I wonder what God was thinking.....

It's been 10 months since I sat down to write on this blog. Where have I been you might ask. A lot has happen since May 9, 2009. In March, my best friends father passed away. In mid-May, our lives were saddened and blessed at the same time when we had to say good-bye to the Randall Raiders and hello to the Tascosa Rebels. Those two separate events (losing David and not being a Raider anymore) totally hit my emotions. I did not know what to say or even what to think. I knew God was there but why in the world was all of this happening to us and our friends. Months passed and then in February I received the news that one of the greatest men I ever knew, Willard Tate, passed away after a battle with cancer. Then about a week later, I received the news that my college friend, Jenny Bizaillion, had passed away!!!! Oh Lord, how did I ever not know where you were. You have been here the whole time and even though I questioned your reasoning and timing...it was always what you had planned. Did I like it? No...heavens no! Do I still love you...of course! The birds are still and quiet when you speak Lord and so should I!

Keeping up with Jenny and reading her story made me realize something that I already knew. Life is short, precious, and can be taken at any moment. I want my husband, my friends, my friends and especially my children to know how much I love them and how much I love the Lord! I decided it was time to sit back down to this blog and type the words that HE has put in me (thank you Josh for inspiring me to do this)! Sooo, I am back to the blog world!!!!! Look forward to great things to come!!!! I love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

I feel blessed every time I hear my babies say "Mommy" or "I love you", but this has to be one of the sweetest days out there! How amazing is GOD!!! What a perfect gift...children! I knew what love was, but when I had Jaydon and Kye, I truly fell in love and continue to fall more in love with them more everyday! Thank you GOD for choosing me to be Jaydon and Kye's mommy! I could not think of a better job to have!!! Thank you Jaydon and Kye for allowing me to love you the way GOD has called me too! You bring so much joy into my life! You are my sunshine and I love you both!!! Hugs and kisses from Mommy!

Kindergarten Roundup

My baby Jaydon then.....

and now...

Kindergarten! Am I ready for this? It just seems like yesterday that we were bringing Jaydon home from the hospital. Is it time already for him to be in school!!!! Oh I am sooooo not ready for this Lord!

Jaydon and Daddy wrestling at roundup...

Jacey is here!

April 13th, 2009...beautiful Jacey Kate made her entrance into the world! She is absolutely beautiful...just like her mommy! I love you so much baby Jacey and I can't wait to see you in a few weeks! Give your mommy a hug for me! love, Aunt Burt

These are some pictures taken at Jaclyn and Jacey's baby shower! Laura and I were so blessed to be able to go!

I will praise HIM through this storm....

I have not written in awhile...for many reasons...being tired, busy, distracted, but the main reason being that I have had an extremely heavy heart and I could not find the strength to sit and write. With that said...I found a wonderful scripture that has helped me embrace each day...

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

I love you Jenna and Jaclyn and I pray for a peaceful night...for all of us!

Sweet Caroline....

To God be the glory, great things HE has done.....
Once again, God is amazing!!! On Thursday, March 5th, Caroline Grace was born!!! She is absolutely beautiful (just like her mommy)!!! Big Brother Brody is sooo happy for the arrival of his new little sister! Thank you Lord for bringing baby Caroline into our lives! She is amazingly beautiful and created by you! Thank you for bringing her here healthy and for Lins for having a speedy recovery!!!I can not wait until I can see and hold her in May!!! Aunt B loves you very much baby Caroline!!!

Happy Birthday Kye!

I can not believe that Kye will be 3 tomorrow (Feb. 16th)! My precious baby girl is growing up so fast! Kye is a baby that was defiantly meant to be! I thank GOD every day for giving her to us and especially for letting me stay here to watch her grow and to be here mommy...that is the best miracle in the world!!!! Kye is such a pleasure to be around. She is beautiful, funny, mischievous, witty, independent and lovable! She is loved by so many people and we are forever grateful for that! Please say a pray for Kye on her birthday. Please pray for her health, her wisdom, and her love for God! And also please pray for Kye's parents, brother, friends, and family that we may raise her the way that the Lord has called us to! We love you princess Kye! Thank you for being such a joy to us!

ps...Kye, mommy loves you very much! This is a day that we both celebrate our lives! I love you sassy girl!

Sassy Pacies

Perfect Shot...

Oh, he is fine...I know what you are thinking though (probably the same thing that Josh was yelling at me when I pegged Jaydon..."Ugghh, Brittany! Why did you hurt him"). He ran by, I threw the "plastic" ball and there ya have it...a perfect shot! Probably could not do it again if I tried! Jaydon thought it was AWESOME!!!

Proverbs and Dora

Friday night, as I was folding laundry and talking to my mother-in-law on the phone (reflecting on the family's week of strep, bacteria infection, and sinus infections), I heard Jaydon and Kye come running into the bedroom. Jaydon pulled up his favorite little sofa and Kye climbed in her laundry basket (that is where she gets when she is sick...I have no idea why). Jaydon proceeded to tell her that if she would sit still, he would read a Bible story to her...this defiantly got my attention at this point. I wanted to see what he was up to (I could only imagine)! He has his little green Bible that I think they passed out in Abilene one time...not sure how he ended up with it but he says that it is "his". Anyways, once Kye got situated, Jaydon said that he would read from the book of Proverbs (this is where his daddy reads to him from at bedtime). The story for the night...from Proverbs mind you...was about Dora and boots!!!

I love watching you work Lord!!! Thank you for giving me and Josh such interesting children! My life is never boring!!! I love them soooo much!

Birthday Memories...

Jaydon and I spent the afternoon at the Discovery Center here in Amarillo! Jaydon was invited to Andrew's 5th birthday party. He had so much fun trying out the experiments,meeting and playing with new friends, and eating Katy's alien cupcake masterpiece...

As I was looking around the party, I flashed back about 25 years...

Yeppers...that is me and Katy in that picture! Can you believe it! Katy and I were born two days apart and our boys were born 7 days apart. Is that not ironic?!? There are not many friends you have in life that you have shared birthday parties with, went to Sunday school together, played as double partners and now...25 years later...you are able to share you children's birthday parties together! I am so glad that God has given Katy and I this opportunity to live in the same town...literally about 2 miles from each other...and share these sweet memories together! What a wonderful day to reflect back on those memories!!!

Thank you Katy (and Andrew) for a wonderful day! I love you sweet friend!

Sick...

Oh my...we are sick! Kye has strep, Jay has a bacteria infection in his nose and I have an ear infection, sore throat, and a sinus infection...aaarrrggghhhh! We are exhausted!!!

JOY

This was in my devotional tonight...what an amazing though!

"JOY comes by putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last"

Tomorrows prayer...

Well, I have to admit, I did not vote for Obama, but tomorrow I will be in prayer for him as well as our country! The bible says to 'pray for your leader' and that I will do! Visit www.klove.com to learn more about the prayer wall for Obama!

His mercies are made new every morning!

I am totally exhausted and I will defiantly explain more later but before another day went by, I wanted to post the fun pictures of Jaydon's 5th birthday party that we had here in Amarillo this weekend! He is so blessed and loved.....

40 Tips for Better Life 2009

40 Tips for Better Life 2009

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the
ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.

7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily
fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is
manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon,
broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing
energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past,
negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in
the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are
simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but
the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college
kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will
this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. REMEMBER GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am
thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly
don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most
of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Please share this to everyone you care about. I just did.

Ok, unless I miss it, I did not see "PRAY" on here...sooooo I will add it myself!!!

41. PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!!! ( I would consider this me#1)

Proverbs for 2009‏....

This was sent to me by my wonderful mother-in-love! Thought it was a great way to start 2009....

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day - it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well

Baby Andrew...

Well, with all this blogging that I am doing today about babies, I of course had to do one for baby Andrew...her name has yet been determined...lol! This sweet little thing I do not have a picture of to post but she will make her debut in late April! Her mommy is one of my very best friends. I can not wait to meet her. I know that she is going to be just as beautiful as her mommy! I pray that this sweetheart enters this world with ease and grace:) She has been prayed for for a long time and is anxiously being waited for! I just love the thought of all these new babies! God is sooooo good and such a miracle worker! Jaclyn and Craig....I pray for you and this baby every chance I get! Please tell her how much her Aunt Burt loves her!!! I love you Ernie!!!

Baby Em...

As I was going through a box of pictures today, I came across this picture of baby Emily Grace...

The picture took me to my knees. I sat there looking at this beautiful baby girl. So sweet and tiny! I thought back to when I held and kissed on her while her mommy was taking a shower and how she had the hiccups when Kendra was putting lotion on her! All these sweet memories make me miss her even more! It is hard to believe that this past August our baby Em would have been 6 years old...it is just so hard to imagine! Looking at this picture also made me pray for Emily's mommy and daddy. I pray that the Lord continues to bless them with sweet memories of Em and that they remember how much we all love them and her!

Speaking of pictures...Christmas, Kendra gave me some new photos of the boys. They are just too cute...I had to share them with you!!! These are Emily's brothers...Garrett-5 and Gavin- 2 1/2...too cute! I love them all!

Caroline Grace...

In the busy rush of cleaning the house after Christmas and after our week long trip, I thought I would take a few moments and say a special prayer for Caroline Grace. Caroline is due to make her appearance March 5th, 2009! I can not wait to see Miss Caroline Grace! I pray that the Lord will continue to bless Caroline and her mommy throughout the rest of the pregnancy. I pray that this sweet baby will have a safe and easy birth! She is already abundantly loved by all her friends and family and of course her Double Digit Aunts! Baby Caroline...you are loved and prayed for everyday! I look forward to holding and loving on you...I love you...Aunt Brittany!

We're home....

Wow! After a week of being in Vernon, we are finally home! I so enjoyed seeing friends and family and having that "extra" help with the kids, but I am also so excited about climbing into my own bed tonight!!!

Being home for the holidays makes me so greatful for my friends and family! Josh, the kids and I are so loved and that is just the most amazing feeling in the world! We are so blessed for each and everyone in our lives and seeing them makes me miss them even more!!!

This Christmas we were able to go spend a couple of days at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine! It is a lodge/indoor water park! It was sooooo amazing! Thank you Ritchey's for the wonderful memories!!! Swimming the day after Christmas is turely a treat;)!!!

As I reflect back over the holidays, I say a prayer for everyone that has touched my life in some way or another! I am so blessed for each and everyone of you! May God bless each of you just as you have blessed me and my family! I love you all!

Enjoy the slide show...