This is one of my favorite songs and it is so beautiful right here at Christmas time. Read the words and ponder them with your heart. May the spirit fill you with many blessings.
"Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child Welcome Holy Child
Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home Please make Yourself at home
Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world Welcome to our world
Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world"-Chris Rice
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dear Hootie,
We are so excited to have you come into our lives. We have been waiting so long for your arrival and Barrett is thrilled at the thought of having a baby brother to care for and play with. He can't wait to hold you and feed you and read his books to you. When I asked him if he was ready to have a baby brother, he told me, "I'll be gentle"!
We know that you will be happy here with us and we will work so hard to be sure that you have all that you need. You will always have plenty of love. We can't wait to hold you and kiss you and hug you. Barrett will pat you and tell you not to cry when you are sad. He also said he
wants to tell you that we will get you something to drink when you are thirsty.
Daddy has painted your nursery a beautiful shade of blue. He is getting all your furniture together and mommy will soon start decorating. I am going to paint some pictures for your walls. Maybe some monkeys, giraffes and an elephant too.
It won't be long before you are here. Christmas is almost here and then it will be almost time! I go to the doctor next week to see how big you are and how much you weigh. Everyone says what a big boy you are. My tummy is huge! You move around a great deal; especially yesterday.
We have some ultrasound pictures of you, but we can't wait to see your face and hold you in our arms. We already love you so much and can't wait to bring you home to live with us.
We love you,
Mommy, Daddy & Barrett
We know that you will be happy here with us and we will work so hard to be sure that you have all that you need. You will always have plenty of love. We can't wait to hold you and kiss you and hug you. Barrett will pat you and tell you not to cry when you are sad. He also said he
wants to tell you that we will get you something to drink when you are thirsty.
Daddy has painted your nursery a beautiful shade of blue. He is getting all your furniture together and mommy will soon start decorating. I am going to paint some pictures for your walls. Maybe some monkeys, giraffes and an elephant too.
It won't be long before you are here. Christmas is almost here and then it will be almost time! I go to the doctor next week to see how big you are and how much you weigh. Everyone says what a big boy you are. My tummy is huge! You move around a great deal; especially yesterday.
We have some ultrasound pictures of you, but we can't wait to see your face and hold you in our arms. We already love you so much and can't wait to bring you home to live with us.
We love you,
Mommy, Daddy & Barrett
Hootie
Brandon & I have had the most difficult time naming our child. If he had been a girl, it would have been easy...Baylee would have been her name. However, a boy name is much more complicated. We have tossed around several names but none quite as strong and powerful with sticking power as has been Hootie. It was all Barrett's idea and the word spread fast. For lack of a better name, he has been just that for quite some months. Now when we try to suggest another name, Barrett will not hear of it. His brother's name is Hootie and that is that.
Because of Mary
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
—Genesis 2:18, 21-24
Looking back on this past year, I feel a mix of emotions potentially due to being eight months pregnant. We have been through so much over these past twelve months as a couple, as parents, as a family. All of the trials are constant reminders that Brandon and I are no longer complete as individuals and we need each other to remain whole. Not only do we need each other but we now have Barrett who depends on us and our little bundle in my tummy needs us too! I am happy to share this bundle of joy with Brandon in January, 2010 and let him carry him for a while!
January, 2009-After three years of agonizing pain following my first pregnancy, the doctors finally decided to remove my Gal-Bladder. It was instant relief and seems to have cured what ailed me.
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
—Proverbs 22:6
The months went by... Barrett had his third birthday in March and we celebrated with a train theme and even had a real train to ride on at his party. It was a wonderful celebration and Barrett seemed to enjoy every minute. Summer came and the weather was hot. Summer was a blast this year! Barrett became an instant swimmer. We had great outings together, he and I. He had come to the age where he was much more independent which allowed me to breathe again and concentrate on not only just him but our family and home as a whole. Then potty training hit like a freight train! For the first time, I felt myself lose control of my little boy and experience every parent’s worst nightmare. My child became defiant and unruly. It was a disaster. My conscience told me I was pushing too hard, however, there are rules regarding potty training and preschool and I knew how much he needed to be accepted into preschool. So against my better judgment, we trudged on. Many tears were shed and I thought I may still be fighting this uphill battle in Kindergarten. Oh, how the teachers will talk about my child, I thought. None of them will want him in their class!
August. It came all too quickly. The heat of the summer remained. Only my time to get this child “ready” for preschool (whatever that means) came to a screeching halt. His teacher called me on the phone to discuss the beginning of school. The much dreaded conversation. The summation of a decision that would most certainly affect my child’s future was before me... To tell the truth or to fudge… I must not lie that would only create a disaster. I will just tell her that he is not ready. We will keep things the same for him for another year. He can play with Grandmommy in the mornings and Gigi in the afternoons. They can help me get him “ready”. We need to buy more time and always there’s next year. I returned the teacher’s call and told her that he was not ready. He was not even potty trained. She was such a delight and told me not to worry. Pottying would be a goal for many children in the class and they would be focusing on this goal and spend lots of time in the restroom. I began to relax. He was going to be fine! Then came the first day. His first day ever in a structured environment. He did not get a great, he did not get a good, he got a FAIR. My heart was broken. They don’t love my child! How can any child get a fair on his first day of school? My hormones had kicked into gear as I was now around four months into my second pregnancy. I was devastated. Worry crept in and my emotions were at their peak. I began to doubt my decision to even put him in preschool much less the preschool where I worked. It was a tough couple of months. Then, he adjusted and things got better. He is now potty trained!!! He had wonderful teachers that loved him and supported him through so much drama as he reluctantly mastered this goal.
Meanwhile…
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'
—Deuteronomy 33:27
Satan was at work trying to disguise my Lord’s master plan for our life and family. He first hit through our church. He loves to come in and weaken people so that he can get a foothold. He was allowed to come in and destroy and devastate a body of people in a way that broke many a heart and divided a congregation. We, the Bridgmons at this time are not attending a church that my family has been a part of for fifty years. It is one of the most sorrowful experiences I have had to go through in my thirty years of life.
He also tried to get into our home by hitting us in the financial gut. We have never been comfy cozy in our finances as Brandon is a small business owner and I decided to take a job that allows for me to spend as much time as I can with my child while providing the best insurance around for my family. There have been struggles but never have we hit a hurdle like we did this year. We hit it head on and hard! We completed Dave Ramsey’s FPU in the spring and had made changes to our lifestyle which included not spending as much money going out to eat, closing credit card accounts, saying no to “stuff” and avoiding temptations known as “cheetahs”. So, here we are smack dab in the middle of my pregnancy, in a huge recession, broke-no sign of a lender anywhere and our credit card accounts CLOSED! It would have been a great time for us to have had spiritual guidance from a loving pastor only that was not the case. I would love to say that we never had a cross word toward one another or that we did not allow Satan’s conniving ways to cause confusion and turmoil in our home. I would love to say that Brandon was able to immediately find another source of income and that we were not affected in the least financially or emotionally. In all honesty, times were hard and we were broken.
Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways; acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5, 6
November-A time of celebration and Thanksgiving. God is good all the time! He always has a plan even when we can not see what He is up to. The job search was much more difficult than we had anticipated. Jobs are scarce. Unemployment is high. Times are tough for many, I am afraid. We were not alone. Brandon applied everywhere! It was a humbling experience to say the least but we were not too proud to have him provide for our family no matter what extra job he had to take. Only it took so very long!
Brandon started work in management at Pizza Hut on the first Thursday in December. That was around the time my doctor told me to do NOTHING when I came home from work due to my pregnancy health issues. We had to cut back on so much and now I could not do simple household chores and errands while his work load was doubling. I would like to say that I never felt sorry for myself and that I was prepared to be without Brandon in the evenings. I wish I could say that we do not miss him every single night and worry about him while he is working so hard and comes home so tired. I would like to tell you that Barrett does not miss him terribly. I would like to be able to say that neither of us is ever grumpy or stressed. Honestly, times are still hard and we are still broken.
December-We are so blessed. We know that our God will provide for us our every need. Look what He has done so far. We have each other, our home, our families, our pets and our beautiful child who is soon to have a baby brother. We anticipate great things in 2010. God never promised the road would be easy, but He did promise to walk with us and even to carry us in the tough times. Right now we are cradled in his arms. A place that should be so safe, so comfortable. Why do we long to be so self sufficient when he promises to take care of our every need?
I think about Mary as we approach the Christmas season. I don’t know if her belly was as big as mine but I know that her heart must have been broken when she had to leave her family and her town and go to Bethlehem. As I ponder this life- my unfinished story of two people raising two children in a broken world, I sometimes fear uncertainty. But I look to Mary as a role model. She did not feel sorry for herself. She did what she had to do to take care of herself and her unborn child. She and Joseph were obedient even though they could not see exactly what God had planned for their lives and they too must have wondered at times, why, God? I am so glad that this couple went to Bethlehem and that Mary gave birth there to my Savior, Jesus. I am so thankful that Mary and Joseph followed the Lord’s plan even in the tough times. Because of Mary, God has a plan for my life and her child is holding my hand.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we remember the birth of our Lord and remember his words of comfort, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33
—Genesis 2:18, 21-24
Looking back on this past year, I feel a mix of emotions potentially due to being eight months pregnant. We have been through so much over these past twelve months as a couple, as parents, as a family. All of the trials are constant reminders that Brandon and I are no longer complete as individuals and we need each other to remain whole. Not only do we need each other but we now have Barrett who depends on us and our little bundle in my tummy needs us too! I am happy to share this bundle of joy with Brandon in January, 2010 and let him carry him for a while!
January, 2009-After three years of agonizing pain following my first pregnancy, the doctors finally decided to remove my Gal-Bladder. It was instant relief and seems to have cured what ailed me.
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
—Proverbs 22:6
The months went by... Barrett had his third birthday in March and we celebrated with a train theme and even had a real train to ride on at his party. It was a wonderful celebration and Barrett seemed to enjoy every minute. Summer came and the weather was hot. Summer was a blast this year! Barrett became an instant swimmer. We had great outings together, he and I. He had come to the age where he was much more independent which allowed me to breathe again and concentrate on not only just him but our family and home as a whole. Then potty training hit like a freight train! For the first time, I felt myself lose control of my little boy and experience every parent’s worst nightmare. My child became defiant and unruly. It was a disaster. My conscience told me I was pushing too hard, however, there are rules regarding potty training and preschool and I knew how much he needed to be accepted into preschool. So against my better judgment, we trudged on. Many tears were shed and I thought I may still be fighting this uphill battle in Kindergarten. Oh, how the teachers will talk about my child, I thought. None of them will want him in their class!
August. It came all too quickly. The heat of the summer remained. Only my time to get this child “ready” for preschool (whatever that means) came to a screeching halt. His teacher called me on the phone to discuss the beginning of school. The much dreaded conversation. The summation of a decision that would most certainly affect my child’s future was before me... To tell the truth or to fudge… I must not lie that would only create a disaster. I will just tell her that he is not ready. We will keep things the same for him for another year. He can play with Grandmommy in the mornings and Gigi in the afternoons. They can help me get him “ready”. We need to buy more time and always there’s next year. I returned the teacher’s call and told her that he was not ready. He was not even potty trained. She was such a delight and told me not to worry. Pottying would be a goal for many children in the class and they would be focusing on this goal and spend lots of time in the restroom. I began to relax. He was going to be fine! Then came the first day. His first day ever in a structured environment. He did not get a great, he did not get a good, he got a FAIR. My heart was broken. They don’t love my child! How can any child get a fair on his first day of school? My hormones had kicked into gear as I was now around four months into my second pregnancy. I was devastated. Worry crept in and my emotions were at their peak. I began to doubt my decision to even put him in preschool much less the preschool where I worked. It was a tough couple of months. Then, he adjusted and things got better. He is now potty trained!!! He had wonderful teachers that loved him and supported him through so much drama as he reluctantly mastered this goal.
Meanwhile…
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'
—Deuteronomy 33:27
Satan was at work trying to disguise my Lord’s master plan for our life and family. He first hit through our church. He loves to come in and weaken people so that he can get a foothold. He was allowed to come in and destroy and devastate a body of people in a way that broke many a heart and divided a congregation. We, the Bridgmons at this time are not attending a church that my family has been a part of for fifty years. It is one of the most sorrowful experiences I have had to go through in my thirty years of life.
He also tried to get into our home by hitting us in the financial gut. We have never been comfy cozy in our finances as Brandon is a small business owner and I decided to take a job that allows for me to spend as much time as I can with my child while providing the best insurance around for my family. There have been struggles but never have we hit a hurdle like we did this year. We hit it head on and hard! We completed Dave Ramsey’s FPU in the spring and had made changes to our lifestyle which included not spending as much money going out to eat, closing credit card accounts, saying no to “stuff” and avoiding temptations known as “cheetahs”. So, here we are smack dab in the middle of my pregnancy, in a huge recession, broke-no sign of a lender anywhere and our credit card accounts CLOSED! It would have been a great time for us to have had spiritual guidance from a loving pastor only that was not the case. I would love to say that we never had a cross word toward one another or that we did not allow Satan’s conniving ways to cause confusion and turmoil in our home. I would love to say that Brandon was able to immediately find another source of income and that we were not affected in the least financially or emotionally. In all honesty, times were hard and we were broken.
Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways; acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5, 6
November-A time of celebration and Thanksgiving. God is good all the time! He always has a plan even when we can not see what He is up to. The job search was much more difficult than we had anticipated. Jobs are scarce. Unemployment is high. Times are tough for many, I am afraid. We were not alone. Brandon applied everywhere! It was a humbling experience to say the least but we were not too proud to have him provide for our family no matter what extra job he had to take. Only it took so very long!
Brandon started work in management at Pizza Hut on the first Thursday in December. That was around the time my doctor told me to do NOTHING when I came home from work due to my pregnancy health issues. We had to cut back on so much and now I could not do simple household chores and errands while his work load was doubling. I would like to say that I never felt sorry for myself and that I was prepared to be without Brandon in the evenings. I wish I could say that we do not miss him every single night and worry about him while he is working so hard and comes home so tired. I would like to tell you that Barrett does not miss him terribly. I would like to be able to say that neither of us is ever grumpy or stressed. Honestly, times are still hard and we are still broken.
December-We are so blessed. We know that our God will provide for us our every need. Look what He has done so far. We have each other, our home, our families, our pets and our beautiful child who is soon to have a baby brother. We anticipate great things in 2010. God never promised the road would be easy, but He did promise to walk with us and even to carry us in the tough times. Right now we are cradled in his arms. A place that should be so safe, so comfortable. Why do we long to be so self sufficient when he promises to take care of our every need?
I think about Mary as we approach the Christmas season. I don’t know if her belly was as big as mine but I know that her heart must have been broken when she had to leave her family and her town and go to Bethlehem. As I ponder this life- my unfinished story of two people raising two children in a broken world, I sometimes fear uncertainty. But I look to Mary as a role model. She did not feel sorry for herself. She did what she had to do to take care of herself and her unborn child. She and Joseph were obedient even though they could not see exactly what God had planned for their lives and they too must have wondered at times, why, God? I am so glad that this couple went to Bethlehem and that Mary gave birth there to my Savior, Jesus. I am so thankful that Mary and Joseph followed the Lord’s plan even in the tough times. Because of Mary, God has a plan for my life and her child is holding my hand.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we remember the birth of our Lord and remember his words of comfort, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”-John 16:33
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