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Monday, December 29, 2008

The Holidays


I cannot believe that Christmas has already come and gone! It has been a super busy holiday season - we made our rounds and did what I would like to call the "Christmas Marathon" ... it all ended on Christmas day at the Brooks' surrounding the dinner table and Christmas Tree with 20 family members. It is always so sweet to be with family and to see those you have not seen in a while! Chris' brother and his family were in from Nashville... they have 2 little ones (Mitchell 5 and Evelyn 2) - we do not get to see them much so I like to soak up as much time as possible with them.


Here is our 2008 Christmas Letter:

I am delighted to report that is has been a very busy, but very happy year in the Brooks household! This year has been a world wind for Chris and me. Our New Year started off with a bang as we were slowing preparing for the soon arrival of our new baby boy!

In March Chris and I accompanied his brother and sister in law on a trip to Estes Park, Colorado. It was pretty interesting; me 6 months pregnant trekking through 6 feet of snow in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Needless to say I was toward the end of the pack during our Snowshoeing adventure with the park ranger. After our trip it was as if June was upon us in no time of all. Before we knew it Chris was taking on my other personality (the one that we discovered during the 4 hours in the labor and delivery room at the hospital…big smile) and patiently coaching me through the delivery of Colton. 12:41a.m. on June 4th Colton made his arrival and our lives have been forever changed! He is now aiming for the 7 month mark and is very much enjoying all the Christmas trees. Since Colton’s arrival into our family I have learned to function on only 3 hours of sleep, something Chris never thought possible! HA! We are presently unpacking boxes and baby proofing our new home we recently purchased as we settle in for the adventures of crawling and soon walking.

I know I can speak for Chris in saying that with the addition of our son we have both gained a deeper understanding of the love that God has for us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son…” this is a verse we have all heard since we were old enough to remember, for me now the verse takes on a more significant meaning. I thought that I understood the magnitude of God’s love for us; that he would have one son and he would allow that son to die for me and for you, but it was not until I held Colton in my arms that I gained a greater understanding of His unconditional love. I pray this Christmas that you too have experienced the love of Christ in your life and that you have ask him to make a home in your heart that you would have eternal life through him.


Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Thought Provoking


I had someone recently send me an email and ask me, “How would I like Colton to serve the world?” It was really a thought provoking question and shamefully so I don’t know if I had really thought about it prior to being ask. I always knew that first and foremost I wanted him to be a great man of God! I pray everyday that he will be saved at a very young age and that no matter what he does in life he will serve the Lord. I don’t want him to be a servant of the “world” or of “man”, but a servant of the Most High Priest! So I got to thinking... what else do I want for him??? Here is a little taste of my response to the email.

That he is compassionate and appreciative. Compassionate toward others and appreciative of the world around him and the opportunities that has been afforded him. I want him to also be responsible, gracious and humble. Courageous enough to start new adventures… I hope he strives to be excellent in all he does, but the realty is that he will fail… he will fail many times – and when he does I pray it will make him a better man, a better person, a better Christian. I hope he will learn that his failures do not and will not define him, he will be known by what he does after he fails. I pray that he will have resilience to overcome adversity and that he will be tolerant of the world around him, but in the same regard that he will never compromise his beliefs. I pray he will have strong convictions and that he will follow them. I hope he is a leader and not a follower, a lover not a hater. I want him to be successful, but not according to the standards of the world. And I want him to always, always to be dependent only on God… not on me and not on his own father, but on our great Heavenly Father who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us! Chris and I will ultimately let him down, but God will never let him down.

Friday, August 29, 2008


I was rocking Colton this morning; as I do every morning when I am trying to get him down for a nap, I was singing to him, the norm – Jesus Love Me, Amazing Grace, Rock a Bye Baby, etc… and then Away in the Manger came to my mind. Once I began not so gracefully singing that little precious tune that we have mostly come to know as a “Christmas Song” … I became overwhelmed with emotion. I wondered to myself, “What did Mary sing to Jesus as she rocked him or held him as a newborn. Did she sing of the “stars in the sky” or the animals of the pastures. How did Mary, the mother of Jesus, comfort the GREAT COMFORTER?” As a new mother I am convinced that my son is destined to be something great, something wonderful, an asset to the world around him; I couldn’t imagine that any new mother would think any less of her son… so I wonder, “What did Mary think of Jesus?” Do we honestly believe that she had no clue that her son was going to be the greatest man to walk the earth? I have wondered these things before, but having Colton in my arms puts a whole new meaning to; “For God so loved that world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have EVELASTING LIFE”.

I echo the words of the great hymn “Because He Lives”

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

6 Years


Sunday was our 6 year anniversary! We could not believe that it has been 6 years. The time has flown by. It seems like we have been through so much together and looking back each year has something very special about it. This year of course is the birth of Colton. Chris and I started dating the summer before my senior year of highschool and before his sophomore year of college ... it is crazy to think that we now have a little one! Wooo ... weee... where does the time go?

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The Arrival Of Colton

Colton made his way into our world on June 4th at 12:41 am via an epidural free delivery!!

THE SHORT VERSION:

I started having consistent contractions on the 2nd.... they were consistent b/ spread apart and very mild. Chris was on his way out of town (5hrs away) on a business trip ... so I went to the doctor that morning by myself. The doctor told me to call my hubby and have him turn around. My contractions were not doing much so she sent me home... told me to go shopping not to go home and sit around - so that's what I did! ;) That night my contractions were more consistent b/ mild enough to where I could sleep. We got up the next morning and made our way to the doctors office (an hour away) and once again, I was sent home. She told me since I wanted to have a natural birth it would be best to go and labor at home as long as possible.. so that's what we did! We were home for about 7 1/2 hrs... around 7:30pm we knew it was time to go!! We made it to the hospital around 8:30 and about 4 hrs later he was here! Chris was absolutely wonderful! He never left my side... I honestly don't think I could have done it w/out him (I know I couldn't have) and my wonderful midwife Shannon Nirode! I am amazed by the strength that the Lord gives us - right when we need it. Chris & I have been so blessed as husband and wife over the past 6 yrs and now he has blessed us with this amazing little man - whom by the way I think looks just like Chris!! My wish is that every woman would be able to have this experience!