More about the birds

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Instagram Review...Texas style



Well, it's been a while since I've done one of these and I've definitely taken a lot of instas since then! I just got back from my homeland of Dallas, Texas and it was so great! I got to see my family and friends and spend some quality time with my wonderful mama!
The only sad thing was that Toby could not come :(. He is in Salt Lake City, Utah for work and (according to him) having a good time as well!

Now granted, he is grading AP tests (which quite frankly makes me want to stab my eyes out Oedipus style) but he us mixin' and minglin' with other teacher friends and enjoying the beautiful mountains...and if course he forgot his camera. Oh well.

Anyways, here is a (long) instagram review if what's been going on in Georgia and in Texas!

New banana peppers and a tomato plant!
Taking care of the babies :)
Summer storms.
Toby and Jeremy. Bromance at its finest.
Late night trips to Walmart for potting soil = being a grown-up.
They have grow more even since this picture!
1. Shabbat dinner with mom. 2. Airport goodies: everything's bigger in
Texas! 3. Texas skies and traffic at 10 AM. 4. My favorite bookstore.
5. A Series of Unfortunate Events kept me company on the plane.
6. We all wear cowboy hats. 7. Breakfast with mom. 8. Pride and Prejudice
ZOMBIES. That's too funny. I love you, halfprice books.
9. Windows in the air (halfprice overload, I know) 10. I love the show Parks
and Recreation, so naturally I pulled over when my childhood play spot proudly
displayed this. 11. Had a fun night with my best friend since middle school,
who I miss so much. 12. Visited my other chicky, Tiffany and her hubby!!!
Read this GREAT book while Toby was away when I got home.
When he DID get home, we celebrated with tea and Sherlock.
Always a comforting thing to see parked next to you at a restaurant. Field trip?
Almost forgot! Some pretty wall art at the Atlanta airport.

Well, that's a little taste of life lately! Sorry for the overload! Hope you all have a great week ahead and that you find some time to enjoy the little moments, too.




~B~




Wednesday, June 20, 2012

My Date with Dad

{source}

Hello,

Ok, I don't get super-duper personal on this blog (outside of a struggle here and there coupled with me and hubby events) but for this one, I am. Father's Day was Sunday which is an AMAZING holiday. I think that fathers are so important and deserve a lot of respect. That being said, I never had one. Yes, I had my grandpa who we lived with (and I've never known a greater man) and I had some father-like mentors in my life but I never knew a man as "Dad". This is no pity party because I don't believe in that, but there are certain things that you just don't get when you don't grow up with a dad. There is a certain void in your heart that longs to be  filled...the void where you remember how dad helped you learn how to ride a bike and how he would pick you up in his arms and everything scary would be gone. There is a level of security and confidence that having a (good) father can bring and it's a longer process for some of us who haven't experienced that to come by.

My mom was both mom and dad for me and she did an OVER-THE-TOP and amazing job! But, I kind of still wanted "Daddy". Growing up I have always heard that God is our Father and that He watches out for us in that way. That is true and wonderful, but when you don't even know what it's like to have a father, it's hard to relate to. As I've grown up, I have finally learned what it meant to have God be my Father, my Daddy. All that I have ever wanted in a Dad, I see evident in God through the bible. In Psalm 103 it says that God is merciful, compassionate, forgiving, redeeming, rich in love, slow to anger, and understanding.

Now pause.  Aren't those the things we ALL long for in fathers?

YES!

I truly know that I have that in my God. So, long story short, on Father's Day while Toby was out of town, I spent it with God and boy was it great. In fact, I spent the whole weekend with Him, in His presence. I prayed, I read the bible, I worshiped, I just sat, and even did the normal things in life like washing clothes...but He was with me. I know I can't see Him, but truly I felt Him...and I know He's proud of me and that He is helping me to keep going and keep learning. In many ways, He kind of is teaching me how to ride a bike...that is, just live this life. I feel like I'm continually learning how to ride without training wheels and it's scary because I hate falling down. But, I know He is there behind me holding the handlebars and telling me "you can do it, sweetie". He will always watch over me (Psalm 121:7-8). I know I have not been perfect and have messed up more times than I can count, but as He told me through a song on Shabbat "whatever you do, don't stop trying, 'cause learning makes lots of mistakes."



This Father's Day was the best one I have ever celebrated, and I will definitely be looking forward to celebrating again with my amazing God.

Love you guys...Texas trip pics are coming soon!

~B~

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Some cool news

Hey everybody,

Well, as some of you may know, my hubs and I are worship leaders at our local congregation. We really love getting to serve the Lord through playing music and writing songs together. This is a life long dream come true for me because I have been a worship leader since I was about 15, and always wanted me and my husband to do that together. Now, we are!

We are always trying to find new music to play for our services and sometimes it's hard to find! Because of a lot of copyright laws and rights and publishers and bla bla bla, some people don't make their chord sheets and audio available. We felt like it was time to put our stuff out there so others can use it and maybe be blessed by it, without all the complicating hooplah. We're super excited and praying that God uses this.

So what are you saying, Brooke?       I'll tell you.

WE HAVE A WORSHIP BLOG! (haha, forgive me for shouting.)

Our site is manolisworship.posterous.com 

Feel free to go and take a look/listen. Just thought I'd share! Here are some pics we took for the website!

Toby playin' the git-fiddle. That's southern for guitar. haha.

Me tickling the ivories.
Us :)
  Catch ya on the flip side.

Brooke

Friday, June 1, 2012

"I like you a lot."

Hello all,

I have a super sweet and disgustingly sappy story for you. If you are allergic to such things I suggest you avert your eyes and/or take a Benadryl after eating and THEN enjoy this post. You've been warned.


3 years ago on May 30th I really liked this guy that I was pretty sure liked me. He lived in Georgia and I lived in Texas, but we talked every day on the phone...because I'm so hot. Well, no, not really, it's because we were just totally into each other...but we also thought each other was hot.
After watching our favorite movie, Twister (yes, the terrible and unrealistic movie about tornadoes; don't judge) we finally got a little mushy. After some subtle hint dropping, we got into the "what are we, exactly?" conversation. He then said, "Brooke, I should tell you, I really like you a lot."

I literally started wiggling and giggling to myself while lying in my bed. Total girl moment.

You see, I kind of already knew (thanks to prayer and God letting me know some stuff) that this guy was IT for me and that this was a forever deal. So when he FINALLY came out and said he liked me, it was almost like a proposal...in my head, haha. I ecstatically, but coolly replied "I really like you a lot, too." And that was that. Now I'm married to this mensch and I am SO glad that he told me he liked me, because I cannot imagine life without him.

So, Toby, here's to 3 years of being together! I'm so happy I have a handsome, goofy, God-fearing, brilliant and loving man like you! I LIKE YOU. And love you :)

Here's some pictures to commemorate the young love memories that are filling my brain!

Only a few weeks after the "I like you" moment :)

This is the "meet the family" weekend. It was great and stressful, because Toby asked for my hand in marriage without
me even knowing it! That sly dog... :)

The birds in their natural habitat of tomfoolery.
At our dear friends' Jessie and Aran's wedding! (We got engaged the next day!)
ENGAGED!
Tying the knot!
Present day lovahs. (That is "lovers" pronounced dramatically.)
Here's to my best friend, hubby and bebebird. I love you.
And just think, all of this from a simple "I like you."
*big smile*

~B~
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...