The Family

I have been blessed with an amazing family.
Brian and I met in college. Our first date was March 27, 1998. After 3 weeks apart, and several failed break-up attempts by Brian, we decided that we would be together forever. We were married on July 15, 2000. Brian is a newspaper man to the core, so I knew that we would be wherever we needed to be so that he could pursue his passion. As a teacher, I can work anywhere and I'm glad I can follow him as he follows his dreams.
We were a little surprised when his career brought us to his hometown, Brownfield. We were ready for a change and we have definitely gotten that. Brian's parents still live in Brownfield, and while Brian was beginning his job in Brownfield, and the kids and I were still in Hereford, he lived with them. We were lucky enough to find a house across the street from them when I was ready to move down here. I got plenty of "Everybody Loves Raymond" jokes, but living across the street from my in-laws has been such a blessing. I love it when my children hear their Pops whistle FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE and go running to the driveway to see him. And I have taken advantage of the late hours and convenience of the Across the Street Grocery Store. The kids love being so close to them, and we all have such a wonderful time together.
Brian is the news editor for his dad at the Brownfield News and I teach 4th grade writing. We are both doing the things that we love, so we consider ourselves very lucky and blessed.
Our first child, Thomas Edward, joined us on June 5, 2004. We tried for 2 years before Mr. Thomas came, and he's been beautiful since day one. He is named after his Great-Grandaddy Brisendine, and I know he will live up to his sophisticated name. He is finishing up his first year of school - a wonderful program at our church called School for Little People. We will register him next week for kindergarten. Time flies...
Our second child, Blake Richard, joined us on January 31, 2006. Blake is the Energizer Bunny. He never ever stops going. He is the spitting image of his Daddy, and from what I have heard, also behaves just like his Daddy did. Blake started going to speech this spring to correct the fact that he speaks in vowels. After only 6 weeks of classes, for 20 minutes a week, he is making amazing progress. He is such a big boy now that he goes to Big Boy School. He'll go to School For Little People next year.
Our third little blessing is Miss Madilynn Nicole. She was born on September 13, 2007, 11 days before my 30th birthday. She is the princess of the house and we are all guilty of spoiling her. Her brothers take such good care of her and she follows them around EVERYWHERE. She and Blake are especially close. She loves her shoes (she is my daughter, after all) and takes great care of her babies.
We are loving our life here in Brownfield. We would not have chosen the circumstances that sent us here, but we feel like God put us here and we are feeling the blessings of it everyday. We are members of the First United Methodist Church of Brownfield, and our church family takes great care of us. We are truly blessed.