The past month....

It has been a month since my last posting so I figured I am long overdue for picture updates. I will be the first to admit that during the school year, I might as well throw my blogging to the wind b/c it seems like I can never find the time to write. Luckily, summer break is just around the corner (1 more week to be exact!) so hopefully somewhere between my brother's upcoming wedding festivities, my sister visiting from Germany, and  other summer happenings, I'll have time to actually write meaningful posts. Just to show how far behind I am, I realized I never posted pics from Easter. This was Addison's first time hunting eggs and she had a blast!

An attempt to get all the cousins in one photo.... I think Addison was more worried about trying to find the prizes inside the eggs.

Addison in her Easter dress after church

In April, we took Addison to the county fair. Of course, the animals were her favorite part. Something tells me we're going to end up with a menagerie of pets when she gets older.

Stay tuned for more busy happenings from the life of the Brickers...

In His Love....

Three Years

Three years… …three years since we welcomed you into this world, three years since I held you in my arms and told you how much I loved you….three years since I felt the softness of your cheeks and breathed in your sweet scent …three years since I brushed the soft tendrils of your hair with my fingers...three years since I felt your tiny fingers curl around mine. Three years of "if onlys" and "whys?" Three years of missing you.

Some days it seems as if a lifetime has come and gone and other days, it seems like it was just yesterday that I rocked you in my arms. Your brief life has changed our lives forever. God only knows how much longer it will be until we see you again, but until that time comes, we rest in God’s peace that you are resting safely in His arms and experiencing the wonders of heaven. We love you, Landon.

Puppy Love

Three weeks ago our Lab, Gracie, had 8 puppies- 4 black and 4 chocolate! Addison has a blast playing with them and wants to tote them around everywhere like she does with her stuffed animals, whether that be by the neck, upside down, or any other manner that suits her liking . She likes to take them for rides in her wagon and everytime they try to jump over the side, she tells them "Say, Puppa!" (Stay, puppy!) I can already tell we're going to have one heartbroken little girl when she has to tell all of her puppies good-bye.

Picture update

I've been such a slacker lately! I haven't posted since Christmas. Life has been getting in the way-a few nasty colds, doctor visits, work, etc. It's hard to believe it's already February. Addison is 16 months old now and is as healthy as a horse. She has 5 teeth, can say a plethora of words- "Papa", "tractor", "doggie", "thank you" and "bye-bye" being her favorite ones. She has become quite the little chatterbox. She loves to "read" her books to anyone who will listen, including her stuffed animals, and will carry on a conversation with you as if you understand her every word. She RUNS everywhere and is in to EVERYTHING! I get my exercise trying to keep up with her--best weight loss plan ever! She has an absolute obssession with animals and can make almost any animal sound imaginable. She loves visiting my parents' farm to see all the animals and to ride on her Papa's tractor. There is never a dull moment with her in our lives.

Christmas Blessings

May your Christmas be merry,

may your home be peaceful,

may your family be joyful

and may each one be blessed.

Merry Christmas from our home to your's!

Fall Fun!

Ready for church!

The Cowardly Lion has called it a night.

"Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion on Halloween.

A visit to the pumpkin patch

Childlike Faith

God amazes me at how he often chooses to reveal Himself in the simplest of ways. Several days ago, my morning devotion was on "Having Childlike Faith." It seems so easy, right? Having faith like a child. But have you ever stopped to explore the depth of what that really means?

One of the things I love most about my job as a teacher is that I am often reminded that children-although young in years-often have the wisest answers to life's most perplexing questions. I had casually mentioned to my students later that day that I had not adjusted to the time change yet. Well, this sparked a discussion as to "Why does the time change?" and then "How come the days have less daylight?" and eventually led to "Why are there different phases of the moon?" Of course, the whole time I'm trying to do my best to impart valuable textbook knowledge to my students that would make them so much smarter in life, but the best answer came from one of my students. After someone asked "How does the moon determine the tides of the ocean?" immediately he blurted out- "Because God created the universe and He can do anything. Don't you know that?" Wow, how could I top that answer? To a ten-year old, such a simple response, but instantaneously, I caught my mind beginning to over-analyze things and I stopped myself. Childlike faith? Sooo... this is what you mean, right God? As simple as that- believing without doubting that you can do anything because you are God. Trusting You wholeheartedly and obeying no matter what the situation. Not questioning the truth to your promises.

All throughout scripture, we see those who pleased God and did great things by simply trusting Him like a child. Some of them faced catastrophic circumstances, but they never questioned God's ways or plans. They simply loved, believed and obeyed Him.

It is only when we learn to trust God in spite of our situations that we can experience His goodness and mercy. May God's grace strengthen you to walk with Him in your life and may we always seek to have childlike faith.

In His Love.....