tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29333994029946079872024-02-18T21:55:03.851-06:00sbrawnerShannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-84820764962331885252018-07-25T08:56:00.004-05:002018-07-25T09:07:48.921-05:00Dobro Jutro! (Good Morning!)I was on a trip for 10 days. 10 days straight! To be honest, it felt like a month... But in a good way! I honestly didn't want to come back. Despite 4 or less hours of sleep per night, language barriers, lack of belief in A/C, squat toilets (aka holes in the floor...), tight quarters, Bosnian roads, minimal showers, German washing machines... this was one of the best experiences of my life. I can not start this any other way than to recognize all of the answered prayers throughout this entire trip. Is it ok to make a list?!<br />
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1) World Cup Finals, 2nd place.<br />
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WHAT?! Yes, the day we arrived I got to experience the biggest celebration I've ever seen in my life. And it started before we ever even entered Croatia! The gps app (now affectionately called "No WAZE Jose") directed us through Bosnia instead of Zagreb, and we were stunned by the amount of celebrating we saw throughout the country of Bosnia. Hannah, your prayers were answered. (PS Mario waved at us and the girls and I made the news... ha!)<br />
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2) Good Weather<br />
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We were prepped early on that this week in Croatia would be excruciating and hot. There may have been a few moments that we felt we were "suffocating" (in the words of sweet Mihael), but the temps stayed low and the breezes were always cool. The rain held off, the clouds provided cover, the thunder only lulled us to sleep, and it was honestly one of the best 10 day stretches of weather I've ever seen. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers!<br />
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3) Good Turnout<br />
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It's been years of visiting this beautiful town and these beautiful people. Years of building relationships, years of planning and putting on events. This year we made some changes, created a brand, started a facebook page, and the turnout was better than we imagined. The Kids Klub doubled in size, as well as our afternoon events at the Poloju. Watching Pastor Darko and his family fill with encouragement and seeing their prayers of a full church and full back yard answered was life changing. I pray it only gets better and better!<br />
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4) Endurance and Energy<br />
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We never could've put on three events daily without your prayers for endurance and energy. We woke around 6/6:30 every morning, and were not in bed till after 1am every night. (sometimes much later) Our events were high energy, very physical, and the fact we all survived this rigorous schedule was nothing but a miracle. With so little rest in between events (something we all decided we needed to be more intentional about next year), God still multiplied our efforts in every way. So thankful for your prayers for us!<br />
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5) Boldness of Faith<br />
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Dave told us halfway into the week, that he had been praying for boldness of faith. This was one of the most important prayers on this trip. Not only with all of the children we came in contact with, but the adults that we were able to connect with and share our faith with is just remarkable. From the coffee shop owners, to the older gentleman that allowed us to borrow his electricity for the Kids Klub, the neighbor who showered us with delicious gifts (homemade pickles!), the waiters from the restaurant, many of the mothers whose children played with us, the Serbian refugees, the owners of the Gelato shop, random men on the streets of the Korzo, even the man who hit Dan's car, the list goes on and on. So many people were touched because of the boldness of faith, and many of these interactions ended in prayers in public places with each of these people that opened up and shared hurts and struggles and vulnerabilities. So thankful for this answered prayer.<br />
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6) My voice<br />
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Day 3 my voice pretty much left me. Doing the singing throughout the week, and also planning a public performance on Thursday evening made this a daunting situation. Like He has done for me many times in the past, my voice miraculously returned just in time to perform some "radio music" on the Korzo that essentially drew even more people in. I had a beautiful worshipful moment that night, even singing secular lyrics. Thank you for the prayers from my team, some other missionaries we met, and even sweet Ariella who prayed hard for my voice to return.<br />
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7) The words to say<br />
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I can't tell you how many times I prayed this simple prayer throughout the week. Lord, please give me the words to say! Give me the right words to say to the children about God's love, the right words to answer their questions about heaven and hell, right and wrong, who's more responsible and who's simply not (haha Dan!). About 10 minutes before service on Sunday morning, Pastor Darko asked Dave and I if someone would be willing to share their story during the service. Before we could answer, he looked right at me and said "Shanna, I nominate you". I prayed this prayer hard and fast, but it only took moments for God to start providing the words and I quickly scribbled them down on a piece of notebook paper. What came out was short, to the point, easily read with a translator, and the feedback after left me emotional. Some came up and gave me encouraging verses in Croatian that I could take home with me, and other shared that they were encouraged as walking through similar situations in their lives. What a gift to have been given the right words to say, and to be used across the world to spread these words of hope and faith.<br />
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8) Travel mercies<br />
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Along with good weather, we really lucked out with travel. The airbnb's turned out pretty great, sight unseen, and even the hostel (though 1389723598275239847 degrees with no windows to open) allowed room for all 5 of us to take a quick nap and rest up for another day of travel. We were able to see many things, eat many things, had no issues with our planes, trains, or automobiles, and really it couldn't have been better. Sometimes finding things was a little difficult, but we always ended up for the most part on time, and safely. I've never spent so many days traveling, and it was rigorous, but could've been SO much worse.<br />
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So, for my first day back, I simply wanted to put a praise out there for so many answered prayers! God is so so so so good! Hey team, I'd love for you to add more! (for more photos see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dave.bechtel/photos_albums">DAVE'S CROATIA ALBUMS</a> on facebook!)Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-59691612267949311422017-01-01T15:20:00.001-06:002017-01-06T14:11:39.568-06:00New Things...<i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">he is</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a new year! 2017... It's hard to believe it kinda. I remember when 2000 seemed like such a big deal, a new century! Now here we are, almost 20 years later. (yikes!) Even though it's a new year, those who are in Christ have the gift of newness every morning! I posted this on Facebook earlier, and wanted to "<a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2016/08/so-much-to-say.html">declare</a>" a little of the goodness of God in my life. </span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">January has a tendency to mark big changes in my life. Especially starting in 2012 when I walked into my first recovery meeting and realized that I needed to be there. A step out of denial that I had it all together and a decision to surrender my struggles to the only One that could handle them. This January will be just like the others. I've taken another step towards trying to put our lives back together, all the while remembering the way to do that is through surrender. It's gonna be another hard year, I know that, but with grace and miracles and beauty strewn throughout it just like 2016. Praying for each of you as well, my friends. This year is full of growth that can be found in surrender. He knows the plans He has for you. Have peace and hold on to that. </i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">2016 started hard, was hard in the middle, and ended hard. (Honestly, I could say that about every single year. And some more than others...) But it wasn't hard without the reward of growth, even more closeness to Christ, and being witness to more miracles. Probably the biggest change leading me into this new year is a new job! As many of you know, circumstances financially have been strained for a LONG time. Honestly, even back when things looked 'together' they were a complete and utter disaster at the root. Every January (just happens to work that way), I get one step closer to financial freedom again! For years God has given me opportunities to work and survive as the only income for our family while also having two little kiddos at home. People ask all the time "How do you do it!?" Well, I don't! He does. He does through numerous jobs, through friends, through strangers... His provision is amazing. Even providing <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/fpu">financial classes</a> and mentoring early on, so I'd know how to steward the gifts that would come. (Look back at your life, so much of His goodness is in hindsight!) I knew at one point that I would need to move to full time work. I wasn't sure how this would look and have been praying about it for the last few years. Even though I wasn't sure how it would even be possible, He was. He has taken care of every detail, and dumped something in my lap this year that I couldn't have imagined. Perfect timing, perfect step forward, perfect opportunity for my family. For me to work full time, have full benefits, without my boys spending a moment in childcare. What a gift. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">But the work I've been doing the last several years has also been such a gift. All four of the part time jobs I have, random hours and all, have been such a blessing to me so much more than just financially. But in order to work a full time job, I had to say goodbye to one of the most special jobs I've ever had in my life; teaching music at Promiseland Preschool in Brentwood. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">There is nothing like working with the most beautiful team of God fearing women, praying with these women each morning, worshiping and praying with almost 100 kids every day and teaching them about Jesus and His love... </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I cried for almost a week about leaving. Unfortunately, the boys caught me in tears a few times, but it was a good lesson for them. </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Change can be hard. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Sometimes stagnant can feel comfortable, and being stretched can be painful, but comfortable is never really where we wanna be. Being stretched has always looked beautiful, at least in hindsight. It was hard, but t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">hese types of hard things in my life have always ended up being the right things.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> I wrote this letter to the parents and children of the school to share the goodness of God in the midst of the sadness of my leaving. </span></div>
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<i>Dear Promiseland families,</i></div>
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<i>I’m writing to share with you the goodness of God in my life! The Christmas Program is always the pinnacle of the year for me. Hearing almost 100 children singing the story of Jesus, from the BIGNESS of our Creator, to the tiny baby He sent to save the world, and the Amazing Grace offered to us through the sacrifice of his one and only Son; it humbles me. What an honor to have so many of you there!<br /><br />In late 2012, I heard a very clear message while praying aloud my frustrations on the car ride to church. I felt the Spirit was moving me to start kids worship on Sunday mornings at our Franklin Campus. I didn't have much prior experience in teaching, or working with kids, and really no interest. I thought for sure God couldn’t mean KIDS... I felt so ill equipped. I knew nothing about kids' music and wasn’t even sure what it looked like to lead worship music. There was no way I was made for this, or would even be any good at it. But God knew. I took a step forward in faith and almost immediately I felt connected to the kids, and a passion for leading them began. Serving in this way eventually led me to my position at Promiseland in January 2014. I had never taught music before and had no idea what I was going to do with a bunch of sweet preschoolers (and toddlers!). Again, God knew.</i></div>
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<i>My time at Promiseland has blessed my life tremendously. It has blessed me financially, it blessed my children who both attended the program, and most of all it has blessed my heart to teach, sing, dance, worship, and pray with each of your children during the week. It has been some of my most precious times in the past three years. Our God knew me so much better than I knew myself. He knew that leading children would become a passion in my life, He knew what a gift this program would be to my family and me, and He knew that this position would prepare me for the next step forward in my life. A few weeks ago I accepted a full time position at a local elementary school. Yet again, I felt a little ill equipped and sad to think His provision could be leading me away from Promiseland. But He knew. He knew how things would work out long before I did. And I have learned to listen, take a step even if it’s in blind faith, and let Him work out the details. As He promised, He has done just that. He has supernaturally filled my position at Promiseland and worked out all of the kinks. He has used this job that has blessed me tremendously, to bless someone else. And let me tell you, He hasn’t left out a single detail. </i></div>
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<i>This is not, and never was about me. He has used my weakness and inexperience to tell His story and show His strength. I am grateful to continue to surrender and let Him take me where He will and use me for His glory. Your children are so special to me. Every hug, every laugh, every high five, every smile… These are memories and moments I will cherish always. I have laughed and cried with them, worshiped and prayed with them, and shared with them stories of God’s goodness and love. That is why I am writing today. As sad and hard as change can be, let’s bless God in His goodness and share the stories of his provision in every situation. Please tell this to your children. God is working, and it may feel sad at first, but we can trust He is always GOOD. He is taking care of me, and will take care of them. Because He knows. </i></div>
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<i><br />‘<b>For I know</b> the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ Jer. 29:11</i></div>
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<i>Miss Shanna </i></div>
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The way he has replaced my position helps fulfill the beginnings of a life dream for one person, and fills up the transition time for another. All along he had these wonderful women picked out for this time, and when He was ready He offered me a step of faith. I'm so thankful I took that step (I've learned to always take that step!) and it all worked together perfectly.</div>
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Additionally, this full time job (and the most amazing deal ever) has given me the opportunity to own my first vehicle in almost 10 years! I swear <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">I've cried more in December than probably all year. So much change, so many goodbyes, like saying goodbye to this dear friend. Civi </span>(a sweet Civic who we called "Civi" because the "c" had fallen off the logo on the back) <span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;">has been there for us for the past 4.5 years. She started as something to get us to and from the grocery store, and out of the heat, but became a part of our family. I can't imagine where'd I'd be without her, truly. One of the best gifts in my life. (Even if she was only borrowed) There with us through the</span> hardship, growth, hurt, and joy... She has been dependable, gotten me to and from life changing recovery meetings (3 a week to start!) and even though I never imagined using her for much more than trips to the grocery store, she has held up to drive me all over for work and traveling to visit family, and only a few middle-of-the-road breakdowns... ha! But time was running out for her... Going on 17 years old, she needed to find a place where she could be fixed up a final time and finish her life helping out someone else. And because of my new job opportunity, I was able to upgrade the vehicle to something that will be so much more efficient (and roomy!) for our family for years to come. I can't even BELIEVE that I am able to own a car again!! God is so good... So so so so good. </div>
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Sometimes I feel like I am 34 going on 24. Starting over, from the ground up, just with two kiddos along for the ride this time. This job isn't some huge financial upgrade (I'm still keeping my other 2 part time jobs), but it's a good transition job with lots of potential and a lot of my coworkers are doing just that (just in their early 20s.. ha!). But the hours and benefits are MORE that I could have ever asked for. Perfect for right now. Upgrading and owning your own vehicle also feels like a "post college" move... A step out into the "real world". But ya know what? Though I may not have a lot, God makes sure I always have enough. He keeps me humble, keeps me grateful, and I want to keep on sharing about it. I think my boys are fortunate to get to watch me walk through the hardships and experience the gifts and the provision. They get to see where everything gift comes from, the story of how we found our home to the gift of food on our table. They experience what it means to work hard and save up to take our first family vacation. This "starting over" is newness and rebirth and it is all a gift. It's not a regression, it's a renewing. I want to be intentional this year about sharing the goodness. Sharing the amazing miracle stories of how He's providing. I haven't blogged in years, but I realize the importance in remembering every gift. So I hope to be over here more often. Happy New Year to you all!</div>
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Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-88099211461714823182016-08-04T18:32:00.002-05:002016-08-04T18:32:52.252-05:00So much to say... I have so much to say. I tried to write my testimony once... Not just how I came to Christ, but my story, well HIS story and how it has weaved through my life and my choices. In the end, it was more of a summary due to the amount of time I had to share it. It was directed towards a theme, contentment, in order to share it at a book study. I did share it, to a room full of women. It was an interesting experience. I cried A LOT. Even since that time, so much has happened. I've hesitated rewriting my story in fear that because of the season I've been in, it would come off too informative and not as declarative as I'd like it to be. Declarative as in Luke 8:39; "...declare how much God has done for you." I want my story to be nothing more than a declaration of the amazing miracles I've experienced in my life. I want it to be a testimony of his love and goodness, and a way to show my children someday how much God has been at work in the details of their early lives. <br />
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So... is it time? Am I out of the fog, so to speak, where I can clearly declare God's victories in my life without simply telling a boring story, venting emotions and drama, that so many of us experience daily? I want to tell HIS story. Love, grace, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion... so much gratefulness to be shared. I'm sure there will be a bit of the drama and dirt. The stuff that makes His characteristics so much more stunning... It will be real. And it will probably be long. But at least it will be.<br />
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<br />Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-8027072038902316502013-04-19T17:43:00.004-05:002013-04-19T23:00:29.797-05:00Rest<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yea. Rest. Sounds easy. I know FOR SURE I need it. I'm realizing that I kinda live in this constant cycle (some friends I know would call it "Insanity") of HALT. HALT is an acronym. A reminder that when I'm H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired) the best thing to do is what it says, HALT. Stop. Slow Down. Even Jesus said this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text Mark-6-30" id="en-NASB-24438"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">30 </sup><sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24438AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>The <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24438AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)"></sup>apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.</span> <span class="text Mark-6-31" id="en-NASB-24439"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">31 </sup>And He said to them, <span class="woj">“Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.”</span> (For there were many people coming and going, and <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24439AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)"></sup>they did not even have time to eat.)</span> <span class="text Mark-6-32" id="en-NASB-24440"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">32 </sup><sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24440AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup>They went away in <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24440AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></sup>the boat to a secluded place by themselves. Mark 6:30-32</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This morning was no different. I had 1359820357298357 things to do, and was determined to get them done. My grandfather passed away on Monday. He lived an incredible, long, and fulfilling life. He was blessed with a relatively quick and peaceful death. I was blessed by spending about 3 hours with him last month, and had the most wonderful time. We shared stories, worries, hopes, laughs, cookies... He was incredible, and I wanted more than anything to honor him in his death by attending his memorial service and viewing this weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I often tell people that my life is crazy. I'm not sure that's the right word, but definitely it is <i>FULL. </i>Our weekly schedule is pretty much the same, but there is not a lot of downtime, or unscheduled time to rest and relax. I'm deeply involved in spiritual and emotional care for my soul, working a recovery step program through <a href="http://celebraterecovery.com/">Celebrate Recovery</a>. It has changed my life, and part of that is because I have immersed myself in it and really (and prayerfully) chose to let this be a season of growth for me, by giving my all towards my spiritual and emotional health. I has CHANGED. MY. LIFE. This one year of dedication (9 months so far) will change the rest of my time on this planet, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. That all being said, this dedication and decision is based on the overwhelmingly tough and unhealthy part of my life. Change only happens when the pain outweighs the fear, and change only happens in the present. I am making the changes, and the pain is lessoning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So not to sidetrack there, but back to my grandfather. I want to do it all. I want to be everywhere, I want to experience everything. I've always been this way, even as a child. It would pain me to miss things, or not be involved. It's a huge struggle for me to sit still, to focus, to rest. My grandfather was also very active. Bowling numerous games at a time, up until about a month before his death. He had many hobbies, many loves, many activities that brought him joy. When he realized he was too sick, and too tired, he decided to rest, and passed away about a month later. Now he is eternally resting in the presence of the Lord. Even though I just made the trek to PA a month ago, I made the decision on Tuesday that I could do it again. It appeared that I could pull it off, and make the memorial service on Saturday. Then on Thursday I decided that I needed to be there for the viewing on Friday evening. If I was going to make the trip, I needed to make the most of it, attend as much as I could, spend as much time... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I got up at 6 (I'm NOT a morning person, so it was the best I could do), left the house at 7, and went through the same steps as I did about a month ago, except this time, the result was different. I realized yesterday, after my contracting paycheck never arrived, that I'd be cutting it pretty close financially. I doubted for a minute, but I knew I could still make it work!! The morning continued on with road block after road block. Finally, 4 hours after we left the house, and in a mess of tears and exhaustion, I made the decision to HALT. Headed home, crashed for 2 hours, and woke trying to figure out what to do for the day. Maybe I could still make the drive? Maybe I could get a last minute deal on a rental? Then it dawned on me. HALT. STOP. REST. The fact that I was REALLY struggling with just sitting around, showed me that it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will honor my grandpa, by doing what he is doing. Resting. I will slow down, take a break. I cleared my schedule for the weekend, and I need to leave it clear. I need to be filled up, rested up. I need to listen, abide. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">34 </sup>“So do not <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23317A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God confirmed my choice. When I woke from my nap, the rainy, storm threatening day, had turned into gorgeous blue sky and sunshine! The money lost from the rental was refunded. (How they couldn't help me at the time is still a mystery, yet somehow, as soon as I get home, they are able to help...) I get it. When things are in His will, they go smoothly. When things aren't happening, I take that as a sign that they are not supposed to happen, and surrender to whatever it is God has next. For me? It was a lesson in resting. It's SUPER challenging, but I'll try.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">28 </sup>“<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23488A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So that's what I will do. I will come to You. Give me rest. Fill me up. I know your plans for me are better than my own. I will see my family again. We will share memories and laughs. My grandfather's legacy will live on past today and this weekend. This isn't the last chance... Last month was the last chance, and I was blessed to have that chance. To see him, to hug him, to tell him I loved him. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdx0QYCJtnsP_rRTk_0VgPKeIcwt870ucoEXl8PeIGlPvD2sWdS734Ifdq2UbrnkWOrHxmxWfWHSr5Lrv__9_EM66tPzsnLgnCjXwRURxCjW-0SxqVxyanVq06Vwt8SbwVb6vYNfkIzpj/s1600/G&GMvisit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdx0QYCJtnsP_rRTk_0VgPKeIcwt870ucoEXl8PeIGlPvD2sWdS734Ifdq2UbrnkWOrHxmxWfWHSr5Lrv__9_EM66tPzsnLgnCjXwRURxCjW-0SxqVxyanVq06Vwt8SbwVb6vYNfkIzpj/s400/G&GMvisit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(can I tell you how much I love that Jack is holding hands with grandpa and gramma in this picture? I will treasure this picture forever.)</i></span></div>
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Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-27623808184485922362013-02-16T21:36:00.002-06:002013-03-08T16:42:13.398-06:00Re: gratitude<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having an attitude of gratitude is something I strive for daily. It is something I believe is absolutely necessary to find joy and peace in life. And it's not like there isn't a TON to be thankful for! I can easily spend the month of November writing a Facebook status each day about something I'm thankful for. Being thankful in adversity though, is harder and sometimes feels impossible. Something I was reminded of the other day, is that being thankful is a <i>learned</i> behavior.</span><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-4-11" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"><span class="text Phil-4-11" id="en-NASB-29454" style="background-color: white;">Not that I speak from want, for I have <b>learned</b> to be content in whatever circumstances I am.</span><span class="text Phil-4-12" id="en-NASB-29455" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have <b>learned</b> the secret of being filled and going <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29455S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>hungry, both of having abundance and <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29455T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>suffering need. Philippians</span><span style="background-color: white;"> 4:11-12 NASB</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paul said it twice; he had to </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">learn</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to be thankful and grateful during times of adversity. He also wrote this while he was in prison. And how do we learn something? By practicing it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've always loved the idea of a gratitude journal, but journaling can be hard for me. And even if I spend the time to sit down and journal, most of the time my mommy brain can't even remember what we did an hour ago let alone the things I am thankful for throughout the day. Practice isn't a once in a while thing, but something you do over and over and over consistently. </span><br />
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So about a year ago I came up with this idea. What about a gratitude email? That is something I'm in all day long. I can pretty much access it from anywhere, and it takes two seconds to do. So I started:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>To:</i> my email address</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Subject:</i> <b>gratitude</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Body: </i>2/29/12 - unemployment cleared before mortgage payment, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">awesome lunch meeting for Keith</span></div>
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It had been a great day. And there were specifics I was thankful for! Immediately, this email popped up in my inbox. On March 1st, all I had to do, was hit <i>Reply</i>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3/1/12 - $1 night at sweet ceces, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">awesome surprise phone interview with keith, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">banner order, $100 from a friend</span></div>
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Thus, began a practice of constant gratitude. All the little blessings happening each and every moment. We were right in the middle of a VERY rough time, and God was written all over it. This little email stayed highlighted, and 'unread' at the top of my inbox. Got a front parking spot? I'd hit <i>reply. </i>Got an extra 3 cents off gas? <i>Reply. </i> Our bank account bounced from here to kingdom come, but was only charged one $25 fee. <i>Reply. </i> I started to be SO thankful, even during the tough times, the messups, the let downs. Started really recognizing the joy in everything. There is always <i>something</i> to be thankful for. I started to notice the clouds, the sunsets, when the rain would come after a long wait and when it would stop just in time to make it inside. I practiced, and I learned. </span><br />
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At some point I started to making excuses again, and started becoming "too busy" to stop and be thankful. That email got farther and farther down the list, and eventually off the page. There are numerous times that I can see God written all over my circumstances. Those times when He shows up SO big! But I fail to write them down, or email them. And then I forget, and the moments quickly pass. Just in the time it took me to write this blog, I've revisited some of the things in my long email of thanks. Thankful for conversations, errands run, meeting a work deadline, the small stuff. And the gratefulness that I found in the hard days; the bits of joy sprinkled throughout. This was a wonderful practice and I truly miss it. I'm really thankful for the reminder. I'm thankful for this blog that made me go back and pull up that email. I'm thankful that I was able to read through it and see the change that was happening in me over the months that I practiced. And I'm thankful that I can jump right back in and pickup where I left off. </span>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-37566542026745502322013-02-03T15:39:00.000-06:002013-02-16T21:50:54.879-06:00And He will give you the desires of your heart<span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 37:4 says, <span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.</i> I've known this verse for many years, and I'm sure I used to think that it meant God gives us what we want if we delight in Him. It's funny how things can change when you put the emphasis in a different place. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Is it:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">He will give you <b><i>the</i></b> <i><b>desires of your heart</b></i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>He</u> will</i> <u><i style="font-weight: bold;">give you</i><b> </b></u><i><b>the desires </b></i>of your heart.</span></span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-6-19" id="en-NASB-23302" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">Matthew 6:19-21 says, <i><b>Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth</b>, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. </i></span></span><span class="text Matt-6-20" id="en-NASB-23303" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="woj">But <b>store up for yourselves <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23303Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>treasures in heaven</b>, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; </span></span><span class="text Matt-6-21" id="en-NASB-23304" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><b>for <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23304AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup>where your treasure is, there your heart will be also</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20.989582061767578px;">So we are warned about <i>our desires</i>. A lot of the time, the desires of <i>my</i> heart, are earthly desires. At least they seem to start that way. So then, how can I assume that if I delight in Him, He will give me my <i>earthly</i> desires? There is a greater picture here. Delighting in Christ is <i><b>desiring</b> </i>Christ. It's<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>setting your heart towards heaven; it's turning, repenting, changing. When I made the decision to delight in Christ, and set my heart and my treasures in heaven, He gave</span></span></span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 20.989582061767578px;"> my heart <i>new</i> desires</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20.989582061767578px;">. </span></span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.989582061767578px;"> And I know they are not from me, because t</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20.989582061767578px;">he desires I have now are to do things that I spent most of my life honestly trying to avoid. </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;">But
once again, God's will is revealed in hindsight.</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: inherit;">And the more I delight in Him, the more my heart and my desires <i>change</i>.</span></div>
Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-59237379581328397892011-08-23T23:54:00.003-05:002011-08-24T00:06:18.532-05:00Have a question about your food? Tweet your local farmer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HvHMDpPiPX9wMCbx9yTx8KF9WfVGBFB2-5X-_43-V6a1SsTH8e1Fgf6G3-zI-hPqZnN_dk7SN-icqGDRZTFA_I2dHnP8rlbZh8-mZyuuSJfjs489huqsiFDoqa0hE0sKROdp3v-0SFpD/s1600/6070038645_4eccae2798_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HvHMDpPiPX9wMCbx9yTx8KF9WfVGBFB2-5X-_43-V6a1SsTH8e1Fgf6G3-zI-hPqZnN_dk7SN-icqGDRZTFA_I2dHnP8rlbZh8-mZyuuSJfjs489huqsiFDoqa0hE0sKROdp3v-0SFpD/s400/6070038645_4eccae2798_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9A3mRhWxt60ZTZ2zeNoWZiAjSJoRPqaYI7QSQKRX5VVNAAzSaWZndLvwfDgDGhA0ctElvf4YREAuxOodjVRz95_pSJdn-ng_EYSBwGjBBTukdGTLTXoQ1Nnl37V4M1f6vj5DcqlGZ2bU/s1600/mommybloggers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9A3mRhWxt60ZTZ2zeNoWZiAjSJoRPqaYI7QSQKRX5VVNAAzSaWZndLvwfDgDGhA0ctElvf4YREAuxOodjVRz95_pSJdn-ng_EYSBwGjBBTukdGTLTXoQ1Nnl37V4M1f6vj5DcqlGZ2bU/s320/mommybloggers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I had the unique opportunity this past week to come and answer questions for a room full of farmers and ranchers. You may wonder why said folks would have any questions for lil ole me? I want to share with you an awesome website: <a href="http://agchat.org/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">AgChat.org</span></a>. Their mission is to "Empower farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms." My friend <a href="http://allergenfreeplease.blogspot.com/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Rachel Brown</span></a>, <a href="http://suburbanturmoil.com/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Lindsey Ferrier</span></a>, and myself were invited to be panelists for a question and answer session based on our status of "mommy bloggers". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pJyaRRKAdAybu3YCWqbFO_vnX2EmXe99xnKRmFgyLzncbFGzjyNi6XpRyYtntcAInjmQ6YzNiOf8hG-zhap2TsyqHE37SFEgxnVeXKthph03IEBOntvQ_cAJxoU9gtE0pSaMVOlTPXRl/s1600/6070585196_404d68557b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pJyaRRKAdAybu3YCWqbFO_vnX2EmXe99xnKRmFgyLzncbFGzjyNi6XpRyYtntcAInjmQ6YzNiOf8hG-zhap2TsyqHE37SFEgxnVeXKthph03IEBOntvQ_cAJxoU9gtE0pSaMVOlTPXRl/s320/6070585196_404d68557b_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The conference was set in Nashville, Tennessee, but the attendees were from all over the United States and Canada. These farmers and ranchers are finding their "voice" in a technology driven world, and have a desire to be heard. Farmers and Ranchers make up 1.5% of the population. They want to hear from the rest of us, from me; where we get our information, what we know about farming, and how they can reach the blogging and online community to share their stories. Here I was, in a room with about 150 of them, and to be honest, I felt like I pretty much represented the ignorant citizen. I don't say that in a bad way, because I also represented the person eager to learn, and one that wants to connect with them and pass on what I learn to others like myself. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So many of them had questions about what they could do to be heard, how they could get their voice out there. I think a few felt defensive, because for years media has had its say in "what goes on" and they feel like there is a lot of catching up to do. I hated to say "be patient, it's working", but it's so true! Just the fact that this organization exists is huge. I did a quick google search of "<a href="http://www.tennessean.com/videonetwork/1125672670001/Got-a-question-about-your-food-Tweet-your-farmer">tweet your local farmer</a>", and numerous news articles came up. Your words <i>are</i> getting out there, you <i>are</i> being heard. It was all so exciting to me to know that technology is reaching as far as it is.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwog7gn523XSogO4xVMS3-GpbHPZfQ_ScXsGF-2HtuEVouj4n2KQGyLz-we7Bjn9sfgFdDkZlUmz1e9cC7lBjteTtedwzMx6mE5fhufLQpLtYFnFoINYM8eBsFR7ghw1fUDZusVijAHGpC/s1600/6070585488_25c5f72c1b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwog7gn523XSogO4xVMS3-GpbHPZfQ_ScXsGF-2HtuEVouj4n2KQGyLz-we7Bjn9sfgFdDkZlUmz1e9cC7lBjteTtedwzMx6mE5fhufLQpLtYFnFoINYM8eBsFR7ghw1fUDZusVijAHGpC/s320/6070585488_25c5f72c1b_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If I could say one thing to those I met this week, it's to know you are heading in the right direction. The speed of social media and word-of-mouth, is exponential. You will "catch up" quicker than you ever imagined. Keep learning, keep sharing, keep posting, keep tweeting. We are out here wanting to learn and the number of "us" is growing. We are realizing that it is our responsibility to know what we are putting into our bodies, and why. We aren't just taking "yes" or "no" for an answer anymore, and we are looking for truth. Thank you for caring enough to speak. Thank you for doing the dirty work for the 98.5% of us. Thank you for sticking with it for generations and generations. What a pleasure it was to spend this short time with you, and feel free to keep in touch! I want to pass on your websites, facebook pages, blogs, tweets, and stories to others that I know. I also hope to run into some of you again and get a chance to see your farms, and learn about what you do. It was really humbling for me to be in there with you all, and though I didn't have much time then, we can always connect right here. Ag is Life!<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">shanna.brawner@gmail.com</div><div class="MsoNormal">www.facebook.com/shanna.brawner </div><div class="MsoNormal">twitter: sbrawner7</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-10876507196931461462011-05-27T15:07:00.001-05:002011-05-27T15:16:55.787-05:00"ME" time...I guess since these boys came from "me", it would appear I get a lot of "me" time these days... Truth be told, "me" time should be about Shanna, and "Shanna time" doesn't really exist. There should also be "me and Keith" time, which is also very <a href="http://kbrawner.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/well-hello-there-its-been-a-long-long-time/">lacking</a>. So, in saying that, I have been taking the time to dream and slowly take given opportunities to try and plan for this so called "time". <br />
<br />
Things I want to, and WILL do:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b>Horseback Riding.</b> It has been WAY too long, and I love it WAY too much. (it hasn't helped that every other second I'm pregnant, and I think it is frowned upon to do this whilst carrying a wee one)</li>
<li><b>MUSIC.</b> Shanna is a <a href="http://youtu.be/0WkU7BlMh8w">musician</a>? Yea, I almost forgot myself. But the time. is. now.</li>
<li><b>Socializing.</b> I am a social butterfly. Always been one, always will be. I need my fix. <a href="http://flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/girlfriends.html">Girl dates</a>? Bookin' em as I type.</li>
<li><b>DATE.</b> I want to date. I want to date my husband. I want to date my husband at least once a month. And I will do this.</li>
<li><b>Learn.</b> I want to learn, grow, mature in my faith. I want to take a class, engage in a study, be IN my Father's Word. One opportunity may be in the fall (when I have dependable childcare), but I've already got a class in mind. And it's for couples. Look out, I'm gittin' two birds with one stone.</li>
<li>One more is a "bucket list" type wish that is actually going to come true for me. I decided to start drama on my facebook page, and hold out the announcement until it actually happens. I have many people out there curious about what this may be. I just got butterflies, again, by simply typing about it.</li>
</ul><div>The best part about all of these "dreams" (funny the things we dream before kids, and the things we do before kids that become dreams after) is that God has been laying them all out there, RIGHT in front of my nose. Horseback riding? Done, my friend has two horses in need of exercise. I'm hoping to make this a Monday night "thing" all summer. Music? Stay tuned to hear, but I have 2 performance opportunities already waiting, and one possible worship gig that would mean the MOST to me out of all 3. I've booked a few girl dates, maybe even starting down a business venture to help us knock out some debt and get me some adult mental stimulation once in a while. Stay tuned on that one... Dates? Working on that for sure, but to start we're signed up to do a couples bootcamp workout starting at the end of June, and then hoping to take a class together this fall. All that to say, I WILL take time away from cleaning up pee and boo-boo prevention. I love my day job, and wouldn't change a thing, but I'm excited about making a few changes to the daily grind. </div><div><br />
</div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-14231660132317317392011-05-16T00:24:00.003-05:002011-05-16T11:41:47.732-05:00BLESSEDThe gifting continues. God has gifted Keith creative freedom at his job, an opportunity to chase a passion he has and support to do so. He has also gifted Keith with a raise in pay for all of his efforts (we got the news the SAME DAY we found out that the Jeep engine was possibly blown), and entrusted our family with these earthly resources that we may follow the Spirit's prompting and use them to glorify His kingdom. The gifting never stops. The insignificant things that we put so much weight in. I believe God uses the small things to pull our ignorant earthly minds and eyes to the truth of his Love. If it takes finding my cat hiding in a rose bush to bring me to my knees in gratitude and worship, then I'll take it. He is jealous for me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZws3K7A-YobOwr71qeahpWFk6GX2n8H91T67yRXI4YauGsYdGKmPEmatu_CDI26Po4GWmv_0kWahLOK5SXX9X3jtdOUFc2HJLNmbMBcYNrq44F_LhbOsEDsIMhMht37YwxehLkzFtBk4/s1600/0505010818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZws3K7A-YobOwr71qeahpWFk6GX2n8H91T67yRXI4YauGsYdGKmPEmatu_CDI26Po4GWmv_0kWahLOK5SXX9X3jtdOUFc2HJLNmbMBcYNrq44F_LhbOsEDsIMhMht37YwxehLkzFtBk4/s320/0505010818.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>out searching for Louisa one morning</i></div><br />
As I whine about my losses; my loss of sleep since my boys have decided 6am is a great time to wake up, the day my cat decided to disappear for 24 hours and only to be found after searching for her in a field with kids in tow, the loss of the attention of my baby who would rather try to walk than lay still and nurse like I'd want, and the loss of my milk supply as I adjust to pumping (with a chewed up tube. Thanks again kitty...), the stresses of April pale in comparison to the depth of separation we are faced with apart from Christ.<br />
<br />
Blessed. <br />
<br />
Being blessed is nothing short of being a child of God. Tangible gifts really don't deserve the title of "blessings" when you have the amazing grace of God and incomparable sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I am blessed. Unworthy of this and completely humbled by it. God's promise of provision will never fail. As I relish in each of these little "gifts" that bring me earthly joys, I stop to remember the GREATEST Gift that will bring me never-ending joy. The kingdom of heaven that I've inherited as one that is poor in spirit, the fulfillment I'll receive to quench my hunger, the laughter that will drown out the tears of this lifetime. THOSE are the blessings, THAT is the Greater story.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, Blessed are you who are poor, for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"> </span></span>yours is the kingdom of God. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Luke 6:20-21</span></i></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-64527469520292553422011-05-15T23:39:00.005-05:002011-05-16T01:15:23.226-05:00da jeepWell. I love our Jeep. We didn't always see eye to eye, but sometimes it takes losing something to realize how much you loved it. Keith and I have been pretty determined to set specific 3 month goals and knock em out of the water. This current "quarter" we were focusing on the Jeep. (and never realized what that would entail!!) We needed tires, probably rotors and break pads, and a few other things that we had been putting off but were ready to tackle. It just so happened, "focusing on the Jeep" became something much greater than we imagined.<br />
<br />
We got to the tires part, and the next day Keith took a day trip to Knoxville with a buddy for a football game. On the way home, a Saturday evening after everything was closed, the Jeep started acting funny and stalling. Scared to risk any more distance, and getting farther and farther into no man's land, they decided to pull over and call our road side assistance. It just so happened that the closest place they could tow to, that was opened, was a Jeep dealership. After towing the Jeep, the next step was to get home. Our insurance covers a rental for accident based needs, but not for simple car breakdowns. This posed a little bit of a problem, but with our God, who takes care to feed the tiniest insects let alone His most cherished children, it was no surprise when the dealership cheerfully GAVE Keith a loaner car to simply take home that night. It made for a long evening, but one that ended where he could collapse in his OWN bed.<br />
<br />
We had to wait until Monday before we could hear the news on the Jeep. It was a long 2 days, but reality didn't really set in until we got the call. They basically said it was all bad news and they were happy to put in a brand new engine for $7500. Oh, and they needed the loaner car back ASAP. This is never good news when you still OWE on the vehicle that needs the new engine. Keith and I went immediately to prayer. We weighed our options, and even made a couple little "spider" charts comparing different situations and financially how it could or couldn't work. We wanted to be all "<a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/article/drive-free/">Dave Ramsey</a>" with our decision, but also wondering how we find a trustworthy, affordable, "craigslist" car in only a few days. Plus, the Jeep WAS at a dealership, and a trade in for something new was very tempting. The next few days were filled with more phone calls (all while Keith was trying to continue working for the money that would pay for all this craziness) and they finally worked up a deal that if we wanted to, we could do a trade in with them and they could sell us a brand new Liberty for $398230892358 a month. Okay, maybe not that much, but close enough. We thought about it for about .02 seconds before we said NO! A "<a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/article/drive-free/">Ramsey</a>" car just felt like it was what God was telling us to do. <br />
<br />
Keith started hitting up craiglist. It's pretty funny(though not so funny when it's your only option), some of the stuff you'll find out there. We continued to pray about it and found a few options. We had to think fast because they were needing the loaner back. Don't forget, we had our beautiful Christmas gift Belinda (not even sure I've told this story), and Keith was taking her to work every day, but she's not kid friendly at all. Once the loaner was returned we would be short a car to take the kids anywhere. We stretched our privilege through Easter so we could go to church, and continued to make calls about cars, but each one we liked was already gone. Even the 4Runner we were really excited about and actually called about ON Easter Sunday. Then Monday rolled around and our friend Aimee of <a href="http://www.newcreationblocks.com/">New Creation Blocks</a> came by to drop off our winning prize block for Will. We won a photo contest and chose a customized memory block of his Dedication. When she stopped over I had mentioned the situation with the Jeep, and how starting the following day, when Keith was planning on returning the loaner, we'd be carless. She told us that her husband was selling his 4Runner and she would send me some information on it. Yes, My God is an awesome God. Needless to say, it was the. perfect. match. for. us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sbm3bNcCdjxd9EXAYWGet9kPhft9_VV96wMQvgYe3VhEwuHfo3hji8ybu07zTfn51NjYBw5t8acqYwM-MgVUo7FQjkCsidedfSi-s6_EXpV1Q8ypzt5MVnQshK0EvX0HYYoIZ6F6AerT/s1600/handsandfeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sbm3bNcCdjxd9EXAYWGet9kPhft9_VV96wMQvgYe3VhEwuHfo3hji8ybu07zTfn51NjYBw5t8acqYwM-MgVUo7FQjkCsidedfSi-s6_EXpV1Q8ypzt5MVnQshK0EvX0HYYoIZ6F6AerT/s320/handsandfeet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Will's Dedication block</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div>Now, getting the loaner to the boondocks and the Jeep back to Spring Hill was a quest in itself. It took a LOT of finagling a few desperate facebook posts, and one amazing <a href="http://www.faithfulandfrugal.com/">Angel</a> and her husband to meet our needs with a pickup truck to borrow. Keith spent the day loading, unloading, hitching, unhitching, driving, driving, and driving until we finally got the good ole' Jeep home at last. Our next door neighbor helped him push it into the driveway since the driveshaft had to be removed. (I'm adding that part because, as I had mentioned, God is present in every detail. You'll see what I mean.)<br />
<br />
So, making this long story longer... All things were working together for good. We had put a deposit on our friend's vehicle and were waiting on a check deposit to close the deal. Keith calls me from work. "The Nissan's not working. I ran an errand and just got back to the parking garage and it just died. I had to push it into a parking space." I have to admit. In all of her 80s splendor, I really loved Belinda. Her silvery coat and rust colored hood. Eau de gasoline scent and white noise melodies. I had started to get a little too attached, and then she went and broke my heart (and something else under the hood.) Our amazingly gracious friends did an amazingly gracious thing, and let us have their beautiful 4Runner a few days early. They even included a thick covering of prayer over the vehicle that it would be a blessing to our family. It was a fantastic day. We were suddenly a family with wheels once again. Our neighbor, sweet as can be, gave Keith a ride over to their house to pick it up.<br />
<br />
So it turned out that Angel was selling the pretty blue pickup truck that safely brought our sweet Jeep home. And it just so happened our next door neighbor had been needing a vehicle for quite some time and REALLY wanted a pickup truck. With a little more divine intervention, God gifted two more people who had gifted us with generosity, and provided a sale for one and a truck for the other. <br />
<br />
What will become of sweet Belinda? Still praying about that one, and the Jeep? We hope to find out exactly where the problem is and hopefully get it fixed and running as a second vehicle. As for right now, this 4Runner is like a dream vehicle for Keith and I. The color, the make, the engine, the ride... Thank you Lord for your unfailing promise and overflowing provision.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCeeOtiORzDN6ukwOBKOicMTMfh2hEeCA8RT1oT_yTVJJvTHTSC83yGc0SMkyQzkKQTG-4SGgf2QwnToEjCGqI05Tm_V-FkOwlIBrWczeW-EJFKLeBLrefSbE_uC3h7EZbX_aD1MNN0LU/s1600/4runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCeeOtiORzDN6ukwOBKOicMTMfh2hEeCA8RT1oT_yTVJJvTHTSC83yGc0SMkyQzkKQTG-4SGgf2QwnToEjCGqI05Tm_V-FkOwlIBrWczeW-EJFKLeBLrefSbE_uC3h7EZbX_aD1MNN0LU/s400/4runner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-27794371153113603412011-05-14T21:43:00.000-05:002011-05-14T07:52:49.033-05:00It's the little things...<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">The dell laptop I was using had seen better days. The battery had died and the laptop became pretty stationary. Doing graphic design with a track pad was also getting very old. The shift key had been "removed" by my biggest little and SLOW didn't even begin to describe my work speed. Keith surprised me one weekend and set me up with a beautiful workstation including a MacBook, large secondary monitor, and new software. I was able to recreate some old graphic images and blew through my commissioned project like I had never lost anything. Wow Mac, I'm a believer. It just so happens that he was upgraded through his job, and gave me his iPad and Droid phone as well. Lots to learn, and little time to use it all, but what a pleasant surprise. :) I've been thinking about expanding my graphic work and hopefully doing some more commissioned pieces, so this was really a gift.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzNDyPUjtYWEb8g4Lq8dOjcn2hyphenhyphenIDgODwH64glEagCicLr_FKWRRbxnC4kHLJfyjUXPk9_Q4twKKr7G9uTWqQMNuFBGmG30X13Pxj9u4g1k9xw6S-wElKA8y3IM42_i7lMTcalBS9Q9JZ/s1600/isaacsample.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzNDyPUjtYWEb8g4Lq8dOjcn2hyphenhyphenIDgODwH64glEagCicLr_FKWRRbxnC4kHLJfyjUXPk9_Q4twKKr7G9uTWqQMNuFBGmG30X13Pxj9u4g1k9xw6S-wElKA8y3IM42_i7lMTcalBS9Q9JZ/s400/isaacsample.png" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>the first new project I did was a first birthday invitation for my dear friend</i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-11344816729051285532011-05-13T21:43:00.013-05:002011-05-16T00:28:48.311-05:00Gifts of grace<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">Consuming God's blessings without communicating His goodness </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">short-changes the very purpose of His gifts of grace in our lives </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">- Joe Stowell</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wow. It's been a while. God has been at work so much in our lives, and it would be wrong to not take the time to share His goodness. It started with loss. Not just one, but many. Not jobs this time, but material things. The things that shouldn't hurt so much, but find a way to hit us right in the gut. The enemy sits and waits for these types of opportunities. He attacks when we're consumed with all of our human grossness, when our eyes are briefly distracted from the Greater Story and pulled like magnets into self. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2011/05/out-with-old-in-with-new.html">Loss #1</a>) My flash drive failed. I lost all of my graphic work that I've done over the past 3 years. In the technology driven world we live in this is not a rare occurrence, but it IS the worst. thing. ever. I was completely defeated. I was in the middle of a HUGE commissioned project based on the work I had done the year before. All of it was gone. I took it to get it recovered, and it was found to be completely corrupt.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2011/05/da-jeep.html">Problems that turned into loss #2</a>) Jeep, jeep, jeep. We love you. You have been good to us. After dropping close to $1000.00 on some silly repairs, and the day AFTER putting new tires on you, you decided to pass out in the middle of Nowhereville, TN after hours. Sorry we pulled off your driveshaft, but glad you're finally home. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2011/05/da-jeep.html">Loss #3</a>) Our beauty queen, Belinda, also decided to take a nap (indefinitely?). God rest her pretty soul. Not sure what will become of her now.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2011/05/out-with-old-in-with-new.html">Loss #4 & 5</a>) Dropped the flip camera in the toilet and my cellphone in the tub. Flip camera was somehow recovered, but the phone is forever on silent. It's not like anyone calls me anyways, so I don't mind too much. Thanks to Facebook and a friendly tip, putting the phone in a bowl of rice over night worked as the rice absorbed any </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">residual</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"> water. I was able to save my pics and vids which was my biggest worry.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessed.html">Loss #6, 7, 8, 9...</a> ) my sanity, sleep, weight (I don't mind this one), milk supply (I'm working on it), and I could probably continue. Whining? Yes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;">SO WHAT? My desire is to write about God's amazing grace and provision! We're all well aware of our human selfishness and lacking. I'm going to break it up into a few posts because I want to tell the detail. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Randomness is not random to God. God is not the least taxed by keeping every subnuclear particle in it's place..." </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">- John Piper</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><i>The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:33</i></span></span></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-90168827302894923562011-01-11T18:59:00.007-06:002011-01-13T09:05:25.685-06:00so this is what it feels like...<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561044055354072178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrlxUmViGhr90A_uslOwi-SI6-PC0kSUbSBy1gTos3dz-0KzBBHH17YzzfC45SOpXAVSW9b6wiR9f12TrvgR_nHVFLYpZCYFZL_ZC6N8uVrx-SUTR9iNWLjPc0nxuFTe_jufV5ZfyJEk5/s400/Will%2527s+head.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 199px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;">this may not be the road I would choose for me</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but it still feels right somehow</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cause I have never felt you as close to me as I do right now</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So this is what if feels like to be led..."</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqGSKcyvbc" target="_blank">(click to hear)</a></i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px;">Wow. 2010, where did you go? As I sit in the midst of January 2011, I wonder, how much faster could this year have flown by? Then I try to slow things down a bit and I am in awe of what the Lord has done throughout this year. I recognize that there were in fact months that dredged on, and seemed to last forever. God pulled us out of them in ways that I could never have thought up on my own, and that just plain knocked my socks off. He fulfilled dreams that had been long forgotten, and helped to bring closure to linger</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">ing demons from the past. Oh, and the blessings, WOW was this year full of blessings!!! I really don't even know where to begin to try and recapture the wonder that 2010 turned out to be. (though I'm gonna!)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px;">January. Well, if I'm gonna do this right, let's start at the beginning. January was a good but hard month. Keith and I had been talking (for months!) about when we thought would be the best to try for second child. We compromised and decided that we would give January a try, and see if that was something the Lord had in His plan for us. Extremely blessed, a little baby started growing in my belly! Though there were other things in this month that were haunting me, and bad habits I was creating for myself that would linger throughout the year, the excitement of what to come was overwhelming. In the meantime, Jack grew from eating ba</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 14px;">by food (the worst thing I remember </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">while dealing with my first trimester nausea)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">, to being a full on toddler. Talking, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">walking, singing, dancing... In March we celebrated my baby's first birthday, and also Keith's grandmother's 80th! Then, out of the blue, Keith got laid off. Keith's worst nightmare just flat out happened, and yet God </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">provided a start date for a new job the day after his last day. In that moment we knew that any fears we may </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">have would be overcome by God's provision.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561040265120333730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g2-RixmdPB-gCGZKbODhLsuDGSGqUkpzrVGWSxZQaijVlF2HA7FkRa3jH7BFoJoeT3zTiV0ILxgtmBORbh34LoQ8gbbDCNHmTJ88PCoSq_HfAKfaK_5xQNSu5MZSxIsErYcQUsw5ac3O/s400/082.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">In April, our beloved <a href="http://www.communitybiblestudy.org/">CBS</a> came to an end. We had made some amazing friends, and I never knew then what an impact this event would have on our lives. I was sad also that I wouldn't be leading worship anymore each Monday night. I miss this dearly and hope to find another opportunity soon!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">We celebrated 2 years of marriage at the end of May! If you had asked me a few years ago if I had thought I'd be married with two children in under 3 years I would have laughed. We also bid farewell to my brother and his wife as they set off on a new journey to the great state of Idaho. We still miss them TONS!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561040272056218754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4TVfyLYXJIZXQNFqXU98Am-0-E-n2v9vkXRF5dP4E2Xyu1qpnqLUCZ5FtpDCZHXiWG_h6kv_skpd_ghyphenhyphenFlGK0Ti3xLfw49dVQavtZN0osI1ihW-HxTeqLqqmgUObEZDNtYapOEyreR-S/s400/FINAL+GROUP+SHOT.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">June came along, and it was time to prove that we were having ourselves a little girl! Then the ultrasound announced BOY! And exhaling was difficult for a second. Another boy? What if we never have a little girl? God was gracious yet again, and exposed us to our need to "control" our lives. We surrendered to His will, and in reverence</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> chose Will Patrick as the name for our little miracle. Right around this time, Keith got laid off, again, with nothing in the lineup (and immediate cease of all heath insurance). Our challenge was to TRUST this will that we so desired to direct us.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">We took a spontaneous trip to Florida at the beginning of July. We felt called to reserve a time of rest, allowing the Lord to work in our lives. We spent an amazing time visiting my grandfather and introduced Jack to his great grandfather and the ocean. In this time of rest, God provided us peace that passes all understanding. We came home with no </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">plans, just faith and hope in our Father's provision yet again.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561041496663863378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNPcojcB-MVijMhpla4ZLkED-kqQ1A5FkuiCt_fbuLIBdZKh4UdSUncByghyphenhyphenux6ZWawVRC0SZxtZSPO-IG3fR-Hr8vJIhTDU05QYBYM2TuXLOSDbUcBc_QgTqjZ8P0Ym8ez6FdzdBEzJT/s400/378.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">Throughout the first half of the year I had some emotional struggles, and felt myself living some unhealthy habits for me, my family and my marriage. God continued to provide support through friends (primarily that I made through CBS and church), and the courage to ask for it.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">In August, Keith went to catch up with a dear friend and leader of our CBS Core group. Their conversation over coffee ended up turning into a job opportunity, that turned into a complete life changing event. God provided us financial peace, immediate health insurance, and an opening for Keith to fulfill some of the need he had been missing in his life (along with the joy of doing something NEW!). It was an amazing month! Then Will decided he wanted to get some attention, and since we now had insurance he thought it would be perfect timing!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561041840903223074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc4v9diz7FB3iF7iAssGT7cYE86iBffn06FoDQ24YRaSXS9-aOuDHsbib8eSPCyCiKuBkzIVhShjfx1HDh3Zp9EwtU-fyNfUCD8tx1ob-GBL0YiQnL7mAimGb-5YcPiXrBtspQQ8i4Nx_/s400/family2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 198px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">September was filled with hospital visits, family visits, and a whole lot </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">of sitting around. Thank God for amazing doctors, an amazing hospital, and friends (again from CBS) that were able to make recommendations, educate, and answer any questions I could possible have. See </span><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2010/08/well-well-well.html" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">, </span><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-week.html" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">, </span><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-news.html" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">, </span><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-news.html" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">, and </span><a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2010/09/quick-post.html" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">... And if that wasn't enough, when we finally realized that Will was gonna sit tight for a while and planned a date for Will's cesarean birth, he decided to come on his own, 2 days early, in an amazing VBAC delivery.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561044431142920786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL_wt5gvvlN8f2VGrMQTM55JMS7fPRxf2Uwpop2lEEBT5IDPlY2llEQFHehVN8qIpxxg3JL8wgDxKzADxWnqn5lrl2UI2HbvsXWrJzXvEPpOAuSJm2lN1nE6m6nD8l2QXQ081kW95tBJ4/s400/Will+4+weeksbw.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 254px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">October was a thrilling month! Birth story still to come... (until then, enjoy this short </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llpiummjWMs" style="line-height: 14px;" target="_blank">video</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">) Yes, again, God's will superseded our own. When will we learn? We also took a trip with our new little guy to celebrate my dad's birthday in Atlanta. I got to intro</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 14px;">duce my new son to my grandparents. What a wonderful visit.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561048226152002786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz5y3Ce1rIAEnfcx_KvQgNmU3388VhTvZXwAPFbhTRBLLnvDfiDubduk2s7Qk_HC2gVMn9UZDr1fu_jhsI2sGNjarn7NwmE-N0lG8b1Ka8drs0WZxXzC5_jRROkhFUOMYJ3FqgR9agU2B/s400/generations.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 287px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 14px;">November led us to celebrate my husbands 35th birthday! We went on one of our only dates since Jack (which will NOT be the case in 2011, we're making sure of that!) to see the band NEEDTOBREATHE. What a wonderful time out with my husband, and rest from the craziness of everything this year had been.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561041528457054706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-jE9tNRQZDzZ1wr9EO478xskiUNuMuTg3vVWR8UMXFFrCYB3VE5ZSWyzG_6qsuEiNo-axLQUOulaBr-yYhx2ugGW9loltvdT4fl86kn12TYYjekGYX8SpEJGpKppTGfk_MF80zJIGN-e/s400/The+Brawners+2010.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 370px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">And what a wonderful December. This year we chose to donate in honor of our families to our local <a href="http://c-dh.net/articles/2010/12/07/affiliate/advertisernews/news/05help.txt" target="
_blank">Giving Tree</a> program. If you click that link, you can read about God's work in action as our church was able to provide a shed to our local police department to store all the gifts for our local children. We always do a grab bag gift exchange with my dad, stepmom, and siblings. Keith and I were honored by my brother and sister-in-law who have selected to sponsor a Filipino child/family in our name. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The child is provided education,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> a uniform and supplies for school. A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">lso, the program they chose </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">urges the families to attend</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> a church program regularly which allows the family to learn </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">about the Gospel together and find spiritual fellowship and support. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">This was a great gift to us as we have a growing family of our own. I pulled my dad's name. I found it fitting, since he introduced us to CBS in 2008, to donate to their international ministry program.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561041491422621090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWBzgT15qaSMPcfaaj54HliNocMOhPUKemlTcTj3juhynAEJeNdQBhWUlvEuYcb6OjvKfvfEpkNNmCrks5awXTzU2nMLyZPVpkdGUT0S1k51ImoANr79fA28GOupd28DmjIbBuVBotkCu/s400/donation.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 324px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> CBS has been an amazing gift to our family; financially, physically, spiritually, emotionally... the list goes on. They didn't run a CBS study this fall, but we hope to get involved again in the coming years. What an amazing organization, and praise God for placing just the right people in it amongst us. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The holiday was great, we spoiled our kids, visited with family, and ate entirely too much! (and we can't forget THE GARTH BROOKS CONCERT!!!)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561041539311959522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWLnS9om6YxBjj0VkNRg87_tQVO7CWhoMLQ8t4HwmHjamD-QIFnMF_jSJ4PEdiqum7-4kt4AEpkP8iibHdvG0YbV7i04o8_jaYfk4kyceLlKMwtDgQykYUOzkN8Th7QU6Rz6eK2ZtWuaY/s400/garthconcert.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">2011 is going to be an amazing year. We are on the upswing emotionally, financially, spiritually... We have some great biblical studies that we have started, we are deep in educating ourselves on self awareness, and have also taken some steps to deepen our marriage. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">I've decided that instead of naming a resolution, I'll wait till Dec 31, 2011 and just reflect in hindsight on a year that was led by the will of God. It worked for 2010.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFqGSKcyvbc&feature=related" target="_blank">"So this is what it feels like to be led..."</a></span></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-72095080306856532732010-11-03T14:33:00.007-05:002010-11-14T07:08:01.898-06:00Will Patrick Brawner - ONE MONTH OLD!<div>Will Patrick Brawner</div><div>born October 3rd, 2010 at 4:54am</div><div>7lbs 14oz, 20 inches long</div><div><br /></div><div>Will is one month old TODAY! I can't believe how fast it has flown by. Life with two under two is BUSY! But I LOVE every second. Enjoy this video of Will's birthday. Birth story to come...</div><br /><br /><object width="400" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/llpiummjWMs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/llpiummjWMs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-86586985559868296142010-09-30T13:31:00.004-05:002010-10-01T09:36:41.775-05:00Sneak PeekOkay, well this may not be the "filled with pictures" post you were expecting, but I have something awesome to share!<div><br /></div><div>We had an ultrasound today to get one last check on Will's size. The past month or so he has seemed to have been measuring bigger, but last week the doctor was concerned he may be smaller than she had thought. I kinda thought it was silly at first. Who cares if he is big or small, he's coming in 5 days no matter what! But we went ahead with the appointment to check him out (plus, it's always fun to see your lil guy in there moving around!) Well, she did the ultrasound and everything looks great. He is measuring about 7lb 2oz (give or take a pound), but is about a week or so behind in size. That doesn't mean too much though, as he is really healthy. They said the highest score rating you could get is an 8, and Will scored an 8!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the third ultrasound we have had. The first was the "gender" ultrasound at 21 weeks, and then I had a precautionary one when I did that stint in the hospital about a month ago. Keith missed that ultrasound as we had no idea what time I was going to have it, and he wasn't able to make it to the hospital in time to go with me. He really didn't want to miss the opportunity this time around, so he took the morning off and brought Jack along as well. Jack got to hear Will's heartbeat and also got to watch, but he was more concerned about all the goop on my belly and what the tech was doing than really paying attention to the black and white blurs on the screen. We could see Will's little profile and head shot, and tried to explain it to Jack, but it is sometimes hard for adults to see, let alone 1 year olds.</div><div><br /></div><div>Right as we were finishing up, the tech said "I would do a 3D image for you, but this little guy's arm is right in front of his face." I poked my belly a little bit, and Will seemed to move slightly. Then she went from a different angle and said "Well, I'm going to try it anyway and see what we come up with." Sure enough, she was able to get a glimpse at Will's little face! He moved his arm<i>just enough</i> so that we could make out his eyes, nose, and lips. Wow, what an AWESOME thing to see! It finally, for the first time in 9 months, felt REAL! I looked over at Jack, and his smile was a mile wide. It was amazing to see him light up as he got to see his little brother for the first time. What a special moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here is the sneak peek of what is to come in only 5 MORE DAYS!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_J7RZS-tUTT6WNvyJDxMmppGx-hUHC-Kq7gep-oyix14S0BqIjzIhpAPK4CjoB-sr9qlteVKhOr-bVbmTq-jeD7UwEFu80DK9MsJJvjvzC89BMVgzq3dRwVRF2hoXpLFthf7igkFiNavR/s1600/Will+Patrick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_J7RZS-tUTT6WNvyJDxMmppGx-hUHC-Kq7gep-oyix14S0BqIjzIhpAPK4CjoB-sr9qlteVKhOr-bVbmTq-jeD7UwEFu80DK9MsJJvjvzC89BMVgzq3dRwVRF2hoXpLFthf7igkFiNavR/s400/Will+Patrick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523086409491082034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div style="text-align: center; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(he looks a little like his brother, what do you think?)</span></div></i></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-27653051700414457562010-09-29T12:47:00.000-05:002010-09-29T12:49:30.529-05:00Quick PostI made it to 38+ weeks! We have scheduled a date for a repeat c-section. If Will doesn't come on his own, and my body doesn't progress into any labor, then October 5, 2010 we will help things along a bit and welcome Will Patrick into the world! This is only 6 days away, and we're THRILLED! Hopefully my next post will be filled with pictures of our little guy!Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-50232132653091468082010-09-20T09:33:00.012-05:002010-09-20T13:43:01.607-05:00still waiting!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_JiG5aT7VSDJB_2sldjtF_-r_MBs9UQOZB6iEx7yGOgaIsBit-qXjk1P9hr3X2S1hakBvyU3cmaf4IUB1iLbmMfKGfAVVAP_zgSxsy_xtkZalAiBHwMESPjuJUZyPwv_bVvZ0wK3Vd4s/s1600/field.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_JiG5aT7VSDJB_2sldjtF_-r_MBs9UQOZB6iEx7yGOgaIsBit-qXjk1P9hr3X2S1hakBvyU3cmaf4IUB1iLbmMfKGfAVVAP_zgSxsy_xtkZalAiBHwMESPjuJUZyPwv_bVvZ0wK3Vd4s/s400/field.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519004766062909426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left; ">So we're still waiting on Will. Looks like he may go full term after all! The tease last weekend didn't help, but I go in Wednesday to schedule his "birthday" and it looks like it will be in less than two weeks; that ain't too bad.</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">We were able to get a few pictures taken, which was awesome. I think it's fun for the kids to see what I looked like when they were still in my belly! <a href="http://www.jenniepyfferoen.com/" target="_blank">Jennie Pyfferoen</a> did our pictures, and she did a great job.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgG4JhBEQj2aeGHSnlZjjFBnQnZi72LQ2Nby4z4yPnRr-2NKnbsot4eNgPXhUR4BDkfRsRNu1UYBu0DQcB77zQbHjzYWDwpdE6wXiNIUD0VjYabNVLA29NIPI7IGfCiNxYA8cfEtfMpcL/s1600/frame3.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgG4JhBEQj2aeGHSnlZjjFBnQnZi72LQ2Nby4z4yPnRr-2NKnbsot4eNgPXhUR4BDkfRsRNu1UYBu0DQcB77zQbHjzYWDwpdE6wXiNIUD0VjYabNVLA29NIPI7IGfCiNxYA8cfEtfMpcL/s1600/frame3.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgG4JhBEQj2aeGHSnlZjjFBnQnZi72LQ2Nby4z4yPnRr-2NKnbsot4eNgPXhUR4BDkfRsRNu1UYBu0DQcB77zQbHjzYWDwpdE6wXiNIUD0VjYabNVLA29NIPI7IGfCiNxYA8cfEtfMpcL/s1600/frame3.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTxxJmTquVlJtrbCNkkS3r5U4cOddNI4UPZuWb5QUgwzaMIquQ5CdnMWx0_1KH2vICD2lRHMTtTxpZ_VyyKlcYk6vpWOYuiXHL8JEud2kc2cBrTRc4jFWEqX4Db3GlSfGSCm034mvjqmk/s400/greenwill.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519061965271049842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_JiG5aT7VSDJB_2sldjtF_-r_MBs9UQOZB6iEx7yGOgaIsBit-qXjk1P9hr3X2S1hakBvyU3cmaf4IUB1iLbmMfKGfAVVAP_zgSxsy_xtkZalAiBHwMESPjuJUZyPwv_bVvZ0wK3Vd4s/s1600/field.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOsOHgNGUeTGGYeG2QmJUfmDF2pYkeQjydy0FdeDLDk1TOtZ6tSQ8JuleQVUtHG6cfS6L3d6nthLOL7_B1T12lsA7D9vysbg4ZDNfB8by3wWSdr9sa-tybM26YMroa3z6y5cObTfTteDv/s1600/frame3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOsOHgNGUeTGGYeG2QmJUfmDF2pYkeQjydy0FdeDLDk1TOtZ6tSQ8JuleQVUtHG6cfS6L3d6nthLOL7_B1T12lsA7D9vysbg4ZDNfB8by3wWSdr9sa-tybM26YMroa3z6y5cObTfTteDv/s400/frame3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519063797089316290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5zBi81MQms3F-q0AqsTOvXVLqRSNAjTm4CvbVO9Iq-PKA1ahHshsZ4SdIWYgMePBKbtz2pIsfZH5plV9C17UkIUbFjsMcQjM_vcjB_3SN8K6aXo8Ge7bxnR6jjUDlLkB5DpuCr8_wFZt/s1600/36+weeks2.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0M0a5XWevON_xwE-dud8OkSVog_YcFF0eCF2t_Xth3P4M4G4aiIz06-cUKhKwhUyissCJZYxiIC__kbg6xvptK04BgFoy2XVkJZ4epcEyMDvaVGhQE8_W0AKDN7A9cVvwZyoYryPwZI_/s1600/36+weeks2.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QDg221B7gocKoc_N1qeuWBFdGI80Y3wIGYwWPCtdB-c_TOR5fBv9z1mnYCW0ZjM0T1iKXB5Z_-5KNueIgDBI_yvQjuKu97y-azJ3LKxMMSwBYjdslKfbGT-8Ehwj7PD0VybYSTXYp6Qd/s1600/36+weeks2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QDg221B7gocKoc_N1qeuWBFdGI80Y3wIGYwWPCtdB-c_TOR5fBv9z1mnYCW0ZjM0T1iKXB5Z_-5KNueIgDBI_yvQjuKu97y-azJ3LKxMMSwBYjdslKfbGT-8Ehwj7PD0VybYSTXYp6Qd/s400/36+weeks2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519068038723486226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtTdr-lW5KPtWaPutccOBWkM5DbIewVlgnjKuOc88BfjJJApgf-iMIrajuDcyILp37JflXrKrsoHKgGYWZLlLfKthUt9RD80sctI0jRLKGW1bg1ucvqRNra7IxlN2OXV2b7JzRb6NYvPi/s400/field.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519056664985487234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></span></div><div>We can't wait to have our little baby in the pictures with us! Next up, Mandy and Dylan are coming to visit and help out this week. With Keith at work during the week, and me still needing to rest most of the time, this will be an awesome help. We're so lucky to have family willing to travel and help us! Jack is also super excited to spend some time with his cousin. Should be a fun week ahead!</div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-70985882574644539212010-09-08T11:30:00.003-05:002010-09-08T11:32:08.060-05:00More News!So at today's doctor's appointment I was confirmed that by Sunday, Will is considered full term and it's time to leave it up to him (and my body) to decide when he is coming. I have been told to stop taking my meds on Sunday/Monday and then to go in once contractions start up. Wow, I could technically have this little boy THIS WEEKEND!! So exciting!Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-58755872700612393962010-09-05T09:02:00.003-05:002010-09-06T15:49:16.133-05:00What a week!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9Scaj4-l4OtLvBIYugXIgI9gmflpApb8-wPQIRP3ctqAOAGDFD8mpVGkTIKjbUNSgfwlmiIEIwmbMUMoU36Zk8EQuao-85vZAaEbJh2UQ6PQE0sLSYpnojNkSH27FiVF6W1MqVExJeB0/s1600/35+weeks3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9Scaj4-l4OtLvBIYugXIgI9gmflpApb8-wPQIRP3ctqAOAGDFD8mpVGkTIKjbUNSgfwlmiIEIwmbMUMoU36Zk8EQuao-85vZAaEbJh2UQ6PQE0sLSYpnojNkSH27FiVF6W1MqVExJeB0/s320/35+weeks3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513905281811644754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; "><i>Sorry for the quality, Terbutaline makes me shake. And pray I make it till Thursday so I can get my hair done! (35 weeks)</i></span></div><div><br />Well, what a week! More excitement and adventure going on at the Brawner household. After last weekend's stint in the hospital, being sent home on an eventually modified bed rest, I prepared to sit around until at least October or whenever we decided to schedule our c-section. The reason for the scheduled c-section is because of my lack of progression during labor with Jack (considering his size and also the induction medications) and the probability of that happening again. Even with the strong contractions I was having last weekend, my cervix was showing NO SIGNS of any change. The good news was that everyone is healthy, bleeding had stopped, and bed rest was only precautionary and to prevent any further bleeding or strain. I was released to drive to future doctor's appointments, and even told that I may be taken off bed rest in a week or so, depending, as there was really no sign of risk.<div><br /></div><div>My father and stepmother got into town late Thursday night to spoil me for a weekend and help watch Jack. What a BLESSING that turned out to be as the turn of events on Friday took Keith and I BACK to the hospital! I woke up Friday morning only to see more bleeding, and enough that it shook me up quite a bit. I hadn't done anything! No lifting, no straining... I had driven to a doctor's appointment the day before, but it was more sitting around than walking. I couldn't figure out what could be wrong, and assumed the worst. (though I felt normal) I had noticed that the night before the contractions had been stronger than usual (since I had been taking a procardia every 6 hours), but nothing else out of the ordinary. When we got into the hospital, the nurse told us that there was really no other tests that could be done. I had already passed all the tests, and the placenta looked great, cervix had showed unchanged, and I wasn't a risk for preterm labor. Plus, at this point, I was almost 35 weeks (which can be considered full term over 37 weeks in some cases). I had already had the precautionary steroid, and there was really not a whole lot they could do. She hooked me up to the monitors to make sure the baby looked ok (which he has never looked anything but) and she decided to check my cervix just to see... Well, it turns out that I was 1-2cm and 90% effaced! That's farther than I ever got with Jack! So it turned out that the bleeding was natural cervical change, the contractions were true, and that Will was just on his way EARLY! </div><div><br /></div><div>Because I'm as far along as I am, they didn't pull out any of the "big guns" to stop the contractions. They gave me a few more doses of Terbutaline and a prescription of it to take home. My next orders were to sit and wait. Since no medication can stop TRUE labor, when the contractions come back, just like in any situation, we are gonna have a baby! WHAT EXCITING NEWS!! This could be ANY time, ANY day! </div><div><br /></div><div>So that puts me to where I am now. It's Sunday afternoon, I'm still technically on bed rest. We'd like to keep Will cooking as long as possible, but I'm sitting and waiting, and counting any contractions I may feel. I still have some here and there, but nothing substantial. 6 is the magic number; if I have 6 in an hour, then we go in. This has made it so much more exciting because there is no "planned" date and time. We truly get to wait until Will (ultimately God) is ready. We still get the element of surprise. Also, if I continue to progress, there could always be a chance that when the contractions come back I will have dilated enough to proceed with a VBAC. That would be a totally unexpected and exciting experience! </div><div><br /></div><div>Yet again, my socks have been knocked off at what God's will is revealing throughout this whole pregnancy. So excited for the next chapter to unfold!</div></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-1727531026271703592010-08-30T15:43:00.005-05:002010-09-07T22:01:06.131-05:00Well, well, well...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's been FOREVER since I posted. And I didn't expect to be posting the first half of a birth story! (hopefully a REALLY EARLY first half!) </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What a crazy weekend, but again, how amazing is God's provision in everything?! Praise the Lord we have health insurance, amazing doctors, serving family and friends, and, as of right now, HEALTH!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(*okay, any guys reading this, I'll try not to be too "detailed"... but read at your own risk*)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Friday morning I noticed some spotting and some strong contractions. I didn't think too much of it, and tried to ignore it, but it continued through Sunday morning. I called the "on call" doctor to see if I should be concerned. He suggested that I come in and get checked because Will is not full term until at least 37 weeks. It is a bit early and they wanted to make sure everything was ok. This is what I've noticed about this hospital and these doctors. They are SO thorough, and I really feel like I'm in GREAT hands! They take precaution and really make sure that it's in baby's best interest. The attention to detail and desire to educate has been awesome.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So after church on Sunday we came up to Baptist hospital. I'll spare the whining about how I hadn't eaten since 9:30am and wouldn't get to eat again for over 24 hours, because that was my own fault! They checked my cervix, and there was no sign of any dilation or change. This was GOOD news. They took some samples to make sure that the blood they were seeing had nothing to do with the fetus or any preterm labor. I passed all of the tests with flying colors. Then I met with the on call doctor who I had talked to on the phone. He told me that because the bleeding wasn't from my cervix or the baby, there was a possibility that it was placenta related. They asked me to stay overnight for some monitoring and gave me two shots of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Terbutaline to slow/stop the contractions. Keith took Jack home and came back later with my laptop. Lifesaver!! Though Jack was having fun in the "stage like" window sill, there wasn't too much for him to do in the hospital room. It was a good run through for when Will gets here! Now we know to pack Toy Story to bring along. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last night around 3am some contractions started up again, so they gave me a third shot of Terbutaline. (I won't be getting anymore shots, they have prescribed an oral pill if any contractions continue) This is a drug given in pill or shot form to relax things in the body; most commonly for people with asthma and breathing problems to relax their lungs in an attack. It just so happens to relax the uterus too, so it helped stop/slow my contractions. (this is important, because having a prior incision in my uterus, continuous contractions aren't a good thing...) Then this morning I met with </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">my</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Doctor. The good news is that I'm not bleeding anymore, and barely contracting, and all my tests have been GREAT! So REST has been successful! The bad news, is that REST has been successful... Especially for a mom of a 17 month old. My doctor recommended me staying on bed rest to make sure that the bleeding doesn't come back. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Most of what I was told today was precautionary, and "worst case scenario" because it is really up in the air what can happen next. Bed rest means getting out of bed to use the bathroom, and possibly a quick shower once a day. That's IT! There are a few things still up in the air. First, how long I will be on bed rest? This can be anywhere from 2-4 weeks. I'm 4 weeks from Will being full term. Second, WHERE will I be on bed rest. It's still up in the air if they want me at the hospital for safety, or if they are okay to release me to rest at home. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was scheduled for an ultrasound this morning to check on Will and my placenta and cervix. Also, I met with a "high risk" doctor. This again is precautionary because my doctor thought it would be a good thing to meet the "high risk" doctor ahead of time so that I would know him in case for any reason we need to use his team. Plus she wanted me to talk with him and see what he thought about everything going on. I'll tell you, it all sounded scary at first, but as the day has gone on I'm realizing that I'm passing EVERY test and EVERYTHING is really looking GOOD! So this is just precautionary, and that makes me feel like I'm really in good hands!!<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The ultrasound went PERFECT! Will is doing amazing, my cervix is FAR from any kind of labor, and the placenta looks great. I got a few little pictures of Will too which was great, considering he wouldn't move enough at our 20 week ultrasound and we never got a good profile view. He is measuring over 5 pounds (which can be give or take 14 ounces, but 5lbs is a safe birth weight), his bones are nice and dense, heart is pumping beautifully, and he looks happy. The "high risk" doctor was very optimistic. He asked me a lot of questions about my family history, my personal medical history, and told me he doesn't see any reason for this to be a high risk pregnancy or delivery. But that doesn't mean I'm off the hook. Anything can happen at any time. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Another precautionary measure was taken to make sure that if an emergency happens Will is ready for the outside world. They are all very happy that I'm so far along... This means he has wonderful chances of being born healthy. But one thing they want to make sure, is that his lungs are fully developed. The high risk doctor said, that say I were to go home tomorrow, everything is fine, and in 2 weeks I start bleeding again. Because at that point I'm so close to full term, it may be easier to deliver Will than to wait for something bad to happen. Him and my doctor both recommended a steroid called betamethasone</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. This will give Will an extra boost in lung development, should early delivery occur. All in all, I was really impressed with the high risk doctor. He seemed VERY optimistic, and again, everything so far is looking normal and great!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We're still at a waiting game. I'm sure my doctor needs to review what the high risk doctor has said, along with the ultrasound results. The steroid comes in 2 doses that are 24 hours apart. I had one around 10am and will have another tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, that means I'm stuck here till at least 10 tomorrow. We just have to see what the next steps are, and how comfortable they feel with me leaving. As of right now, Jack is at a friend's house living it up with his buddy Phoenix. Next step is to see what we can arrange for him as far as being watched over the next few weeks. But we can only do one thing at a time and waiting is the first step. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'll continue to keep you all updated on everything. I feel great and Will is also doing great, and that's most important! Thanks for all of the support! This hospital has pretty good food too, and I've been released to eat! Plus, I get cable and free wifi. Life is good.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">**UPDATE**</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#FF0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I've been taken off my monitors because everything has looked great. The nurse said the doctor was hinting at me going home in the morning after the steroid shot. This is great news. I can't wait to be home again, I miss my family! Thank you for the prayers, I'm so glad my stay here was a positive one (and my tests came back negative) and that it was SHORT! Home to my own bed!</span></span></span></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-60391877621790539562010-06-25T12:58:00.004-05:002010-06-25T13:45:52.359-05:00QuickfireYea, I'm back on a Top Chef kick... ALWAYS loved the show, but this time around I know someone competing! So, this is my show for the summer. I mean, what else is there to watch! (especially if you're like me and don't have cable.) SYTYCD is my guilty pleasure, but I only like to watch the dancing, I don't really care who wins.<div><br /></div><div>So anyways, back to US! I mean, I guess that's what you guys want to hear about. And now that I write that out, and look at the title of my blog, I'm feeling a little self-absorbed. Who am I to think that everyone wants to hear about "my wonderful life"? I guess maybe that's why I haven't written anything in a while. Not that everything isn't wonderful, but I just don't feel like anything has been that SPECTACULAR to blog about. But I'll fill you in, none the less.</div><div><br /></div><div>First and foremost, WE ARE HAVING A BOY! Another boy! :D Most of the people reading this probably already knew, but I felt the need to say it. Will Patrick Brawner is his name, and it shouldn't be a surprise, but I'm ready for him to BE HERE! You'd think I'd love that I have 3 more months to plan and get ready, but waiting has never been a strength of mine. I'd rather him just get here, and then I can figure it all out. We are TOOOOOO excited to be having another awesome boy (they are so fun!) and Jack is going to be an awesome big brother. He already loves kissing mommy's belly because "babeeee lllllaa" is in there. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jack has become very VOCAL as of late. Not that he wasn't before, but he can kinda say words now and is adamant that we hear, listen, and DO what he is asking. Part of this is really fun, finally able to communicate and find out what makes the little guy tick, but the other part can be exhausting. He always has something to say/sing, and is rarely quiet. (not that he's not adorable) He has taken a huge liking to a few different things, and wants to do them ALL THE TIME. If he had 10 hands, he would do them all at once. </div><div><br /></div><div>He LOVES "Wooodee", "Ba" and "layloolayloo" (Woody, Buzz, and Jessie the yodeling cowgirl, yodelehee-yodelehee) He loves to point them out wherever he sees them, and scream their names. Sometimes I don't know HOW he spots them, but he does. He does this with "melmo" too (Elmo), but often in his excitement says "mama" instead. This get some interesting looks at the store when a child is screaming "MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMAAAAA" and pointing at the ceiling. It's the Elmo balloons that are up in every store, everywhere, that really gets him. </div><div><br /></div><div>He is fascinated with Thomas the train. His cousin Cody handed down his massive Thomas collection over Father's Day weekend, and Jack hasn't stopped playing with them yet. He knows a few of the trains by name, and carries them everywhere. Last night he actually took each train (he has probably 20+) and set them up one at a time, in line, on his shelf. He even made sure to carefully place them on their wheels, right side up. Towards the end he started running out of room and started stacking them, but none the less, he LOVES his "choo choo"s. </div><div><br /></div><div>He's become quiet interested in coloring as well. He wants to do this ALL THE TIME. I mean, maybe it isn't the coloring. He really just likes to hold the crayon and make one line on each page. Either on the characters nose, or whatever is in the picture that he can recognize and call out. He has a Sesame Street coloring book full of Elmo, balls, fish, birds, all the things that he loves. He won't let the page stay open long enough for mom to color anything, so I just let him flip through it a million times, front to back, to add a few dozen lines each day. One amazing thing about it, he holds the crayons correctly. He did this on his own, and won't hold it any other way. Mind you, he holds one in each hand, but the correct way. This makes for some very pretty lines.</div><div><br /></div><div>He also loves "shh" (fish). He loves to eat them, color them, visit them at the pet store. I'm really considering getting him a little goldfish for his room just because he loves them so much. I think he wishes he was one. He LOVES the water. It would probably be impossible to get him out of the water if he knew how to swim and didn't need us. His need for independence still dominates and after a while he will want to squirm away from us and get up on dry land where he can do his own moving around. In the baby pool, that's another story. There is no getting him out. There is also nothing keeping him from wanting to go under. He taunts and teases, and occasionally succumbs to currents in the baby pool, but never getting upset enough to stop. Can't wait to get him to the ocean and see how the little "shhh" likes the waves!</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and for the family that's interested, Jack had his 15 month checkup this week. He is 32 inches tall, 22lbs, and is "one of the healthiest babies" that our doctor knows. Still never been sick (besides the one time 105 fever that lasted a day), and still no ear infections (even with his fish-like instincts). Our lil boy is growing up!!</div><div><br /></div><div>So what else? Well, for me, not too much is new. I take my GD test next Wed. I'm PRAYING to pass. Even if I do pass, I have to take it again 2 weeks later "just in case". I'm a little worried I won't pass, because I've been craving sugar lately. I'm hoping this isn't the case though, because taking my blood levels 4 times a day was one of the most unenjoyable things I've ever had to do. Plus, I gave away my blood level tester thingy, and those strips are EXPENSIVE! My sciatica has also been acting up, but luckily I have a chiropractor this time around to stretch me out and help with the pain. I still love being pregnant, and am having no big issues. I have the ability to take naps in the afternoon this time around, and don't have to wear heels. Life is good. </div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-2841443750469955892010-05-22T12:39:00.007-05:002010-05-22T13:12:11.190-05:00Pics n'at<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB6IE9CvkfZzaaYWMPRpA5f3jyFLEPV-vvI0CMwGHNYUXRhVkQsbrJtkS1QZxO3MVT6vOCouc8Q5gUUGIz43ZSJNOqpr3BY-M2VtfVaTyoD5qEssT7Y9EwsrYVB4Dkj3VOdGbUu2xxCR6/s1600/kissin+cousins.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474157452781077442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB6IE9CvkfZzaaYWMPRpA5f3jyFLEPV-vvI0CMwGHNYUXRhVkQsbrJtkS1QZxO3MVT6vOCouc8Q5gUUGIz43ZSJNOqpr3BY-M2VtfVaTyoD5qEssT7Y9EwsrYVB4Dkj3VOdGbUu2xxCR6/s400/kissin+cousins.jpg" /></a> went to the cabin, had an AMAZING time</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzMcVncRPSlSbj0L1I1B2XwA70Zw7kn-ntYWzuTLwh41UKX_2CgjSBHkieF_cm4cjgyS7b11Wtp_1XCmKmgk9tcM86oI2NXN5rfnYG0tmJPGR0TTNJqU_EYL1fSzNb_WQz-gb4FmEWU-Y/s1600/story+time.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474157445460066690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzMcVncRPSlSbj0L1I1B2XwA70Zw7kn-ntYWzuTLwh41UKX_2CgjSBHkieF_cm4cjgyS7b11Wtp_1XCmKmgk9tcM86oI2NXN5rfnYG0tmJPGR0TTNJqU_EYL1fSzNb_WQz-gb4FmEWU-Y/s400/story+time.jpg" /></a> told lotsa stories<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8q2WnYS-ZRQ232QXpR0c1LhnspYpHdB4JHTgRFwYiQy3IjAjYpi2oFVrysqfhxkNjnfdjV3E2VRado-4NOFxRUs6rzqGFiAYZJXPTPNC68gFfIaQBP5YURPZKT8xgIhpeLiZWJr_O-vk/s1600/drummin+cousins.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474157436280178450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8q2WnYS-ZRQ232QXpR0c1LhnspYpHdB4JHTgRFwYiQy3IjAjYpi2oFVrysqfhxkNjnfdjV3E2VRado-4NOFxRUs6rzqGFiAYZJXPTPNC68gFfIaQBP5YURPZKT8xgIhpeLiZWJr_O-vk/s400/drummin+cousins.jpg" /></a> played a little music<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgTfc_bWC6IjD2HkHNHNIqh7ZanQou9_dkNQbBxtV29t335DCV81q-X7R1HNsWtzVLY5sjr9-xpwaHq_Rn8N5TDXXaZuu1gaKph66H7JIcdRMmQnGRDunlxXDcuFrbBBOYw3AkQsC-ifK/s1600/singin+in+the+rain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474157426742398930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgTfc_bWC6IjD2HkHNHNIqh7ZanQou9_dkNQbBxtV29t335DCV81q-X7R1HNsWtzVLY5sjr9-xpwaHq_Rn8N5TDXXaZuu1gaKph66H7JIcdRMmQnGRDunlxXDcuFrbBBOYw3AkQsC-ifK/s400/singin+in+the+rain.jpg" /></a>even danced in the rain.</div><div></div><div>Brother and sister, WE WILL MISS YOU!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lx-SIv-YseiipF-3zs6_jJ47W2BoQ73ralqvE-W0_6XhKgQZK8GRdnGDMxjAKq6beXhl2y6xpC0yQvL_pZohEm-dxP5GbNN7VscF8lhuOimOXtsaNt_rTtXM4ogdOEdqfsxREMkO0Wxr/s1600/truck+graveyard.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474157422823493922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lx-SIv-YseiipF-3zs6_jJ47W2BoQ73ralqvE-W0_6XhKgQZK8GRdnGDMxjAKq6beXhl2y6xpC0yQvL_pZohEm-dxP5GbNN7VscF8lhuOimOXtsaNt_rTtXM4ogdOEdqfsxREMkO0Wxr/s400/truck+graveyard.jpg" /></a>played in a truck graveyard<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhR0pA-2t7eqBQGzj4Qmfu56O2ttkdsjjBfB0zwJuY6ResxkDzEFxnY6XpmTv0a86MNBlTah3Z8rqlaGK5Ly4kV4l_xYkWmuQa-SQ2qlUujEHEFR4Au5tUsJgRmsd6FLg6AW-VhWfizev/s1600/trucks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474156730230472338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhR0pA-2t7eqBQGzj4Qmfu56O2ttkdsjjBfB0zwJuY6ResxkDzEFxnY6XpmTv0a86MNBlTah3Z8rqlaGK5Ly4kV4l_xYkWmuQa-SQ2qlUujEHEFR4Au5tUsJgRmsd6FLg6AW-VhWfizev/s400/trucks.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9-auquqqYO4474mKUvPzsUD3lxMvyx2QG3mG_1jmOadXykB8of5KNeLJ072J9Xh8MbYoHlc6HrSwuIR3DCI-z7KEty1L3rthfxSgL-IKhNGC3PGjW_9k8oGMGHtM1Q7alpjJR_vKegVO/s1600/yellowy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474156718806618034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9-auquqqYO4474mKUvPzsUD3lxMvyx2QG3mG_1jmOadXykB8of5KNeLJ072J9Xh8MbYoHlc6HrSwuIR3DCI-z7KEty1L3rthfxSgL-IKhNGC3PGjW_9k8oGMGHtM1Q7alpjJR_vKegVO/s400/yellowy.jpg" /></a>had fun in a tunnel<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKPQCE3MwBHHpyA1foh0ehAyP_-ck2waTASr77t2nI5kE1ehuvWEK3OU1azvSjJ_sgPvOKAaEwolBYJzvuwJj0t8dSgNc190JIuwTcbG9ZUWEEu7wnRuw8GqLHJ0rpC6N-uzj_Dv21B5O/s1600/lashes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474156710713581714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKPQCE3MwBHHpyA1foh0ehAyP_-ck2waTASr77t2nI5kE1ehuvWEK3OU1azvSjJ_sgPvOKAaEwolBYJzvuwJj0t8dSgNc190JIuwTcbG9ZUWEEu7wnRuw8GqLHJ0rpC6N-uzj_Dv21B5O/s400/lashes.jpg" /></a> enjoyed the sunshine<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfncICT6c0QenBh7IsneU99PaszGbX57nWlyOlQVUzZ7eAl3Nsj_-140DkA74vIhUg7Z8R69QlbBdLJzOj0b1UFAHMiWafr8Ik3zensOUJnP6C5RVYyAO0KLD5DS9fq6PRhFJeT2MGnmNR/s1600/sprinkled.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 394px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474156702807617778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfncICT6c0QenBh7IsneU99PaszGbX57nWlyOlQVUzZ7eAl3Nsj_-140DkA74vIhUg7Z8R69QlbBdLJzOj0b1UFAHMiWafr8Ik3zensOUJnP6C5RVYyAO0KLD5DS9fq6PRhFJeT2MGnmNR/s400/sprinkled.jpg" /></a> ran through the sprinkler</div><div> </div><div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm27lSicIUvhL55mIQF1za0cjxJVlmtZkSDGvjfiws-3WHiyg02hwhm25FOls8pluj_Vx-xFa5BnGuKCXwQ8XcR1ajmWAbHOPi43wtfCDiM8XqT_cXsy09Q_QEDOJpnOWim5kR1B4b9ewM/s1600/me+and+the+kiddos.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474156693738046242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm27lSicIUvhL55mIQF1za0cjxJVlmtZkSDGvjfiws-3WHiyg02hwhm25FOls8pluj_Vx-xFa5BnGuKCXwQ8XcR1ajmWAbHOPi43wtfCDiM8XqT_cXsy09Q_QEDOJpnOWim5kR1B4b9ewM/s400/me+and+the+kiddos.jpg" /></a>and thanked GOD for beautiful days, and beautiful babies </div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-35162346014253787202010-05-10T13:47:00.006-05:002010-05-10T14:39:26.792-05:00Mother's Day<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnjCs-xtOpvb9FgTEBGp5-4I2Uz48bg7jUsXLUipCJTtQ6gYdAfvC12jhKj9Ih4HDCpVqTPG103y4pAdmlIWrHRxdt9t0oaOuSZn6WZZrtuJONevb_0R2RkTh9wOsgjzw-UODgvX5ScuU/s1600/Mother's+Day+2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 352px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469716922391291426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnjCs-xtOpvb9FgTEBGp5-4I2Uz48bg7jUsXLUipCJTtQ6gYdAfvC12jhKj9Ih4HDCpVqTPG103y4pAdmlIWrHRxdt9t0oaOuSZn6WZZrtuJONevb_0R2RkTh9wOsgjzw-UODgvX5ScuU/s400/Mother's+Day+2010.jpg" /></a> Mother's Day 2010</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I had a fabulous Mother's day! It really keeps getting better, my life that is, every second. We went to a great service on Saturday night, and the best surprise was a gift <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrFm_hCjrEWyCIFCYTLocnw_TpyXE6v8KDOVkEW0PovFW4FIUddgUJTT7D1ZPWhLpZy66fE_yRyrNpZLL2ut36VLELBUN4Ct98kzxqkuhybi5GvSNcYHBe-sJtojA11vjiWgas9HD8QPz/s1600/mother's+day+gift.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469720330118119394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrFm_hCjrEWyCIFCYTLocnw_TpyXE6v8KDOVkEW0PovFW4FIUddgUJTT7D1ZPWhLpZy66fE_yRyrNpZLL2ut36VLELBUN4Ct98kzxqkuhybi5GvSNcYHBe-sJtojA11vjiWgas9HD8QPz/s320/mother's+day+gift.jpg" /></a>that Jack had made for me in his class. This was my very first handmade gift from my baby boy. I loved it!! He had more fun holding it and smelling the flowers. If you can tell, the stems are a cut out of his little hand. Soooo sweet. We went out after church for ice cream. It was awesome. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Sunday, Keith and I had a class up at church in the morning and afterwards we took a few pictures by the pond. What a fabulous day! The breeze was a little chilly, but the sun was so warm. We went out afterwards to Pie in the Sky, which is a pizza place. (my request) Jack got to try his first pickle, and I was hoping he'd hate it so that I could eat it. The taste was definitely a surprise to him. I asked him if he could say "pickle" and he has not stopped saying it yet! This cracks me up... Pickles are an old favorite of mine. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRPVRfjl_nzX_ZGCStrLFGb_G-RsNcn-E3Ieo4B7JmB26BoVaPEqtucp8IcXO45Yyp2v1WjWDymvxD_YpWMw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><p>After a trip home and a quick nap, we headed out to Lowe's. Keith and Jack wanted to get me a flowering plant for the yard! Jack had a blast smelling everything in the store. We ended up settling on 2 Strawberry Sunset Hibiscus plants. Since they are annuals, we decided to keep them in pots outside so we can bring them inside for the winter. I can't wait to see the blooms, and will definitely post a picture. </p><p>After that, I prepared the sides for dinner and Jack and Keith got in their swimsuits and tried to clean off the back fence from all of our neighborhood birds. It was awesome watching them out there working together. Then Keith grilled up some porkchops and we stuffed ourselves for dinner. We topped off the night with some popsicles on the back patio. What a wonderful day!</p>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-45485685343756607272010-05-10T13:28:00.004-05:002010-05-10T13:39:07.855-05:00Jack's First Popsicle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDy6rvVDq3DiWFrZSiyERJYrrDT6rSYHTS7Xi_Y8cHsET_kxnUG66CBAtHjgK5RgdpjqEOiXCGRGIOgTSkwx8cBigyeCLNa7LI-4DU95umJ0tHqLr-mg-4PmOPfqWzvheeEbqYBPHcjdp/s1600/juicy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469712136867800706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDy6rvVDq3DiWFrZSiyERJYrrDT6rSYHTS7Xi_Y8cHsET_kxnUG66CBAtHjgK5RgdpjqEOiXCGRGIOgTSkwx8cBigyeCLNa7LI-4DU95umJ0tHqLr-mg-4PmOPfqWzvheeEbqYBPHcjdp/s400/juicy.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc9dCw3xEqDSaAyyqCV92LzAN8x8P8A04V_ilwtcVKzHuL931SKU2IaseSVtUjbFzqpGHuFAkbNVjsWdpPugRdm9R3jK_VFIe1e9XS817oGbhif1veWoXxQE8ovyoC-G82KT5LKcKgrhT/s1600/want+some.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469712122520455090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc9dCw3xEqDSaAyyqCV92LzAN8x8P8A04V_ilwtcVKzHuL931SKU2IaseSVtUjbFzqpGHuFAkbNVjsWdpPugRdm9R3jK_VFIe1e9XS817oGbhif1veWoXxQE8ovyoC-G82KT5LKcKgrhT/s400/want+some.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIb0hh0eX5piugZxBne4hFncSWnhH_UJB3KLMTBtGNC1fadVvyVpeKMKzcLjsBYr4RffbSuECOIlIzaTFEtJMtmEr4xthvURJoAoJDFP_K_Qug4GftpkCZcltPaYOaEgv5tMq1PGSlRa9/s1600/SOOO+GOOD.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469712114118561090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIb0hh0eX5piugZxBne4hFncSWnhH_UJB3KLMTBtGNC1fadVvyVpeKMKzcLjsBYr4RffbSuECOIlIzaTFEtJMtmEr4xthvURJoAoJDFP_K_Qug4GftpkCZcltPaYOaEgv5tMq1PGSlRa9/s400/SOOO+GOOD.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGJ6j4e8qQeGc-jBhCwUh6yXGUE70w1WlNQJdFBe74MAPPPS_nBLL0Eerhz3mkJBG1OHqjtFDmKZ25QnsUE7Hj0m_5uLn1DdqrfhuSkRLTgxvUSAF50ZdfZUR1KqaID5lsq8CKAy9OERi/s1600/popsicle2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469712097844000978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGJ6j4e8qQeGc-jBhCwUh6yXGUE70w1WlNQJdFBe74MAPPPS_nBLL0Eerhz3mkJBG1OHqjtFDmKZ25QnsUE7Hj0m_5uLn1DdqrfhuSkRLTgxvUSAF50ZdfZUR1KqaID5lsq8CKAy9OERi/s400/popsicle2.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933399402994607987.post-86041082983757217332010-05-07T08:01:00.006-05:002010-05-07T08:28:52.503-05:00PRAISE!!!So, some of you may remember, and some may not. Last year I had a few posts about adoption. This was so heavy on my heart last <a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2009/10/love3.html">October</a>. It started out with this huge feeling of LOVE and through some random things, I realized what God was <a href="http://sbrawner.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-amazing.html">asking of me</a>! I failed to reveal it though, and today God has yet again brought things full circle, and for someone that has become a dear friend, this will be her best Mother's day ever!<br /><div></div><br /><div>God started confirming my feelings by slowly introducing me to adopting families. I learned about <a href="http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/">Katie Davis</a> that led to <a href="http://www.harveyadoption.blogspot.com/">The Mayernicks</a> and <a href="http://147millionorphans.com/about">The 147 million orphan ladies</a>. Then I was searching some ways to complete a project I was working on and came across this amazing <a href="http://flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/diy-salvaged-window-photo-frame.html">blog</a> that has lead me into the lives of <a href="http://flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/">The Martins</a>. So I could see that God was trying to tell me something! This all happened in a matter of days! Then, through work, I met <a href="http://shortstoriestn.blogspot.com/">The Shorts</a>. They were just starting the process of adoption and were looking to start raising funds. They decided since Mr. was a fantastic photographer that they would have a Photography Fundraiser. For those of you that don't know, the way we do Christmas around here (for our adult family) is to find others that are in need and spend the money we would have spent on "stuff" and donate it to whatever cause God calls us to. It was obvious to me at this point that God was calling me to support The Shorts' adoption, so we set up a time to do a photoshoot right before Christmas. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468517192464468066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAxCjUFSmxuLAGYb6a1IcVyBHN0LkW-JLMtcp0yNhNmFc92wZEs2jrvy3gY0JwOjz_XoVPBWDqvv9vks9XZPulPZXPYORW6iZeq4mDanAVCEf0gTRhAKOuq22s5SnzIU81ccfRla4f76J/s400/christmasphotoproject.png" /></div><br /><p></p><p>Well, the story doesn't end here! The money was raised, the papers were processed, and The Shorts left TODAY to go to Ethiopa and pick up their son Eli! I couldn't be more thrilled to see all of this come full circle, and it's been great to walk with April at work and hear the story unfold. Thank you Lord for this amazing gift! Check out the video below to see this little boy that gets to come home in a few days!</p><p><embed height="382" name="FLVPlayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="408" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=" quality="high" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=aa48eb681b7523aba5ccf2&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com"></embed> </p><p></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 408px; FONT: 12px/20px verdana, arial, sans-serif"><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div><p></p>Shannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12936315448184314512noreply@blogger.com2