Memaw's Funeral

Two weeks ago today we got the news that Memaw would not live through the night.

We all scurried to make arrangement to get there for her funeral. However, the Lord was gracious to us and let us make it in time to see her again before she died.

Facing the reality that Memaw, a woman I have been held by and loved, is with Jesus has been overwhelming to me.

I think I often consider heaven to be a far off reality. One that I will eventually face when my assumedly long life is over.

But seeing Memaw enter into the presence of God has made me extremely aware of the reality that heaven is something to think on daily. Not just something for my future.

There is a home that is being built for me RIGHT NOW in heaven! God has prepared a place for me in His home.

So often my focus is consumed with the things of this world. But He has given me an inheritance far greater than anything of this world - and it's one that I cannot lose.

It's been a marvelous challenge to me to keep "seeking the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Setting my mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2

Especially because 1 John 2:17 says, "The world is passing away, and also it's lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."

I need to live with eternity in mind daily, allowing the glories of calvary and it's resulting gift (of freedom from sin and the promise eternal life to those who believe) to change my heart and my life into one that will glorify the Father.

Another verse that has been impressed upon my heart through this is 1 John 2:28-29.

"Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him."

We were able to rejoice over Memaw's passing. It was such a joy to watch her walk from this world of pain and suffering into a world where there is no more night and no more pain.

I am so grateful to be confident that she is before the Lord. My heart would break if I had reason to believe that she was in the place reserved for those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior.

However.... Titus 3:3-7 promises

"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, decieved, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one other. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing or regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Memaw's testimony shows obedience to Isaiah 45:22 - "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other."

Praise God for the promise in Romans 8:1 saying that "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE EARTHLY LIFE AND THE ETERNAL LIFE OF MARY LOUISE BRIGGS!

Ryan's Graduation

Ryan has graduated! We were so excited. He's pretty sure that he will never go back to school again so we celebrated big! :)

The family came over for a luncheon the afternoon of his evening ceremony and then we all went to watch him "Walk" after that. I'm so proud of him and his magnificent accomplishment. He's now able to add P.E. and M.B.A. to his business email signature :)

Loved these cupcakes! :)


Afternoon appetizers

The whole family!
Getting sleepy :)

Yay Daddy!
Thumbs up
Ryan with his Grandparents. His grandpa was the president of CSU Sacramento about 9 years ago.

Life Has Forever Changed...

"Mornin' Mom!"

My first serious case of bed head :)

Well, life has forever changed. Brennan is crawling as of yesterday. I'm learning that the expression "There's trouble when all's quiet" is very true for the first time in my life. :) We are so thrilled to see him working SO hard. Way too cute :) But now, I'm going to have to make sure he can't do any damage on floor level. :) For some reason he loves shoes. So far, when I've left him alone in a room, he goes straight for the closet. That's part's not so cool. Shoes are VERY DIRTY! :)

Along with crawling, he's been super fussy the last 2 days. He's been drooling A LOT! and has been waking up at night, so I'm thinkin it's teething (even though he's only 8 1/2 months and he already has 6!) But over the last couple of days I've been thinking about how I have no idea how unsaved women are able to have children. When William heard me say this he was like " um... let me explain...." lol I didn't mean I didn't understand how unsaved women can concieve... I meant I have no idea how people who are not relying on the promises and strength of the Lord Jesus Christ are able to mother lovingly. Last night, when Brennan kept waking up crying and crying, when I was super exhausted and I could't find either the orajel or the "nose suction thingy" (to clear the congestion from crying/teething), I was, in my flesh, angry,annoyed, and frusterated. 2:30 in the morning is not exactly my perky time :)

But as a believer in christ, I was able to take a step back and gentle pick up my hurting son, hold him, and pray - asking the lord to help me surrender my flesh and love and care for my son with the same love that my Savior poured out on me. I was able to ask for tender compassion towards my son, who wasn't crying to spite me, but because he needed his mother's tender love and compassion through his pain.

I was amazed as I sat in the rocking chair in the dark room at the peace that came over my heart in the midst of his screams and the opportunity I had to care for him with joy. God answered my prayers and I went to bed having pacified him and being amazed at the work that God did in my heart to mortify my flesh and be clothed with His righteousness. Without Christ, I would not have been able to love my son last night during his "unlovliness." I am so grateful that Christ not only gave me the ability to love my son, but that He also bestowed on me and even greater and more perfect love.

Today, the flesh returned with a vengeance... Brennan's irratibility has not ceases all day and he's only napped an hour at a time. But God graciously brought the song to my mind... (I love music)...."Oh how he Loves you and me."

"Oh how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me,

He gave His life, what more could He give.

Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, oh how He loves you and me."

I sang it to Brennan and once again had the peace and love of God flood my heart. It still wasn't easy to serve Brennan with joy, but through Christ, I was able to try and I'm so grateful for that. It gives the ability to not wish away this fussy teething period of life, but to rejoice at the opportunity that God gives us to grow in grace :)

I love you Brennan!

Brennan's Puppy dog face :) You can't see if very well in this upload for some reason but he has huge tears on each cheek :) So cute.
Loves bath time... especially chewing on his rubber ducky!

Below is a video of Brennan's CONSTANT hand movement. Seriously... I'm starting to get worried about it :) It's pretty much non-stop unless he's holding something. And even then......

but it's cute:) Oh and don't mind the grunting... he did that all morning for some reason :)

Untitled from Lauren Hougham on Vimeo.

Brennan learning the "ma-ma" from Lauren Hougham on Vimeo.

We are so excited to see Brennan developing! He's now starting to learn from a sitting up position to reach objects to his side or in front of him. He's not going to be sedentary for long! Oh and when he get's going he's going to zoom!!!! This little guy has SO much energy... he'll tighten up his whole body and just shake when he's excited or wants something.

**** So I'm back after hearing lip smacking sounds from Brennan. He was on his play mat in the living room and I heard him making funny noises. I look over to see that he had scooted quite a ways had had a tiny remnant of some paper in his hands ...and he's chewing. I went to pick him up and didn't see the cough drop wrapper I had left close to the area he had scooted to. So I assume he ate it. Especially since when I picked him up he started choking and then threw up. I didn't see the wrapper, but I'm sure I'll find it in a day or to.

so never mind.... I guess the days of mobility are beginning... and I guess that means the days of baby proofing the floor have come to :)

CA State Railroad Museum

Today we took a trip with mom and dad and the Atkins family to the railroad museum. Mom had this engineers hat that she brought and we remembered to grab good old overalls right before we left. :) Brennan was set to go! :)

All board!

First trip in the umbrella stroller... he's getting to big!

After a diaper change, we changed his clothes but he was still happy to be there :)

Catching the smiles

So he's still sick and I definitely fell apart at church this morning ... (sorry men sitting near me :) ) But my boy is still sending me occasional smiles that I'm trying to hold on to and enjoy. Thought I'd share some with you :)

"caught ya" :)

my sweet boy

aka (drool face) :)

PARK DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN! :)

Sick again!

Pray for Brennan!

It seems like my prayers lately and been consumed with begging the Lord to heal Brennan from his cold. He's been sick so often in the last couple of months and this time I can tell that he's just sick of being sick.

He's had the cold for 4 days now and instead of getting better, it seems like it's just getting deeper into his chest. Please pray for number 1 - His healing and number 2 my patience.

It's hard on mommy too when he can't eat or sleep. But my primary concern is how uncomfortable Brennan is.

Brennan's Dedication

So.... I guess I'll just go ahead and post this. Better late than never, ay? I was trying to get the video to work, but can't so I just ended up posting it to facebook.... and then I couldn't even figure out how to delete it off my post so the workless video x2 that I tried to add - well, just ignore them. Enjoy the rest :)

His first suit from Papa for Christmas :)
Grandpa and Grandpa, their children - Debbie and Rick, their children - Courtney and Lauren, and their children - Connor and Brennan :)

Brennan and Connor were so fun to watch together. They were such handsome young men in their suit vests. :)

We had the opportunity to dedicate Brennan to the Lord. It was such a privilege and a joy. We understand that Brennan is the Lord's and that he's been entrusted to us to raise in the awe and admonition of the lord. We are grateful yet sober about the tremendous responsibility we have before us.

It was a blessing to have GG and Grandpa with us. They were able to meet Brennan for the first time and he's already almost 6 months old. We are grateful, though, that God has allowed for Brennan to meet them at all. I can safely say that they enjoyed seeing him as well. Grandma was totally enraptured by Brennan's smile. And he did smile...every time he looked at her. He might have even waved to her... he hasn't done it since so were not sure whether that was a fluke or not :)

We are so grateful for this little blessing in our lives and pray that God would be glorified as we seek to introduce Brennan to our Savior.