Giving and Receiving

The  thought I have been pondering the most this Christmas:

God sent His son as a baby - The King of Kings and Lord of Lords dependent upon humans to care for His basic needs of food and clothing and bathing - a helpless baby DEPENDENT on a teenage girl of all things.  This is making Him the MOST VULNERABLE.  :) 
Have you ever met a teenage girl....HELLO!
 I have no doubt God kept a close watch on His Son as Mary cared for Him - but she still needed to feed, hold, and care for that very human baby.

God - The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Placed His Holy and perfect self in a position to NEED people, to RECEIVE help and  provision and service from humans.

This last year we have been in a receiving position - more than I care to admit honestly - but this last couple of years through the receiving we have seen Jesus more clearly than ever in our entire lives. 
Our pride and our independence really dislikes to receive - we prefer to give and to serve not to receive and be served!
  (this goes for most people in general) 

It is so much more fun to give.

 It is Biblical to give and it feels good and we can see Jesus  when we give, we can be the hands and the feet of Jesus when we serve others.

What I have learned is that in the receiving - not only the receiving of the gift of Salvation - but the receiving of love from others and being served and blessed and being vulnerable, and humble, we can see Jesus even more clearly and there is 
NO
 PRIDE OR INDEPENDENCE OR SELF RELIANCE
 when we are in that state of receiving. 

It feels good to give it is right it is Biblical.
It is Jesus in action.
  Sometimes we must give even  more that we are comfy giving.  

It feels humbling to receive it is right  it is Biblical.
It is Jesus in action.
Sometimes we have to receive even more than we are comfy with.  

God likes to keep us uncomfortable on either end of the spectrum to keep us looking to HIM to keep us seeing JESUS MORE CLEARLY!


We GIVE our lives to Jesus, when we RECEIVE Jesus!!


We spend the rest of our lives GIVING  because of our LOVE for  HIM and we spend the rest of our lives RECEIVING HIS LOVE and His Blessings because of HIS LOVE FOR US.

Click...AND...Be Glad!

Ok....so to end the year with meaning, and be healthy and happy and support something totally awesome and to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself and to just do something plain fun and good....

CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE

And ENTER!!!!!!!  TODAY!!!!!!

An opportunity to GIVE is just one click away!!!

Anyone can enter...anyone can help!!!!  CLICK CLICK CLICK

Our Star

This is our Christmas star.  We love it because  there are a lot of stories that go with this star and it represents a lot of different "seasons" in our life. 
This is the story of our star:

It was made for us and given to us by one of our bestest friends.  He is so creative and thoughtful and just showed up with it SEVERAL years ago.  He made about 10 of them I think and gave them to friends.  He is such a giver, and so incredibly thoughtful.  He is known for these kinds of deeds, and he always does these things just quietly and beautifully.  We absolutely love him and his entire family. 
 Thank you Jim Walker for the star.

Well, as I mentioned he made one for several families around here...and every year it is a bit of a competition to see who gets their star up first, and it always exciting to see  what color and arrangement of bulbs everyone decides on for the year.  It's very fun and a bit competitive. 

Needless to say....we never win the competition.
  We always get our star up, but it's usually Rick Martin that beats us, and it's usually Jim that puts his star up the highest, and it usually Pickardt's that looks the most festive, and Buckners and us are usually neck in neck, which is all good because we live close enough to see each other's star, so we can easily monitor who's pulling the star out of storage so the other is never far behind.

Then,

2 years ago, Charlie cut his hand VERY bad, and I was thinking it was a 'no star year'.  He was in a cast.  But, of course our friends came over and just put that beautiful star up for us...it  also happened to be one of the coldest days of the year I believe, and we have a very tall metal roof that they had to climb on to get our star in position. 
 It was so incredibly sweet I can't tell you how blessed we felt.  Of course, they put beautiful bulbs in, and made it look perfect.
  They also SCREWED IT TO THE ROOF so it is very secure up there; it is SO secure that we don't take it down all year long, we just don't plug it in after New Years.

So, this year...we plugged our star in;
our star that represents so much to us...
it represents...Christmas...friendship...giving...serving...celebration...competition :) .


  As I was looking at it this year...I just had to laugh...it also is very representative of the year we have had:


It is disorganized...late (even though we only had to plug it in), and its only half lit. 
 Some of the bulbs are flickering, some are shining brightly, some are flickering (as they are trying like heck to stay going), they are every color and in no particular order, and some are just plain burned out.

Charlie was going to replace some bulbs and try to make it pretty, and organized, but the more I looked at it, the more I loved it because it's just up there on our roof telling the truth of what is going on in the house below.

Merry Merry Christmas!!!

Yep! It's Confirmed.

I posted a few weeks ago about Kole's knee and how the Lord had healed him, click here if you haven't read it yet, because I have a follow-up to the story.

Kole went back to the Dr. after his 3 week "rest" and the Dr. rechecked his knee.  After watching the video and examining his knee, he felt like he did need an MRI after-all.  He felt his ACL was perhaps "loose".

Monday 12-12 Kole had the MRI, and today...yes TODAY...we went back to the Dr. for the results.  And guess what????????  Yep, it's confirmed...Kole's knee is FINE!!!  He is showing some bruised bone...oh yes, confirmation that there was TRAUMA...but guess what???? NO DAMAGE.  ACL is in tact.  Knee is good to GO! 

Kole was fitted for a knee brace and did an explosive "JUMP", right in the Dr. office, he was so excited.  Dr. thought Kole had some good "hops".  Before we could make it to the car Kole called his basketball coach and said, "Put me in coach, I'm good to go".

Kole SPRINTED to the car, yes SPRINTED, and headed right  to his basketball game!!! 

Whoop Whoop!!!  

We are happy here at the Brewer house....Kole can sweat at practice again, which is a blessing.  He is a teenager that NEEDS to sweat...that is good for him.  His stress relief is "SWEAT".  

God is good and I know He healed Kole and now we just have an MRI to prove it.  :) 

  I realize God does not always see fit to heal us when we ask...sometimes we have to go through the surgery or the sickness, or  loss.  But sometimes He sees fit to heal us and in either situation we just trust him and when He does see fit to heal... then we just have to give Him praise and give HIM and HIM alone the Glory!  But, when He heals or when He doesn't He is always with us. He  NEVER NEVER leaves us.  And I know that God is with my friend whom He did not see fit to heal from her cancer and she will have to go through a difficult surgery on Friday.  But God is just as much with her through it all as He was with Kole when He healed him.

  God knows it all and He is good.  ALL THE TIME!!!

Freauff Family

http://www.freaufffamilyfun.blogspot.com 

This is a MUST READ!  Then click on the fundraiser and  read about the fundraiser that everyone can participate in!!!

Please participate and be a part of bringing 4 precious boys home to a wonderful family.  

Happy Anniversary Charlie

Happy Anniversary to my man!!!  22 years!!!!  

Genesis 9:7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

We have done things as the Bible says to some degree....we have multiplied...I'm not sure how fruitful we are at times....but we have multiplied.  We have multiplied in numbers, in every area we started out with, there are many MORE of us, we have MORE horses, we have MORE debt, we have MORE dogs, MORE cars.

We have also multiplied in other areas.  We have more love, more happiness, more stress, we are more tired, we are more involved, we have more fun.

We do things bigger.  We love bigger, we drive bigger cars, we have a bigger house, we have a bigger family, we have a bigger circle of friends.

We have definitely multiplied.  :)

When we got married Charlie sold his cows so he could marry me...seriously this was the ultimate sacrifice, if you know a man that loves cows, and is willing to sell them to marry you, he LOVES YOU A BUNCH!!!  When we got married, this is what we had.......

a horse we couldn't afford

                                 a dog we couldn't keep

                              bills we couldn't pay

                                 a goat we couldn't stand

                                         

The horse was in need of expensive food, so it stayed with my folks, the dog was Charlie's and tried to attack me every chance he got, so he stayed with Charlie's folks, the bills were from college, so they stayed with us, and  the goat was my dowry, so it stayed with us until Charlie sent me to the sale with it.

I love my man more everyday, we have been through some stuff, but we have had 22 very blessed years, and I wouldn't change a thing.  We have probably done everything wrong, but we have done it together, and we are committed and I can say I love him a thousand times more today than I did 22 years ago and I loved him a whole bunch.

The best advice from a little old lady at the church we were attending when we got married, was, " The couple that prays together, stays together," we have lived by this and done it consistently for 22 years and so far so good!

Happy Birthday Reecey Roo "4"

Today is Reece's Birthday, and he is "4" years old.

  This kid has kept us guessing since he was concieved.  He does things on his very own schedule. He is probably our most passionate kid.  He is passionate when he is having fun, he is passionate when he is excited or telling a story, or asking a simple question.    He is also quite passionate when he is mad or sad.  This kid can have us in stitches one minute and stressed out the next. 

 He is AWESOME.

  He sends me into orbit half the time and then a fit of laughter the other half.

  

With Reece, you never have to wonder what he is thinking or what he is feeling because it may change on a dime, but whatever it happens to be at that moment it is full on, all out, every time.

 I was told by a dear friend (Mindy) that Reece will make a difference in this world...she is one of the people that just "get" this kid.  So my prayer for Reece is that he infact makes a difference in this world and it is a difference that is for the good :) .  I pray that all this energy is harnessed by the Lord and that He will guide him all the days of his life.

One of Reece's many talents is that he has a nick name for just about everybody, but he doesn't see it as a nick name, he decides what he thinks people's names are and that IS their name no matter what.  Shelly, one of our bestest friends that we are around all the time, for years and years NOW has a new name, thanks to Reece. 

 Her name is Flash! 

  Esther is quite confused because Shelly stated her real name at a restaurant once, and Esther said, " I thought your name was Flash."  

Lashae's dogs are no longer Kate and Mabel, but Cake and Abel....Uncle Jim, is now Uncle Ben.  

The funny thing is that we all begin using the nick name because Reece is so passionate, he is convinced that the names are as he says....so we just go along with it and start calling our friends names like FLASH!!!

A fun fact I did not realize until Lashae pointed it out to me the other day..Reece means energetic.  Boy did we call that one right!!!

Happy Birthday Roo!!!! 

We love you!!!!

Please visit this blog  http://www.freaufffamilyfun.blogspot.com , this family is adopting 4 brothers from Redeemer House and they have some awesome funraisers that EVERYONE can be apart of no matter where you are from!!!  Please join in and support this family!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is my favorite...and as my very wise daughter Lashae pointed out, it really is the most Biblical holiday, giving thanks to God, celebrating together, and encouraging one another.  

Hebrews 10:23-25

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Esther playing in her first big snow!  She loved it, but discovered it is very cold.

Lashae and Chaney practicing on how to manage 8 kids...I told them, I hope this is how their future looks.  Hehe

Enjoying the SNOW!!  Charsie catching air.

The family all together!!!
  Chaney may beg his bosses to have  the next holiday off, he probably didn't realize what would happen if he took "no" for an answer.  :)

Thanks Chaney and Lashae for letting us come for Thanksgiving and being the best hosts EVER!!!

Sisters baking while Lashae was wearing Maezie.  

Charlie and Kole had to make the table bigger!!!!  

My cousin Deb and her sweet girls came to visit us.  We had a very good time...Tiffany the one in the middle was "practicing on Maezie" because she just announced she will be having a baby of her own in about 8 months.  Yippee!!! And Deb my cousin was practicing being a Grandma, and Brittany was practicing being an Auntie.   I love all these girls!!!

Marlece and Jim and their boys.  They were such troopers coming all the way to Montana for Thanksgiving .  Jim left straight from Montana to the airport to fly back to his job in California.   Layton, the oldest boy, will probably be a Montana resident someday, he loves hunting, and everything about the woods and big country.  He's a true farmer and rancher at heart.

God blessed us with a beautiful time together, the roads were clear....the travel was relatively easy.  Esther remembered EVERYTHING we needed.  It was hilarious in the car, every time someone expressed a need for something, it just appeared.  Esther had a little bit of everything you could ever need right at her fingertips.  Charlie was saying his fries needed more salt after we had stopped at a fast food restaurant and were eating on the way...and low and behold a salt shaker appeared.  We all laughed because Esther thought of everything and had it all at a moments notice.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

The Message (MSG)

 ^9-10What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy we experience before him because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking for the bonus of seeing your faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters.
 ^11-13May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.

We are so thankful that God cleared the way for us to splash a little love on one another!!!

Thanksgiving Plans Changed :)

I have some good news!!!!

 I'm extra extra thankful today.  Thankful for crazy family members and last minute decisions.

 Let me first confess that on Sunday I was NOT feeling very happy or thankful.  I was kind of throwing a fit...I kept it pretty quiet, but in my head I was throwing a TANTRUM.  I learned that Lashae and Chaney could not come for Thanksgiving.  Oh how SAD I was.  I was trying to be strong for my girls who were really upset and I was feeling great compassion for so many mothers out there that don't get to have their kids together for Thanksgiving. I was feeling spoiled for taking it so hard, but I accepted it.  I just had too....but my girls did NOT accept it, not one bit!  They prayed and prayed that we could all be together for Thanksgiving.

And then my sister who is supposed to come here for Thanksgiving called and said, "Let's go to Montana for Thanksgiving!"  What...?????  I mean her hubby is working out of town...it is a LONG drive and he will barely fly home and have to jump in the car...go 10 hours and fly back to work before he even sees his house in the daylight.  I said, "No, it's not fair to Jim, he's coming a long way already."  She then proceeded to inform me that he already agreed to the whole crazy thing. Jim is a softy especially when it comes to his nieces...he has 4 boys, so his nieces hold a very extra special place in his heart. Well then, I began to get excited!!!

We need new tires and I thought I needed new brakes...but turns out I don't need brakes and I have to buy tires anyway if I want to drive this winter. Charlie was having a hard time with it...he was planning on working on Friday and Saturday...of which, I think the guy needs a few days break anyway.  I keep reminding him he has a lot of years left because as we all know we are not even close to having our family raised.  hehe...so I think he needs to preserve his body just a bit and give it a few days rest here and there.

We all went to bed last night, with the thought that Charlie would sleep on it, but it wasn't looking good, and I must say...I had a hundred ideas in my head to convince him... probably about as good as when Eve convinced Adam to take a bite of the apple...but I knew I should SHUT IT!  Sooooo, I let the man sleep and I tried to sleep, and then in the morning I asked if he had any angels visit in the night...he said he had NO IDEA what I was talking about..He was torturing me, as usual.  He then said....,"Let's GO to Montana!!!"...

So, instead of cleaning my house today, I am getting my car ready for a road trip and getting 6 kids ready to travel to see their sister.  Yippy Happy Day at the Brewer House!

Happy Dance!!!

I Stand Corrected. ;)

Ok...I've been called out...I've been "talked" to.

Robert, one of our dearest and bestest friends of all time, likes to keep me on the straight and narrow.  So I posted my new favorite quote a few posts back..."I will not be entertained by anything Jesus died for"....yes, I know, NOW I realize, thanks to Robert, it's got some complications.

 Robert called and reported that we can no longer be friends...due to my latest favorite quote, because Christ died for him.  Oops, the minute he said it, I went, "Oh no, that is NOT what I meant or what I heard when I read it". 

 I'm so glad for good friends that let me know when I just said or posted something REALLY dorky.  I need an army of them to help me...God knows this, and that is one more good reason that  He put Robert in our lives.  

And just a side note:  Robert  knew exactly what I meant, he just likes to get my dandruff up, and besides, what the heck is he doing reading my blog anyway...isn't it a girly thing? Shelly get him off the bloggy world.  :)  

 I love you Robert and Shelly, and I stand corrected Robert, although I do find it quite endearing that you read my blog.  :) Keep it up and keep me straight.  

I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have such good, loving, and crazy  friends, and when I say crazy I do mean it! I know that when we all hang out, Jesus is smiling because He sees friendships that are here on earth that will continue into eternity and that just blesses us all 

 FOREVER!

 Keep me straight Robert..it's your job to help Charlie.   And Shelly, keep Robert straight it's your job to help the world.

Please take a look at this blog..

http://www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/

This family is doing a fundraiser for the adoption of 2 boys!  I do not know this family in person, as I only know them because they were so supportive of our efforts in adopting our Esther.  They are Jesus loving, kid loving, cowboy people.  Just our type. :)

God Heals

I'm just going to lay out very simply a chain of events..to give Glory to God, and to remember, so that when I'm struggling to understand something, or feel like God can not hear my prayer...I can look back and remember, He is faithful and He is a healer...it is a Memorial Box  event.  To put down what God has done and remember and in the hard times....just remember and be thankful.

Friday, November 4th, 2011...Kole is playing in a high school football game in Ontario...it's the 3rd quarter and his knee gets dislocated....it's ugly...and it hurts...there are witnesses....the coach, Charlie, the paramedic...we have it on film...the knee was totally out of joint....it goes back in by itself, Kole feels major relief, and is able, with help, to get off the field and get on the bench to watch the rest of the game and ice his knee.

Sunday, November 6th, 2011...We decide to pray over this knee, do as it tells us in God's Word and just lay hands on Kole and pray, I mean, what can it hurt to ask our Father in heaven for healing, He is the Healer.  It was simple and right to the point and totally football like, nothing elegant or fancy...Ben, his football buddy and friend said a prayer, a few others prayed as well, and  we all agreed.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011...I take Kole to the Orthopedic Surgeon.  He is a well known awesome Doctor that has been doing this for many years.  He is gifted at his practice and he has done many surgeries  for our extended family and our friends.  He is an answer to many prayers prayed over our family and friends.  We trust him and his work, he is a kind and gifted Dr.

So....here's how it goes in the Dr. office:

Dr. :  So you dislocated your knee huh?

Kole:  Yes sir.

Dr.:  Checks knee out pushes and prods....pokes and manipulates.  He questions Kole again, "Are you sure you dislocated it?"

Kole: Oh yes.

Dr.:  What makes you think it was dislocated?

Kole:  Describes in detail what it felt like and looked like.

Me:  We have it on film and Charlie was queasy it was so deformed looking...

Dr.:  Charlie went on the field?

Me:  Yes, along with the coach and the EMT.  Everyone saw it.  It was completely dislocated..we have a film of it.

Dr.:  Checks knee out one more time...backs up and says...this knee DOES NOT act like a knee that has been dislocated...it's tender in areas and swollen, but when you dislocate a knee you tear stuff, and this knee feels solid as a rock...not shifting, no looseness.  It just doesn't make any sense...Nothing is making sense about this knee...hmmmm....well, how about you take 3 weeks off..no jumping, no running, no lifting, and then come back.  I don't think you need an MRI, I just don't feel like it's a knee that has any ligament tares. I will look at it in 3 weeks and if I think you need a MRI at that time we can do it then.
 
Me: In the corner of the room with a funny grin on my face...giggling to myself and knowing that I just witnessed God doing something so sweet for my son.  He healed him and gave him 3 weeks rest!  How cool is that.

Me and Kole went practically skipping out of that office and we got in the car and realized something very cool had just happened.

Random Thoughts and Thankfulness

My new favorite quote:
"I will not allow myself to be entertained by anything that Christ died for"  

**

Month of November is Thanksgiving...I'm so incredibly thankful for so much...and I'm going to try to ACT like it!!!

**

Football is over ended with a bang and a dislocated knee.  Cross Country is over ended with Charsie getting to go to state her freshman year.  

**

Looking forward to Thanksgiving!!!  Oh I hoping this house is busting at the seams because EVERYONE shows up.  Come on family...let's do it.  

**

I'm running again, and I'm THRILLED beyond anything.  I was frosty this morning and I can't tell you what a thrill is was to be sweaty in 15 degrees and holding hands and praying with the "girls" again.  One of my most favorite things.

**

Baby Maezie is a complete joy!  She eats a lot at night and yes I have some little helping hands during the day, but I have to say...I'm the only one that can feed the little turkey and I have changed EVERY single diaper except one that my sister changed when she was here...I just had to throw that all in there because I have a tenancy to let the older children do the raising of the younger ones...simply because they do a better job frankly, but when they are infants I try to pull my weight.  haha

**

This week is rodeo week, where Charlie and I  take on the job of putting on the Circuit Finals Rodeo, and I do the ticket job...I think it's going good, but I have postpartum brain and I'm going on 5-6 hours of totally interrupted sleep for the last 8 weeks..so only the bottom line will tell the true answer.  The truth of the matter is, I have some great friends that have helped me for years..so I'm not worried in the least...they will keep me lined out. 

**

October 2011 Highlights

I'm here to tell ya...life has been good!!  I'm just going to give picture highlights to recap...I could write a post about each event, but then I would never get caught up...so I'm giving the highlights...

Our friends brought these precious treasures home to their forever family!  It makes my heart jump with joy to see these kids be adopted...but not just to any family, to a great, Jesus loving, kid loving family who happen to be our friends.  SCORE!!!!  God is so much fun!!!

My sister and 3 of her boys came to meet Maezie and also to watch Kole play football.  Of course, we packed in a FULL week-end of crazy fun.  Maezie barely survived all the slobber  I mean love by my sister...she kissed her until she was raw.  Maezie loved every minute of it, and so did my sis...I think her hubby hates me right now because I'm sure my sis is at home trying to convince him for just 1 more baby.  Hehe.

Charsie made it to state in Cross Country...yep she's a stud!!!  She's quite a runner.  She placed 6th in the district, and her team placed 1st.

Kole's football team made it to the play-ins..pretty fun especially since this is his Senior year.  The boys are a very close team...a bunch of very cool boys that are so fun to watch and just plain fun to be around and root on in everything they do.

Charsie and her friends were ninjas for Halloween.  They had more fun than the little kids.  It was fun listening to them.  They couldn't end the fun, so the girls came to spend the night and giggle some more...I LOVE THIS!!!  I've been missing Lashae soooooo bad, I needed an overload of girl laughter and last night I got my fix!  I still miss Lashae, but I feel like I may live until Thanksgiving, but if I don't get my Lashae fix then....I may die.  Just sayin'.

The most precious pumpkin on the planet!!!!  She is so sweet she's more like pumpkin pie.

Here's the Halloween kids....Esther is wearing a costume my Grandma made for Lashae about 10 years ago...it blessed my heart to have her wear this...my Grandma was THE BEST and she would love to have seen Esther wearing this costume that she made.  Luke was a nerd...enough said...Kennedy..(my other daughter) ;)  was a gypsy..Charsie a ninja and Reece a football player.


Esther had NO idea what was going on and what Halloween was, but she LOVED it, and thinks it's pretty cool to go door to door and get candy.  She's all in, let me tell ya.

We are having fun with these kids that God has so generously blessed us with...I don't know what I would do with my hubby if he didn't have all these kids to play with...he is such a kid himself he would drive me crazy if it were just him and I, so I'm  glad God saw fit to bless us with MANY years of raising MANY kids.  It just doesn't get any better than this!

Seriously!!!!

To God Be the Glory!!!

There is a glow that is coming to the Redmond Airport I can see it headed this way and about 3:20pm it is going to be so bright that all of us at the airport will be basking in God's Glory as we witness what He has done again.

  He has brought a family from 2 different sides of the world together today.  He has placed 2 beautiful orphans in a beautiful family to a forever family, to be orphans NO MORE.  He has given 3 beautiful children a new brother and sister, He has blessed a mom and dad with 2 more beautiful treasures to raise and watch them grow.  

John 14:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

These kids are anxiously awaiting their brother and sister whom they have prayed for to come home and today is the day.  These kids will witness an answer to their prayers...they will see God's work in their little lives and how their child-like faith has moved mountains and grown their family in more ways than one.

This family has an open loving heart and a desire to love the Lord and love people to the best of their ability and God has opened their hearts and their arms and their home and now they will go from a family of 5 to a family of 7!!!!  God always does things bigger and better than we ever can imagine or dream.  

This mama can rest easy tonight knowing all her treasures that God has given her (so far) are in one nest on the same side of the world under the same roof.  It is crazy and amazing what God can do and does to put the lonely in families.

Psalm 68:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ God sets the lonely in families,

These beautiful treasures are from Redeemer House.  And ohhhhh the joy we are feeling in our family that Esther has family from Redeemer House coming to a home, to a family  that are some of our dearest friends...these kids will once again share meals, go to the same school, be neighbors and friends...doing life together on a daily basis.  When God redeems he does it a 100%.  He is the author of redemption...for eternity, but also, He is so loving and so good that He gently redeems us here as well. 

 Redeemer House has been a wonderful part of redeeming and saving many children with God's direction and grace, and Redeemer House has loved many children back to health and as these children pray for a forever family.  They learn to live as a family, and love, and be loved. Then the Lord so graciously hears the prayers of their hearts and brings them a  forever family, and he brings a family a wonderful treasure to join their and be "blessed" with more "blessings"!!!  

Psalm 127:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

 ³ Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
   when they contend with their opponents in court.

A Few of My Favorite Times During This Season of Life

Luke and Esther all dressed up for a fun overnight Oregon Trail field trip experience.  Esther is a little confused as to why they would CHOOSE to sleep outside and cook over an open fire, and go to the bathroom outside, but she's all for it!  If it's a good time, she is all in, and it's a good time!

We are having a ball going to Kole's football games...he is doing great.  Tonight is Senior night at the game, and I can already feel myself tearing up...

Luke is having a ball playing tackle football for the first time this year...he is quite the tackler...we think he may be taking out some pent up frustrations...he is NOT at all the biggest kid, but he can hit pretty hard.  

Amazing Grace!!!!!  

Charsie is doing very well at Cross Country, she has been running Varsity all year, and she is a Freshman.  She also has some FUN FUN friends on the team, so it is good from all aspects.

This is one of Charsie's coaches...Esther finds friends EVERYWHERE we go.  :)

Blessed and Overwhelmed

Last week Maezie did the update so this week I will...so, this is how this mom is doing.

For me, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other....I go from feeling OVERWHELMED WITH BLESSING to just PLAIN OVERWHELMED

I start in the morning...my favorite in the whole world with a cup of coffee, my Bible, and my sweet Maezie all piled around me for some time spent with the Lord - BLESSING

I then get to making lunches for 5 different people...4 kids that go to 3 different schools, and my man going to work - OVERWHELMED

I throw in a load of clothes - BLESSING (I'm weird about laundry)

I take first Charsie to catch her ride to her school - BLESSED...I've always loved taking my kids to school it gives me time to connect and pray for them.

I check computer - BLESSED (love reading how everyone else is doing...facebook, blogs, and such.)

I take Luke and Esther to school - BLESSED (they are both loving school this year.)

I go through the mail - OVERWHELMED

I bathe Meazie - BLESSED

I feed Maezie - BLESSED

I try to do some work in the office - OVERWHELMED

I feed Maezie - BLESSED

I feed Reece - BLESSED and sometimes OVERWHELMED (depending on his mood)

I talk on the phone - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED (depending on who it is and what is the subject matter)  Talking with friends and family - BLESSED....anything else - OVERWHELMED

Feed Maezie - BLESSED

I pick kids up from school - BLESSED

I take kids to sports - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED (if Maezie needs fed during this time)

I get dinner together - OVERWHELMED 

On Fridays we go to a football game - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED...Kol'es senior year and I am going to miss this kid like NOBODY"S business, we are having a blast watching him play this year.

Shower / bath time for all the kids - BLESSED (love clean good smelling kids)

Bed time - BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED all the chicks are in their nest accounted for and safe and healthy...except for Lashae and she is now in someone else's nest and I feel BLESSED that she has a good man and a nice and safe nest as well. :)

All in all I'm BLESSED and God is good all the time....I'm OVERWHELMED by some circumstances, but I'm reminded quickly just how BLESSED I am and that God is good all the time, and the OVERWHELMING stuff, is just no big deal and the blessings outweigh them by soooooo much!

Now, I've sat in front of this computer with mail and bills all around me...so feeling a bit OVERWHELMED and now I'm going to go hold Maezie and remember how BLESSED I am.

Maezie Speaking

Ok...this is Maezie doing this post:  Everyone wants to know how I'm doing....and they should after all I do believe I am the PRINCESS.  Esther calls me this all the time so I am convinced it is true.


I'm doing so good...I'm a good eater...I'm a good sleeper (during the day especially).  I love getting up at 12:30am...2:30am...and  4:30am....then I just stay awake...my mom taught me right from the womb that she likes to get up early, so I have become her new alarm clock...I hope she's grateful for my efforts.


I like being held, A LOT....I figure there are so many hands anxious to hold me that I'd better keep them doing what they love the most....just another job I have done that I hope they are grateful for.


You are probably wondering how the other kids are adjusting to me...well, Esther loves me, but it took a little adjustment on her part....I think she was worried where she fit into all this, and now she knows...she has a Princess sister and nothing else has changed.  Esther's kisses are my favorite of the whole family, her lips are like big silky pillows on my skin.


Reece is still wondering who is in charge...I can tell you and him and everyone else....IT"S ME...I'm in charge of everyone, because I'm in charge of the Mommy, so that makes me in charge...sometimes, when Reece thinks he's in charge, I'll be sitting there just eating away, and the Mommy...gets up REALLY fast and talks really loud at Reece...I don't like it because it disturbs my meal, and startles me, so I hope Reece realizes soon that I'm in charge, so the Mommy will quit jumping up so quick and being so loud.


Kole is scared of me...he says I'm too small, and I'm lazy...he thinks I should walk or talk, but I know once I do he will wish I would sit down and shut it.


Charsie loves to hold me and she is GOOD at it.  She snuggles me right up and I'm happy as a clam.


Lashae...she asks for pictures of me EVERYDAY because she misses me so much. 


Luke...he loves me, and he is just so glad that I'm able to make it to his football games, and I haven't stopped him from any of his sports...he thinks I'm pretty cool because I'm probably his youngest fan.


So, there ya go, that's my life, it's pretty sweet.

Thanks Meme and Papa

I'm sending a big 'ole shout out to my parents...to say THANK YOU for all you did.  My parents have been here for Maezie's birth, and they just left the other day to go attend to the other 21 grand-kids.  When you have that many you must keep moving onto the next set of needs.  My sis and her hubby are facing a big move to a different state and they have 5 children...3 of which are very young...so needless to say there is a need for mom and dad to move their big RV to the next station.

My mom was great, she did all the chores I hate....shopping, pharmacy runs, pick up this, go here, go there.  She also did a few chores I love, we were in competition for the wash machine...like mother like daughter, we both find peace and accomplishment in the laundry room so it was a race to see who could throw in the next load...I have NEVER had the laundry so caught up.  We were practically stripping the kids as they walked through the door to see if we could start the next load.  It just feels good to have that machine going.  It is music to my ears, like a lullaby playing.

My dad gave me a great gift; he had my car detailed.  Most of you who know me....know "my dirty car"...I just have let this one go, I don't pay much attention to it, I just jump in and GO to the next thing...I have mail in the dash, dirt EVERYWHERE, and food in every pocket...I've just grown to not care about it.  But, my dad is a firm believer in, "cleanliness is next to godliness" and from His observation I need some godliness in my car.  It is beautiful and shiny and clean.  My kids did not even recognize it when he brought it home.  Of course the next day....he caught us eating in the clean car at a drive-up...and I just wanted to duck and hide, but he pulled up right next to us, and as we were shoving french fries in our mouths...I apologized and told him I was being very careful....he responded by saying he wasn't supposed to be eating there either, because of his restricted diet (ya right), and so we agreed to keep each other's little "drive-thru" a secret.  So....don't tell that I told. 

Anyway...thanks again mom and dad.  

Joy Unspeakable

I've been quiet lately for obvious reasons....baby makes for a tired mama...trying to keep up with the other kiddos as well.  Maezie is 10 days old today, and we have done much in the last 10 days.  She is a trooper and just goes with the flow....until about 10:00pm when I am dead tired and she decides to eat every hour on the hour for at least 30 minutes at a time....so do the math...that equals 30 minutes of sleep at a time for this old mama.  But....I'm telling you she is worth the dark circles under my eyes and the uncomplete thoughts in my head....also, I admit it is all my own fault...I just don't want to miss a thing....I want to make it to every football game, open house, Bible Study, and all the things I love love love about raising these kids.

Mostly I'm quiet because I don't make much sense right now  .....no, because I could NEVER have imagined my life would have turned out like this.  I would have never dared to dream this big, this many, this full, this active.  I'm so grateful and blessed and in awe that God has allowed me to raise these treasures.  Is everything perfect???  NOPE.  Do we have problems???  BIG ONES.  But, I'm here to tell you God is good and He is faithful, and He gives the most AMAZING GIFTS and I do NOT deserve even one of them, but He is just that good.  So....I have unspeakable JOY because I do not know how to put into words the joy and love I feel for each kid, my hubby, my family, my friends...and little Maezie Ann-Grace is just a beautiful cherry on top that I may eat up....except she is wanting fed...RIGHT NOW and she is NOT patient...so excuse all the mistakes in this writing and if it is a jumbled mess but I am going to post AS IS because I may not get back to this for many days.

Baby Announcement!!!!

  ****  Maezie Ann-Grace Brewer****

Born on Sept. 14, 2011  4:29pm

7lbs 4oz   20 inches long

She is totally AMAZING and God's GRACE....Amazing Grace

 

Lashae and Charsie were there through the whole birth...it was such a blessing.  I'm so blessed to have these girls...they were sweet and funny and loving and excited and helpful.  I loved having them there and experiencing their baby sister coming into this world.

Luke meeting his baby sister.

Esther is checking Maezie out and thinking she's pretty sweet.

Reece is loving her at times and other times not.so.much!  He just wants to know who is in charge.  He asks this question several times a day. :)

Kole was very fearful of holding something soooo small...we told him to just hold her like a football and protect her with your life.  

Meme and Papa are giving us the "peace" sign because this is grandchild number 22 for them.

Kole was acting like Chaney and Lashae's baby.  Isn't he sooo cute.