Storms,,,,

Psalm 143:1
Hear my prayer, O Lord;listen to my plea!Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

Praying continual prayer tonight for Baby Stellen.
I don't know what else to do, but pray!

From Braiden Wesley

This is a picture of the tornado that came across Smith Lake 4 years ago, missing our house by less then 1/4 of a mile.

God we will praise you even in the storms.

Brandi

Quick dinner idea for hetic nights

Since we have baseball 2 nights a week, dance 3 nights a week, church, I teach 1 night a week, things are very busy from 3-9 here. One thing that has helped us is finding things to eat at home either before or after our activities. That way we are not eating out, it is also healthier

My friend is the crock pot. Seriously it is on my counter all week. One thing my family loves is chicken crock pot fajitas so I thought I would share.

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts ( no hormones or steroids if you can find it)
2 cans of rotel ( any heat you want, I use mild for the baby and Madi.
2 packets of taco mix ( I use mild again ole el paso)

That is it...

Empty rotel into the crock pot, add the taco mixes. Stir together until well blended. Add 1 cup of water or chicken broth if you have it on hand.
Nest the chicken breast down into the rotel mixture. Cover and cook 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. I then take the chicken out and shred it with 2 forks on a plate and then add it back to the rotel mixture, mix together and you are ready for taco's.
We use hard and soft taco's, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, what ever fixins you like. If I have extra time I will throw together a salad.

You will have left overs, save them. The next night. Roll out a refrig pizza dough and make a chicken taco pizza. You might even have some more left over. LUNCH???

I will try and post some more as I can. This really helps us eat better than fast food and is cheaper in the long run.

Hope you all enjoy.
Please continue to pray, there are so many needs out there to night.. I feel very heavy with thoughts and worry.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
James 5:16

Brandi

What is a friend?

Mckmama posted a wonderful, honest and raw post yesterday. I urge you to click on baby Stellan's button and read. After reading her post, I really began to think, long and hard. It brought me to a place that I will be honest folks, I am not comfortable being. You see I do not have it figured out. Oh, how I want to understand it all, I simply just don't. I am relatively new to the blogging world and I have really enjoyed it. I use it to document things that happen to our children and also my thoughts as I try to figure out life and all it's chaos. But something unexpected happened. I started meeting Godly women who brought the word and spoke truth into my life daily. It has been a blessing. Some are from right here in Alabama. We are wives, mothers, daughters, aunts and friends who love the Lord and are trying to live putting God first. Which leads me to my husband's questions about this blog world.

1. Do you know these people? Well, define the word know. No I have never met them in person. But I know them and their heart. I have prayed with them through bad times and praise with them thought the good times.

2.Are they your friends? Well, we laugh, cry, praise and pray together. We learn from each other. Support each other. Share life and the Lord. So I would say yes, we are friends.

I have to admit I do become consumed by the prayer requests and stories of heartache. But I have been profoundly forever changed by the grace and trust displayed by the parents here in blog world. I can only hope to have the kind of trust and assurance that I have witnessed here. A few stand out to me- Kelly's Corner- and baby Harper, I followed her through labor and delivery, from her daughter may not live to well you will have to go over and check this little cutie out for yourself.


The Macs- I can only say that I still cry, I pray everyday and I admire sweet Cora's parents so much. God is doing BIG things through the life of a baby girl. Her smile will capture your heart and her parents will inspire you. I have examined my own trust in God and his plan whatever it maybe for my life.
There blog is http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/
They are raising money for a playground in her honor. Click on Cora's playground to help out with this and get some pretty adorable things as well.


I can not remember how I found Megan's blog. But we have a lot in common. We both are from Alabama, labor and delivery nurses, have 3 children, and more. It was so neat to learn how small this world is. She is super sweet , honest, tell you how she feels southern girl. Her love for the Lord shines through in her blog. She is doing a fabulous things for lent. Click on her button and find out for yourself, you just might win something.

Well ,I found Angie's blog on the 1 year anniversary of loosing our 3rd baby. The only thing I know to say is, it was the work of my heavenly father, always looking after me, that night. I struggle with our loss daily. Still today I think about our baby everyday and wonder the what if's and what would he be like today. We have been blessed with another baby boy ( thank you God) since then but I still hurt inside and my heart still aches for the baby that we lost. Angie is real, honest, scripture speaking, God trusting, wife, mother and for me God sent at a time when I was in a very dark place.

There have been others and will be others. We have an open prayer request policy here. If you need prayer or know someone who does it is a great way to get the word out. An army of God loving, spirit filled, amazing women will be on their knees. God is good, so I guess to answer my sweet husbands questions,

Yes, they are my friends.

Please continue to pray everyday. Talk with God, cry out to him, be honest, he already knows how you feel. No matter the outcome always trust and know that he has your best interest at heart and he holds every tear you cry. He wraps his fatherly arms around you daily, you are His child.

Praying now for sweet baby Stellan Lord heal his heart, Cora's parents continue to cover, protect and surround them , Angie, Lord thank you for bringing her blog to my life I pray that the battles she feels afflicted with are won with your word and truth, that Satan will flee have no hold on her , that she knows Audrey is still touching people's life and has "weight" in this world , Megan cover and surround her, let her LIGHT be seen by all who see her, baby Harper we praise you father for mercy and healing and baby Jonah we ask that you heal his skin Lord, that you take away all the blisters and pain, that you protect him, that his parents are able to fall into your arms and feel you God. There are so many more!!!

Brandi

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

We are not doing Not me to day. McMama's baby boy is in the hospital and is seriously sick. Please be in prayer for them. Baby Stellan is in need of our prayers. He was diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia. His heart rate has been as high as 300's. His little body is tired. I am asking that you go to her site and be in prayer.

Brandi

Update on Baby Creel

Jami had her peri appt Friday at 840. They went to the Kirkland clinic because the perinat... at brookwood was on vacation with his family (springbreak in B'ham). So God was already moving in this because UAB is a much better place and that is where we send all of our pts from STV where I work. They got a lot of answers and some better news. First it is a boy- Noah Camden Creel, I'm so excited I can not wait!!!! Second the diagnosis of the omphalacele was not correct. They have diagnosed it as a gastoscesis. This means there is an opening that did not close around the first few weeks of life and some of his small intestines are protruding out through this hole. they said it was the size of a silver dollar. There is a small chance that more will come out and there is a chance that some could go back in. It is not associated with chromosomal abnormalities and was completely random. He will be going to Childrens to have surgery after he is born but is expected to make a complete recovery and do great. So please still keep him in your prayers, we want God to heal him and have faith that things will be OK. Just keep praying.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Brandi

Urgent Prayers Needed

My sister and her husband are expecting their first baby at the end of July beginning of August. While doing their big ultrasound today they found that the baby has an omphalacele. Basically this means that some of the abdominal organs are growing outside of the abdomen around the umbilical cord. The extent is not known. It is sometimes linked to other chromosomal disorders. It has been suggested that they get an amniocentesis, but they are unsure of this. They are going to see a perinatologist tomorrow. Please pray for them and the baby. This was an exciting time for them and now they are left with alot of questions and uncertainty tonight.Pray for Jami and Blake to have peace and hope. Pray for healing, God is bigger than this and can heal this sweet baby and use this for his Glory. Pray for Dr Gonzolez, that God will give him the knowledge and wisdom to make Godly decisions tomorrow. For the grandparents and other family that we all have patience and understanding of how they feel and what they are going through.

Brandi

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did Not have a busy week with my precious children this past week.

We were Not getting over the stomach flu- all five of us. I did Not have 3 children sick at one time and I was Not also sick at the same time. Thank God for the making of Zofran.

I did Not have 8 hours of dance pictures this week. I did Not do this with all my children in tow. I did Not do this without the help of my sweet hubby. The pictures were Not unorganized to the point of me and several other moms wanting to pull our hair out!!!!!!!

We did Not spend 12 hours Saturday shopping for a piece of furniture to put a new TV on or in. This is Not the 2nd time my hubby got a tv that did Not fit into my favorite armoir. I was Not thrilled beyond when he said he was putting the doors back on, only to find out that this TV did NOT, not fit in my favorite piece..... It is Now Not upstairs being used as a linen closet.

I did Not let my children have a skip day to just hang out in the house with mom. It was Not a fabulous day.


Brandi

My church is causing a stir...

Well apparently my church is causing a stir all over the country.
Visit http://www.daystarchurch.tv/greatsexgodsway to find out why.

Why shouldn't we talk about sex in church. God lays out a plan for sex. So we should teach it right? We have a serious problem with the "casualness" our children think it is. Oral sex isn't sex, friends with benefits, hooking up... People wake up!!!! One man, one women, in marriage. Period!!!!

Brandi

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

March 1st in Alabama and it is snowing. I heard rumors of this snow all week. I have to admit I did not believe it. All of you in the north are laughing right now at our "snow". Just stop! This is the most snow we have seen in 10 years.
It really wasn't much a few inches and it didn't last long either. By 2p.m. it was gone. But wow it was beautiful. And for a moment I thought it would be nice to live somewhere where we did have snow. Then we got all wet and cold. You see, here in Alabama where is doesn't snow we do not have clothes for this kind of precip. All of our clothes became wet and then we got cold. So it was all fun and games until someone got wet and cold.
Brennon and Madi woke up early. They went outside and played until it melted. They would come in and change their clothes and out they would go. Lil B wasn't too sure about it all. He wanted to play in it but didn't like the cold of it. I couldn't find gloves small enough to fit him, because here in AL we don't use them! I used socks which he didn't like either. The first thing he did was sit in it. He was so funny.
Madi and me make a snow women complete with daffodils as hair, and ice cycle for a nose and poky balls for eyes, the lips were a small magnolia leaf.

From Four and a Baby

Our House...

From Four and a Baby

Nikki and Lulu

From Four and a Baby

Braiden sitting in the snow.

From Four and a Baby

The Lake...

From Four and a Baby

Our snow lady...

4 H club award goes to....

Brennon.
Brennon won 1st place in the photography contest with his picture of bald eagles he took at the zoo.

From Four and a Baby

And he won 3rd place in cooking with the oreo ball recipe.
The picture goes onto the county competition and if it places will go to state where it has the potential of winning money.

He was very proud.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not skip all 3 workout days this week. I was not so tired because my sweet baby is sleeping through the night like all 17 month olds do.. right? Really if anyone reading this has any helpful hints we are desperate. This baby is from another planet where people never sleep.

My laundry is not piled up HIGH down my hall. I always am caught up. HA!

I did not fight with my hubby over stupid things that do not really matter, we are in love and being married to him for 13 years has been wonderful everyday.

I did not let lil B go around at home all week with bows, clips and headbands on. He does not have a fascination with his sisters things.

I did not start spring cleaning upstairs and find we are really messy and have too much stuff. My house is orderly and clean all the time.

We did not have too much fun in the snow yesterday. We did not play, come put on more dry clothes and then go back again. I was not glad to see it melt and things dry off.

We did not accidentally shut our outside cat in the playroom and leave her in there over night. I did not think someone was in our house after the kids left for school this morning. I was not relieved to only find the cat. I did not shut the door back to deal with whatever mess she might have made later.

My sweet hubby is not at work today with a stomach virus. He is not stuck in meetings with people from Germany and he will be home soon. I love you and hope you feel better. Come home soon.

Brandi

100 questions

I borrowed this from another blog. I thought it was interesting and might be fun. Feel free to copy and give it a try....
100 questions.

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? we took the doors off of our because they opened into the closet and we needed more space. Since it is in our masterbath we didn't mind.

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? yes

3. Are you afraid to fly? yes

4. Have you ever stolen a street sign before? no.

5. Do you like to use post-it notes? yes, but I like to make lists better. I have a notebook full of lists.

6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Yes

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? I choose C

8. Do you have freckles? a ton, with I could connect them all

9. Do you always smile for pictures? yes

10. What is your biggest pet peeve? a sassy mouth

11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? no

12. Have you ever peed in the woods? yes, not a proud moment but when you have to go...

13. Do you prefer the beach or mountains? beach

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? Yes

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? yes

16. Favorite reality TV show? Jon and Kate plus 8

17. What size is your bed? king

18. What is your Song of the week? Safe, Natalie Grant

19. Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Yes, I think it is sexy

20. Do you still watch cartoons? Every day. Backyardagans, veggietales, High 5 ( not a cartoon though)

21. What's your least favorite movie? Anything with a lot of violence and bad language we need more family movies.

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? ??? not sure. With 3 kids we will not have any.


23. What do you drink with dinner? Sweet tea/koolaide

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? sweet and sour sauce

25. What is your favorite food? fruit

26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Beaches, six weeks, steel magnolias, my home movies of our kids.

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you? Madilyn- she came down again to tell me she couldn't sleep...

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout? just a Brownie,maybe half a year.

29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? NO! and after 3 kids no one would want me to.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? Last week.

31. Can you change the oil on a car? Ummm NO!

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? No but now that I typed this probably

33. Ran out of gas? yes, driving my husband's truck.He did not put gas in his truck, so does that count?

34. Favorite kind of sandwich? Rumor's Alohaha!

35 Best thing to eat for breakfast? homemade waffles with strawberries and coolwhip

36. What is your usual bedtime? By 11:00

37. Are you lazy? when I want to be...

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Barbie, princess, all the girly stuff.

39. What is your astrological sign? Capricorn

40. How many languages can you speak? English and some french

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Southern Living, Paula Dean, Womens Health

42..Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos

43. Are you stubborn? Yes

44. Who is better...Leno or Letterman? ? We watch Andy Griffith

45. Ever watch soap operas? "Days of Our Lives" when I can catch it on

46. Afraid of heights? yes

47. Sing in the car? Yes, it is my worship time

48. Sing in the shower? sometimes

49. Dance in the car? no

50. Ever used a gun? no

51. Had picture taken by photographer? Yes

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? No, I love them.

53. Is Christmas stressful? Yes

54. Ever eat a pierogi? No, but have wanted to.

55. Favorite type of fruit pie? Apple or fresh peach

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Doctor

57. Do you believe in ghosts? Just the Holy Ghost

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Yes

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? Yes

59. Take a vitamin daily? Just pre natal- still nursing

60. Wear slippers? sometimes

61. Wear a bath robe? yes

62. What do you wear to bed? t-shirt and comfy pants

63. First concert? Paula Abdul, Kenny G

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Target would be my choice, but Wal-Mart is here in town.

65. Nike or Adidas? Neither New Balance

66.Cheetos Or Fritos? Cheetos

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? SS, but I eat almonds all the time

68. Ever heard of the group Tres Bien? No.

69. Ever taken dance lessons? yes 15years

70. Is there a profession you picture your significant other doing? Something political.

71. Can you curl your tongue? yes

72. Ever won a spelling bee? No... I can't spell worth a lick.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? yes

74. Own any record albums? yes

75. Own a record player? yes

76. Regularly burn incense? Never have.

77. Ever been in love? yes, right now with my hubby

78. Who would you like to see in concert? Natalie Grant, Michale Buble again, seen him twice.

79. What was the last concert you saw? Michale Buble

80.Hot tea or cold tea? cold

81.Tea or coffee? tea

82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles? either one, yummo

83.Can you swim well? yes

84. Can you hold your breath without plugging your nose? yes

85. Are you patient? No the fact I'm on question 85 amazes me.

86. DJ or band, at a wedding? band

87.Ever won a contest?no

88. Ever have plastic surgery? yes

89. Which are better black or green olives? green

90.Can you knit or crochet? No

91. Best room for a fireplace? Family room.

92. Do you want to get married? only to my hubby again

93. If married, how long have you been married? 13 years this July

94. Who was your HS crush? .......?

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? sometimes

96. Do you have kids? Brennon 10, Madilyn Claire 8, Braiden 1

97. Do you want kids? yes, maybe 1 more????

98. What's your favorite color? brown

99. Do you miss anyone right now? not right now

100. Did you watch Next Great American Band on FOX? no