First Tooth!

First Tooth --- December 1, 2010 at 8 months old!

Now I know what all that fussing was about the day before!

I tried to capture it...but my little man wouldn't let me.

Let the Bloggin' Begin!

After a month break from blogging to focus on getting my Christmas presents complete (which, by the grace of God, all WERE indeed completed!), I am excited to post the last few weeks of adventures from the Brandts.

I am going to back track and begin where I left off! So enjoy the fun!

I gotta get caught up, this Christmas time is just too fun with our little man!

Not Gonna Happen

Here are two pics to tide my readers over until we see most of you in STL soon!

The present-making is going well, but not over yet!

One last project and hopefully I can finish it before Mack wakes up!

Still have to wrap presents, pack, clean, and load up the car before our 9am departure tomorrow.

Oh yeah, and my team is working the concession stand at the bball games tonight so I will be gone from 5-8pm. Yikes! Pray for me :)

2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord says, "My grace is sufficient for you for my power

is made perfect in weakness."

Amen!

Planting, Watering, and Growing

I had some thoughts this morning while I was reading that I wanted to share.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 3 today and came across these verses...(6-8) Paul is talking to the Corinthians about their spirituality and that they were young in their faith. He was also discussing the fact that different people play different roles in peoples lives. "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who planted nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor."

This passage really made me think this morning. Who "planted" the seed of Jesus in my life? Who has "watered" my relationship with Christ? Have I been blessed to play those roles in other peoples lives? Wow, how great is our God that he would allow us to be a part of his plan!? It is awesome to think that God doesn't need us to draw people to Him, as He is so attractive in and of Himself. But God invites us along for an incredible journey where we can deepen our faith in His Son if we allow God to "grow" us.

I am thankful for these people in my life that have been used by God to "plant"

and "water" my walk with Jesus.

(not an all inclusive list as I have only been thinking about this for the past 1/2 hour)

"Planters" in my life:

my parents

former Kanakuk counselors (especially the summer of 1997)

former Sunday school teachers

"Waters" in my life:

Justin

my parents

former Kanakuk counselors, directors, and peers

Morgan Martin

Mrs. Bowers (middle school bible study leader)

Tiffany Rowley (YL)

Chip and Karen Buck (YL)

Brandon Grant (DRL)

Doug and Kristin Rowland

Tracy Felton

Chris Schumacher

Christina Brotherton

Sabrina Smiley

Alana Kaddatz

Abbie Rittmiller

Jen (Schlenker) Bryce

Kari Bangston

Cory Strickler

Eric Collom

Delay on Blogging

Blah....no new posts.....just lots of Christmas project making! I am working on Year 4 of our scrapbooks and I have to start and finish it in the next three days (normally about a 12 hours process!) in order to get a buy one, get one free deal. So, I am focused on that for now. When that is done, I will go back to blogging. But, I will be up to date by the time we head to STL next Saturday so everyone can be up on our news!

Love from Colorado

PS - I am so stinkin' in love with my boy :)

Update for the Week

Hello friends and family, just wanted to give you a little update!

Don and Kathy's visit was a fantastic one and sadly ended last Saturday. We really enjoyed our time with them and can't wait to see them again in three weeks.

We had a few hang out days Saturday-Tuesday (even a date night on Tuesday night) and then my mom arrived on Wednesday!

It is worthy of noting that on Tuesday Macklin got his first tooth! Woohoo! It just poked right on through. I will have to get a pic when I can. I noticed at story time when he was chewing on my finger. Just when I had stopped looking every day in hopes of a tooth, it cuts through.

Since my mom has arrived, we have eaten yummy Heidis for lunch, played with Macklin lots, baked multiple items, cooked more baby food for Macklin, gotten Christmas supplies (we are doing a "homemade" christmas this year!), and slept a little :) It is so fun to have her around. Justin has had a lot of basketball lately (and the varsity team won their first game today...way to go team!) so it has been nice to have my mom to hang with!

Update more later.

PS-Macklin is 8 months old today! Woohoo!