Learning Patience

Today, my dog barked.

Only a few dozen separate times throughout the day after being rebuked each time.

She calms down almost immediately. 

But it's just the fact that I have to remind her not to do it in the first place.

We've been spoiled with a dog who's forgotten he has vocal cords, until we got white bear.

Here's our silent black bear.

My point is, today I lost it with white bear. 

I'm ashamed.

Because I was just thinking about the Duggar family

--the family that is featured on the TLC show 19 kids and Counting.

I was thinking how I desperately desire to be a calm mother, a loving mother and a Mommy who doesn't let things get under her skin.

Not but 5 seconds later I find myself yelling and physically pushing her to the floor. 

Patience is a virtue. 

I just don't have it.

It is my prayer that God will give me patience 

so that I can be a better wife, a stronger mom, and more like Christ.

I looked up a few verses, and read a few passages on how God loves us, 

and how his patience is always overflowing.

Romans 15:4 "For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. 15:5 Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another³ in accordance with Christ Jesus, 15:6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Netbible.org)

The Bible gives us clear instruction that we are called to be patient, and tells us how to ask God for it!

We are meant to live in harmony with our family....

that includes pets :)

What a challenge, though! Can there still be solid leadership without anger, yelling, quick corrections--that are sometimes harsh?

The Bible says yes.

1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. 13:6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. 13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (Netbible.org)

I believe that the Bible teaches that true love, and wise leadership co-exist.

Proverbs 17:14 "Starting a quarrel⁵⁰ is like letting out water;⁵¹

stop it before strife breaks out!^52" (Netbible.org)

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers,⁷ do not provoke your children to anger,⁸ but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Netbible.org)

*FYI: The term "fathers" was translated from the Hebrew word "

οἱ πατέρες " 

which can be used to refer to both male and female parents.  Got to love the internet.

Practical Example of all these Bible verses: Allowing myself to take a deep breath before responding to white bear's bark. Even if my motive is to train her not to wake the baby from a nap...she can learn in a loving way. I don't want  her to fear me, but respect us and obey the rules we give her.

Oh, the prayers of a future mom...are many.

But God has been preparing me for a while now.

Thank you, White Bear & Black Bear. :)

Bye-Bye for now!

...from the 6 of us.

Me, baby, Mason, White bear, Black bear, and Genesis the cat.

Be Blessed!

 The DIY Wifey,

 

PREGNANT after infertility & PRAISING GOD!

Praise God!!!! 

We're thrilled!!!

I'm still in shock, in amazement that God's finally chosen us to become parents!

We feel so blessed that out of the many women who struggle to conceive with my condition (PCOS), it is estimated that about half of them will ever conceive a child, with the help of medicine. On top of that, our doctors had given us an estimated 3 to 6 months to EVER get pregnant as of this past January because my ovaries were quickly loosing functionality, shown in monthly ultrasounds. No pressure. We were lucky enough to be able to get pregnant with the help of medicated and monitored cycles and the prayerful actions of our doctor the very month that he informed us that he no longer could treat us.  He said that he was referring us to the IVF clinic (Northern California IVF in Roseville) and that I was Clomid-resistant, and I'd need IVF. I hadn't ovulated in years, and we were loosing time. Mason and I had already decided to not pursue IVF because we had already mentally prepared ourselves for the desire to adopt! About a week after the appointment with the doctor, I started my last round of the medication, at a tripled dose from the first round I had taken in January. So for me that meant Hot flashes about 5 times an hour, getting sick, and too many blood tests to feel like anything but a lab rat. Meanwhile, Mason and I started making appointments to meet with adoption agencies in our area, as well as scheduling an informational meeting regarding Foster care with the County. We were looking into foster-adoptions, embryo-adoptions, as well as domestic adoptions. About two weeks later, as a surprise to everyone, I ovulated. {what now? I was excited about adoption?! } This changed everything! There was no way of knowing whether the follicle was viable or if I had hyper-stimulated my ovaries and ovulated multiple times (aka: this is how things like "kate plus 8" happen). We just prayed and knew that we were in God's hands and God was in control. I started testing for pregnancy six days later :) 9 Days past ovulation, Mother's Day, I saw our first positive pregnancy test! What amazing timing God!!! I couldn't have asked for anything more! And then on 11 Days past ovulation, our first digital pregnancy test came up positive! Blood tests confirmed...and the rest is history! :)

It may sound like a cliché story but it's not. It's a miracle. But, we should have expected a miracle all along because God isn't a God of calculated statistics and odds, He is a God of power and fulfilled promises in the making. 

After almost 3 years of infertility and treatments,  9 no 6 and 1/2 months seems like an awfully short time to wait! :) 

Mason and I want to thank you for your prayers, your support (continued support), and all the love we've received from people in our church, our friends, and even from online infertility communities...you all have made your stories public inspiration for the rest of us ...stories of faith, love and heart ache through your journeys to parenthood. You are all so inspiring. 

 And if there is anything we hope to do with our story-

 it is to share it and to inspire others to trust God's faithfulness and to lean on the community of believers that have gone before them in infertility. 

So... onto some light-hearted questions you may have:

Baby size: A lime

How I feel about being pregnant: Grateful to be here, looking forward to enjoying our pregnancy...anytime now....I've been too sick to really do much at all.

Symptoms: I may be turning the corner...maybe..!!! I've lost 10 pounds in a 2 week period from the constant vomiting...but I haven't thrown up in a few days...and I'm almost done with my first trimester....things are looking up!

Food Cravings: You guessed it... fruit! At this rate, I have no choice but to shop at walmart.

What I'm most excited about: The fact that it's not a secret anymore! :) We get to share in excitement with all our loved ones!

Something sweet your daddy did for me: Mason has done almost all of the housework as I've been sick in bed. He has NO idea how helpful and sensitive he is to my needs. He is the best servant-leader any wife could ask for. He is a special man.

Something I've done to prepare for baby: I know this is boring...but I've rested. :) and it's bliss...for the baby, I mean. :)

Special moment: On Father's day, Mason spoke to the baby for the first time...I tried not to listen...giving them their special space. :) Mason said there was no point in talking to the baby before then, because the ear's hadn't developed. I just laughed. :) but of course!

Be Blessed! 

The DIY Wifey,