Happy Birthday, Breedlove Boys!

28 years ago, Terry and Sandy heard the cries of their three newborn baby boys. However the excitement and joy were quickly stirred when doctors told them that although they had three babies in their arms, they would be leaving with only two. There was one of those sweet babies that was struggling too much to breathe on his own and would not live long enough to go home with his brothers and his new family. However, regardless to the grim outlook, the baby's lungs began to regain strength and eventually, over time, Brandon and his brothers left the hospital altogether, with their parents, as a family.

Fast forward 18 years. Brandon and I met in January 2002, one month before he and his brothers celebrated their 19th birthday. Since then, we have celebrated 10 Breedlove Boy birthdays together.

So today, even though Brandon's birthday has past, I am thankful for King Jesus breathing the Breath of Life into the lungs of that sweet baby. I celebrate the Healer and the Mender of the Broken. I rejoice in His forever-established plan - the one that included that sweet baby boy as a grown man promising to love and lead me for the rest of his life. The baby girl that would not be born until a year and half later.

Happy Birthday not only to Brandon, but also to the ones that have literally lived every single day of their lives along with him. Happy Birthday, Breedlove Boys!

February 7th, the boys celebrated their 28th birthday! For the last 27 years, Sandy has always had a birthday cake for each boy and this year was no different. Everyone enjoyed getting to hang out and party!

Nathaniel - Brandon - Matthew

Matthew - Brandon - Nathaniel

Super Bowl - Our Way

Our plans for the Super Bowl changed a bit right before the game.

Since we were not planning on watching the game at our house, I wasn't prepared to make any snacks for it. We came home to watch the game and I would not be satisfied until I tried something, anything to get snacks for Brandon. I raided the pantry and searched the cabinets for something he would like to snack on. Mind you, I did this in a home where we don't really have "snacky" things. Also, I remind you that Brandon is very careful with what he eats. Therefore, my improvising was the following:

On his snack platter you could find: Honey Bunches of Oats, Goldfish, and mixed nuts. :)

Hey, it's what I had to work with. He was thankful, even if he wasn't he certainly acted like it, and for that, I am thankful.

So as I type this, the game is on. Brandon is watching, oblivious to anything else around him. One team is in the lead. The Packers, I think. Yes, that's it, I just made sure.

Happy Super Bowl, friends.

Basketball

Our nephews, Kelton & Alex are both playing basketball this year. Thankfully, for us, they are on the same team. We have enjoyed going to their games so much. Neither of the boys have played before and they are on the developmental league, where they are learning the rules of the sport. Both boys really enjoy playing and are so very cute when they play.

They are already making quite the team. Alex gets the ball and passes it to Kelton. Kel takes it down the court.

Alex (33) Kelton (00)

Once I got all my camera out to take pictures of the boys on the court, the other kids in the stands wanted a picture of them.

(Cadee, Evan, Chloe, Angel, Josie)

Happy Birthday, Cadee

Cadee turned 2 on January 13th. We partied with her that night at Terry and Sandy's since the snow would not allow us to make it to Nathaniel and Amy's house.

The theme of the birthday party was "Down on the Farm". Amy made the sweetest birthday cake for the party. Since everything was farm-ish, she made a cake that was "chicken feed" it was cute & yummy.

Cadee had a great time and we loved getting to celebrate her birthday with her. We are thankful for her life and the joy she brings to us as her Uncle and Aunt.

Cadee isn't much on smiling for the camera, but I did get some pictures of her.

Happy Birthday, Cadee!

Snow Day

School started on January 3rd, that week, we got out of school one day for snow. The next week, however, we were out three days because of snow.
No school, 7 inches of snow, what is there to do? S-L-E-D!

Brandon and I bundled up and met Matthew, Brooke, and the boys at Terry and Sandy's house for some sledding. Zachary stayed out for a little bit, but then me and him went back inside. We watched the others from the window and when the others came in, we made snow cream.

We had a great time getting to be with Matthew and his family for a day of sledding.

Me & my Love

Alex
Zachary

Brandon & Matthew

Alex, Matthew, Zachary, Brooke

Mtn. View Intermediate School

Here it is, January 28th and my last post on the blog was January 2! I have so much to update on!
January 3rd, a new journey began for the Breedloves. I began a new job, at Mountain View Intermediate School.

I took a 5th grade Math Remediation position and began on January 3rd. To say the least, I was extremely overwhelmed and it has taken a good three weeks for me to feel as though I am finally getting into a routine and settling into the swing of things.

I have to admit, I was not prepared for all that this position would bring. For starters, I would have NEVER chosen to put myself in a math position of any kind. I did not realize until I had began this job that the reason why I would have never put myself in math was because without knowing it, I was intimidated by math.
In the position I am in, I go to three different math classes. In each class, I work with students, help them begin on their homework, and help the math teachers by providing different math resources like videos, Activboard flip charts, and worksheets.

Although I was taken back, overwhelmed, and in a complete whirl-wind upon starting this position, the last four weeks have been and will continue to be extremely beneficial to my teacher career. Basically, my job is to serve the teachers so that they can better serve the students they teach. I truely feel as though my job is to serve Christ by serving the people around me and at this point in time, the people that I serve are educators. It's exciting!

By taking this position, I see three different math teachers using the math strategies that work for them and their students. I am taking notes of the classroom management and classroom organization methods that each of the teachers use. On a daily basis, I watch the makings of a classroom and watching students find success.

I am so incredibly thankful for the chance to get my foot in the door within the School System. Although the budget doesn't look good for Education across the State, I am hopeful that this interim position will lead to a permanent position that allows me to invest into the lives of children in Macon County.

I have most definitely missed being at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, missed the people I worked with there, and the job I did. The atmosphere at the theatre is just a fun place to be and I enjoyed being a part of something that our community valued and appreciated. I have not completely left the theatre as I am still planning on being there on show nights, so I will still get to see the people and the community.

So there you have it. The last few weeks have been full of adjustments in many ways - making new schedules, falling into new routines, and and settling into new roles.

Regardless, we asked the Lord to lead me into a job and we trust that this position was His answer to our prayer for me to have a place to serve.

Happy *2011*!

Brandon and I rang in the New Year quietly in our living room. He, wrapped in a snuggie, not just any snuggie, a Carolina Tarheel snuggie :) I, sipping on hot chocolate in my new, snowflake mug. It was pretty amazing!

I will write more later of all my hopes that 2011 will bring, but for now, Happy New Year, friends!