This is what happens when you are cooped up in a house together for a week. The boys box each others lights out and dad records it and turns it into a movie. Nice.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
At the Feet of Jesus
At the Feet of Jesus
December 18, 2008
As 2008 comes to a close, I find myself in awe over Jesus. Each year I get to know Him in a different way. It absolutely blows my mind that I can personally know the Creator of Heaven and earth. As I look back over different seasons of my life I always find that Jesus not only shapes me and conforms me to His image, He also reveals new characters of Himself to me. I usually can name a new one each time. If I could use one word to describe God’s character revealed to me this year it would be, “Mercy”.
While preparing this letter, I reflected on the past 3 Christmas letters that I have written and I found that each one had particular difficult situations. In 2005 we were waiting on a job. Just around the corner in 2006 we picked up our family and moved to another state for ministry. Last year we lost my grandmother and watched my father battle a nasty cancer. But, none of our family was prepared for what would happen this year. None of us knew that dad would leave our world so soon and enter our Saviors. No one was ready for this! The pain, confusion and grief were indescribable. But during this unbelievable time we witnessed the hand of God and felt His presence like never before. What Mercy!
After spending nearly all of January in Texas with my mom, I whirled home in order to prepare for a brand new women’s ministry the LORD had called me to. Already sure that I was totally incapable of the calling before me, taking on a new ministry while dealing with terrible grief seemed an impossible task. Buried in studies and overcome with speaking anxieties each month, the LORD became my confidence. I was met with intense spiritual battles head on all along the way while serving in this new capacity. But God in His great mercy clothed me with strength to endure every bit of it.
The love and gratitude I have for Jesus overflows with in me. I’m drawn to the text in the gospel of John where I find Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus. The account reads, “Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair.”(John 12:3) I love this picture. Mary, out of love and gratitude for Jesus is found anointing Jesus’ feet with a very costly perfume. Spending time at someone’s feet was the work of a servant and a woman with her hair unbound was not a common sight in public. The incredible picture that we find in this biblical text is Mary pouring out her life in an intense personal devotion to Christ.
In the verses following we find out that the perfume was worth 3 hundred denarii. (The equivalence of about a year’s wage) Matthew and Marks gospels give testimony that some thought this was a total waste. (Mk 14:4; Matt 26:8) I have a feeling many today would scorn the behavior of one who would pour out a years worth of wages on Jesus’ feet. Think about that for a minute. What do people these days do when they have saved a year’s salary? If it is all spent in devotion to Jesus how do people react? Sadly, I believe that most would exclaim as those already mentioned, “what a waste”. Yet, Jesus describes it as a beautiful thing! (Mark 14:6)
When we get a glimpse of who He really is and what He has done for us, one can’t help but fall at His feet and give it all away! As the great hymn by Isaac Watts says, “Were the whole realm of nature mine- That were an offering far too small- Love so amazing, so divine- Demands my soul, my life, my all.” I can not think of myself in any other place than my life poured out at the feet of Jesus in total devotion, giving everything to Him for all He has done in my life. Saving me from the pit of hell was alone more than I deserve. But the fact that he goes way beyond that and gets personally involved in individuals lives and gives hope, comfort, strength and great mercy when we need it is something I’ll never understand.
At Christmas, in the midst of all the buying, decorating and celebrating some may give Jesus a glance. Others may perhaps meditate on what the birth of Jesus meant. But I hope you do more. I hope you’ll find that there is no greater place to be in this life than to be poured out at the feet of Jesus. Not just at Christmas time but at all times. There you’ll find that there is really no cost and no loss. Nothing wasted. There you’ll find all you need.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Brittnie
As 2008 comes to a close, I find myself in awe over Jesus. Each year I get to know Him in a different way. It absolutely blows my mind that I can personally know the Creator of Heaven and earth. As I look back over different seasons of my life I always find that Jesus not only shapes me and conforms me to His image, He also reveals new characters of Himself to me. I usually can name a new one each time. If I could use one word to describe God’s character revealed to me this year it would be, “Mercy”.
While preparing this letter, I reflected on the past 3 Christmas letters that I have written and I found that each one had particular difficult situations. In 2005 we were waiting on a job. Just around the corner in 2006 we picked up our family and moved to another state for ministry. Last year we lost my grandmother and watched my father battle a nasty cancer. But, none of our family was prepared for what would happen this year. None of us knew that dad would leave our world so soon and enter our Saviors. No one was ready for this! The pain, confusion and grief were indescribable. But during this unbelievable time we witnessed the hand of God and felt His presence like never before. What Mercy!
After spending nearly all of January in Texas with my mom, I whirled home in order to prepare for a brand new women’s ministry the LORD had called me to. Already sure that I was totally incapable of the calling before me, taking on a new ministry while dealing with terrible grief seemed an impossible task. Buried in studies and overcome with speaking anxieties each month, the LORD became my confidence. I was met with intense spiritual battles head on all along the way while serving in this new capacity. But God in His great mercy clothed me with strength to endure every bit of it.
The love and gratitude I have for Jesus overflows with in me. I’m drawn to the text in the gospel of John where I find Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus. The account reads, “Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair.”(John 12:3) I love this picture. Mary, out of love and gratitude for Jesus is found anointing Jesus’ feet with a very costly perfume. Spending time at someone’s feet was the work of a servant and a woman with her hair unbound was not a common sight in public. The incredible picture that we find in this biblical text is Mary pouring out her life in an intense personal devotion to Christ.
In the verses following we find out that the perfume was worth 3 hundred denarii. (The equivalence of about a year’s wage) Matthew and Marks gospels give testimony that some thought this was a total waste. (Mk 14:4; Matt 26:8) I have a feeling many today would scorn the behavior of one who would pour out a years worth of wages on Jesus’ feet. Think about that for a minute. What do people these days do when they have saved a year’s salary? If it is all spent in devotion to Jesus how do people react? Sadly, I believe that most would exclaim as those already mentioned, “what a waste”. Yet, Jesus describes it as a beautiful thing! (Mark 14:6)
When we get a glimpse of who He really is and what He has done for us, one can’t help but fall at His feet and give it all away! As the great hymn by Isaac Watts says, “Were the whole realm of nature mine- That were an offering far too small- Love so amazing, so divine- Demands my soul, my life, my all.” I can not think of myself in any other place than my life poured out at the feet of Jesus in total devotion, giving everything to Him for all He has done in my life. Saving me from the pit of hell was alone more than I deserve. But the fact that he goes way beyond that and gets personally involved in individuals lives and gives hope, comfort, strength and great mercy when we need it is something I’ll never understand.
At Christmas, in the midst of all the buying, decorating and celebrating some may give Jesus a glance. Others may perhaps meditate on what the birth of Jesus meant. But I hope you do more. I hope you’ll find that there is no greater place to be in this life than to be poured out at the feet of Jesus. Not just at Christmas time but at all times. There you’ll find that there is really no cost and no loss. Nothing wasted. There you’ll find all you need.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Brittnie
Monday, December 8, 2008
Pretreen Fall Retreat
Jeff's Preteen Fall Retreat was called "Last Man Standing" and he did it to the theme of Rocky.
Click here to see the intro videos
Fall Retreat Videos
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Great words by Jadon
Last night on the way to church, we were driving down the road and I said, Oh look, gas has finally dropped to $1.99 a gallon. Yea! Then I went further on down the road and said, oh look, even Exxon and the BP are both at $1.99 too! Yippee!!!
Then Jonah has joined into the excitement with me and starts clapping and hollering "yippee" with me! (not sure that he really understood the joy there, but clapped and hollered none the less)
Jadon sitting there in silence finally busts out and says, "Mom, I don't want Exxon and the BP to be tied!" There has got to be a winner!!!!
Well, that's my competitive child! Gotta love it!
A cold present
Wanted to let everyone know that Jeff did redeem himself by bringing me a "real" present the same day of the "prank" warm present. Funny enough, it was a cold present. Milk Chocolate Bluebell. My FAVE!!!! Thank you baby!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Warm Present
I came home to a present early this morning after my morning run. I walked into the kitchen where Jeff was, and he pointed to a bag on the floor and said, “I have a present for you. I thought to myself, “How sweet” a gift!!! (Wondering why he was giving it to me in the morning when he had plenty of time to give it to me last night)
I eagerly dug into the bag anticipating some thoughtful gift from my man, not knowing that I would lay my hands on a nice big fresh warm pooh! Just as I grabbed it, he said, "Don't Touch it!" What on earth?!!! Then I caught a whiff of the fumes! OH MAN! Disgusting!! Jeff is laughing as he realized that I didn't get what he was up to. (I am thankful that he had it wrapped in saran wrap to keep my hands from coming in direct contact.)
Why did my man give me a gift of pooh this morning you ask? Well, we have had a sick little man on our hands for over a week. The doctor sent us home with tubes for stool cultures and we have been waiting on "the movement" the last couple of days. While I was out for my run, "the movement" came! Woohoo! I was happy for what was in the bag, but NOT happy that my husband played that cruel joke on me!!
Love starting a morning off with presents!!
I know...this post is SICK.....sorry!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Football recap for today
Aunt Lynz has a great recap of the boy's games today here.
http://tibbsranchpage.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
He is at it again
More bathroom upgrades!
We ordered a new counter top before summer and just got it in last week.
We have been wanting to get rid of the nasty tiles that were glued onto the old counter top along with the junk that was glued to the wall with the old head board for a mirror. Jeff put in the new counter top and order us a nice new big mirror to go on the wall. Looks MUCH better! See what you think.
Friday, October 3, 2008
a field trip day
Spent the day with Jadon's class on a field trip. We went to the Childrens Theater in Downtown Birmingham and saw Rapunzel. We then went to the Golden Flake Potatoe chip factory to watch how they make potatoe chips! It was a wonderful day!
This was on the bus ride over.
This is at the theater
The kids had to put on hair nets at the factory. Jadon was not happy about having to wear his!
Sampling some cheese puffs right off the belt.
Yes, I had to wear one too!
Class in front of the potatoe chip truck
This was lunch in the gardens after our trip!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Some exciting upgrades!
Hey all! We've gotten some exciting updates around our house lately and I thought that I would share.
The first thing that we updated is the grass. Jeff got some new grass put in the front yard. Most of you know this already but thought that I would share some pictures of the yard after his first mow! He is so thrilled about it and it is definitely beautiful! Truly I realize that all this is a gift from God and He could take it all away in a heart beat, but while it's here we will enjoy it and give Him Thanks!
Jeff also painted our house. We changed it to a brown (granola to be exact) and got rid of that ugly gray!!
Next, we got rid of our bigger table that was taking up every inch of our dining nook. We could barely move around in there. We purchased a new pub table and brown faux leather back chairs.
Lastly, our microwave (that we have had for 10 years) blew up today! We were ever so glad for this old machine to finally expire. We happily ran down to Sears and picked up an over the range micro which we are thrilled about. It also gives us more room in the kitchen!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Weekend in Texas
Over the Labor Day Weekend we flew out to Texas to stay at one of our favorite places (Crosspoints) with some really good friends (The Creighton's) of ours! It was a GREAT weekend. What a wonderful weekend away from the craziness of life. My mom was able to go with us and we had a blast. We did lots of sleepin, eatin, 4wheelin, river playin, skunk huntin, cow tippin, walkin in the country, talkin and relaxation! Oh, and lots and LOTS of pole slidin! Here is a glimpse of our time in Texas in this slide show. ENJOY!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Summer Stuff
We had such a fun summer! Can't believe that it is over so fast. Here are some pics of some things that happened in the last couple of weeks. Thought that I would share.
Both the boys are signed up this year for Upward Football. They had an evaluation day a couple of weeks ago and Jeff got some shots of the boys running through some drills.
No telling what Jonah is saying to that kid....what ever it is....looks serious!
We have been having some pirate days around here lately. Here is one of them.
Ok....so we finally got back to school hair cuts for the boys. Don't they look good?
Back pose
Now this is a major event right here! Jadon lost both front teeth within a several days of each other. He is so proud of his big gap!
This picture is of the new "Dark Knight" pajamas that Jadon got the other day. He is VERY proud of them. I had to take a picture of this because I get so tickled at his behavior over these pajamas. Each morning when he takes the PJ's off, he lays them neatly on the floor in his room and then takes his batman mask and puts it at the head. Take a look....so cute!
Here is their first day of school! Both the boys were so excited about going back and seeing their friends.
I tried to get a snapshot of the boys getting off the bus like last year but it was pouring down rain and so all I got was a "blur" of them running toward me in the rain. Oh well.
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