You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
~ Jeremiah 29:13
This is my home on the web where I share stories about this wonderful thing called life! I am a mom to 3 boys. My hubby is a minister. I'm a homeschooling mom. I enjoy photography, stamping, scrapbooking, reading and running. I love the Lord and I enjoy studying His word.
After the boys looked at these pictures on my sisters blog they wanted to make their own hamburgers and french fries. I bought all the supplies and surprised the boys yesterday morning by waking them up to cupcakes and brownies. :) ( we even ate some for breakfast..shhhh don't tell) The pictures on my sisters blog are much better so if you want step by step details go there. :) I had way to many helping hands to do a play by play with pictures. I did manage to get a few though!
Cupcakes cooled and ready to decorate!
Brownies cooled and cut! (yes, I did sneak a few bites)
Rolling out the sugar cookie dough aka The Fries. This was THE HARDEST part of the entire process!! The parchment paper is the key!
At this point I was losing my mind and thinking "WHY did I show the boys my sisters blog?" LOL!
Hamburgers ready for the condiments.
Here comes the mess especially with three boys! :)
Hamburger baskets. The key is double sided tape. By the time I got here I was ready for a real hamburger and fries! :)
All Done! We delivered these to the church staff. :)
Hungry boys!
Dig in! The boys got a real kick out of making these. I guess the mess in my kitchen was well worth it. Next time I'll be careful when I show them pictures on my sisters blog. ;) Or I will send them to my sister and she can make and clean up the mess with the boys while I take little Miss Blakely shopping....that seems like the better idea.
Is she not the cutest thing??? This is my friend Beth's little girl and I could just eat her up! The entire time I took pictures she wanted Brian to hold her.......it was really cute! We enjoyed getting her good and sticky.
Scott planned a great night of messy games Wed at church. The kids had a blast getting drenched with chocolate syrup, whip cream, ice cream and water. Every kids dream......throwing food! :) By the end of the night everyone was pretty sticky!! Nothing better than getting them nice and dirty/sticky then sending them home.
Mason loved it! Carson was thrilled that he was covered in chocolate and tried eating it. Garrett not so much! He did NOT want to be dirty. (that's my boy!)
The Living Proof Ministries Blog (BETH MOORE'S BLOG) has opened up Sign-ups for the 2009 summer bible study!! Join me and thousands of women across the nation as we study God's word together!! To join leave a comment on this post.
This summer we will study ME MYSELF & LIES By Jennifer Rothschild. I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing Jennifer speak in March of 2008. I'm really excited about what God is going to teach me through this study. I'm sure I'll blog about it along the way.
I did day 1 today. Oh my! I'm in for a ride. Let's just say I have had this scripture on my mind all day...... Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
My brother is staying with us again this summer and the fun has started!! Scott has served as our churches summer children's minister intern for the past two summers. We LOVE having him here!!! As you can see by the picture he is a real trooper! LOL! (had to say it) Seriously he is amazing with my boys. Pretty much whatever they want to do Scott does with them or for them. They have made many trips to walmart, Sonic, the MMC to play star wars and basketball, swimming, movie nights and video game nights. We don't have the luxury of living near family like most so I cherish this time with my brother as do the boys. I also think it's extra special that Scott is their Children's Minister. :)
We spent last week on The Boomerang Express at VBS! The boys had a blast. (and so did I) This morning Carson woke up and said, "I'm ready for VBS"......bless his heart! He cried when I told him VBS ended on Friday. :( I just love that my kids get so excited and pumped about going to church!! (it's a good thing because as staff kids they practically live there) hee hee! :) Here are a few pictures from our week.
Crocodile Hunter Scott AKA (my brother) our children's minister.
If it wasn't 10:30pm and I didn't have to get up at 5:50am (gotta squeeze in a workout) and be back at VBS by 8:45am I'd post more pictures, BUT I'm worn out!
I will post pictures of the stage we decorated tomorrow.......it's very cute if I might say! *wink*
I must get sleep now because I have an adventure in the Australian Outback tomorrow.
If your church is having VBS this summer SIGN UP to help! We are all busy, but I promise you if you take time out of your schedule the LORD will bless you and you will bless the lives of children!! Your church needs YOU!
Over the past several months, it has seem that my life has taken on many roles and I am face with task after task. Even though, I enjoy being busy (a minister's wife, and mother to three wild and energetic homeschooling, and so much more) I have noticed that my attention is being pulled in several different directions. This isn't good ... I know that God has not called me to do many task, but He does desire me to fulfill my purpose for His glory and honor. However, life happens and I just end up going with the flow without ever asking myself "Is this what God really wants and desires for my life and family?"
Mark 8:34 Jesus say "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Total submission of my life to God. This is not an easy choice and is extremely hard to live. It is real easy to do the activities that I want to do and stay busy doing the activities that I love to do, but at the age of 9 I accepted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior. A decision that has and will impact my life for all eternity.
You may be asking yourself "What and Where am I going with this blog today?" Over the past several months, I have been searching out and evaluating who I am and what am I doing for myself or for the Kingdom of God. In some areas of my life I have found peace in the midst of chaos. Many of you knew that I had a online store and was trying to break through in the stamping business. As that door closed in my life, it became evident that I was doing it for all the wrong reasons and never wondered was this what God has for me. Today, I know that God allowed me to go through that storm because He has something greater for me. You see we often settle for the good in our life and think this is great and we tend to thank God for it, but God has His best for us and His best is far greater than the good we settle for. Today, I am seeing just part of His best for my life and I truly thank God for it.
Alright ... sermon for the day is over (Brian would be so proud that I actually listen to him at times) and now to some of that BEST I was talking about earlier. As one door closes, God always has the door open to His purpose. Some of you know, but many of you who check my blog out (thank you for visiting) may not know that I am taking on a new challenge. These past several months, I have taken classes, researched, purchased several items, but more importantly, prayed for God's direction, wisdom, and guidance. And now, I would like to invite you all to my new website and to my new challenge (some of God's best) www.juliebrooksphotography.com
I am excited and feel truly blessed to be on this new path. I also want to thank my big Bri for all of his support, prayers, and love and more importantly for being my webmaster.
PS... I know I've played this clip from Louie Giglio's sermon series before, but I HAD to post it again. :0) I NEVER get tired of watching this ENTIRE sermon. If you don't have it ORDER it! I'm posting it again because I taught a Ladies Sunday School class a few weeks ago and I read a chapter to them out of Louie's book. I was so surprised that many of them had not heard of Louie and told them I would post some links for them on my blog so of course I HAD to include the LAMININ video. :) I'm late getting this post up because I actually forgot. :( I have been so busy and by the looks of my calendar June and July will remain that way.
If you haven't read any of Louie's books I highly recommend them and I encourage you to order his DVD sermon series you won't regret it. Better yet if you ever get to hear him preach live GO!!! Brian and I never pass up the opportunity!
