The Bratcher Bunch

a new job

2010-07-01T11:44:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been at LEAST six months since we've posted and not for a lack of content to post, either. I guess we've just been busy with all of the content we should be informing everyone of!! =)

Anyway, our latest news is that I (Kasey) will be taking on a new endeavor in my career.....I will be leaving my Algebra I classroom at Green County Middle School to work with a local educational cooperative that serves 33 districts in our area (including Hart and Green Counties) as their Mathematics Consultant. I am extremely excited about this new challenge as bittersweet as it is, because I have loved every minute of my last seven years at GCMS. I will miss working with so many people that have mentored and befriended me over these last years, but hopefully we will stay in touch with everyone as we will STILL be living in Green County and Leah will still be attending GCPS.

It will be a 45 minute commute to and from work each day and lot's of days I will be traveling to schools or conferences as well. And although that sounds like a negative, I am actually really excited about all of the different things that my job will entail and the "alone time" I will get in my car each day (hehe)!!

All else is well with the Bratcher Bunch!! Leah just turned SIX and I cannot believe how big Lex is getting either. They are both with Nana and Pop this week at DisneyWorld while Doug and I are at Crossings with our youth group. I'll post pictures when they get back.

a scary situation

2009-12-18T10:20:00.002-06:00

If you've been following our facebook accouts at all, you may already know about little Lex!! Last Saturday he choked on a poptart and it took Doug 90 seconds (what seemed like hours) of whacking him on the back to get it up. I even called 911 about half way through when nothing was happening. It was truly the most terrifying situation I've ever been in. I am just SOOOOO glad he is alive.

A little while after the incident, however, we noticed that he was walking funny. His left foot was turned almost a full 90 degrees inward and he was dragging it and not laying all the way flat as he walked. I poked and pinched his foot, but it didn't seem like it was injured??? It was just really weird. Sunday, he was still walking this way. We started to worry that maybe, in whacking him on the back, Doug did something to his spine. And the more we thought about how weird it was -the more crazy possible diagnoses we came up with in our heads.

Anyway, to make a long story short, after two doctors and multiple xrays we finally figured out that he has five broken ribs!! Maybe it's weird, but Doug and I were actually VERY happy that broken ribs were all that was wrong. The doctor seems to think that the funny walking is his way of relieving some of the pressure from his back.

So he is all right!! He acts like a normal 2-year-old....running around the house, jumping, playing and bothering his sister!! Other than being a little fussier than normal, you wouldn't even know he was in pain. We are just glad that God spared his life!! And we are thankful this Christmas season for each passing day we have with our family......the greatest gift that we so often take for granted.

a LONNNNNNNNG time

2009-12-18T10:12:00.003-06:00

WOW - I can't believe it's been three months since I've last posted!! So much has happened. Family Reuion, the beach again, Halloween, Thanksgiving and it's almost Christmas!!! Here are some pictures of the last three months you catch you up...

All of the cousins at our Family Reunion.

Lex turned 2!! He was sick on his birthday though so we didn't have much of a party!! =(

Leah, as Alice in Wonderland!!

Lex, as a "cahn-dee carn"!

our new addition

2009-09-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

Well, we finally broke down and got Leah a dog!! She's been begging us to get one since she could say "dog" - and we have just kept putting her off, but now that we're settled for a while and Lex is getting bigger we decided to go ahead!! So here is Maximus (or Max as we call him). He's a Shorkie (half Imperial Shih-Tzu and half Teacup Yorkie). He weighed 1 lb and 15 oz at the vet today and he is SOOOO good. He loves playing with Leah and Lex and he lays around on the couch at night with me and Doug when the kids are in the bed....the perfect companion!! Just wish he were fully potty-trained, buy, hey, neither is Lex.

Here are some pics, enjoy!!

Leah and Max

Max got a hold of one of Lex's "binkies" - needless to say - we didn't give it back to Lex!!

Time to eat!! =)

a gift from the Lord

2009-08-21T19:26:00.003-05:00

On our new front porch in Pierce, KY!

Well, let me just tell you what's been going on in the Bratchers' lives the last several weeks!! First of all, we were FINALLY able to look at our new house about a month ago (the parsonage of our church)....it was a Friday afternoon before we were to leave on vacation (for a whole week) the next Sunday. And the house was in terrible condition. Lot's of garbage, broken things, nasty carpets and bathrooms....the list goes on. I wish I had pictures. Anyway, the day we had our first look at it I was SOOOOO upset I cried all the way home. What had God given us short of a dump? I think I was most upset because we were getting ready to go on vacation and couldn't begin to work on it until the week school started.

But God had a different idea. We left for vacation on Sunday and by the time we got home the next Sunday the house had had a COMPLETE transformation!! Over 30 members of our church had been working around the clock the entire week to restore the house. They cleaned up all of the garbage, painted every ceiling, every wall, every closet, every inch of the house, installed new hardwood floors and carpet, fixed/replaced lighting fixtures, cleaned windows, cabinets and appliances, replaced and restored showers and toilets, planted flowers........someone even picked up every single one of the thousands of cigarette butts outside the garage!! It looked like such a transformation that they parked the church van in front of the house that morning and we all came out and yelled "move that bus"!!

What a blessing my church family has been!! God turned a seemingly hopeless situation for us into a blessing AND allowed our church family to go on a mission trip right in their back yard!! I am so thankful for His perfect plan. How often I forget that (especially when I don't get it) He has something AMAZING in store!! Thank you church family!! We love our new house hope that God continues to use it for His kingdom!

graduation, birthday, wedding....oh my!

2009-06-21T22:45:00.005-05:00

I have LOT's of pictures to post tonight!! There's Leah's preschool graduation (she's starting kindergarten at Greensburg Primary Center in August), her 5th birthday party and my sister's wedding!! It's been busy, as usual in the lives of the Bratchers. We're hoping to get moved in our new house in Pierce, KY (right beside the church) next month so we'll keep you updated on that too. (We're sure memaw is ready to kick us out of her house by now - hehe!)

Anyway, on to the pictures!!

Preschool Graduation (4 year olds)

Leah's 5th birthday party

Doug throwing Lex in the pool at Leah's party.
Lex LOVED it!!

Lex and his sparkler!

My sister, Kristin's wedding.

Leah & me singing at Kristin's wedding.

a new, but familiar road...

2009-05-31T21:48:00.002-05:00

WOW!! Where do I begin today? I guess I should begin at the beginning. About a year ago at our spring revival, God clearly told Doug to "get ready." Immediately we began praying and talking about what that meant. It was obvious that it meant Doug going back to school. Last summer we began exploring the options of him going back to seminary or possibly attending Campbellsville. and if you've been keeping up with our blog at all you've already read about the job we thought we had at Campbellsville University last August (that didn't end up working out). But Doug quit his job and decided to go to Southern Seminary in Louisville. He has been Mr. Mom, staying home with the kids ALL year AND attending seminary on Monday's.

As we got closer and closer to the summer we also began realizing that although God has provided 1000-fold this year even in spite of the absence of Doug's teaching salary, we knew that we needed to look for a full time ministry position if he was going to continue with seminary. Assuming that that type of position would only be available in Elizabethtown or Louisville, we began to pray and seek God's guidance in where He'd have us apply.

We applied for a position at a church in Etown and even went through the entire interview process with one other candidate (a friend of ours as well). But that wasn't where God wanted us. And although we were broken hearted that it didn't work out, we still knew that God wanted us in a full-time position this next year.

So three weeks ago we resigned at Trammell Creek Baptist Church, not knowing where God was leading us, but knowing that it was toward a full time ministry position. As hard as it was we knew that was what God wanted. We told the youth first during Sunday School and then announced to the church after Doug preached that morning. Our last day was to be June 28th. Of course it was sad, but it was almost peaceful as people approached us with tears flowing, yet so supportive and understanding.

Then God threw us a curve ball!! Two days after we had resigned the personnel committee got together to discuss what would be next and low and behold they came up with something far beyond what Doug and I could have imagined. They decided to create a full-time Associate Pastor/Youth Minister position with full time pay and the use of the parsonage. Immediately Doug and I began praying about the possibility of staying where we love to serve so much!! And God's peace overwhelmed us!!

Today the church voted to create the position AND to hire Doug to fill it. =)

We are SOOOOO super excited about what is next. Culmination to a year in the desert relying on God to provide us with our promised land of full time ministry. And a new road in a VERY familiar place!! There is no way we could have dreamed up a more amazing plan. Isn't God good!!

I think this is a very appropriate time to quote our youth group theme verse...

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

we moved!

2009-05-12T20:48:00.003-05:00

Well, so far May has been a busy, stressful month, but it's finally starting to slow down. I think I mentioned last month that we sold our house...which is great in this economy, but selling it a week after we put it up wasn't quite what we had planned. We thought we'd have a while to figure out what will come next. So, since we had to get out for the nice new owners, we've moved in with Doug's Memaw!! Thank God for Memaws!! Doug's been finishing his first semester back at seminary (he had 9 hours) and I've been finishing up my Master's Degree (6 hours). So I've had school (GCMS) and photography, we've both had church and finals plus our two kids and other odds and ends that just have seemed to come up during this busy time!! But Memaw has taken AMAZING care of us. I thought we just needed a few rooms to sleep at night and a bathroom, but she has provided us with a home, childcare, her vehicle (as we only had one that worked the beginning of the month), home-cooked meals, and an occasional basket full of folded clothes when Doug doesn't get them done (yes, I said Doug =)!! I don't know what we would have done without her!!

Anyway, here are a few photos of the kids here at Memaws....even though Memaw isn't IN any of them!!

Lex and Papaw on the 4-wheeler.

Leah & Papaw on the 4-wheeler.

Leah & Lex helping daddy wash the car!!

Bathtub time!! =)

spring break

2009-04-11T14:50:00.002-05:00

My spring break has been great this year. We stayed home and got some packing done because we sold our house (woohoo) - well, we close on Wednesday! We played outside on the nice days, died Easter eggs, made cookes with icing, took Leah and a friend to see Hannah Montanta: The Movie, ate Snappy's, had a few rt. 44 cokes and diet dr peppers (with xtra ice) from Sonic, watched some old House episodes and just hung out!! Here are some pictures I took of the kids in their Easter get-up! It was a task getting Lex to look at me, much less smile!! Leah, on the other hand, ate up the camera =)

Leah Anderson Bratcher (4 years old)

Alexander Douglas Bratcher "Lex" (18 months old)

it really is worth the wait

2009-03-29T20:52:00.004-05:00

Ok - so maybe I'm just the WORST blogger ever!! The title of my last post was "Where did January go" and now it's almost APRIL!! I guess this semester has been a little more hectic that I had thought it would be. I have some great video of Lex and Leah that I really want to get up here this week, but for now your just going to have to settle for a few pictures from our recent youth trip to Pigeon Forge, TN. We took a very close-knit group of 20 to Pigeon Forge for a "Worth the Wait" weekend and we had a great time. Sometimes I take for granted what an amazing group of young people that God has allowed us to shepherd over the last several years. They are all so unique and we LOVE hanging out with them and sharing what God has done in our lives. And hopefully after this weekend they truly believe that it really is worth the wait =) Here are a few pics from the weekend.

Our group =)

Feeding the ducks.

Doug feeding the ducks.

Dustin trying to go for a ride.

where did january go?

2009-02-07T23:09:00.004-06:00

Wow - I can't believe January has come and gone!! It has all been such a blur. I've been taking a winter term class to finish my Master's in May (woohoo) and Doug started classes a few weeks ago at Seminary...plus basketball games, photography stuff, 2 kids and an ice storm!! We've been really busy =) We were very fortunate to have power and water the entire time. Some of our close friends just got their power and/or water back a few days ago and there are still some living without. Seeing all of the Camo Hummers (the National Guard) driving around Munfordville has reminded me of how thankful I am to live in the country that I do.

Anyway, here are some photos of life in the Bratcher household lately....

Playing in the snow we got!! Lex lasted about 2 minutes, but Leah and Daddy had fun =)

Leah & me before Pop took us to "Dancing with the Stars"!!

Lex eating with a spoon by himself for the first time. Can you tell?

the holidays (part 2)

2009-01-05T21:02:00.004-06:00

Christmas was a huge success in the Bratcher household again this year!! We had a great time with the kiddos on Christmas Eve. Leah and Lex usually get one gift each from Mommy and one from Daddy and one from each other. Here are some shots of Daddy's great ideas this year...

Leah with her BARBIE comics!!
I bet she said a hundred times that she wanted Barbie comics for Christmas.
THANK YOU EBAY!!

Lex with his Superman for President t-shirt!!

And Santa was very kind Christmas morning...

Leah and her Barbie bike that Santa brought (along with a sleeping bag, beauty shop chair and a chalkboard).

Lex in his wagon that Santa brought (along with a little people school bus and some Sandra Boyton books)!!

And the whole "Kentucky Line" crew (at mom and dad's house)...
Annslee, Kiley, Leah, Lex, Kelci and Isabelle

the holidays (part 1)

2009-01-05T20:46:00.007-06:00

The first week of our Christmas break was pretty busy with Christmas programs, eating and visiting with some of our family and friends (although we enjoyed it thoroughly)!!

Leah had her children's chior performance at church.

We spent some time with two of my high school besties!! Christi Beth brought her dog (who's cage Lex absolutely LOVED) and Faith brought her 1 year old. (We're getting old!)

We visited Doug's Nanny & Granddaddy as well as his mom, sister and brother (in Richmond).

And we played Guesstures, The Newlywed Game and (the infamous) UGLY UNO with some of our beloved "Etown" friends (we missed you Eric).

this christmas

2008-12-18T18:12:00.002-06:00

Only ONE more day of school left before Christmas break!! I am SOOOO excited (to say the least). I can't wait for some down time with my family. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. This Christmas we're going to be hanging out in Munfordville, for the most part. Leah has her Christmas program at church this upcoming Sunday night and her preschool party was today (see the picture of her as Mary below). Lex is enjoying disassembling my Christmas tree on an hourly basis. I think when we put the tree up next year he'll call it a "no-no." Both of them are excited about the presents under the tree and Leah and I have enjoyed trying (key word, trying) to bake and decorate some Christmas cookies this year. (Too bad we eat them all before we give them away to anyone else.)

Things we are thankful for as we celebrate this Christmas season...
OUR FAMILY - God has blessed us with a wonderful marriage and two beautiful children. And they have both been so easy!! I don't know why He thought we deserved easy kids, but I'm glad He did.
GOD'S PROVISION - Dispite our circumstances the latter half of the year, God has continually provided for us. It's amazing the many different ways he has rained down his "manna," but through the entire time there has never been a time where we worried we wouldn't be ok. (And being the number cruncher that I am, I never imagined we'd make it this long with Doug at home with the kids!!)
OUR FUTURE - We don't know exactly what God has in store for us next, but we do know that He knows!! Doug starts seminary in January, FINALLY - so be in prayer for him!!

Leah as Mary (Joseph doesn't look too happy - probably because he's the ONLY boy in a preschool class full of girls!!)

I was so busy the end of last month and the beginning of this one with OTHER people's pictures and Christmas cards that I waited almost too late to order my own Christmas cards!! So we'll only be sending out a few this year (and they may not actually get delivered until after Christmas =) MERRY CHRISTMAS ANYWAY!!

santa

2008-12-12T22:02:00.002-06:00

Seeing as this is the first year EITHER of our children have ever sat on Santa's lap we HAD to buy the photos!! Leah went first - she was SO excited about talking to Santa this year (finally), but I think once she got there she went blank. Santa had to do all but pull her tongue out to get her to start talking. But once she did, Lex started reaching for her. So we sat him there too - suprisingly enough he liked Santa too!!

Anyway - all is well in the Bratcher house these days! Sorry that our posts have been few and far between lately!! We are looking forward to spending more holidays with our family. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!

justin

2008-11-20T19:25:00.004-06:00

Some of you may already know, but my 20-year-old brother has been in the hospital this week. Early Monday morning he was having "chest pains" so mom had him call the nurse-line at U of L and after answering several questions, the nurse told him he had to call 911. On arriving at the hospital they were first suspecting that it had something to do with his gallbladder. But after further review and a few tests they realized it was his appendix. So they removed it on Monday afternoon. After the sugery his blood pressure started rising and his hemoglobin started dropping so yesterday morning they decided that he was probably bleeding internally. They finally got a CAT scan done around 4:00 and went straight back into surgery after that.

Doug and I arrived at the hospital about 20 minutes before the surgeon came out with good news. She said that apparently after they'd sewed him back up the "stump" started bleeding. And although they had to clean up a lot of "old blood" in there, there was no new blood. So she was pretty confident that he was no longer bleeding internally.

Anyway, he did great through the night last night and this morning ate two solid meals. His blood levels and blood pressure have been great since the 2nd surgery too so they sent him home this afternoon.

Thank you for all of your prayers!! We are so thankful to be surrounded by so many people that love and care about us.

it's been a while

2008-11-17T18:36:00.005-06:00

WOW!! It's been a while!! I didn't realize how long it had been since I've posted!! You haven't even seen the cutest poodle and turtle in the world yet have you =) Much has happened in the Bratcher house over the last several weeks....Leah started Upward Basketball, we had a great Halloween, Doug and I worked a Chrysalis in Elizabethtown, our car broke down, and my brother is currently in the hospital having his appendix removed!!

All is well though. Let me see if I can give you the "short" story on the most exciting of these happenings...

First, our car broke down while Doug was in Lexington last week trying to help a friend move. Unfortunately the friend had to help Doug get his car back to Munfordville (and what an extravaganza it was)!! Thank God for true friends and THANK YOU ERIC for taking care of us!! We still have no idea what's wrong with our car, but seeing as Doug is staying home with the kiddos right now, we are surviving just fine with only one vehicle.

Justin went to the hospital early this morning with "chest pains" (in the lower chest/abdomen area). They ran several tests and finally realized that his appendix was swollen and "yucky." So they removed it today (around 2:00 or so). He is still in recovery, but Dad said that everything was fine and the surgery went well. He should be out of the hospital by Wednesday. I'm just thankful that it wasn't any more serious than a bum appendix!!

Here are some pictures of the kiddos at Halloween. Leah was a pink poodle and Lex was a turtle. They had a blast!! I was suprised that Lex actually liked his costume and he LOVED Leah's - he just wanted to hug her and pet her whenever she had it on.

A poodle (Leah) and a turtle (Lex) with Nana and Pop!

This was just TOO cute!

our job status

2008-10-21T21:42:00.003-05:00

Many of you have been asking about Doug's job situation and honestly, I didn't realize we hadn't updated you on the events since we first mentioned possibly moving back to Campbellsville. Let me try...where should I start...well, first of all, Doug is not teaching anymore. We really had to make a decision about whether or not he would be teaching again when the end of July came and the folks at CU were still saying that they might have a position for us. And honestly, we really felt like that was where God wanted us to be. So he quit his job on faith that God would work it all out. Now, two and a half months later, we're still here in Munfordville....and it hasn't worked out. Well, OUR PLAN hasn't worked out!! (Good thing God is smarter than we are!)

So right now, Doug is staying home with the kids (which has actually been a huge blessing)!! And he loves it (and I love it too)!! So honestly, we feel like we're kind of in the desert at this point. Like God has lead him out of teaching and now were waiting to see what "promised" land he'll lead us to next (as we know Doug is called to full time ministry).

He is all signed up to start seminary in January and we've come to the conclusion that we'll just be content in the desert and let God continue to provide for us. The hardest part of it all is not stressing over the financial aspects and just letting God bless us with his tender mercies.

I read a passage of scripture last week in Exodus 16 after Moses had lead the children of Israel out of Egypt into the desert. The Israelites had been complaining that they were hungry to the point that they were whining to go back to their slavery so that they could eat. And here's what God said...

"I have heard the grumblings of Israel; speak to them saying, at twilight
you shall eat meat and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and
you shall know that I am the LORD your God." (Ex 16:12)

"The sons of Israel did so [gathered the quail and manna], and some gathered
much and some little. When they measured it with an omer he who had
gathered much had no excess and he who gathered little had no lack; every
man gathered as much as he should eat." (Ex 16:17-18)

Oh that I would go to the LORD daily for His provision. It is THEN that (no matter what He gave me) I would have NO LACK!! I praise Him for the provisions that He has given to us so far in this desert period and I continue to pray that we would seek His face daily in order to gather His blessings!!

a visit with Doug's mom

2008-10-21T21:37:00.002-05:00

We have finally gotten to visit with Doug's mom (who had never met Leah or Lex)!! Needless to say everyone was excited. Doug's brother Stephen (in the yellow) is in the 8th grade and sister Alicia (holding Leah) is 19 and living in an apartment in Richmond. His mom is in the middle (with the biggest smile of all)!! We had a good time, but weren't there near long enough. Leah and Lex really enjoyed their new family members.

the beach (again)

2008-10-11T21:46:00.003-05:00

Well, we've been to the beach AGAIN!! Thanks to mom and dad we had another great week on the Isle of Palms (Charleston, SC). It was great to get away to Pigeon Forge last weekend for our family renunion (that is ALWAYS too short) knowing that we were still going to get to relax at the beach for almost another whole week. Leah and Doug built a sandcastle and Lex actually got in the sand this time (we're making progress). Here are some photos...

THE castle!
OK, so maybe the sand isn't so bad afterall.
What a happy family =)
Notice how far the next family is on the beach!
I LOVE the beach on fall break!!
This is Lex saying PLEASE, OH, PLEASE don't put me in that water daddy!
Leah and Pop collecting shells (their daily routine)!!

lex's birthday

2008-10-04T07:45:00.003-05:00

Lex turned ONE on Monday!! We had a little family party at Mom and Dad's house for him. He didn't really have a clue what was going on, but he liked his cake!! Here are some pictures.

Hmmmmm......is that a real duckie?

You all open my presents while I play with the blocks!

Where has this been all my life?

Big Sis enjoying some cake!

an ordinary month

2008-09-20T23:06:00.006-05:00

Well....it's been a pretty ordinary month. Not much going on in the Bratcher household. Doug is enjoying staying home with the kids and I love the fact that the house is spotless (including washed clothes and dishes) when I get home in the afternoons =) Leah is enjoying her preschool and Lex is growing like a weed. He has started to take a few steps this week. And in the attempt to get better at it he has modified his crawl to more of a "bear crawl" (hands and feet as opposed to hands and knees). It's really rather cute!!

Lex will be turning one at the end of the month and we're getting excited about going to Pigeon Forge for my annual family reunion the first weekend in October. Then we'll head to the Isle of Palms once again for a week with Mom and Dad!! (Thank God for FALL BREAK and parents who'll foot the bill for a week's vacation on the beach!)

We are learning more and more each day to rely on God to provide for us. He has been so faithful to teach us the clear and obvious difference between what we need and what we want. It has not NEARLY been as hard as I thought things would be when Doug decided not to go back to teaching. God has just continued to provide in all kinds of interesting ways and for some reason given me a sense of peace about it all. Continue to pray for us as we continue to try to sell our house and that God would begin to reveal what's next!!

Here are some pics of the kiddos!!

Leah before preschool!
(Her daddy got her ready...WOW!!)

Lex decided to empty the wipie box.

Mmmmmmm....yummy cookie mix!

Lex & Doug @ a little league football game.

first day of preschool

2008-09-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

Leah had her first day of FOUR year old preschool on Tuesday. She goes for a 1/2 a day every Tuesday and Thursday at my mom and dad's church. She LOVES it!! She already has her verse memorized for this week. She says, "All have sinned and BEcome short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. (I think it is so cute that she literally imagines that each time we sin God makes us a little shorter.) I think I would have disappeared by now if that were the case. =) Anyway, here are a few pictures of her first day and Lex doing what he does best...eating!!

Leah ready to go with her new backpack!

Posing with little brother before she leaves him.

Lex is wondering where the rest of his food went.
"Hey, I wasn't done....give me MORE!"

leah (and the shower)

2008-08-25T21:33:00.002-05:00

Tonight Leah had preschool orientation at Munfordville Baptist (where she will be going to preschool 2 half days a week). This will be her second year so needless to say, she was a pro at the orientation tonight. Kiley (her cousin) is also in her class. They make a very "talkative" pair! Anyway, at the very end of the orientation, Mrs. Brown (their teacher) has all of the children lined up outside of the Family Life Center and she has just finished explaining to all of us (parents) how to drop off and pick up our children. To finish everything up she asks if anyone has any questions. And of course, Leah has to raise her hand. And when Mrs. Brown calls on her to share she says as confidently as possible, "I taked a shower last week!" The entire congregation of parents and grandparents burst into laughter as they teased us the rest of the night about only bathing our child once a week. It was hilarious!

Anyway, Leah has had her second shower (by herself) toinght! She loves the independence and we love not having to fool with it!! I think we will have to start instituting the "smell test," though, as she gets less and less enthused about the process. But as of now, she loves singing, washing and scrubbing her hair in the shower all by herself.

I think we have a grown up on our hands!

home

2008-08-23T21:55:00.002-05:00

On our way back from Chicago, Doug & I met Kristin so that we could go to Allison (Summers) and Shea (Allen)'s wedding! It was a beautiful ceremony and Allison was a beautiful bride. We had a blast seeing lots of folks from our old college days (and catching up with some of our most important spiritual mentors, Donna & Roger Blair, from Campbellsville). We're finally home now...ready for church tomorrow. Here are some pictures from the wedding and of Leah & Lex when we finally got them pulled away from Nana and Pop to come home.

Kristin, Allison (the beautiful bride) and ME!

Lex trying to wear Doug's hat!

There you go buddy =)

Leah - the future gymnast!

a few days off

2008-08-23T21:51:00.002-05:00

Dad bought Doug tickets to a Chicago Bears preseason game (on Thursday) so we spent Thursday, Friday & Saturday (morning) in Chicago!! What a great little get-away it was!! Too bad the bears couldn't pull out the win! But we had a great time at the game and shopping the next day. And we found a great little hidden sushi place Friday night. Thanks Dad for a much needed restful time together.

poor lex

2008-08-20T22:51:00.002-05:00

Today was a long day (to say the least)! Early this morning, Lex was strolling around in his walker (following Leah around) and he stuck his hand in the henge end of Leah's bedroom door. Having no idea he was there, Leah tried to shut the door....with his hand inside! She slammed it so hard, she made an indention on his poor little left hand and once Doug finally got them both calmed down it was swollen bad enough that he decided to take him to have it x-rayed.

After two hours at the doctor's office and much examination of the one x-ray that Lex let them take, the doctor decided that he had a stress fracture over four of his metatarsals. But she decided that since he was still using his hand she wasn't going to put a cast on him (yet). You can still see the red indention and the swelling, but it's not as bruised as I had imagined it would be as Doug described it on the phone to me.

We are so thankful that it wasn't worse. I'm just glad that his entire hand was in the door and not just a finger or two. It brings back memories of the time I slammed Kristin's pinkie finger in the door when we were little. She lost about 5mm of pinkie from that incident (sorry Kris). But she still has a beautiful hand =)

doug's birthday

2008-08-17T21:30:00.003-05:00

Doug turned 29 last week!! (We're getting old - hehe!) We had a little cookout at Mom and Dad's for him. Leah had a blast swimming with her friends Madaline and Sarah (they loved wearing their goggles). You can see the pics below!

Dad gave Doug tickets to see a Chicago Bears preseason game this week so we'll be heading to Chicago on Thursday for a little get-away! (I'm just glad he picked ME to go with him!) We're still praying for his job situation and trying to be patient as we continue to wait for God to provide (something)!

the missing verse

2008-08-09T23:40:00.001-05:00

OK....so you totally can't see the inspiring verse that is supposed to be in the open space. I bolded it, but I must have turned the text black too (which obviously blended in with the background). Here it is....

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

perfect peace

2008-08-09T23:19:00.002-05:00

Tonight I have been completely inspired by a single line on my 20-year-old cousin's blog....a young woman WISE beyond her years....much wiser than I was at 20 and still am at 28!!

"You will keep in PERFECT PEACE him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3.

Oh that I would trust in Him......that my mind would be steadfast on Him so much so that He would keep me in His perfect peace. As my life has been so full of ups and downs these last few months......waiting on God's perfect timing, and as these last few days have come to a culminating mountain of anxiety, this verse has come to my rescue!! For His peace is truly perfect.

The Hebrew phrase for "perfect peace" in this verse literally translates "peace, peace." My prayer tonight (and always) is that my mind will be steady on Him so that I too, might receive a double dose of His peace.

(Thanks Alyse!!)

the first day of school

2008-08-04T15:48:00.002-05:00

Yes, you read the title correctly!! Today was my first day of school. Without Doug, things were a little wierd this morning (I was actually early). And even though I didn't see a whole lot of him during the school day when he was there, I still felt like there was a little piece of me missing all day today. No one to email, no one to eat lunch with, no one to stop in and chat with (if I wanted to). But I made it through.

My classes were great today! I am excited about getting to know all of my new students. I am also excited about getting to use my curriculum (by Carnegie Learning) all year this year (as opposed to last year when we adopted it 1/4 of the way through the year).

Oh, by the way, I am featured in a few of their online info videos on their homepage www.carnegielearning.com. (Check it out!)

And for those of you who keep wondering about Doug's job situation...God did send a tiny little piece of confimation today that our "time in the desert" (my new name for this long period we've been waiting) has not been in vain!! We'll keep you posted as He begins to reveal exactly what He has planned for us!! (Thanks for your prayers....keep them coming!)

a week @ the BEACH

2008-07-24T09:45:00.002-05:00

We are enjoying our final full week of summer vacation on the Isle of Palms (in South Carolina) with our family and friends!! It's been a 5 year tradition that we look forward to every summer. Spending time on the beach, eating at all the local seafood restaurants, shopping our hearts out and just hanging out at the beach house has been SO relaxing!! We're here with Kasey's mom and dad and another couple (and their family) that we've been friends with for a long time (Don and Mindy Daniel). Here are some photos of the kiddos!!

Leah & Lex waiting to eat at Sullivan's Restaurant.

Leah on her boogie board....future surfer??

Lex actually smiling on the beach (he didn't like the waves very much), but he enjoyed his swimming pool!!
Ashton, Justin, Matthew, Amber & Derek

another great day @ the creek

2008-07-15T21:57:00.007-05:00

OK - here are a few more pics and some random, uncut video from our camp experiences so far!! Eli & Hannah's blobs (on the video) are the best!! And I think I got EVERYONE in the group picture this time (hehe)!! Hope all is well at home with you parents as well. Your kids are angels and they are having an amazing time. We can see God working so intently in each and every one of their lives. They've even been praying for YOU as we're here!! Keep praying for them - that they'll grow this week and that it won't just be a one-time thing. That God will do a serious "life change" within them!!

Our WONDERFUL kiddos!!

Hannah playing the boat game!!

Dara Jo & Aaron after a trip to the mud pit and then the lake!

A whole bunch of random, uncut clips of camp life!! ENJOY!

having fun @ camp...

2008-07-14T21:46:00.004-05:00

Well - everyone is having a GREAT time at camp!! Here are a few photos to hold you parents over for a few more days. ENJOY!

Our group after CHECKPOINT time!

Doing our TAWH (time alone with God) in the sun!!

Luke schoolin' some boys on the court!!

Jim -Molly and Shawna ran FOUR miles today!!

a much needed "week off"

2008-07-12T21:40:00.006-05:00

Well, we have REALLY enjoyed this "week off" as we have deemed it since we haven't had any church, school or family stuff to do. We've all four just been hangin' out at the pool and at home!! Leah went to MBC's Power Lab VBS this week and Lex grew a tooth =) Doug and I just sat back and relaxed most of it.

We are headed to Crossings at the Creek with our youth tomorrow and then to Isle of Palms with Mom and Dad the next week!! (Can't wait for that!!)

Below are some pictures of us at the pool, Lex's new tooth and Leah's lovely "I'm going to comb my own hair mommy" experience!!

Doug throws her SOOOOO high she nearly flies!!

Lex chillin' at Nana's pool!

Lex's new tooth!! FINALLY!!

This is the result of Leah's first time combing her hair all by herself!! She yelled at me from the bathroom "Mom....I'm going to comb my hair all by myself" so I thought...ok, you're 4 now!! Three minutes later she was crying!! Evidently no one told her you can't twist the comb in your hair!!

Here's a shot from behind!! It looks bad, but her hair is so fine it only took me a few minutes to get it all out!

Mission Trip 2008

2008-07-06T17:10:00.007-05:00

We're finally home from our mission trip!! We had a great week on Dauphin Island (close to Mobile, AL). We stayed at and worked for a small church there on the Island called Dauphin Island Baptist Church. We did some work at their ministry center as well as for some folks on the island who were still suffering the effects of hurricane Katrina. We also worked with the Lutheran Disaster Response in Bayou La Batre, AL where we helped paint, mud and pick up scraps from a new roof for a 60+ year old man who has been living in his kitchen since the hurricane!! We did services for a rehab center for men and a assisted living facility in Mobile and we got to hang out for a while and do devo at the International Seafarer's Center in Mobile.

We even got to hang out at the beach and eat some great local seafood on Friday! Here are some pictures of our trip!! We have this week off and then we're headed for camp and then VACATION!!

PS Lex grew a tooth while we were gone!! =)

Our GROUP (before we left)

Doug speaking to the guys at the Rehab Center!!

Kasey getting ready for a morning of painting!
Although I think putting paint in a sonic cup is a sin (hehe)!!

Leah singing at the Assisted Living facility.

Our family (minus Lex) at the local seafood restaurant!!

VBS 2008

2008-06-28T09:52:00.005-05:00

Boy did we have a GREAT time on Outrigger Island this year at VBS. That makes THREE weeks this summer we will spend on an island (Outrigger, Dauphin Island this week on our mission trip and Isle of Palms on vacation). I taught 2-3 grade this year and Leah had a great preschool class. Doug did Rec (as always) and Lex enjoyed Ms. Lucille, Molly and Breanna in the nursery each night. Here are some photos from our final night where the kids "performed" our songs to their parents.

Leah playing her bongos!

The preschool row saying "REPENT....quickly, quickly!!"

And this is Lex and Gracie (Leah's friend) getting ready for VBS one afternoon. Gracie thought it would be cute to put her glasses on Lex....she was right!!

Job Update

2008-06-28T09:50:00.002-05:00

Our interview went very well on Tuesday!! Now we're just waiting for God to work things out so that we can be in an apartment big enough to fit us AND Leah & Lex. This is the hard part for me...waiting!! Luckily, we're headed out on a mission trip to Dauphin Island, AL tomorrow morning for the whole week with our church. I'll post pictures/updates while we're there!! Thanks for your prayers.

Our Future...

2008-06-23T21:18:00.002-05:00

Some of you already know that over the past several months Doug and I have really been praying about what's next in our lives. We both feel a call to ministry and the mission field (be it wherever we are). We have recently put our house up for sale and are planning on moving so that Doug can go back to school and "finish" his ministerial degree (we thought at Southern Seminary)!! But the more that we pray the more God is seemingly leading us back to a very familiar place. Last month we spoke with Bob Stotts about a Resident Director position at Campbellsville University (where Doug could "work" AND get his Masters of Theology).

Most people that we have talked to about it think we're crazy.....Doug leaving a very stable teaching position to be an RD for less than half the salary, moving our kids into a dorm apartment (nearly half the size of our house now), and going back to get a degree at CU as opposed to Seminary. It doesn't seem to make a lot of "financial" or "professional" sense to a lot of people. But it sure makes perfect sense to us! We trust that God knows what He's doing and we know from experience that He will bless us as we follow Him!!

We have an interview at CU in the morning!! Please be praying that we will be faithful wherever He calls!!

"Lex-a-mondy"

2008-06-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

I realized after I posted Leah's video that our blog was a little "leah heavy" so I decided to add a few pictures of Lex!! He is growing like a weed.....he's nearly nine months old now and he still looks just like my brother (Justin)!! Anyway, here is Lex-a-mondy (as Doug calls him playfully)!!

Lex hanging out in the hallway - probably watching Leah from afar as she plays in her room!!

Lex and his breathing machine! He had a little bronchial thing and we had to do
breathing treatements during April and May but he's much better now!!

Bathtime =)

Going in for a kiss!! (He kisses like his daddy...)

Leah's YouTube Debut

2008-06-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

Leah sang "All I Need" (by Bethany Dillon) at our church on Mother's Day!! She did an amazing job for a 4 year old. But she has always seemed to pick up on songs very quickly. Anyway, we posted it on YouTube to share with the world so I thought I'd upload it for you all to see too!!

The YouTube link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOW42vO-kPY

My FIRST Blog

2008-06-17T17:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I have actually had this blogger account for sometime now as I LOVE to read and comment on my friends' blogs who are serving overseas. But I decided today that it was time to start blogging myself!! I mean, who doesn't want to hear about the exciting lives of the BRATCHER BUNCH, right!??!?!

Anyway, now that I actually have some time (seeing as school is out) I am going to try and keep our fans posted (pictures included) on our busy summer!! Already, Leah has turned 4 (birthday party and all), we've been to Kentucky Kingdom, we've visited friends and family in Nashville, Lex started crawling, and we celebrated Father's Day with Doug...
...and to think, the summer has only begun!!

Here are a few pictures of the things we have experienced so far!!

Leah's 4th Birthday

Leah's SUPER SLEUTH Birthday Cake!!

Leah & Mommy at Kentucky Kingdom

Leah's Birthday at Aunt Debbie's House (in Nashville)

Daddy, Lex & Roy (Lex isn't too fond of Roy =)