About Me

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Adam and I were married on March 25, 2006. We have two precious girls, Ava and Anna. Here is our story. "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!"

Saturday, December 31, 2011

ART FUN!!!

Ava had so much fun with her paints!


A mess was made but....easy clean up

A little bit of finger paint

in the bath tub

is a whole lot of fun!


This afternoon Ava and I decided to be CREATIVE! For her birthday, Ava got some great finger paints. We put them to good use! We painted in the bath tub, it was a great time and it was easy to clean up!

Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy Birthday Ava...3 yrs old

Celebrating with cupcakes...Yummy!


Good Morning, Sleepy Birthday Princess


Mommy and Ava


Happy 3rd birthday Ava

Dr. Cassanova (in green scrubs) was Ava's doctor in the NICU

Pretty much Ava's mood the whole time we were at the NICU today

A hug for Noah our NICU buddy

Lunch at Gabriel's....DELICIOUS


2nd Samuel 7:18
“Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought US this far?"

November 1984-Day the Lord saved me, June 1995-I graduated from EHS and began working at Marietta Baptist Camp, August 1995-May 1999-Many memories were made at GWU. August 2004-met Adam Cooler. March 25, 2006-I married Adam Cooler.
December 30, 2008-Ava Elizabeth Cooler was born!


The above dates mark the days that changed my life! Today we celebrated one of the most life-changing days in my life...the birth of my precious Ava Elizabeth. Her names mean "Desired and Consecrated to God". The meaning of her name fits her impact on my life perfectly. First of all Ava was VERY DESIRED...longed for! It took us two years of a hard, heart-wrenching infertility journey before I became pregnant with Ava. Secondly and most importantly, she is CONSECRATED to the Lord. From the moment I became pregnant with her, I prayed that her life would be used to bring glory to God. One of the most common verses that I prayed over Ava while I was pregnant with her was, Isaiah 26:8 "Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." As Ava grows up and moves from a toddler to a teen to a woman, I pray that she will always follow God's truth and love Him with all her heart!

On December 30, 2008 at approximately 2:00 am, Adam floored the 4-Runner to get me to Kennestone Hospital as quick as possible. When I arrived I explained to the nurse that I was having some complications with my pregnancy. I reminded her that I had just been their four days ago after being on bed rest at the hospital for 10 days. The nurse quickly got me to a room and took a look at the situation. She put monitors on me and check to see what was going on. From the look on her face I knew that it was not good. She quickly called the doctor and told me that he was on his way. After what seemed like forever, my wonderful doctor, Dr. Bardwell came in took take a look at Ava and I. He looked me in the eyes, held my hand and said very calmly, "We have to take the baby now." With one word from Dr. Barwell, there were what seemed like ten nurses in my room. They rushed me into the emergency room and started prepping me for an emergency C-section. While they were getting me ready, I totally lost it and started trying to get off the table, taking swipes at whomever was around me. The next thing I knew, I was waking up with a scratching throat and Ava had been born.

There began a journey of faith, prayer, family, friends, therapy, tears, laughter and unconditional love! After Ava spent 57 days in the NICU. We brought her home at a whopping 4 1/2 pounds, eating about 2 ounces of formula and wearing a heart monitor. Slowly but surely Ava grew bigger, ate more and FINALLY got off her heart monitor. Soon we started with therapy to help her reach her potential. Even though it might of taken her a little longer and she had to work a little harder to reach some of her milestones she did it! Now at three years old, she is pretty much caught up with her peers! PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!

The journey has not been easy. The journey has not been fair. This journey has not been without some tears. But this journey from NICU to now, has changed my life! Before we began on the journey first, trying to become pregnant and then the last three years since Ava's life, I cared alot about what others thought about me. What I looked like, how I acted, what I had or didn't have, how smart, pretty or funny I was...today I really don't care. Through the journey we have taken, I have come to understand truly about unconditional love. Through this journey I have come to realize how important it is to have a strong marriage, strong family and supportive friends. Above all I have come to realize that it is only through the Lord's grace, mercy, strength and peace that I could have endured any of this journey. A line from Laura Story's "Blessings", states perfectly how this journey has changed my life. "What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life, is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy."!!

We have celebrated her birthday, last night and today. Last night, Grandmama and Poppy Joe, Brian, Stacey, Zachary and Aubrey came over and we celebrated with cupcakes. This morning Daddy, Mommy and Ava had a little celebration and opened some gifts. Later in the morning we head up to the NICU to say thank you to the incredible nurses and doctors, that took care of Ava. We met up with some of our NICU friends, Melissa and Noah. After talking with the doctors and nurses, we all head out to get some lunch. It was such a fun-filled day, celebrating my precious miracle baby!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Morning 2011 Video

Here is Ava finding her fun toys under the Christmas Tree! Love her excitement!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APqcGqARes8&feature=share

Christmas Day 2011

Look what Santa brought to our house!


Ava was so excited about her Toy Story toys


Ava and all her stocking loot

Christmas Morning with Mommy and Daddy


Yeah for building and knocking down

Opening presents with Grandmama and Poppy Joe



MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!! Ava gave Mommy and Daddy a great Christmas gift by sleeping all the way to 7:30! We woke up and walked into the den to see what Santa had left. Ava's face was priceless when she saw her Toy Story figures under the tree. There was even a little squeal! After playing with her Toy Story toys, she played with her Duplo blocks and building bricks. It was such a fun, sweet morning. Later in the morning we drove over to Grandmama and Poppy Joes house and went to church with them. After church we went back to there house for lunch and to open presents.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve 2011

Ready for Christmas Eve service at Cedarcrest


Ava thought Santa's cookies were for her!

What? These are Santa's??

Whew...Santa did not see me eat his cookies!!

Tonight we started our night with a wonderful time of worship at Cedarcrest with Grandmama and Poppy Joe. I love that Ava is part of a preschool ministry that does super fun stuff, like crafts, action songs but also focuses on the truths of the Bible. I am also thankful that we attend a church where our pastor (George Wright) is not afraid to teach the truth and preach the cross and salvation even and especially during that Christmas Eve service. After the service we ate our families' traditional Christmas eve meal of hotdogs and Cobb Chili. Ava took a bath and put on her Christmas PJ's. She put the cookies for Santa by the fire place...after taking a taste.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Ava's Birthday Celebration at school

The pink princess

Ava and Addison waiting for school

Ready for her school birthday celebration

Yummy, pink sprinkled cupcakes

Since Ava's birthday is very near Christmas, I try to make her birthday celebrations show now sign of red or green. For her birthday school party, I make some yummy cupcakes with pink sprinkles. I then dressed Ava in the most pink I could fine. Since she is the 2nd generation Pink Princess, she had to have pink, ruffles and a big bow. I feel so blessed that I get to plan fun, exra girly stuff for my precious Ava!!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Greenville Christmas

Building Blocks with Bob-Bob


Roper Mountain holiday lights



Ava and McClellen sitting sweetly in the sleigh

Just a few minutes later....no one was happy
Hudson did not want his picture taken, Ava had just bumped her knee
and McClellen was mad that the other two were not cooporating


Finally a smiling cousin picture

unwrapping Christmas presents


Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Ava enjoying the box her shopping cart came in

This weekend we went to Greenville for our "Greenville Christmas" with Grammy, Doc, Brad, Carri, Hudson and McClellen. It was so much fun! The weekend started with a short, but fun visit from Me-Me and Bob-Bob. On Friday night, we all piled into Brad and Carri's minivan and drove through the Holiday Lights at Roper Mountain. On Saturday we opened presents, had a great dinner, and even a birthday party for Jesus! Ava had a wonderful time with her Doc and Grammy and playing with her cousins, Hudson and McClellen. It was so wonderful to celebrate Christmas together!