Pier the Patient

February 27, 2014February 28, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres4 Comments

Today was a big day at the Lefebvre household. Pier had her surgery today.

We thank everyone for their continued prayers. Everything went well. My patient is recovering comfortably at home.

My wife is such an amazing wife. She will endure the most difficult of challenges with a smile on her face. We are both putting faith forward in that the Lord will bless us very soon. I can not ask for a more devoted and loving wife! I thank God for her each and every day.

Until Tomorrow,
Craig

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What's Up Wednesday

More Ice, Winter Jam, Work & A Challenge Met!

February 12, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

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So, what’s up in your neck of the woods? Here in Georgia, we are shut down once more – but this time, it’s due to an unprecedented ice storm – a storm that woke me up in the wee hours of the morning.

It doesn’t look bad, but even the poor doggies were slipping around when I have taken them out to potty in our backyard. I can’t imagine the roads…They are expecting up to 1″ of ice. Yikes.

Our back deck...That's one of Lucy's HUGE bones - buried in ice! — Our back deck…That’s one of Lucy’s HUGE bones – buried in ice!

In other news, this past week, as you know, we attended Winter Jam 2014:

No rain & not a cloud in the sky...But there were definitely beautiful rainbows peering down on us as we waited in line! — No rain & not a cloud in the sky…But there were definitely beautiful rainbows peering down on us as we waited in line!

Every different genre of music was represented…There were amazing stories and testimonies shared… Georgia Bulldogs’ Coach Mark Richt spoke; Nik Wallenda walked across the Dome on a tightrope; A youth pastor from Minneapolis shared a wonderful sermon…We were SO blessed by the experience! God definitely led us to the Georgia Dome. There is no doubt.

On a lighter note, Monday was my first day as a permanent and ‘official’ employee with CHEP. It’s very exciting – This company is AWESOME and I am so happy to be a part of it!

Oh, and with Craig’s encouragement and expert driving ability during our last icy mess, in January, I completed Pure Barre’s 21 Day Challenge! Yay! Yep, that means, in one month, I completed 21 classes on 21 different days! I won’t say it wasn’t TOUGH (IT WAS!!!!), but it was so worth it!

Hope all of you are having a wonderful afternoon!! Stay warm!!!

TTC Tuesday

Thank You, Jesus!

January 29, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres4 Comments

Today’s post isn’t going to be too long, but I feel led to post this today. Sometimes, in the land of infertility, (and in life, in general) we complain, and sigh, and grumble constantly. But where is our faith?

Romans 5

5 We have been made right with God because of our faith. So we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory.3 And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient.4 And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. 5 And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us.

Craig & I, and some of those closest to us, have been the recipients of Jesus’ healing power through faith, patience, perseverance, & prayer. We have to get out of the mindset that the world is out to get us. God wants nothing but the very best for His children. So allow Him to bless you, to heal you.

Isaiah 1:19

19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

Isaiah 58:11

11 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ask Him for healing, for help, for blessings, and then have faith, and THANK HIM for all you have and everything He will grant you.

Whether your cross to bear is infertility, disease, depression:

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Why spend the precious time God gave each of us on this Earth being sad and dejected? Have hope and faith and a thankful heart.

Today we are thanking the Lord for His healing and His promises. Thank you, Jesus, for all the many blessings and answered prayers.

Isaiah 40:31

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

When the doubt and the worry and the anxiousness start to overtake you, thank Him and continue thanking Him because our list of blessings never runs out – no matter how little we think we have.

Keep The Faith!

TTC Tuesday

Grieving What Never Was

January 7, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres8 Comments

{Deep breath}

Oh, this is a hard topic. For me anyway…and for any of you out there who have experienced infertility. This post covers something never spoken about, but felt so strongly by those of us who have endured this trial. Those of you who have had no issues in conceiving a child might not understand this pain, but for those of us who know it – it stings. (What an understatement.)

Gena Golas of the blog “CT Working Moms“, writes in the Huffington Post about “The Five Stages Of Infertility Grief“, and while it might seem a humorous post for some…It is all too real to be laughable.

For those of us who deal with infertility on a daily basis, to hear: “Oh, it’ll happen. Don’t think about it so much. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.” or “It will happen as soon as you ‘stop trying so hard’,” is akin to being punched in the stomach. I can’t tell you how many times we have heard those phrases, and on each of those occasions, I have been forced to hold back my tears. Every time we see horror stories on the news about child abuse and neglect, I am reduced to a puddle on the floor – wondering why them, and why not us!?!?

I will admit it gets harder and harder every single day to bow my head in prayer for the same thing Craig and I have been praying for for the past 16 months. I keep in my heart Hannah, Sarah, Rachel, the mother of Samson…Women of the Bible who were infertile only temporarily, until God stepped in and gave them a blessing, a miracle, an utterly amazing gift.

I keep these verses close by for comfort:

“…that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5
“…God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

At the end of the day, this excerpt from the Infertility Survival Guide by Cindy Lewis Dake, hits the nail on the head of how Craig and I feel:

“We have a good life together. I don’t want us to “embrace the emptiness” that seems to swallow up some infertile couples. “Empty arms” doesn’t mean empty hearts. When a couple desperately wants a child, they begin to think their life is empty without one. They become completely centered on the quest for a child, financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. We don’t want that feeling to ever control us. We love our life together and want to always be satisfied with it, so if a child comes along, he/she will be an added blessing.”

But it is the biggest struggle we have ever faced – together or apart – to go on without that blessing – wondering if we will ever be blessed with a child.

As always, we ask for your prayers.

All Our Love,