PICTURES Gallore!! Whoo hoo!

Tim and I have been doing a LOT of traveling lately. But wait, before you think for one second that we are fancy let me assure you we are not! As an update, Tim and I, while we have yet to fully embrace and become huge fans of Los Angeles living, we have embraced how stinking BEAUTIFUL this place is that we live and are doing our best to make the most of it! We have also a ceaseless aching for friends and family who are far away so we are doing our best to get out and see peops! So our travels started the last weekend in April when Tim's work sent him to Nashville for a few days! I mean, I couldn't let him go to Nashville without me so I tagged along. As per usual I took almost zero pictures. But here is what I do have ...

 That is right, we were caught for TWO hours in stopped traffic on our way to pick up our bibs to run the Nashville Half Marathon. This guy behind us was frustrated too.

 Just us and a few of our friends waiting for the race to start!

That is Hannah on the far right, and then Ellen in the yellow and Tim... Mile 9.

Ellen and I at dinner the last night. We were feeling pretty tired by then! Let me tell you... we lived it up Nashville style. What is not pictured was the beautiful farm we stay at where Ellen was house sitting (yes I said farm - this included horses, sheep, a donkey, three dogs, a bunny, and a lot of cats ... we had to feed them and keep them alive which was hilarious!), the Main Street Festival in Downtown Franklin that was so fun, seeing my LONGEST friend Kristen and her family, time with MOEN and her sweet hubs, Tons of BBQ, and live Bluegrass music! It could not have been more fun and I have now seeing Ellen twice in a matter of months! hooray!

 ...

Ok so then two weeks later Tim and I took a stunning one night trip to the central coast because we had never been to Hearst Castle and it is a must see on our newly created Bucket List! Of course I didn't take one picture but I found so google images of exactly what we saw ... I swear to you this trip was good deep in my heart! did I mention we camped ... hehe So "fun"!

Ok while we were in the central coast we did get to see our sweet friends the Thomson's and meet Michaela Rose for the first time. She was about 10 days old. We became Besties! Don't be jealous... ok be a little jealous that I got to hold that little squooshy thing!

...

THEN (yes no joke I mean we were road warriors) two weeks later Tim and I took to the roads again for a visit in Sacramento with some of our most favorite people in the world ... THE PETERSONS! and nope I took very few pics ... see below. 

 Me in Karen's onion glasses ... I think they kind of worked.

A trip wouldn't be complete without pics of our sweet Kylie and her sweet pooches. She owns Geoffrey but also dog-sits sweet perfect yellow lab puppies in training to be Seeing Eye Dogs. She is so gifted with those animals!

HAHA He is going to KILL me for posting this picture! We took Kylie to Old Town Sac for Jazz Festival and Tim went shopping for his fedora ... he even agreed to try this one on!

...

Ok the next weekend Tim took off with his buddy, Jaime, to climb Half Dome at Yosemite (I swear to you we really aren't as cool as all of this makes us sound... we have just been adventurous lately) and Selah and I went to visit our sweet friends the Hylkemas. I only got one pic :( Selah is such a foodie ... sophisticated palate you ask ... Nope! String cheese works for her! I am pretty sure Elliana didn't even know Selah was there for the first 10 minutes.

...

Finally, one night Tim and I got away for a sweet date night out and I actually DID take pictures this time! 

 Yep, me being paparazzi because I swear to you that girl over the shoulder of the girl in the front was my sister's clone! I texted this picture to Melissa and she was very confused!! haha I love being paparazzi! She even had the same manerisms! Weird!

 My most favorite dessert in the WHOLE WORLD ... Molten Chocolate Lava Cake!

I just literally love my hubby so much! And Food! hehe (I was trying to get right in next to Tim in the picture but ended up looking like I am hiding! oops!)

...

Another paparazzi moment ... well... i might get sued if i post it so feel free to ask me about it and i will text you the picture. It involves a bandaid in a strange location and a rockin' pair of overalls! 

...

Ok, it is my Friday off and it is time I go recover from all this craziness and enjoy this ...

and cuddle with this ...

Yep, you are seeing that correctly ... it is a sicko DOUBLE BUBBLE! Praise the Lord for paper towels!

Have a great week friends! The Brattons love you all!

 

Ken got MARRIED!

Last weekend Tim and I flew out to St. Louis, Missouri to celebrate the nuptials of his brother Ken. Ken married his sweetheart Karen and we couldn't be happier for them! Unfortunately, I was too busy to take many pictures, but part of what made the weekend so special (in addition to the wedding of course) was Tim and I getting to snuggle and play with our sweet nephew, Daniel, who just turned ONE! We loved every second of it. Here are a few random highlights from when I did pull out my camera! Enjoy all the cuteness!

 For all you Moms out there, I feel for ya. All we wanted was one shot of Daniel with the hat on and both him and Tim looking at the camera smiling! In the end you just give up I guess!

 Cute little family! I love this picture!

 I mean I had to document the temperature... It was so brutal. This doesn't also mention the 100% humidity going on! Holy BANANAS!

 It was a beautiful walk to the ceremony sight! That is Tim and Ken on the bridge.

 Jay checking out the turtle pond ... hundreds of cute little happy (and cool) turtles! Lucky them! I was wishing I was a turtle so I could be in the water! :)

 The Pagoda where the ceremony was held! So beautiful.

 A hilariously awkward shot of the hubs and I, but it was our only one so I included it! :)

 Three cute brothers (all the groomsmen wore hats).

The boys just hanging at the reception... I even accidentally caught Ken in the background so it worked out perfectly!

Rescuing Hope - Part 2

I thought this was a great follow up article to my last post on Hope. A quick 2 minute read from Break Point - Chuck Colson's ministry's daily article on Christian Worldview issues. I read it every day and LOVE it! Enjoy!

Rescuing Hope
Re-redefining a Virtue

June 21, 2012

In his essay called “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell shared a crucial insight about the decline of language: “A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” Or, as my friend Mike Bauman often says, “Sloppy language makes sloppy thought possible.” In Orwell’s “1984,” the masses are fed redefining slogans like “War Is Peace,” “Freedom Is Slavery,” and “Ignorance Is Strength.”
The battle over cultures is often in the defining and redefining of words. Language has often been used to lower horizons and keep people from really thinking.
Today, as we discuss hope, we must confront bad definitions. It’s part of our ongoing series of the seven virtues. And don’t forget to watch the "Two-Minute Warning" discussion on hope I had with Dr. Timothy George at ColsonCenter.org.
We hear a lot about hope these days, from “the audacity of hope” to “hoping against hope.” Unfortunately, the word has been redefined — and, I must say, shrunken — by bad definitions.
Hope has been reduced to a kind of naïve optimism that things will get better. We hope for a changed situation, a new job, a better love, hitting the lottery, or LeBron James winning his first championship.
But real hope — biblical hope — isn’t hope for; it’s hope in: Hope in Christ—what He did for us on the Cross; and what He will do for us when He comes again and sets up His kingdom. A hope for is never better than wishful thinking. Hope in Christ is an expectation based on the certainty of who Jesus is and what He accomplished.
When hope is defined down to a limp, pallid, and ultimately useless imitation of the real thing, people and cultures are unable to live above naïve optimism or heartless despair.
But real hope is neither optimistic or despairing, and one of Chuck Colson’s closest colleagues, the late Richard John Neuhaus, described why: “Optimism,” Neuhaus said, “is not a Christian virtue. Optimism is simply a matter of optics, of seeing what you want to see and opting not to see what you don’t want to see.”
Hope is different than optimism. But we also can’t despair. As Neuhaus added, “We have not the right to despair, for despair is a sin. And we have not the reason to despair, quite simply because Christ has risen.” And that’s where biblical hope squarely rests.
This is no “pie in the sky when you die” kind of hope, but a hope that empowers us for effective service in this world right now.
For Neuhaus, hope involved calling the church to embrace the truth and power of the Gospel even in a culture he called “American Babylon.” For Chuck, it meant proclaiming the sanctity of human life, marriage, and religious liberty.
And for us, true, biblical hope — hope in Christ rather than a hope for an improved situation — empowers us to keep on keeping on in the myriad battles to which the Lord calls us.
Next week we’ll wrap up our "BreakPoint" and "Two-Minute Warning" series on the seven virtues. We’ve received such great feedback we’ve placed Chuck’s final "Two-Minute Warnings" on a convenient flash drive for you, along with a study guide and many other resources.
As Chuck said, freedom will not flourish unless virtue does. Find out more about the Renewing the Virtues flash drive by going to BreakPoint.org and clicking on this commentary.

Making Sense of Hope.

So here I go, tackling a biggie. I have literally been churning this post around in my head for over a year. With that said, I wish I had some deep philosophical words about my conclusions. But alas I do not. Hope. What does it mean to have Hope? I mean really, truly, be a person of Hope. It is a concept I wrestle with on a regular basis and feel just as far from an answer today as I did who knows how long ago. It is almost laughable to imagine putting such a vast concept into one blog posting, but maybe putting it to words in this posting will help solidify my heart on the matter. Maybe.

I started this post a year ago and then gave it up. I didn't know where to take it. It seemed to just be musings and lacked direction and purpose. Lately, however, Hope has been on my heart again. A variety of circumstances in my loved ones lives as well as my own have brought it bubbling to the surface. What do we do with our Hope? It should go without saying that all humans have Hope innately within us. It would be an entire posting on its own to discuss the exhibition of Hope in all of our lives. Without it we are not human. Without it we cannot live. Even when we don't want to Hope because the idea of having our Hopes dashed is too painful, we cannot help but Hope. But here is where the real question deep in my heart resides... how do I courageously have Hope when inevitably along with Hope comes the possibility that my Hopes may not be realized??? How do I encourage my loved ones in their Hopes when their Hopes may not be realized?? And then what does it mean when my Hopes are dashed in the realities of life that not all things I Hope for are fulfilled. Sometimes those dashed Hopes are small, but other times those dashed Hopes have a lifetime of implications. The idea that my Hopes may fail means I often try very hard not to Hope and I try very hard to control circumstances that are usually beyond my means to control. So what do we do!? How do we embrace Hope? What do we do when years and years pass and we still have received no answers in regards to our Hopes and Desires? And of course there is an answer to the question ... Is there anything I can place my Hope in that will not fail me? Is there any part of my loved ones or my circumstances that when all evidence points to hopelessness there is actually a seed of Hope within them? And how do I grasp onto that seed without losing it, that needle in a haystack, when the evidence is painful or "louder" than the whisper or breeze of Hope blowing thru? (sorry if none if this is making sense to you... at this point I guess it may only make sense in my own brain)

Let me give you a few real life examples from the past two months of our lives that may help you understand why lately my heart aches over this subject:

• A truly, truly brilliant man with more to offer this world than can be measured, who has been unemployed for longer than I care to mention and who is therefore facing an unknown and frightening future 
• A beautiful, wise, and loving friend, full of life, facing a terrifying disease that has taken so much from her already and promises a long battle in the years ahead - barring a miracle 
• Another precious friend facing a family crisis as her brother, who she deeply loves, is accused of a terrible crime and is therefore facing many years of prison... this one in particular is so complex as my heart breaks for both sides - truly!
• Loved ones living in the middle east facing the murder of one of their dear friends at the hands of terrorists and all the implications and sorrow heaped on them over this loss
• Watching a very public battle of a friend's best friend as he is literally attacked by a lynch mob of journalists, politicians, famous generals, talk show hosts, thoughtless self-proclaimed experts, and even fellow "believers" over something none of them truly understand and certainly few of them have ever had the courage to pursue anything as noble as he has pursued
• Walking with several precious friends as they battle with an unfulfilled and deep desire to be married and yet God has not yet provided then with a spouse - And don't think for one second that this battle is any less painful than the previous mentioned trials and it is certainly filled with just as many questions for God
• And finally, although I could certainly list more, our own loss of a little one (fondly referred to as our "Little Lentil") thru miscarriage and a following, endless heartache that cannot be put into words 

Can you see why Hope has been on my mind? Can you see why I want answers to it? What do you hope in when all Hope seems lost? Each of these situations is dripping with a Hope for answers! solutions! relief! comfort! justice! healing! peace! love!

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me. ²¹ Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
²⁹ Let him bury his face in the dust —
    there may yet be hope.
³⁰ Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.

 For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.   -Lamentations 3:19-32

So what do we Hope for when all Hope seems to be failing? We don't have to just Hope! We can know and stand firm that ... The real and Alive Beloved Father sees our brokenness, our shame, our sorrow and His infinite heart is flooded with a deep compassion, so great is His love for us! All of us!! In that compassion He too needed a solution, a Final Rock of Hope to stand on to release us, whom He eternally loves, from our Brokenness! So while He is Perfect and Holy, He has a Son who in His likeness too is Perfect and Blameless and Holy, and our Abba Father in His compassion and love for us sent His Son to Be Near Us, Be With Us. Knowing that His Son while Blameless would be Blamed. While Perfect he would be Condemned and Upon Him the weight of all our sorrow and guilt would be placed. That Son would know, as the Father knew, the weight not just of our sin but of a broken and lost and "hopeless" world and He alone would carry that baggage into death ... So that We. Don't. Have. to.

But that is not the end ... far from it ... He rose, fully alive, conquered death. Conquered what we can't. And in this way He Laid Down for us a Path Away from Brokenness to Healing. Away from Sorrow to Joy. Away from Death to Life. Our Beloved Father, Sacrificed His Son so as to give us the only True Solution and a Final Rock of HOPE. And one day those who believe will be With. Him. Free from Sorrow. Shame. Brokenness. Trouble. Loneliness. Death. Pain. Disease. War. Addiction. Abuse.

In the meantime we wait. In the meantime He. Is. With. Us. In the meantime He weeps With us. In the meantime He Fights For Us. In the meantime He miraculously draws with His Patient Love those who have no desire for Him to Himself. In the meantime His Spirit gives us the strength to endure. In the meantime He builds His Kingdom so as many as possible will join His family. In the meantime those of us who profess His name are made more into His Likeness. In the meantime we share in his pain as we will one day share in His Joy. In the meantime we know that there is a Happy Ending. In the meantime we know that this is not the end of the story. In the meantime our eyes are on the Father. In the meantime we groan and long for Him. In the meantime we know that a Good, Loving and Perfect Father is In Charge of All things. In the meantime we Trust, because of this story, that He. Knows. Best. In the meantime, we know that we know that we know That He Is FOR Us. NOT Against Us. In the meantime He Guides Us. In the meantime Our Hope Is Fulfilled even when our pain and sorrow on earth endures. We know the Bigger Picture beyond ourselves. For weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Praise Jesus!

So I put my hope in You Jesus, Abba Father. I put my Hope in the fact that one day all of this will be over. I put my Hope in the Fact that you actually are real, alive and care about me. I put my hope in the fact that you Promise to take care of me. I put my hope in the fact that you are listening and Hear me when I come to you with my sorrow. I put my hope in the fact that if you are not relenting with something in my life or loved ones lives then there is a reason that I don't understand that will be for Good, so I can wait with peace in my heart. I put my hope in the fact that on the days when I just cannot for the life of me get my heart to a place of peace your GRACE covers that and YOU STILL LOVE ME! I put my hope in the fact that no matter what I do, where I go, or how far I run (which let's be honest I am not a very fast runner) I can never escape your pursuit of me! I put my hope in the fact that this world has things to hope in that fail, but you will Never Fail me! I put my hope in the fact that you will exact justice. I put my hope in the fact that you will CERTAINLY Heal my loved ones who are sick. I put my hope in the fact that my Little Lentil is with you and how can I possibly argue that that is not better than what I could have ever offered him here with me. I put my hope in the fact that you know how sad our hearts are and you will comfort me, are comforting me. I put my hope in the fact that you are protecting me. I put my hope in the fact that I am literally never alone. I put my hope in the fact that my tiny pea brain only barely grasps how much you love me and even that little bit is absolutely enough to fill my heart in a way that nothing else on earth ever could dream of doing! And i put my hope in the fact that you win! Oh man Jesus, I cannot wait to be. with. You.

"the Lamb will triumph ... because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14

So lucky!

Fun times have been had recently at the Bratton household! First of all, due to new procedures at work I am now on a schedule that allows me every other Friday off!! WHAT? I mean it is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. That means 2-3 days to myself every month! Completely unheard of. We have also had some time with friends lately who live far away and whom we miss A LOT, and then last Sunday my brother Malcolm had a birthday which some of his buddies along with my cousin, her hubby, and their 6 kiddos came to join in the festivities!
Note: * If you are reading this then it is safe to say you are a friend, you live far away, and you sure are missed! Wishing for more time with more far away friends soon! #hatinghowfarawayIam (that is my first real/false hashtag... those things are weird). Ok so see the fun below.

 This is a video of a phenomenon I observe on a regular basis in California. I am not kidding, I see this happening all the time. On the beach, at the mall, in parks, walking down the street. Enjoy!

 

 

 Our friend Leigh works as a Post Production Coordinator for Law and Order -SVU. She offered to give us a tour of the back lot at Universal Studios. So very fun! Only disappointment: Wisteria Lane was closed because they were shooting that day! Cool factor: That also meant that Terri Hatcher was nearby, and I have loved her since her Lois days!

We had ambitions to hike to the Hollywood sign. Being newbies we didn't know the trail was closed. Still got some great shots though! We comforted ourselves with PinkBerry later!

*It should be noted that Tim took this picture for us and it was extremely difficult! He should be given credit for his composition of this pic! Love you Tim!! 

*It should also be noted that he kept wanting us to bend our hands in ways that hurt A LOT and our wrists just weren't strong enough! Who knew this cute idea would be so demanding physically!! hehe

Malcolm's 29th Birthday Bash: 

Foodies might like to know: Tejas homemade guacamole, sangria, burgers, sweet potato fries (Thank you Barefoot Contessa for making me feel like Martha Stewart!), Mal's favorite cheesecake, and more! In the pic below from the left is Tim, Stone (Mal's old roomie and Selah's boyfriend), Malcolm, Bill (cousin-in-law), and Nathan (Mal's buddy from Nor Cal days). It was so fun having everyone there! Bummed I didn't get more pics of the whole gang!

Malcolm reading his card after having his birthday MadLib read to him! Maya is trying to help!

Tim with his mouth full... hehe oops! Still a cute pic if you ask me! 

And Malcolm blowing out his candles with the help of Selah and Samara!

 

For the Joy set before Him.

A friend shared this with me today. The only words I can think of to describe how this touched me come from a song I have sung in church a bajillion times "open[ed] the eyes of my heart." Sorry if that is super corny! Hope, like me, you are touched, challenged and drawn toward Jesus by this story too. Thank you Sarah Thebarge and Thank you Lydia for sharing!
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Hebrews 12

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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For Joy
Sarah Thebarge

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my 20s, I had a mastectomy and then eight rounds of chemo.  And then the cancer came back and i had four more surgeries to remove all of the cancer from  my chest. 

Before each of the surgeries, I walked into the operating room and laid down on a cold metal table with my arms outstretched.  The nurses tied my wrists down as the anesthesia took effect, and it occurred to my sleepy brain that my body looked a lot like Jesus on the cross -- if Jesus had been a thin, scared girl with mastectomy scars and a bald head.

When the surgeries were finished and the radiation began, I had a similar experience in the radiation suite.  For 30 days in a row, I walked down a long hallway, climbed onto a narrow metal table, and held out my arms while the healing beams lit up my chest.  During each treatment session, I thought about Jesus laying himself down for me.  I thought about the nails that impaled His wrists on the beams.  Unlike me, He wasn't forced to undergo the pain out of the desperation and fear that came from facing a life threatening disease.  Hebrews 12:2 says He endured all of it for the joy.

Three years before the crucifixion, when the Son of God faced temptation in the desert before starting His ministry, He made it clear that He was not operating in base human motivations, but in the divine economy of heaven.  So when it came time to die, He laid himself down for me -- not for the fear, or for the fame, or for the power, but for the joy: Because he could see the beauty in one sick sinner like me finding the hope of heaven in the midst of despair, He laid himself down, stretched out His arms, and forever opened the way to the Father's heart.

a loud kind of whisper.

This has been a challenging week at work to say the least. I don't know how to explain it without being boring so you will just have to take my word on it. It was one of those weeks where just as you are sure nothing else could possibly go wrong it does, and if you don't want to cry you have to just laugh. I didn't do much laughing though. I surprisingly didn't do any crying either, but my heart feels heavy. insecure about my contributions. weary from trying to make things work that aren't. and even though my boss (es) kept saying it was all fine, we couldn't control the things that were falling apart and that we'll all be fine, i left discouraged.

So last night I was racing (ahem ... crawling - it is LA after all) home and started thinking thru my February blog posting. As I was thinking thru a topic, I tried to recall something that has "been on my mind lately" or something I feel like I have been "learning about lately." My mind came up SO blank! Frustratingly blank. Frighteningly blank. Because if I can't say what I have been learning about lately then I probably am not being very intentional to pursue what I say I value most, which is learning, loving, and growing closer to Jesus.

Then this afternoon I was reading a devotional my brother sent me. And it occurred to me the message from Charles Spurgeon by way of Malcolm is a message that has been coming to me over and over and over this past month (probably longer) by various routes and after a week like this I realized just how much I was needing this reminder. I am not sure I have done a good job of listening and certainly at times like this week probably not a good job of practicing it but simply put I was encouraged and challenged. The need to Practice Contentment. Cultivate a mouth (really a heart) that doesn't Complain. Learning to nurture a heart that is Satisfied and GrateFULL with the life God has given me right here now today. Not jumping ahead to things I hope for for the future. Not comparing my life to everyone else around me (as Blair calls it the "highlight reel"). I need to be intentional to weed this heart more carefully even when life is busy! This issue is for sure Top 10 of the things I can attribute to myself as "slow to catch onto."

I guess I am not the only one who struggles with this and given the sheer volume of times it has come up recently at church, small group, thru friends' blogs, from conversations with the hubs, etc. It is really clear that God had been wanting my attention in this area progressively ... He always seems to tickle my mind in a loud kind of whisper until I seemlingly "get it" and then of course give it some time and he will have to "loud kind of whisper" His way into my heart again. I am so glad He never gives up on teaching me the things I need to know! Talk about Patience! Ok, so rather than talk about the devo, here it is for your enjoyment as well as two other friends musings on similar topics. Hope you are challenged and encouraged too.

**My friend, Blair (blog here: www.beingblair.com) recently posted on the subject and another friend from long ago Caitlin (blog here: www.hellohinesfamily.blogspot.com)
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C. H. Spurgeon

---

"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content."—Philippians 4:11.

HESE words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned . . . to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave—a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.
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Entertaining ourselves.

I love decorating all things... including my sweet pooch! I can't say she appreciates my sentiments.

New Year. New Ambitions.

 Oh sheesh bageesh. I literally cannot believe I have NOT blogged since May! Not that I have any loyal followers who missed me, but I have been teased about my complete absence from the "blogosphere." So with that said, this is a New Year and New Blogging Ambitions. My goal (and feel free to hold me to this) is to post 12 posts in 12 months. Reasonable goal, right? January 31st is fortunately still January. haha

As an update on the Bratton clan, the 7 months since my last post feel like a blur. Tim is doing very well and is exceptionally happy in his "not so new anymore" job. He is looking forward to this upcoming year and a number of exciting projects he is working on. As his wife I feel myself taking a big sigh of relief, praising God who has provided him satisfaction in his work. I too am enjoying my job and even earned a promotion in November. As those of you who have so kindly and patiently walked with me thru the past few years, you can imagine how encouraging this was. I would define 2011 with one word. Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude.

When giving this update I would be remiss to go on without mentioning the hilariously and wonderfully constant entertainment we have from both Selah (our pooch) and my brother Malcolm!! Malcolm is living less than 10 minutes from us and it is awesome!! He has been so fun to have around and I know from all the spastic wiggle-booty moments from Selah that she completely agrees. She thinks "Uncle Bubba" is absolutely the cat's meow! :) I am completely out numbered most nights at my house with the two boys and their "jokes" but just between you and me the two of them absolutely crack me up!

Finally 2011 Highlights (since May):

• Birth of our nephew Daniel James Bratton. June 3rd, 2011!
• 4th of July Murdock Family visit. Filled with beach time, yummy food, a hike to waterfalls in Malibu, a visit to Bakersfield with fire crackers, and a tour of The Getty. Cannot get enough of Mom, Dad, sweet Melissa and my hysterical wacky Robesky fam!
• Camping with Hylkema's in Northern Cali. 100 Degree July weather, pool time, hiking, historical gold mine town, marble quarry, ice cream galore, a filthy Selah who had never been more happy, and tons of laughter. Did I mention the electric bug zapper!?!
• A visit from Tim's parents. Filled with a special anniversary stay for his parents at a Long Beach B&B, yummy food (a theme of all family time), fun games, and a day at Knotts Berry Farm.
• Trip home to Chicago. So. Refreshing. Could stay forever. Friends. Friends. Friends. Friends. Miss. Miss. Miss. Bratton family sibling reunion. 
• Our First Wedding Anniversary!
• October visit from ELLEN! Fills my heart with joy.
• Surprise 30th Birthday for Tim. So fun! Malcolm was a great partner in crime.
• Thanksgiving in Granite Bay with the Petersons. Again, words can't explain how much we love them.
• Christmas in Ohio with Tim's Grandparents. Special treasure to laugh with them for four days straight. (Grandma Bratton wears Jessica Simpson shoes, serves all meals on china, and could not make us feel more special and loved. So thankful for Grandpa Bratton's jokes and the inspiration their marriage is to Tim and I.)
• New Year's in Minnesota! Love getting to be with my family (you may notice a new addition to the Murdock family... her name is Lulu, 6 mos old, Havapoo! Did I mention I love time with my family? They even waited to celebrate Christmas til Tim and I were there.

A regret of 2011 ... Not enough pictures! :)