For Good

Romans 8:28 says "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God-those whom He has called according to His plan."

You've heard this verse.  You've doubted it through a trial.  I've doubted it through a trial.  The anniversary of my biggest trial to date is tomorrow June 1st.  Then proceeded the longest 5 weeks of my life.  Time slowed down almost to a standstill.  Every hour that went by seemed to tick tick tick away. 
It started Friday the 13th of May.  I know, I know, but we aren't superstitious.  I went in for my routine check-up at the doctor for baby number 2.  We then went to McDonald's for lunch, and while sitting there I thought I peed my pants.  Turns out I can hold my bladder, and my water had broken at 29 weeks.  I was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital by ambulance.  That was wild!  They got my labor stopped and then I was stuck on bedrest at the hospital until the baby would come.  Our world was turned upside down.  Brody, who was used to having his mommy at all times, was now with daddy.  And daddy, who was used to having his wife at all times, was now mommy, daddy, auditor, goat herder, and cattle man.  That's a lot of jobs for anyone.  It took a quick toll on him and my mother-n-law showed up to help take the load off during the week, and then my parents would come on the weekends.  It makes me tear up when I think that during those 3 weeks before Gage was born I never went a day without seeing Brody or having a visitor.  I felt very loved.  Thank you friends and family for loving me that much. 



Well, today, one year ago I started having more intense contractions that were far apart.  But about 11 pm that night they were about 3 minutes apart.  Doctor came to check and said, "we need to get her down to the OR."  I had a natural birth, but we were there in case things turned bad for me.  I called Bo and he came immediately.  At 5 am, June 1st, Gage Kenneth Troyer was born.  He came out screaming and we had tears of joy that he was breathing.  He was 31 weeks old and weighed 4 lbs. 4 oz.  He never needed oxygen.  His biggest hurdles were figuring out how to eat without a feeding tube and regulating his body temperature...which he still has difficulties with.  Anyway, 3 weeks went by at a snails pace visiting him twice a day at the hospital.  I couldn't think of anything else when I was at home besides being at the hospital.  And when I was at the hospital I felt guilty that Brody wasn't getting my attention.  Needless to say I was depressed.  Bo and I were both bone tired and cranky.  We would just hold each other and cry.  It was so hard.  But we finally made it to the day we could take him home.  He would have been 34 weeks in my belly.  We went in that morning believing we could take our baby home and were hit by a brick wall.  That night, Gage started having bloody stools, and they immediately did some x-rays to see that his bowels were infected.  He had something called NEC...necrotizing entercolitis.  They proceeded to tell us the horrible odds that almost all babies have to have part of their colons removed...or the 40 percent death rate.  I couldn't let myself go there.  I refused to believe my baby would die.  I had to or else I would have died inside as well. 

They immediately put him on strong meds and he was in the hospital another 2 weeks fighting this infection before we got him home.  He lived and he had no side effects in his bowels!

(Gage's 1st day home)

That was a miracle.  I realize this story is not personal to you.  And it's kind of long, but it is a testimony to our God.  When we thought the worst was happening, God, in His mighty goodness and power, turned it all for good.  Our Gage is a crawling miracle baby.  And tomorrow he turns 1 year old.  He isn't walking like a lot of babies his age, or saying any words.  But that will come in time.  He is living and breathing and we are beyond blessed with this life God has entrusted to us at this time.  Happy Birthday Gage Kenneth Troyer.  You bring us tears of joy!

(new sandbox!!!)

Protector

We had some tragedy at the farm a few weeks back.  A coyote or two came during the night and caught two baby goats for their dinner.  They also left one little baby with a hole in the top of its head and in the bottom of its jaw, which caused its mouth to close unnaturally.  Bo and I affectionately started calling her jack-jaw.  Awwww...aren't we sweet. :)
So back to the story.  We bought a guard dog.  A wonderful two year old Great Pyrenees named Buddy.  And while Buddy's name sounds playful, his demeanor is no such thing.  He is here to do a job.  He doesn't have time to be petted or played with or loved on.  He has goats to watch and herd and will not come near us.  He is an amazing work dog...he's just not a pet.  And we are learning to be okay with that.  We already have a pet, Bear, who will love you more than you want to be loved.  He's a 150 pound Bernese Mountain Dog.  And he still believes with all his heart that he is a puppy.
But, this story is not about Bear. 
So we got Buddy home.  We let him out into the goat pen, and he immediately went to each baby goat and smelled them.  He walked the perimeter of the fence and checked out every little thing.  Then he went to work checking each noise and howling of the wind.  It was about 9 at night, and that's when they are most on alert is during the night.  So he went right to work doing what he does.  Being the guardian of the goats. :)
 
This is a picture of Buddy.  Isn't he cute.  Don't you want to cuddle him.  Well, it's not possible.  I wanted to take some better pictures of him with the goats, but he runs like the wind every time I go out there. :) 
Every day I see him out there barking an alarm to the goats if there's any suspicious noise, or cuddling all the babies around him during his naps, or herding them in before the storm hits, and I am reminded of our very own protector.  Doesn't He do all those things for us.  He is our guardian (guard dog), which is someone that prevents injury.  He is whispering a warning in our ear about something, He holds us close when we feel alone.  He's always there whether we acknowledge it or not.  He is preparing us for the storms of this imperfect life.  But I think I don't always allow myself to be protected.  I can do this crazy life.  Or I am so caught up in life that I forget that He's still sitting there with me if only I will recognize His presence.  If I will listen to His voice trying to prevent me from failure.  If we fully trust in Him, He will be with us through the hard times and the great times...and all the in-between times.  He's always there watching, waiting, protecting.  Just call out to Him.  He wants to take care of us. 
Psalm 91
 You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you're perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

^14-16 "If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God,
"I'll get you out of any trouble.
I'll give you the best of care
if you'll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I'll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!"