Julie Brooks

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas card that I finally mailed out yesterday. Better late than never...right? :)

Here are the pictures we took for our Christmas card.

You can click on each picture to make them larger. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Focused....

Hello! Anyone still out there? I know I hardly blog anymore and I'm ok with that. I use to stress out if I didn't blog fearing I would lose any readers I had, but it just doesn't bother me anymore. I came to the realization that this time I have with my kids I will never get back and so blogging took a back seat. I don't plan to give it up, but it's also not top priority. I know there are a few families in Crossett that still read our blog and like to keep up with us and I think that is special! Hi Richardson's and Outlaws! :) Those are the two that email and message us about our blog and we love it! We miss y'all! Come visit us!

Anyone else out there still reading? Leave us a message and say hello! We would love to hear from you.

I titled this blog post focused because that is my one word for 2012. FOCUSED. As we are nearing the end of 2011 I'm full of joy, but I'm thinking about several things that I want to see happen in 2012 and the word FOCUSED keeps coming to mind. I'm still trying to decide on a verse for 2012. I know the Lord will give me one and I can't wait to see what it is.

There is something so exciting about a new year. With it comes a fresh new start, a new calender/planner that is a blank canvas, new goals and dreams, the anticipation of what this year will hold. ALl of these things are exciting to me. I've got my new calendar/planner and I'm praying that I fill my days and year with things that matter. Things that bring me closer to God and things that are in line with His will for my life. I want to look back next year at this time and say that I was FOCUSED and did what God called me to do as a wife, mother,daughter, sister, aunt, friend and minister's wife.

My prayer as I close out this year and celebrate Christmas is that I stay FOCUSED and keep my children FOCUSED on the reason for Christmas. Brian preached a great message to the students last night at church. He nailed it....or so I thought....I may be a little biased. :) The main point he drove home is that while Christmas is about a baby in a manger it is also about serving a Lord that came to save, serve and die and now HE is in all His glory seated on the right hand of God waiting to bring his bride home. That is what we celebrate.... a Saviour that is waiting to come for us. What are we doing until that time comes?

There are some very creative people out there.....Enjoy this video! Merry CHristmas from The Brooks Family

 

 

 

Luke 1:31-33 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever: his kingdom will never end.

 

Field Trip

The boys went on a Field Trip for science class and I was able to tag along. I just love their teacher.  They are studying the different days of creation in science and how God created each thing perfect. Ms. W took them to the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth and did the neatest scavenger hunt with them. She explained all kinds of reasons why each plant and flower was made the way it is and what it's purpose is. She had them take time to thank God for making all things beautiful. It was a fun day!

 

Halloween 2011

This year for Halloween, we had a nerd and Darth Vader.  Mason played it cool and didn't dress up.

Isn't that the cutest nerd and Darth Vader you have ever seen?

Carson was set on being a nerd this year and played up the part very well. Not sure where this idea came from, but the costume was free so it worked for me. The Darth Vader costume has now been worn by Mason, Carson and Garrett so I feel like my money was well spent.

We spent the evening at the church for Kids Fest. Before we left "Jessie" AKA Addy stopped by to see the boys. Isn't she precious??

Mason is sporting the Jessie hat becuase Jessie would have NOTHING to do with it! Getting pictures of this bunch is a challenge!! Lol! The only thing that would make these pictures perfect is my other two nieces. Next year we need to plan better and get a group picture.

Is this a fun looking bunch of kids or what? I will assure you of this every last one of them is FULL of life and ENERGY! :)

As I was trying to take some pictures of Addy "the Nerd" came out with a new head of hair.

Check out the lack of teeth in his mouth!! I've always wanted a kid that could sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Now I have one! I just love his toothless little smile and you should hear him talk. So cute!

Darth Vader was not up for any more pictures....he was busy heading to a galaxy far away.

Change

Change: noun - the action of changing something

Change: noun - a difference that is usually pleasant

Change: verb - cause to change

Change: verb - give to, and receive from, one another

Change: verb - become different in some particular way, without permanently losing ones or it's former characteristics or essence

Change is an interesting thing/ feeling.

Sometimes change is needed, but unwanted. Change can also be wanted, but not needed or possible at the time. Sometimes I embrace change other times I find myself trying to avoid it. I like things to stay comfortable and familiar. However, when planning for the 2011-2012 school year I knew we needed a change. When we started out on this journey to homeschool I was open to however long God would allow. I didn't know if it would be a year or several years or until graduation. I was open to God's plan for our family whatever that would be. This past spring I began to pray and look into private schools for the boys. I felt like God was giving me the ok to move forward and find the best fit school situation for our boys. After much thought and prayer we found the school that fit our needs and my wish list. I felt strong that it had to be a Christian school although I don't believe it's the schools job to train my child up in the faith. I do however want my boys to be in a learning environment that is faith based and with teachers that are like minded. I also didn't want the boys in school everyday. I wanted to still play a role in their schooling process. Lastly, we had to be able to afford it! I found all of these things and more in Science Etc. I was thrilled when a lady from church told me about it and even more excited to learn several families from our church attend Science Etc. In September the boys started school! They take classes on Wednesday and Thursday and so far they love it! The teacher sends home the work they are to do before they come back to class the next week. This allows me to still be able to "teach" them at home on our off days. It gives me the freedom to not have to order curriculum and lesson plan! It also gives me more free time to just be with the boys without the stress of being THE teacher. I wasn't sure how I would handle taking them into school the first day, but it went great! I'm very pleased with the small class settings and the challenge the teachers present the boys. I must say there is a little less stress in our house. I'm excited to see what this year will bring academically for my boys.

Maybe now my blog won't be so neglected. Ha! I think I always say that and then life happens and things get busy. Speaking of busy I have plenty to blog about so maybe I will in the next few days.

If I still have any readers left hang in there.....I will be back!

Time to think about Christmas cards....

 

Lifetime Fitness Summer

We joined Lifetime in September of 2010 and absolutely love it. There is so much to do there for everyone in the family. It truly is our home away from home. I love the fact that will live directly behind Lifetime. We can walk there, but sadly in this heat we have been driving. The boys and I swim everyday. Seriously everyday. LOL! I can workout and then we hit the pool. Brian usually joins us after he gets off work. It has made our summer fun! So here are some pictures of a typical summer day in our home.

My view

See the the houses in the back? Our house in being blocked by that small building attached to Lifetime or else you could see our roof! We are close!

They even have yummy food! :)

Fun summer memories!!

Julie Brooks Photography

Hope everyone is having a good summer! It sure is H O T!!! As much fun as we are having swimming each day I must say I'm ready for fall now. Bad thing is we probably haven't even experienced the hottest month yet. I'm sure August will try and out do it's friend July. Yikes!

Despite the heat I've still had a few photography sessions so I thought I'd share a couple of the latest here. I always update a few of the pictures to my Julie Brooks Photography Facebook page so you can follow me there too.

 

 

Mission Laredo 2011

Below is a short highlight video from our mission trip to Laredo. We had an amazing week. I told Brian In 15 years of ministry this was the smoothest trip ever. The youth were so willing to do whatever they were asked and many went above and beyond. It was so HOT and yet there were no complaints. God worked through our students to help change Laredo. I'm so proud of our youth. Next trip Student Life Camp!! :)

 

Where's my youth minister?

One of our former youth tagged Brian on facebook with this video attached. Our fellow minister friends will get a good laugh out of this. This is a perfect song telling the story of youth ministry. Lol! They play this song every year at Student Life camp during youth minister challenge and I crack up every time!!

I especially love the end where he says, "have you ever noticed youth ministers have beautiful wives...I don't understand it." Hahahaha!

Seriously this song cracks me up, but maybe that's because it's our life....a life I truly LOVE! I feel so blessed to minster along side one of the best youth ministers I know! ;0)