Basically Brooks

This is my first summer break in 4 years, and I am really enjoying slowing things down and reflecting on life.   The last few months have been filled with lots of reminders of the following things: 1.  life is precious 2.  we aren't promised tomorrow 3.  cherish every moment These three things continue to put life into perspective and make me ask myself over and over each day questions like, "Does this really matter?"   Over the last few weeks there have been a few times where Satan seems to be prowling and trying to take me down.  I recognize it, and I refuse to let him win.  While I may have a little moment where I need to have a good cry, I see what is happening.  Satan is trying to win, and he won't.  I can't let him win.   One specific day, someone tried to tear me down with their words.  It hurt my heart.  A lot.  I confided in of my sweet friends, and she asked me, "Is this the worst day ever for you, or ...

Those of you who know me, or have spent at least 5 mintutes around me...know that I am one of the most frugal people on the planet. Why am I such a tightwad? Well...I think I gotta give the credit to my dad on that one. He taught me from an early age the importance of being smart with money. I saved up my birthday and Christmas money when I was very young just so that I could start my first savings account. I started babysitting at age 11 (which I cannot believe), and every bit of that went into my account. I did lots of odd jobs when I was a kid to earn and save a buck here and there, including collecting chestnuts from the giant trees in our backyard to sell at a local grocery store. (Have you ever seen where chestnuts come from?? A baseball sized ball of needles, basically.)  It was a tough job, but I was excited to be earning and saving. So that's the story of my thrifty beginnings, and it has continued to follow me into my adulthood. At this point in my life, saving money ...

Well, we're doing it again!  Taking chances, making changes!  Let me tell you about what is to come for the Brooks family! First of all.......I need to preface this post by saying this:  This idea is not OUR idea.  It is completely from God. Secondly.....negativity is 100% unwelcome.  I am not updating the world with our big changes to get anyone's approval.  So, if you think this is a stupid or horrible idea.....I'm gonna let you take that up with the Lord, because, again, this is not OUR plan.  It is HIS plan.  And as always, HIS plans are way better than our own plans, right?!? Here's the story of about how our life got flipped, turned upside down..... (hehehe).... For a while now, I have been really longing to return to the classroom.  I feel that God created me to be a wife and mommy, and also a teacher.  Three years ago, God told me it was time for a little break from my teaching career, and it was SO scary, but I did w...

One of my biggest faults is that I'm a people pleaser through and through. People pleasing sounds nice, doesn't it? I'm telling you....it's not! It is a curse and I think it stems from the devil! I think the root of the problem comes from pride. I wanna make sure to please people so that I look good. I wanna make sure everyone likes me and likes what I'm doing and everything is happy, happy, joy, joy. Except.....all that is work. Hard work. It is an impossible task that leaves me awake at all hours during the night wondering how I'm am being perceived by everyone around me. People pleasing takes time, yall. It robs me of my precious time. Instead of stewing on people pleasing thoughts....I could be spending that time in the Word (remember how I recently posted how I'm having difficulty finding focused and intentional time with God? If I worried less about people pleasing, I'd have more time with God!) I could be spending that "worry time" hav...

Baby Girl is 13 weeks now, Ava is loving every second of Kindergarten, and Anniston is learning how to be the Big Girl of the house during the days while mommy is taking care of the baby and all our buddies.  This marks my 4th week back to work and I feel like I am still waiting for everything to start feeling normal. I've got my routine together for the daytime while I'm watching the kids and for the most part things are running smoothly....but I feel like I am being attacked by negative thoughts telling me "you are not enough..."  I know this is Satan and that he is trying to get me when I'm down, but let's just be real....it stinks!  I know that the ONLY thing that can help me overcome my feelings of being insufficient is God.  Relying on Him in all circumstances is the only thing I can do. I need Him more than anything else right now....I just gotta figure out how and when to spend time with Him.  It's difficult, if I'm being honest.....I'...

I have been a little overloaded in life and let our blog go to the back burner!  But, I must write about sweet Adley's birth story just like I did with Ava and Anniston :) On June 8, after a sleepless night, Kyle and I got up and got ready to head to the hospital to meet our third precious girl.  To say I was nervous would be the biggest understatement ever.  Even though I had gone through 2 csections before, it didn't mean I wasn't scared and nervous....it's a big, scary surgery!  Mostly I was just afraid of the needle.... We arrived at the hospital, checked in, and started getting prepped for surgery.  First came the beautiful gown (I was so happy it wasn't the paper/plastic gown like I had with Anniston...I sweat to death in that gown), then came blood work and the IV, which I was not excited about....I hate needles.  And then the VERY worst part started.  Waiting.  Waiting for the magical hour of 7:30 am.  It took forever.  I was...

Well, many of you know about my adventures in freezer cooking. Lots of people have asked how it works, how I do it, etc.  So, I've decided to blog about it.  I will include pictures, recipes, and a shopping list.  After all that, you will be set to try it with a group of your friends!  All of this ended up costing right around $92 per family.  We did a $50 deposit up front, and then the remaining balance was split up and paid the day we cooked.  This is enough for you and 4 friends to each go home with 17 meals in this day.  First off, let me list the meals you will make: Easy Cheeseburger Casserole (each family will go home with 2 of these) Tex Mex Chicken and Rice (each family will go home with 4 of these) Baked Chicken Fajitas (each family will go home with 2 of these) BBQ Chicken (each family will go home with 2 of these) Chili  (each family will go home with 2 of these) Chicken Casserole with Doritos (each family will go home with 2 ...

Ever had one of those weeks where you think you have enough groceries to last an entire week and then Monday rolls around and you have basically nothing?  Well, that was me this week....and in my line of work, food is a must have!  So....because going to the grocery was the absolute last thing I wanted to do this week, I made the decision to make a menu of the meals we were gonna eat and I was gonna make do with what I had.  It's actually been pretty fun coming up with all kinds of meals that my family (and the ones I keep) would love.  Sunday night I looked through my "ingredients" by searching the pantry, the fridge, the freezer, and the deep freezer.  So....here's my menu for the week and a little description about each meal (in case you are curious)!  Monday Breakfast:  Blueberry Muffins (found a box pushed WAY back in the pantry) Lunch:  Cheese Ravioli (From the frozen food section at Kroger...very tasty and a hit with all the kids ages ...

Well, it's been a while since my last post so while I have 3 infants, a toddler, and a preschooler sleeping, I thought I'd take a moment to update my blog. This summer has been one like no other.  The first day of summer, I started my new babysitting business.  It is lovely being able to be with my two girls and watch some of their buddies at the same time.  Lovely, exciting, and sometimes a little crazy!  But....I wouldn't have it any other way!  During the summer months I have juggled 7 different families so that I could keep 3 kids each day.  It's a lot to keep up with and it keeps me on my toes but I'm not complaining!  I love it! Ava has become Momma's Little Helper.  She is sweeter than ever, checking to see if I ever need help, grabbing diapers for me when changing the babies, all while telling me "You're the best mommy in the whole world!"  (I honestly don't know where she came up with that, but it ALWAYS makes me stop and think o...

I've always wanted to be a really organized person, and I believe I'm on my way to becoming one.  A few weeks ago, I made a Home Management Binder so we can have all of our important information on hand and keep our home and finances in order.  After much research on the internet and Pinterest, and asking a sweet co-worker a million questions, I finally was ready to put it together.  I will show you what mine looks like as well as provide the links to the free printables I found online. This is what my binder cover looks like.  I loved the chocolate, lime, and blue colors! http://www.newbeehomeschooler.com/Home%20Management%20Binder/Home%20Management%20Binder%20cover.pdf  This page is great because it has basic information about everyone in the family.  Great for babysitters! http://www.newbeehomeschooler.com/apps/blog/show/prev?from_id=19227356  Another page with contact info for doctors, etc. 31 Day Meal Planner with Grocery L...