Ministry Update!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

hey guys!

just posted a ministry update over at the ministry blog. we'd love for you to check it out and get up to date on all that's going on!

Bryan and Karen

there is also a link just over to the right. ----------->

Summer Fun

Monday, June 22, 2009

I apologize my delay in posting. Our first 4 weeks of summer of been busy.

Week 1: Family Vacation in Fort Morgan, AL. Great time with great family.



Weeks 2 and 3 : South East Asia: Kathmandu, Nepal: Amazing Children
Week 4: Karen started teaching summer school and Bryan started interning at the church

I promise to be more consistent and look forward to sharing more about our trip!

We're on our way!

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Hey everyone!

Just sitting in the Chicago airport waiting on our flight to New Delhi. We have a new blog post over at the ministry website (www.incorruptibleministries.wordpress.com) and we would love to have you follow along with our journey. we are going to try to post regularly while we're there.

Bryan and Karen

Wahoo

Friday, May 22, 2009

My first year of teaching is officially OVER. It's been a great year, however, I am glad for the break. Bryan and I are already in Alabama and will be headed to the beach tomorrow for a week of relaxing with my family. 9 days from now we will be on a plane headed to Nepal. We can't wait! It's going to be a great summer! A very full summer, but a great summer!

My PawPaw

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

3 Years Ago at our Wedding

My PawPaw passed away today at the young age of 91. Although he has had congestive heart failure for about a year (which is treatable) he was doing good, so it was a little unexpected. We did get to see him on Sunday so that was such a blessing to us.

He was such a neat man. He could talk your ear off (I do get it honestly). Just about any word you said to him would make him think of a war story and for the next several hours he would tell stories about his time in WWII and his travels while there. At 88 he was still swimming 7-10 laps in 30 minutes and was in the local paper for swimming 50 miles (over the course of several months). He was a very gracious and giving man. He loved to work with his hands and build bird houses. He loved my grandmother dearly and thought very highly of her. He was a great man and will be sorely missed. I'm glad to know that he lived such a full life. I'm glad to have been a part of his life and to have had the honor of knowing him.

Ministry blog

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

hey everybody (all 5 of you),

we've set up a new blog to document our adventure in Nepal this summer. you can find it at www.incorruptibleministries.wordpress.com, or click here. feel free to put the link on your blog roll, as this will continue being the ministry blog even after the trip. we hope to be able to post while we're in Nepal, but from what Karen tells me, i shouldn't get my hopes up...oh well.

30 Days

Saturday, May 2, 2009

In thirty days...

We will be on a plane...headed half-way around the world...
To share hope with the most precious people...

I cannot wait...I have imagined this day for the last 5 years when I would get to return to these people I love so dearly and with the man I love so dearly. Its only 30 short days away.

Vegas Vacation

Friday, April 10, 2009

Sin City! We returned with money in our pockets and wonderings of why you would take your children on a "family vacation"???
A view of the strip our first night there (it was a little colder than I anticipated)

Andrew and Heather got the privilege of spending the week with us

Our shuttle ride from the airport to the hotel

Bryan's first winnings in the slots at the airport

Money, Money, Money, Money!

We're Back!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

I am so sorry guys for those of you who follow and still check our blog. Life has been crazy...and this time of year as I say "my brain hurts". We are officially on spring break! No students for 9 days! I hope to catch up on life over these last few months this week and on what has been going on in my heart! Here are some pics of the last few months!


Holding Vivian for the first time! She is so sweet and precious and her aunt K will buy her the CUTEST clothes!!! I went home to spend a weekend with Vivian and the boys and ended up driving back in the crazy snowstorm! It was great though to just spend time with the family!

Sweet Sweet Girl

Layne and Larra came and spent the afternoon hanging out at Jen's. While I believe they just wanted to see me; I know they came to hold the bundle of sweetness that is our Vivian

Bryan and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary on March 11. We bought filets from a local meat market(this is expensive for us!) and has a nice QUIET dinner at home.
I'm so honored to share life with you babe! Thanks for loving me! I can't wait for all that is to come!

Bryan turned 25! We had a surprise party for him, and although not pretty, a very delicious double layer chocolate cake with cream cheese icing in the middle. Sorry this was the only pic I took...lame I know!

A little Peek

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Our sweet Vivian is doing better. She is currently on the CPAP and off the ventilator and using less and less oxygen each day! They are hopefull she will get to go home early next week! She is a beautiful girl and I can't wait to see Davis and Tyler love on their new sister! Please keep Vivian and the Brewer family in your prayers!

Valentine Surprise

Saturday, February 14, 2009

This morning Vivian Kathleen was born at 9:10 a.m. weighing 8lbs and 20 in. long. She is currently in the NICU with an infection so please keep her in your prayers.

All Chopped Off

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Before
During

Still going...it took awhile

10 inches!

I chopped off ten inches today to donate to Locks of Love!

Sad Day

Friday, January 9, 2009

It is official...I was trying not to believe the rumors...Cottage Living is no more. I know many of you may not fully appreciate the void that this will leave in the world...however there is much sadness in my heart at the knowledge of no longer receiving one of my few superficial delights...ahh the search begins for a new magazine that will make this heart delighted one day a month over superficial and frivolous things. They better not mess with Target.

Come and Worship

Thursday, December 25, 2008

My heart and mind have meditated on many thoughts this Christmas Season. I love everything about the "Christmas Season"...the food, the presents, the weather, the colors, the greenery...the music. Music connects me to the Father and can always shift my focus. Two songs this season have kept my heart humbled and my eyes lifted to the heavenlies. Today let us kneel and bow in worship to our King.

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o'er the earth.
Ye who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.

Come and worship, come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the newborn King.

Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching o'er your flocks by night.
God with man is now residing
Under shines the infant light

Saints before the altar, bending,
Watching, longing, hope and fear.
Suddenly the Lord descending
in His temple shall appear.

One thing I have meditated on this Christmas season is the simple life that Jesus lived. He didn't come as a "royal" Child born to a King, He came to the humble family of a carpenter. He could have enjoyed all the earthly riches available and yet during His time on earth He lived a very simple life. We know there was intentionality in this because it reflects the fact that earthly treasures, no matter how wonderful are temporary, but heavenly treasures, the souls of men, are eternal. Jesus knew that there was nothing on this earth that could satisfy Him more than His relationship with the Father and that His time needed to be spent on eternal treasure not indulging in earthly temporary treasure. My heart has been stirred to discern where I need to simplify my life so that I can be more about the eternal and less indulgent in the temporary.

They never knew a dark night
always had the Son's light
on their face
Perfect in glory
Broken by the story
of untold grace...
come that day

Majesty had come down
Glory had succumed now
to flesh and bone
In the arms of a manger
In the hands of strangers
that could not know
Just who they hold

And the angels filled the sky
All of heaven wondered why
Why their King would choose to be
Be a baby born to die

And all fell silent
For the cry of an infant,
the voice of God
Was dividing history
For those with eyes to see,
the Son would shine
From earth that night

To break the chains
Of guilt and sin
To find us here
To pull us in
So we can join in Heaven's song
And with one voice around the throne

All the Angels filled the sky
And I can't help but wonder why
Why the King would choose to be
Be a baby born for me
Be a baby born to die

Risk

Sunday, December 14, 2008

I'm not a gambler. I like decisions that are safe, comfortable, predictable. Although I say and think I trust God, I like my life to be simple enough that I can handle it. Life is and has been good. There has been peace, provision, hope for whats to come, and a simple enjoyment of where we are in life...all risk free. A restlessness has begun to stir in my spirit...not in fear... because of a lack. A lack of risk.


In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade one "leap of faith" could lead to finding a great treasure and saving his father's life. He must risk his life though. Stepping off the cliff could save his father's life or end both of theirs.

The Lord has been showing me that although my life is good it could be great(not perfect)...but getting there involves risk. It involves risking everything and taking that first step off the cliff with no visible way to get across trusting that He is going to carry me every step of the way.


"The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of ten thousand butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom. Trust is our gift back to God. Unwavering trust is a rare and a precious thing." Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust

He has brought this passage back to me, gently reminding me of the sweet aroma trust is to Him. He is showing me that sometimes risk is good...it builds our faith and strengthens our courage. I have to take that first step He won't push me. Sometimes He brings us to a place where we have everything to lose and only Him to gain more of. That is exactly where I feel...standing at the edge of the cliff...holding on to everything that keeps my life comfortable...but the minute I let go and walk out, the bridge will appear (cue indiana jones music) and we will walk across together.

Aunt Karen Part 1

Saturday, November 15, 2008

I love being an aunt! I love having the opportunity to invest in these precious children. I hope to be wise with this opportunity given to me and reflect Christ to them!

Aunt Karen Part 2

Caught!

Monday, November 3, 2008

When we go out of town we keep Bailey in the kitchen behind a baby gate. The last time we left he chewed a hole through his gate...so we bought a new one. I will just let the pictures tell the story of how we found him upon our return yesterday...


The sad thing is we don't know how long he was like this...but no worries we laughed a lot and clearly took pictures before we freed him. I'm guessing he probably learned his lesson

We Believe in Auburn and Love it!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Bryan and I carved our first pumpkin! WAR EAGLE!

Managing Life

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I know I haven't posted much of my thoughts lately. Life has been full and there is much my heart and mind are chewing on.

I am not by nature a disciplined person, I have never followed the same routine every morning (except for hitting snooze) or any day. I just go with the flow for each day. It is something I strive to improve in my life because I know I can't always do or not do based on my feelings. Recently as I read a friends blog, I began to think about the idea of being the "manager" of my home. I have never really looked at it from that perspective and as I thought about the Proverbs 31 woman, I realized that was exactally what she did. She organized and managed the household and provisions her husband provided. As I began praying through this and processing this we started a series at church on our finances and being good stewards of what God has given us. This past Sunday we discussed how each decision is a spritual decision and that we are not the owners of our things and money, we are simply the managers. So right now I am just praying through every part of my life and asking for God to show me how I can better manage each area, especially my time, money and my home.

Life in general is good for us. Fall is always full, especially this year with two of Bryan's brothers getting married. Admist the busyness though I am blessed and thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life that keep me busy.