Funny Story (at least it is to me)

We were sitting around the dinner table tonight talking about our day.  Ella was telling us all about her school day. (She always has so many stories to tell.)  This week, their class is studying about community helpers.  She was telling us she was so excited because tomorrow 2 police officers, a fireman, and a nurse were all going to come visit her class and talk about the ways that they help the community. 

Eric jokingly said, "So when is your teacher going to ask me to come speak to the class about being a preacher?"

Ella started laughing and said, "Daddy, you have to have a job to come speak to our class."

The whole table erupted in laughter.  So funny! 

Then, as we were finishing eating, she said (as if not to hurt his feelings), "Daddy, I know you actually have 2 jobs- you're a preacher and a missionary."

Oh how I love that sweet girl!!

Brittany

Beautiful Eyes

Today we went to get Brayden's hair cut.  (I think he has the fastest growing hair in the world!) While we were there, he and the lady that was cutting his hair started having a conversation.  It went something like this:

Lady: "I think you have the most beautiful eyes. Where did you get your eyes from? Your mama?

Brayden: "Nope."

Lady: "Well, did you get them from your daddy?"

Brayden: "Nope."

Lady: "Did you get them from your sister?"

Brayden: "Nope."

Lady: "Your dog?"

Brayden: "Nope."

Lady: "Well, where did you get them from then?"

Brayden: "God. He gave them to me."

Lady: (laughing) "I guess you're right.  God gave you beautiful eyes."

 

I love how much truth a child can speak!  What an example he was to the lady we met today! 

And, of course, he does have beautiful eyes!!  No bias at all!

Brittany

Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere

Have you ever had "one of those weeks"?  Yeah, me too.  I gave you a short glimpse at just the beginning of our week last week from the last post (with the flat tire).  Well, the week continued to dwindle.  Monday night I became really sick and had to go to the ER.  They didn't know what was wrong.  The next day I went to Urgent Care.  They sent me to get a Doppler ultrasound on my arm and neck just to make sure I didn't have a blood clot.  I didn't :) but my symptoms didn't go away.  All week I have been absolutely miserable with pain and numbness in my right arm, sometimes having trouble breathing.  I have had to sleep on the couch so that I could be elevated and have something to prop my arm upon.  It's been a hard week.  But praise God, I woke up this morning feeling much better!  No explanation other than that God healed me! 

However, one day last week, we took an afternoon to get out of the house and getaway from everything.  Although I didn't feel well, we were all dying to get out of the house and thought maybe the fresh air would feel good.  It did.  We had a great time. 

Here are some pics of us soaking up the sun and splashin in the water at Canyon Lake:



I just put my feet in the water





This girl would live in the water! 



One of my favorite places to go :)

Sometimes it feels good to get knee deep in the water somewhere (or in Ella's case, get all the way in) and just take in all of God's creation! 


Brittany

 

This is the stuff that drives me crazy!

"This is the stuff" by Francesca Battistelli is one of my favorite songs.  Today has been one of those days.  Actually, the last week and half have been "one of those days". 

You see, today, while on the way home from picking Ella up from school, we got a flat tire.  It was just me and the kids.  I do not know how to change a flat tire. :(

And although I do not know how to change a flat tire, I am learning.  This was the 3rd flat tire we have changed in a little over a week!!!  Let me clarify by saying they were not all on the same vehicle.  (Last week we had one on the church van while we were driving.  Then 30 minutes later a friend called that also had a flat tire and needed help.) Today was my personal van. 

As soon as this happened, I thought of the song above.  There is a line in the song that says, "This is the stuff that drives me crazy, this is the stuff that's getting to me lately, in the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed." 

So, today I am choosing to see how I am blessed and not focusing on the little things that make me crazy. 

FYI, Eric had just arrived home and was able to get there and help me in less than 5 minutes.  We were able to get pulled over quickly and will be able to get the tire fixed.  A sweet lady pulled over to give us a bigger jack so it made the job much easier.  We were also able to invite her to church.  All blessings :)



Two of my biggest blessings!!

What are your blessings today??


Brittany

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who gave towards our matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans!  Because of your willing and generous hearts, we were able to match all $3000!!  This means we got $6000 to put towards our adoption expenses, which was really great because we had a payment to make of $7600.

 That makes it that much closer for us to bring this little guy home:


I can't show the whole picture until he is officially a Gibbs, but here he is!!

 Thanks, also, to everyone who helped with the yard sale.  Whether you brought items to donate, helped price items, worked the couple of days preparing, etc. we can not say how much we appreciate you!!!  We are constantly amazed at how much our family and friends support us.  We know that there were so many of you who helped in so many ways.  We wish we could have been there!  Our parents kept telling us how much stuff was donated.  I, personally, asked for pictures so that I could see it all.  It was awesome!!! 

I am so proud to say that we you raised a little over $2000!!!  Complete awesomeness!!

Because there were still many items left to sell, our parents have decided to have one more yard sale day this Thursday.  Although we have raised our goal for this time, we still have more payments in the future.  The proceeds from this yard sale day will go towards those payments. 

To give you an idea of what we have left to pay:

one payment of $2800 to our lawyer/agency

one payment of $1200 to our lawyer/agency

about $5000 worth of travel expenses (including airfare, hotel, food, etc.)

So, we are preparing for about $9000-$10000 more!! 

Once again, we thank you so much for supporting us, loving us, and encouraging us.  We seriously have the best friends and family in the world!!!!

Brittany