If Home Is Where Your Heart Is. . . .

Wow!  It has been exceptionally warm here.  Thank goodness we haven't been in the triple digits like many of you, but for Colorado, we have been HOT! And, thank goodness that my kids have Lesley to play with because they have been having a blast!  Days at the river are by far their favorite and I thought I'd share some pics.

Andy's new book, Alone is available on Amazon now!  Wow!  Book number four for Andy and it is a great book dealing with the main issue we feel like teens are dealing with:  being and feeling alone!  Click HERE to order!

So, I went to Baylor only interested in finding a husband.  School was just a means to my end.  I chose Secondary Education honestly hoping I would never have to use it.  I loved my times in the classroom and my student teaching semester so that love for teaching was definitely tucked away in the back of my brain. Fast forward 15 years. . .Gabby is going to school this year and we need a little extra money, so I have been meaning to apply to substitute teach in the Durango school district.  A few weeks ago, I got an email from the principal at Grace Prep in Durango.  She said that she had heard (from our Men's Director, Luke) that I was interested in subbing.  She asked me to have coffee with her to talk about that possibility last week. She and I met and I loved it!  But almost immediately in the conversation, she said that she didn't want to beat around the bush and that she felt I was an answer to prayer.  (I was confused.)  To make ...

Hays has been a Kivu camper these past two weeks and he has been having a blast!  I have absolutely LOVED watching him in his element!  He is so comfortable here among the Kivu staff and his camper peers!  I love this boy!

Gabby and Lesley raised butterflies from little caterpillars again this Spring.  They get the little caterpillars in the mail and feed them and watch them make their "sleeping bags" and then they get to watch them "wake up" as butterflies.  After they feed them for a couple of weeks, they are ready to be set free and yesterday was Independence Day!

As most of you know, we had family pictures taken professionally by Brooke Robinson while we were in Branson over Easter.  She did an amazing job!  I got to give you a "sneak peak" several weeks ago, but the official pictures are here and I love them!  Get ready for MANY pictures!  My family is beautiful!!!  (Can I say that out loud?  Oh well, I did.  They are!  I love them!) This is a great picture of what life is like in our house!  Andy and I just trying to keep it together while the chaos reigns around us!  I love this pic!!! This is my favorite family picture out of the bunch!  I love my family! How is she so grown up already?!??! This is another great picture that captured the Braner Family.  Everyone focused on Gabby while she is just super cute!  Welcome to life in our home! I love this one because it is SO us!  We're all upright and doing it "right" while Tiki is loving life to it...

It is so fun to have three Fathers in my life that I love so dearly and who I am so thankful for!  I am a very very blessed young (getting older) lady! First to my dad.  Daddy, you're amazing!  I love you so very much!  I've loved you since I remember and I love you so much more today.  I love calling you.  I love hearing your ring tone (John Mayer's "Daughters") come on my phone when you call.  I love it that I have someone so compassionate who I can call anytime day or night.  I love it that you answer your phone no matter what. . .and then you'll talk to me for several minutes before you say that you're in a meeting or even on stage.  I love the way that you make me feel so valued and important!  I love the way you love my kids.  I love to see your courage and your love in everything you do and all that you are having to deal with right now.  I'm proud of you in that!  I love to see you love Mom and I love to see yo...