I Once Was Blind But Now I See

Well as many of you know (and some have experienced) with age things begin to ...well....fall apart. I apparantly am no different, why didn't someone tell me that! Any way I have been having alot of headaches lately and started noticing that I wasn't reading the roadsigns as well as I use to. Now I drive the same roadways daily so I didn't really notice because I can tell you what every sign says before we even see a sign so I stopped paying attention to reading them.

But one night recently I had to drive home in the dark and let me just tell you this was an absolutely nerve racking, unsettling, and down right objectable experience in my book. I was blinded by headlights, couldn't read a sign till I practically passed it, and frankly I began questioning if I had ever driven in the dark before. So I finally had to admit to my family that I thought I might need glasses. Well they were not as shocked by this news as I was and when they quit laughing I told them I was serious.

Well just out of curiousity we found an on-line eye test and decided to test my sight. Sure enough it said I need to see an eye doctor. But more surprising than this was when Colin stepped up and couldn't read half of what I was reading. Now he had briefly mentioned that he was having trouble this year seeing the board but we wrote it off as being new to the 7th grade and all those classes and such. Well I took him into the doctor on Monday and the poor boy could only read the first two lines of the eye chart and even then he couldn't tell the difference between a number and a letter.

So BAM, Colin is in glassess!

The bad news is I don't have insurance or money so I haven't gone to the doctor yet (I just avoid night driving!) the good news is Colin's basketball game has improved, schoolwork has improved, homework is actually done because he now can see the assignment and overall it is making a difference in his life. Not to mention he looks good! (Notice the haircut too, it's like a complete makeover)

Introducing "Hunter"

Well we have a new addition to our family. He is an 8 week old Pyrenees that we adopted from a local rescue. He was one of eight puppies discovered with their mother living in a field. The mother was staked in the field but the babies were free roaming. The owner didn't not even know these little ones existed. I am unclear as to why the man had the female dog staked but had two males that were free roaming on his property. Hunter had not even been exposed to a human until he was 6 weeks old. He is adjusting well in our home and has really blossomed into quite a character.

Drew (Caitlin's service dog) is being absolutely wonderful with the puppy. she is showing him the ropes and teaching him what is allowed and what is a no-no. It is quite comical to watch these two. Drew is five years old but she is so patient. The first thing he learned was where the food is kept and what time dinner was! It is important to keep our priorities in check. Any way we are loving him and look forward to watching him grow up.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Well once again we got to enjoy watching Ashley play the most interesting character on stage. For those who do not know Ashley does drama at Harding Academy. Usually the first week of January is the big show. This year was a creepy little show somewhat like the Munsters or Adam's family. It was called "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night"

It consisted of a scary remote inn, a couple of strange sisters, a lunatic cousin, a very very old man, a dead general, and of course a stormy night. Oh and lets not forget a long lost love that is hoping to be rekindled. Ashley played an overly tramatic and somewhat strong personality. She was a nurse answering an ad placed by the lunatic cousin. She has a fondness for antiques so is often seen smoothly placing things into her very large bag. Above is a shot of her entance into the storyline. She is pictured with the two sisters.


Here is her reaction upon meeting the "patient" with the lunatic cousin.

Below she is meeting the "very odd girl" whom she assumes is the patient but isn't she is just odd.

I really enjoy watching Ashley because she gets into her part and is so animated. This play was entertaining, funny, and of course a bit quirky.

Here are some more photo's.

This is Ashley in the wheelchair. It has a little bit of the Psycho theme going on what with the wedding and all. Okay so the lunatic cousin drugged her in order to prepare for the wedding and believes she is the long lost love he has been waiting for. Here is another nurse who has shown up to answer the ad and she is being introduced to the "patient" who is actually a nurse answering the ad. I think we ended up with 3 nurses whom he thought was all the same person. Very odd indeed. guess you had to be there.

Well we enjoyed it!

It Is Official!

We are happy to announce the engagment of Aaron Roberts to our most beautiful, delightful daughter Nicole Rachell Bratcher. (Can you believe it!!! My BABY is getting MARRIED)

She is still in Oklahoma so I haven't been able to talk to much with her but it looks like we are looking at an end of May early June wedding. Dad is pushing for July or August but.....

I know we have alot to do in a very short time and no money to do it with so here we go.

Did I mention MY DAUGHTER IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!

Christmas-Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Mo.

Hello everyone. I know, I know I am guilty of neglecting the blog. But wow, what a busy month it has been. We spent an incredibly relaxing week at Big Cedar for Christmas. It has been the tradition to spend New Year's here (We have been going for 5 years). They have a fabulous firework display over Tablerock lake every year. It is so much fun to sit out by the lake, drink cocoa, watch the fireworks, and welcome the New Year with the family. Well this year we mixed it up and went for Christmas. Actually we had to mix it up because Nicole decided to go to Oklahoma for New Year's and messed up everyones plans LOL! What is with kids growing up and messing with tradition?

We stayed in a 2-bedroom cabin which is really nice because the girls share a bedroom and have their own bathroom.

Here's are several pictures
The Living room, the fireplace is directly across from the couch.

The Kitchen The Dining Room

We had a fabulous Christmas tree, a wonderful wood burning fire place, a great porch to sit on. this is one of Caitlin's favorite activities because she gets to spend days swimming at the pool. It is some of the best family time we have had. We sit around in the evenings and play cards and board games. during the day we swim, go golfing, there is a horse stable. During the Christmas season there were so many lights and decorations and even carriage rides. It was wonderful.

Here is Leo with his beenie hat on. Now that he is bald the cold affects him a little more, (or it could be his age but don't tell him I said that!). The cabin has such a warm and inviting feeling to it. When we arrive it is like the weight of the world is lifted from our shoulders and we have nothing to do but read, pray, and enjoy the blessings God has given us. I guess for the Brat Pack Big Cedar is a time of renewal.

Perhaps one of the biggest delights is the visit from "The Cookie Lady" who visits each night. Every evening sometime around seven you will receive a knock on the door from a lady dressed in an old pioneer dress and bonnet, carrying a basket full of warm cookies. But don't worry if you are not home she will come in and turn down your bed and leave the cookies right there on your night stand so you have them when you climb into bed for the night. It is always a surprise to see if you will have sugar cookies, chocolate chip, ohhhh and my favorite molasses.

Here are my beautiful girls. this Christmas was very important because it could be the last Christmas with just the six of us. With Nicole off to college and Ashley headed there next year, I can only dream now of the days when it was the six of us.

But I am ready for the next stage. I know that our family will only be blessed by the addition of new family members. Colin reminded me of this during our trip he said, "Mom we aren't loosing sisters we are gaining brothers!" So as my dear girls venture out into the world, fall in love and begin traditions of their own this Christmas and our times at Big Cedar will always be precious memories to me.

As The World Turns......

Hello everyone, sorry it has been a while since I have posted, life took off a bit here. I pray everyone had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving.

I am amazed at the phases of life. We can hardly wait until we are done with school and meet the "right one", and then...get married. Not long after that the children come along...one..two..three..FOUR! We invest all we have in them, nurturing, loving, instucting and sometimes it is a battle but all along we feel we "have arrived". We are a family. Then one day you wake up and your children are off to college and suddenly they begin this life journey and they find the "right one" and the circle of life begins again only this time I watch from outside the circle.

For those who have not met Nicole's "right one" I would like to introduce you to him and post a picture so you have a face to the stories that will be imerging. This is Aaron Roberts. They met of course in college and have been affecting each others grades ever since! My dear precious Nicole, the one who hates the phone, used 4,000 minutes talking to this boy.....in one month! Can you believe that. What can one person possible have to say for 4,000 minutes? I guess I shouldn't make fun of them Leonard and I are still like that. But I am not paying for 4,000 minutes so they have been instructed to communicate in person. After all they are on the same campus.

Aaron has a tremendous story about his walk with the Lord that I hope one day to share with you all. I will not do it now because I do not have his permission and for some people that journey is a private one but I will say this.....Aaron is a fabulous example of the power of the Gospel to work in people's lives and we are truly blessed that he has come into our lives. I believe that these two together will accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. I guess as a mother he is an answer to prayers. I know you moms out there know what I am talking about. And he makes her laugh and play and that is what she needs. There is a rumor that ring shopping has begun so you all have been warned. I will let you all know as soon as I hear an official word.

And so there you go.... my wonderful daughter begin her journey in life ....as the world turns. praise God!

Just Sharing

Here is a sight you will see often at our house. Caitlin loves to be on the computer and she does two things:


1. Shop- Build-a-bear, petco, disney store etc.
2. You-Tube- she watches all the Yugioh videos

Caitlin is fortunate as she has her own laptop the school provides for her to do all her school work on. She has her own facebook account if you would like to communicate with her there. She is quite the funny girl. The other day we were studying for her Social Studies test and here is a brief synopsis of how that goes:

Mom: "Explain Baroque...."
Caitlin: "It's when you don't have any money HA!"


Well i thought I would just spend a few minutes sharing......well nothing I guess.


Here is a photo of me and Ashley and as you can see if you look directly behind us, this was during the World Series. Now I have never really been a baseball fan, it is not that I dislike baseball I just never really thought about it. Ever since Colin started playing and Leonard started coaching I grew fond of it. (At least in the little league genre). Went to a few Cardinal games and now with Nicole dating a baseball player I found myself watching the events leading up to the World Series. I even found myself rushing home to watch the game. So it is official I am a baseball fan. Now it is yet to be determined who my team will be so I am open to suggestions.

Here is a quote i found this morning and I have been thinking about it all day and I want to share it with you:

Let no one ever come to you with-out leaving better and happier.

Be the living expression of God's kindness:

kindness in your face

kindness in your eyes

kindness in your smile

---- mother Teresa