A Must Read

I wanted to give a quick shout out to a dear friend who recently entered the world of blogging! I have posted about this cute girl so many times! Some of you may remember that she and I met this past summer while vacationing in Destin. I truly believe it was the Lord that brought Laurel into my life, and I am very grateful for her friendship. Laurel was an answer to many of my prayers, but specifically for a friend that would just understand. Our stories are so similar in what we have experienced in the world of infertility. Recently, I asked you to pray for this sweet family because the Lord took their baby girl to be with Him when Laurel was 25 weeks pregnant. She shares this story in her first post. It definitely touched my hard, and I hope that you will take the time to read it. I know the Lord is going to use their story in the lives of so many others. Please keep praying for the Moses, and go check out her blog too: http://mlmoses.blogspot.com.

25 WEEKS

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 25 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is the size of a rutabaga (weight)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 19.5 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Thankful to be transitioning

into some spring clothes! Not quite so fond of my white,

fat arms though! Need some sunshine soon!

Gender: B-O-Y

Movement: All the time! I think he got turned

around this week though. He literally kicked me

in the butt all week!

Sleep: Still not great, but since I was on bed

rest for 2 days I definitely caught up on some sleep.

What I Miss: I'm going to be really honest on this one

this week...I really miss my small boobs. :) I really cannot

fathom that these things are going to get bigger!

Cravings: This is not really a craving, but I have

thoroughly enjoyed my share of Girl Scout cookies.

Symptoms: Still going strong with

heartburn, back ache, and leg pain.

Best Moment of the Week: My FIRST baby shower

was Saturday! It was absolutely lovely! Got a really

nice blend of pretty and practical!

Knocked Off My Feet

I guess you could say I have been in a blogging funk over the past month or so. For 18 weeks of my pregnancy, I was so sick that I did not even have the energy to write or the brain capacity to think about writing. Once I finally began to feel better, school started back and I dived into staff life: meetings, discipleship appointments, bible studies, etc. These amongst others were the reasons that I thought had created my "bloggers funk." Until this past week, I realized there was a much bigger picture...a disconnect from the Lord that I have been battling for a few months now. During the 18 months of struggling with infertility, I felt so close to the Lord. I always felt His presence and a nearness to me. I believe this was due to the fact that I could not have survived those 18 months without Him. God was my source of strength every day, and I only lived life through Him. I also believe it was because I was desperately seeking Him for the desire of my heart...a child. Along the way, He was also breaking me and showing me that my deepest need is Him, and that nothing else will satisfy this need. I definitely got it, and as I have said before my relationship with the Lord reached depths that it never had before.

Somewhere in between infertility and the Lord granting me my heart's desire, I completely lost sight of my deep need for Christ. I began to live my day-to-day life apart from Him. My goal for each day quickly became what I could accomplish out of my own efforts versus how can I live today to honor, glorify, serve, and love my King. Part of this stems from the fact that I am a DOER through and through. With every ounce of my being I am a Martha. Dictionary.com defines doer as "a person or thing that does something, especially a person who gets things done with vigor and efficiency; a person characterized by action." Two of my strengths as defined by the book Strength Finders are Achiever and Activator. An achiever has a constant

need for achievement. Each day starts at zero, and by the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. An activator says "When can we start?" This is a recurring question in your life. You are impatient for action. Only action can make things happen. Only action leads to performance. Once a decision is made, you cannot not act. Now that you know a little bit about me, you can see why it is next to impossible for me to sit and not be doing. At all times I feel called to act or perform, and I do not feel accomplished for the day if I have not achieved something. This is also why I make list. I feel a big sense of accomplishment when at the end of the day I am able to check things off the list. When Webster created the word doer, he might as well have written Amy Cole beside it.

This is where the big disconnect comes in to play. It is incredibly easy for me to begin each day with my own agenda and live life apart from Him. I have to constantly fight the battle of my flesh, and make myself just SIT which is incredibly difficult for me. I realize that there are very positive things about being a doer, and that one of those is that you can accomplish great things for the Lord. However, this cannot be done if it does not stem from a deep relationship with Him, and time spent in His word. And this is the very thing that has been lacking in my life. When I wake up in the morning, and set my feet to the ground my need for feeling accomplished begins. One would think that with my strong sense of doing, I would be able to add spending time in the Word to my list, check it off, and feel accomplished. However, I for some reason feel much more accomplished if the dishes are put away, the house is clean, a load of laundry is going, my e-mail has been answered, and the next chapter of that parenting book has been read. This is why over the past few years I have begged of the Lord to give me a deep desire for His word. One of my prayers for 2010 was that the Lord would "deepen my affections for His word." And I am sure you are saying to yourself, "isn't she in full-time ministry?" That is one of the reasons I felt compelled to share all of this with you because I do not "have it together" and I am certainly not perfect.

All this to say, over the past 24 hours the Lord has knocked me off my feet (literally) to say the least! I have been experiencing severe leg pain due to the fact that either the baby or my uterus is pressing against my sciatic nerve. Yesterday morning I was actually in tears because I was hurting so bad. Apparently this can be common in pregnancy, but the bad news is there is not much that can be done to make it better. By doctors orders, I am now eating a banana every day, and I am on bed rest for 48 hours. Yes, bed rest for a girl that cannot sit still!! YIKES!!! This is where the evaluation process began, and why at this moment I am sharing with you what our sweet Savior has so graciously revealed to me. I almost felt like He said to me yesterday, "If you cannot learn to sit still and have moments alone with me in my Word, I will show you how, and I will even give you 48 hours to do it." Talk about a wake up call!

As of now, I am about 24 hours in and I feel somewhat like an onion. On Sunday, I was not even aware of the reason for my disconnect with the Lord, and slowly He is has peeled back layer by layer to reveal to me the root problem. This has certainly not been a pretty process as I have had to wrestle with some deep sin issues in my life (I will spare you from those), but I am grateful that the Lord did not allow me to continue in my steps and that He "awakened me from my slumber." You may be thinking, "so has she spent the past 24 hours devouring the Scriptures?" Not exactly. The past 24 hours have involved more processing and evaluating. I have actually spent more time just listening to the Lord as He has revealed to me this issue in my life and the steps I need to take to move forward. At this point in time, the biggest thing He has shown me is that I MUST lower my expectations of myself and live in regards to HIS expectations of me. That is quite a big revelation, and one that is going to probably take more than 48 hours to process. Thus far, I am seeing that I need to let some things go. It is okay if a few dishes pile up in the sink, the house does not get vacuumed for a few days, or that stack of papers sits there for a week. I had begun to let these things take precedent in my life, and my number one priority of "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind" slowly drifted to the bottom.

Lord, may you reign as supreme in my life above all else. May my upmost desire be for you and your Word. I pray that it would be impossible for me to live life apart from you and apart from time spent in your Word. May my soul find deep satisfaction only in You. I pray that the words of Psalm 119:114 would be true of my life: "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you today! I pray also that your hope would be found in Him and His Word.

Here's to You, Mr. President

In honor of Presidents Day, listed below are quotes from several of America's greatest presidents. As I was sifting through all the quotes that I found upon googling, I was rather astonished by the words these men had spoken. It is quite apparent that these men feared the Lord and had a high regard for the written word of God. May we also have this kind of reverence for the Bible, and may we be committed to praying for our current President and the future of this great nation.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

President George Washington

"Do not let any one claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics." President George Washington

"Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there contained! Every member would be obliged in conscience to temperance, frugality and industry: to justice, kindness and charity towards his fellow men: and to piety, love and reverence toward Almighty God....What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be." President John Adams

"...a true American Patriot must be a religious man...He who neglects his duty to his maker, may well be expected to be deficient and insincere in his duty towards the public." Abigal Adams, wife of John Adams

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people. Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us." Abigal Adams, wife of John Adams

"The reason that Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." President Thomas Jefferson

“I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands... the Bible makes the best people in the world." President Thomas Jefferson

"My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising... It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day... It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue." President John Quincy Adams

"Go to the Scriptures...the joyful promises it contains will be a balsam to all your troubles. That book...is the rock on which our republic rests." President Andrew Jackson

"In regard to this great book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to found portrayed in it." President Abraham Lincoln

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior (Jesus) of the world is communicated to us through this book." President Abraham Lincoln

"Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." President Ulysses S. Grant

"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."

President Theodore Roosevelt

“The sum of the whole matter is this, that our civilization cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually. It can be saved only by becoming permeated with the spirit of Christ and being made free and happy by the practices which spring out of that spirit.” President Woodrow Wilson

"America was born a Christian nation, America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture." President Woodrow Wilson

"When you have read the Bible, you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty." President Woodrow Wilson

"The whole inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life." President Herbert Hoover

"Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face. The Bible can touch hearts, order minds, and refresh souls." President Ronald Reagan

24 WEEKS

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 24 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is the size of an ear of corn (length)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 18 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE

my maternity clothes. With spring just around the

corner though,all the shops on the Square are

displaying these lovely, colorful dresses...I am a tad bit jealous!

Gender: B-O-Y

Movement: This is the best way to describe it...he

is just like his father! He does not get cranking until

about 11, he has a lull in the afternoon, and then he

comes alive again around 9 or 10 every night!

Sleep: TERRIBLE!! And to think I have 15 more

weeks! Most nights I make it until about 4, when

I have to take a bathroom break. Then, I sleep sitting up

because my legs hurt so bad, and I have heartburn.

Any suggestions would be gladly accepted!

What I Miss: SLEEP...I think I will be missing

this for the next year or so!

Cravings: Coke ICEE...since the warm weather

visited us this week, I have found myself craving

anything that will cool me down.

Symptoms: Heartburn, Back Ache, Leg Pain...

not been the best week!

Best Moment of the Week: WARM WEATHER!!

This pregnant girl needed some sunshine!

It did wonders for my soul!

It's Official...

I have become an adult by entering into the world of BUNCO!! On Thursday night, I hosted for the first time ever a bunco group! I remember when I was a little girl and my mom would have all these women over to the house. They would roll dice for what seemed like hours, and just talk, talk, talk. They would have an absolute blast and they were so loud too! Well that is exactly what my friends and I did on Thursday night. We had so much fun that you would have thought we had not left the house in weeks. One evening was all it took, and I am now a huge fan of bunco. I cannot wait to play next month! It's the perfect game for women...not too much thinking required so you can sit back, relax, and talk the night away!

Ellen with the Most Wins!

A little blurry, but the best we could do:

Jessie, Grace, Mary Melinda, Corrie, Missy, Me,

Jill, and Ellen

I also want to share with you a little treat I made for the evening. This is a great recipe for trail mix that has a little kick to it! This stuff is incredibly addicting, so you better not plan on just having a little. One handful, and you will be back for another!

Ingredients:

1/2 box of Cheez-Its

1/2 bag of Oyster Crackers

1/2 bag of Twisted Pretzels

1/2 jar of Dry Roasted Peanuts

3/4 cup of Canola Oil

1 Tbsp. of Crushed Red Pepper

1 package of Ranch Dressing Mix

Directions:

Mix together the first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, red pepper, and ranch dressing and stir until well blended. Pour over the mixture and stir for about 5 minutes. Eat to your heart's content!!

**You can double the recipe since you will already have the first four ingredients. Just make two separate batches or else you lose the flavor.

Update on Baby Baker

Many of you have asked how Baby Baker is doing, so I wanted to share with you their Caring Bridge website. The Troxlers are so grateful for your prayers! Their main prayer request is that Baker would begin to suck and swallow. Keep praying for this precious little boy!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bakertroxler

23 WEEKS

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 23 Weeks

Size of Baby: Baby C is the size of a large mango (weight)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 16.5 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I do not know how I would

survive without them! I'm going to have a

hard time transitioning back to pants

with no elastic waist band.

Gender: It's a BOY!!!

Movement: He is becoming a little wiggle worm

more and more each day!

Sleep: Still tossin and turnin! Some nights I have had

to sleep sitting up because my heartburn is so bad.

What I Miss: Good sleep!

Cravings: Chips and Cheese Dip...I think I

could eat this every day.

Symptoms: Heartburn, and that evil morning

sickness decided to revisit me this week!

Best Moment of the Week: Kyle got to feel the baby

kick for the first time this week. It was a sweet moment to

see Kyle's face light up. He was so excited!

The Moment We Knew...

Kyle and I actually found out we were having a BOY on December 23rd! It was one of the best Christmas presents I have ever received! We had both of our families in town, and cut into a cake to find out the gender. It was bright blue!! I previously posted about the night we found out, and here are the rest of the pictures from the evening.

Gender Reveal Party

As most of you know, Kyle and I hosted a Gender Reveal Party to announce the gender of Baby Cole. Yes, it was 3 weeks ago and I am just now getting around to posting the pictures. The party was a huge success! BOY definitely won the vote by far...I could barely squeeze all the people into the picture. To reveal the gender, we gave everyone a cupcake and on the count of three each person bit into their cupcake to find blue icing. It was such a fun night, and we enjoyed watching everyone's excitement over our sweet baby BOY!!