I'm "officially" Moved!!

I would like to take this moment to Thank each and every one of my Blogger followers for your loyalty.

For ease of learning, creativity, and changing direction.....I have moved my Blog!

You can now find me at: http://multipurposemom.com

It is my heartfelt prayer that you will join me there in my new leap of faith, to pursue Gods calling!


You can also follow me on facebook @ 


http://www.facebook.com/Multipurp0sem0m

or on twitter @  http://twitter.com/#!/multipurp0sem0m
Thank you for your continued support!


In Christ,
Stacey Westbrook
"Multipurp0sem0m"

This current Blog will be deactivated as of Oct,1 2011

We may not marry “Mr. Right”, but with God you can’t go wrong!

So often, single women are busy searching for Mr. Right, and those who are married are often saying they must have “married the wrong person”. I know that even I have pleaded with God that “I must have made a mistake”, to “please free me from this marriage”.  “I won’t be able to survive this”  “I can’t do this anymore” He probably sat back and chuckled …because HE knows better…and HE knows what exactly I CAN handle!

Don’t get me wrong, I love and adore my husband and would never give up on this marriage, but I’m also not going to sit here and lie and tell you it’s been 13 years of pure bliss. A successful marriage takes determination and a lot of hard work……I mean REALLY hard work!! Throw in a couple of full time jobs, and few kids….and yup, things just get a whole lot more challenging!

Now to make things even more exciting, mix together an OCD control freak mamma such as myself with a very anxious, scattered, ADHD (untreated I must add)husband such as Phil and you have Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook! Who’s laughing now????

So, to the point….I believe that God doesn’t necessarily “ordain” marriages, and we likely aren’t brought together by “fate”. The fact is, we are human…God created us to admire the opposite sex; He created us to long for companionship. And he created marriage. And more often than not…..we get emotionally caught up in the moment and Marry Mr. Wrong! {The funny thing is…those who have heard my story, know that I could hardly stand my husband when we 1^st met!}

With THAT said, I truly believe, that while you may feel that you “married Mr. Wrong”, or that your marriage “wasn’t meant to be”, or that it was “based on lies”, he “wasn’t like this in the beginning” That can ALL be mended…God can and will bless a marriage! You just have to be willing to let Him in! Yes…let Him IN your marriage, IN your heart, and IN your way! Cause you know you’re going to keep trying to step back in! It isn’t about praying for God to change your husband, start by asking Him to change YOU!

For myself, I have spent too many years and countless prayers asking the Lord to change my husband, or I would just die!!! I now know that I have to first start with me. I have to be patient and persistent, and not to become discouraged when I don’t see the change in him that I expect when I have made efforts. Persistent, because my motivation for changing ME isn’t JUST to better my marriage relationship, it is to better my Godly relationship! Your husband may NEVER change; I know mine won’t, {unless God completely heals him!} Therefor I will be the clay, allowing God to mold me and shape me into the wife that HE created in me to be! And in return, I have a fulfilling, fun, sometimes chaotic, but very much rewarding marriage! And a husband that adores me for me!

Is God REALLY using me?????

For years and years and years….{ok, maybe only about 10} I have spoken with MUCH faith that God was gonna use me! That I would share my testimony to make a difference, in our young society, our single society, our hurting society, and most of all…His Kingdom! I have also spoken and believe that I will one day be paid to speak…only I’m not sure how that all really works…haha!

Well….It’s happening, it’s really happening!!! I have shared my short story and testimony many times before when Mercy House was invited to a church, or event, or when we hosted something! That has been awesome! 

But this season in Life is a bit different. I have been stepping out, and reaching out and God has been faithful.  Last month I spoke at a Single Moms Outreach, that was completely Amazing! And to my amazement…I GOT PAID! At the end of the day, I received the sweetest gift of gratitude with a lil check tucked away inside. It was a small amount, but HUGE in comparison to what I expected….I didn’t want to be paid for that day. I am donating it to Mercy House and framing my stub…

Next week I will be speaking twice for county programs that reach women. Wednesday I will be speaking to a group of teen moms, and Thursday I get to speak to a group of breastfeeding Moms. Of course, through all of these events, I speak on behalf of Mercy House…but I feel a different kind of nervousness and excitement and blessing all at the same time!

I think this is JUST the beginning of a life time filled with sharing my story, and giving God glory for all He has done in my life!

This gal might need a little extra prayer this week!

“Sure I will take on the After-Prom event that you canceled….with only 8 days to plan it!”

If that single statement doesn’t define insane, I don’t know what does! On top of that commitment that I just dove into. I was also to speak at a Single Moms Outreach on that SAME Saturday! I have a hard time letting people in my world to help. Surely it comes from a lifetime full of unreliable people in my life and a world of constant let down. In result, I am custom to always being “in control”. This week would prove to be different….”therapeutic” you might say!

After-Prom…an event that provides an all-night environment that is safe And fun for students to go to after their Prom. In the hopes to prevent drunk driving fatalities and “prom” babies… The whole Prom experience is very dear to my heart, I never got to experience that part of life. It still saddens a piece of my heart 15 years later! So when I was told that the event was canceled because only 30 kids signed up, and then asked if I would consider putting something together…my first response was “30 kids is 30 kids”  And so it began! This was Friday afternoon, so of course there wasn’t a whole lot to be done as far as contacting businesses for donations, etc. I prayed continuously regarding this event, asking God to send people my way and to help make it successful!  Just when I thought the people of the community were not hearing my pleas for help, help began to fall into place. Chaperones began to come from the wood work (as they say)

Friday morning, I awoke with a tiny tingle in the back of my throat, you know, like the beginning sign of a sinus cold….”NOOO” I thought to myself, the STRESS of the week hasn’t even really begun yet!! I started overdosing on Vitamin C, Zinc, and whatever else! I am proud to say, I maintained the sinus’ throughout the weekend!

Saturday morning, with “speech” in hand (or on paper…) I headed out to MMBC to help some awesome ladies I know minister to some amazing single mommas of Monroe County! These women got to spend the day getting pampered….massages, nails, hair, decadent desserts, a chocolate fountain, enrichment classes like discipline, housekeeping, cpr, and they even received  oil changes! Some of the moms were so humbled, it blessed my heart just to hang out with them and chat with them throughout the day. SO now, we are at the end of the day, and it’s my turn….to tell a bit of my story about my life as a single mom, and what God had done in my life! I have spoken before, and as many know, I feel that is a real calling in my life, but this time was different. I was invited to speak for ME, and on my own. Normally Mercy House is invited to speak, and I am the speaker…this is the first time I was invited! Humbling!!! Of course, I felt as if nothing I said played out like it did in my head the days prior to speaking. Many people approached me after and said it was great…so either they’re lyin’ or it really was ok…lol! AND I got paid!!!! WHAT???? Wasn’t expecting THAT!!! I wasn’t a ton of money, and I didn’t expect any. They could have handed me a$1 and it would have had the same impact! I aint never been paid to offer my 2 sense! I truly truly believe that this is just the beginning of great things to come!!! P.S…I’ll be donating that money to Mercy House anyway….Getting paid was just symbolic of what lies ahead!

Back to After-Prom! I suppose it was successful…..what started out as 30 registered kids, ended up being about 55 kids attending!! PRAISE GOD!! I had some AWESOME volunteers…including some great Christian Youth leaders in the community, so great parents, and even dragged my baby sister along for the ride! The students enjoyed more junk food than they could consume, laser tag, boxing, the pool, Henna tattoos, basketball, and of course some great prizes like Cedar Point tickets, date nights, a microwave, candles, tanning packages, gas cards, and so much more!

Maybe it was a temporary moment of insanity to accept that challenge (ok, my insanity isn’t really temporary) but I am amazed how God worked through my week! He continuously provided me with help, resources and strength! He is Faithful!  I am already planning for next years After-Prom, and just praying the 2 events don’t fall on the same weekend again!

God bless you in your chaos as well!

Can we say “sleep deprived?”

This week should prove to be interesting.

On Friday, I agreed to take over “planning” for a canceled After-Prom event that is THIS coming Saturday, which is also the day I am speaking at an awesome single Moms outreach event! I have calmly and quietly trusted in the Lord to provide me with the words to say Saturday Morning to these 60+ women, and now I’m freaking out! Of course now I’m doing everything to practically beg, borrow, and steal (ok, not so much stealing)….but I am anxious to put this event together for our High School Youth! In order to be successful, there has to be fun! I have very little time and even less monies, but again…I am going to trust in the Lord to provide!

So, if you’re not hearing much from me this week, it’s likely because I’m drowning in my planning, or searching for the toothpicks to keep the eyes open!

Icing on the cake

For starters, I overslept this morning. There goes my plans for the entire day!!!!(well, as so it felt as I awoke) 9:18….Are you kidding me right now???? I could not even believe I slept this late. Who is sabotaging me, who turned off my alarm clock? Why does this room always have to be dark? Why didn’t anyone wake me? Naturally, ME oversleeping is already everybody’s fault, EXCEPT mine! So, I drag myself from the bedroom, and into the kitchen to begin my coffee, but first I must clean some evidence from the messies the day before, switch over some laundry so that I can snatch me a clean towel before someone takes them all. Forget that shower while the coffee brews, someone else decided they would hop in before me…. {{sigh}}

So I continue to clean, and play referee while attempting to delegate bedroom duty to the younger two, I mean, we DO have a birthday party here tomorrow. Can’t these 2 get along for 5 minutes???? And where is my coffee creamer??? Scrambling and searching frantically for some stinkin’ coffee creamer….who wants to come against a mother without her coffee? I double dog dare ya! Yup, a can of evaporated milk will be doing the trick today! {{aah}}

I rush out the door to deliver Cole to another party, and then I’m on my way to gather the goods for our festivities just 24 hours away. The day progresses and I get only a portion of my “plans” accomplished for the day. Being the wonderful, nice mother I am…I decide to check in with the oldest of the teens to see when he might want a ride home. Their communication skills are so great, he likely would have waited until it was time to be home to call and ask for a ride. “It’s ok mom, I will have her mom bring me”…Great!!! I can wrap up this shopping and get home to bake 2 cakes! Don’t you know, no sooner did I begin to pull out from Kroger parking lot (WITH a ½ gallon of half and half) “B” decides to call and ask, can I just get him after they return from the movie?....Uh, No I can’t, I have ice cream in the trunk!!!  {{sigh}}

Last stop…gas station to fill up (no princess should have to pump her own gas, so yes this IS a big deal) My arrival home greets me with carrying in my own groceries, cleaning up some more evidence from the messies, swapping out the 6^th load of laundry for today, baking 2 cakes, cooking a half a meal, cleaning MY mess, and shipping the hubby to work…..{{sigh}} And to imagine. I actually questioned why it was that I felt so burdened today…..

It is now 1:30 am, I am completely exhausted, and utterly unaccomplished for today! Tomorrow as our guests arrive, there will be dust in the shelves, dirt on the floor, more dirty laundry in the baskets, and quite possibly the faint odor from 3 wet dogs lingering in the air. The only clean towel left in the house will be hiding under my pillow, If I am unable to accomplish a shower, I promise to wear deodorant. J But more importantly, I will be making it to church in the morning to show Jesus how important He is to me, and that He is completely worth my time!  I will then be enjoying the afternoon with family celebrating the birth of my 5^th son!

Tired priorities

Tired priorities

As I roll my lifeless body from beneath the warmth of my blanket, stumbling over to the obnoxiously blaring alarm clock, I smack the snooze button and crawl gently back into that place of warmth. Just at that moment I feel a gentle tug at my heart from God. Can you believe He would do JUST as I asked Him to do? He is lovingly trying to wake me up. And I blew it! I continued through the next 40 minutes repeating that same routine every 9 minutes (the length of the snooze setting)

You see, I have actually been praying to God to help me to be more alert and awake in the mornings, especially on the days that I work.  I want to be (I desperately need to be) starting my day in His word and in prayer MORE than I have been. Remember the other day when God spoke to me during my prayers (ok, so I was whining…..but He gets it) about my husband making me his priority, and God reminded me of how often I place Him (or how often I don’t place Him) as my priority? Well, I really am trying.

I suppose admission is the first step. I realize that it was ME that desires to draw nearer to God, and place Him FIRST in my day. (Of course that is what He wants for us, but He ultimately leaves the decision to us) It was ME that asked Him to help me with awaking in the morning, and it was ME that ignored His prompting when He followed through. But it was also me that recognized my imperfections, knowing that I fall short of His glory! And it was me that asked Him to forgive me (AGAIN) and yes, we will try again tomorrow. For His mercies are new each and every morning!  Lamentations 3:22-23

On this note, I should lay my weary head upon my pillow…for I have stuff to do in the morning!

Let this be a challenge to each and every one, to make God the priority in your day. If you struggle with prioritization, ask Him to help you! He is loving and Merciful and WANTS to have a close knit relationship with us…we’re His kids!!!

~In Christ

The "Good Wife"

The “Good Wife”

I have recently began a Bible Study on how women can make a difference in their marriage. The first few weeks, I was scrambling throughout the week, and not even completing all 5 days of reading before reaching the following Wednesday for discussion. This last Wednesday, I shared with the ladies that I was somewhat ashamed of myself, and that I knew that I was only getting out of this study what I was putting in…(which wasn’t much). We discussed ways for me to make the time within my new work schedule. I have been diligent this week with the study, and really do feel as though I am getting more out of it. I recently found myself a bit anxious during day 2 as I began to recall previous times in my marriage that I have read an inspiring book, or been to a marriage seminar. It is often with these experiences that I find myself striving to be the “good wife”. Calm, loving, graceful, non-argumentative, affectionate….you know, like that women in Proverbs 31. But you keep behaving, and keep behaving with nothing in return, and eventually all that good behavior fades away. So my anxiety was that I was going to fall right back into that trap again. I so desperately want to be a Godly wife, and so I pray and pray…”Lord, please make in me the wife that you would want me to be” Then I get this revelation of why this cycle keeps repeating itself. Am I being the “good wife” EXPECTING to see results in my marriage, or a change in my husband? Of course I am!!! I was surely praying all the right prayers, and meaning them from the depths of my heart. But where was my motive? It was in seeing a change in my husband. We aren’t to be acting as Godly wives in order to see change, because that’s when we will NOT see change. We are to be the wives God called us to be because that is what God says to do. His word guides us as the wives we are to be. So the motive really needs to be for pleasing God, not for changing the husband. It’s of course a very difficult lesson to learn, and an even more difficult lesson to live. But as I continue in this journey of marriage I will change my motivations and God will pour out His blessings in our marriage. And so as I found myself struggling this week (after being good) with feeling as though I was not my husband’s priority, and that he wasn’t placing me first before everything else, such as his friend Roger, his basketball game, his garage work I was praying (i.e…whining) to God this morning during prayer…”Oh, God why can’t I be his first priority?, I just want to be put before all the other stuff” and that’s when God answered. He gently spoke to my heart with that loving still small voice that said “When will I be YOUR first priority, when will you put ME before all that other stuff?” Ok, so I can’t argue with that one. God is right (duh!) I don’t always make Him priority; I don’t always place Him first in my day, so how can I ask Him to move in my marriage when my focus is all wrong? Yet, He still does, cause that how awesome He is! James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we can go to God and ask, and it will not only be given, but it will be given generously! I plan to commit to make God priority, seek wisdom in Him and in my marriage, and in everything I do. Because by obeying Him, He is then allowed to work in me! Will you make Him your priority, placing Him at the top of your “to do” list?