So Much to be Thankful For!

Wow- what an eventful thanksgiving weekend! As you know, Lily Madelyn was born on Wednesday.

Then while we were visiting Anthony's family for the weekend, we found out Anthony's sister-in-law Laura is expecting! She is due in July and I just have to tell the story of how they told us. We were playing Apples to Apples with the whole family and it was Anthony's turn to be the judge. He got the card "sensual". So everyone lays down their red cards and someone had layed down the card "having a baby". Anthony is just reading through the cards when Chris says "Who's having a baby?" and Laura says "I am". Everybody got really quiet for like 5 seconds, thinking like "Is she serious or does she just mean she played that card???". Then Laura starts laughing and everyone else does too assuming that she was just meaning that she was the one who played the card. Then someone says "Are you serious?" and she says "Yes!" and we all errupt in cheers and clapping!

Hahaha... it was so funny and priceless. I wish we had gotten it on video. Anthony's mom and I were talking about how that had to be 100% from God because there have got to be more than 1000 cards in that deck, so what are the chances of her getting that exact card? She said God must have been smiling down on us having a good time together and thought He should add a little excitement to the mix. I just pictured God laughing and smiling along with us. Totally unbelievable how it happened. So anyways, I will be an aunt again in July, so that is exciting!

Another thing to be thankful for, Jon & Sam got a house! They have been wanting this for a while and this kind of just fell in their lap and everything has just worked out in a way that could only be from God. So God just threw all kinds of blessings on our family in the past week!

I am going to see Lily on Saturday so I am very excited about that. I'll end with our annual family picture and one of the guys being crazy!

Lily Madelyn Bruns

Lily has arrived! Woohoo! She was born Wednesday, November 21 at 8:22 pm weighing 6 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 in. long. I am still in disbelief that my best friend is a mom now! Also, today I just realized something. We were staying with Anthony's parents when we found out Amanda was pregnant, and we were staying with them again when Lily was born. Kind of ironic and funny. Anyways, she is just the most precious little thing and I cannot wait till I get to hold her. What an amazing blessing babies are!

My birthday was Monday. I am 24 now. Almost closer to 30 than 20... yikes. Got a Kitchen Aid mixer, a down pillow, a thunderstorm CD, and a "coupon" for a china cabinet, which I am having a hard time finding one to suit me that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I want something for the corner preferably so any suggestions are welcome.

We didn't have our Thanksgiving yet because Jon and Sam went to Sam's parents for the day, so we are having it tomorrow (Friday) so everyone can be together, which is wonderful! Then Saturday we will decorate the tree and such. Such a fun time. And Anthony and his brothers are absolutely hysterical when they are all together, so I'm sure my stomach will be hurting after all my laughing!

Wednesday, I went out to lunch with Mom and Zoe to Burger King. I had some onion rings and Mom gave one of them to Zoe. She ate it and seemed like she liked it. She sat there for a minute in thought, and then proceeded to whine, "Ganny, Tara's not sharing!". Haha. She assumed that since I hadn't offered her another, I was being selfish and not sharing. She is so funny. And 3 years old now! Her birthday was this past Saturday and she got all kinds of toys and junk she has no need for! Haha! She is the most spoiled kid I know, but hopefully my children will reap the benefits of hand-me-downs!

Well that's enough for now. I have so much to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day. Hope it's been a good one for everyone!

Brady

Well Brady Evan Hale was born early Sunday morning. I went over to the hospital to visit last night after work and I got to hold him for a good 45 minutes at least. There is just something so incredible about cradling a brand new life in your arms. I'm not sure what it is, but that is something that just never gets old. Maybe it's that those precious little babies are one of the closest things to heaven we have. How is it possible that two human cells, neither of them having organs of their own, come together and form a new life complete with everything it needs to sustain life? It is nothing short of a miracle of God.

2 Posts in One Day..... Wooo!

I wanted to do a Thursday Thirteen, but first I wanted to say that I so cannot wait until Baby Girl Bruns finally comes out! I am so excited to meet her and my arms and just longing to hold her! Now, onto the 13...

13 (Interesting, or at least that's what I'm going for) Classes I Have Taken

In no particular order...

1. Survey of American History I - I took this at Blue Ridge my senior year of high school, and the professor was also a professional storyteller. So the class was incredibly interesting because it was just like being a kid listening to stories the whole time.

2. Contemporary Issues - This was a class everyone has to take at Liberty, and it was fun because it was about current issues of our time. Made you question why you believe what you believe which is always good.

3. Calculus - This just had to go on here because it was my first and only "C". Anthony had my notes from college pulled out tonight for his calculus class he teaches, and I couldn't believe that I actually could semi-do that stuff at one time! It's like a foreign language now.

4. Theology Survey II - I took it with Ergun Caner who is incredibily entertaining and cool. And it wasn't boring like my Theology I.

5. Children's Literature - Everyone who ever takes this class loves it. You get to read kid's books. How cool is that? And what's more than that, you learn to appreciate them. This class definitely sparked an interest that is still alive. I would like to eventually read all of the Newbery award winners.

6. Literature of the Bible - I can't say it was the most exciting class ever, but it was neat to look at the Bible from a literary perspective.

7. Regional Studies in Geography: China - I learned a lot about the culture of China in this class. Donaldson, the professor, was totally into China so I felt like one of his "elect" since I was in the class he loved. Made a pretty cool presentation too. Oh and we also read some pretty good novels.

8. Contemporary Health Issues - I actually looked forward to going to this one. It was definitely the most relevant of all classes I took and I am so glad I did take it. This was the only class Vicky and I ever had together. He just talked (not necessarily taught) about any health issues that could ever be relevant to us in life, from birth control to cancer. It was so interesting. I would take it over again if I could.

9. Elementary School Curriculum - I think I can honestly say I hated this class, but I'm really impressed with everything I accomplished during that semester. You basically write an entire year's worth of curriculum for your chosen grade level. Not only that, but I had a partner who was terrible at formatting... ugh. Had a lot of late nights that semester.

10. Intro to Statistical Analysis and Intro to Mathematical Statistics - Don't ask me what the difference is, I can't remember anymore. But the professor of these classes was the one I went on my trip to China on. So I loved the relationships in these classes and the fact that we could talk about God and prayer requests, not just statistics.

11. Grammar and Composition - Took this one at Blue Ridge and the professor looked like Chandler from friends. I swear. So it was cool.

12. Accounting - I am taking this now and I really like this kind of math and the fact that I can relate a lot of it to my job.

13. "Special Projects" - as it says on my transcript. This was my Christian service that I did as a professor's assistant kind of thing. I graded a lot of handwriting, so I can write extremely well now. My last year doing it, I was like the "head" person, so that was fun. Graded reading logs, kept up spreadsheets for grades, etc, etc. I really had a lot of fun doing that and getting to work with Mrs. Sherman was wonderful. I still don't know how she picked me to do it, but I'm sure glad she did.


Okay, that's enough. If anyone has any special requests for Thursday Thirteens, I would love to hear them, cause I'm not very good at picking the topics!

Ramblings

So... I know I need to post and seeing that I hate it when blogs I read go untouched for long periods of time, it's not fair for me to do that! I'm sure we have done so many things I could blog about since I last posted, but I'm not sure what to say. So I'll say this:

My heart is full and overflowing with joy right now because I have seen God at work. And I believe I have seen the results of prayer. My prayer life has been one thing that I have always not been happy with and I am trying to change that. Not so much a get down on my knees and pray, but more like an attitude of prayer throughout the day. I hope that I can continue to do this and grow even more in this area of my life.

Through the Beth Moore Bible study we're doing at church, I have been learning a lot. A couple of weeks ago we learned about the story of Zacharias and Elisabeth in Luke 1. They desperately wanted and prayed for a child but they were old and God had not bestowed that blessing upon them. Luke says "they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinance of the Lord blameless". They were doing everything they should be, and still didn't have a child. Well Zacharias was a priest and he had to leave his wife and go to the tabernacle to fulfill his priestly duty. While in the holy place, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his prayers were heard and his wife would bear a child. After years and years of waiting and longing, they would have a son!

So Beth Moore went on to make the point that sometimes, things don't come easily to us and we don't know why. We might even feel like God is "picking" on us. These things seem to come easy to those around you, but no matter how blameless you are before the Lord, he hasn't granted you the thing you want the most. It is through these times of trial and struggle that we learn more about God and see things that those other people never get to experience. He is not "picking on us"; he has "picked" us to see his work in a way that others don't. That was just the most incredible concept to me.

I have to admit that sometimes, in the past, I have felt resentful toward some people, even my own friends, who seemingly have perfect lives. I hear these people complain about something and I want to invite them to walk a day in my shoes. My teenage sister was pregnant. My mom had breast cancer. My dad walked out on his family. All of this within 2 years. But now I know. I know that if I hadn't had to experience the heartache of having a teenage pregnancy in my family, I would have never seen the way God can use a tiny little girl. He can work through anyone. Had my mom not faced and overcome breast cancer, we might never have known how brave and strong we were and what a source of strength and comfort the Lord is to us. Had my dad not left, I would have never known the reality of Psalm 27:10 - When my father... forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. I wouldn't have known the provision of God at the level I do. And I know there is still more to come in this chapter of my life.

All this to say, I have a new appreciation for the life God has chosen to give me. No, it's not easy, but yes, it is right and it is good. Were these things not completely necessary for the completion of God's plan, he would not have given them to me. And he does not give me more than I can handle. God is so good.

iPod... err... windows media fun...

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle (or windows media... I don't have an ipod!)
2. Press forward for each question
3. Use the song title as the answer to each question even if it doesn't make sense. No Cheating!

How do you feel today? Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

What's your outlook on life? Praise to the Lord, the Almighty by Christy Nockels, Passion Worship Band

What does your family think of you? The Future Freaks Me Out by Motion City Soundtrack

What do your friends think of you? Here's to the Night by Eve 6 (how appropriate... this was Amanda and my song! we would get sad listening to it and thinking about how we would miss our time together as roommates)

What do your exes think of you? Let's Do It Again by TLC (hahahaha, what are the chances of that song coming up!?)

How's your love life? Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann

How will your love life be in the future? We Three Kings by Michael W. Smith (haha, whatever that means)

Will you get married? Pretty Piece of Flesh by One Inch Punch from Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack

Are you good at school? Don't Know Why by Norah Jones

Will you be successful? Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel

What song should they play on your birthday? Song for a Winter's Night by Sarah McLachlan

What song should they play at your graduation? Split Screen Sadness by John Mayer

The Soundtrack of your life? We're Gonna Hold On by George Jones & Tammy Wynette

You and your best friends are? I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary by Gaither Vocal Band

Happy times: Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Sad times: Revolution by Jars of Clay (that doesn't fit)

Every day: My Immortal by Evanescence

For tomorrow: It's Gonna Be Me by NSync

For you: You and Me Song by the Wannadies

What does next year have in store for you? D-I-V-O-R-C-E by Tammy Wynette (lol, this is too funny, it most certainly does not!)

What do you say when life gets too hard? For the Beauty of the Earth by Chris Rice

What song did you dance to at your wedding? Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes by TLC

What do you want as your career? Closer to You by Brandi Carlile

Your favorite saying: Crazy for You by Madonna


Well, that was a good laugh!

Short Update

Well... I haven't updated in a while... this seems to be a trend. But Amanda told me I needed to update, so here's a small one.

Two weekends ago, I went to Lynchburg on Saturday for Amanda's shower. We had a wonderful time and it was so great to be with all my girls again. I miss the days when we all lived right there together and were together every day! It's so fun to catch up and just talk about our lives. We had the shower at Meghan's house, which is so beautiful by the way! Thank for hosting it Meghan! Then I got to go to Ren and Garrett's apartment and hang out there for a while. I have pictures from the day but I'm too lazy to go to the other computer to post them right now! Haha. Anyways, what a fun day! I need an excuse to get all the girls together at my house sometime!

This coming weekend Anthony's parents and maybe (hopefully) Jeremy are coming to visit. We haven't seen them since the summer so we're looking forward to that. I think we'll probably go to Skyline Drive and/or the pumpkin patch so that should be fun. I can't wait till Thanksgiving comes so we can finally get to VA Beach for a visit. It's been so long since we have seen everyone! I took the Friday after Thanksgiving off, so we'll be there from Wednesday to Sunday so it will be a nice break for us.

In other news, (haha, I sound like a news reporter) there are only about 4 1/2 weeks till Matt & Amanda's baby is here! I am so excited and cannot wait to see and hold her. It has been so long since I've held a brand new baby! And I'll finally be allowed to know her name! I have a guess but I'm not telling... ;).

Well, I better be off to bed. The Red Sox are playing right now, but it's not looking too good and I never make it for the whole game anyways. I hope they pull it out so they can make it to the World Series! Go Red Sox!