Everyday Blessings

avoidance

2011-10-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever read something and think it was written just for you? That some random person out in the blog world, has found a way into your heart and mind and is writing about a little piece of your life? Today, this happened to me.

I read about this idea that sometime our lives are full of these boulders, boulders so big that we feel trapped in the shadows. And these boulders are so massive that we feel like we will never be able to step out from behind them. In my life, one of these boulders is certainly AVOIDANCE!

Please tell me I am not the only one that has ever felt trapped by avoiding. When I feel trapped by this particular boulder, I hear voices saying things like this:

avoid truths about myself: my health, my weight, my finances, my job, my calling

avoid relationships: with my family, close friends, those who I am just getting to know, those who I think are not like me

avoid that empty feeling in my heart that has been there since my daddy died,

avoid really coming to grips with who the Lord has made me and really starting to love that person

So here is the truth, I am an avoider. Not something I am proud of and certainly not what the Lord has for me, but where I find myself so often. Praying that through this journey of truth, I will begin to look these things I avoid right in the face and embrace them instead of cowering behind that boulder.

31 days of truth...a little late

2011-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

So, the Nester, is sponsoring 31 days writing project over at her blog. I had written my first 2 responses and then deleted them because I was not sure I was really ready to start something like this. And now, I am already behind, but I really feel led, pushed, pulled, to participate in this challenge. If you look at her blog, you will find all kinds of topics that people are choosing to blog about for the next 31 days. Everything from 31 days of joy to 31 days of photo tips to 31 days of thrifty shopping to 31 days of courage. My heart has been really drawn to this idea of 31 days of truth.

Why, truth? That is a good question. The Lord has had me on a kinda crazy journey the past year or so with really understanding His truth about me. While I am still not sure I am really embracing what he says is true about me, I am working to replace the truth I think about myself with His truth. So for the next few days, and let's be honest here, if you have read my blog at all, you know this will not really be everyday, and I might eventually finish these 31 days, I will be talking about truth. I will be sharing some of the truth I feel about my life right now, in this stage. I will share about the truth that the Lord says about me through His word. It will be a good mixture, I hope, of what is going on in Brooke's head and what the Lord is trying to get me to see!

Thank you for letting me be honest, in these posts. I think this is going to be a quite the experience for me!

so here is the first little bit of truth....

i am crazy nervous about how the lord might use this in my life, but so excited at the same time!

breathe...

2011-04-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have never been really good at telling the truth from a lie. The only time I am able to usually do this is when my students lie to me. They have this way of looking at the floor, biting their lips, etc that clues me into the fact that they are not telling me the truth. But in my own life, with the people I love, I have never been able to tell fact from fiction.

This is especially true when I think about the thoughts that flow through my mind day after day, moment after moment. There are seasons, where these thoughts are the truth. I hear the voice of the one who created me telling me that He delights in me, He sees past my shortcomings to the woman that he created me to be. I hear that I loved, that I am good enough, that I have a purpose.

In other seasons, I can't even hear the whisper of this truth. The lies that flood my mind are so loud and clear, that I find myself believing them all. Lies about whose I am, my body, my life, my friends, my future, you name it the lies just keep flowing. They become so intense that often times I feel like my heart is being crushed under the weight of them. I feel like no matter what I do, I will never be able to breathe in truth. I will never be able to hear those things that I know bring me life.

I can remember times when I knew nothing but truth, times where I was able to just be me. To dance in the freedom that I knew in Christ. I was able to take the lies that I heard and replace them with truth, with life giving words. Those were times I felt alive, I felt like Brooke, like I mattered.

But somewhere in the corners of my mind, I find myself doubting what I hear and in creep the lies. And then I feel like I can't get out of it. And friends, right now, I find myself in one of those places, where the lies have crept in and I am having a hard time hearing truth. Normally, I would never write about this on this blog, I would not share my heart. But I feel like as women, (sorry if any of you readers are guys), we all find ourselves in those places at one time or another. We strive to be everything for everyone, only to hear we are not enough. We desperately try to live healthier, only to be reminded that we don't measure up. We long to be loved, only to have those parts of us that we don't love thrown in our faces.

But the good news is, there is one who does say we are enough, we do measure up, we are loved. He speaks truth about us and longs for us to believe it. So while in this season, I am having a hard time finding that truth, I have HOPE that He still whispers through the lies, he still gives breath where it feels we are suffocating.

And for this...I must keep breathing....

day of lists...list 12

2011-03-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

list 12: weekly rituals

i am not really someone who is very ritualistic (is that even a word?). there are things i do each week, but very few of them happen on the same day or during the same time each week. so i will just list some things i do weekly....enjoy!

- hang out with my home group from church

- go to church

- school....everyday monday through friday...spending time with 5th graders...everyday :)

- waste way too much time on facebook or the computer in general

- Glee!

- watch too much DVRed tv

- laundry

- weekly target trip (might be more like daily, but who really needs to know that)

- spend time with the Lord

- eat out with friends

- talk to my momma

what do you do every week?

30 days of lists...list 11

2011-03-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

list: date nights

well, i am not sure how inspired i feel about this topic...but i will share with you somethings that i think would make fun date/hang out nights

- concert. if you know me, you know i love live music and this is a perfect date night or a perfect hang out night with friends. and my favorite live show of course..the avett brothers!

- picnic and hike

- pizza and movie night at home

- thirft store day and coffee

i am sure there are more, but this is all i can think of for now!

day of lists...list 10

2011-03-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

a wishlist... (sorry i am a little behind on these lists, i am catching up today!)

today i am wishing for...

- a new ipod

- someone to come and clean my house, like really clean my house

- to be debt free

- a new wardrobe...with lots of cute shoes, accessories, dresses and cardigans. oh and a perfect pair of jeans

- more opportunities to travel

- all my favorite people to live in my backyard, or at least in my neighborhood

- a super relaxing and fun spring break

- to be 100% comfortable with who i am

- happiness and healing for all that i love

- to be a wife and a mom

- to see Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers in concert together

- to know who sent me a special piece of mail :)

list 11...coming soon!

day of lists...day 9

2011-03-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

favorite blogs/websites

- facebook: i know sad but true. i definitely remember when i first heard of facebook. i was so upset because i could not have an account, do you remember sarai? and now, well...i sure do love it!

- gmail

- newton conover city schools- not sure it is my favorite, but one i sure do visit bunches

- amazon- i heart amazon!

- etsy

- a holy experience

- blogs, there are so many that i could list- annieblogs, teammartins, saraig, and many other friends, people i would like to be my friends, crafty blogs, the list goes on and on

- picnik

- failblog, cake wrecks, failbook- hahah :)

- reality steve- i do love a good reality show spoiler blog

what are your favorite websites? would love to hear!

have a great week!

brooke

day of lists...day 8

2011-03-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

in my bag....and a very cute bag i might add.....you will find...

- wallet- i am holding out hope for this super cute owl wallet, but for now it is my plain black $5 target wallet

- camera- i carry it with me everywhere which leads to a very heavy bag!

- checkbook- yes,i still write checks, and i actually like it

- chapstick/lip gloss (x6)- located in my fun bag from girls weekend...and great reminder of how blessed i am with some great friends

- keys- 3 sets

- cell phone- my friend the droid...i do love you!

- pictures i picked up from walgreens- now they just need a home!

- coupons

- various pens and sharpies

- dry erase marker or markers- this is the sign of being a teacher

- random change

- cute green notebook

- fiber one bar- never know when you might be hungry

- planner

- candy from Mugg and Bean- this would be from my trip to Africa this summer...my heart would love to be back! i think i hold onto it as a reminder of an unbelievable trip.

have a great week!

brooke

day of lists...day 7

2011-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

today is a list of blog goals. as much as i would love to become "blog famous" , i am also realistic. i know that will probably never happen. heck, i don't even know how many of my friends really read this thing. but here are a few goals i have for myself and my little corner of the blog world.

blog goals...

- be a consistent blogger (not my strength)

- design a new banner and redo my blog design

- find a few more followers

- be more transparent on my blog, in hopes that it blesses someone else's journey. never wanted this to be a laundry list of the things i do each day.

- catch up on google reader...hahaha!

what are you goals friends???

happy monday!

brooke

30 days of lists...day 6

2011-03-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

list #6

least favorite words

when i checked the 30 days of lists blog today to find out the list of the day, i couldn't help but giggle when i saw the topic for today's list. if you have spent anytime with me you know there are a long lists of words that i do not like to say or hear...red card words as i like to call them. many of you get great pleasure in saying them around me and watching me squirm. i have not included all red card words on this list, but here is a small sampling of the words i do not like!

* please note, i don't like the word rural because i have a hard time saying it. the word patty is not in reference to the name but in things like hamburger patty or peppermint pattie. the word can't has always been banned from my classroom so that is why it is included. and well, the others, i feel they are self explanatory! *

i am sure some of you can think of a long list of other words that should have been included. feel free to leave them in the comment section!

happy sunday friends!

brooke

Days of Lists...Day 5

2011-03-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

List #5

goals for the weekend

- catch up with some amazing people from journey #22- check

- get a hug from my mom- check

- laundry- in process

- spend some quality time with my couch and maybe even throw in a little nap- check

- clean- hmm....

- work on my bible study for home group- later this evening

- food and theater with friends- tonight, my friends, tonight!

happy weekend!

Days of Lists...Day 4

2011-03-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Excited does not begin to describe how I feel about this list. Music has always been a super important part of my life. It evokes emotion, takes me back in time, and brings me closer to the heart of God. In all reality, I could probably list 100's of songs for this challenge, but i am going to stick with some of my current favorites. Enjoy friends!

Today's Playlist...

- beautiful things- gungor

- shadowfeet- brooke fraser

- everything's right- matt wertz

- you and me- dave matthews

- skeleton bones and how he loves- john mark mccmillan (who i will be seeing in concert this week!)

- falling- the civil wars

- divine romance- phil wickham

- one word- shane and shane

- fire fall down- hillsong

- all i need is you- hillsong

- all i need- jj heller

and my current obsession....

- mumford and sons

- the avett brothers

check out these videos to get a little taste of mumford and avetts...

30 Days of Lists...Day 3

2011-03-03T18:13:00.000-08:00

30 Days of Lists

Day 3

I am looking forward to....

*understanding and embracing what the Lord has for my future

*spring break

*seeing some of the amazing ladies and gents from journey #22 tomorrow night

*part 2 of harry potter

* avett brothers concert- april 9th

*traveling to south africa this summer

*being a wife and a mother one day

*truly grasping how much God loves me

*spring time

*flip flop weather

*celebrating matt and michelle's wedding in may

* spending time with friends near and far

* surrender

* the future

* using my camera...not on the auto setting

* the first veggies from the garden

* getting real mail in the mail slot

* watching all the seasons of the office

happy thursday friends! yay for friday!

much love

brooke

30 Days of Lists...Day 2

2011-03-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

day 2: things i am good at

like yesterday, this is a difficult topic for me. i am actually struggling right now with being able to really see the things i am good at. here is what i came up with....

things i am good at:

- eating

- teaching

- having my camera in my purse...you never know when you will need a picture

- being indecisive

- making a mess

- playing the drums...rock band style

- sleeping

- watching tv marathons...think ANTM

- making people feel special, loved and important

- throwing a pretty rockin' party, gathering, shower, celebration

- wasting time on facebook

- not knowing when to shut up

- remembering song lyrics

- being stubborn

see you tomorrow...excited for what day 3 will bring!

hugs...

Back in the Blogging World...30 days of Lists

2011-03-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

It has been on my heart a lot lately to get back into the blogging habit. My heart is full of things I want to say, but most days I have no idea how to put it into words. So, I thought by joining up with the 30 Days of Lists blog, I could ease back into sharing my heart and thoughts with you on my blog. I would also love if some of you might join up as well...I'm just sayin'!

When I saw the topic for the Day 1 list, I thought it would be an easy start. A few things about myself...how hard could that be? But as I tried to get my thoughts down on paper (I am keeping a paper journal of these lists as well) I could not think of anything to write. Maybe I am the only one who has this problem? I think it all boils down to this simple truth, I am not really all that happy with who I am. Now, before you leave me comment after comment on how wonderful I am (kidding here friends), I know this is something that the Lord is working on in my heart even now. I am open to really starting to love and accept the Brooke the Lord created. So here is my list for day 1...

A few things about me...

lover of God, my family and friends
daughter, sister, granddaughter, god mother, cousin, niece
blessed with an amazing group of friends both near and far
encourager
teacher to some pretty inspiring kids
dreamer
love to travel, take pictures, collect cute paper products, drink diet coke
left part of my heart in Johannesburg, South Africa
impatient
creative
reader
spontaneous
excessive...in good and bad ways
a work in progress

happy tuesday friends!
Brooke

a wee bit of me wednesday...don't fall over, I really am blogging!

2010-09-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Saw this posted on another blog I was reading and thought, maybe just maybe, it might be a good way to get back into blogging. There is really no excuse for my lack of blogging, other than I am just lazy. I have many things to share about summer adventures, my trip to South Africa, and the beginning of school. So please be patient with me, dear blog readers (all 2 of you!), you might just see lots of updates in the near future! But for now, here is a little bit about me!

{one} what’s your favorite day of the week and why?I really love Friday, but have to say that a lazy Saturday might be my favorite. You know those days when you can stay in your pajamas all day long! Ahhhh.....
{two} if you could have a glimpse of your future, would you choose to see it and what time would you want to see?that is tempting. there are so many dreams and hopes that i would love to see if they come to be. but i also don't think i would want to be disappointed if the plan did not turn out as i had hoped. so i think i will just trust the future to the one who has the plan already in place and trust that it is a good and perfect plan.
{three} if you could be any animal, which animal would you be?i never know how to answer this question...so for now i think i will say a butterfly.
{four} do you have a lucky number?not really. i like the number 14. but nothing is really all that lucky for me!
{five} if you could bring one famous person back from the dead, who would it be and why?hmmm..i think this is a really hard question. there are a lot of people i would love to be able to hang out with. geez...i don't know!
{six} fill in the blank: peanut butter and ____________.chocolate!!!!!! bring on the reese cups and peanut butter m&m's!
{seven} would you rather live by the mountains or by the beach?since i have already had the pleasure of living in the mountains, i would have to say beach. my beach trip this summer really helped me to fall in love with beach living. of course i would want a house big enough for all my friends and family to be able to come and enjoy...
{eight} do you have any tattoos?i do. still kinda crazy to admit. i have 2 stars on my foot. been thinking about adding some more...
{nine} if you could retire tomorrow, what would you do?oh retirement. i love to get those things in the mail that say, you can retire in the year 2045. i would love to just be able to travel and spend time with my friends and family, be able to volunteer with some great organizations, read and just enjoy life!
{ten} what is your favorite all time movie?i really can't answer this question. i have lots of favorites. it depends on the mood i am in. my current favorite that i have been watching a lot lately would be 27 dresses. i do love a romantic comedy!
now it is your turn...tell us a little about you!

What am I doING...an attempt to get back in the blogging world...

2010-02-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

To all my faithful readers (you know all 2 of you), sorry I have been a little MIA lately. So to fill you in I thought I would let you know what I am doING...

seeing// the 4 or so inches of snow still in my yard, I swear I live in some kind of igloo. The snow in all the yards around me is gone, but it still looks like a winter wonderland around here!

reading// the prodigal God (thanks Lee) and Redeeming Love (thanks Katie)

listening// to Lady Antebellum's new album and loving it, Phil Wickham's Heaven and Earth CD and You and Me by my cute little friend Dave Matthews...

traveling// to Ikea today with some amazing friends, had a recent trip to TN to see some of my favorites

praying// for my friends little guy, Cooper who just had surgery and for a change of heart for me

planning// some reorganizing projects around the house and a super easy valentine craft that you can find out about in the next day or say over at threesimplegirls.blogspot.com

wearing// a fun new pair of PJ pants I got right before the great friend snowed in adventure last weekend and a hoodie

anticipating// a full week of school this week (we had 3 days off and 2 days of delays this past week), going to see my grandparents this next weekend

loving// the way God knows exactly what we need when we need it, my awesome friends, my new coffee maker

watching// the superbowl tomorrow with some cool people, should be a good time for sure!

so, my friends, what are you doing????

Tagged

2009-11-11T19:00:00.001-08:00

I was tagged by my dear friend Katrina , with this sweet blog award! The rules of this award are simple, I must share with you 6 random things about myself. 6 random things that you might not know about me. This might prove to be a little difficult, but here goes...

1. I had not tried Thai food until a few months ago. On my birthday this past August, my friend Anna took me to a yummy Thai restuarant and I really enjoyed it! I even got to share a yummy Thai dinner with some of my students a few weeks ago.

2. I love to experience live music. One of my favorite things to do is support local bands and venues. The first concert I remember attending was the Randy Travis show at the Asheville Civic Center. It was an amazing show and the evening was made complete with my very own I've Been Digging Up Bones with Randy Travis t-shirt. Although this is the first concert I remember, my mom tells me I lived it up at the Barry Manilow show in my stroller.

3. I have filed 3 workers comp reports since getting my teaching job. Clumsy might be a word to describe me....if it weren't for those silly scissors, holes in the ground and climbing on tables I would be fine!

4. I love to travel and am anxious to see parts of the world I have never seen. After talking with my dear friend Beth today, I am super anxious to get to South Africa and love on the babies she works with at the Door of Hope. I am in awe of all the beautiful places that are around the world and would love to visit more of them.

5. Just like my friend Sarai, I have no clue what I want to be when I grow up.

6. I secretly would love to take Ballroom Dance lessons.

And now, I would love to hear from some of you...

Amanda - my funny, Glee-loving, kindred spirit friend

Jayme - a dear friend and co-worker...you bring a smile to my face

Christal - a college pal and amazing mom to little Cooper

Megan - a far away friend who is an amazing teacher and person

Erica - a friend with a heart for children's ministry and a heart for Jesus

Kristi - amazing mom to Isabella and Ivy and amazing friend to me

Thankful Thursday...no this is not a joke:)

2009-11-05T20:19:00.000-08:00

Don't adjust your computer screen...this is an official post! I am so sorry for being MIA for several months. I could go into what has been going on in my heart and head, but I don't think that it is necessary. What does matter is I am BACK and excited about blogging again.

So my dear friend Sarai has issued a blogging challenge for the month of November. You should check out her blog for more info. Basically she has asked us to try to be more grateful people...so each Thursday for this month, we are going to try to blog about 10 things we are thankful for. So if you have a blog...give it a try. If you don't have a blog, jot it down in your journal or even leave it as a comment on this post! We have much to be thankful for...so let's share!

Today I am thankful for...(in no particular order)

- my momma, she is such a shining example of what is means to truly put others before yourself. She is such an amazing person! Love you mom!

- Sonic Happy Hour

- The promise of Philippians 1:6 God has started a good work in me and will be faithful to complete it!

- Finally finding a church where I feel like I fit...still working on it a little, but I can see how God is drawing me into this community of believers

- my job

- The beautiful fall weather

- The new Shane and Shane CD

- Getting to spend time with some amazing girls on Tuesday night discussing how Jesus completes us

- jeans on Fridays

- my grandparents

It is so easy to focus on all the things we do not have, but we have been blessed beyond measure. So take a little time and share those things that you are thankful for today!

1Chronicles 16:34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Be blessed....

Things I Love Thursday...

2009-04-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

My heart is kinda full right now, in fact my eyes are filling with tears as I think about what I love this day. I love when the body of Christ really lives out the church...when we take the words of James 1:27 to heart and live it out in our everyday lives. ..
James 1:27 (New Living Translation)
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I know that I don't love this in myself, because I know I have a real long way to go. Have I lived this out in my life? Certainly not nearly as much as I should be. But I am encouraged and challenged, uplifted and broken when I read about people I love, people I don't know, people who just love, who are making a difference in the lives of those that we may call unworthy or not good enough all because they were first loved. Here are just a few examples of this kind of love in action...

My dear friend Beth, is giving her heart and time to the orphans of South Africa through The Door of Hope.

I have been so encouraged watching the Chip In meter on my friend Katrina's blog rise! She is helping to raise money for some friends who are desperately trying to bring Pavel, a special needs orphan home to a family full of love.

And even though I do not know these people, I have been following their journey to India through Compassion International. And today as I read their posts, I was overwhelmed by the way my heart was stirred.

I guess I just am really loving people who love, people who take the love of Christ that lives in them and shares it with the poorest of the poor, the neighbor in need, the baby with no hope. And today, I am ready to love like that. Are you?

Things I Love Thursday...

2009-04-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time (before I was a blog slacker), I used to post Things I Love Thursday. I like having some themes to the blogging...so I have decided to start this one back up. I have to admit I was inspired by my friend Sarai to pick this one back up. Sometimes it becomes really hard to decide what to write about, there are really a ton of things that I love...I guess that means I will have lots of Thursday posts coming!

So this week the thing I love is EASTER...for so many reasons. The child in my absolutely loves to get an Easter basket. I know that I am certainly not a kid anymore, but I kinda get a little sad when the Easter Bunny does not leave a basket of super colorful eggs at my house. I hope he remembers me this year. I love to find Reese Eggs and Jelly Beans in my basket, and occasionally cute stationary or other treats. The Easter Bunny does know what makes me smile!Along with Easter comes the spring holiday that all teachers are live for...SPRING BREAK! This year I am needing this break more than ever. I am excited to spend break this year at the beach with my mom and some dear friends. A week of basking in the sun, reading, laughing, watching good movies and sleep, makes me very happy! Emerald Isle...here I come!

But most of all this Easter, I love my Risen Savior. I am overwhelmed by the love He showed for me by His sacrifice on the cross...because of His love for me, I am able to love others. I am humbled by the thought that Jesus would even think of me or want to love me. How grateful I am for this. The events of that Easter Sunday give me hope and joy and purpose and for this I am thankful! What better thing could I love! Here is one of my favorite songs right now...as you celebrate this Easter, may you be reminded of this Divine Romance that we are offered...there is no greater love!

So what are you loving this Thursday?

The Greatest Place on Earth...

2009-03-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday was rainy, it was gloomy, but my world was a little brighter because I was able to visit one of the greatest places on earth...IKEA! The IKEA just opened about a month ago in Charlotte, and I have been dying to go. I thought for sure that if I let the newness wear off, the crowds would have let up and I could enjoy my trip in peace! So, who better to venture to IKEA with than a fellow IKEA-lover my dear friends, Sarai. We did not get there until about 1:30, and we were fully expecting a parking deck which would have been great since it was pouring rain. Well, no such luck at the Charlotte IKEA....it was an open parking lot with lines a mile long to even get in the parking lot. We ended up having to park across the street on the road. We journeyed across the 3 mile parking lot (ok maybe not 3 miles but it sure felt like it) and made our way into the blue and yellow goodness!

So the top floor of IKEA is set up like little rooms that you can check out, the bottom floor is where the actual shopping gets crazy. The top floor on this particular Saturday was CRAZY. Sarai and I felt at times like we were cattle being led out to pasture. There were people everywhere, if I had never had an IKEA experience I would probably never go back...luckily I know better than to judge my experience by this trip.

The store was super nice and the deals of course were amazing! I was pretty proud of myself that I left with only spending 30.00. Here are a few things I left with...

Some super cute black and white bowls...

A cutlery caddy which I am excited to paint and spruce up a little bit...(which I can't find a picture of)

A couple of cute lanterns that I think will look really cute on my table during a spring gathering...

And my favorite find would be a black and white box, which I already want a million more of to put around my house! Gotta love it!

So all in all a great first trip to the Charlotte IKEA...Sarai even left with Her Majesty! Can't wait to head back soon....

Avoidance...

2009-03-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well I guess you could say that I have been a super bad blogger for the past well, month or so. I thought of all these witty things I could tell you about why I have been absent from the blog world, you know like cute top ten lists about why I have not been blogging or blaming it on my busy schedule. But I decided to just type from the heart for now...

So, basically I have been avoiding my blog. I checked out dictionary.com to see what avoidance really meant and I found that it is a noun meaning the act of avoiding or keeping away from. And this totally fits how I have been feeling for the past several weeks. I have always been afraid to really write from the heart on my blog. The normal insecurities certainly have set in, speaking from the heart just makes you vulnerable and I was not sure I was ready to do that. But over the past few weeks I have just been really falling for and listening to the lies that the enemy tries to sneak into our hearts and our minds. Silly things like, no one really cares about what you have to say on here. Haven't you seen those other blogs, yours does not even come close. Your words do not speak to the hearts of the people you know or might stumble upon this blog. I have tried to cling to the truth that I know, but I just have fallen prey to these feelings of unworthiness and self pity.

Even when I was at church last Sunday, I found myself listening to the voice that just kept telling me I was not good enough. I was frustrated...I know that I am so much more than the lies that I had been listening to. Tonight at small group, we were reading in Luke Chapter 1. In this particular part of scripture, we are introduced to two amazing women...Mary and Elizabeth. Both women were strong examples of faithful servants to the Lord. When Mary came to Elizabeth to tell her she was expecting, Elizabeth shared these words with Mary...

Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come

true! Luke 1:45 (the message)

I think that my heart has been forgetting that God's word does not turn void and his promises endure. I have been letting the lies lead me to avoidance when I should be claiming and believing the promises that God has for me...I am a beloved and worthy child of God and should be living my life in that way. So friends, there will be no more hiding, no more avoiding...today is a new day!

2009-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

You would think that after an amazing blog makeover, I would be blogging like crazy! Well, life seems to get in the way sometimes and I have just not had a chance to blog! Thank you all so much for the comments about my blog makeover. I wish I could take credit for it, but I cannot. A big thank you to Kristi for designing a blog that I think really represents who I am! If you ever want to spice up the look of your blog, I would highly recommend her! Thanks again Kristi for really creating something beautiful.

Life has been a little crazy around my world. Last weekend while spending some quality time with some amazing friends, my mom called to let me know my grandfather was in the hospital. He had been admitted to ICU. I knew I needed to head home to be with my family. I stayed with them for several days until my grandfather was able to be moved to a regular room. He is doing much better and has been home for several days. He seems to be recovering well and I am just hoping that that continues.

So that gives you a little idea as to where I have been for the last week or so...more blogging goodness to come!

PS...to see another one of Kristi's great designs...check out my dear friend Katrina's blog! Super cute!

I'm so excited...

2009-01-26T19:33:00.000-08:00

about my new blog look...what do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! There are still a few little things I want to change, but come one people, it is CUTE! I am pumped. I promise to write more later...but for now I am sleepy!

Happy Days to Hope!

2009-01-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, our lives were blessed with a special little girl...Hope Eliana Martins! I will never forget making the trek to Virginia Beach to meet her. I was in love from the moment I saw her. And it has been a joy to be able to watch her grow and be a part of her life for these past two years. She is a spunky little gal, with such a sweet and caring spirit! This summer I was able to go to Tennessee and meet her little sister Maddie. It was so amazing to watch Hope shower Maddie with kisses and love on her! Such a special bond they will have! I know that God has big plans in store for this little one! Happy Birthday Hope...I feel so blessed to be your Auntie! I love you so much!

2009, the year of....

2009-01-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

I am not usually one to make resolutions in the new year. I am smart enough to know that I will not follow through with them and I don't like setting myself up for failure. But this year, I am going to really put forth a serious effort to make this the year of me and God. So my resolution or goal for the year or whatever you might call it, is to spend time, REAL TIME, with God. Now, I am not saying that over the last years of my life I have not been spending time with God...I have. But I am not sure that it was quality time. In the past few years, I think I have been doing a lot more of the talking and not nearly enough of the listening or if I was listening, I was already talking over it. I am committing to memorizing 2 scriptures a month. I am going to be spending some quiet time, literally quiet time being still and really listening for that still small voice and really reading and searching through the scriptures. I tell you all this because I want you to hold me accountable my dear friends. Ask me what I am reading. Ask me to let you know the scriptures I am learning. Ask me how God is working in my life. And if I can't tell you...don't be afraid to challenge me. I think for so long I have been comfortable in my walk...it has been common and I am ready to be uncomfortable. I am ready to live in a way that I know God is using and speaking to me. One way I wanted to do this was to ask God to give me a scripture that will be my "year scripture" (for lack of better terms.) Basically, this will be the scripture that I focus on for this coming year. Some people have a life verse, I am asking for a year verse. I have been struggling a lot lately with what God wants from my life, what the plans are, what path I am to take. So my year verse is going to be Jeremiah 29:11-14. I really prayed about this and am so excited to see this time next year how God used this scripture to form 2009. I know that this is a promise that God makes to us...

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. 13-14"When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. Jeremiah 29:11-14 (the message)

How can I encourage you in the coming year? What is on your heart? We are all on this journey together and I am blessed to be living it with you...2009...it is going to be good!

Holiday Recap

2009-01-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas day was spent at Matt and Billy Mac's house...what fun to watch Billy Mac open presents and get so excited about Christmas. Santa was super good to him...a new Cars bike, a Carolina football uniform and lots and lots of other fun stuff. Family time was so precious this year...

We even brought Gran over to celebrate with us. I loved having her there and I think she enjoyed being able to share some good time with Mamaw and mom. These three women are such an important part of my life. I gave each of them a book to write down family stories and memories. I can't wait to get them back one day with all the treasures and wisdom they have to share.

This sums it up...Christmas was a fun and exciting and tiring day!

The day after Christmas I boarded a plane very early to head to Pittsburgh, PA to drive over to Ohio with Megan to celebrate the wedding of my dear friends, Shannon and Jordan. I was able to spend some sweet time with friends that I had not seen in a while.
Here are the new Mr. and Mrs. Edwards! The ceremony was such a testimony to their love for each other and their love for God. I pray God's richest blessings on this newly married couple.
I miss my friend so much...but was so happy to be a part of her special day!

So this brings us to New Year's which was spent with some great friends, good food, lots of laughter and a little Rock Band! So fun!
Here is to 2009!

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas...

2008-12-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a little holiday tour of my home! I love opening my house up for visitors during any season of the year, but especially at Christmas time. There is just something about the sights, sounds, smells and memories of Christmas. As my good friends Katrina and Sarai have already said, I wish you were here with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, but this little virtual tour will have to do for now.

The Christmas tree is in my living room in front of the large windows that face the street. I love to sit on the couch by the light of the tree and just relax. Last year I discovered that my Christmas decorating taste had definitely changed and revamped my tree to a red and gold theme. Tucked in the tree are some super sparkly snowflakes which might be my favorite! On the mantle you will find my needlepoint stocking that I have had for a long time and the mantle is decorated with some fun garland and ornaments.

So here are a few other random shots from around the house...Enjoy!

One of my favorite traditions as a child was getting a new Christmas book each year. Even though I do not have kids of my own, I continue this tradition to share with the kids in my classroom. I bought Great Joy last year after Christmas and am so excited about sharing it with my class. My mom bought me One Snowy Night because the pup on the front reminded her of Barkley!

My mom gave me a special gift last year that I love to display at Christmas. It is a picture of her and her sister on Santa's sleigh when they were little girls. I love having this family memory in my home and it serves as a wonderful reminder of my special Aunt Donna and the love she had for this time of year and our family. I am not sure you can really see it in this picture, but it is so special!

This year may you BELIEVE in the magic of this season and the love that was born that Christmas night so long ago. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Dear Blog Readers...

2008-12-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Readers...

Could someone tell me what I am supposed to do with the rest of my life? That is all...Thanks!

Love,
Brooke

All I want for Christmas...

2008-12-11T18:13:00.000-08:00

Some people want two front teeth, or lots of presents under their tree, but my Christmas wish was quite simple this year. And it all started with a little adventure in Raleigh with my favorite gals and a little Christmas goodness...

I have to say that if you know me at all you know my deep deep love for all things Shane and Shane. I will forever be grateful to my friend Sarai for introducing us a few years ago. I have seen them in concert countless times, follow them online and love their music. The lyrics are amazing, the guitar is out of this world and their hearts for the Lord are huge. So we knew that we had to make it to the Christmas tour this year. Our goal, to have our picture made with the Shanes. Sounds simple enough...right! You know how most people would be if they were in the presence of Brad Pitt or Matthew Mcconaughey, well that is how I found myself, when we spotted Shane B. at the sound board before the concert. The logical thing would have been to go and ask for a picture, but we were speechless, like 13 year old girls. Now Beth, was the brave one and stole a shot before the show.

Well, the show started and we have missed our chance...but all of that was lost once the music started. Not only were the Shanes there but Bethany Dillon and the ever fabulous Phil Wickham (love him!). Here is a little mid show picture...

When the show was over, we were determined to meet Shane and Shane. So we waited for a while and chatted and plotted. We were confident and ready. We glanced back at the merchandise table and a man with blinking antlers caught our eyes! There he was...Shane B! So, being the brave women that we were, we went and waited patiently in line and the Christmas wish came true...

We also met Bethany Dillon and got a quick picture of Phil...

Even though there might be 14 days til Christmas, my Christmas wish has already come true! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Tag...I'm it...

2008-12-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by my dear friend Christal to share 7 random or weird facts about myself. So enjoy!

1. I have a famous name...most of you probably already know this but my name is Jessica Brooke Simpson. So you can impress all your friends by letting them know you are friends with good ole' Jessica Simpson. By the way, I do know what Chicken of the Sea is!

2. I have a long list of words that make me cringe when they are said. I would tell you what they are but I would have to kill you! Don't worry though, if you say them I you will know it!

3. I have a secret desire to visit Cleveland, Georgia and Babyland General Hospital...I am obsessed with the names of Cabbage Patch Kids (thanks Lori, Beth and Sarai!). We even found one named Sarai...that's right spelled with an I!

4. I have had to file 2 worker's comp claims while working at my school. One for trying to cut my finder off while making clocks with my kids and one for falling in a hole and spraining my ankle! Me, clumsy...no way!

5. Broadway shows are really exciting to me and I would go to them all if I could. My person favorite of course is Wicked but I have seen Mama Mia, The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The 25th Annual Putnam County SPelling Bee, Rent, A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde and hopefully many more. I have actually seen some of these twice and maybe three or four times.

6. I attended the World Odyssey of the Mind competition when I was in 8th grade in Boulder, CO. Odyssey of the Mind was a creative problem solving competition and our team made it to the world finals. It was an amazing trip...such a great experience.

7. My very first job was working at K-Mart and I had to wear one of those super cool red vests. I even got to announce a Blue Light Special once!

The other part of this tag is to tag seven friends...So I tag...
Kristi
Jayme
Suzanne
Amanda
Nina
Robyn
Lisa

If you read this...

2008-12-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

Dear 4 people who might read this blog...

Sorry I have been a blog slacker and have not updated in a while. It is not that I have not had things to say to you...just I guess not sure what to say! So...I promise to update with a much better post soon. But for now here are the top five things that have happened since I last blogged...

1. Went to see Wicked with some super cool friends
2. Thanksgiving with the family
3. Christmas decorations are in process at the Simpson home...woohoo!
4. Saw my super precious Goddaughter sing some very cute songs at her Thanksgiving play
5. Got to spend some good friend time with Shannon...my friend who moved far away to Mississippi

I am sure there are a million and one other things I could tell you about and I will update more later.

Until next time...
Brooke

Second time was a blast!

2008-11-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

Oh friends, I can honestly say that last Thursday evening was one of the best nights of my life. When I heard the news, that one of my all time favorite boy bands had decided to reunite and go on tour, I was so excited. I honestly never knew that I would get to go see them though. But thanks to Kristi and a little place called Ticketmaster, the dream came true and I was once again in the stands screaming my head off for New Kids on the Block!

20 years ago, (yikes that is hard to say), I remember getting tickets for their tour for Christmas. I wept when I opened the tickets and sobbed when I witnessed the concert. I had never experienced anything like it until last week. Friends, the show was amazing! The opening acts, well they left a little to be desired, but once Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jon and Jordan (oh Jordan), stepped out onto that stage, I was immediately transported back to that place 20 years ago. We were screaming, dancing, getting funky with the New Kids dance. Yes friends, the first time was a great time, but oh the second time was a blast!

Here are a few pictures from the evening...be sure to read the captions and the awesome ticket surprise we got!

Kristi and I pre-concert...we were so excited! I am not sure if you can see our shirts or not, but the front says...First time was a great time and the back says...Second time was a blast! They shirts were super cute! We were rockin'!

Beth and I were suddenly dramatic about the tickets in our hands...section 231 or so we thought!

And here we are with our upgraded tickets...you know section 102! We were so pumped..honestly they were the greatest seats. Well except for Julie's...she was on the floor! But hey, we were so thankful for the blessing!

Tonight...Tonight...such a blast!

Beth and I right in the excitement of it all!

So much fun...a night full of great friends and amazing music! I think a trip to see them again is in order...to bad that would require going somewhere like Paris!
Keep Hanging Tough and rockin' out to the beat that NKOTB gives you!

We're gonna put you in a trance with a funky song...

2008-11-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

So here is just a little glimpse at how I spent my evening last Thursday! More to come!

I Am...

2008-10-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today started out as one more crazy day. I knew I needed to get up extra early because I had a parent conference scheduled for 7:15. Yes, I said 7:15...that would not be a typo. Mom called for my usual 5:30 wake up call and I totally told her I was up and going. Well I think I lied, because the next time I looked a the clock, it was 7:20 and I was in panic mode. I ran around trying to get ready, calling people at school to ask them to cover my class...it was crazy! I did end up getting to school a little after 8:00..don't ask me how!
But this just started my day off in a not good way...I felt like I was always 50 steps behind where I needed to be as I rushed around school to get things ready for the day and make sure the day went smoothly. When I got home from school, after 5 parent conferences, I was really looking forward to our small group meeting. This is such an encouragement to my week and I knew it would help put things into perspective. Well, we were supposed to be watching a DVD tonight, and wouldn't you know that my DVD player would not work. So, we did not get to discuss what we had intended although, i was really happy for the fellowship time with this amazing group of ladies! All this to say...I really fell like Satan has a radar and can tell when you are a little bit vulnerable. And he immediately swoops in and pushes every button he can just to get you down. I could really talk about this forever, but tonight I am just feeling that a lot. But I am clinging to the fact that GOD IS ENOUGH. He is constant, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He takes the ordinary parts of my life and calls me me daily to make them extraordinary. He loves me ugly parts and all...grumpy and tired...He is near and wants me to live a life that is full and abundant.
Last week at small group, Amanda shared a great song, that I actually had been thinking about, and it turned out she had brought to share with small group. Here are the lyrics...so true...let this be your prayer even now...

I AM by Jill Phillips
Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you
Like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast,
But I will stay
The same through the past,
The same in future, same today

CHORUS:
I am constant; I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy; I am wise
I'm the only one who knows your heart's desires
Your heart's desires

Oh weary, tired and worn,
Let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold
Cause Mine is light

I know you through and through;
There's no need to hide
I want to show you love
That is deep and high and wide

CHORUS(2x)

Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you
Like a mother while you rest

Shine...

2008-10-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in the place where you are not sure if God is moving in your life? You don't know if you hear Him, you can't see him moving around you, you feel stuck? Well, I have been in this place, I swear for like the past 3 years. That is not to say that God has not being doing things all around me or to imply that I have not felt close to God at moments over these past few years, but that true feeling that God is right in the midst of what is going on in my life has definitely been missing. One thing I have been craving is good fellowship with a group of people who will ch allege and support me in my faith, a small group if you will. For years I have been telling my friend Kristi, I really felt like I should start a small group but of course I never acted on it and continued to feel empty and hungry for true fellowship. So this year, I was determined...even if it just turned out to be me and my bible, I would start this small group. So I sent out an email to a few friends inviting them to my house for a little fellowship and fun. This could turn out to be a really long story and truth of the matter is most of you who read this were probably there. So I will give you the short version...

Our group had watched the Nooma, Breathe (if you have not seen it...oh you have to watch it! AMAZING). And we had decided to stay with it for a few weeks and really spend some time in the word understanding the scripture that went along with it. So this past Tuesday, Amanda did an amazing job of taking the scripture in Exodus where Moses sees the burning bush and helping us really pick it apart and look deep in this passage. We were talking about what we have been hiding from people, and I shared with the group that I am hiding that I live in fear but I am really asking God to help me live in the freedom that He provides. And then we started talking about the burning bushes that are in our lives. I will not go into all that happened during that time, but just trust that it was a great discussion, so nice to be able to share with people what was on my heart and feel loved, supported and prayed for. Such a blessing..

Now fast forward to Wednesday, my friend Kristi came into my room and told me she wanted to go get a tattoo on her foot of a star. And then she went on to explain that was what she wanted to be, a light in a dark world. She knew she had been called to be light and she really wanted others to see that light in her. In a very quick, not thought out reply, I told her I would go with her. Not really sure that I would get a tattoo at all, because I am not going to lie, I knew it would hurt, I thought about it a little more. And I was really drawn to this idea. That we are called, yes called to SHINE a bright light in the world, a world that is hopeless, faithless and hurting. Sometime I need a visual reminder of that too...so I told her I would get one too! And then I got to thinking a little more about what I know God has called me to do...to be His hands and His feet. I tend to think I am pretty good at the hands part of that command. I like to serve, be helpful to others, play it safe. But the feet part is another story, that required action, that is the GO behind the command. This is the part of what God has called me to do that I have not been faithful with. So to get a tattoo on my foot would remind me that I am to GO! Go where God is asking me to go, no matter what that is and then once I go to be that light in the dark world! So all that to say....

I did it...I have a tattoo that reminds me to GO and be a light to a dark and ugly world. The second star is also in memory of my dad who I lost 6 years ago. I know that the stars are one way for me to know that he is watching over me and this helps me to know he is with me all the time!

I know something very not like me, but I am really happy with it. And more than that I am happy with what it means to me..now if I can just be all that God is calling me to be...It is time to SHINE!

Do Not Fear...

2008-10-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Tonight a new coworker and friend invited me to go with her and her husband to their church for an event. They had set up a large screen in the church parking lot and had a movie night under the stars. I was excited to hang out with this new sister in Christ and to get to know her and her husband a little better. The church was showing the movie, Facing the Giants. I had not seen it but had heard many great things about it. It really was a great movie. Such a good and solid message...With God All Things Are Possible. For those of you who have not seen the movie, it is the story of a high school football team that just can't seem to get a break. The coach really begins to seek the Lord and to have his team play for his glory and the team really turns around. They make it to the state playoffs to face the Giants...this is where I really heard the Lord speak to me. It was at this point in the movie that the young coach was in the locker room before the state championship game. His former coach comes in to encourage him before the game and the coach is just talking about how he is not sure his team is ready and how he is afraid that they will be trampled out on the field. The older coach then reminds the younger one that in the bible God tells us 365 times...Do not fear. The statement was made and I did not even make the connection until Shannon leaned over and said, "Isn't that awesome...one time for everyday." Wow...do not fear...once for everyday of the year.
I feel like I have been living most of my life in fear. When I think about what I think, how I choose to act, what I say or more importantly don't say are usually a direct result of being afraid of something. Being afraid of looking stupid, being afraid of what others might be thinking of me, being afraid of being rejected, the list goes on and on. God calls us to live a life that is not full of fear but yet full of faith that He is in control and with Him all things are possible. This is my prayer tonight, that I would begin to live knowing that God is with me, and that through Him I find my strength and should not fear...not today, tomorrow or any day.

The biggest leesson of all...

2008-10-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

Never commit to writing a list of things at the beginning of the school year...because it will not get done! Wow...what a big time blog slacker I am! I apologize to all three of you who actually read this blog for not being able to commit to actually following through with this list of 30 things. To be really honest, I really think my previous post (#5) encompasses so much of what i have learned in my life. Yes, there have been more lessons, trials, joys, but what I experienced that year has molded me and changed me and made me who I am. It was a bit of healing posting about it...as I am not usually one to talk too much about missing my dad. So thank you for letting me share, and for being patient as I try to get back on the blog saddle! I am back friends...probably not back enough to post the rest of this list, but let the new posting begin....

#5...

2008-08-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

#5...You have no control over the amount of time you have with those you love...enjoy and take advantage of every precious moment...don't regret anything...cherish the time you have!

6 years ago today was one of the worst days of my life. It was 6 years ago today that I learned that my dad had passed away. I was a naive 22 year old getting ready to start her 2nd year of teaching. I never in a million years would have expected to hear the words I heard that Sunday morning. Even today, I am blown away by the sudden loss of my daddy. I wish I could say that I took advantage of every second with him...that I always told him how I felt...hugged him when we said good bye...but I didn't. I know there were times that I walked out his door and never even thought to tell him I loved him. How I wish I had that time back. These past 6 years have been full of so many accomplishments, firsts, and happy memories that I wish I could have shared with my dad. I often find myself wanting to pick up the phone and tell him about my crazy day at school or to get him to tell me what to do to fix my car. I look at my favorite picture of the two of us and my heart aches for a big bear hug...you know the kind that only a dad can give his daughter. If only time had stood still and I could have told him how much I loved him. If only I could have told him that I was so proud of him and that he had challenged me to be a better person. If only I could have told him how much I admired his strength and his determination to overcome a disease that had a strong hold on his life. But for now, I have to just share those thoughts in my heart and wait for the day when I will be able to crawl up into his lap and laugh and cry and talk the way we used to. There are so many things I wish my dad would be here for...when I watch my friends walk down the aisle at their wedding with their dad at their side I miss him. When I the dads of my students walk their kids into school, I miss him. When I see a Duke t-shirt I miss him. Not a day goes by that I do not wish he was still here with us. The only hope I have in this is that he is living it up in heaven and just waiting for me to get there one day! I love you dad...and I hope you are proud of the woman I am becoming...

Last year on So you think you can dance, Mia Michaels, one of the choreographers, created this dance about her dad that had passed away. As I watched the movements of these dancers on the stage, I just wept. I long for the day when my dad and I can dance like this again...Until then...

On a roll...#4

2008-08-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Don't be shocked...I promised I would catch up to my blogging slackerness...only one more today and I will be all caught up!

Alrighty here we go...
#4 There will be times in life where you feel like it is the first day of your freshman year of high school and you are standing in the cafeteria with your tray and don't have a clue what to do...and it is ok, take risks and move on with life...you will survive!

Do you remember that awkward moment, everyone was looking at you, you had no clue what to do and your feet would not move...no matter how much you told them to do it. It was not the school cafeteria for me, but the Commons Area. For all my fellow Rockets out there, the Commons Area I am sure brings back many great memories. But I will never forget the first day of freshman year, it just happened to be my birthday and I was terrified. When I walked in the front doors, after being dropped off by my mom, I was not even cool enough to know an upperclassman who could drive me... I saw the Commons Area looming down the hall. This was the place to be seen...to hang out...to make your mark in high school. I had heard about it, but had not a clue what to do when I got there. The commons area was a large room with benches lining the walls. One side for each class...of course the freshman got the short bench and often the floor and the seniors were living it up with padded benches galore. I made my way into the crowds, looking for any familiar face. Of course I saw no one and I just found myself standing in the middle of the chaos with a definite deer in the headlights look. I kept telling myself to move, to go sit down or at least just get out of there, but I was stuck. I was so worried of doing something wrong, sitting on the wrong bench, falling...that I was frozen. I had no idea what to do. Luckily a good friend came to my rescue and led me in right direction. I survived the commons area but always felt bad on that first day of school when that freshman stood in the middle and just froze...oh I remember that feeling.
I think we all have times like this in our lives. We are afraid to mess up the order of things, to look silly, to talk to the wrong group, take some one's seat, etc. I am still this way. But thankfully I am learning that taking the risk to look like that dorky freshman is ok and not nearly as traumatic as I remember it. So I guess I have learned that the Commons Area times of life will happen, and I will make it through them.

#3 on the list of things I have learned in my 30 years...

2008-08-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

So when I started this series of blogs, I thought it would be a lot easier than I am finding it to be...I know I have learned a lot, grown a lot, and changed a lot in the last 30 years. But when you stop and try to put all those life lessons into words, it is kinda tough. So I appreciate you all bearing with me as I trudge through this process. What I love to, is that I feel I can be honest through these blogs and get my thoughts and feelings out and don't have to worry about differences of opinions etc. Because these are just my opinions...feel free to disagree! I am convinced that this is a healing process for me and a time to be able to reflect and reason through this crazy journey we call life. It is so nice to have people along side you on the journey...so thanks my friends for being fellow travelers...what an adventure.

Lesson #3: Quality (in most cases) is so much better than Quantity

Remember when you were little and your mom or some other caring adult would be passing out some yummy snack or treat...and you would count to see how much the friend next to you got to make sure you had more or at the very least the same number. I think as young people we are programmed that more is better. I know I have felt that it many areas of my life. In high school, as sad as it sounds, I think I found my worth in the number of friends I had. It was not until later on in my high school years, did I realize that the number was great, but the depth and quality of those relationships was so much better. Even today I have to fight this temptation to find my worth in the number of things or people I have in my life. Just think facebook...how many friends do you have?!? Thankfully, I am learning more and more each day that when it comes to many things in my life the value of the relationship or quality of the super cute sweater actually means more than the number of friends I have on facebook or the insane amount of clothes I have in my closet. I am not sure that I am completely there yet, but I am hoping that in the upcoming years, I can really be the type of person who seeks quality interactions, friendships, relationships, shopping trips, just time in general. I guess the only thing in my life where this still does not apply would be paper products...I mean can you ever really have too many of those:)

As promised...

2008-08-17T19:03:00.001-07:00

Continuing with my theme of the Top 30 things I have learned in my 30's...Here is the second...
Accepting help from others is an ok thing to do. I tend to the be the girl that would rather do things for others and have a very difficult time accepting help from other people. As I get older, I am learning more and more that one of the reasons I think that God put us in relationship with one another is to be able to be there for those we love. And yes, asking for help does put you in a very vulnerable and sometimes uncomfortable position but the blessing is so worth it. I have often heard people say that when you don't let them help you, you are actually keeping them from a blessing. So, when you need those around you to be the things that you can't be for yourself...take the chance. I am finding that it is so worth it, you find that those you love are so willing to step up. Because I don't like to have people upset at me, I tend to think that asking for help is an inconvenience for people and that they will somehow hold it against me. This is such a tainted view of what true friendship is...you see when you are in those places where you don't think there is anyone who can help, listen, understand...it is in those places that you find who your true friends are. So in my next 30 years I am going to work hard to not only be the giver but also the receiver...
(not sure if this makes sense...I am tired...school starts back tomorrow...I am 30!...enough said!)
Here comes #3....

Not being a blogging slacker...

2008-08-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

And I promise that I am going to continue with the 30 things I have learned in my first 30 years, but I am going to have to update on Sunday! Friday was a super eventful day...so much fun with my mom and then my ridiculous friends threw me a surprise party that night and I did not get a chance to update. Today I am headed to Sylva to hang out with the cool camp kids and won't have access to a computer, so I will update on Sunday when I return. So stay tuned friends for the second, third and fourth thing I have learned in my 30 years! Until Sunday...

The Big 3-0

2008-08-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well friends...it is official! I have joined the sacred 30 club! And so far it is not so bad! I just kinda can't believe it...30 seemed so old not too long ago, and now I can honestly say that I feel like it is going to be the beginning of an amazing journey! So to commemorate my turning 30 I have decided to blog for the next 30 days. I am going to share the Top 30 thing I learned in my first 30 years! Now if you know me well, you know that I might be doubling up on some days...but hopefully I can share some things I have learned during this crazy journey we call life! Some will be serious...some will be funny...some will probably just make sense to me! I think this is going to be a little therapeutic for me...a way to reflect on how much I have grown and changed over the last years! So here we go...

#1...Birthdays should be celebrated in a BIG WAY and should involved birthday cake and ice cream!!!! I love birthday cake. My friend Sarai and I often say we think it should be a food group all by itself! So even though this is not a major life lesson, it is a sweet one! Birthdays are more fun with cake! Ice cream cake, Sam's cake, homemade cake, birthday cake ice cream...all things birthday cake are good! Sometimes I will go to the store and by a birthday cake when it is not my special day and eat it! I mean I am sure it is some one's birthday that day! So if you have not had birthday cake in a while...enjoy some friends and invite me over...I love birthday cake!

PS...I did not have a picture of my birthday cake, so I am including a picture of Katrina's...it was a yummy ice cream cake! So good!!!!

Stay tuned...more to come!

July...Oh what a month!

2008-08-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is my update on the crazy fun month of July. There is so much to share and I am sure that I will miss out on something but hopefully you will get a glimpse of how I spent my summer from this post. The month began in Hayesville, NC at the beautiful Truett Camp. I have been blessed to be a part of this ministry for several years now, thanks to some friends who thought I might make a good camp counselor. And I am hooked. I have not been there since I was in diapers like Sarai, Marty and Lori but in these few short summers I have gained some amazing friends, grown in my faith and had some amazing memories. I do love summer camp!

Here is our suddenly dramatic face...gotta love taking the directions in the choral music literally!

Hanging out with some of the crazy staff at the surprise staff party we put together! I miss these kids!

God has really blessed me with the chance to worship and spend the week at camp with some of my students from my school. Here is Rebecca...such a blessing!

Once camp ended, I hurried home to spend a few days in Hickory before I had to say goodbye to my dear friend Shannon. Shannon was engaged in May and her fiance, Jordan was transferred to Mississippi...so that also meant Shannon was transferred to Mississippi. Shannon is such a kindred spirit and amazing friend! I miss her so much. But it was good to spend a little quality time together before she left. Here is the crew celebrating her!

After a teary goodbye breakfast with Shannon, it was time to get on the road again for me. This time, it was a Not New York Week with some of the bestest friends ever. A group of us had planned an amazingly cheap NYC trip for this summer. But plans fell through when our cheap airline, Skybus, went bankrupt, so what to do but plan another fun outing. Thanks to Lori and Beth, we had a blast. We headed to Hotlanta for a little girl time, cheesecake, and shopping! What fun! I even got to visit with my little cousin Billy Mac for a little while! One thing I think we are all learning as we get a little older is that one of the most precious gifts we have is the time we spend together! I know this trip really spoke that to me! And on our way, we found a Dwarf House...of course we had to stop and have our picture made!

Shopping and Cheesecake Factory are always a must when we find ourselves in Atlanta!

As July came to a close, Sarai and I loaded up once more and headed to Tennessee to visit with the Martins! Katrina gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Madison Elise, and we just had to go visit, love on and hang out with the Martins. Such a sweet time to be with this amazing family. I am so blown away by their strength and faith. So much had happened to them post-delivery and to most people they probably would have thrown in the towel after what they had experienced. But not my dear friends...they are such a testimony to the love, peace, strength and grace God gives us everyday! Words can't express how much this visit meant to me...
Meet the Martins ladies...Hope, Maddie and Katrina!

And here is Maddie with her mommy, Auntie Sarai and Auntie Brooke...what a joy!

Wow...just recapping the highlights of this month make me tired...but a good tired! I am so blessed to have all these amazing people in my life! Can't wait for next summer!

Summer '08...Oh what an adventure!

2008-08-10T18:59:00.001-07:00

In my previous post, I tried to give you a quick overview of the craziness that has been this summer. I am officiallly home for more than 5 days so I am ready to fill you in on what has been an amazing and wonderful summer. There is much to share so this might have to be in multiple posts...come to think of it, you all might not want to know that much about my summer, but oh well here it goes!

School ending this year was a bittersweet time for me. Of course, I LOVE summer vacation...I think every educator needs that time to regroup, refocus and reflect before they can start up the new school year. But I was very sad to have this group of kids move on. I looped with this group of students and for those of you who are not familiar with this, it basically means that I was blessed to teach these students for 2 years. And yes I would consider myself blessed. I have never clicked with a group of students quite so well. They challenged me as an educator and as a person, they taught me countless things including how to do the Soulja Boy and blessed my heart beyond measure. Needless to say, the last day of school was full of all kinds of emotions. Here is a peek at this fabulous group of 5th graders!

Once school had ended and everything had been moved to my new classroom, I set off for 2 wonderfully relaxing weeks at the beach. The first week I spent some good time with the McSwains and Harwoods, two families who I happened to have taught their children over the past couple of years. We had a blast. It was so much fun interacting with the kids outside of the school environment. They are a great group of girls. And I absolutely loved getting to spend time with Heather, Kathy, Sharon and of course Grandma Brown. I love how God puts people in our lives that encourage us and uplift us. The trip was then followed by a great week at Surfside Beach with the McSwains and my mom and brother. Again, just a very low key and relaxing trip that provided so much rest and relaxation. I enjoyed long walks on the beach with mom and fun times at the pool and ocean with Zach and the girls. I highly reccomend two week trips to the beach...who is in for Summer '09?

Here are a few pics from our trip...

So there is a little taste of what June had to offer...be looking for a post on July which includes...camp craziness, farewell party, not NY trip, Billy Mac and Tennessee visit! Get excited!!

For once...

2008-07-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

I would like to have a summer when I am home for more than 2 days in a row. Well...actually I don't think I would like that at all! Sorry for the lack of blogging over the last couple of months, but the summer has just flown by and I think that collectively I have been in my house for about a week and a half total! Here is the very quick recap of the adventures that have taken place over the summer...I PROMISE to have a more detailed post soon!

June 14-21- I spent a super relaxing week in North Myrtle Beach with 2 amazing families...the McSwains and the Harwoods. I have taught half of this clan and loved spending time with them and having some fun in the sun! Sand sculptures...yummy food...crazy games were just some of the highlights from this week!

June 21-28- I spent the week in Surfside Beach with my family and the McSwains. It was a great week...lots of reading and time in the sun. I love being with my mom at the beach and just taking walks, talking and relaxing! Fun times.

I came home for about 5 days and spent the majority of the time with my precious Goddaughter Ivy! WOW...what a blessing. I will post more about this later, but we had a wonderful week.

Then I headed to summer camp for 2 weeks! I will post more about this later too, because I have to say that the two weeks at Truett were unbelievable! I have never laughed so much in my whole life! The kids were great, the food was...well camp food...the staff was amazing! I love these people and can't believe that we don't do a better job of keeping in touch! What fun!

I came home for a weekend to say goodbye to my bestest friend Shannon. She is moving to Mississippi with her fiance Jordan. It was very sad, she has been an amazing blessing in my life for the past 3 years. I know that God placed her in my life for so many reasons and I know that our friendship will last forever...just 9 hours away!

Today I am heading to Sarai's for a little "bachelorette" party with Carlee and Beth. Then Sarai and I will head to Lori's for our Girls' Week not New York trip which will include a fun night in Atlanta and shopping at IKEA and H&M. Fun times to be had I am sure!

Exciting news on the Baby front...Katrina and Joe had a beautiful baby Girl on Friday night around 9:00 pm. Madison Elise Martins made her grand entrance weighing in at 8 lbs 15 ounces and is 21 inches long! Her mommy was trooper and gave birth with NO PAIN MEDS! What an amazing woman of strength. I am excited to go and meet her in a couple of weeks.

I know this has been a very random post, but I wanted to fill all of you in on my life as of now. I will be home for a few days next week and I promise to write more details about the summer of '08!

Enjoy the last few days of July with a glass of cold lemonade and some fun in the sun!
Until next week...

In the details...

2008-05-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

I love the details...the extra things that make the experiences of life that much more enjoyable. I love knowing the details of my friends lives...the things that make them smile, cry, laugh. I truly believe that this is what enjoying the little things in life is all about. As much as I try to pay attention to this friends favorite candy, or this friends favorite flower, I do not even hold a candle to how much my God loves details. It seems that I always try to equate God to big projects...fixing the major things in my life, healing those that I love, feeding the millions of hungry children of the world, protecting people from natural disasters. And in all the big things, I lose sight of the fact that the God who loves me is SO into details. In fact, He is so into them that the body He created is a perfect reminder of how much he loves me and cares about the details of my life.

I am sure that a most of you have seen this video by now. I will never forget sitting in the Old Charlotte Coliseum earlier this year and being blown away when Louis Giglio shared this detail with the crowd. The coliseum had been full of loud music, praises being shouted and sung and in one instant it was completely silent. You see the cross of Christ literally holds us together...its Laminin.

I was not a biology major in college, but the simple definition of Laminin is this...the fibers that hold our cells together. So you see my friends, it is literally the love of God that is holding our very bodies together. Talk about the details...if you have not seen the video I really suggest you take a peek...you won't be disappointed!

Memorial Day...

2008-05-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

As I drove around town today, thankful for a day off of school after a very stressful week last week, I was reminded by the American flags and red, white and blue everywhere exactly what this day is all about. Earlier this year, I lost one of the most heroic men I have ever known...my Pa Simpson. He served in World War II and was captured by enemy troops and was a prisoner of war for months on end. During this time, my grandmother waited faithfully for her husband to come home or to at least get some message that he was ok. She even gave birth to their first son, my uncle Bill while Pa was tortured in the Prisoner of War camps. He did make it home and continued to be as much of a hero in real life as he was in the war. He was a dedicated father and husband, and always was ready to give a helping hand when needed. So today, I remember my Pa Simpson as a man who deserves to be remembered as a dedicated hero in my life and in the lives of so many others!

I love you Pa and miss you everyday...Your memory lives on!

This weekend I was able to spend time with family as we celebrated the marriage of my cousin Josh to his wonderful new wife, Ginny. Welcome to the family Ginny!
Here is the happy couple at the reception...

My Uncle Joe and Aunt Reba looked smashing in their wedding attire and I know they were super tired after a long day of celebrating! But they did stop long enough to have a picture with their favorite niece!

Gran looked stunning in her dress and was so happy to share this day with Josh and family. She even told me she looked "sexy"! As I watched her walk down the aisle, without her cane or walker, tears welled up in my eyes, as I know she would have loved to have walked down that aisle with Pa by her side! What a pillar of strength she is!

Even Mamaw and Mom were there to share in the fun! Can't deny they are related!

Even though Papaw was not feeling up to the wedding, I did make him peel his eyes away from his Western Movies to pose for a picture with me!

Random thoughts from this super tired gal...

2008-05-18T18:03:00.000-07:00
My mind is kinda racing right now with lots of thoughts and wonderings and hopes and dreams, so if this post kinda jumps around a little, I apologize. But I knew that if I did not go ahead and write it, I would forget all the things going on. So basically, I have all these different emotions right now, so I am going to attempt to give you a little insight on what I am feeling and why I am having said feelings.

I am feeling a tad bit anxious as tomorrow begins the week that all North Carolina educators dread...End of Grade Tests. While I know that I should measure my success as a teacher with many other tools besides a standardized test, I know that this is important to my school. This week will just be plain stressful...the kids will be stressed, teachers will be stressed, parents will be stressed, administration will be stressed. I will do my best to remind my students over and over that they CAN do it and WILL do well, but everytime we review something, my confidence in those two statements seems to drop just a little! So if you think about it...say a little prayer for all the students across the state who will be participating in the EOG's this week...

I am feeling blessed for the opportunity to participate in an awesome summer minstry. This weekend we had our last staff planning meeting for music weeks at Truett Camp this summer and I am so excited about what God is going to do with these two weeks in July. I am always so encouraged when we get together and I am literally counting down the days until camp. This year at middle school camp we will be focusing on worship and we are hoping to instill in these students that worship is so much more than going to church on Sunday morning. And this challenges me to make sure that I am truly living a life of worship. We read the book, The Air I Breathe by Louis Giglio and in the book, Louie reminds us that whatever has our minds attention, our hearts affection, our time, our money, our energy, etc... is what we worship and although I have heard this a million times and tried to really reflect on this in my own life, it is my desire to really make sure that the number ONE thing on my priority list would be Christ. Yeah for camp and a place where we can make a difference in the lives of students!

I am also feeling so thankful for laughter. This past week I have enjoyed being around people who make me laugh. Such a good stress reliever for such a stressful time and a way to bond friends and to just have fun. I really have not laughed so much in a while. From mother bleeper, to Danube, to Where's the Fruit, to Julie's super cute shirt...the list could go on and on. Thank you God for laughter and for friends who go along with it!

Well, I know there is so much more to share...but I must go get ready for the week that is ahead of me! Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T20:23:00.000-07:00
Today I am thankful...thankful for a mom who is not only my mom, but my best friend, my biggest fan, my encourager and strength.

And as my heart swells with thankfulness for this blessing in my life, my heart also longs for a time when I can celebrate mother's day not as a daughter but as a mom. Like so many little girls, it has been the desire of my heart for a long time to be a mom. While I still wait patiently for this amazing gift, I have to be also be thankful for the children I get to be "mom" to each and everyday! I have been blessed to be teacher, Madrina, Auntie to some of the most beautiful and amazing children and for this I am thankful. So although I do not hold the title of mom just yet, I am slowly coming to realize that in my own little way, I have been mom to some!

The sound of silence...

2008-05-02T07:03:00.000-07:00
Yep, that is what you have heard from me in blog world for about the last year...SILENCE! Well friends the silence is broken and I am committed to making this blog thing really work. I have found a that I am ready to share my heart, my thoughts, my story and I am sure a bunch of other random things along the way. Over the past several months, I have become quite fascinated with reading blogs, all kinds of blogs...blogs by people I don't know, blogs from my dearest friends, blogs about cooking and babies...it is bizarre, but what a blessing to be able to read stories from other people who are surviving on this journey we call life! These stories of courage and strength of mistakes and lessons learned give me encouragement and hope that I can make it too! So please check back often...leave lots of loving comments...and read all about this girl's crazy journey through life! And if I go for a year without posting...YELL AT ME!

More to come...super soon...I promise!
Brooke