So much has gone on lately. I do not know where to start!

Andrew continues to be the love of my life (in one year old form :) ) I ask.. no more like beg.. you to continue to pray for him and for us. God has just worked out everything like only HE can to this point and I pray with total confidence that things will continue to be positive. I thank God every single day for bringing Andrew into my world. If you know him, you know why. He is such a joy. PRAYERS PLEASE!

We are anticipating this sweet baby that is on the way. I will be in my third trimester on Friday. Can you believe that? Time flies. Tim has finished painting her room.. and putting together her furniture. There is still definitely alot of decorating to do.. but he has done all of the man things :) My pregnancy has been such a blessing. Even through morning sickness.. well day sickness.. and hurting and all of those things I have not lost sight of the beautiful thing that is happening to me and for her. As much as I fear the whole birthing process.. and believe me.. it is a major fear.. I cannot wait to see her and hold her and know her. Keep praying that things will go well.. the Dr. has only had great reports about her.. and that is a blessing I count daily.

Tiffany is a senior! Whoa! Its wild. She spent summer at camp at The University of Alabama (Roll Tide).. and she is really in college mode. She is working hard on her ACT score.. and I look forward to seeing where she ends up! She is still working and involved. And I am very proud of where she is.. and who she is.


School has started.. I love being a teacher. Especially to small children. They are funny and loving and I am in such a good place. The only thing that would make being a teacher while pregnant better would be some old school nap time :)

Football season begins Friday night.. and Tim will be back to referreeing and Daddy to working the pressbox.. and Bert to being a real life coach. This is the time of year where mom is my Friday night date. It's fun and I cannot wait for Saturday football! Have I mentioned I hope my children get Tim and Dad and Berts athletic ability?! I would like to remain the only uncoordinated unathletic family member :)

I have worried about so much lately. And you know what? Most of it worked out perfectly. I can see God everyday in my life. I can see Him in the way things work out and the way things get fixed.. and the way things just happen. I am more amazed regularly by my lack of control, and God's total control. Someone's facebook said something like lately.. " Worry does not cure tomorrow, it steals the joy of today". Pretty sure thats right on.

Love. :)

Andrew turned one yesterday, and tomorrow will make a beautiful year that I have known him. Super safe to say that he and I figured out this newborn stuff together. When he came I had a baby bed and some formula and some vaguely listened to instructions from the nurse. And look how far we've come :) we've been through colds, and first rolls, and a nurse actually asking me if I was breast feeding this beautiful brown boy. We have laughed and played and been totally blessed. Blessed by grandparents who are madly in love with him, blessed by aunt tina who has selflessly taken him into her home and with her own children helped mold him into the happy bright boy that he is. He has a church family that loves him and so many people praying for his future. He is blessed, but so much more than that, we have been blessed by him.

The little girls have gone to live with siblings. Their new foster mom said we can visit anytime and they could come spend the night as well. I am glad for them and they were excited about being with family. I do miss them but I know with a new baby due in november its best for now.

Tiff will be back from her program next week. It has been quiet around without her and were looking forward to her being home. She will be a senior in a couple weeks. I'm excited about it for her!

The pregnancy is going well. I am still "sick" most days but I've gotten used to it and am really not bothered much by it. Sometimes I do get really tired chasing andrew all day and I try to take advantage of putting my feet up when I can.

Were happy :)

100 Years.

It has been almost 100 years now since I blogged. I am sure that makes me a bad blogger. Forgive me. Moving on!

All of our doctors visits have been super positive. They believe it is a little girl! :) But.. the baby kept its legs crossed the whole visit.. so at this point we still arent sure! We do have another ultrasound tomorrow and we are hoping for confirmation. I had some issues last week, but the Lord took good care and all appears to be going much better. So thankful. Tim is working on painting and getting the baby's room ready. He is so excited and it makes my heart so happy. I already know what a good daddy he can be to those who are not his own, it gives me such confidence in our family's future as he leads us.

Andrew is wonderful. He continues to grow and move and amaze us. He is standing alone now (unsteadily). And constantly learning. He has our hearts and we continue to covet your prayers for his future. So many prayers have been answered to this point and I have faith that the very best will work out.

Tiffany and the little girls are also doing well. Tiffany is at a summer program and having a great time. We only see her on the weekends, and it is giving her a taste of college life. I think it has been very good for her. Senior year will be an exciting time.. and fly by I am sure!

Just a quick life up date from the Croley Crew! I will try to blog again this decade :)

Love to all.

Finally, we trusted.

“For this child I prayed, and God granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” I Sam 1:27-28

We did pray. And we begged. And we cried. And then finally, we trusted.

I am thankful for the wait I endured to be blessed with my sweet baby.

I am thankful because it gave me time to take care of Andrew. If I had found out about a baby this time last year, or May, or June, or July.. I might not have taken Andrew. I would have thought it was too much. But instead I was totally available to take care of Andrew. And I loved it. I never minded 2am too much, I loved how small he was and how he felt against me. I pray that he will get to be our first child for our lifetime.

I am thankful because it gave me the opportunity to be unselfishly happy for others. I had close friends find out about their own pregnancies while I waited. And you know what? I wasn’t jealous or mean, I was genuinely happy for them. I was excited through their different stages. Sometimes it did make me long for my own experiences, but I was always happy for them. I am glad that I didn’t feel petty jealousy, and I know that is a work the Lord has done on my heart.

I am thankful most of all.. because it gave me an opportunity to really trust God. I guess it was around September I was just totally sad about our lack of success as far as a baby. And Tim wrote me the most beautiful words. Maybe one day he will let me share them with you. But I have never felt so comforted or at peace. God’s time. That is what it all comes down to. God’s time. And I am so thankful for His time. I am so thankful for His ability to know everything, and with that knowledge take perfect care of me. Praise the Lord.

We are almost 11 weeks along now. We saw the baby yesterday. And we heard that strong heart beat. I cried. It was so perfect. I cannot tell you how precious it was. And maybe the wait made it even more special.

God’s perfect time. I am amazed by it, and so thankful for it. Pray for us.

Let Love Lead.

I heard that on the most random show ever.. "let love lead.." but it hit me as so profound. Aren't we better off in almost every situation when we let love lead?

I am better to my husband and children when my actions and reactions are based on my love for them. When I can take time to reflect on my true feelings, and not my temporary ones (anger, disappointment, etc).. I can then handle situations with a greater grace based on a greater love.

I am kinder to others when I let love lead. I am not as tempted to judge, but rather to understand. I am not as tempted to tear down, but rather encourage. I tell Tim all the time what a happier world it would be if we decided in our homes, and our churches, and our jobs to just take time to consider one another's position and rather than feel hurt or negative feelings based on others behaviors.. we could just love them. Not always agree with them. Not always support their decisions. But love them. I guess it goes back to the idea of walking a mile in another person's shoes.

I want my life to demonstrate letting love lead. I want to make a real effort to love other people. Not just people like me. Not just people I understand. Not just people who I am comfortable with. I want to let love lead with everyone. I want love to lead me out of my comfortable areas and into areas where my love is needed.

I hope you too will decide to let love lead :)

Tim.

Have you ever just really thought about someone else.. just really let who they are sink in.. and been totally amazed. Alot of times in the day to day, I see Tim. I see him as who I need to take out the trash, I see him as who I need to coordinate schedules with, I see him as my partner in paying bills and getting by. But sometimes it just hits me who he really is..

He is a selfless, hard working, focused, honest, good man. He works hard every day for our family.

Yes, he goes to a 7-4 job that is often times 7-7 or called in the middle of the night.. but that isnt even where his work begins. He works with the youth at our church. He is honestly committed to the belief that they have the brightest futures if they invest totally in God. He spends much time preparing lessons and planning events. But I would say.. that is not even where his work begins. I see his hard work in helping two little girls get dressed every morning. I see his hard work in rocking a baby to sleep at night. I see his hard work in parenting a teenager to the best of his ability. I see his hard work in making time to make me regularly feel valued. He takes out trash, and washes clothes, and feeds dogs, and is often times everything to everyone. And very seldom do I see people really stop to see how they can lighten his load.. and I dont think he even notices.

He is selfless. Alot of people have told me they would be foster parents if their partners would agree. And I totally get that. Men think differently than we do. Men view things differently than we do. And alot of times their hestitation is needed. And if they have reservations about taking on the role, that should be taken seriously. It has to be something both people are totally sold out to. I totally believe that. With all that said, Tim didn't hesitate. He didn't look for ways out. He saw a need. He wanted to be a cure to the problem. Tim and I decided early on we didn't want to be people who dwelled on problems, we wanted to fix them. And I love that early in our marriage before we were set in our ways, we decided to make a difference. And sometimes lost under the stacks of clothes and piles of homework I wonder about what life with just us would be like. And selfishly I guess sometimes I dream of every night as a date night and every morning as one where we could sleep late.. but then it hits me.. I would not want to be doing anything other than what we are doing right now. And there is no one I could hope to be more of a partner than Tim.

He isn't perfect. Sometimes hes a bed hog. Sometimes I feel like the ballgame will never end! Sometimes I think he is being a little poutish. Sometimes I want him to freak out over something that he totally remains calm about. Sometimes we fuss. Sometimes we have different parenting styles. But he is honestly, the best person I know. He has the most sincere desire to do good, and to be good. And he inspires that in me.

So today on Tim's birthday.. I see him. I see him for the amazing man that he is. And I am thankful.

Just Trust.

I have a confession. I let worry rule my life. I let it keep me from sleeping sometimes. I let it keep me from enjoying precious moments at times. I let it keep me from trusting God the way I am supposed to. People say worry does no good. They are absolutely right. I cannot tell you one problem I have had solved by my worrying. Now, I can tell you about time wasted, I can tell you about energy not spent in a productive way. But for some reason.. worry is hard to lose. I talk to myself constantly about trusting. Tim reminds me of scriptures. And still I let it control me. Pray that I can let go and let God!! I mean how beautiful would it be to live with total trust in God and total peace knowing He is in control. What a relief it would be to realize that I do not have to worry about things, try to control everything, feel totally responsible for everything, because there is someone who loves me more than any earthly person who is working things out for me.

I have so much to work on. I want to start with worry. I want to start with ridding my life of it. I want to start by finding that peace that is promised through trust. I would appreciate your prayers that I do overcome my worry problem. And prayers that God will just work out all of my concerns, and prayers that I will let go.. and let God.

Tim and I are having lots of company this weekend! We are going to keep two little girls for another foster mom. Respite it is officially called. They are our little girls age so it should be like one big slumber party! Chris also called Tim earlier in the week and asked if he could come for the weekend. Of course, we said yes! Altogether that is seven children (unless mom and dad take Andrew like they love to do! ). I am sure it will be a lot of fun.. and fly by!

Love to all.