Snowball fight!

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LeAnna and Cora put this little video together and sent it to us!  Made me laugh so hard and we had to share the fun!!!!  Huge thank you to Aunt LeAnna a cousin Cora for making us smile today!  We love ya'll!! :)

A Very Merry Christmas Weekend!

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Daddy's Girl :)

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A few quick pics from the Turkey Day Album

Trotter Family Christmas Fudge Weekend :)

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The magic of the moment...SWOSU Football 2009

(Top from left to right: Carlos, Toby, Isaiah, Jeff, Jesse - Bottom from left to right: Marcus, Cade and Shane)

As promised I am finally getting the chance to recap the 2009 SWOSU football season.  It has been quite a trip these last 5 months since moving here to Weatherford, OK and summing it up might take awhile, so anticipate that this will be a long post (too much good stuff to remember! :)).  Hard to believe that it was this time last year as we were preparing to go to a "Tacky Christmas Sweater Party" at the Farden's house (which was a blast thanks to Taylor and Lisa :)) and Toby came in to the kitchen, sat down at the table and told me that he had just been offered the Secondary Coach and Recruiting Coordinator position at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.   

The road to get back in to coaching had started nearly 5 years before on a random Saturday afternoon while folding laundry in our bathroom.  While I folded and the hubs packed for yet another business trip I listened to my sweet Toby talk about the weight of his work and travel.  As I listened I couldn't help feeling there was something more on his heart.
After he finished talking I simply asked him, "What about coaching?"

That little question lead to a precious conversation that I will never forget.  In that normal everyday moment a passion to pursue a God sized dream was ignited.

God has been so good to us this football season...it's been crazy and a bit hairy at times, but He has always been faithful.  He kept Toby safe as he drove back and forth from Weatherford to OKC/Texas during spring football practices, provided a place to stay during our transition at my brother and sis-in-law's house (Mike and LeAnna ya'll are amazing - thank you again!), He sold our home in Texas (whew :)), provided a new home in W-ford (whew again :)), He kept us all sane (well, mostly sane...lol :)), healthy and fairly organized as we dealt with so much change.  We have had some great times eating Taco Mayo in Toby's office after practice watching Cade and Ainsley draw up "cover 3".  We were given some great opportunities to serve Toby's position players with wings and Monday night football, a couple of Sunday lunches and had an amazing time starting FCA on the campus. 

Toby and I listened to Cade pray for the players he knew by name and consistently ask when we were going to see Carlos, or Jesse, or O, or Shane, or Jeff ..etc.  I was the wardrobe assistant to the kids as I dressed them up in their game day gear: Cade in his oversized bulldog's jersey and knotting Ainsley's bulldog t-shirt behind her back in true 80's greatness! We've met great new friends, got reconnected with some dear old friends and have been so blessed by being closer to our families.  Whether it has been Cade tackling the coaching staff after practice or watching Ainsley run as fast as her little legs can take her yelling, "DADDY!!!" across the field after a game.....(whew...told ya there was a lot to remember :)) it has all equated to God being so very Powerful, such an Abundant Provider and a very Loving Father to us while we have stepped in faith during this 2009 football season. 

The highpoint of the season was definitly Homecoming.  The homecoming parade downtown was again awesome and very much like something out of a Southern Living Magazine ( i.e. my Spooktacular post) the streets were full of people and it was not just a dinky (is that a word? oh well, it is now :)) 30 minute parade full of cars, no candy and politians handing out random stickers for the upcoming county elections.  No, no this was the real deal parade and every school, business, service organization, community activity and church group rolled out to be a part.  And they threw plenty of candy to keep my kiddos eating sweets the whole day...chocolate went to me of course :)  It was a great way to start the day!

The bulldogs had battled through every game having "victory" on many fronts, but hadn't marked that W column just yet.  The team had grown and learned and had finally reached Homecoming.  It was a huge day for the program and Toby had over 50 recruiting families in for the weekend...the recruiting visits had been a complete success and now if we could walk away with our first win it would make the day INCREDIBLE!  But late in to the 3rd Quarter we were lossing and didn't look like we had the zeal to take over the game in victory....

....or did we....

Late in the 3rd Quarter the defense made an incredible goal line stand, a couple of interceptions and then as the 4th Quarter came around you could feel life pumping into the stadium.  The offense drove the ball down the field all the while eating up a great amount of the clock...obviously I have slept since then so the details are a little foggy...but the way the game ended was the kind of stuff movies are made of!

The visitors were on top 13-7 and we were on the 5 yard line....1st and goal......pass thrown incomplete in the endzone and our QB goes down injured and has to leave the game...the crowd is literally going nuts and time is ticking off the game clock which is now under 2 minutes.  In the midst of it all I am holding Ainsley who probably thought I was going to pinch her in half as I was screaming and jumping up and down like an idiot :)....so the backup QB comes in we get to 2nd and goal....again, nothing.  Then in true movie form QB one comes back in the game, we hike the ball, pass is thrown.........TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!  So at this point the game is tied, no time left on the clock.  All we have to do is make the extra point.....kick is up.....kick is good!!!!!!  And the crowd goes wild!!!!!  Everyone rushed the field and in "magical moment" form fireworks started going off....literally :)  It was already in the plan to have a fireworks show after the game for Homecoming...but in my own little "magical moment mind" it could not have been scripted any better.  And the best part was walking out on that field and seeing all the recruiting families enjoying the moment right along with us! 

So the 2009 football season is in the books...I know I have spoken to many of you other coach's wives either on the phone,through email, facebook, the Coach's Wife website, etc and heard about your seasons too and I am honored to a part of such an incredible fellowship of women that call themselves coach's wives, and along with their husbands are raising coaching families.  It isn't easy and I am laughing at myself even as I glance at the phrase "the 2009 season is in the books" because any good coach's wife knows that my coach is on the recruiting trail right now as I type these words! I'm sure some wives have sent their husbands off to coach their second sport :) and that no football season is truly "in the books" because everything that happened in the season before fuels your energy to focus on the next one....and that includes what happened off the field too :)....At the end of this season in more ways than one I say praise be to God for fufilling the dreams of His children, giving us jobs we love, experiences to strengthen us, and opportunities to depend on Him with all that we have!!

The Follage....beautiful trees that were around our neighborhood this fall....

Spooktacular!

So October has come and gone...by fast...really fast! But it was a very spooktacular, I know it's a cheesy word but it fits the mood of the post, month...October was SPOOKTACULAR for the Trotter troops. Busy yes, and we do have much more to post...SWOSU Homecoming which was, let me just say...magical...but that is for another post...so stay tuned in :)

I will start this post with photos from our traditional Trotter pumpkin carving extravaganza. The night started with dinner out at Venecios, which might sound Italian but it is actually Tex-Mex...really threw me for a loop when we first rolled in to town...great fajitas though! :) Once the pumpkins were bought and the trash bags for all the pumpkin guts were laid out the party started! Of course I was given the wonderful honor of gutting the pumpkins which is sickly therapeutic to me and I love freaking the kids out with the orange "pumpkin brain slop" on my hands. Ainsley was only mildly traumatized...before she was diving in like a champ!

Toby was in rare form this year and Cade has caught on to the madness. They were enthralled in their creation...Ainsley and I on the other hand picked the cutest looking goblin in the trace and carve book and went to work...it was also in the front of the book, which meant it was the easiest level of carving. Although in complete disclosure my hands are still feeling the pained effects of the "easiest level of carving" bug a boo we selected. :)
Toby and Cade went straight to the back of the book to the master carving section. Toby was like Yoda pumpkin carver training his Luke Skywalker, Cade, to learn the ways of the master and ultimately let the force be with him in his master carving future! They selected the most awesome witch and did a masterful job!

Pretty much Weatherford around Halloween is the most adorable, most awesome "pleasantville" place to live. I have seen places like this on movies or in Southern Living magazine, but folks I'm here to tell ya if you ever want a destination Halloween W-ford is the place to be! Once we hit the streets it was like crazy town trick or treaters!
I should have known it was crazy when a mother of an early trick or treater to our house yells "You better hurry!" as I jokingly comment on how we have to get ready fast and get going...I smile and just come back inside, finish dinner and get the kids ready to go.
Ummmm yeah, she wasn't kidding! It was awesome! There were trick or treaters everywhere and as we visited with the Mayor and his wife they told us when we reached their house that they had already had close to 300 trick or treaters! I had a friend tell me that her parents had prepared for 500! What?! I'm glad we were out getting candy...I never would have bought enough seeing as in the almost 7 years Toby and I have been married we have never even had a trick or treater come to our house!!!!
It was a memorable Halloween and yes, in a word October as a whole was Spooktacular!

OSU Cowboys Homecoming 2009 ~ ORANGE POWER!

You be the judge....does she look ornery to you? LOL! What a beautiful mess!!

What do you think...does she look like she is where she should be? That smile and those raised eyebrows tell it all! :) Found her on the top of a cabinet in our living room happy as a lark watching Sesame Street...looking fabulous and lovin' life! One of those times I try to "look" mad, but end up turning around because I am dying laughing!!I kid you not in less than 24 hours I found the little miss with my lipstick digging her little finger down to the bottom of the tube ~ it was new so it involved a lengthy and messy process to get down to the bottom of the tube...but she did it and then beautifully applied that gold lipstick to her right eye...twice...the first time we where in Walmart and I was helping Cade try on shoes, I turn around and in a matter of, I kid you not...minutes the girl is looking like she stepped out of the James Bond movie Goldfinger...then the following morning it was an almost parallel event...I turn around, she finds my purse and we have golden eyed girl in all her glory! Ohhh, I love my baby girl!!!Belles....YOU'RE THE BEST!!!

Happy Birthday Cora!

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Crunchin' the leaves...I LOVE the fall!

Too small Halloween costumes and fairy wings ;) ...just another day in the life!

If you ever want to know just what the exciting life of the Trotter family looks like on a normal day, and you happen to walk by the usually open front door to our house and peek in....

...you could quite possibly see Cade running around the house in any number of past Halloween costumes, that are much too small and probably very uncomfortable...none the less he is wearing them with pride running around the house putting out some sort of house fire (figurative of course ;)) or playing a game of "socckey". A game that he and Toby created that combines hockey and soccer..both of which are less than ideal to play in the house. And then of course my precious Ainsley B is usually chasing him around with baby and blanket in hand screaming "buuubbbbaaaa" trying her best to keep up and giving her own rendition of whatever game Cade is bouncing around playing.

...and on this particular day, and in this particular picture I have captured a day very similar to what I just described...the only part that I have left out is that I was in fairy wings chasing Ainsley around the house trying to convince her that they were fun to wear. It was an effort I had started after I realized that she was having nothing to do with tutus or wings and we had just decided on a ladybug look for the priss to wear on Halloween. Without her wearing the tutu I had made and the wings that Mimi had bought she would end up looking like a member of a theater stage crew or an extra dancer in West Side Story wearing a black turtle neck and black leggings....not the look I had anticipated.

As I am campaigning for the ladybug, Cade got in on the action and loves any opportunity to make his sister laugh and of course become the star of the show. So as I am fluttering around like a lunatic, Cade comes speeding in the living room wearing his army costume from 2 years ago, a fireman helmet and dances the most hilarious jig around an already traumatized Ainsley B! All of which is taking place as Disney's greatest hits CD echos the happy sounds of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious....please don't check the spelling on that~I did my best phonics sound out ;))...in the background and Cade and I sing, dance and eventually turn Ainsley's heart over in Joy!

I am amazed at how the simplest seemingly insignificant acts in life can become the most extraordinary thing you can do in a day....soooo again if you are ever wondering what the Trotter troop is up to? We are probably doing the simplest things in life...singing through the trials that we are working through...even as simple as gearing up to wear our Halloween costumes ~ which in the life of a little person can seem like a pretty big, scary mountain to climb...but when you laugh, sing and just give in to simple stuff like wearing costumes that are too small, helmets that don't match, playing games that don't go together and wear fairy wings singing Mary Poppins greatness while you watch your your son recognize his sister's insecurity and desire to encourage her and your baby girl's heart go from fear and reservation to freedom and joy....life seems pretty cool. ;)

Perfect Swing!

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Oklahoma State Fair greatness...giant cinnamon rolls, animals of all kinds, carnival rides, various infomercial products, and of course pig races! :)

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Oklahoma State Fair and Disney on Ice!

Just a few super fun pics of time spent at the Oklahoma State Fair with Mimi and Boompa! And some of the pics from Disney on Ice...which was amazing! Had a friend tell me once that fun people, just have fun...no matter what they are doing...I really hope we are raising a family that embodies that idea! Life is full of FUN!! Laugh, smile and find the simple joy in life!! A smile and a laugh can change everything!!! There is so much that tries to steal our joy out of life. Defeat happens sometimes before we even open our eyes and start the day. Be reminded that the enemy's plot is to steal it and if he can't steal it he is going to try and kill it and if he can't kill it he will attempt to destroy it according to John 10:10.

BUT....and it's a good but....."but,I came that they might have LIFE and might have it abundantly!!!!" John 10:10

Joy, no matter what form....and I know at times it is a sacrifice...but choosing to find the joy no matter how slight it might be takes the ordinary in life and makes it extraordinary!!!

"All the days of the afflicted are bad, BUT a cheerful heart has a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

I know it might come as a surprise to some that think I am always "up", but I have to continually submit to God's Authority to have a joyful heart regardless of my circumstances. It is something that I have battled in a very real and desperate way in recent years. I realized that my joy was very manufactured at times. You know, you've heard the expression "Just put on the face"....At times I would just "pull myself up by my bootstraps" and be happy on the outside, while in the inside I was raging. I have recognized that you can't maintain a personal, human joy that is easily broken, abused and hidden...but as I am growing and increasing my faith and dependency on a higher Joy...a joy that is sustained not by human motivation, but by the very embodiment of Joy itself it has become un-manufactured and pure. Because my Joy belongs to God, not to me.

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full!" John 15:11

I have to consistently be reminded, sharpened and held accountable to allowing Christ to fill my bones with a continual feast of Joy!!

Find something to laugh about and just let it go! The other day I was in Walmart with my kids and Ainsley decided that the candy bars would be merchandised a lot better on the floor...as well as all the perfume...although I appreciate her "forward-thinking merchandising mind", it was not the right moment. :) Then when I went to "lovingly correct her" she fell to the floor, limp body and not in tears...but in sheer laughter. Like, I could not get the girl's noodle legs under her. She was simply hysterical. Obviously as a parent in the future I will not be encouraging the re-shelving of Walmart products...but for that day and in that moment, I'll be honest I couldn't help but just laugh along with her! And boy, did we belly laugh!! I'm sure everyone thought I had just lost it as a mother...and you know what they would be right. I just let it go....for one moment I let go of perfection and just laughed!

As believers we have to look around. Open your eyes and look for someone that just needs to laugh and find a reason to laugh! Open your eyes and look for someone that just needs to smile and find a reason to smile! It takes courage to laugh, smile and find joy in not so great circumstances....so we should help each other and fight with the tools that we have been given to defeat the enemy's schemes to steal, kill and destroy the great JOY that we have been given! No one is perfect and there have been so many opportunities I have missed to either receive Joy or give it based on my own insecurities, unsubmissive heart or simply being entrenched in my own circumstances. Don't beat yourself up, just submit, obey and give Joy today! :)That is why it's great that real authentic Joy comes not from humans, but from God Eternal!



Time together as a family has been so short, and we have friends and family that are going through so many difficult circumstances, we have pressure to succeed, deadlines to meet and responsibilities to complete at an excellent level. There is a place for intensity and it is all about balance in life, BUT when God presented the opportunity to just have fun, be a kid and laugh....we took it. We have to take those moments of joy and just ENJOY them! And I think I had the most fun out of everyone!! Hahaha!

God bless you and reward you with Great Joy today!!

Folks...folks...we've made contact! W-ford has a fresh new Walmart Super Center!! WHOOP! WHOOP!

Mamaw and Pawpa are AMAZING! Thank you so much for all the goodies!!

We had an incredible night Tuesday night! Mamaw and Papaw drove in to W-ford and brought some of the yummiest food ever!! Mamaw cooked up some of the most amazing roast, broccoli and rice casserole, salad, potatoes, carrots and rolls! And Aunt Mandy sent amazing cupcakes. It was so special to have them come in for the night! Thank you for all the goodies, new clothes for the kids and lovin'! It meant a ton!! We love you guys!!

"Priceless" pic of the little Miss...

I love, love, love this pic of Ainsley! She is chowing down on a huge brownie, lounging in her bean bag chair and wearing a bib that says "Priceless"....could not have staged that in a million years!!

Girl's Night Out!

Had an amazing time with precious friends the other night! It was so refreshing to spend time laughing, chatting and eating chocolate...of course!!
You girls were so precious and it is such a blessing to be encouraged by such Spirit-filled friends! Love you amazing ladies...love you too Linds and can't wait till the next girl's night out!

Precious Treasure of Praise...

Found this video today on YouTube....it blessed my heart and reminded me to worship the Lord that is on His Throne regardless of my circumstances...good or trying...to praise as we are poured out for His glory...and that no weapon formed against us shall prevail when we CHOOSE to praise the Blessed Controller!

"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper!" Isaiah 54:17

Be blessed and reminded of His unending Love for you today!!!

The 2009 Football Season has begun!!

thoughts on my heart...

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I had gone into Oklahoma City to get a few things done and then see my brother's baseball game that night.
Well, we had a great day and got several things accomplished and then had a wonderful time at the game! The kids really enjoyed getting some extra playtime with their cousin, Cora and I got some fun chat time with my sis-in-law, LeAnna! Then Cade got the thrill of his life when Mike let the kids come on to the field after the game.

After it was all over we loaded up to head back to Weatherford. As I am getting on I-40 I see some distant lightening out west and realize I hadn't even checked the weather to see if there would be any rain/storms that day. As we continue on I realize there is definitely some lightening going on in front of us and although it is beautiful it doesn't look happy so I decide to call and have someone check the weather for us.

"Looks okay, might get some heavy rain...but it doesn't look too serious...you should be okay and it even looks like it might be just north of the highway so you might miss it all together." is what both my dad and Toby tell me according to what the weather channels are reporting. I continue driving and realize that it is probably not going to be "just north of the highway" and we are actually driving straight in to it. I have driven in pretty bad rain before and figured it was just better to drive on through and just get home. Especially since it was getting late and I was alone with the kids.....right?!?!

Uuuummmm yeah, pretty sure we hit about El Reno, which is about 40 minutes east of Weatherford, and my big ol' suburban started blowing all over the highway. Can you say SCARED! The night turned a shade of dark I have not ever seen before and the trees, leaves and yes - cars where blowing all over the highway....and then the rain - well let's just say it was the first total "white-out" of rain I have ever seen.

It was seriously one of the scariest things I have ever been in. I had little to no control of my vehicle and realize shortly after hitting the storm that I am going to have to pull over. Crazy part was I couldn't see a thing, so I didn't even know where the shoulder was to pull over to! I start edging over to what I feel like is the shoulder of the highway. Thankfully I see some tail lights and I just pull up right behind them. Well, by this point I am of course praying….okay I am crying out to God to stop the storm and get us home….I mean it is looking like this is the end of the road for me and kids…:)!

As we are sitting there the car just continues to shake back and forth and I realize I have no idea where we are parked, we could be on the edge of a deep ditch for all I know and one more wind gust and “see ya later”! I call Toby at this point and am lost in a sea of fear, unable to gain composure and be calm. I am freaked because of the storm, but more importantly because I feel “alone” with the kids and I am scared for them…okay, well I’m scared for me too. All the while totally spooked that some big semi-truck is going to barrel on down the highway like a lunatic, not see the line of cars pulled over and crush us all in to a million pieces….yes I have insane thought patterns…I know, I know it’s ridiculous…:) But hey, that storm was ridiculous!! :)

Any who…finally the rain slows up just enough to not be a “white out” and give enough sight where the little truck in front of me starts to edge back on to the highway…I am still freaked, the wind is still crazy, but I think to myself I don’t want to be alone so I should probably follow this guy. And as I am pulling back on to the highway even though I have been a mess with fear and lost in my ridiculous thought patterns…that still Small Voice whispers to my heart, “Just keep his tail lights in front of you and you are going to make it home just fine.” So what do I do, I keep those tail lights as close as possible and sure enough we make it to the Weatherford exit.

At this point I reach back to grab Cade’s hand and make sure he is okay and all I hear is this calm, assured and sweet little boy say “Mom, I love you.” If that won’t make you bawl your eyes out I don’t know what will….so yes I start bawling…in part because I realize how absolutely precious my kids are and how protective I am as a parent…but then in part because of this…

You see, as I was driving in to the front part of the storm there were no exits for several miles and I was too far in to turn around and go back. I had no choice but to go right in to the middle of that storm. Then by the time there was an exit, I couldn’t have gotten off if I wanted to…I couldn’t see it! I was crying out to the Lord in prayer for Him to stop the storm, bring peace and to rescue us away from it. And I remember being so baffled that it was not stopping, it was just getting worse! “I mean God this is me praying, your precious baby girl…hello answer my prayer to stop this storm!” And yet He didn’t stop it.

What did He do? He gave me tail lights to follow all the way home. He kept Ainsley asleep the entire time and He gave peace to Cade’s heart and then the words to say “Mom, I love you.” He provided. He gave peace. And He rescued us THROUGH the storm. He showed me that His provision is based solely on His mercy, not our merit. Shame on me for praying and then thinking why isn’t He stopping this – doesn’t He know I’m scared – doesn’t He see me alone with the kids…I can’t handle this….and I was right…I couldn’t handle it but He could. His power was perfected in my weakness. He not only showcased His power in the lightening, the 80 mph wind gusts, the rain and the thunder….He showcased it under control in teaching me a powerful lesson and helping me THROUGH it.

There are a lot of things in life that I would like to prevent from happening that feel like an out of control storm. But some storms, like the one I drove through, we will have no choice but to drive right through. What God showed me that night is that we are never alone and that His power is perfected when I am at my weakest. He was my navigator and I so believe He was in that small truck ahead of me leading me all the way home.

He wants to lead you home. You just have to surrender control and let Him have His way. Storms are rough and scary and most of the time confusing. But God is on His Throne and He is in control. It’s our job to trust Him. And to just keep those Jesus tail lights as close to us as possible and let His power be perfected in our weaknesses as He leads us all the way home.

"And He has said to me, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Blessings,
Cari