Coffee for Breakfast

How cute is this??? I have been on pinterest a little too much this week. My husband and youngest daughter took a little work trip so I have had some time on my hands. It's hard to sleep when he isn't home. I like to snuggle! :) I think I'll make these cute pillowcases to welcome him home.

I'm walking in one of those shifty places at the moment, just trying to find some firm footing. It's one of those spots that I'm grasping at the correct way to handle. It has never bothered me to do things differently than others. My choices in life are sometimes a little unconventional. I'm certainly not the only person I know who homeschools, but I was when we started. I'm certainly not the only woman who has given birth at home. Women have been doing so since the beginning. On the other hand, it wasn't something all my friends were doing. They all thought I had lost my mind. Trusting God sounds so simple. It is and it's not. I know what He has promised. I see Him working before my very eyes. I know that He can make something beautiful from ashes. He has shown me time and time again. If you ask me to trust God with you for something He has promised, I will. I'll believe with an unshakable faith. For you. Why do I sometimes find it hard when it's fo...

Feeling SUCH an urge to update my blog... Just wanted to let any curious readers know that all is well at the Bracknell home. (just in case you were wondering) I have another urge to say: "The truth is... I'm with a wonderful Christian man, living the dream...wonderful family, wonderful job, fabulous life!" LOL So, let's keep it REAL here. The real honest truth is this... I am married to an awesome husband who loves the Lord. He is wonderful because I am not living in a fantasy world. He is wonderful because he loves me so much he admits his shortcomings. He can do this, as can I, because our love is unconditional. I am definitely living out my dreams. Is this because everything is perfect? No. It's because everything is imperfect and I don't live under the pressure of having to pretend. My wonderful family... Yes I have a wonderful family! They are wonderful to me because they are mine. If you knew them like I do, you would have to agree! I'm ve...

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(Sharing a page from my journal) Today is the anniversary of two very significant days for me. My dad's birthday. He would have been 65 today. Probably retiring from the telephone company. My life would have probably looked much different had he not been taken. He was only 33 years old. Now that I'm approaching 42 in less than a month, I see how very young he was. I want to take a moment today though to thank God for the ten years I had with him. God used this man who was my daddy to instill some seeds within me that have taken root and continue to grow. So, thank You Lord for my Daddy, Cole Hays Jr. I miss him still, but he loved me with a love that will never die. And, the other significant day... 18 years ago, I met the love of my life. We have had some rocky years, but they are enclosed like parenthesis with a love that I never knew my life would include! He is "The Man" that God gifted me with. I'm a blessed person to have known within my life, two men who lo...

I got to spend a little time with my husband yesterday while he was working. I appreciate all he does for his family, so much. He is the hardest working man I know. He doesn't take sick days, he doesn't get enough rest, he goes to work EVERY DAY! If something needs done, he does it! I call him "my get it done kind of man"! I love you Randy! Thank you for being a wonderful hard working provider. You will never know how priveleged I feel to have a husband who has worked so hard to let me be a stay at home mommy!

Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs should be required reading for all married couples. This book is full of the simple clear truth of the Bible that is so easily overlooked or misunderstood. Anyone who has ever studied God's word in order to improve their marriage or to understand their role as husband or wife is probably very familiar with the scriptures in which this book is based. It is just amazing to me that I could quote alot of these scriptures by heart, but was not applying them. This book has been a very eye-opening experience for my husband and myself. He has listened and relistened to this book on audio cd's. I prefer the print copy and have been reading/journalling chapter by chapter. I think we tend to overcomplicate most things. God's word goes deep but usually brings us back to the simple truth. God didn't make this life too difficult to do His way. From my reading this morning: "Obviously, when the sparks fly and a couple has a conflict, se...

It has been a wonderful week. I celebrated my 41st birthday and our 17th anniversary. I cannot believe how fast time flies. This time of year is very busy for us, but we are planning an anniversary trip very soon.

And definitely looking forward to next time!

I'm loving my husband! He gets to spend a few days at home with us and I'm so glad. He's been working alot and I've been missing him. He has enjoyed today, but I wouldn't say he spent the day relaxing. He worked all morning in the yard. It's looking nice. Then he spent the evening painting our guest bathroom. It looks amazing. He's amazing!

It's a new day. It's a new year. ('nuff said)

I love to see my husband living out his dreams.

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My wonderful husband and I will be taking a belated anniversary trip in just four days. I can't wait. This trip will mark alot of firsts for us. This is the first time I have ever flown on an airplane. This is the first vacation we have ever had without children for more than two days. This is the first time either of us has ever been to a truly tropical/Carribean location. There are probably some more "firsts", but I can't think of them now, or they aren't gonna be mentioned here! I love you honey, and can't wait to go on our dream vacation together!

It has been sixteen wonderful, interesting, absolutely amazing, and even sometimes dumbfounding years. I am more in love with you now than ever. I always knew you were the one. Now, we know we can't get rid of each other even if we try to! LoL That is how it is when the Lord joins you. No take backs. Divorce is not an option. I'm here for the long haul baby, and I know you are too. Besides, I wanna live with you forever. I'm a little scared of "stalker next door neighbors"! (You know the type I'm talking about) Anyway, look how proud we were sixteen years ago: