Katie Grace

Born 8/23/2018
8 pounds 15 ounces
23 inches long

     In a way, the story begins with Christmas 2017.

     For Christmas we often try to spend time with both sides of the family.  2017 was to be no different and we had made it to Bemidji to celebrate Christmas with my wife's side of the family but things didn't go as planned.  We never made it Brainerd to visit my side as sickness set in and we did not want to spread it.

     Jump forward to January and we finally had an opportunity to go to Brainerd to celebrate Christmas but again, things didn't go as planned.Shelly found her self in great pain and having short breaths.  A trip to the ER in the middle of the night, a ton of tests later and no answers as to why but pain subsided.

     Returning home, the pain returned and during the another bout we took another trip to the ER.  This time the problem was diagnosed - a Gallstone was blocking her bile duct.  They decided to take her to Fargo by ambulance to operate and when she came to after the surgery they asked her if she knew she was pregnant.  Not only was she pregnant but she was almost 12 weeks along and had no idea.  She forwarded the picture of the ultra sound showing the baby to me and at first I just thought she was sending an ultrasound of the gallstone. The due date was set to August 12th and the count down began.

Lesson learned - Don't have gall stones.

     Jump forward to August 22nd - 10 days past due date.  I came home from helping put sheeting on a roof and I was told contractions had started. Obviously, Shelly did not sleep well that night as contractions picked up and neither did I.  Sometime around 4:45 am I heard a car door and looked out side to see headlights in the driveway.  At first I wondered who was outside messing with the cars at that time of the morning but I quickly realized it was the midwife.  Shelly had messaged her earlier.

     A quick check over and it was determined Shelly was dilated to about 6 but it wasn't long before kids were up and needing to be hauled here and there.  I texted into work to say I wouldn't be in, took one kid to the pool to work and our daughter-in-law took three more to play practice.  With all the activity - contractions backed off and we waited.

     By afternoon, another friend had arrived to help with the birth and eventually contractions picked back up.  I had to take kids back to town for soccer practice and then rush back home in hopes the baby would soon make an appearance but we continued to wait.

     As we neared the 9 o-clock hour we could tell things were getting close and soon the kids were home from practice as some wanted to be there and at 9:25 PM I caught a baby girl.

     While God took Nathan home with Him, He didn't leave us empty and in His grace He has blessed us with a beautiful baby girl.

In Memory Of Nathan

I've finally figured out how to publish the Power Point from Nathan's memorial service.  I've also included the message.

NATHAN ALAN TROTT

December 2, 2015-December 4, 2015

INTRO – it is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, it is 1 Thessalonians 5:16 and it simply says Rejoice always, (ESV) Shelly's favorite verse, Philippians 4:4, echoes this thought for in it, it says Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (ESV)

The Bible is full of thoughts of joy and rejoicing such as can be found in the such passages as:

• Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (ESV)
• Psalm 98:4-8 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together (ESV)
• Luke 2:8-11 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (ESV)

• IT IS EASY TO REJOICEWHEN ALL GOES WELL - It was Sunday morning at Bible Baptist Church in Elkton, Maryland and the morning service was just ready to begin when in came a man who had never attended there before. He looked around with awe and amazement at the great number of people packed into the large auditorium. He came slowly down the aisle looking from side to side and seated himself on the second row from the front. As the message was given he listened with the keenest of interest and when the invitation time came, and the preacher said, "Now how many of you are not saved, but you would like to be, and you want us to pray for you? Will you raise your hand?" He shot up his hand and waved it back and forth persistently until he was sure that he had seen it. When those who would claim Christ were asked to come forward, he literally bounced out and darted to the altar. He stood stiff and erect: and when asked, "Do you believe that Christ died to save sinners?" he replied rejoicingly with a beam of triumph about him, "Yes, Sir, I want to do just that." When he came into the baptistry, and was dropped into the water and out again to walk in the newness of life. He came up out of the water clapping his hands and shouting, "Hot dog, hot dog, hot dog." The people roared with laughter and the preacher quickly asked them for silence as he explained that this poor man had not been around the church and didn't know about "Amen, Praise the Lord, and Hallelujah"; his word was "Hot dog," and he was praising the Lord with the only vocabulary he knew.

Tom Wallace, Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations

Over the past year there were many reasons for rejoicing around the Trott household for things that were going well

• There were wedding plans and a wedding as the first of the children got married
• There were many birthday's through the year but one in particular meant someone hit the half century mark.
• There was a soccer season where the kids won 7 out of 8 games including the tournament bringing the trophy for for the second year in a row.
• There was the attempt to lose some weight, like 30 pounds, and actually losing it.
• There was flying for the first time and then the second and third and fourth as work took me (Mike) on some business trips.
• And of course the news that a baby was on the way…
  • There was the excitement of telling everyone
  • There was the shopping for baby things again
  • There was the appointments and hearting babies heartbeat and feeling baby move
  • There was the anxious waiting, and waiting, and waiting

• BUT NOT ALL THINGS GO WELL – We read in the book of Job - That there was a day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:13-21 (ESV)

Over the past year there were many reasons for not feeling like rejoicing around the Trott household for not all things went well.

• There was a fun afternoon of sledding turned into a trip to Fargo as the youngest received a cracked skull and a concussion after being plowed into on the sledding hill.
• There was a normal day a water use turned into no water as water pump problems and cold temperatures froze up the water line under the house.
• There was what we think started out as showing off if in front of girls (for some reason, boys tend to do that) left the oldest boy trying to imitate the youngest by giving himself a concussion and a few other bruises.

• There was a trip to visit a friend and when it came time to leave, oops. Backing off the driveway and into the ditch followed by pulling the vehicle out the wrong way left a car broke down for several weeks.
• And then there was the call to come home, labor was underway and baby should be coming soon.
  • But, the water broke and out came a foot – that should not have been and on top of that, the midwife wasn't there yet.
  • The mid wife arrived in soon after but, baby was big and stuck and it took all her effort to get him out.
  • He came out but, he was limp and not responding and CPR was started immediately. Soon after I was traveling to the Roseau hospital by way of ambulance with a police escort.
  • At the hospital, baby was stabilized but we were far from being out of the water. It was decided to take him to Children's in Minneapolis and soon I was zipping back to Warroad, into a jet and flying to the cities.
  • That night I slowly learned how to text – mostly for requests for prayer and to keep Shelly informed. That night the doctors did would they could do but, it was not enough and by Friday morning the recommendation was made to end the treatment for there was no sign of brain activity.
  • On Friday, we made known the news, we took lots of pictures and we said our goodbyes and we held Nathan as he breathed his last. Yes it hurts but….

• GOD WAS THERE THROUGH IT ALL – In 2 Samuel 12:15-23 we read of the death of another little child - And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead." Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." (ESV)

Just as God was in control when David lost his son He was in control with Nathan as well and we can see His hand for

• He brought us to the cities to family for when Roseau was deciding where to send us, their first choice was Grand Forks and that fell through, their second choice was Fargo but that didn't work either but having us go to Minneapolis brought us 20 minutes from Shelly's brother's place and right across the street from where Shelly's sister was working and her parents were all ready planning to be in the cities that same weekend.
• He also brought us the support of our community.
  • Prayers
  • Visits
  • Meals
  • Money
  • Flowers
  • Cards
• He gives us hope as He did with David - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV) - David knew he would one day go to his child, and we can know too for we have hope….
  • 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (ESV)
  • 1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (ESV)
• Therefore we can rejoice. Romans 12:12 ties are hope with our ability to rejoice saying - 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (ESV)

CONCLUSION - A saintly woman who had suffered for weary months from a painful illness said to her pastor, "I have such a lovely robin that sings outside my window. In the early mornings as I lie here, he serenades me." Then a smile brightened her thin features as she added, "I love him because he sings in the rain." That is the most beautiful thing about a robin. When a storm has silenced every other songbird, the robin sings on. That is what the Christian who is with Christ may do. Any one can sing in the sunshine. You and I should sing on when the sun has gone down, or when clouds pour out their rain, for Christ is with us.

Bible Illustrations

Psalm 70:4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" (ESV)

January 2016

     On the first day of the new year, the Christmas tree came down so we could get ready to celebrate a birthday and on the second day of the month we celebrated that birthday as Emily turned 14.  along with the celebration, I took the plunge and ordered a cell phone for myself through Cricket.

     By the 6th of January I had my new phone and was working at getting it set up.  By month's end I would have My oldest boy's phone switched to my plan saving him around 15 dollars a month and I would have my wife switched over as well with a new phone for her.

     On the 8th Shelly took a trip to Bemidji to celebrate her mom's birthday and when they returned Emily got ready to go with her big sister and brother - in - law skiing at Giants Ridge.

     Sometime during the month it was decided to remodel the bedroom that the boys had and we toe off all the old Sheetrock and tore out the old closet. and a trip to Menards scored almost 900 pounds of new sheet rock.  This trip was taken on another ski trip.

     The home school ski trip this year was a beautiful day and 5 kids and 1 wife hit the slopes while I remained a designated driver.  They tried to talk me into skiing too but I didn't want to go home by way of ambulance.

     During the last full week of January I spent some long days at work putting in 43 hours in 4 days including a 14 hour day as we set up and calibrated a new piece of equipment at work.  As a result of the long days I got and extra day off from work I was able to use around the house.

     Towards the end of the month we filed our taxes and Shelly did house / dog sitting in town for a friend.

December 2015

     On the first day of December, something was up - Shelly's plug started to pass and contractions started to pick up.  I went to work on the 2nd but came home early for what become a very long and sorrowful weekend.

     For whatever reason, the baby had apparently flipped and was in the breach position and before the midwife and arrived a foot popped out.  A few minutes later, she did arrive and it took all her effort to get the baby out for he was stuck.  The extra time was too much and baby came out limp and CPR was started immediately.  Soon, baby and I were being escorted to the Roseau hospital at 80 MPH. I learned to text on the trip ( using my wife's phone as I did not own one) - mostly to ask for prayer support and keep family at home updated. 

     When we arrived at hospital the hear rate was stabilized and baby started to do some breathing and the decision was made to go to the Childrens hospital in Minneapolis - by way of jet - after the neonatal team arrived and prepped the baby and we were taken back to Warroad's airport.

     After arriving in the cities, the team at the hospital continued to work on the baby - which we named Nathan - putting him in a cooling process.  Sometime in the wee hours of the morning I was given a place to sleep in a Ronald McDonald House - I spent three nights there.

     On Thursday morning Shelly's family came to visit - her sister only had to walk across the street as she was working in The ER next door - and her brother's family was only 20 minutes away.  As the day progressed, plans were made to get the rest of the family down but Nathan did not progress and we were told that there was basically no hope.

     On Friday morning, after a visit from the neurologist, it was decided to end the cool down and most of the day was spent getting pictures with all the family that was there and saying good bye.  After everyone left the final phase was completed of pulling Nathan off of the respirator. I held him while he breathed his last, it was less the 20 minutes.  Later, after a few more visits a nurse helped Shelly get pieces of his hair, and they took foot and hand prints and made an impression of his foot.

     That night Shelly and I stayed in the Ronald house together. I remember crying hard after receiving a poem from a friend which we now have hanging on the wall.

     On Saturday we started our way home.  Shelly and I spent the night in Brainerd with my folks while the kids went to Bemidji where we met with them at church the next morning.

      Over the course of the following week, I worked half days at work and spent the rest of the day with family.  We had many visitors over that time and received many meals and cards.  It was also decided to bury Nathan in Roosevelt and hold a memorial service for him in February.  I hope to be able to post the message and pictures from the service soon.

      The next big event took place on the 18th when some friends took us out to eat for our anniversaries.  Ours was the 19th of December and theirs was the 18th.  Also on the 18th was our annual meeting at work and all the kids went to get donuts and pop.

     For our 23rd anniversary - we didn't do much - mostly running kids around and a little Christmas shopping.

     For Christmas we went to Bemidji with Shelly's side of the family for three nights and then went to Brainerd to my side of the family for two nights before returning home. Then, on New Years Eve we celebrated Christmas at home.  I would say I was spoiled for Christmas and I am greatly blessed.

November 2015

     November became the month of waiting but that is not all that took place.

     During the month of November my oldest boy decided to move out.  He is living with a group of other boys at a guys house a few miles away.  The guy is single and has had many boys stay at his place over the years and he also holds a boys Bible study on Saturday nights.  We've known many of the boys who have lived there over the years.  This is kind of a stepping stone between moving out and being fully on ones own.

     November also brought some strange weather - like 60 degree weather which is not normal this far north in November.  It was followed by 2 inches of rain and then a quick freeze creating a large skating rink in our front yard and the kids had a lot of fun strapping on ice skates and skating around on it.

     Around the middle of the month we got some fire wood cut and stacked so we can have some fun fires int he fireplace and got the snowblower running.  I also took off on another business trip.

     For Thanksgiving, we stayed home to celebrate and then the next day we went to Bemidji to do some shopping on Black Friday.  It was an enjoyable day with family and got some of our Christmas shopping done a long with stocking up on some needed house hold supples.

     On the last weekend of the month we put up the Christmas tree and finally ordered my oldest son's graduation gift - a big tool set

     On the last day of the month it looked like the waiting for baby to arrive may finally becoming to an end as my wife said she had one long uncomfortable contraction which brought us into December and a time of sweet sorrow as we did have our baby but he didn't survive.  More on that to come.