I am standing here in our church sound booth typing this blog. Why? Because I am here at, yet another, funeral service running sound. (Don't worry, nothing is happening right now).

Funerals are sad, they are difficult, but I appreciate the reminder of a lesson that I learned several years ago as a youth leader. A gentleman in our community committed suicide. I did not know him personally but I also did not know one person that either knew of him or knew him personally prior to his death. Then, after his death, those who didn't know him heard about him from everyone else. He was very encouraging to all those around him and loved by all. And yet, he committed suicide. In his note he mentioned that he felt no one loved him and no one cared.

The very next youth night we had the youth leaders sat down and called each of the youth to us one by one and spoke with them privately. While speaking to them we would begin by explaining that in light of this gentleman's death we wanted to do a live funeral. We weren't going to wait for their funerals to say what we would say there. We told them the things we love about them. We told them the things that blessed us about them. We told them the potential we saw in them.

There were tears. There was joy. It was the best funeral I have ever attended because there were no regrets. There was none of the "I wish I would have told them..." because they were there.

Seize the day. These days are short. Think about someone dying and what you would regret and start living with no regrets!!!

I love you all,
Bri

Okay I am back! I am very excited! I found an internet service that didn't require a home phone number, is wireless, high speed and affordable! At the risk of sounding like a commercial I am very happy with it. To top it off there is no contract so if I need to cancel any time I can.

So I am back to blogging!

I was watching Return of the King last night and started realizing the reality of our Spiritual heritage. Watching the battles and the people going into these battles to almost certain death, but still going because they were fighting for what they believed in and I began to realize that this is what we have. I was watching and picturing the battles of David and his valiant men. Thinking of all the times they were very much like those portrayed in the movie. Their valor, honor and conviction in what they believed in. I thought of Jericho, Israel and all the history of the people of God and I realized that its not just Israel's history, its every Christian's.

I was stirred to the point of wishing I had a physical battle to fight for my Lord and He showed me that I can. Its in prayer. As Christians our battles are in the Spiritual realm. We can get on our faces and fight hard for those we love. I realized that in heaven we would see the effect of our battling in prayer. We would see, as Aragorn saw later, how we could be drawing the enemy away by praying. We will know the true effects of those prayers.

I have made a commitment to spend more time in prayer. God is blessing that time so much. Please join me. Lets be a praying people!!!

d Chi
Today is Wednesday. What does that mean? That mean's that Tatum is working and Chris has the boys here at the church. Xophia is at her grandma's I think.

That means that I am currently listening to some of my favorite sounds. Little feet running up and down the hallways between the two offices. Two boys playing with their firetruck. A little bit of screaming. Chris telling the boys to stop screaming. More running.

I love this. As much as it could make me crazy on some days I would rather have it than never hear it. These boys are so very precious and adorable and they just run right into your little heart. Once they are in there they proceed to fill it with truck, dirt and worms, but they are boys...what can I say.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who had just met what she did not know would be her life long bosom friend. Lets call this little girl Symmie. Her friend we will call Alicia. The first time Symmie was invited over to Alicia's for dinner Alicia's mom made dinner. Why don't we call the dinner Enchilalas.

As they were eating Alicia noticed that Symmie was taking VERY small bites and drinking a LOT of water. I don't remember exactly how it came out, but it turns out that Symmie, who likes pretty much ALL food, could not stand the sauce that is put on Enchiladas. It made her sick. So there she was trying so hard to be polite and not say anything when Alicia's mom said, "you silly! I would have made you PB and J!"

Not too much longer later Symmie started taking Piano lessons from Alicia's dad. Her lessons would be on Wednesdays and then she would stay with the family until church that night. So for Symmie's first lesson Alicia's mom made spaghetti.

As you already know Symmie loves all food except for Enchiladas. Well she likes spaghetti, its just hard to eat. So there was Symmie, an already slow eater, trying yet again to be polite and not make a mess, and the LAST one at the table eating.

Alicia's dad began to clear the table. Symmie was trying desperately to eat quickly but just couldn't get the noodles to stay on her fork. Then Alicia's dad took Symmie's placemat saying, "don't worry, I'm not rushing you" as he placed her plate back down on the bare table. Now all the kids were getting ready for church and Symmie was getting really embarrassed. Then Alicia's dad came by, picked up Symmie's plate and washed the table underneath saying, "don't worry I'm not rushing you" as he placed her plate back on the table.

Needless to say Symmie does not eat Spaghetti in public anymore.

Okay I wrote about the no internet thing...well my computer is broke now too. It is a laptop and will not recharge. So now no internet and no computer. This saddens me.

So I will probably be buying a new laptop after the new year with my Christmas money and some borrowed money. ugh...I just finished paying off El Sal last month, Christmas this month...will I never get to save money again???

So, I wanted to let you all know that if your blog used to be linked to mine and now it isn't its because when I switched my backgrounds I lost all my links and can't remember them off the top of my head. So Josh and Heidi...I need your blog addie. Anyone else???

I need to get back to work...my coworker's wife made enchiladas today. They were good. Alicia...how I have changed...maybe I will explain that comment in another blog on another day.

I forgot this picture was taken. I love it. It is me and my cousin Julee. Julee is an amazing person. She is so loving and giving and selfless and has a lot on her plate.

When I grow up I want to be just like her.