My New Year's Resolutions

A bit late on this, but I have put a lot of thought into my resolutions this year. It may seem strange to some, but I see resolutions as a continuous process and not something one can jump into all at once. If they do, they will certainly fail. I feel like my resolutions, or rather goals, are attainable with a little determination, practice, and a lot of prayer.
Psalm 59:9
"O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress"


1. Bring back the art of hand written letters. As I blog, I realize that I don't get letters in the mail anymore. I have a whole memory box of letters that I cherish and so I hope to sit down at least once a month and write a letter to someone..even if is is a short hello.

2. Clear the clutter in my head, home, and body. I am going to pray with a purpose, keep my home happy, and eat better all the while teaching my children how to live life to the fullest.

3. Tithe 10%

4. Take at least one college class to get me closer to Nursing School.

5. Try out a new recipe at least once a month and try to create Brackeen Family Traditions through mealtime.

6. Gain a hobby.

Those are a few, but I know they will keep me on my toes. Happy 2010...I am ready for you!

Note from the Teacher

As I was reading Adelie's folder from school, there was a note from Mrs. Lesko. It read, "Can you please talk to Adelie about being "Too Friendly" with Grant?" What? She is only 5. How can she possibly be too friendly with a boy at the age of 5. I had to clarify, so I asked what her teacher's definition of "too friendly" meant. I was relieved when she told me she was hugging him a lot and not giving him a lot of personal space. Well, I'll take hugging any day, but Adelie does have a way with hugging and not wanting to let go of people. This Grant boy is absolutely precious & the feelings are mutual as his mom tells me that he is in love with Adelie & talks about her all the time at home! So, after the note, she and I went to Sonic for a drink & had "the talk" under an oak tree at church.
How do you tell a 5 year old not to be friendly with people...what to do? After much praying and pondering, I told her that the rules for boys and girls were changing and that she needed to keep a invisible bubble around her. I didn't want to break her spirit, so I told her it was ok to hug our friends, but there is only so much hugging you can do to a boy. I don't know if I was effective, but one can hope & I haven't gotten any more notes! I know Monty had a talk with her and there is no telling what he told her, but I am sure this is one of many talks that we will have with our beautiful, loving, hugging Adelie Grace!!!

Adelie is Thankful for...Reid is Thankful for...

I asked Adelie what she was thankful for...Here they are word for word!


1. Mrs. Lesko, her Kindergarten Teacher
2. Sophie & Sampson, her dogs
3. My whole family
4. Nana & Papa
5. Gigi & Granddad
6. Big Daddy & Grandma Betty
7. Mrs. Herron, her Principal
8. Jesus
9. God
10. Mommy & Daddy
11. Reid
12. Tanner, Payton, & Payne
13. Aunt Stephanie
14. Tia Sarah
15. Aunt Sonya & Aunt Jessica
16. Aunt Ranice
17. Everybody

When I asked Reid what he was thankful for he said...
I am Thankful for Daddy's Deer Lease...you've got to love Mr. Reid.

What will Adelie do next???

Since Adelie has started Kindergarten she has really grown into a bright little girl and is much smarter than I could ever dream of. She has been in trouble for her sweet attitude, she has charmed all of the teachers & principal, and has even found a boy named Grant that is head over heels in love with her. I knew from the get go with this child that I would have my hands full, but could never have prepared myself for raising a mini version of myself. So far this year, Adelie has learned to tie her shoes, read books that have about 200 words in it, memorize several Bible verses (she knows more than I do), express herself through music & art, and can write her name in cursive. She has learned a lot more than that, but that is to name a few. She loves to write and draw. Any chance she gets, she is writing, drawing, or coloring. Each morning before school, she has to stay in a room at school outside of my office for about 30 minutes & she always has a piece of paper and pen in hand. She brought me her latest piece yesterday, and she had written out one of her songs she is learning for her Christmas program..."Love and Joy come to you and to you good Christmas too." I was floored when I saw it...granted not all of the words were spelled correctly, but she used her creative spelling words.
I am so proud of her and the love she has for learning. I just hope it continues!

Sign of the Times

It is the year 2009, but it is still hard for me to believe how fast paced life is & how dependent we are on technology. As we were driving to school today, Adelie asked me if she would get a phone when she was 9. Now we all know she was not referring to a phone in her room, because let's face it no one really has LAN lines anymore no less a phone in your room. I told her that I didn't know if she would get a phone when she was 9 or not and went into the spill of how I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 24 (blah, blah, blah is what she was thinking I'm sure) & how when I was little my phone was connected to a wall with a cord & was avocado green!!!! Way over her head, but needless to say, she was ok with my response. A minute later she told me that if she did get a phone when she was 9 that she wanted an I-Phone. I laughed that one off because who knows what great piece of technology they will have in 2013! Oh to be a child in 2009.

Adelie's 1st Play Date

Today marked a First for Adelie. She went home from school with her friend, Alyssa David. She had a great time playing outside, painting toe nails, & doing all sorts of things without mom there! I kind of think this is a right of passage when you get to go to a friend's house without your mom or dad. My little girl is growing up too fast.

I am thankful for...

In recent days, I have had several people I know that have received bad news. Whether it be a terrible diagnosis of cancer, loss of job, or death in the family, I have been reflecting on what I am thankful for. Below is my list-in no particular order...although it is not inclusive, it is what is on my heart...
1. God. I am thankful that I serve a loving and forgiving God. I am not perfect, but I serve a perfect God. He is my comfort every day and he reminds me in subtle ways everyday how He loves me. From a smile on a child's face to the sweet smell of fall, God is good!
2. My family...I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 beautiful children, 3sisters, a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, in-laws, and dear friends that love me unconditionally.
3. Good health
4. Butterfly kisses...I get these every night when I tuck Adelie in & I tuck her in about 10 times so that is a lot of butterfly kisses.
5. Butterfly hugs...this is something Adelie made up. When we hug, we tickle each other on the back because that is what a butterfly does.
6. To the stars and back. Every night when I put Reid to bed, he tells me that he loves me to the stars and back & I think he really means it!
7. Monty's unemployment. I have been through several emotions while Monty has been unemployed, but the quality time we have had as a family can never be replaced with money. I came home the other day and Monty and Reid were doing football formations in the living room. Reid was in heaven and Monty was enjoying every minute of it. 6 months ago, Monty would have been in a hotel in California somewhere missing us, but instead, he was home with us & has been since March.
8. Possibilities...Monty may have a job lead. Although it is in Virginia & temporary, we are thankful for the possibility of employment.
9. My job. With so many people umemployed, I am thankful for my job & that my children go to work with me. I get to see Adelie everyday of the week..what a blessing.
10. Bell Ringing. I play bells at church & love it. I never thought I would enjoy it so much, but it is one of the highlights of my week. God said to make a joyful noise, and since I am not vocal, bells is my avenue.
11. My friends. Some of my friends I have had since I was 2 years old...some I have just become acquainted with, and some have become angels in heaven. I am thankful for each friend and what they bring to my life.
12. Smiles & giggles. Each day I get to see my children smile & hear them giggle those deep belly laughs. What a wonderful creation children are. I thank God for the way my children show me love.
13. Pockets full of rocks...Reid has been collecting rocks on the playground at school. The last 2 days, he has come home with both pockets full of rocks. Today when I got home, he had them displayed on the coffee table and told me they were my rocks that he picked out just for me. The cutest part was that he was very protective of those rocks. No one but me could touch them. We picked out a bowl to put them in and they are proudly displayed on my dresser.
14. Flowers & bumble bees. As I looked out the window this afternoon I noticed Adelie on the ground crouched down in a bed of weeds that happen to be flowering. She was out there for a quite a while and kept moving from spot to spot on her knees. When she came in, I asked her what she was doing. She told me that bees were gathering pollen from the flowers on the ground and she was watching them. She told me she was still enough that the bees did not bother her. I am so thankful that my children appreciate creation, even in a yard of weeds.
15. God. I am thankful that I serve a loving and forgiving God. I am not perfect, but I serve a perfect God. He is my comfort every day and he reminds me in subtle ways everyday how He loves me. From a smile on a child's face to the sweet smell of fall, God is good!