Generation Cooking

Tuesday evening I went to my Mom's house for some cooking lessons. Its not that I can't cook, but I need specific directions and recipes. Mom started helping Kendra learn to cook and gain more knowledge on different dishes to make. So now that school is over, Im joining the fun cooking class. Mom had all the ingredients ready and let us do the work. I had a blast. We made chicken casserole, green beans, rolls, and apple pies. Needless to say I was stuffed after we ate. Mom is copying all the recipes we use and I am putting it into a book to have. The experience reminded me of being with my grandmother Dolly when we would get to spend the night once a year and she would let us help make biscuits for breakfast. A lot of my memories of her are in the kitchen. She was a home ec teacher and loved to cook. She would get things from her garden and would always have us something for a snack when we came over to visit. I loved getting to go to the garden to pick the strawberries. I loved getting to go to her classroom and watch her direct her students into making the perfect zucchini bread or sewing aprons. Nanny passed away when I was 7 but I still remember those cooking moments. Being at moms the other night reminded me of generational gifts, talents, and things we pass down to the next generation. Now I may have gotten my love for teaching from my grandmother and not the skills in cooking or sewing, but I also was reminded that I have received patience and love for helping others like my nanny and mom.

There are positive and negative generational traits. Ive been doing a study and right now we are learning how generational sin is passed down and how for ourselves to be the ones who break the cycle. Fear has come up for me that I have somehow been passed down with. Not sure which side and where it stems from yet. I had to write down positives and negatives from both sides of my grandparents and parents. Hating confrontation is a big one. But Im still searching for others that somehow maybe I can be the one to break the cycle. Its these generational sins that we sometimes think as normal way of living because its been apart of life for generations. I hope this summer not only consumes me with fun memories and making new ones, but to start the cycle of breaking free.

Being A Part of Something

This past week I went to Charlotte to visit the band and youth at LBBC during Mission Serve. It was a great week of visiting and rest. The band played every night and micheal ramsey spoke. I loved the whole visit. Late night food quest, sleeping in, visiting the sites and sending encouragement to the youth on top of the roof, and listening to the awesome music. But I would have to say my favorite part was feeling some how a part of the band. For those of you that know me well know how much music is so a part of me and what big fan I am of the band. I got to help break down and load up, run the easy worship system, and just being in the crowd feeling so proud and loving every bit of it. I have joked forever that I want to be their PR person, sealing their merchandise. I think they probably think Im joking....but I LOVE being a part of something I feel so passionate about. Who doesn't? Is there a Dream you have had for awhile and really feel like it will happen....but when? This summer I hope that my Dreams start coming true. One thing that I learned this week was...the everyday small decisions and goals help lead up to those big dreams. So Im on a journey for the everyday choices that will hopefully lead to the Big Picture. Im a big picture person and so many times I focus only on that. I forget that there are many decisions and things to do in the small details that get to the Big Picture. So I hope that you are able to start looking at your Dreams and making the small details count to get you there. Because being a part of something is crucial for life. Here is a secret.....being a part of the band is one of my dreams!!! I can't help it! :) HAHA

When my heart beats the most!

Aunt B is probably my favorite nickname. Ive had plenty and each one represents people or the places that I acquired it. Breezer(band members of my favorite band..Andrew Brown Band), BreezeO(from the bag boys while I worked at Ingles), Brez(close friends)..and the list goes on. But my all time favorite is Aunt B. Those words come from the most precious boys in the whole wide world. My NEPHEWS!!! If you are an Aunt you completely understand. I never knew how much love could be possible and come from my heart. It beats the most when I am around these little guys. Lathan was my first nephew. I remember the first time I saw him. I cried my eyes out. I couldn't believe how beautiful he was and how long I had been waiting for him. We connected the first time I held him. I told him that I was Aunt B and would give him anything he wanted. The privilege of being an Aunt is the best gift ever. When Lathan was only a few weeks old, I was holding him and he raised his head up(which I knew he was going to be a strong genius of a boy) and planted a hug kiss on my cheek. My mom got a picture of this huge event and I will always cherish that picture. Three years later Kasen was born. I was scared that I wouldn't have enough love to give to Kasen as I had Lathan. Boy was I wrong. The two are very different but I love them both sooooo much. Kasen takes awhile to warm back up with you each time I see him, but he is the funniest kid I know. He has a great sense of humor and loves to wrestle. He makes me feel special when he wants to spend time with me and says my name. The best gift given to me to give the boys was a bib that said ( I love Aunt Breeze)!! Two years later Maddox was born. Again I was scared that there would not be enough love to give. My heart burst out with love when he was born. He had a hard journey getting here but he overflows my heart with his cuddliness!! He is such a cuddlier and his smile will melt your heart. I have had the privilege of getting to keep him several times at an early age. I didn't know I could be that responsible to watch something so precious.

What Ive learned the most with these 3 wonderful nephews is....LOVE is ever flowing!!! That they are each so different but has the same strings wrapped around my heart equally. Lathan has got to spend the night at my house several times and Kasen will be joining our adventures this summer. I can't wait till all 3 will be begging to be at Aunt B's house. Junk food, games, toys, and always a trip to walmart will be for sure in our plans. These little guys make me feel so special and that I could do anything. I love them so much and realize that when they are around, my heart beats the most. God feels that way with each one of us. That even though we are all so different, He wants to spend time with each of us and create dreams and adventures. I want my heart to beat most of all when I am in the presence of my Creator. To feel special and to know I was created for a purpose that I can only fulfil. I hope this summer gives clues and directions of how to gain that. This summer will be full of adventures with my nephews, friends, and in my times alone with my creator and friend. I can hear the beats getting faster just thinking about it!

In search of?

When I was in Kindergarten we took a field trip to the local library in Murphy. I was super excited because even then...I loved books. Two friends and I had to go to the bathroom. So we told our teacher and went. Like most little kids, we took our times and played a little while. As a teacher now, I can't for the life of me figure out the reason why kids want to spend so much time in there. Its gross and full of germs. When we left the bathroom and went in search of our teachers and classmates, none was to be found. So my Kindergarten mind new we needed help. I didn't panic like my two friends because my dad worked at the Murphy's Power Board which was right across the library. All I needed was the librarians to believe me and let me guide my two friends over there and let my dad take care of it. While they were calling the school, the bus pulled up to get us. Thanks to my twin sister, they figured out that we were missing and not on the bus. I always think about that story when I take my students on field trips. Im always counting. How many times have we missed something and went in search of it. Sometimes it takes us awhile to even know we are missing something. While in college I went to go get my purse out of the car and realized it was not there. When backtracking in my mind where I had it last...I realized 3 days ago at school. I went in panic mode and after hours of frantic phone calls..I found it. Do you ever just go throughout your daily routines and life and one day...it hits you in the face that you are missing something. In my reflection of what this summer might hold...Ive realized that maybe this is the summer that I actually figure out what Im searching for. That I will know more pieces of the puzzle of my life. I listened to one of my friends give their graduation speech today and I loved the part that said that we stop expecting..and start experiencing. I hope to allow God to really show me what dreams He has for my life! I think I know what I want...but do I really? I hope to find what God has for me way before Im left in wondering if Ive missed out or didn't go in search of what was out there for me.

Just try it!!

How many times Ive heard someone tell me that!! Just try it! I know you will like it!! Most of my friends know that Im not the best person in trying new things when it comes to food. I don't like seafood and lots of other things. On trips and trying out new restaurants...most of them could order for me...Beef or Chicken! There is this bean dip that my friend Diana made and it looked disgusting to be honest. I would have never put those things together to eat. I tried it so as not to be rude and guess what...I loved it. I think between food and exercise...I would try new things especially knowing it was good for me. I always feel better after walking or doing something active but to get out and actually doing it..you would think I was having to eat squid!! I feel the same when spending time with God through the word sometimes. If we are all honest with ourselves, we would all admit that it takes effort in carving out time in our day for God. Im in this major transition time right now when it comes to church and really figuring out what God wants me to be doing. I know that I need to read more of His word so as to see Gods plan a little clearer and to listen to Him speak my dreams out so that I can actually live them. It dawned on me last night during a bible study that I have always wanted to write a book, speak, and share with others that God wants for them to dream and allow God to fulfill them completely...but Have I gotten that concept myself? Maybe thats what this whole empty planned summer is going to be for. Writing, experiencing God at work...so I can live my dreams!!!! So maybe Ill try something new...who knows I might like it!!!

Feeling smart until I opened my mouth!

There are too many accounts of what I was thinking in my head(which sounded smart and understandable to me) didn't come out right when I opened my mouth to speak. Usually it was the wording. For some reason my words tend to smash together to make up what my friends have defined...Breezisms! When looking at a cute guy on tv one night I was thinking..Gosh that guy is built and buff. The way is chose to exit my mouth was..gosh that guy is Biff!! What can I say...words just come out wrong. The worse part of this mouth disease, is that it usually takes me a minute to figure out what I did wrong or even said. I need to start carrying around a notebook to collect these words and just make up my own dictionary. Have you ever felt this way when trying to get your point across or to really make a wonderful statement? Stepping back and thinking about it..its just who I am. Breeze wouldn't really exist without these flaws and moments of confusion. In almost every story I can think of that is apart of me, has molded, reshaped, and guided me in who and where I am. I truly believe that God uses moments whether silly or serious to sharpen and guide us. It truly is just apart of my story. I hope that through this journey of sharing with you my stories, that God will remind me of each one and how He has used them in crazy ways. So maybe this isn't such a bad disease to have. That God can take the words that doesn't make sense to most people...speak right to my heart and mind of complete understanding. Maybe this is the conversation that is just meant for Him and myself! Hmmm..interesting.

Makin a dollar bill and life fair!

I remember when I was young(not sure of specific age) someone had given us $1 bill. I put mine in this pink crocheted purse. Mom was taking us to the sweet tooth(which is the best place to get ice cream in murphy) and we could use our money to buy something. Now knowing the sweet tooth was expensive even back then, Im not sure what we were expecting to get with $1. I couldn't find my purse which had my money in it. I looked everywhere. So I decided, with what my child mind thought was only fair, was to tear Crystal's dollar in half so we would both have some money. What I didn't know was that wouldn't work. Not only was Crystal mad but Mom said that now it wouldn't be able to use to spend. So she taped Crystal's back and I ended up finding mine under the sliding coffee table. I think I ended up getting the taped bill whild having to give Crystal the non-damaged one.
I have looked at life this way before. When I didn't have something, I tried to make it even. Usually going the route that doesn't work. Sometimes life is not EVEN. We don't get what others may have. Im sure all of us has had a picture in mind at what our lives are going to look like. I have and if you really know me...you know its been the Fairytale route. Graduate high school, start college, get a degree in Education, become a teacher, get mariied, have kids.....and then what? As I was starting this path it looked like things were on track. But after I became a teacher...where was the boy? My sister had found hers and was already starting this journey. Yet afain it was not EVEN. Throughout the years as I tried to make my life "EVEN" I ended up just being miserable and always waiting. Boys that always seemed to start with a J (more of those stories to come later) I would always waste a year or more just waiting for them to turn their head at me. At some point I realized my life was going to be different and I was ok with that. I have been blessed by getting to do so many things. Travel(New York City, Jamaica, Hawaii, Kenya...) hangout with wonderful friends. So sometimes we have to go through what we may percieve as unfair or uneven things. But GOd really is giving a life fit just for you. Only I can fulfil the plan he has given me. "In his heart a man plans his course, but Lord determines his steps" Prov. 16:9

"For I know the plans I have for you..saith the Lord. Plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future....Jer 29:11

And the story begins!

In conversation with a friend, I was discussing about my empty summer and how much free time I had. I have always wanted to write a book about funny stories that have happened to me in the past several years. There are too many to remember but would love to share them and how they have helped shape my character and just some plain fun times. So my friend thought starting a blog would help me getting started. So all reader I encourage you to add to these stories. Whether they are of me or you, this blog is about sharing our stories that are just apart of our own story of life. Let the funnies begin!!