A Baby is Born

I didn't think I should post about the birth until I posted the last pregnancy picture I took. I thought you should see just how LARGE I was!!! I only gained 37lbs BUT MY WORD my syomach is large!
I'm blaming it on the fact that this was my SEVENTH, yes your read that correctly, pregnancy. Surely that counts for something, right?!?

Oh to have that baby OUT OF ME and IN MY ARMS!!!!

These are my dearest friends and prayer buddies. Mary Beth flew down from East Thailand to be with me for the birth! What an amazing friend. Pii Thak came for the day to pray while I was in surgery. I love these ladies.
What would a missionary do in a foreign land with no family around if not for fellow missionaries and nationals who have become like family. I praise God for these two women!

My prayer warriors while I'm in surgery

This was the first thing Clinton saw as she pulled him out...he was breech. Is that not the MOST precious foot you've ever seen!?!?

The most precious foot I've ever seen

Just a few hours after surgery, I'm drugged beyond belief!!!! This didn't happen to me last time. For some reason, the doctor gave me Morphine right after my surgery and I was in and OUT for almost 24 hours! It was horrible. Every time I woke up I asked the nurse or Mary or anyone in the room, "What did they give me?!?" I could barley lift my head off the pillow much less nurse a baby!!

Just a few hours after surgery

Our precious Chandler

We feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to raise another son. We pray that God will teach and instruct us how to raise him to be the man God has called him to be.

More to come!

Love
Amber

Ramblings

The post below was while we were still in Bangkok. I have no idea why I didn't publish it....I have to say I think I'm the worlds worst blogger.

My lack of consistency could be why I still only have 18 followers after 7 years!! However, this fact alone is kind of discouraging. Sometimes i think, "Why write? No ones really reading it anyway." Then I think well, it really a journal for yourself. Keep going!

I started this blog years ago when I wanted to let Nonnie (Clinton's mother) and my Aunt Dee Ann to see and know what we were doing here. I had NO idea there was a whole world of bloggers out there.

In fact, you'll never believe this but I JUST figured out last year how big blogs were and that there are people who actually make money from blogs and are famous because of blogs!!! I was pretty clueless.

Shifting gears a little, this pregnancy has been so difficult for me and is one reason I haven't blogged too much. I haven't been on the computer too much, period. Once we left Bangkok I was 29 weeks pregnant and all the aches, pains, and fatigue began to set it.

I've suffered from horrible pelvic pain and back pain. For the last four weeks I've been unable to go on any outings what so ever. The extent of my walking is to the bathroom or from one chair to another one, or to the truck. When we do shopping, i either stay home OR sit in the truck while Clinton makes a quick grocery run. It's been hard! His tasks have multiplied and he's been a real trooper! He's been mother/father/cook/care giver/teacher/nurse/missionary/pastor/and loving husband! He's gonna need a vacation once this baby's born. ; )

37 weeks

So what have you been doing you might ask??? Well, iTunes TV has been a source of entertainment for me in the evenings. I've discovered many TV shows that I didn't know existed. Living in Thailand keeps us pretty sheltered and we usually have no idea what America's watching, which isn't a bad thing. I've watch Season 1 and part of Season 2 of The Pioneer Woman Cooks on Food Network, both Clinton and I have watch all of Season 1 of Swamp People, which is hilarious!! Being a cajun myself this movie  really brought me and Clinton back to our "roots" Now I wasn't raised this way BUT my grandparents were. When we would have family reunions, it would always be in Louisiana. When i would go with Clinton to visit his family, who live in Homa, Louisiana, that was always a REAL experience.

So watching Swamp People has been a trip down memory lane and just plain old laughing material.

I also watched all of Season 1 and 2 of One Born Every Minute, which is a show recorded live in a hospital in Ohio. Every show has three birth stories on it. Talk about intense!! Being pregnant and seeing all of these women labor was...well.......interesting!!! Some where amazing, some were scary, some were comical! But all in all i feel like I have a better grasp on birth. ;)

I've also made good use of the iBethel.tv which is what's fed my spirit all these weeks. Thank God for Bill Johnson. What an encourager!!! Last night I listened to a message Sustaining a Move of God that was so powerful! He explained from Hebrews 13:15-16 what we need in order to sustain a move of God. 1. sacrifice 2. good works 3. fellowship
I really recommend this message!!

When we got back from Bangkok, we were in the middle of a heat wave!! I mean HOT!!! The temp IN our house was 90 to 95 on a daily basis!

This is a picture of Cayden by 11am from playing IN the house.... red cheeked, wet head

I was MISERABLE coming back to Hat Yai after spending two months in central air. SO my precious husband bought us a 3ft Intex pool for the balcony off our bedroom. Talk about saving grace!!! This pool and little garden area has been our refuge two times a day for two months!!

In the last two months that I've been absent from blogging so much has happened. Joseph turned 6, we got lots of fun boxes from America, ultrasounds of the baby, and much more. I'm going to try and catch up a bit before baby Chandler's arrival.

For those of you who still read my blog, thanks for being such faithful friends!

Love
Amber

What we're doing while Daddy's gone

It's always so hard when daddy's gone! And it's even harder being pregnant and having him gone! 

Thank God, the Stubenrauch's stayed over in Bangkok a few days to keep us company.

The first day, we went to Funarium! A wonderful in door kid place, with bikes, scooters, jungle gyms, art, and yummy food. It's where we spent Cayden's 2nd birthday. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures.

On day two, we hung out in the room and played cars. Clinton bought this set for the boys the day before he left to ensure they wouldn't get too bored in a two bedroom apartment! They've had a blast playing with this set!! 

Well, I should say, Joseph has had a blast. Cayden just walks around, over it and winds up stepping on the pieces and making the bridges fall down....

4 Dozen Roses?!?

Clinton left for Indonesia early Wednesday morning. 

Before he left, he bought me 4 dozen roses!! 

Two dozen red.

Two dozen pink.

He said he wanted me to think of him while he was gone.

Easter Morning

It's been ten years since we've celebrated Resurrection in an English service. We haven't been home during the Spring since we've lived in Thailand! 

Since we're in Bangkok, on our furlough, we decided to try and find a church for ex-pats to visit on Easter morning. We passed this beautiful church that caught my eye every time we drove by it. Very old and ornate looking. I finally looked it up online and found that it was a church for foreigners, us being the foreigners. 

Christ's Church. 

Anglican. 

Traditional. 

The liturgy. 

Never been to one like this. Yes! I want to go! 

When I walked in, I immediately felt the presence of the Lord and tears filled my eyes.

The communion table.

 Silver goblets.

Crystal wine flasks.

Stained glass windows

Candles.

Silver cross.

Ornate wood work.

Linen table cloth.

I could hardly get a hold of myself!

When I knelt at the altar and took communion my heart was swollen with thanks. Tears streamed down my face as I thought on all that God has done for me. For us.

During communion they started singing In Christ Alone. The power of the words in that song!

"There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ. "

If you've never experienced "church" outside your normal setting, I highly encourage you to do so! Moving!!

God is everywhere. His beauty is in everything if our eyes are open.

Majestic.

Love
Amber

Our Baby Boy Turns 2!

It's hard to believe that Cayden Truth was born 2 years ago! What a special blessing from God he has been!! He's brought lots of joy, life, and patience into our lives. ; )

I thought I'd add some of the pictures from his birth and the first week of his life so I could reflect on God's handiwork.

Only a couple of hours old

One day old

A very tired mamma with her new baby

Joseph's been kissing this baby since he was in the womb

1 week old sleeping on daddy's lap

Now here HE is at 2 years old! My they grow so quickly! He's been sleeping with his hand on his face since the day he was born. I hope I never forget.

He had on white in this picture and the sheets were white and his precious cheeks are white....I couldn't resist!!

This baby is an angel from heaven

All he kept saying was, "Whoa! Look my hair! Awesome!" Daddy has put sunscreen on his fair head and this was the result! He liked it!!

He loved his hair

If you've never heard a two year old ask, "I play iPad?" You simply MUST!! It's the cutest thing EVER and we have a reeeeeally hard time resisting.

He knows how to play on the iPad! What?!?

Here are some pictures from Cayden's 2 year birthday party on March 17! 

These two are buds!!! Can you tell?? How they've both grown. 

The resemblance is uncanny! I've never had a child that looks THIS much like me! I LIKE it. 

Unfortunately, he got my strong will too....ugh! *being changed*

We spent Cayden's birthday at a place called the Funarium...FUN it IS!!! Sliding down slides, riding bikes or roller blades, climbing, jumping, playing in balls, basketball, punching bags! You name it they have it! 

Our very serious bike rider trying desperately to keep that darn helmet on.

Cayden still has the balls confused! He thinks the basket ball is a soccer ball. 

We're working on it. Okay!

The menu had a great variety of both Thai food and Western food. And it was GOOOD! 

Our Thai boy got Western food, but his Western Mamma and Daddy got Thai food.

hot dog and chips

nuggets and fries

 Yes, I know, I've been here waaay too long! The choices of Western food were endless, but what can I say, I went for the Green Curry with Chicken and a fried egg. And it was a gooood choice! Very good!! Not like the food you except at a children's play land.

Thais eat fried eggs with their rice. It's offered at every meal and can be a meal in itself as well.

When the funds are low, we too, opt for rice with a fried egg on top with a splash of fish sauce. YUM

This was Clinton's choice Pat Krapaw Moo (spicy stir fried pork with Thai Holy Basil leaves) AND a fried egg.

Bank had an egg omelet with pork over rice. You can't see the rice but it's there. 

They (we) eat this dish with catsup. Actually Thais eat catsup with EVERYthing...even pizza. And, for inquiring minds, we do too. ; )) 

Things that once seemed so strange are very normal to us now. 

Baby boy turns 2

Cheeese

Love

Amber