Life According to Brandy

My mom is better than yours. No seriously there have been few to walk the earth who are better mothers than the woman who raised me. When I think about my mother selfless is the first word that pops into my head. She has always put others first. It's reflected in everything she does. In her marriage to my dad, she happily goes along with whatever his latest love is-another boat, a fishing cabin, another fishing trip- you name it. And here's the thing that has always amazed me, she truly is happy for him to have and do whatever his heart desires. She's the same with my brother and I. She will drop everything to help us with whatever whenever we need her to without question. With my children, there is NEVER EVER a doubt on whether or not Dear is going to show up at their latest sports endeavors, school functions or church events. They have grown up knowing that no matter what, they can always count on her. This is a truth her family knows all too well.  She taught us morals...

Ok, let me preface this by saying I am not a perfect parent nor do I pretend to know all of the answers and this is simply my opinion but I have been holding this in for a long time now and just have to say it...people have lost their minds. Between the news and social media I just want to move out to the middle of nowhere, grow my own food and home school my children (and not because I think public education is failing)- except I really don't like to get dirty and I'm pretty sure my children have surpassed my educational expertise. But let me get back to the point. Today I was reading a post on Facebook complete with filmed evidence of a fight at a local high school. People were losing their minds over this. "OMG, I'd pull my kid out of that school so fast" and yada yada yada wrote several commentators. Seriously people, get a grip. Fights have been happening in high schools and middle schools since our grandparents attended school. It's not the end of t...

So at Bunko last month, a couple of friends suggested I write a blog about books I've read or am reading that I would recommend. Let me preface this by saying most things I've read come through recommendations from others. But I will pass along a few books I enjoyed or that impacted me in some significant way. I'll provide a little blurb about each but understand I certainly can not articulate in a brief sentence or two what these amazing authors have put together. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did! Parenting: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch- this is a great short read filled with life lessons from a dying man. What I loved most about this book was his discussion on the impact the way his mother parented had on him fulfilling his dreams. Five Conversations to Have with Your Son by Vicki Courtney- I'm 2/3 into this but I really love it. It hits home with how society has slowly turned boys into men who don't know how to be men and how mom's effect tha...

It's been a while since I've blogged. I barely remembered how to log in to the site- lol! There are a lot of changes headed our way. It's amazing to me how life just has a way of working out. I guess that's why I am learning to stress a lot less the older I get. God continues to show me He's in charge and already has everything all worked out. We are in the process of building our new home. It's wonderful and the fact that Jeff basically designed it (working from several sets of plans) is even better. It truly is a home built for a family. I can't wait to hear the voices and laughter of my family filling the rooms. I foresee days of watching Alabama football on the back porch and many great meals being enjoyed in our kitchen (Jeff cooking them of course, lol!). As of this Tuesday, everything will be decided and we can sit back and watch it all come together. I can't wait!!! It's only two months until our wedding. It's going to be such a wonderf...

So tonight we were sitting at my parents & Grant looks at me and says "momma (which he has decided to now call me because he thinks mommy is too babyish), Cooper (my mom's Elf on a Shelf) must REALLY be an elf on the shelf because the only place he has hooded (plural for hide-lol) is on a shelf! Now Mason's new thing that cracks me up is he's decided if you kiss under the mistletoe you've been "mistletoed"! So he keeps asking me if I am going to "mistletoe" Jeff when he gets here. Haha!

So here is just the typical drive home... Tonight we were on the way home and saw two cars chasing each other and I said they better stop or they will get a ticket for reckless driving or kill someone. Hence the question was posed from the back seat "what happens when you get a ticket?" So I went onto explain how you have to pay a fine and get a point on your drivers license which effects the cost of your insurance. "Insurance, what's that?" they ask. So I continue explaining how insurance works. Mason then replied "well do you have your insurance with Geico? Because they want to save people hundreds on car insurance"!! I died laughing. Then he says "Wow mom, why is life so complicated? You weren't kidding when you said nothing is for free!" Ahh, to see life through the eyes of a child.

So I happen to think when God is trying to teach us something he places reoccurring themes of His message all throughout our life. As I have joked with my bible study class, I am apparently in the remedial class on a few lessons He's trying to teach because I seem to have to learn them over and over. Anyway, recently this concept of God's love for us has been popping up everywhere. Now I know we are taught from a very young age "Jesus Loves Me" but how often do we REALLY ponder that thought. I was watching the Passion of the Christ Sunday night and a thought occurred to me. Think of the kindest, most giving, humble person you know. Now think of watching that person being almost beaten to death and then tortured on a cross all because of you...because of something you had done. Or imagine your child being tortured for someone else's crimes. That's how much God loves us. Amazing. And even more than that, it amazes me how he turns our messes into something beauti...