it really is worth the wait

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?

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)

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)

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

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

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

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.