The Bright Eyed Brunette

Hey there! I know I have several new readers so I'll start off with a quick little introduction. My name is Beth. I am a married mom of three (ages 19, 17, and 14). I started this blog twelve years ago (wow!) as a scrapbook. I don't post fashion or beauty content because let's face it, that isn't really my jam. Oh, and popular opinions aren't really important to me either. So now that all of the niceties are out of the way, let's go on to the twenty facts, shall we? I am a sinner saved by grace. I make mistakes and am in need of Jesus (and His forgiveness) daily.  I have been married to my sweet hubby for 20 years (will be 21 Mar.27). We married when we were 19 and almost 21. We had all three of our children in a 5 year time frame and would have definitely had more if I hadn't had my tubes tied. Fertility was never an issue! As a child I attended school in five different elementary schools around the state of Arkansas (my dad changed jobs often for ...

 The last week in January has proved to be a busy one. It started off with a trip down to Arkadelphia to take Makena to a Presidential Leadership Forum. She was thrilled to be invited and get to spend a little more time on campus. We dropped her off and made the trip back home. Believe me, if Carl hadn't have had a check-up on Monday, we would have stayed the night somewhere!  His appointment went great! The doctor wants him to keep doing what he's doing as far as medication goes and he is making Carl an appointment with a neurologist. He already has an appointment in February to see the cardiologist. He was also not really concerned with the white matter. We will probably still have another MRI in six months, just to play it safe. We were both relieved! After we got back home Carlie and I left to go pick Makena back up in Arkadelphia and then on our way back I had to take Carlie to her apartment in Little Rock (remember she still has no car). We finally made it back home ar...

It's funny how you can just be cruising through life, having all if those "life is good" moments and the next thing you know you feel like you've been throat punched out of nowhere. Example: Carlie was at school and was sick. I hate not being able to take care of her when she's sick. I decided to take her antibiotics to her. It was raining and disgusting outside. They had an off day between classes a d clinicals and I knew she needed to be somewhat well before spending the day in the OR. She said she would meet me in the outskirts of town even though I told her I would bring them to her apartment. Five minutes later she called me and said she had a wreck. I think the words that came out of my mouth were, "You have got to be kidding me!". Seven months after her first wreck she wrecked and totaled her second car. I cannot make this stuff up. I was about 20 minutes from her so I got there before the cops and was able to sit with her. I felt so bad for her b...

The Sunday before Christmas, also known as Christmas Sunday, is always a big day. We have our Christmas church service and in the evening the kids always put on their Christmas program. This was was the same, only the younger kids put on a mini program on Sunday morning and the big kids did their's that night. They all did a great job! Carlie's little class The Sunday morning program  My trio Anna Grace and Trey were the scientists in the night program. Makena and Michael were the narrators  Adam and Eve...I'm just glad they were clothed in more than leaves! Mary and Gabriel  Noah, as Noah Father Abraham  "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 Much Love, Beth

Our Christmas festivities began on the 21st with the Garrett Christmas in DeWitt. We had our party and played that darn saran ball game. I always watch but never play. It's just not my thing. I'm a party pooper; I hate dirty santa too! My parents/kids/grandkids My cousin, Brandon with his new fiancee, Ashlyn and my Aunt Shelia Party fun  After my grandparents passed away, I wasn't sure how often this side of the family would get together. Some of us are closer than others. When it comes down to it, family is family. You love some of them, you tolerate others. We get together once a year and that seems to be just fine with everyone. Much Love,  Beth

I'm having one of those soap-box moments, so just bear with me please.  Recently my sweet husband was given the opportunity to try out a new job while still working on the farm. He was a little hesitant at first but after talking it over and praying about it, we felt like we got a "green light" so to speak. This hasn't been easy on me or the kids (mostly T because it is taking away from his hunting time)  but I do feel like God sent this to us at a time when we needed it. Everyone has been super nice to Carl. They have welcomed him in and have treated him like he has always been there...except for a former employee who still shows up to shoot the breeze. This one person who Carl knows very well chooses to treat him so poorly (like he isn't good enough to be with this new crowd) in front of these people. Let me just give you a little back story about my husband. He is the nicest person you will ever meet. Seriously, to know him is to love him. He is good to ever...

Makena got her acceptance box to Ouachita Baptist University a few weeks ago. This is one of her top three schools. She said for the longest time that she wouldn't be happy until she had applied and was accepted into her #1 school, Pensacola Christian.  She still hasn't applied and since she started looking further into Ouachita,  she has completely changed her tune. It is looking more and more like we will have a Tiger in the fall! I am super proud of you, Makena Faith! Trey and his chicken hanging out by the old piano we took out of the house. Homeschooling these two is an adventure, for sure! Adjusting from homeschooling three kids to two kids was a little harder than I thought. At the beginning of the school year, it just seemed like we had so much extra time.  I felt like I was missing something (like a whole kid!). I have since found ways to fill those empty moments and have found that we don't have to be so structured...that IS the best part of h...