hit while driving. I heard the “thunk.” Then I looked in my rearview mirror and saw this squirrel, spinning in circles, with its glorious tail spinning along with it. At that point I thought, “Why did I hit that thing? Didn’t I see it?”

Our vision as we view history is often 20/20; but then again, what good would it be if experience taught us nothing. So for Women of Faith Wednesday, here are my (drum roll, please) top 10 things I wish I knew BEFORE I became a mother:
1. Children really do puke if they eat too much candy.
2. Diapers can explode.
3. Baby food does NOT taste good.
4. Extra Binkis, pacis, whatever you name it, should be kept for emergencies, especially for 3 am emergencies.
5. Benadryl works.
6. Sippy cups do not hold Sprite.
7. Treasured blankies go to college.
8. What goes in must come out.
9. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

And number 10, on a more serious note:
Your role as a mother may be completely different than you ever dreamed it. I received a very thoughtful message from a fellow mom this week with a quote from the new movie, Letters to God.

“God picked you.
He picked you to be my mother.”

He makes no mistakes. Every child and every mother are specifically paired together.

I love Psalm 139:13:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

I could talk to you for hours about all my expectations for motherhood... and all the failures, but neither matter. Whether a hard-earned "B" on the report card, a wonderful change in your child's behavior, or the ability to chew food and swallow it, rely on Him to provide the victory.

What matters is this:

Taking each day, yielding it to Him and anticipating the outcome.

Women of Faith Wednesday

2010-04-11T22:51:00.004-04:00

One of the most common interview questions today is "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" My husband and I laugh over this question, as if someone is going to boldly outline: 1. Laziness 2. Procrastinating 3.Spitefulness…. "Well, I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, so I'm going to be prone to be late…." "I have a tendency to forget everything so I have to write it all down." Most of us know our strengths and can easily rattle them off. We pride ourselves on our abilities and talents as if we generate them by sheer force.

But God doesn't ask about our strengths. He just wants our weaknesses.

Weakness is how He works in our lives.

When we come to the place we realize how much we need Him, and how little strength we truly have on our own, then we have arrived at the place where He can use us. I love what Paul said about this in I Corinthians 1:27:

"…God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

Like David the shepherd vs. Goliath the giant.

Like Moses the stutterer vs. Pharaoh.

Like Gideon the ghetto boy vs. the Midianites.

Like Sarah the senior citizen vs. pregnancy.

Like Noah the loner vs. the world.

The Lord gave Paul an ultimatum about his weakness:

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians 12:10

Human weaknesses, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, are perfected when surrendered to His grace. Through His amazing design, the plan of our lives begins to unfold and our feeble weaknesses become perfect, yes, perfect, through His strength.

If I could speak on any topic at a Women of Faith conference, I would speak about how weak I am. How I have begged God, like Paul, to take away my flaws, my problems, my issues. But His grace is sufficient for me. And that same grace is sufficient for them too.

Celebrating 13 Years in 13 Miles- 2 Weeks away!

2010-04-10T14:31:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe, but the race is only two weeks away!! If you are just now reading about our incredible opportunity, then on Sat., April 24, 2010, Matt and I are running the Country Music Half Marathon to celebrate the wonderful blessing of our sweet girl, Taylor. Taylor's life expectancy due to mucopolysacchridoses (MPS) is 10-15 years and we are just praising the Lord for her health and life! So for 13 miles, we will celebrate each year with which we have been blessed. We chose this race to celebrate the victories He has given and His unmerited grace and mercy displayed so richly in our lives. We are so honored that our friends, Aaron and Heather Conrad, and Dave Schroeder, will be sporting the shirts as they run this race as well!

The shirts have arrived, but they won't last long! Almost half of the order has already been sold! The backs of the shirts have the logo:

For a $20 donation, you can receive a T-shirt to wear on April 24, 2010, raising awareness for MPS disorders and sharing the joy of having Taylor as part of our lives. All proceeds beyond shirt costs will be donated to the family support fund of the National MPS Society. Email mwojnaro@columbus.rr.com or Twitter users contact @RachelWojo.
Thank you for your incredible support and encouragement!

Go the Distance

2010-04-06T14:10:00.002-04:00

Did you know that there are twenty-two dictionary definitions of the word "character?" How could one word possibly have so many meanings? The most common definition is "moral or ethical quality." This post is about what the word, character, means to me.

My husband, Matt, has worked nightshift in the emergency room at a local hospital for the last 20 years. After receiving his bachelor's degree in premed, he started as a technician when circumstances prevented him from attending med school. He then worked full-time while attending school to become a registered nurse. He and I were married on April 29, 2000 and in 2005, he began taking evening classes with the goal of obtaining his Master's degree. Last year, he graduated from Otterbein College with a second Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Nursing. He is now a licensed nurse practitioner and will begin working at a different local hospital on Monday, April 12, 2010.

Matthew accomplished all of the above while continuing to spend quality time with our six children, love on his wife, and minister in song through our local church. I can only recall two times in the ten years that we have been married that he actually called off work due to sickness. I can never remember a time when he decided not to attend church because he was just "too tired." More often than not, he would divide his luxurious five hours of sleep into two or three increments to meet deadlines, sing at a funeral, or attend a worship rehearsal. He has worked every other weekend for the last 20 years. He has worked every other holiday for the last 20 years. He has more than provided for his family, trusted God for strength, and did what was right.

So if you need a picture for your dictionary to put beside the word "character," then I have the perfect one of him. After that you can put his favorite initials:

GTD

Go the distance.

I love you, my Matthew, and am so proud of your character. Approximately 10,400 nightshifts down and 3 to go!

You Might Be A Special Needs Mom…

2010-04-01T09:20:00.001-04:00

So lately I've been thinking about the life of a special needs mom a little more because of the upcoming conference, You Are Not Alone, being hosted at my church, Northwest Bible, in Columbus, OH. And well, those thoughts led me to: Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck." How did that happen? If you are a special needs mom (or even if you aren't), read on:

You might be a special needs mom:

If you have ever created your own parking space.

If you have your pediatrician's FAX number memorized.

If you consider fifteen minute showers to be luxurious. Well, any shower.

If you are most tempted to use foul language when in conversations with medical or educational professionals.

If you keep enough medical paraphernalia in your purse to run an urgent care center.

If you consider a power nap to be two minutes with one eye open.

If treating yourself consists of eating chocolate and drinking caffeine.

If you have ever thought about going to a hotel so you could actually sleep for just one night.

If you are on a first name basis with the pharmacist.

If the thought of getting new medical equipment makes you get butterflies in your stomach.

If you accomplish most of your bill paying while in waiting rooms.

If your idea of a "night out with the girls" means hopping on Facebook for ten minutes.

If you have ever talked to complete strangers about their kid's diagnosis.

If you have ever taken pain relievers BEFORE attending an IEP meeting.

Hopefully you are laughing!

Care to add a few of your own? Go ahead! I know you have some. Before you do, I have to just give you some encouragement:

Isaiah 40:28&29

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

From one special needs mom who daily lives in His strength.

Black is for….

2010-03-30T10:10:00.001-04:00

My four year old son received a pack of jelly beans in his morning class at church this past Sunday. Reminded me of the wordless books I used to receive in Sunday School. Enclosed in his jelly bean packet was the following poem:

Red is for the blood He gave,

Green is for the grass He made,

Yellow is for the sun so bright,

Orange is for the edge of night,

Black is for the sins that were made,

White is for the grace He gave.

Purple is for the hour of sorrow,

Pink is for the new tomorrow.

A bag full of jelly beans,

Colorful and sweet,

Is a Prayer…Is a Promise…Is an Easter treat!

His older sister was reading this little poem to him yesterday; she's six. She took a pause at "Black is for the sins that were made…" and then stopped.

"So THAT's why the black ones taste so bad."

Apparently licorice flavor is not her thing.

If only Christians viewed sin as it is. Or at least with some of the wisdom of my six yr. old.

Hebrews 11, well-known as the "Faith Chapter," has one precious phrase about Moses in verse 25:

"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

Moses CHOSE to wander in the wilderness with God's people over the attraction of Egypt. He knew the temporal things of this world could not satisfy.

How about you? Got a choice to make?

Sin is pleasurable. But ONLY for a season.

She Speaks (and wants to write)

2010-03-26T16:16:00.001-04:00

For almost the last three years now, God has been working in my heart about sharing His Word and work in my life with others through speaking and writing. The first year I felt the Lord calling me to lead a ladies' Bible study in my home during the summer months. I didn't feel as if I were "leading" the group; we just read together and shared our thoughts. Prayer time was precious as we held a community of requests before the Lord for each other. Almost immediately after we completed the study, the Lord very clearly directed me through the Word and I began to write a study on Hannah: The Power of Prayer. Last summer, I opened my home again and we studied the power of prayer through Hannah's eyes. God's blessing was upon that study and He graciously provided affirmation through the women in attendance. The Hannah study was "just what they needed" for that particular season of their lives. At the end of our designated time together, I felt the urge to compile the study into a written format and the Holy Spirit said, "It's time to blog!" So I did.

As a result, many folks of all gender and ages have provided encouragement to me as I've blogged my "devotionals." The various stories and blessings that Matt and I have experienced as a result of God's work in our lives is just so bountiful. When I look at my life as a wife, stepmom, special needs mom, and just plain ol' mom to 6, my heart's desire is to be known as Just a Mom with a Heart for God. His place in my life is above all others and giving Him the throne of my life is how I have been driven to soar through difficult circumstances.

Through trials and blessings, I have graciously been afforded the privilege to share the immeasurable abundance of His grace.

So: I am moving forward in what I believe God is calling me to do, by posting this article and requesting that I be awarded a scholarship to the "She Speaks" conference sponsored by Proverbs 31 ministries on July 30 through August 1, 2010. The conference is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow in this field of ministry. It would be great to have reader support! So leave a comment if you have a favorite article or just want to leave some encouragement (or "speak now or forever hold your peace.") Thanks!!

Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub

2010-03-26T14:59:00.000-04:00

Ok, confession is good for the soul and I'm confessin'. I'm a hillbilly. My husband jokingly calls me one and I don't even get mad, because well, it's true. I love food and cooking. I watch the Food Network while running on the treadmill; how warped is that! So, when I saw this book on the Booksneeze book club, I knew it was for me.

Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey are the authors of this book of grub. The syndicated Rick & Bubba Show is heard on more than 60 radio stations. This book is a hodge-podge information book, with a few recipes at the end. The humor might not be understood if you aren't a foodie or country girl like me, but many of the tips can be applied if you are willing to be flexible. One of my favorite lists in the book is "the official list of interesting Food Fairs and Festivals." The first festival listed in the book is the "Annual West Virginia Road Kill Cook-Off." I was so pleasantly surprised to find that this event listed as it is held in Marlinton, WV, the next little town over the mountain from where I grew up. How cool is that!

If you need a good laugh and enjoy the country life, this book is a terrific easy read.

"The fat is the Lord's…" Leviticus 3:16

She Speaks (and wants to write)

2010-03-25T23:36:00.006-04:00

Celebrating 13 Years in 13 Miles

2010-03-23T15:35:00.011-04:00

Matt and I are excited to "Celebrate 13 Years in 13 Miles" for our sweet daughter, Taylor, who has MPS. As I explained in previous posts, Taylor's life is definitely to be celebrated, as her diagnosis of MPS has a typical lifespan of 10-15 years. April 24, 2010 is the date for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, TN; it will soon be upon us! God's blessings have been beyond number and we have chosen this race to celebrate the victories He has given and His unmerited grace and mercy displayed so richly in our lives.

So how can you help?

Commit to praying for Taylor, even after the race.

Make a donation to the MPS Society at http://www.mpssociety.org. In the comment line, mark "Celebrating 13 Years in 13 Miles."

This is the one I am thrilled to offer:

Purchase a t-shirt for $20 to wear on April 24, 2010, no matter where you are in the world. This shirt will be a source of raising awareness of MPS disorders and sharing the joy of having Taylor as part of our lives. The "Someone I Love" logo will be on the front of the shirt and the "Celebrating" logo will be on the back. All money beyond shirt costs will be donated to the National MPS Society.
To purchase the shirt, email mwojnaro@columbus.rr.com with your shirt size and payment information. You will receive a response within 48 hours with confirmation and delivery information. There is a $3 shipping cost if you request mailing.

I am hoping that many of our dear family and friends will support us in this endeavor! Looking forward to hearing from you.

For the Love of Ipod

2010-03-23T01:00:00.002-04:00

Recently as we sat at the dinner table, the topic of how long Mommy and Daddy have been married came up. My husband was holding my hand and said to the five children we feed every meal, "Daddy loves Mommy very much."

Our six yr. old daughter was completely into the romance of the moment and shook her head up and down. She responded, "That's true, 'cause you're holding her fingers."

At that point, my husband continued, "Daddy loves Mommy more than he did ten years ago when we got married."

The ever-logical eight yr. old son pipes in, "That's true; 'cause she bought you an Ipod!"

Of course we had a good laugh about it, but the various ways we, as humans, show each other love can have different meanings. The depth of love my husband has for me was not truly comprehended by our children. Kind of like our ability to understand the depth of love God has for us. Yesterday I heard a sermon on John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He SO loved us. He SO loves us. God gave up his Son for us, yet we still question His will for us.

We respond, "Why?" instead of "Whatever your will."

We respond, "How?" instead of "I trust you, Lord."

We respond, "When?" instead of "In Your time."

I'm guilty of all of the above, but the awesome thing is that we don't have to comprehend God's love. The truth is that we CAN'T comprehend it. We are incapable of fully understanding God's love for us and we are incapable of fully understanding God's plan for our lives.

Job 37: 5 "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend."
Stop trying; start believing.

Two are Better than One

2010-03-18T22:59:00.005-04:00

Training for "Celebrating 13 Years in 13 Miles" continues! Yesterday my dear friend, Heather, came over and we ran 4.5 miles together. It was very interesting; I don't typically run with anyone. My husband, Matt, and I have only run together twice. Now Heather is a noble steed,while I am more like the humble mountain donkey.

She's fast and focused; I'm slow and sporadic. In spite of the odd matchup, we had a wonderful time.
The amount of time it took to run those miles was longer than I've had all season; we were talking so much that I had to keep stopping to walk in order to catch my breath. (Isn't that what most friends do?) The awesome thing is: the time flew by and I couldn't believe it when we were finished. I had enjoyed every step of the run; why? Because of my companion.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor."

When was the last time you stepped up beside someone and enjoyed the race of life?
It's not about how fast you go.
It's not about how far you go.
It's about loving the race.

Two are better than one! Can't wait to "Celebrate 13 Years in 13 Miles" with my Matthew!

Irreversible Gifts

2010-03-16T00:02:00.000-04:00

God never ceases to amaze me in the ways He speaks to me. Earlier this evening, I allowed myself to take a little time to vent to my husband about my feelings on a few issues. Frustration over things that are out of my control. Impatience over God's timing.

Just clicked over to the website of one of my favorite authors and Bible teachers, Priscilla Shirer, at Going Beyond ministries. Priscilla did an interview with Darlene Zschech, singer at Hillsong and incredible songwriter. Priscilla asked Darlene to talk to moms about ministry. Two points alerted me:

God's gifts are irreversible. Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (ESV) I loved reading the translations of this verse. "without repentance" "can never be withdrawn" In other words, end of story. God's call on your life and the gifts He has given you are not going anywhere!

However, "To every thing there is a season; a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiates 3:1 Darlene spoke about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and recognizing what season of life you are in.

Thank you, Lord, for this season. Watch the interview for yourself!

Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

2010-03-15T13:52:00.001-04:00

As part of the Booksneeze program at Thomas Nelson Publishers, I chose to read "Jane Austen" by Peter Leithart from the Christian Encounter series.

Since I typically read spiritual growth books, this book was not a standard choice for me. As a former secondary level teacher who loves grammar and is only slightly fond of literature, I found myself desiring to rekindle some distant memories of Pride and Prejudice.

The book is a quick read at 153 pages. Jane Austen held a familial literary background, as her father owned a vast library and her mother encouraged her to go beyond the standard social expectations of the century. Jane possessed an extreme amount of determination. Her writing accomplishments include six completed novels (including Pride and Prejudice), as well as other incomplete novels and various juvenile works.

The purpose of this series of biographies, the Christian Encounter series, published by Thomas Nelson seems to be to reveal the true Christian character of individual lives of people who affected the Church throughout the centuries. I enjoyed refreshing my memory of an author I studied years ago, but found myself searching for details on Jane's personal relationship with Christ.Still a wonderful way to renew knowledge on history previously learned.

Letting go of the treadmill

2010-03-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

Matt and I are training for the Nashville Half Marathon and let me just tell you, it is not easy for me to find the training time. Up until yesterday, all my miles have been on the treadmill due to weather, child care, etc. Yesterday we had some beauuuutiful weather in Columbus. With my man holding the fort, the opportunity was afforded to me to run OUTSIDE!

Now you would think that I would have been ecstatic, but instead, I was apprehensive. Why? Because I had grown accustomed to my running procedure. The environment was a controlled temperature and the "dreadmill," as my friend, Aaron, calls it, had become security. All the parameters were set; I just needed to step on and be a hamster for my proper time. There was no enjoyment on the treadmill; it was just a protocol. Something I had to do.

So I forced myself to rush out the front door of our house and into the (da, da, dum….) great outdoors. (Well, our neighborhood.)

And something wonderful happened. I started to feel the sunshine in my bones! The fresh air flowed through my lungs and I ran faster those four miles than I have all winter! The wind was blowing, birds were singing and my feet were pounding the pavement. The love for running that I had two years ago when I ran my first half marathon returned. What is even more miraculous; I didn't want to stop. So I didn't! I ran further than the required training.

Throughout the run, I was thinking about how silly it was that I didn't want to let go of the treadmill.

Then, God was speaking to my heart about this little lesson.

Isn't it just like humans to hold on to what we think is so great for us? As Christians, we just settle into our daily or weekly "God" routine. The protocol is straightforward and we follow it. Church on Sunday, choir practice, small group…whatever the ritual is, we just do our duty. The temperature is set and woe be to anyone who would want to adjust it! Why, the schedule has been the same for umpteen years.

But what if God has something better? What if He's ready to pour in the sunlight? What if He wants to let the wind of the Spirit blow through and renew hearts and lives?

What if He wants to take us further than the "required" training?

Let go of the treadmill.