First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! This year might qualify you for the worst gift-getting ever, as I just mailed your birthday card yesterday (no chance of it getting there by tomorrow unless the postman flies all night to deliver it for only 49 cents...) and I still have yet to finish your present. What do I do with myself all day? I'll try to be more on the ball next year, but for now, hope your day is great!!
I have been reading some awesome stuff lately and, not that I have any brilliant insight to add, wanted to share. I grabbed a book at the Christian book store the other week called "Found Faithful" by Elizabeth Skoglund. It is a compilation of stories about Christian heroes like Charles Spurgeon, Amy Carmichael, C.S. Lewis, and Ruth Bell Graham. I found myself reading the part on Spurgeon, not because I wanted to be some big shot intellectual, but just because I wanted a little light reading to help me fall asleep (sorry, Chuck!). But, what I read kept me up a lot longer than I had planned, pondering over how God uses terrible, inadequate, miserable people to do His awesome and mighty will. The man who was called the prince of preachers was so overcome by depression and anxiety that he would spend weeks in bed and was physically ill with worry and loneliness. My favorite quote that I read was "'The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy.'" I realized that God might have given Spurgeon this cross to bear so that he would never be able to fully rely on himself and pat himself on the back at all that he had accomplished. Rather, it would keep him with one eye on the world and one eye on his Lord, without whom he could so obviously do nothing.
I'm also reading a book by Stormie Omartian, the author of "The Power of a Praying Wife". This one is called "Just Enough Light For the Step I'm On"...a long title but pretty self-explanatory. One quote grabbed me so much that I am stuck at that point in the book - I can't read another word until I get my puny little brain around these..."Even if you are certain God has given you a vision or dream for your future, He will still ask you to surrender it to Him so thoroughly that you will think it's as good as dead." Now, I don't know what that means to you, but that thought kind of scares me! Good as dead? Yikes! How about stable, doing well, or even "kicked in the rear but still breathing!". The more I think about that statement, though, the more freedom I see in it. Hope it means something to you, too.
Well, since I have left myself with no room to hide, guess I'd better get cracking on that present for my dear old madre. Hang on, Billings...spring has to be right around the corner...right?
Cherishing every minute,
Brooke
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Ni-Hao, Kai Lan
Weird title, I know, but I am watching this very strange show with Juliana before she goes to bed. I can tell she's getting older...she used to wind down with books before bed and now it's "Can I please watch a show?" At least all the shows she loves are on safe channels so far, like Noggin and Sprout. (By the way, Ni-Hao means "Hi" in Chinese...aren't we so multicultural?) She still does love to read, though. Today I had to read her a book ("Pinkalicious"...yes, that really is the title!) three times in a row, and when I refused to submit for a fourth she picked up the book and started "reading" it to herself, making up the words by looking at the pictures. Ahh, a girl after my own heart. I remember getting in trouble at school for having my Nancy Drew book stuffed inside my math book, and reading it during class when we were supposed to be doing homework (if you're reading this, sorry mom!)
I have started trying to get back into the gym, since the last time I dragged myself to a scale (sneaking into a friend's bathroom while we were at lunch last Sunday) I was amazed at the pounds I still have left to lose after Landon. I really thought all of those midnight milkshakes and chocolate chip cookie bakes with Juliana were adding to my overall nutrition, calcium and all!! Guess the older you get the harder it is to keep the spare tire at bay...I remember in high school not giving a thought to calories, fat content, or sodium! (I'll miss you, Salt and Vinegar potato chips!) Please don't send me emails telling me not to worry or fret, or how spare tires ARE actually coming back in style...I guarantee I will not starve myself or do anything crazy like give up chocolate. I just feel better when I try to get some exercise, and as an added bonus, an hour to myself every other day. Montana isn't exactly famous for being a bathing suit state (unless you count three weeks out of July) but our trip home to NC in June looms in front of me, full of opportunities to showcase my extra 10 pounds. :)
That seems to be all my little brain can muster up for now. I'll leave you with my top five ways you know you have become a Super Mom...
5. When you ask your husband "What's that white crusty stuff all over your shirt?" you already know the answer is dried snot, but it doesn't gross you out in the least.
4. After putting the kids to bed, when given the choice between doing the dishes or goofing around on the web, you choose to update your blog...
3. While at the mall, you find yourself admiring not the latest style and fashion, but the awesome new stroller parked beside yours...must be the first kid because there is not a dent, scratch, or spit-up stain to be found on the whole travel system.
2. When your toddler says "Daba daba doot do" you know that translates into "I love you Mom!"
1. Instead of fixing yourself some breakfast, you eagerly await the leftovers from your kids plates! Half eaten blueberry pancakes and two bites from a carton of yogurt...HEAVEN!
***********************************
Love and miss ya'll!
I have started trying to get back into the gym, since the last time I dragged myself to a scale (sneaking into a friend's bathroom while we were at lunch last Sunday) I was amazed at the pounds I still have left to lose after Landon. I really thought all of those midnight milkshakes and chocolate chip cookie bakes with Juliana were adding to my overall nutrition, calcium and all!! Guess the older you get the harder it is to keep the spare tire at bay...I remember in high school not giving a thought to calories, fat content, or sodium! (I'll miss you, Salt and Vinegar potato chips!) Please don't send me emails telling me not to worry or fret, or how spare tires ARE actually coming back in style...I guarantee I will not starve myself or do anything crazy like give up chocolate. I just feel better when I try to get some exercise, and as an added bonus, an hour to myself every other day. Montana isn't exactly famous for being a bathing suit state (unless you count three weeks out of July) but our trip home to NC in June looms in front of me, full of opportunities to showcase my extra 10 pounds. :)
That seems to be all my little brain can muster up for now. I'll leave you with my top five ways you know you have become a Super Mom...
5. When you ask your husband "What's that white crusty stuff all over your shirt?" you already know the answer is dried snot, but it doesn't gross you out in the least.
4. After putting the kids to bed, when given the choice between doing the dishes or goofing around on the web, you choose to update your blog...
3. While at the mall, you find yourself admiring not the latest style and fashion, but the awesome new stroller parked beside yours...must be the first kid because there is not a dent, scratch, or spit-up stain to be found on the whole travel system.
2. When your toddler says "Daba daba doot do" you know that translates into "I love you Mom!"
1. Instead of fixing yourself some breakfast, you eagerly await the leftovers from your kids plates! Half eaten blueberry pancakes and two bites from a carton of yogurt...HEAVEN!
***********************************
Love and miss ya'll!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pictures from a Party
Hey everyone! Not much typing this time - just some pictures from Landon's first birthday party. I had mentioned that we were just having a small, simple affair, but (ahem) it kind of grew as the weekend went on. We hate to leave anyone out so we decided to invite our entire community group from church (they have been such a HUGE blessing to us since we moved here). The grand total at the party was 15 adults and 13 kids. Now Lori Carnes, if you are reading this, I thought back to Jadon's first birthday party with the BBQ in the backyard and the folding chairs and tables, where half the church turned out to wish your little man a happy day. This in no way rivaled a Carnes affair, but it was close. (Love ya girl).
Hope you enjoy the pictures! We sure enjoy our kids and try to relish every day with them. (Landon just popped up in his crib..."Relish? Hot dogs?? I could eat!")
Love and miss everyone!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
How the Time Flies...
Hi everyone! Can't believe it's been almost a month since I updated. Man, I'm getting slack. Could be all the chocolate chip cookies I've been consuming lately. Unfortunately, I am usually consuming those cookies while watching The Biggest Loser and thinking "Man, how do people get that big?". Um...HELLO! It's not like I'm eating DIET chocolate chip cookies! I have finally found the perfect recipe for higher-altitude baking and I've been getting in WAY too much practice lately.
On to skinnier subjects...
Bo is in Denver this week doing a bunch of things for work. The kids and I are at home trying to do a bunch of things to keep the boredom (and craziness) at bay until he gets back. Is it really only Sunday night?
Landon will be a year on Thursday, and it is hard to believe how the time has flown by. We're just having a small, simple party on Sunday after church - it fits his laid back personality. He is starting to give Juliana a run for her money as far as getting into things, and his new nickname is "Destructo-Boy!" If he can dump it out, tear it up, or turn it over, he will. It cracks me up because Juliana used to dump things out and then PLAY with them, but Landon just seems to delight in creating the mess and then finding the next thing to attack. He is such a sweetie pie, though, and has all of the nursery workers at church wrapped around his chubby little finger. One lady even has his laugh as her ringtone on her phone...a little disturbing but cute all the same.
I will post some new pictures of the birthday boy and big sis later on this week. Hope everyone in NC is doing great and staying warm!! We have some extra room out here in Montana if you don't like the recent cold snap...it was 62 degrees here today! WooHOO! Only in Montana can you have 30 below and 60 above in the same month.
Love and miss everyone!
On to skinnier subjects...
Bo is in Denver this week doing a bunch of things for work. The kids and I are at home trying to do a bunch of things to keep the boredom (and craziness) at bay until he gets back. Is it really only Sunday night?
Landon will be a year on Thursday, and it is hard to believe how the time has flown by. We're just having a small, simple party on Sunday after church - it fits his laid back personality. He is starting to give Juliana a run for her money as far as getting into things, and his new nickname is "Destructo-Boy!" If he can dump it out, tear it up, or turn it over, he will. It cracks me up because Juliana used to dump things out and then PLAY with them, but Landon just seems to delight in creating the mess and then finding the next thing to attack. He is such a sweetie pie, though, and has all of the nursery workers at church wrapped around his chubby little finger. One lady even has his laugh as her ringtone on her phone...a little disturbing but cute all the same.
I will post some new pictures of the birthday boy and big sis later on this week. Hope everyone in NC is doing great and staying warm!! We have some extra room out here in Montana if you don't like the recent cold snap...it was 62 degrees here today! WooHOO! Only in Montana can you have 30 below and 60 above in the same month.
Love and miss everyone!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A Not So Perfect Christmas
Hello everyone! Hope that Christmas was great for you and your family, and that everyone got to celebrate Jesus's birthday in style. We had a whirlwind last few weeks, as I'm sure everyone did, with gifts to wrap, parties to go to, places to go, people to annoy - oh, wait. Forget that last part. We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas, and spent the day at home opening (and playing with) presents. Juliana's one request was a Barbie cash register from Costco, with a real working microphone and pretend money and credit cards. She was so happy to see that cash register that it took her a half an hour to even notice she had other presents under the tree. She was very concerned that Santa didn't bring Landon or Mom and Dad as many presents as she had, but we assured her that next year maybe Landon would have a longer list. He was content to eat the wrapping paper and crawl all over Juliana's gifts, much to her annoyment. (Is that a word?)
I say "Not So Perfect Christmas" because I found myself getting so caught up in all the little things that just weren't quite right. The tree looked funny because we had to put all the ornaments on the top half (thanks, Landon). My Christmas cards got mailed out on the last possible day that the post office would take them and still tell me with some confidence they would get there before New Year's. Bo and I didn't really get each other anything because, let's face it, it's more fun to buy for the kids! And, I was bummed that I would spend another Christmas without my family in NC getting to see the look on the kids faces when they saw Santa or opened presents. Christmas Eve we went to service at church and the pastor's message opened my eyes to what I almost missed. He said that the first Christmas wasn't exactly post-card perfect, so why do we put such high expectations on our earthly attempts at celebration? He reminded me that Mary, bless her little pregnant heart, probably did not enjoy the trip to Bethlehem very much in her condition, and Joseph was probably heartbroken at the thought of his first born kid being brought into this world in a stinky barn. Perfect by our standards? No. God's perfect plan to remind us of His human-ness and holiness? Yes.
So the tree looked goofy, but it reminded me how blessed we are to have two perfect, hilarious kids to tear the house apart and put their own stamp on decorating. Did the cards get there in time? Maybe, but addressing the envelopes reminded me of so many special people and friendships in our lives to be thankful for. And Bo gives me a gift every day in the kind of father he is to our kids and the provider he is for our family. As for all of our family and friends in NC, we are looking at coming this summer in June for my sister's graduation, so we will hunt you down and hang out!!
So, overall, I'll take my not-so-perfect Christmas any day. Hope yours was not-so-perfect in a perfect kind of way, too.
Love!! -Brooke
I say "Not So Perfect Christmas" because I found myself getting so caught up in all the little things that just weren't quite right. The tree looked funny because we had to put all the ornaments on the top half (thanks, Landon). My Christmas cards got mailed out on the last possible day that the post office would take them and still tell me with some confidence they would get there before New Year's. Bo and I didn't really get each other anything because, let's face it, it's more fun to buy for the kids! And, I was bummed that I would spend another Christmas without my family in NC getting to see the look on the kids faces when they saw Santa or opened presents. Christmas Eve we went to service at church and the pastor's message opened my eyes to what I almost missed. He said that the first Christmas wasn't exactly post-card perfect, so why do we put such high expectations on our earthly attempts at celebration? He reminded me that Mary, bless her little pregnant heart, probably did not enjoy the trip to Bethlehem very much in her condition, and Joseph was probably heartbroken at the thought of his first born kid being brought into this world in a stinky barn. Perfect by our standards? No. God's perfect plan to remind us of His human-ness and holiness? Yes.
So the tree looked goofy, but it reminded me how blessed we are to have two perfect, hilarious kids to tear the house apart and put their own stamp on decorating. Did the cards get there in time? Maybe, but addressing the envelopes reminded me of so many special people and friendships in our lives to be thankful for. And Bo gives me a gift every day in the kind of father he is to our kids and the provider he is for our family. As for all of our family and friends in NC, we are looking at coming this summer in June for my sister's graduation, so we will hunt you down and hang out!!
So, overall, I'll take my not-so-perfect Christmas any day. Hope yours was not-so-perfect in a perfect kind of way, too.
Love!! -Brooke
Friday, December 12, 2008
Baby it's cold outside...
Hello everyone! Has it really been THAT long since I posted? Man, I am getting to be a terrible blogger. We have had some interesting developments on the home-front, so I have been trying my best to keep all the plates spinning for the past week or so. Those of you who know my husband know what a medical miracle (medical incredible!) he is with all of his ailments, and this week proved to be no exception. He was lifting Landon out of his carseat carrier on Tuesday when he heard a "POP" in his back and suddenly found himself unable to move. Long story short, we ended up in the lovely ER for a few hours that night and they determined he has a herniated disk in his back. It's almost painful to even TYPE that!!! He has been given the title "Chief Couch Holder-Downer" for the past few days to try to rest and recover. Add in LOTS of narcotics and muscle relaxers and you've got the ingredients for an all-around good time at the Wagner house. (Nathan Stamey, if you're reading this, we could have used you the past week!)
We are STILL planning on moving tomorrow morning, in spite of Bo's back and the weather forecast. Put a sweater on before you read this...the high for Sunday....yes the HIGH for Sunday...is 28 degrees. Then, it gets better. The high for Monday is negative 5. Are you people hearing me??? I don't even think you can BREATHE in weather like that. So please don't email me and tell me that you are still wearing shorts in that balmy 60 degree NC weather. I am just going to delete your email and send you a nasty reply, anonymously, of course.
I've had some requests for our address for Christmas cards, and it is still the same one we have always had since we moved here. It's our box at the UPS store, so if there are any creepy stalker-type people reading this, a mapquest search will only take you to the post office. Our mailing address is: 1302 24th Street W., #295, Billings, MT 59102. I'm going to try to get my cards out next week - no fancy letter but I promise some cute pictures of the kids.
Well, better get to bed. I think we're all going to freeze our buns off before this weekend is over so I'm going to snuggle in with my electric blanket while I still can.
Love and miss everyone!
-Brooke
We are STILL planning on moving tomorrow morning, in spite of Bo's back and the weather forecast. Put a sweater on before you read this...the high for Sunday....yes the HIGH for Sunday...is 28 degrees. Then, it gets better. The high for Monday is negative 5. Are you people hearing me??? I don't even think you can BREATHE in weather like that. So please don't email me and tell me that you are still wearing shorts in that balmy 60 degree NC weather. I am just going to delete your email and send you a nasty reply, anonymously, of course.
I've had some requests for our address for Christmas cards, and it is still the same one we have always had since we moved here. It's our box at the UPS store, so if there are any creepy stalker-type people reading this, a mapquest search will only take you to the post office. Our mailing address is: 1302 24th Street W., #295, Billings, MT 59102. I'm going to try to get my cards out next week - no fancy letter but I promise some cute pictures of the kids.
Well, better get to bed. I think we're all going to freeze our buns off before this weekend is over so I'm going to snuggle in with my electric blanket while I still can.
Love and miss everyone!
-Brooke
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