L-A-B-O-R of love continued....

Okay ladies so I thought I would finish up our labor of love thoughts...

B-uild a life together:
*Try to make him laugh
*Learn to do the things he loves to do
*Make life an adventure, don't stop dating or pursuing each other
*Don't pout, just plan it!

---I have to do an insert here...I know it is hard not to pout, especially when they have not been as available as we would all want...but I can say that I have wasted a lot of precious moments, however brief they may be with pouting and refusing to communicate...It is so much better to communicate, be available, and then be willing to make a plan or roll with the punches....as always thoughts or ideas on this would be awesome...how do you Build a life together with your husband?

O-ffer yourself to him:
*You can chase! Be impossible to resist!
*Don't do totally out of your comfort zone, but live a little! Keep life interesting!
*And this doesn't just mean physically. Offer your WHOLE being to your husband. Body, mind, heart and soul.
*Again, don't pout just plan it! If he is not romantic, meet him in the middle and give a little. You can be creative.

R-espect him:
*Give him the proper place in your home
*Speak highly of your husband to your family
*Allow him to be the head..you can be the neck!!
*Honor his day, respect what he has to do and all the pressures he is dealing with. Again, be the compliment. Don't repress your feelings, just communicate. But do it without nagging!
*Good communication is key, give him a chance to serve you too...let him know how can respect you, serve you and love you better...they don't know if you don't tell them! Bless their hearts!

The last part of this encouragement is found in a quote from Phyllis Altop, wife of Hall of Fame coach and FCA baseball National Director David Altop. "We interrupt this marriage to bring you the _____________ season!" You fill in the blank to what sport/activity that you feel interrupts your marriage, then make a choice to labor in love alongside your husband this season. It truly depends on your ability to make a choice to work TOGETHER!

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Praying for you, love you and would love to hear from you!
Cari

Save the Date: January 17, 2009!

Ladies we have our next brunch scheduled for January 17, 2009 and have Carolyn Allen, who wrote the Coach's Wife, coming to offer some great encouragement! These are great opportunities to relax and connect with other wives. Please start letting other wives know and make a plan to come and enjoy a beautiful brunch, some great fellowship, gifts for you and strength for the journey! Stay connected and watch for details.

Just Keep Stirring...

Today Toby shared the devotional that he was using for his area coaches and I could not help but send it your way, it ministered to me and I am hoping it does the same for you!

The Big 12 Championship game was fast approaching and I was making some of my famous hot wings for a half-time grub. My almost three-year-old son Cade wanted to help Dad out in our preperation of man-food. So, as always, he pushed a chair over to the counter and asked what to do. I put out a huge bowl and gave him a whisk. He had one job. Stir.

At almost 3 yrs old, he had no idea what ingredients to use, when to put them in, and how much to use. All he needed to do was stir. I took care of the rest. I added just the right ingredients, at the right time, in the right quantity, and made sure he wasn't stirring too fast or too slow. When he needed guidance, I gave it. When he was stirring too fast, I slowed him down. When he wasn't going fast enough, I encouraged him to get going.

Whatever life spot you are in as a Coach, You have steps you want to take, dreams you want to be realized, worries you want gone. You may question your calling, what the meaning of all this is, how it all fits together, and where on earth you will end up. The great news is that God has been here before. All he needs you to do is keep stirring.

"So here's what I think. The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go for it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands." -2 Corinthians 8:10-14

Cade didn't care what ingredients were going in, he knew that in the end, Dad knew best and it would taste great. His heart regulated his hands. He didn't try to take control, he did what he could...stirring, and knew that I would take care of ther rest.

In this season of financial stress, seasons ending and seasons beginning, know that all God needs you to do is stir. You're heart is in the right place, You've got what it takes to finish it up, let God take care of the ingredients, timing, and results. Just keep stirring.

Coaches, may you and your family know that your are called and blessed to "keep stirring" your influence in everything you do.

Toby Trotter
FCA

A prayer of Sovereignty

I know we have been in the middle of our LABOR of love series, but I am pressed to share a prayer of God's Sovereignty today. I don't know what some of you are facing but the Lord has this on my heart to pray for you today. Hope it reaches in to your circumstances and the Lord reveals His love and sovereignty today.

When you don't know what to pray, pray God's sovereignty:
God is sovereign. All authority, all power is His. Matt 28:18
Nothing takes Him by surprise. All circumstances serve Him and He knows the begining from the end. Ps 119:91 & Isa 46:9-10
His Word is forever settled in Heaven Ps 119:89
He is our strength, our shield, our strong tower, our refuge, our hope, our joy, our peace, our all. Ps 18:1-3 & Col 3:11
He is God of all comfort, Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1:3-4
He shows His perfect power in our weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9-10
When we lift Him up continually in a sacrifice of praise, we glorify Him here and now. John 12:28
Father, glorify Your name in this hour!
Amen

Love to you today!

A L-A-B-O-R of love continued...

A - ccept him for who he is:
*Remember what attracted you to your husband in the first place. Write them out.

*Then...don't fight who God created your husband to be, join it!

*Find ways to become a beautiful compliment to the work he is doing.

*Find ways that you can get his attention. Remind him why he fell in love with YOU!

Would love to hear from you. How do you "accept your hubby for who he is" and join in alongside him?

I want this to be easy to use, but if you are having trouble email your thoughts to me... caritrotter@sbcglobal.net

Have a blessed day!

A LABOR of love....

I have decided to post the encouragement we discussed at our first FCA Greater Fort Worth Coaches Wives Brunch this summer. Several years ago a sweet wife that I admire gave me this word and it has been a great reminder to me, and to share it with you has given me a good refresher! Thought I would share the whole thing and then break down the letter L for us today, as well as focusing on LOVE this week...

L - ove your man!

A - ccept him for who he is!

B - uild a life TOGETHER!

O - ffer yourself to him!

R - espect him!

"An excellent wife who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts her." Proverbs 31:10-11

A LABOR of love...
Love your man:
*Let him know you love him, say it. Show it.
*Anticipate ways that will express that love.
*Have little surprises that let him know you LOVE HIM!
*Show love by keeping life light-hearted! (They take life pretty serious!)
*Wait up for him sometimes, not for anything but to tell him you love him and you are thankful for him.

The Invisible Woman

Dear Ladies,

I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce myself. My husband, Toby Trotter, and I are loving the opportunity to serve the Lord through FCA. Toby is the Area Representative for the Greater Fort Worth area, including the role of Football Chaplain for Texas Christian University.

The Lord is our light and salvation and has been the strength of our lives. I have played the role of athlete, participating in competitive gymnastics for 12 years as well as surviving my first marathon 3 years ago. Only God knows how that happened...lots of goo and Gatorade! I am the proud daughter to a baseball coach and sister to three brothers. One, a left-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals and twin brothers who are both considered top high school athletes. During college I spent three very special summers as a counselor at Kanakuk Kamps, a Christian Athletic Camp in Missouri. When Toby and I were first married he coached small college football at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City. He then went on to represent professional baseball players for over 2 years. My most present roll is serving as the compliment to my husband as he represents Greater Fort Worth FCA, as well as being the CEO of the Trotter household and loving the role of mother to 2 year old Cade Everett and 8 month old Ainsley Belle! To which none of those roles supersede being a daughter of the King of Kings!

The Lord has used FCA in such a special way in my life and I am honored that He has opened the opportunity for me to give back by serving you! I have a HUGE heart for your roll and have had the honor of watching my mother serve our family sacrificially as a coach's wife my whole life. I have watched her sacrifice many a day to herself as she played the role of taxi driver, chef, accountant, counselor, nurse..and cheerleader. And now as a wife I see a direct effect on the LIFE of my husband when I can support, encourage and lead him back to confidence in the Lord to be a man of purpose and influence. But, my ability to see clearly and love him in that way is in direct relationship to what I am feeding myself. And I know it is a battle to feed your mind and heart peace, love, joy and kindness toward your "schedule pulled" husbands when you have just as many or more pulls on your life....especially when they coach.

But there is hope and our prayer at FCA is that we can join together in loving our God, serving our husbands and impacting the world for Jesus Christ through the vehicle of athletics.

Love to you!
Cari Trotter
Greater Fort Worth FCA

Just for you!

Hello precious ladies! I am setting up this blog just for you! The posts will all be to encourage you, keep you updated on area activities as well as offer fun suggestions on loving your coach! You all give so much and as an area FCA we want to use this as a new way to give back to you! Please post a comment, give suggestions and get connected with wives in your area.

Love and Blessings,
Cari Trotter
Greater Fort Worth FCA