Three Things...

I got this from Rosemarie .

3 things that scare me:
If there were three things that scared me, I'd not put the words into existence. I'm a big believer in the power of words.

3 things I love:
God
My children
Praise and worship

3 things I hate:
Lies
Cooking
A dirty house

3 things I don't understand:
Racism
How someone walks away from their children
Why someone would choose for their body to rot and decay rather than donate it

3 things on my desk:
Computer
Light
Camera dock

3 things I'm doing right now:
Posting
Watching Mission Impossible 3 with Casey
Laundry

3 things I want to do before I die:
I'm ready

3 things I can do well:
Love
Live
Laugh

3 things I can't do:
Lie
Find my way somewhere without directions...okay, and then it's a gamble
Not care about my kids

3 things I should listen to:
God
My inner spirit
My children

3 things I shouldn't listen to:
Negative people
Gossip
Degrading music

3 things I watched as a kid:
Dark Shadows
The Twilight Zone
American Bandstand

This was fun, thanks Rosemarie. If y'all do it, as always, let me know.

Life's little nuisances

Well...nothing quite puts a damper on a day like a dog getting a hold of your wallet and chewing up $300. Just ask Casey.

A Merry Little Christmas

So...this Christmas was a little different than the ones past. No one seemed to get what they wanted, nothing seemed to be enough, nothing I did was appreciated and the boys were rude and hateful all day long.

As if.

Sorry. I know my being constantly happy with life and my kids has got to be boring and frustrating, so I thought I'd go a different route...only it wasn't true. :) Truth is, it was a great Christmas.

The Saturday before Christmas we attended the Christmas service for Fellowship. Casey had been working on the set for days and was very excited about all of us going. The music was great and, as usual, I cried with joy for being able to worship between my boys. I can really go through the tissues when the Spirit moves me. Sunday morning we attended The Potter's House, and what a service! I love going to The Potter's House, it's honestly like going home and I'm so happy to be able to take my kids to experience what church can be like. The distance is a pain in the butt...but it's worth the drive. There was an elderly lady sitting in front of us, decked out in fur coat and hat, that couldn't get enough hugs from my kids. It was pretty cool since they don't really have any grandparents that they see, it was nice for them to get that attention and affection from her. We all had a really great time.

Christmas eve was Charlie's birthday. My baby is now 17 years old. I don't know how that is possible, but he assures me it's true. He chose Walk Hard as his birthday movie and all I can say is, if it is even remotely possible, cross the theater, the road or the state line, but do what it takes to stay as far away from this film as possible. I believe I've witnessed how low someone will go to try to be funny...or to make money. The boys said they couldn't decide whether they liked it or not; they each said they'd laughed once or twice so they hated to write it off all together. Me...two laughs doesn't make a movie, besides, I didn't have those two laughs.

After the movie, a couple of his best buddies joined us at his favorite restaurant, Umeko's Sushi and Grill. I don't do sushi but they do have great kung pao shrimp, decently spicy when I ask for it to be triple spicy...but P.F. Changs is better. :)

Christmas morning I found a kid on each couch in the living room. Some things never change regardless of how old they get. I waited for them to get up...accidentally making a lot of noise in the kitchen...several times. No one was moving. Finally around 9'ish, after I'd made homemade cornbread (I've got to put the recipe up here, it's the best stuff ever) and had gone through a pot of coffee...when I couldn't take it anymore, I whispered in each of their ears that it was Christmas and time to GET UP! :)

First, the boys and I realize how blessed we are to have each other, and we know above all things that having love, trust and respect for one another is the best gift we can give as well as receive. Sounds corny, I know, but we discuss this. After what we've been through, we don't take it for granted. Though this was one of our 'least $$ spent' Christmas', it was one of our best. It was really good. The kids both got what they'd wanted; Charlie a tuner for his guitar and the (get ready for this) Snarling Dogs Bootzilla Bootsy Collins Signature Bass Wah with Fuzz Pedal and Casey new tires on his car. Done...with a few surprises under the tree. It was a wonderful Christmas. They'd each gotten me a candle (I don't know if I've ever shared that with y'all, but I love candles!) and Casey gave me a gift card to Border's Book Store and Charlie gave me a much needed car charger to a rather new phone. By mid afternoon, the house was full of kids, music and laughter. Good times.

It was great having four days off from work, but it was also great having a great job to go back to. Christmas, to me, was comprised of gifts of all the things I care about; we worshiped together, we gave each other much love and thanks and we were much blessed with Casey having made the Dean's List and my having a good job that I both enjoy and appreciate.

Christmas was very good at the Bratcher home.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Stumbled across this over at lovelladro's house.

Rejoice...celebrate...the birth of our Savior!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BRATCHER HOME.

That's my baby!

CASEY MADE THE DEAN'S LIST!

All I want, I have.

So my family is whole again, and all is right with my world. I don't worry about Casey when he's at school, it's not like I sit around wondering where he is or what he's doing. In fact, I've not thought that way once, and now I'm wondering if that's odd. I just miss him when he's not home, as if there is something that's out of place, something that keeps me from relaxing completely without my even realizing it. When he walks in the door, it's then that I realize that all wasn't quite right with my world, and here is what was missing, my baby. When he's home, I'm more comfortable, I sleep better, I enjoy things more...even the simple things like watching a movie. I'm like this, too, with Charlie. When he goes somewhere with a friend, even though he calls to check in with me, there is a tad of unrest about me. When he comes home, I breathe easier.

When I left college between my freshman and sophomore year, I have no idea how my parents survived it. I can only now imagine what I must have put them through. They had no address for me, knew nothing of where I was, with whom I was living, how I was living or if I was living. I wish they were alive for me to apologize to. I'm so sorry. When I moved to Texas at 29, not knowing a soul, without a job and less than $100 in my pocket...how did they live through that? I don't think I'm strong enough to get through something like that. I've surprised myself a lot with how strong I can be and how much I can get through (glory to God), but how hard this would be! I never understood completely what I put my family through. Granted, I was selfish and never really stopped to think about it...till now.

I remember when I'd go home to visit, how I would catch my mom staring at me, just watching me. Now I understand. I can't get enough of looking at Casey. While they are growing up, you nearly take it for granted that there will be a tomorrow, a next week or a next year with them saying good morning to you, giving you that random hug every day, the occasional cross words and those contagious smiles. Then they graduate high school, then they go to college, and then they'll be married with kids of their own. I didn't understand how my mom felt until now and my boys will not understand this feeling until their own kids are near the 'leaving' age.

So, for the holidays, Casey and Charlie keep asking me what I want for Christmas. I want what I have. It's all I could possibly ask for because nothing else could make me as happy.

What I'm Not

Courtesy of dabich, the latest tag: " list 5 things I'm not".

1.) I'm not a shopper. I hate to shop. I don't like going into stores and I don't like shopping period. And when I try, I'm not good at it.

2.) I'm not a 'girlie-girl'. I don't like prissy stuff, I don't like make-up or getting my nails done or styling my hair. I can get up in the morning, shower, eat breakfast, get dressed, put on 2 minutes worth of 'make-up' and be out the door in 45 minutes. And, may I add, look damn good. :)

3.) I'm not a cook. Very rarely I 'll enjoy cooking. Usually I'll love cooking on holidays or very special occasions, but that's it. But as far as cooking to just cook...nope. In fact, I nearly hate it. I'm not picky about what I eat, veggies and some fish or some sort of seafood and I'm good. Fortunately, my kids both like to cook (take that after their dad). Charlie use to want to be a chef...and he'd be a good one, he experiments with spices and comes up with some awesome dishes. Me, honest to God, we have to remove the batteries out of the smoke alarm every time I cook. Thanksgiving we had to take them out of 3 of the smoke alarms downstairs. I don't get it...

4.) I'm not a gossip. I will never say anything bad about someone. I don't repeat things I hear and I'd never risk hurting someone just for the sake of someone hearing me talk.

5.) I'm not intimidated by anyone or anything. Probably because I know who (and whose) I am. :)

Play along if you want, and be sure to tell me if you do.

What's New?

I'm blogging on my lunch hour. How cool is that? I have a lunch hour! Yeah, I've not gotten over how thrilled I am to have a job. I'm nothing if not thankful. :)

I'm working at an extremely busy ob/gyn office in Dallas that houses five doctors, each with two nurses. We also do the in house mammograms, blood work and sonograms. I answer the phones with another woman (my angel) for all of the above. We answer the phones, make all appointments and keep the doctor's calendars.

It's a constantly busy place. There are probably 30 women in this group of people I work with, only the doctors are men. I've never known women to get along so well. These people seem to honestly like each other. I've not heard any bad words said to or about anyone. I've been here for eight work days and I'm still pretty shocked about it. When I interviewed for the job, I interviewed with the office manager (a man), a woman who has been here for 23 years and the managing doctor who founded the firm. The woman who interviewed me also helped train me and she has brought me in seven sets of scrubs. SEVEN. All the women wear them here, but it's an option. I wanted to go shopping for some and she told me she had some that didn't fit her anymore and she'd bring them in to me. Blessings! Yay me. :)

My favorite thing about the job is the regular hours. I leave for work at 7:30 and I'm home by 6:00. Greatness! I've came home a couple of times to Charlie making dinner for me. I know I've never told y'all this before, but I simply adore my kids. Speaking of kids, I made our Christmas cards on-line this year and love how they turned out. Got them yesterday in the mail, and other than my picture on them, they're great. I've recently lost a lot of weight (40 pounds) and wish I'd had a more recent picture on them, but...I'm so camera shy that regardless, I just won't get in front of one. Honestly, when you look at my kid's baby albums it looks like they were raised by Mark alone, there isn't any evidence of me. Katy always says it's like I'm in the witness protection plan. ;)

Casey will be home for a month at Christmas. How cool is that?!? Well, for me anyway. I'm sure he'll be ready to go back after a few days of Mom... I miss him so much. It's just the coolest thing watching he and Charlie hang together, though. Love it. You know what? I've raised some great kids.

Other things in my life, well...leaving it all up to God. He's in control and I can get through anything. So, all praise here. Seriously, I've got the best job, I like the people I work with and I got enough clothes to go through a week and a half, I've got my kids and they're kids to be proud of. Add in the friends I have, our health and all of our every day joys...I'm blessed.

Sorry I've been gone so long. When I get home, I'm just loving spending time with Charlie and doing things around my home. L.O.V.I.N.G. it!!

I'll be around to check on y'all soon. Big hugs to every single one of you.