Why do you go to Sunday School?

Chris and I go for reasons just like last night! We had our "March social" at our house. We are in a class with people our age, older, and then a little older than that :) We are building new relationships and deepening old ones. Some of these people have been our friends since I was 18 years old (I will turn 29 in October). Some of these people's prayer got us to Philadelphia and back...and so did their finances. Chris and I have grown to love and respect every one of them for various reasons, but the main one is...they run the race and they keep the faith. We are working on reaching out and reaching in. We are working on taking time out of "life" to spend time with each other. Does it make a difference? It makes all the difference. We go to Sunday School so that we can be open, real, encourage and be encouraged. We go because that is how we were raised, and when our faith became our own and then when it was tested, these people that poured their lives into ours and us into theirs...they were there, they are there, and they will be there. We go to Sunday School so that when Gage is 30 years old and his wife is blogging, she will be able to say the same thing about their parents as we say about ours...that we are all blessed beyond belief!

The foxes fight hard, but we will fight HARDER

I am glad to report that we were pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but NOT destroyed!

Does Gage have asthma...yes...but...it could always be worse! Praise God that his life was spared almost 19 months ago... he eats, drinks, laughs, loves, reads books, says words, plays with Elmo and Big Bird, and isgrowing big and strong. We will do our breathing treatments every morning and every night and take one day at a time.

Does Chris have to work "over time" sometimes...yes...but it could always be worse. Praise God that he has a job at all. Praise God it looks like he isn't going to lose it any time soon. He loves his job, the people he works with, and what he does, and according to my friend Stephaine...it doesnt' get much better than that!

Is my jaw still locked...yes...but...you guessed it...it could always be worse. I keep saying I want to lose some weight...soft foods for the next 4 weeks...unless I make all my meals on milkshakes I should shed a few pounds. Through this whole "jaw" situation I was reminded how good it is to "know people who know people"...I saw an oral surgeon and an orthodontist in the same day AND got a mouthpiece to hopefully correct this problem sooner than thanks later...thanks Cindy and Angie!

Its funny how the "valley" and "wilderness" times get you thinking things like...if only I would have prayed for Gage more maybe he wouldn't have gotten asthma...if only I would SHUT my own mouth more God would not have had to shut if for me...BUT THEN...I remembered (and was reminded) we serve a God full of love, grace, and mercy. We serve a God who is not a worldly god, but the ONE TRUE GOD. Does life happen-certainly. Does God get surprised when it does- certainly not! For every fox Satan sends running at us, God has a hole ready to bury him in, but the shovel is in OUR hands...let's be people who pour the dirt on top and seal it so God can get the glory and satan will know his place!

Thanks for your love and prayers! We are truly blessed beyond belief!

Sometimes...its the little foxes that get ya

I don't know if you know what I mean...but sometimes its the little "foxes" the Bible calls them that get us down. Its the ear infections, snotty noses, doctor's visits, day care costs, asthma diagnosis and the missing church and feeling so out of the loop...sometimes its the "I'll be late tonight I have to film something"...sometimes its the 12 hours and counting of "lock jaw" when I can' pry my mouth open, the need for Spring Break, the need to finish getting taxes ready to send them off, the FEAR of getting pregnant again (no we aren't trying yet) because "what if" baby number 2 has CDH? Sometimes the day to day can just get a girl down...

until...

her momma comes for a visit. If you know my mom at all, you know she knows just what and how to say things that NEED to be said. She is a Godly and loving woman, and when God says say it or pray it, she does just that. She said something like this...Gage has come so far since Philadelphia...and the same God who was there is with him now. No, its not your sin and lack of faithfulness that has caused Gage to be sick, our God is not a human or earthly god AT ALL. We are all thankful that Chris has a job, and a flexible one at that, want me to keep Gage so you can spend some time with Chris...Let's call it what it is "Loody" your jaws are clamped so tight because you are STRESSED and WORRIED. Call it what you want to, but its a FEAR that God cannot handle the things that are happening. Relax, pray, PRAISE, and trust in the ONLY one who can and WILL guide your steps!

What do people do without Godly parents, family, and friends? Why do I not tap into the power source that I know I have in Christ that has been there so many times before?

Another question just occurred to me (by way of priscilla shirer)...if I am tired of the little foxes that get me...why not get out of the foxhole all together? Maybe its just easier to be stuck in sin and say we want out than actually doing what it takes to GET OUT...Trust and obey...for there's no other way...to be happy in Jesus...but to trust and obey.

Gage is sleeping

My jaw is still locked

our air conditioner is now frozen over

BUT (change of direction)

I can TRUST and KNOW that God is bigger than the foxes and He did not create me to mingle with them, but he created me for a much greater purpose, to bring Him glory.

Lets tighten up our boot straps and get about HIS business and quit being so caught up in ours.

18 months ago...

Gage is 18 months today and these are some things I have learned/am learning...

God is good

God is faithful

God still works miracles

God is present wherever His people are...be it in Milledgeville, Ga or Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

He works through those people in MANY ways

Life in the NICU is hard

Life in the NICU without God and His people praying would have been harder

I don't always understand why...

I don't have to

I am not responsible for the how...

just the OBEY

God is in charge even when we think we are...even when we think we aren't

There is no place like home!

Life is too short to get caught up in petty things that do not matter

I forget that too quickly and do not remember it often enough

Life is about taking one day at a time-and giving 100% when you are where you are

Life does not offer promises, but God does...and He is the God of His word!

Becoming a mom has helped me draw a parallel of God's love for us

There is nothing I would not do or give for Gage

Its not fair to expect anyone to be perfect that can't be...especially Gage...and myself

God is perfect yet He is the very One we DON'T expect perfection from

Life is not about me...its all about God...

He doesn't need us but created us to bring Him glory

Gage is example to Chris and I of:

God's goodness, mercy, unconditional love, and grace

Lately I have also come to realize that there is nothing like...

the smell of baby lotion

the feel of sweet naked baby skin fresh out of the bath tub

watching Gage entertain himself in his crib when he wakes up in the morning or from a nap

looking down and seeing him hold his arms up wanting to be held

hearing him say "daddy" as he watches him pull up the driveway

watching he and Chris laugh, play, wrestle, and read books

hearing Gage read books as he is sure to point to every page

seeing Gage sitting in his big boy chair eating big boy food

having a pediatrician who we love and trust

watching Gage play with other children

being proud when Gage points to his (and my) nose, eyes, and hair

making eye contact and watching him RUN over when I pick him up from "school"

hearing him say new words...even if they are made up

rocking him in the rocking chair and singing sweet hymns of the faith

watching him sleep in his crib at night when I have checked on him for the 100th time

realizing he isn't going to be perfect and neither am I

having a great husband who is also a great father and not to mention...my best friend!

All in all I would say...

Gage had a rough start

but I wouldn't change a day

God is so sovereign

and at the Brown house we continue to be...Blessed Beyond Belief!!!

OREO COOKIES!!!

ITS...SNOW...TIME

Those beautiful curls, the first haircut, Christmas, and of course his cozy coupe...

They say "Look at all of those beautiful girls" ...yes you are right, they are, and if he were a she, we would invest in some hairbows, but he is a he so we invested in...

a haircut!!!

It wasn't so bad at first

but then...he started to HATE it

we had to do a little bribing so Tamela could finish!

Here are a few shots in his Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve...he couldn't look at the camera AND watch Elmo, so this is what we got!

One of his favorite toys Gage got is his Cozy Coupe, and he is riding with his favorite dog, Bella

This is one of my most favorite pictures!!! Look closely at this sweet coat Gage has on...it was Chris' when he was a little boy!

We are all doing great and thankful for each new day with this sweet, precious little one!

All I want for Christmas is...

So we were in Stateboro for Thanksgiving...we were at the mall...we saw Santa and thought...hmmm...let's just take Gage over there and see what he thinks about him...if he likes him, we could always bring him back in one of his cute Christmas outfits...short story shorter...he loved Santa...we loved the picture...no Christmas outfit...but... look at those precious smiles!!!